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In dense RFID systems, efficient coordination of multiple readers is crucial to prevent reader-to-reader interference (RRI) and ensure optimal system performance. As the number of readers and tags increases, static frequency and time-slot assignment become insufficient to handle dynamic network conditions, leading to collisions, missed tag reads, and degraded throughput. In this paper, we propose a decentralized neigh-borhood discovery and management scheme for RFID systems operating in high-density environments. Our approach minimizes interference and improves tag read accuracy by dynamically adjusting communication parameters like frequency and time slots based on current system conditions, which are updated by periodic information exchanges among readers. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves system scalability, throughput, and reliability. The proposed framework offers a scalable and adaptive solution for dense reader environments.
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This content will become publicly available on April 22, 2026
MCSMARA: A MAC Protocol for RFID Systems
Dense RFID environments pose critical challenges such as Reader-to-Reader Interference (RRI), Reader-to-Tag Collisions (RTC), and inefficient resource utilization, which degrade system performance and scalability. Traditional Media Access Control (MAC) protocols, including CSMA and TDMA, struggle to address these issues effectively, particularly in dynamic and large-scale deployments. This paper introduces MCSMARA (Markov Decision Process (MDP)-based Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Reader Arbitration), a novel MAC protocol designed to optimize reader coordination in dense RFID networks. By leveraging an MDP framework, MCSMARA models reader state transitions and employs a utility-based arbitration mechanism to dynamically allocate frequencies and time slots. The protocol incorporates adaptive backoff and decentralized neighborhood discovery for efficient resource management without centralized control. Simulation results demonstrate that MCSMARA reduces collisions by up to 30%, improves throughput by 25%, and ensures superior scalability, supporting a large amount of readers with minimal computational overhead. These findings establish MCSMARA as a transformative solution for RFID networks in logistics, retail, and industrial IoT, with potential for extension to mobile and heterogeneous environments.
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- PAR ID:
- 10597995
- Publisher / Repository:
- IEEE
- Date Published:
- ISSN:
- 2573-7635
- ISBN:
- 979-8-3315-0905-7
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 6
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- RFID, MAC Protocol, Markov Decision Process (MDP), Collision Avoidance, Adaptive Backoff, Scalability.
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Atlanta, GA, USA
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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