JP2002312727A - Id tag reader and id tag communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ID tag reader for which constitution is simplified and miniaturized and the waste of a read operation is suppressed, and an ID tag communication system. SOLUTION: This ID tag reader is provided with an ID tag reader main body reading tag information from an ID tag and a tag information output device outputting the read tag information. The ID tag reader main body is provided with a tag information storage means storing the tag information, a read means obtaining the tag information of the ID tag present within a control range by a periodic read operation, a first storage control means storing only the tag information of the ID tag present within the control range in the tag information storage means at all times and a second storage control means cyclically and periodically reading the stored tag information piece by piece and supplying it to the tag information output device. This ID tag communication system is provided with the ID tag storing the tag information and the ID tag reader.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an ID tag reader device and an ID tag communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ID tag (also called RF-ID, remote ID, data carrier) is attached to, for example, a portable object or carried by a moving object such as an animal or a human.
Tag information such as a unique code of the ID tag and additional information is read by an ID tag reader device, and is used for monitoring trends of a portable object or a moving object.

Here, the ID tag reader device is connected to an information processing device such as a host computer, a server, or a personal computer that mainly performs information processing (for example, monitoring processing). Under the control of the information processing device, the ID tag reader device is used. The tag information is read, and the read tag information is transferred to the information processing device.

[0004] Even when the ID tag reader device reads the tag information of the ID tag periodically and automatically, the transfer to the information processing device is performed under the control of the information processing device.

[0005]

However, since the conventional ID tag reader has a bidirectional communication configuration with the information processing device, the configuration is complicated and large.

Further, the tag information of the read ID tag is
Since transfer is started only by transfer start from an external device (for example, information processing device), unless transfer start is performed,
There is also a problem that the reading operation has no meaning.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an ID tag reader device having a simple configuration, a small size, and not causing a wasteful reading operation, and an ID tag communication system having such an ID tag reader device is required. ing.

[0008]

In order to solve such a problem, an ID tag reader according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises an ID tag reader.
An ID tag reader that reads and outputs tag information from a tag, and a tag information output device that performs output processing of the tag information output from the ID tag reader. Tag information storing means for storing information; reading means for performing a periodic reading operation of tag information to obtain tag information of an ID tag existing within the jurisdiction; The tag information storage means always stores only tag information of ID tags existing within the jurisdiction range.
Storage control means for reading out one or a plurality of pieces of tag information stored in the tag information storage means one by one cyclically and periodically, and outputting the same to the tag information output device It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ID tag reader according to the first aspect, wherein the tag information output device is a display device for displaying the received tag information as it is given from the ID tag reader main body. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ID tag reader according to the first aspect, wherein the tag information output device is provided commonly to a plurality of the ID tag reader main bodies. A receiving buffer for temporarily storing tag information given from the reader body, an input unit for specifying an output display method for a plurality of tag information stored in the reception buffer, and an output display method specified by the input unit. A control unit that retrieves one or a plurality of pieces of tag information stored in the reception buffer, and a display unit that displays the tag information retrieved by the control unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ID tag communication system comprising: an ID tag storing tag information; and an ID tag reader for reading the tag information of the ID tag. As an apparatus, the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is applied.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (A) First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an ID tag reader device and an ID tag communication system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of the First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ID tag communication system of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the ID tag communication system according to the first embodiment has an ID tag 10 and an ID tag reader device 20. The ID tag reader device 20 has an ID
It comprises a tag reader body 20A and a display device (tag information output device) 20B.

The ID tag 10 includes a code memory 11, a memory control unit 12, a transmission unit 13, an antenna 14, and a battery 15.
Having.

The code memory 11 stores a code unique to the ID tag 10. Note that additional information may be stored in addition to the unique code.

The memory control unit 12 repeatedly retrieves tag information such as a unique code stored in the code memory 11 at a predetermined cycle and supplies the tag information to the transmission unit 13.

The transmitting section 13 modulates the tag information provided from the memory control section 12 into a transmission radio signal and
Is to radiate transmission radio waves.

The antenna 14 radiates a transmission radio signal provided from the transmission unit 13 into space as a radio wave.

As described above, the ID tag 10 of the first embodiment operates to transmit autonomously without receiving a transmission request from the ID tag reader device 20 side. For this reason, a battery 15 is built in, and power required for the transmission operation is supplied to each unit.

