JP2004240715A - Information processing apparatus and method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption of a communication part mounted in a metal enclosure in a non-contact communication system such as FeliCa system. <P>SOLUTION: By output level adjustment processing, the output level of an amplifying part is increased stepwise from an initial value, the communicable level is maintained, and information recorded in a non-contact IC card is read out to cope with the variation in communication sensitivity caused by the variation in mutual inductance of a communication system of a reader device and the non-contact IC card and reduce power consumption as compared with the case where the output level of the amplifying part is always in a very high state. The present invention is applicable, for example, to a PDA which makes non-contact communication with the IC card. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, method, and program for communicating data with an IC card in a non-contact manner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A FeliCa (trademark) system for communicating data with an IC (Integrated Circuit) card in a non-contact manner is becoming widespread (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
[0003]
For example, an Edy card using the FeliCa system is used for commercial transactions as a substitute for a credit card, a prepaid card, and the like. For example, a Suica card using the FeliCa system is used as a train commuter pass or a prepaid card for boarding fares.
[0004]
The IC card used in the FeliCa system is, for example, a cash card-sized plastic card in which an extremely thin semiconductor integrated circuit (IC chip) is embedded, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a ROM (Read Only Memory). It has a function such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and can record various kinds of information. Further, the IC card has a built-in antenna, and can perform short-range wireless communication with a communication unit provided at a ticket gate using weak radio waves. Further, there is known a method of suppressing power consumption of an IC card by changing the power receiving efficiency of a built-in antenna (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Non-patent document 1]
<Http: // www. sony. co. jp / Products / felica / index. html>
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-64403
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, in a FeliCa system, a communication unit that communicates with an IC card in a non-contact manner interferes with communication, and is premised on not being mounted on a metal housing. However, as the FeliCa system is applied to various uses, it is necessary to mount the communication unit on a metal housing.
[0007]
As a countermeasure to enable normal communication with the IC card when the communication unit is mounted on a metal case, a method of covering the entire case with a magnetic material, only the vicinity of the antenna of the communication unit provided in the case A method of covering with a magnetic material, a method of always performing communication with high output, and the like are known.
[0008]
However, a method of covering the entire housing with a magnetic material is not very realistic in consideration of the strength and cost of the housing. In the method of covering only the vicinity of the antenna of the communication unit provided in the housing with a magnetic material, when the IC card is brought close to the communication unit, the mutual inductance of the communication system is reduced due to the influence of the metal not covered by the magnetic material. This greatly fluctuates, and as a result, the communication area becomes narrower and the communicable distance becomes shorter than when the communication unit is mounted on a non-metallic housing.
[0009]
The method of always performing communication with high output can solve the above-mentioned problem caused by the mutual inductance of the communication system fluctuating greatly, but increases power consumption. Therefore, for example, there is a problem that cannot be applied to a case where a communication unit of the FeliCa system is mounted on a device that is driven by a battery such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and has a metal housing, and is mounted on the device.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and has an object to reduce power consumption of a communication unit mounted on a metal housing in a non-contact communication system such as a FeliCa system. .
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmitting unit that transmits a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with an IC card, and a response from the IC card to the communication confirmation command transmitted by the transmitting unit. Receiving means, and adjusting means for adjusting the output level of the transmitting means based on the reception result of the receiving means.
[0012]
The adjusting means may increase the output level of the transmitting means from the minimum settable output level to the maximum value in a stepwise manner when the response from the IC card cannot be received by the receiving means. .
[0013]
The housing including the transmitting means, the receiving means, and the adjusting means can be made of metal.
[0014]
The information processing apparatus according to the present invention can further include a battery that supplies power to the transmission unit.
[0015]
The information processing method according to the present invention includes a transmitting step of transmitting a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with the IC card, , And an adjusting step of adjusting the output level of the processing of the transmitting step based on the reception result of the processing of the receiving step.
[0016]
A program according to the present invention includes a transmission step of transmitting a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with an IC card, and a response from the IC card to the communication confirmation command transmitted in the processing of the transmission step. And causing the computer to execute a process including: a receiving step of receiving the data, and an adjusting step of adjusting an output level of the processing of the transmitting step based on a reception result of the processing of the receiving step.
[0017]
In the information processing apparatus and method and the program according to the present invention, a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with the IC card is transmitted, and a response from the IC card to the transmitted communication confirmation command is transmitted. Is received. Then, the output level of the transmission process is adjusted based on the reception result.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an example of a front configuration of a PDA according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019]
The PDA 1 is driven by using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power supply. The housing of the PDA 1 is made of metal so that a predetermined strength is guaranteed.
[0020]
The PDA 1 is divided into a display section 11 and a main body section 13 with a center hinge section 12 as a boundary, and is foldable via the hinge section 12. In other words, the display unit 11 is rotatable about the axis of the hinge unit 12 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body unit 13. Further, the display unit 11 is rotatable with respect to the main unit 13 about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis.
