JP2001067226A - Program download system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make down-loadable an application program more easily than a conventional manner to a portable IC tag reading device or the like. SOLUTION: A portable terminal device 100 is provided with a storing means 110 for storing a down-loaded application program, a starting means 109 for starting the application program, a third communicating means 101 for down- loading the application program from a first communicating means 202, and for storing the down-loaded application program in the storing means 110, fourth communicating means 115 and 114 for reading information and an identification code for down-load stored in a non-contact IC tag 500, and a mode switching means 109 for switching a mode for starting the application program or a mode for down-loading the application program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program download system, and more particularly, to a non-contact type IC tag reader / writer, which is provided with an application program describing the operation procedure of the reader / writer from a predetermined external device. The present invention relates to a program download system for downloading.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, non-contact type ICs have been used in library management, car management in parking lots, and logistics.
Tags (hereinafter referred to as IC tags) are being used. This IC tag has an antenna, a memory and a CP.
U and other parts are sandwiched between plastic films, and when accessed from an external terminal device (hereinafter referred to as a reader / writer) using a proximity electromagnetic field such as electromagnetic induction, The unique identification code stored in advance is transmitted to the reader / writer so that the title of the book, the owner of the car, and the like can be identified.

[0003] Such an IC tag application field is used not only for the management of books and the like, but also for the purpose of preventing theft and destruction of equipment and devices. For example, the above-described IC tag is installed in a housing in which a device having a highly confidential program is stored, and if the housing is destroyed, the IC tag cannot be controlled. Then, even if a third party attempts to modify the above program by destroying the housing, the IC tag cannot be controlled at the same time, and the identification code cannot be read. Therefore, the administrator of the device simply holds the reader / writer over the reader / writer. You can easily know the fact of unauthorized modification.

Here, a reader / writer for reading information from such an IC tag and writing information into the IC tag will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional portable reader / writer. As shown in the figure, the reader / writer 100 'has a size such that the body can be gripped by one hand of the user, and the information stored in the IC tag 300' is contacted by a button operation. , Or conversely, information can be output from the reader / writer 100 'and written to the memory in the IC tag 300'. The procedure of the read operation and the like is realized when a control unit (not shown) built in the reader / writer 100 ′ reads and executes an application program stored and held in a memory (not shown). You.

[0005] Such an application program is generally developed by a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) 200 'or the like. Hereinafter, an apparatus for program development installed outside such a reader / writer is referred to as an external apparatus. The developed application program is RS232C cable 400 '
And the reader / writer 10 via the connector 101 '.
0 ', and stored in a storage means such as a built-in flash memory.

[0006]

On the other hand, in such a portable reader / writer, in order to prevent a person other than an authorized user from falsifying an application program and illegally using the reader / writer, the portable reader / writer is required. It is necessary to prevent anyone other than the user from changing the application program. Therefore, conventionally, when the power is turned on, a download mode is started by a special key operation, and further, an application program cannot be downloaded unless a password known only to the authorized user is input. I was

However, if a special key operation and a personal identification number are input each time an application program is downloaded, it takes a lot of trouble, and it takes time each time the application program is downloaded. It was one of the factors that hindered. Further, when downloading via the RS232C cable 400 ', there is also a problem that the connector 101' is easily broken due to its small shape and fragility when repeated attachment / detachment.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an application program can be downloaded to a portable IC tag reader or the like more easily than in the past, so that an efficient An object of the present invention is to provide a program download system that enables development of application programs.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a program download system according to the present invention comprises a portable terminal device (100) for reading information from a non-contact IC tag (500). The portable terminal device (10) is connectable to the portable terminal device (100), and is coupled to the portable terminal device (100).
0) In the program download system comprising a program download device (200) for downloading the application program describing the operation procedure to the portable terminal device (100), the program download device (200) is provided with a predetermined First communication means (202) for reading and outputting an application program developed by the external device (300)
And a second communication means (201) capable of transmitting a predetermined download identification code. The portable terminal device (100) has a storage means (110) for storing the downloaded application program. )When,
Activating means (109) for activating the application program stored in the storage means (110), and downloading the application program from the first communication means (202) and downloading the application program from the storage means (11
0), and a fourth communication means (115, 114) for enabling the information stored in the non-contact type IC tag (500) and the download identification code to be read out. And the fourth communication means (1
Mode switching means (10, 14) for switching to a mode for activating the application program or a mode for downloading the application program in accordance with the type of information read by the application program (15, 114).
9). With this configuration, the present invention switches to the download mode when the download identification code is read, and can automatically perform the download. When a non-contact type IC tag is read, the mode is switched to the normal mode, a normal reading / writing operation is performed, and the input of a conventional personal identification number or the like becomes unnecessary.

On the other hand, the present invention includes the following configurations as other aspects. That is, the first communication means and the third communication means may be communication means using infrared rays, respectively. Further, the second communication means and the fourth communication means may be communication means using a proximity electromagnetic field. Further, the above-mentioned communication means may be a non-contact type IC tag.

