JP3189204U - IC tag reader portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC tag reader portable information terminal capable of being smaller than a conventional device and capable of reading data for at least two RFID protocols ISO15693 and ISO14443 without a switching operation. SOLUTION: A memory 16 for storing one or more sets in which protocol IDs for specifying a protocol are arranged in a predetermined order, and an operation input unit 13 for allowing a user to specify any set of protocol IDs. And the controller 12 that reads and outputs the protocol ID from the memory 16 in order from the beginning of the designated protocol ID set, and a plurality of circuits that can be switched and connected, and all specified by the above protocol ID set. The non-contact reader unit 11 has a circuit that can be combined so as to enable non-contact communication in each of the protocols, and switches the circuit according to the protocol ID input from the controller 12 to connect and perform non-contact communication. And, it has a configuration including. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC tag reader portable information terminal for reading data from a plurality of RFID tags that operate according to different standards.

  RFID (Rad Frequency IDentification) tags are being used and spread in delivery, transportation and the like from the viewpoint of convenience such as traceability. However, recent differences in standards for each region (so-called protocol; hereinafter referred to as RFID protocol) may hinder the use of these RFID tags. Specifically, ISO15693 is becoming the mainstream in Europe and the United States, and ISO14443 is considered promising in Japan.

Conventionally, an RFID tag having a plurality of RFID tag portions that operate with different RFID protocols (hereinafter, referred to as a plurality of built-in RFID tags) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 suggests that an IC tag reader for each RFID protocol is provided in one apparatus for reading data from a plurality of built-in RFID tags.
JP 2007-334703 A

  However, the conventional RFID reader / writer device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the device becomes large-scale and the operability is deteriorated. This is because it is necessary to provide an IC tag reader for each RFID protocol and detect the RFID protocol.

  In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is an IC tag reader that can be reduced in size as compared with a conventional RFID reader device and can read data without switching operation with respect to at least two RFID protocols ISO15693 and ISO14443. Provide a portable information terminal.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following configurations.
The device according to claim 1 includes a memory that stores one or more sets in which RFID protocol IDs that specify the RFID protocol are arranged in a predetermined order, and a designation including designation of any one set of the RFID protocol IDs. An operation input unit that enables the user to input the operation, a protocol adaptive controller that reads and outputs the RFID protocol ID from the memory in order from the top of the set of the specified RFID protocol ID, and a plurality of switchable connections Each of all RFID protocols specified by any one or more of the set of RFID protocol IDs stored in the memory so as to enable contactless communication. The RF input from the protocol adaptation controller D, characterized in that it comprises a non-contact reader unit that performs non-contact communication is connected by switching the circuit depending on the protocol ID.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the IC tag reader portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying predetermined information, wherein the memory stores a predetermined RFID protocol and an RFID protocol ID in association with each other. The protocol adaptation controller causes the display to display the RFID protocol stored in the memory, extracts the RFID protocol ID corresponding to the RFID protocol designated through the operation input unit, and prioritizes the extraction. And output to the non-contact reader section.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the IC tag reader portable information terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protocol adaptive controller is configured for the set of RFID protocol IDs specified via the operation input unit. When the data is not read by non-contact communication with all the specified RFID protocols, all the RFID protocols specified by the set of RFID protocol IDs are displayed on the display.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the IC tag reader portable information terminal according to any one of the first to third aspects, the protocol adaptive controller performs an operation of reading data via the operation input unit. In this case, a set of RFID protocol IDs determined in advance according to a use area is read from the memory, and RFID protocol IDs are sequentially output to the non-contact reader unit.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a memory that stores one or more groups in which RFID protocol IDs that specify the RFID protocol are arranged in a predetermined order, and designation of any RFID protocol ID group. An operation input unit that enables a user to perform a predetermined operation input, a protocol adaptive controller that reads out and outputs an RFID protocol ID from a memory in order from the top of a set of designated RFID protocol IDs, and a plurality of circuits that can be switched and connected A circuit that can be combined to enable contactless communication with each of all RFID protocols identified by any one or more of the set of RFID protocol IDs stored in memory. According to the RFID protocol ID input from the protocol adaptive controller And a non-contact reader unit that performs non-contact communication by switching the path, so that it can be made smaller than the conventional RFID reader device and there is no switching operation for at least two RFID protocols ISO15693 and ISO14443. In addition, an IC tag reader portable communication terminal capable of reading data can be realized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the display includes a display for displaying predetermined information, and the memory stores the predetermined RFID protocol and the RFID protocol ID in association with each other. The adaptive controller displays the RFID protocol stored in the memory on the display, extracts the RFID protocol ID corresponding to the RFID protocol designated via the operation input unit from the memory, and outputs the RFID protocol ID preferentially to the non-contact reader unit. Therefore, when the RFID protocol is known, the work efficiency can be improved by inputting the RFID protocol.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the protocol adaptive controller is specified for the set of RFID protocol IDs specified via the operation input unit. When data is not read out by non-contact communication with all RFID protocols, all RFID protocols specified by the set of RFID protocol IDs are displayed on the display, so that it is easy to determine whether to switch to another RFID protocol. Therefore, workability can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effects of any one of claims 1 to 3, the protocol adaptive controller is used when there is an operation of reading data via the operation input unit. Since a set of RFID protocol IDs determined in advance according to the region is read from the memory and the RFID protocol IDs are sequentially output to the non-contact reader unit, operation input can be simplified.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing examples.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an IC tag reader system according to the present invention. The IC tag reader system according to the present invention includes an IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 that reads predetermined storage information from an RFID tag 4 attached to an article 3 and is connected to each other via a network 100 such as the Internet. 3, an article information management server 2 that manages information about the details of 3 (hereinafter referred to as article detail information).