[0021]
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 28 and a transparent touch panel 36 laminated on the surface of the LCD 28 are provided on almost the entire surface 11-1 of the display unit 11. That is, when the user touches the touch pen 35 at an arbitrary position on the LCD 28, the coordinates are detected by the touch panel 36, and a predetermined process corresponding to the detected coordinates is performed. Since the touch panel 36 is of a resistive film type that detects pressure on the touch panel 36 generated by a user's operation, not only the operation with the touch pen 35 but also, for example, the operation with the user's toe is detected and the coordinates are detected. can do.
[0022]
For example, assuming now that an image as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the LCD 28, the user operates the touch pen 35 and presses any of the soft buttons 41-1 to 41-12 (touch pen). 35 is arranged on any of the soft buttons 41-1 to 41-12), the application software assigned to the soft button 41 is activated.
[0023]
Further, when the user operates the touch pen 35 and presses the soft button 43, a soft keyboard 50 shown in FIG. When the user operates the touch pen 35 and presses an arbitrary key on the soft keyboard, a character (or a symbol or the like) corresponding to the pressed key is input. That is, the coordinates at which the touch pen 35 is arranged are detected by the touch panel 36, a key corresponding to the coordinates is recognized, and a character (or a symbol or the like) assigned to the recognized key is input.
[0024]
As described above, the user can easily and quickly input characters using the touch pen 35 and the character input area 29 as software. Since the touch panel 36 is stacked over the entire display surface of the LCD 28, the position of the character input area 29 with respect to the LCD 28 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. For example, when the image shown in FIG. 2 is turned upside down and left and right, the character input area 29 is arranged above in FIG. 1 and displayed upside down. Even in such a case, the user can input characters as in the example described above.
[0025]
Returning to FIG. 1, a power button 31 for turning on or off the power of the PDA 1 is provided on the right side of the hinge 12, and a battery (not shown) built in the PDA 1 is provided on the left side thereof. An LED (Light Emitting Diode) 30 which is turned on when charging and turned off when charging is completed, is further provided on the left side thereof with a rotation of a CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. A possible camera 22 is provided at the left end with a capture button 23 operated when capturing an image of a subject with the camera 22.
[0026]
That is, when capturing an image of a subject, the user presses the capture button 23 once to activate application software having a camera function (a function of capturing the subject with the camera 22 and recording an image of the captured subject). Then, the camera 22 is rotated so that the imaging direction of the camera 22 is directed to the subject. At this time, as described later, the image (image of the subject) captured by the camera 22 is displayed on the LCD 28, so the user determines the position of the camera 22 while checking the LCD 28, and sets the shutter button. The functioning capture button 23 is pressed again. Thereby, the image captured by the camera 22 at the time when the capture button 23 is pressed is stored in the memory of the PDA 1.
[0027]
On the surface 13-1 facing the display unit 11 when the main body unit 13 is folded, a button 32 on which a symbol representing each of application software installed in the PDA 1 is printed is provided in the upper part of the drawing. When the user presses the button 32 with the finger, the corresponding application software is activated. That is, the button 32 is a button as hardware corresponding to any of the above-described soft buttons 41-1 to 41-12 in FIG.
[0028]
A scroll button 33 for scrolling an image displayed on the LCD 28 is provided at the center of the area of the surface 13-1 where the buttons 32 are arranged.
[0029]
Further, below the button 32 on the surface 13-1, a keyboard 34 for inputting characters (including symbols) is provided. That is, the keyboard 34 is a keyboard as hardware corresponding to the soft keyboard 50 in FIG.
[0030]
Further, a reader device 37 for performing short-range wireless communication with the non-contact IC card 146 (FIG. 5) and reading information recorded on the non-contact IC card 146 is provided below the keyboard 34. The non-contact IC card 146 approaching the 13-1 side is detected, and wireless communication is performed by a non-contact method.
[0031]
A remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a remote controller) and external headphones are connected to the upper side of the surface (side surface) 13-2 perpendicular to the surface 13-1 of the main body 13 in the figure. A headphone jack 24 for outputting an audio signal is provided, and a jog dial 25 that can be pressed and rotated is provided below the headphone jack 24 so as to slightly protrude from the surface 13-2. A back button 26 for canceling the operation is provided, and below the back button 26, a hold switch 27 for inhibiting execution of a function corresponding to another button being pressed by mistake is provided. ing.
[0032]
A connector 67 for connecting an attached device such as a cradle is provided at the center of a surface (lower end surface in the figure) 13-4 perpendicular to the surfaces 13-1 and 13-2 of the main body 13. I have.
[0033]
FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration example of the back surface of the PDA 1. As shown in FIG. 4, an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM), which is a nonvolatile memory that can be electrically rewritten and erased in a small and thin plastic case, is provided on the upper left side of the hinge unit 12 in the figure. A memory card 143 which stores a flash memory element, which is a kind of the memory card 143, or a slot 64 in which a function expansion module 121 having the same interface as the memory card 143 is installed, and data in the memory card 143 is read and written. A lamp 63 that lights up when the device is on, and an infrared port 62 for communicating with other devices using infrared light.
