FR2669453A1 - ARTICLE INFORMATION DEVICE AND COMPUTER SYSTEM USING SUCH A DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (3) is connected to an article to provide information thereon and comprises a memory (35), a transceiver (32) for electromagnetic waves in particular, and an electrical generator (39). It further comprises a microprocessor (34) and said memory (35) stores a microprocessor operation programme and at least one criterion which characterizes the article. A remote management and/or article locating system comprising at least one computer, at least one transceiver and at least one device providing information about an article, is also described.

Description

 The invention relates to an information device on an article as well as to a system intended to use at least one such device.

The main object of the invention is an information device on an article linked to said article, comprising
- storage means,
- a transmitter / receiver of waves, in particular electromagnetic,
- an electric generator, characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor, and that the storage means store:
- a microprocessor operating program,
- at least one criterion characterizing the article.

 The subject of the invention is also a system for remote management and / or for locating articles, comprising at least one computer and at least one transmitter / receiver, characterized in that it comprises at least one device capable of communicating with said transmitter / receiver.

 The device and the system according to the present invention not only allow the localization of objects, but also make it possible to carry out complete management of a stock or fleet of articles, or even living beings, in particular humans.

 The incorporation of a processing unit, advantageously in the form of a microprocessor, into each device according to the present invention allows simultaneous processing of a request by all the devices. This improves the speed of response, and simplifies the request processing software. In fact, all the devices, or all the groups of devices, include request processing software, advantageously identical. This software is much simpler than centralized processing software for all responses to requests. In addition, as will be explained below, each device responds only to specific requests. This avoids the transmission of responses by all the devices present. The amount of information to be transmitted is therefore very much lower, which makes it possible to use a less wide bandwidth transmission channel and / or to accelerate the transmissions.

The invention will be better understood by means of the description below and the appended figures given as nonlimiting examples among which
- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the system according to the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a diagram of a device according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of organization of the memory of the device in FIG. 2.

 In FIGS. 1 to 3, the same references have been used to designate the same elements.

 In Figure 1, we can see a system according to the present invention comprising a computer 1 connected to at least one transmitter / receiver 11, advantageously to a plurality of transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M. Each 1M transceiver il is capable of transmitting and / or receiving modulated waves, advantageously modulated electromagnetic waves, typically radio waves.

The use of radio waves is symbolized by the connection of a transmit / receive antenna 2 to each transmitter / receiver 11 to 1M.

 Radio waves have the advantage of being able to be reflected and to propagate through non-metallic obstacles.

 The use of other types of electromagnetic waves does not depart from the scope of the present invention. For example modulated infrared waves allow the use of a very wide bandwidth. In addition, it is possible to limit their range with great precision. For example, one can choose an angle of emission and / or reception or stop their propagation with a simple partition.

 The system of FIG. 1 also comprises a plurality of devices 3 for information on an article.

 Advantageously, each device 3 for information on an article is fixed to the corresponding article, for example by a clamp or an adhesive.

 The transmitters / receivers II at 1M are distributed, on the one hand, in order to be able to communicate with all the devices 3 for information on an article, and, on the other hand, to be able to locate one of the devices 3. The location is obtained for example by triangulation, several receivers being capable of receiving the response of each device 3, either by cutting up the space, for example by partitions preventing the propagation of the waves used. In all cases, the device 3 is located according to the transmitter (s) / receivers which have received the signals transmitted by the device 3 to be located.

 The computer 1 is for example a microcomputer. The transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M comprise means of connection to the computer 1, for example by the electricity distribution network or of the computer network type. Each transmitter / receiver comprises a device for modulating and coding the waves to be transmitted, and a device for demodulating and decoding the waves received. Advantageously, all the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M transmit substantially simultaneously a request intended for the devices 3. The exchange of information between the computer 1 and the transmitters / receivers is managed by software constituting an additional layer of the operating system. . For example, terminal control software, computer network management software or management of controllers or interfaces are used. In addition to the responses received, each 1M transmitter / receiver specifies its number or address so that let the computer 1 know which of the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M has received said response.

