JPH0895882A - Data communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To transfer information between a host computer and a stand-alone terminal through a noncontact coupler by using a microcomputer card as a different body and control the terminal in off-line mode, and to make, specially, the noncontact coupler to function to open a communication only by the collation of an discrimination ID card functioning as a key and maintain the security. CONSTITUTION: A user 18 carries the microcomputer card 1, as a different body having an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, the noncontact coupler, etc., between the host computer 9 and stand-alone terminal 10, and programs and data are transferred. A communication made between the stand-alone terminal 10 and microcomputer card 1 through the noncontact coupler is opened and closed by the collation between the discrimination ID card 16 and a noncontact reader/-writer 13. In response to the noncontact card 17, the noncontact reader/ writer 13 operates, and an input/output device 15 is controlled on the basis of the program and data stored in the microcomputer card 1. Further, data showing the result is loaded onto the microcomputer card 1 and registered in the host computer 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to data for processing data by using a microcomputer card as an information medium between a stand-alone terminal including a contactless reader / writer combined with a contactless card and a host computer. It relates to a communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to mount a cassette or a disc as an information medium on a host computer such as a personal computer or a stand-alone terminal, from the viewpoint of security, a key is used to open a mounting portion such as a slot. It was general. In addition, electrical connection of a microcomputer board or the like has generally been performed mechanically by an ordinary connector.

[0003]

The conventional method of unlocking the mounting portion with the key is troublesome and troublesome. In addition, in the method of connecting with a connector, attachment and detachment of the connector is troublesome, and there is a problem that the connector is damaged. There was also a problem that the connection became unstable.

According to the present invention, when a microcomputer card having a built-in storage unit, arithmetic unit or the like is used as an information medium between a host computer and a stand-alone terminal, the microcomputer card can be easily connected to the host computer and the stand-alone terminal. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication system that can be reliably performed, security is maintained, and the above problems can be solved.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a host computer having a non-contact coupler, and a stand-alone terminal comprising a contactless reader / writer having a wireless antenna and a non-contact coupler. , A microcomputer card that is carried by a user as an information medium that connects the two and has a built-in input / output interface composed of a calculation unit, a storage unit, and a non-contact coupler,
A data communication system comprising an ID card in which an identification code is recorded, which is paired with the microcomputer card and which has a built-in wireless antenna, wherein the microcomputer card is not in contact with the host computer via an input / output interface built therein. , The desired program is written to the built-in storage unit and data communication necessary for information processing is performed with the host computer, and the stand-alone stand-alone is performed via the built-in input / output interface of the microcomputer card. When connected to the terminal in a contactless manner, the built-in arithmetic unit controls information processing performed by the stand-alone terminal according to the written program and performs data communication necessary for the information processing, and is included in the stand-alone terminal. The contactless reader / writer is connected to the wireless And wherein the data communication system that allows data communication with the microcomputer card only when receiving the identification code from the ID card through the antenna.

[0006]

The microcomputer card provided with the non-contact coupler and the host computer are brought close to each other to couple them, and the host computer loads the necessary program and data into the microcomputer card. Next, a microcomputer card is carried, and the microcomputer card is brought close to a stand-alone terminal having a non-contact coupler to couple them. When the identification ID card is brought close to the stand-alone terminal, the identification code is exchanged between the identification ID card and the contactless reader / writer of the stand-alone terminal via the wireless antenna, and communication is opened between the microcomputer card and the stand-alone terminal. Various data stored in the microcomputer card is loaded on the stand-alone terminal side. Further, the stand-alone terminal is operated and controlled according to a program by an arithmetic unit built in the microcomputer card, and performs a predetermined process on an attached input / output device. On the contrary, the processing result is loaded from the stand-alone terminal to the microcomputer card. Next, when the microcomputer card is brought close to the host computer and the two are combined, the data representing the processing result is unloaded on the host computer side, and the host computer performs predetermined information management and the like based on the information. As described above, in the present invention, the microcomputer card is not mechanically attached by the connector or the like, and the wireless contact is performed using the non-contact coupler, which facilitates the handling. Further, since the identification ID card is used as a key instead of the key and electronically unlocked, security is maintained.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a data communication system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a microcomputer card used in the present invention, and FIG. 3 is between a microcomputer card and a host computer or a stand-alone terminal. FIG. 4 is a partial block diagram showing the engagement state of the non-contact coupler in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the data communication system of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the microcomputer card 1 is
Comprised of a card-like article that can be carried, the arithmetic unit 2,
The storage unit 3, the input / output interface 4, the non-contact coupler 5, and the like are electrically connected to each other. Further, in this embodiment, the peripheral IC 6 is built in. The storage unit 3 stores programs such as basic software for controlling a contactless reader / writer included in a stand-alone terminal and application software for controlling the terminal, and data related thereto.
Linked to The arithmetic unit 2 is a so-called CPU and controls an external non-contact reader / writer to read / write data and control input / output. However, the function of initially collating the identification ID card, which is an electronic key on the non-contact reader / writer side, and the control function of opening the communication of the non-contact coupler by this are not pre-installed in the non-contact reader / writer. Internally installed in another microcomputer. After the communication is opened once, the control is transferred to the CPU on the microcomputer card side.
The input / output interface 4 is for connecting the microcomputer card 1 to a host computer or a stand-alone terminal and is a general-purpose serial interface RS232C.
Is adopted in this embodiment. The non-contact coupler 5 is, for example, a photo coupler and corresponds to a connector for connecting the microcomputer card 1 to the host computer or a stand-alone terminal. The non-contact coupler 5 includes a phototransistor 7 and a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED) 8. Further, the peripheral IC 6 is a clock IC in this embodiment, which measures the reference time and outputs clock information to the arithmetic unit 2 side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer card 1 connects a host computer 9 and a stand-alone terminal 10 to construct a data communication system. The host computer 9 can communicate with the microcomputer card 1 via the non-contact coupler 5 a and the input / output interface 11, and also has a CPU 12 and has a stand-alone terminal 10.
The programs and data for controlling the contactless reader / writer, the input / output device, etc., and the information processing program are loaded on the microcomputer card 1. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the non-contact coupler 5a is a phototransistor 7a.
And the LED 8a, and the phototransistor 7a is arranged so as to face the LED 8 of the microcomputer card 1.
Reference numeral 8a is arranged to face the phototransistor 7 of the microcomputer card 1, and constitutes a channel for bidirectional communication. The host computer 9 of this embodiment is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer with a non-contact coupler 5a as a connector.
The one with is attached is adopted.

