USB cable for USB RFID reader design

Unfortunately, my heart-attack watch idea isn't allowed for the Christopher Columbus competition, for all of those who read my earlier post. But I'll still do it independently. For the Chris. Col. I'm doing something with RFID tagging, but I'll either have to buy a USB RFID reader for $500 (Little expensive) or make one myself ($64 will get you a reader IC and I'll program the software myself) I just need to now how to work a USB cable. I did some looking at wikipedia, and learned the basics, but one thing I don't know. How do I get the circuit synchronized with USB cable. How do I know how fast the data is coming in and if I'm not going to slow or to fast and duplicating the same bit or skipping a bit? Also, I'll need 8 bits of RAM. Could I get this from digi-key (I'm ordering the rest of my parts there)

Re: RFID

You should start off with a serial communication, example RS232.
It is easy to work with, and gives you maximum control.
Conversion to USB communication is easy in a later stage,
using RS232 to USB converter or IC level FT232 USB chip.
There are many other type USB chip in the market,
you may try searching for keyword "USB transceiver IC".

You may like to refer to the following website
for the suggestion mention above.
It contain circuit schematic interfaces with RS232 or USB,
using serial communication protocol.
**broken link removed**

Hope that these information helps.
Siong Boon