  Here, the article 3 refers to transported machinery, electrical and electronic information equipment, precision machinery, transport equipment, and the like, and the transport equipment further refers to vehicles, pallets, cases, parcels, and the like. The IC tag reader portable communication terminal 1 can be connected to the network 100 via the base station 101. In this example, a mobile phone is used as the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1, but an information terminal such as a smartphone, iPad (registered trademark), or a tablet computer may be used.

  The RFID tag 4 has a non-volatile memory having a storage capacity of, for example, 176 bytes, and this non-volatile memory has a plurality of predetermined storage areas. In the first storage area, for example, the address of the article information management server 2 on the network 100 (hereinafter referred to as server access information) is written. In the second storage area, for example, information for identifying the article 3 (hereinafter referred to as an article ID) is written. The user of the IC tag reader portable communication terminal 1 can acquire the above-described detailed product information via this product ID. The first storage area and the second storage area may be allowed to be written, erased and changed only under a predetermined authority.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an IC tag reader portable information terminal according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 includes first component units 11 and 12 that read stored information from the RFID tag 4, and second component units 13 to 17 having a normal portable communication terminal function and the like. And comprising.

  The first component unit performs contactless communication with the RFID tag 4 to read out stored information and the contactless reader unit 11 receives information specifying the RFID protocol (hereinafter referred to as RFID protocol ID). A protocol adaptation controller 12 for outputting. The storage data read here is

  The non-contact reader unit 11 can realize non-contact communication, for example, communication performed by supplying power to a passive tag, communication with an active tag, and the like via an antenna for magnetic coupling or electromagnetic coupling, for example. For this purpose, the non-contact reader unit 11 includes a signal generation circuit, a power feeding circuit, a control circuit, a detection circuit, and the like for performing non-contact communication for each predetermined RFID protocol.

  However, for each of the above circuits that can be used in combination with a predetermined plurality of RFID protocols, it is preferable that a representative circuit is left and other circuits are deleted. These circuits are switched and connected in accordance with the RFID protocol ID input from the protocol adaptation controller 12. From the detection circuit, the stored information read from the RFID tag 4 is output to the protocol adaptive controller 12.

  The protocol adaptive controller 12 outputs the RFID protocol ID to the contactless reader unit 11 and performs protocol control for switching and connecting a circuit for contactless communication. Here, the RFID protocol ID used for protocol control is stored in advance in the memory 15 as a set of a plurality of IDs in a predetermined order. Also, there may be a plurality of sets of RFID protocol IDs.

  In order to be able to designate any of these groups, the protocol adaptation controller 12 displays, for example, group identification information (hereinafter referred to as group ID) on the display 15. The protocol adaptation controller 12 may display one or more RFID protocol IDs corresponding to the group ID from the top as necessary. When the set ID is designated, the protocol adaptive controller 12 controls the protocol in the order in the set every time it detects the inability of the non-contact communication until the non-contact communication is realized via the non-contact reader unit 11. Shall be performed.

  The protocol adaptive controller 12 may output the RFID protocol ID designated via the operation input unit 13 to the non-contact reader unit 11 with priority. This designation may be enabled, for example, by causing the protocol adaptation controller 12 to display the RFID protocol stored in the memory 15 on the display 15. In this case, the protocol adaptation controller 12 is configured to extract and output an RFID protocol ID corresponding to the RFID protocol designated via the operation input unit 13 from the memory.