Returning to FIG. 1 again, the stand-alone terminal 10
Includes a non-contact reader / writer 13, an input / output interface 14, an input / output device 15, and a non-contact coupler 5b. As shown in FIG. 3, the non-contact coupler 5b is composed of a phototransistor 7b and an LED 8b, which face the LED 8 and the phototransistor 7 of the microcomputer card 1 to form a bidirectional communication channel. The contactless reader / writer 13 exchanges data with the identification ID card 16 and the contactless card 17 via the antenna. Both cards have basically the same structure but differ in the purpose of use.

The identification ID card 16 corresponds to an electronic lock and is paired with the microcomputer card 1 and has an identification symbol such as a personal identification number. Due to the proximity of the identification ID card 16, the contactless reader / writer 13 reads the identification ID card 1 stored in advance through the personal identification number and the antenna.
It is configured to operate to open the communication between the non-contact coupler 5b and the non-contact coupler 5 on the side of the microcomputer card 1 when the personal identification number of No. 6 is collated, and when they match. That is, even if the microcomputer card 1 is set alone in the stand-alone terminal 10, if there is no communication regarding the code verification between the identification ID card 16 and the contactless reader / writer 13 which are paired with the microcomputer card 1. The microcomputer card 1 and the stand-alone terminal 10 are not electrically connected. On the other hand, the contactless card 17 is used, for example, as a general ID card or a product tag, and the contactless reader / writer 13 has a function of reading or writing data from the contactless card 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer card 1 is a separate component that engages with both the host computer 9 and the stand-alone terminal 10, and the user 18 carries the both.

Next, the operation of the data communication system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart of FIG. The microcomputer card 1 is set in the host computer 9 that stores the necessary programs and data (step 100). The non-contact coupler 5 of the microcomputer card 1 and the non-contact coupler 5a of the host computer 9 are optically connected, and the programs and data stored in the host computer 9 are loaded into the storage unit 3 (FIG. 2) of the microcomputer card 1. Yes (Step 10
1). The user 18 carries the microcomputer card 1 (step 102) and sets it on the stand-alone terminal 10 (step 103). The user 18 carrying the microcomputer card 1 brings the identification ID card 16 closer to the stand-alone terminal 10 (step 104). Identification of the contactless reader / writer 13 of the stand-alone terminal 10
Data is exchanged with the D card 16, and the code is collated. As a result of matching, if the two match or mismatch, the microcomputer card 1 and the stand-alone terminal 1
The non-contact couplers 5 and 5b can communicate with 0 (yes
s) and the communication disabled state (no) (step 10).
5). In the case of yes, the stand-alone terminal 10 and the microcomputer card 1 are connected, and the stand-alone terminal 10 is started to execute its function (step 10).
6). If no, stop the process. Next, when the contactless card 17 which is the object of information processing approaches the stand-alone terminal 10, the stand-alone terminal 10 reads the data wired to the contactless card 17 (step 107), and the stand-alone terminal 10 makes the microcomputer card 1 Operation unit 2 based on the program and data of
The operation of the input / output device 15 is controlled according to the control of (step 108). The input / output device 15 may be, for example, a door opening / closing device. That is, specific user 1
Control operations such as unlocking only 8 are performed. Next, the result data and the like associated with the control operation of the input / output device 15 are stored in the microcomputer card 1 via the contactless reader / writer 13 (step 109). Microcomputer card 1
From the stand-alone terminal (Step 11
0), the user 18 carries the microcomputer card 1 (step 111), sets the microcomputer card 1 in the host computer 9 again (step 112), and the contactless coupler 5 of the microcomputer card 1 and the contactless coupler 5a of the host computer 9 are set. And are optically coupled (step 11
3) The data stored in the microcomputer card 1 is registered in the host computer 9 (step 114). The host computer 9 outputs and displays management data necessary for information management based on the data (step 11).
5). Hereinafter, the same operation is repeated.