[0011]

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
The reader / writer 100 for reading information from the C tag 500 and writing information to the IC tag 500 has a size that can be held with one hand as in the conventional example, and further includes an infrared unit 101.

An application program for controlling the drive of the reader / writer 100 is developed by an external device such as the personal computer 300. The developed program is read out to the program download device 200 via the RS232C cable 400, and then transmitted to the infrared unit 10 via the infrared interface 202.
1 and written to the storage means in the reader / writer 100.

The program download device 200 includes an IC tag 201 for storing and holding data for starting download (an identification code that is not disclosed to general users and is dedicated to start of download), an LCD unit 203 serving as a display unit, , A write key 204 for switching to a write mode described later, and a read key 205 for switching to a read mode described later. The central portion of the program download device 200 has a depression 206 for mounting the reader / writer 100,
The writer 100 is mounted in the recess 206, and infrared communication is performed when the infrared interface 202 and the infrared unit 101 face each other.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the reader / writer 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the reader / writer 100 includes an infrared unit 101 and a crystal oscillator 10.
2, 103, an LED 104 that emits light (green or red) according to the driving state of the reader / writer 100, a battery 105 that supplies power to each unit of the reader / writer 100, a serial interface 106, and an LCD unit as a display unit 107, a buzzer 108 which emits a warning sound when reading / writing is completed or an error occurs, and a reader / writer 10
0, a flash memory 110 for storing and holding a database including an application program and an identification code stored in the IC tag 201, an SRAM 111, a clock 112, and the like.
, A crystal oscillator 113, a modulation / demodulation circuit 114, an antenna 115 for communicating with an IC tag, a power switch 116, an up key 117 for raising a cursor displayed on the LCD unit 107, and an LCD unit 10.
Down key 118 for lowering the cursor displayed on 7
And a cancel key 119 used for canceling a reading operation or canceling an input, and an R / W key 120 for inputting a read / write instruction to an IC tag.

FIG. 3 shows the program download device 20
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the details of No. 0. As shown in the figure,
The program download device 200 includes an RS232C interface 206 to which the RS232C cable 400 is connected, an infrared interface 202, a read key 204, a write key 205, a power supply circuit 207 that supplies power to each part of the program download device 200,
The apparatus includes a CPU 208 for controlling each unit of the program download device 200, a ROM 209, a RAM 210, and an LCD unit 203 as a display unit.

Here, the operation procedure of the reader / writer 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the reader / writer 100. Control of each step is realized by the CPU 109. First, when power is turned on, the reader / writer 100 reads information from an IC tag using electromagnetic waves or the like (step 1001), and determines whether the read information is an identification code for starting download (step 1001). 1002). That is, the database in the flash memory 110 is compared with the received identification code, and if the received information matches the download start identification code, the reader / writer 10
0 is started in advance, otherwise, the application program already stored in the reader / writer 100 is started to perform a normal read / write operation on the IC tag.

After the downloader is started, it waits until a key is further pressed (step 1005), and determines the type of the pressed key (step 1006). If it is the start key, an infrared code for starting communication is transmitted to the program download device 200 (step 1007), and then the reception of the infrared code from the program download device 200 as a response is waited (step 1).
008). Thereafter, the type of the received code is determined (step 1009). If the code is not a code for starting communication, the process returns to step 1007. If the code is an infrared code for starting communication, the application program is downloaded by infrared communication to the program download apparatus 200. And communication is performed until the termination is determined (step 10).
10, 1011). After the communication in step 1011 is completed, the communication completion message and the checksum are
After displaying on the D unit 107 (step 1012)
Finish the download.

FIG. 5 shows the program download device 20
6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of 0, and control of each step is realized by the CPU 208. First, when the power of the program download device 200 is turned on,
The data (application program, etc.) stored in the RAM 210 is checked (step 200).
1). If there is data, the program name, version and checksum are displayed on LCD unit 203 (step 2002). If there is no data, no display is performed, and the flow proceeds to the key determination in step 2003. Step 2
In 003, the pressed key is determined. If the key is not pressed within a predetermined time, a normal mode described later is started (step 2004). If the read key 204 is pressed, the read mode described later is set. When the write key 205 is depressed (step 200), a write mode described later is started (step 200).
6).

Here, the normal mode refers to the personal computer 300.
This is a normal mode for downloading the application program read from the PC to the reader / writer 100 via the program download device 200.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in addition to the normal mode,
The application program read from the personal computer 300 is stored and held in the storage means of the program download device 200, and the reader / writer 10 can be directly read from the program download device 200 without the personal computer 300.
It has a mode that allows downloading to 0.