  Note that the RFID protocol ID corresponding to the region, country, region, etc. to be used may be arranged in advance so as to have a high priority by default. Thereby, the user can read data from the RFID tag 4 without being aware of the RFID protocol. When the RFID protocol is known in advance, it is possible to input a known RFID protocol ID as described above.

  The second component units 13 to 17 include an operation input unit 13 that enables operation input, data input, and the like, a control processing unit 14 that performs predetermined control and processing, and a display 15 that can display predetermined data. A memory 16 that stores predetermined data, and a terminal-side communication unit 17 that enables communication with the base station 101 via the network 100.

  The operation input unit 13 performs operations such as designation of a set ID of a set of RFID protocol IDs, input of an RFID protocol ID, reading of stored information from the RFID tag 4, etc. in addition to normal operation input in a mobile communication terminal The operation input is possible. Further, the order of the RFID protocol IDs stored in the memory 16 may be changeable via the operation input unit 13.

  The display 15 has a normal display function, and for example, data such as a set ID to be specified and an RFID protocol ID input via the operation input unit 13 are displayed on the display 15. The display 15 also displays the read server access information and article ID, a notification indicating that data cannot be read, the corresponding RFID protocol ID, and the like.

  The memory 16 stores the set ID and the set of RFID protocol ID in association with each other. Here, the RFID protocol ID is stored in association with the RFID protocol. In addition, when a set of RFID protocol IDs can be specified by default, the memory 16 stores a default ID that identifies the set.

  The IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 configured as described above operates as follows. First, the control processing unit 14 detects an operation input for reading data from the RFID tag 4 via the operation input unit 13. When this data read operation input is detected, the control processing unit 14 outputs this detection signal (hereinafter referred to as a data read detection signal) to the protocol adaptive controller 12.

  Here, predetermined information such as a set ID can be attached to the operation input for reading data. Here, in addition to the set ID, a specific RFID protocol ID or the like can be attached. The attached information (hereinafter referred to as read attached information) is output to the protocol adaptive controller 12 via the control processing unit 14.

  Next, when the data read detection signal is input from the control processing unit 14, the protocol adaptive controller 12 determines whether or not read attached information is attached. When the read attachment information is attached, the protocol adaptation controller 12 reads the RFID protocol ID from the memory 16 according to the read attachment information.

  Here, when the read attached information is a set ID, the protocol adaptive controller 12 reads from the memory 16 in order from the first RFID protocol ID of the set of RFID protocol IDs specified by the set ID and outputs them to the contactless reader unit 11. . When the read attached information is the RFID protocol ID, the protocol adaptive controller 12 outputs the RFID protocol ID to the non-contact reader unit 11. When there is no read attached information, the protocol adaptive controller 12 reads out from the memory 16 sequentially from the first RFID protocol ID of the default ID and outputs it to the non-contact reader unit 11.

  Next, the contactless reader unit 11 performs circuit connection so as to enable contactless communication with the input RFID protocol ID. However, if a circuit connected in this way has already been prepared, that circuit is designated. Next, the non-contact reader unit 11 reads the server access information and the article ID from the RFID tag 4 through non-contact communication.

  Here, the non-contact reader unit 11 performs a predetermined operation (hereinafter referred to as a read operation) in accordance with the RFID protocol ID in order to read data from the RFID tag 4. The contactless reader unit 11 outputs the read information to the protocol adaptive controller 12 when the server access information and the article ID can be read by the reading operation. When data cannot be read out by the reading operation, the non-contact reader unit 11 outputs a non-readable signal indicating this to the protocol adaptive controller 12.

  Next, when a non-readable signal is input from the non-contact reader unit 11, the protocol adaptation controller 12 reads the next RFID protocol ID from the memory 16 and outputs it to the non-contact reader unit 11. Here, when an unreadable signal corresponding to the RFID protocol ID is input as the read attached information, the protocol adaptive controller 12 makes the display 15 that the data reading is not completed.

  The protocol adaptation controller 12 also causes the display 15 to indicate that the data read is not complete when it receives an unread signal for the last RFID protocol ID in the predetermined set. At this time, the protocol adaptation controller 12 may further display all RFID protocols specified by this set of RFID protocol IDs.

  Next, when the server access information and the article ID are input from the non-contact reader unit 11 via the non-contact reader unit 11, the protocol adaptive controller 12 stores these information in the memory 16. Next, the protocol adaptation controller 12 accesses the article information management server 2 of the server access information stored above via the terminal side communication unit 17 and transmits the article ID.