The host computer 9 is a microcomputer card 1
Can store various programs and data. Since the microcomputer card 1 is a separate item, various programs and data can be loaded in advance by setting the microcomputer card 1 when the host computer 9 is idle. Further, as described above, the stand-alone terminal 10 and the microcomputer card 1 are engaged with the identification ID card 16 of the user 18 who owns the microcomputer card 1 and the contactless reader / writer 13 of the stand-alone terminal 10 to engage the personal identification number. The non-contact couplers 5 and 5b are not opened unless they are checked. Therefore, security is maintained. Moreover, since the stand-alone terminal 10 and the microcomputer card 1 are separate products, they can be combined and operated at any convenient time. Further, since both are separate products, the stand-alone terminal 10 may be either a multi-type terminal including a plurality of multi-type terminals in one system or a multi-function terminal that switches and uses one terminal with different specifications. Applied. Note that the multi-type terminal is, for example, a stand-alone terminal having an input device for measuring the weight of an object to be measured or a stand-alone terminal having a pass / fail judgment unit for determining whether the weight of the object to be measured is output as an output device. To be Also,
The multi-function terminal is a terminal that has a door opening / closing device as an input / output device and is used by switching according to the specifications for weekdays or holidays.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the following remarkable effects are obtained. 1) The host computer and the stand-alone terminal are connected to the microcomputer card via a non-contact coupler consisting of a photo coupler, so the setting work is much easier than the mechanical connection by the conventional connector, and the connector is damaged. Trouble does not occur. This ensures reliable data transfer. 2) Since the communication between the stand-alone terminal and the microcomputer card is configured to be opened depending on the result of verification by the identification ID card paired with the microcomputer card, the security of the contactless coupler is maintained. 3) Since the host computer and the stand-alone terminal are connected off-line via the microcomputer card, an online line is unnecessary, and the host computer and the stand-alone terminal are arranged at arbitrary separated locations. 4) The free time of the host computer can be effectively used. 5) Since a separate microcomputer card is used, batch processing is possible for loading programs and data to the microcomputer card, and a stand-alone terminal of a multi-type terminal or a multi-function terminal is also adopted. 6) The microcomputer card is compact and easy to carry and convenient to handle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a data communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a microcomputer card of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial configuration diagram showing structures and engagement states of a non-contact coupler of a microcomputer card and a non-contact coupler of a host computer and a stand-alone terminal.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the data communication system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 microcomputer card 2 arithmetic unit 3 storage unit 4 input / output interface 5 non-contact coupler 5a non-contact coupler 5b non-contact coupler 6 peripheral IC 7 phototransistor 7a phototransistor 7b phototransistor 8 light emitting diode (LED) 8a light emitting diode (LED) 8b Light emitting diode (LED) 9 Host computer 10 Stand-alone terminal 11 Input / output interface 12 Computer 13 Contactless reader / writer 14 Input / output interface 15 Input / output device 16 Identification ID card 17 Contactless card 18 User

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display area H04B 1/59 H04L 9/00 9/10 9/12

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A host computer equipped with a non-contact coupler, a stand-alone terminal composed of a contactless reader / writer equipped with a wireless antenna and a non-contact coupler, and an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, and a storage unit carried by a user as an information medium connecting them. A microcomputer card with an integrated input / output interface consisting of a non-contact coupler,
A data communication system comprising an ID card in which an identification code is recorded, which is paired with the microcomputer card and which has a built-in wireless antenna, wherein the microcomputer card is not in contact with the host computer via an input / output interface built therein. , The desired program is written to the built-in storage unit and data communication necessary for information processing is performed with the host computer, and the stand-alone stand-alone is performed via the built-in input / output interface of the microcomputer card. When connected to the terminal in a contactless manner, the built-in arithmetic unit controls information processing performed by the stand-alone terminal according to the written program and performs data communication necessary for the information processing, and is included in the stand-alone terminal. The contactless reader / writer is connected to the wireless Data communication system and permits the microcomputer card data communication only when receiving the identification code from the ID card through the antenna.