 In Figure 2, we can see an embodiment of the device 3 for information on an article according to the present invention.

 The device 3 of FIG. 2 comprises a transmit / receive antenna 31 connected to a transmitter / receiver 32.

The transmitter / receiver 32 is advantageously connected via an analog-digital converter and a digital-analog converter 33 to a microprocessor 34. The microprocessor 34 is connected to the storage means 35 typically an electronic memory.

A clock 36, for example quartz, ensures the synchronization of various elements of the device 3.

 This device 3 also comprises an electric generator 39, advantageously a chemical generator, in particular a battery or an accumulator. For example, a lithium battery or a screen-printed battery is used. Advantageously, the device 3 includes means for testing 37, 38 of the amount of energy available in the generator 39.

 Advantageously, the device 3 comprises signaling means 40, for example a light-emitting diode or an audible alarm device.

The operation of the device 3 according to the present invention comprises three stages
-receiving request messages;
-data processing;
- possible emission of a response.

Receiving messages
A message is picked up by the antenna 31 and demodulated by the transmitter / receiver 32. The analog-digital converter 33 digitizes the message.

 Advantageously, the message in its digital form is stored in a buffer memory, not shown, in memory 35 or in a register of microprocessor 34. For example, an address bus is used to transmit the message. The message is stored under the supervision of the microprocessor 34 or a direct memory access device (DMA in English terminology) not shown.

Data processing
The mircoprocessor 34 processes the request. In most cases, the request includes a selective query. The microprocessor 34 determines whether the device 3 is affected by the selection criteria contained in the request. If so, it selects the information that is requested by the request.

Response response
In the case where the device 3 is concerned by the request, the microprocessor 34 selects in the memory 35 the information to be transmitted and elaborates a message. The message is modulated by the converter 33 and by the transmitter / receiver 32. Optionally, the device simultaneously transmits a location signal for example, a sound or light signal facilitating its location to a human operator.

 The response is picked up by at least one of the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M in FIG. I and transmitted to computer 1.

 It should be noted that only the relevant information has been transmitted to the transceivers il at 1M and therefore at the computer 1. This has many advantages. On the one hand, the processing of the information transmitted by the various devices 3 is reduced, and, on the other hand, the amount of information to be transmitted has been reduced. Thus, it is possible to reduce the time necessary for the transmission of the responses and / or the bandwidth of the channel allocated to the transmissions.

 The advantage is particularly important in the case where a transmission protocol with collision detection is used. In such a protocol, each device 3 monitors the transmission channel. If a transmission is in progress, no device 3 makes an attempt to transmit. When the channel is free, and that a device 3 must transmit, it advantageously waits for a pseudo-random period of time, then, if during this period of time it has detected no transmission, it begins to transmit its response to the request . During transmission it continues to monitor the channel. So if two devices 3 have started to transmit simultaneously, they both interrupt the transmission. The device 3 with the shortest pseudo-random waiting period can start transmitting.

 The reduction in the number of responses to the requests to be transmitted avoids saturating the channel and in particular the collisions by simultaneous transmissions of the beginnings of response.

 It is understood that the use of other transmission protocols such as, for example, multi-channel simultaneous transmission or transmission with circulation of a token does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

 It is understood that simultaneously in each isolated room, in particular by partitions, a device 3 can transmit on the same transmission channel.

 The reliability of the system according to the present invention is improved by monitoring the energy level available in each device.

For example, a test of the available energy level is carried out.

Advantageously, the device 3 includes a counter 37 which records the current consumption. It measures either the flow rate or the operating times of various elements of the device 3. The energy level is equal to the difference between the initial energy level and the energy already consumed.

 In a first exemplary embodiment, the devices 3 whose energy level reaches 25% of the initial capacity of the generator 39 emits an alarm signal.