  Here, when accessed by the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1, the article information management server 2 searches for the detailed article information for the attached article ID and transmits it in such a manner that the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 can view it. . The protocol adaptation controller 12 causes the display 15 to display the transmitted article detailed information. The user of the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 can browse the detailed article information by scrolling the screen displayed on the display 15 via the operation input unit 13.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing another embodiment of the IC tag reader system according to the present invention. In the IC tag reader system shown in FIG. 3, a delivery server 5 of a delivery company that delivers an article 3 is newly connected on the network 100.

  The delivery company server 5 has an article delivery information database 51 for storing information relating to delivery of the article 3 (hereinafter referred to as article delivery information), and a control capable of providing article delivery information by performing predetermined control in response to the access. A processing unit 52, an authentication unit 53 that performs user authentication as necessary, and a supplier side communication unit 54 that enables communication with the IC tag reader portable communication terminal 1 of the delivery company.

  Here, it is assumed that the address of the delivery server 5 is stored in the memory 15. Further, prior to delivery, it is assumed that article delivery information is created on the trader side for each delivered article, every delivery, etc., and stored in the article delivery information database 51 in association with the delivery article ID. This delivery item ID is stored in a writable third address of the RFID tag 4 attached to the corresponding item 3.

  Here, the article delivery information includes information such as a delivery item, a delivery destination name, a delivery destination address, a delivery destination telephone number, a delivery deadline, a requester name, a requester address, and a requester contact address. In the case of delivery to a remote location, overseas, etc., the goods delivery information includes a transportation facility such as a port and an airport, a name of a transportation organization, a flight number, a date of transportation, a time, etc. as necessary.

The operation of the IC tag reader portable information terminal 1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described below. First, the protocol adaptation controller 12 reads the delivery article ID written in the third storage area from the RFID tag 4 by controlling the non-contact reader unit 11 in accordance with a user operation. Next, the protocol adaptation controller 12 reads the address of the delivery company server 5 stored in the memory 15 and accesses it via the terminal side communication unit 17 to acquire the article delivery information corresponding to the delivery article ID. As a result, the trader can know the delivery destination of the delivery target item 3, the necessity of other transportation, and the like, and the convenience in handing over and taking over the package can be improved.

  The IC tag reader portable information terminal according to the present invention can receive information from RFID tags according to different RFID protocols attached to articles to be transported such as machines, electrical equipment, precision machines, pallets, cases, parcels, transport vehicles, etc. It can be read and used in the transportation industry, electronic component manufacturing industry, information communication equipment manufacturing industry, and the like.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of an IC tag reader system according to the present invention. It is a block block diagram which shows typically one Example of the IC tag reader portable information terminal by this invention. It is a block block diagram which shows typically the other Example of the IC tag reader system by this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC tag reader portable communication terminal 2 Goods information management server 3 Goods 4 RFID tag 5 Delivery company server 11 Non-contact reader part 12 Protocol adaptive controller 13 Operation input part 14 Control processing part 15 Display 16 Memory 17 Terminal side communication part 21 Goods detailed information Database 22 Control processing unit 23 Communication unit 51 Article delivery information database 52 Control processing unit 53 Authentication unit 100 Network 101, 102 Base station

Claims (4)

  A memory that stores one or more sets in which RFID protocol IDs that specify the RFID protocol are arranged in a predetermined order, and a predetermined operation input including designation of one of the RFID protocol ID sets can be made possible to the user. A plurality of circuits that can be switched and connected to an operation input unit that performs operation, a protocol adaptive controller that reads out and outputs the RFID protocol ID from the memory in order from the top of the specified set of RFID protocol IDs Each of all RFID protocols identified by any one or more of the set of RFID protocol IDs stored in the It corresponds to the RFID protocol ID input from the protocol adaptation controller. IC tag reader portable information terminal; and a contactless reader unit that performs non-contact communication is connected by switching the circuit Te. It has a display that displays predetermined information,
The memory stores a predetermined RFID protocol and an RFID protocol ID in association with each other, and the protocol adaptation controller displays the RFID protocol stored in the memory on the display and is designated via the operation input unit. 2. The IC tag reader portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the RFID protocol ID corresponding to the RFID protocol is extracted from the memory and preferentially output to the contactless reader unit.   When the protocol adaptation controller does not read data by non-contact communication with all RFID protocols specified for the set of RFID protocol IDs specified via the operation input unit, the protocol protocol ID 3. The IC tag reader portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein all RFID protocols specified by the set are displayed on the display. 4.   When the protocol adaptation controller performs an operation of reading data via the operation input unit, the set of RFID protocol IDs determined in advance according to the use area is read from the memory, and the RFID protocol IDs are sequentially set. The IC tag reader portable information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the IC tag reader is output to the non-contact reader unit.

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