The ID tag reader main body 20A includes an antenna 21, a receiving unit 22, a writing control unit (first storage control unit) 23, a memory (tag information storage unit) 24, and a read control unit (second storage control unit). 25. Others
Although illustration is omitted, a power supply unit and a power switch are also provided.

The antenna 21 is, for example, a dipole antenna, captures radio waves radiated from the ID tag 10, and supplies the obtained reception signal (electric signal) to the reception unit 22. The antenna 21 is preferably provided, for example, so as to protrude outside the housing, and is preferably omnidirectional. A plurality of antennas 21 may be provided.

The receiving section 22 demodulates a signal received from the antenna 21, reproduces tag information (unique code, additional information) that the ID tag 10 is trying to transmit, and gives the tag information to the write control section 23. In the case of this first embodiment,
The ID tag reader main body 20A is capable of reading tag information of a plurality of ID tags 10 almost simultaneously.

The receiving unit 22 performs such a simultaneous reading process, and the period of the simultaneous reading process is based on the ID.
This is performed in the same manner as the transmission cycle of the tag 10.

The writing control unit 23 checks whether or not the tag information of a certain ID tag 10 given from the receiving unit 22 is stored in the memory 24. If the tag information is not stored, it is additionally stored. It is. Also, the write control unit 23
When the cycle of one simultaneous reading process ends,
The tag information is stored in the memory 24, but it is confirmed whether there is any tag information that could not be received in the current cycle. If such tag information is found, the tag information is deleted from the memory 24. It is to let. Erasing, for example,
It may be performed by writing all 0s, or by setting a flag indicating invalidity of data in the memory area.

When the tag information of the ID tag 10 includes the unique code and the additional information, the write control unit 23
Alternatively, the confirmation as to whether or not the tag information is stored in the memory 24 may be performed by checking only the unique code.

The memory 24 is, for example, a flash ROM
The tag information of the received ID tag 10 is stored. Due to the function of the write control unit 23 described above, one or more ID tags 10 whose tag information is stored in the memory 24 are present within a communicable distance with the ID tag reader main body 20A.

The memory 24 reads the stored tag information under the control of the read control unit 25 and supplies the read tag information to the read control unit 25.

The read control unit 25 reads the tag information of the ID tag 10 stored in the memory 24 cyclically and gives it to the display device 20B. For example, if the tag information stored in the memory 24 is A, B, C,
The read control unit 25 includes A, B, C, A, B, C, A,.
And the tag information D is further stored in the memory 24.
Is added, A, B, C, D, A, B, C,
D, A,... Are read out. When the tag information C is erased from the memory 24 in such a state, the read control unit 25 reads A, B, D, A, B, D, A,.

When the tag information of the ID tag 10 stored in the memory 24 includes the unique code and the additional information, the read control unit 25 may read only the additional information from the memory 24.

Further, the read control unit 25 sends the display device 20
The method of transferring the tag information to B may be either serial transfer or parallel transfer, but from the simplification of the transfer configuration,
Serial transfer is preferred. The transfer protocol is arbitrary, but TCP / IP can be applied.
You may make it transfer by a packet.

The display device 20B is, for example, directly connected to the ID tag reader main body 20A by a connector 26 without using a cable. Note that the ID tag reader main body 20A and the display device 20B may be integrally configured.

The display device 20B is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays the tag information provided from the read control unit 25 of the ID tag reader main body 20A as it is, and displays it when the next tag information is provided. Is to be updated.

It should be noted that each unit of the ID tag reader main body 20A operates only when the power switch is turned on. The operation power supply of the ID tag reader main body 20A may be based on a built-in battery,
Alternatively, a commercial power supply via a power cord may be used. The display device 20B may have a built-in power supply.
It may be supplied from 0A.

In the case of the first embodiment, the ID tag 10
And at least one of the ID tag reader devices 20 can be changed in position. That is, ID tag 1
0 may change the position and the ID tag reader device 20 may have a fixed position, or the ID tag 10 may have a fixed position and the ID tag reader device 20 may change the position. Good, moreover, ID tags 10 and I
Both of the D tag reader devices 20 may be capable of changing positions.

(A-2) Operation of First Embodiment Next, the operation of the ID tag communication system of the first embodiment will be described.

In the ID tag 10, the code memory 11
The tag information stored in is transmitted by the memory control unit 12 at a predetermined cycle and given to the transmission unit 13. The transmission unit 13 modulates the tag information into a transmission radio signal and radiates a transmission radio wave from the antenna 14.