 In an advantageous variant, periodically, the computer 1 interrogates the devices 3 on their energy levels. For example, it issues a request requesting the response of all the devices 3 whose energy level is less than or equal to 25% of the maximum capacity of the generator 39. An operator will change or recharge the generators 39 of the devices 3 having responded to the request . It is of course possible to send a request by selecting all the devices 3, in particular to ensure that there are no devices 3 whose generator 39 is unable to supply the energy necessary for the emission of an alarm. The comparison of the list of devices 3 stored in the computer 1 with the request responses makes it possible to determine possible faulty devices 3, in particular as a result of the exhaustion of their generator 39.

 In FIG. 2, a single memory 35 is shown. It is understood that the memory 35 can comprise several electronic components and even several types of components. An example of a logical structure of the memory 35 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The memory 35 stores an operating program 351 and at least one selection criterion 353. The example illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises N selection criteria referenced 353 to 35 (N + 2). It includes a memory 350 intended for the execution of the program 351. Advantageously, it also comprises a number 352 of the device 3 and a selection key 35 (N + 3) allowing for example to select a group of the device 3. The references 351 to 35 (N + 3) correspond to permanent memories. One can use for example a read only memory (ROM in Anglo-Saxon terminology). The program execution memory 350 is necessarily a random access memory (RAM in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

 The memories 352 to 35 (N + 3) are preferably of the reprogrammable type, for example of the erasable programmable memory type (EPROM in Anglo-Saxon terminology) or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM in Anglo-Saxon terminology). The device 3 includes the contacts necessary for programming data in the memory 35. Advantageously, the memory 35 is of the backed-up random access memory type. One uses for example a static memory (S RAM in English terminology) whose electrical consumption at rest is reduced. In such a case, it is possible to use the antenna 31 to load the memory 35. In such a case, it is not necessary to have electrical contacts on the device 3 for loading the memory 35.

 During the processing of a request, the microprocessor 34 executing the program 351 checks whether the information stored in the memory 35 corresponds to the selection criteria requested. Advantageously, the queries can contain various Boolean operators, for example AND, OR, NO, OR exclusive to combine the various selection criteria. Likewise, the criteria lower or equal, lower, higher or higher or equal can be used.

 The criteria can vary according to their membership of a group, indicated by a key 35 (N + 3) to a group. For example, for a "book" group we have for example an "authors" criterion, a "title" criterion, a "publisher" criterion, and a "price" criterion. For a key "household appliance", we will have for example the criteria "nature of the product", "brand of the product", "product reference" and "price".

 When it is attached to an article, the memory 35 is loaded with the relevant information allowing remote management of the stock. When the article leaves the store comprising the system according to the invention, the device 3 is removed therefrom and its emissions are blocked, for example by means of a switch not shown.

 The invention mainly applies to the localization and / or the remote management of articles, with the possibility by issuing appropriate requests to carry out an inventory.

Claims (9)

 1. Information system on an article linked to said article, comprising  - storage means,  - a transmitter / receiver of electromagnetic waves in particular,  - an electric generator, characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor (34), and that the storage means store  - a program (351) for operating the microprocessor (34),  - at least one criterion (353 ... 35 N + 2)) characterizing the article.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage means (35) stores a key (35 (N + 3)) concerning the membership of the article in a group.  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage means (35) stores a number (352) of the device (3).  4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (37, 38) for measuring the level of energy available in the electric generator (39).  5. System for remote management and / or location of articles, comprising at least one computer and at least one transmitter / receiver, characterized in that it comprises at least one device (3) according to any one of previous claims capable of communicating with said transmitter / receiver (11).  6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the emitter (s) (11 to 1M) are capable of issuing a request relating to at least one selection criterion (353 to 35 (N + 2)) and that only the devices (3) concerned send a response to said request.  7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that at least two devices (3) simultaneously transmit their response to a request from a transmitter (11 to 1M).  8. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the devices (3) successively transmit their response to a request transmitted by a transmitter (11 to 1M).  9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the devices (3) comprise means for detecting collision of responses to a request.