That is, the program download device 2
When the read key 204 is pressed, the application program stored in the program download device is stored in the program download device 200 when the read key 204 is pressed, and when the write key 205 is pressed, the application program stored in the program download device 200 is read.
Download mode. Of course, the read mode and the write mode are not essential modes, and only the normal mode may be provided.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure in the normal mode shown in FIG. First, the connection status between the program download device 200 and the personal computer 300 is checked (step 3001), and if connected, a start request from the personal computer 300 is waited for (step 300).
2). If there is a start request (step 3003), an infrared code for starting communication is transmitted to reader / writer 100 (step 3004), and reception of an infrared code from reader / writer 100 as a response is waited (step 3003). 3005) Upon receipt, the type of the code is determined (step 3006). If the code is not an infrared code for starting communication, the process returns to step 3004. If the code is an infrared code for starting communication, data transmitted from the personal computer 300 is received via the RS232C cable 400 (step 3007), and termination is determined. The data is downloaded by performing infrared communication with the reader / writer 100 (steps 3008 and 3009).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the read mode shown in FIG. First, the connection status between the program download device 200 and the personal computer 300 is checked (step 4001).
It waits for a start request from 0 (step 4002). If there is a start request, the personal computer 300 and the RS232C cable 40
0 (step 4004), read the data, and store it in the RAM 210 (step 400).
5). When the reading is completed, the program name, version and checksum are displayed on the LCD unit 203 (step 4007).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the write mode shown in FIG. First, an infrared code for starting communication is transmitted to the reader / writer 100 (step 5001), and reception of an infrared code from the reader / writer 100 as a response is waited (step 5002). If the code is not an infrared code for starting communication, the process returns to step 5001. If the code is an infrared code for starting communication, download is performed by performing infrared communication with the reader / writer 100 until termination is determined (steps 5003 and 5004). 5005).

As described above, the read mode and the write mode
If a mode is provided and the application program is stored in advance in the program download device 200,
Downloading can be performed without the personal computer 300. In addition, a plurality of application programs
When stored in M210, if the type and version of the application program are displayed at the time of downloading, mistakes in downloading can be prevented, and work efficiency can be improved. Further, the reader / writer 100 does not necessarily need to have both read / write functions, and may have at least a read function.

[0025]

As described above, in the present invention,
The program download device includes a first communication unit that reads and outputs an application program developed by a predetermined external device, and a second communication unit that can transmit a predetermined download identification code.
Further, the portable terminal device includes a storage unit for storing the downloaded application program, a start unit for starting the application program stored in the storage unit, and an application program from the first communication unit. A third communication means for downloading and storing the information in the storage means, a fourth communication means capable of reading out the information stored in the non-contact type IC tag and the identification code for download, and a fourth communication means. A mode switching unit that switches to a mode for activating the application program or a mode for downloading the application program in accordance with the type of the read information. With this configuration, the present invention switches to the download mode when the download identification code is read, and can automatically perform the download. When a non-contact type IC tag is read, the mode is switched to the normal mode, and a normal reading / writing operation is performed, thereby eliminating the need for inputting a conventional personal identification number or the like. Therefore, the trouble of the download operation can be reduced, and the development speed of the application program can be improved. Also, since the password is not known to others, the application program can be prevented from being tampered with illegally. Further, by using infrared rays for communication, damage to the connector portion can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a reader / writer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of a program download device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the reader / writer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the program download device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in a normal mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in a read mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in a write mode.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

100: reader / writer, 101: infrared unit, 1
02, 103 ... crystal oscillator, 104 ... LED, 105 ...
Battery, 106 ... serial interface (I / F), 1
07 LCD unit, 108 Buzzer, 109 CP
U, 110: flash memory, 111: SRAM, 1
12 clock, 113 crystal oscillator, 114 modulation / demodulation circuit, 115 antenna, 116 power switch 117
... Up key, 118 ... Down key, 119 ... Cancel key, 120 ... R / W key, 200 ... Program download device, 201 ... IC tag, 202 ... Infrared interface (I / F), 203 ... LCD unit, 20
4: Read key, 205: Write key, 206: RS2
32C interface (I / F), 207 ... power supply circuit,
208 CPU, 209 ROM, 210 RAM, 3
00: Personal computer (PC), 400
... RS232C cable, 500 ... IC tag.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A portable terminal device for reading information from a non-contact type IC tag, and an operation of the portable terminal device that is connectable to the portable terminal device and is coupled to the portable terminal device. A program download system comprising: a program download device that downloads an application program describing a procedure to the portable terminal device. The program download device reads and outputs an application program developed by a predetermined external device. And a second communication unit capable of transmitting a predetermined download identification code. The portable terminal device includes a storage unit for storing the downloaded application program, The application stored in this storage means And starting means for starting the program, a third communication means for storing in the storage means to download the application program from the first communication means, the non-contact type I
Fourth communication means for enabling the information stored in the C tag and the download identification code to be readable, and activating the application program in accordance with the type of information read by the fourth communication means. A mode switching unit for switching to a mode or a mode for downloading the application program. 2. The program download system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication means and said third communication means are communication means using infrared rays, respectively. 3. The program download system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication unit and the fourth communication unit are each a communication unit using a near electromagnetic field. 4. The program download system according to claim 3, wherein said second communication means is a contactless IC tag.