Since the transmission power of the transmission radio wave is constant, the ID tag 10 and the ID tag reader main body 20A
The communicable distance between them is almost constant.

Therefore, even if the ID tag 10 repeatedly emits a transmission radio wave at a predetermined cycle, even if the ID tag 10
The radius around A is located within the range of the communication distance,
Radiated radio waves from one or more ID tags 10 effectively reach the ID tag reader main body 20A.

In the ID tag reader main body 20A,
The radiated radio waves from all the ID tags 10 located within such a predetermined range are captured by the antenna 21, and the received signal obtained by this is demodulated by the receiving unit 22, and the ID tag 10 tries to transmit the tag. The information is reproduced and provided to the writing control unit 23.

The write controller 23 checks whether the given tag information is already stored in the memory 24, and if not, the tag information is additionally stored in the memory 24. You. When the tag information stored in the memory 24 cannot be received, the tag information is erased from the memory 24 by the writing control unit 23.

By such processing, the memory 24 always has one or more IDs whose radius centered on the ID tag reader main body 20A is within the range of the communicable distance.
Only the tag information of the tag 10 is stored.

The tag information stored in the memory 24 is
The read control unit 25 cyclically and repeatedly reads the data from the memory 24 at a predetermined cycle and supplies the read tag information to the display device 20B. The display device 20B directly outputs the provided tag information.

(A-3) Effects of the First Embodiment According to the first embodiment, the ID tag reader main body 20A capable of simultaneously reading from a plurality of ID tags 10 is an ID tag reader 20A.
Since the tag information of the ID tag 10 read from the tag 10 is output automatically and cyclically repeatedly, a configuration for exchanging control information for output with another device is not required, and the ID tag reader device 20 can be made simple and compact.

Also, the ID tag reader main body 20A
Since the tag information of the ID tag 10 read from the D tag 10 is always output, the reading operation is not wasted.

(A-4) Modified Embodiment of First Embodiment In the above description, the tag information read from the ID tag 10 is displayed and output, but another output method may be applied. Of course. For example, a speech synthesizer, a text / speech converter, or the like may be applied instead of the display device 20B to output speech. The display device 20B and the voice synthesizer may be freely attached to and detached from the ID tag reader main body 20A, so that the user can freely attach the output device.

In the above description, the ID tag 10 autonomously repeatedly transmits the tag information.
The person who transmits the tag information by receiving the transmission request radio wave of the tag reader device may be used. Even in this case,
It is preferable that the ID tag reader device repeatedly transmits the transmission request radio wave at a predetermined cycle.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, an ID tag reader device and an ID tag communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The ID tag communication system according to the second embodiment is a system applicable to the management of the position of a person in a building, the management of articles in a warehouse, and the like.

For mobile and portable objects such as humans and articles, the first
The ID tag 10 described in the embodiment is possessed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6 described in the first embodiment are fixedly provided in sections R1 to R6 for position management and the like, respectively. I have. Note that each of the sections R1 to R6 is preferably a radio-controlled room.

ID tag reader body 20A-1 to 20A
As for -6, the tag information read from the ID tag 10 located in the sections R1 to R6 under its own control is repeatedly and cyclically output as described above.

In the case of the second embodiment, the tag information output from the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6 is supplied to a monitor device (tag information output device) 30 via a cable. It has been done.

The monitor device 30 has the detailed configuration shown in FIG. 3, and outputs the tag information provided from the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6 in a format instructed by the operator. In the case of the second embodiment, the monitor device 30 includes ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-1
A control function for A-6 is not provided, and in relation to the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6, only a function for receiving the tag information of the ID tag 10 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the monitor device 30 includes a reception buffer 31, a control unit 32, an input unit 33, and a display unit 3.
4 is provided.

The reception buffer 31 buffers the tag information of the ID tags given from all the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6. The reception buffer 31 is provided for each ID tag reader main body 20A-1,
... Any tag information that can store at least one piece of tag information from 20A-6 may be used.

The input section 33 is provided for the ID tag reader main body 20.
The output format of the tag information of the ID tag 10 given from A-1 to 20A-6 is used when the operator instructs.

As the output format, for example, an all partition display format for simultaneously displaying the tag information at that time from all the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6 (accordingly, the partitions R1 to R6), and an operator designates ID tag reader main body 20A-i (i is 1 to 6; therefore, section Ri).
The tag reader main body 20A-j (j is 1 to 6; therefore, the section Rj) has a search display format for displaying whether or not transmission has been performed.

The control unit 32 stores the ID specified by the operator.
According to the output format of the tag information of the tag 10, the reception buffer 3
1 is processed and given to the display unit 34.

When the output format of the specified tag information is the search display format, the control unit 32 sets the reception buffer within the period for each simultaneous reading cycle of each ID tag reader main body 20A-j. It checks whether or not the tag information designated by 31 has arrived, and if it does not arrive, gives the fact to the display unit 34, and when it arrives, identifies the ID tag reader body 20A-j which transmitted the tag information. The number or the identification information of the section Rj is given to the display unit.

The display unit 34 displays and outputs information in accordance with the output format specified by the control unit 32.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the ID tag reader main body 20 installed in each section Ri is used.
Ai reads the tag information of the ID tag 10 existing in the section Ri without transmitting the control of the monitor device 30 and sequentially transmits the tag information to the monitor device 30, and the monitor device 30 is instructed by the operator with the tag information. Output in the specified output format.

According to the second embodiment, the ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-6 capable of simultaneously reading from a plurality of ID tags 10 automatically transfer the tag information of the ID tags 10 read from the ID tags 10. Since the information is repeatedly and cyclically output, a configuration for exchanging control information for output with another device is not required, and the configuration can be simplified and small.

The ID tag reader main bodies 20A-1 to 20A-1
20A-6, ID tag 1 read from ID tag 10
Since the tag information of 0 is always output, the reading operation is not wasted.

In the above description, the output from the monitor device 30 is a display output, but in addition to this, or
Instead, sound and sound output may be performed.

(C) Other Embodiments In each of the above embodiments, the ID tag reader body 20A is capable of simultaneously reading from a plurality of ID tags 10, but one tag can be read in one reading cycle. Only information may be obtained.

Further, the present invention relates to an ID tag reader main body 2.
0A has the greatest feature in outputting the tag information in a drifting manner, and the technology of the portion not related to this feature is arbitrary. For example, a method of modulating a wireless signal between the ID tag 10 and the ID tag reader main body 20A, a method of coupling a wireless line between the ID tag 10 and the ID tag reader main body 20A, and the like are arbitrary.

[0068]

As described above, according to the ID tag reader device and the ID tag communication system of the present invention, the configuration can be simplified and downsized, and the waste of the reading operation can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ID tag communication system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an ID tag communication system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a monitor device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... ID tag, 11 ... Code memory, 12 ... Memory control part, 13 ... Transmission part, 20A, 20A-1-20A-6
... ID tag reader main body, 20B ... display device (tag information output device), 22 ... receiver, 23 ... write controller (first
Storage control means), 24 ... memory (tag information storage means), 25 ... readout control section (second storage control means), 3
0: Monitor device (tag information output device).

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B058 CA15 CA23 KA02 KA06 YA11 YA20 5K012 AB05 AC08 AC10 BA04

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An ID tag reader main body for reading and outputting tag information from an ID tag, and a tag information output device for outputting and processing the tag information output from the ID tag reader main body. Tag information storage means for storing tag information; reading means for performing a periodic tag information reading operation to obtain tag information of ID tags existing within the jurisdiction range; and tag information obtained by the reading means. A first storage control unit that always stores only tag information of an ID tag existing within a jurisdiction range in the tag information storage unit, based on the first or second information stored in the tag information storage unit. An ID tag reader comprising: a second storage control means for reading out a plurality of tag information one by one cyclically and periodically and outputting the read out information to the tag information output device. Location. 2. The ID tag reader device according to claim 1, wherein the tag information output device is a display device provided from the ID tag reader main body and displaying the received tag information as it is. 3. The tag information output device according to claim 2, wherein
A receiving buffer that is provided commonly to the D tag reader main body and temporarily stores the tag information given from each of the ID tag reader main bodies, and outputs and displays a plurality of tag information stored in the receiving buffer. An input unit for designating a method; a control unit for retrieving one or a plurality of corresponding tag information stored in the reception buffer in accordance with an output display method specified by the input unit; and a tag retrieved by the control unit. 2. The ID according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying information.
Tag reader device. 4. An ID tag communication system having an ID tag storing tag information and an ID tag reader device for reading the tag information of the ID tag, wherein the ID tag reader device is used as the ID tag reader device. An ID tag communication system to which one of the above is applied.