[0034]
The memory card 143 writes various information (data) such as images, sounds, and music supplied through the slot 64 under the control of a controller for the slot 64 or a flash memory device provided in the memory card 143. Various stored information can be read out. Therefore, since the PDA 1 can insert such a memory card 143, data can be shared with another device via the memory card 143.
[0035]
A reset button 65 for resetting the PDA 1 is provided on the left side of the center of the surface 13-3 opposite to the surface 13-1 of the main body 13 in the figure, and a voice is output below the reset button 65. Speaker 66 is provided.
[0036]
As described above, the connector 67 is provided at the center of the surface 13-4 (the lower end surface in the figure) perpendicular to the surfaces 13-1 and 13-3 of the main body 13, as shown above. A storage port 68 for storing the touch pen 35 is provided on the left side.
[0037]
Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal configuration of the PDA 1. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 131 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 132 or a program loaded from a storage unit 139 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 133. The RAM 133 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 131 to execute various processes.
[0038]
The CPU 131, the ROM 132, and the RAM 133 are mutually connected via a bus 134. The bus 134 is also connected to a display control unit 136 that controls an image to be displayed on the LCD 28.
[0039]
The display control unit 136 is connected to the VRAM 138 in addition to the camera 22 and the LCD 28 under the control of the CPU 131. The display control unit 136 stores the image captured by the camera 22 in the VRAM 138, and stores the image stored in the VRAM 138 and another memory (the RAM 133, the storage unit 139, and the memory stick 143 connected to the slot 64). Is displayed on the LCD 28.
[0040]
The bus 134 has a slot in which the keyboard 34, the various buttons 22, 32, and 33, the input unit 137 including the jog dial 25 and the like, the touch panel 36, the infrared communication port 62, the memory stick 143, or the function expansion module 121 are mounted. 64, a battery (not shown) built in the PDA 1 is charged, and a connector 67 to which the cradle 91 or the like, which is a relay device for communication with another external device 152, is connected, and a voice, which is connected to the remote controller 101 or the headphones 153. The headphone jack 24 as an output unit, a Bluetooth module 38 for performing wireless communication with other communication devices using Bluetooth, and a reader device 37 for performing short-range wireless communication with an IC card 146 approached are connected.
[0041]
The coordinates detected by the touch panel 36 are provided to the CPU 131 via the bus 134, and the CPU 131 acquires predetermined information corresponding to the provided coordinates.
[0042]
A storage unit 139 including a hard disk or the like is connected to the bus 134 as necessary. A computer program read from a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like that is appropriately mounted on the external device 152 includes a wireless communication via the infrared port 62, the Bluetooth module 38, or the reader device 37, and a wireless LAN module. (Functional extension module) It is supplied to the PDA 1 as necessary by means such as wireless communication via the 121 or wired communication via the cradle 91, and is installed in the storage unit 139. Alternatively, a computer program read from the memory stick 143 appropriately mounted in the slot 64 is also installed in the storage unit 139 as necessary.
[0043]
Further, an LCD open / close switch that is turned on when the display unit 11 is closed with respect to the main body unit 13 and is turned off when the display unit 11 is open with respect to the main body unit 13 is also provided on the bus 134. 144, and an LCD rotation switch 145 that is turned on when the display unit 11 is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle or more.
[0044]
That is, in this example, the CPU 131 opens and closes the main body 13 of the display unit 11 based on the ON state or the OFF state of the LCD open / close switch 144 and the LCD rotation switch 145 (hereinafter, referred to as the LCD open / close state). ), The rotation state, and the rotation state of the camera 22.
[0045]
FIG. 6 shows a detailed configuration example of the reader device 37 of FIG.
[0046]
The control unit 201 includes a CPU 211, a ROM 212, a RAM 213, an SCC (Serial Communication Controller) 214, an SPU (Signal Processing Unit) 216, and a bus 215 interconnecting these CPUs 211 to SPU 216.
[0047]
The CPU 211 expands the control program stored in the ROM 212 into the RAM 213, and executes various processing based on, for example, response data transmitted from the non-contact IC card 146 and a control signal supplied from the CPU 131 in FIG. Execute For example, the CPU 211 generates a command to be transmitted to the non-contact IC card 146, outputs the command to the SPU 216 via the bus 215, performs authentication processing of data transmitted from the non-contact IC card 146, and the like. I do.
[0048]
The SCC 214 supplies the data supplied from the CPU 131 of FIG. 5 to the CPU 211 via the bus 215, and outputs the data supplied from the CPU 211 via the bus 215 to the CPU 131.
[0049]
When response data from the non-contact IC card 146 is supplied from the demodulation unit 208, the SPU 216 performs, for example, BPSK demodulation (Decoding of Manchester code) on the data and supplies the obtained data to the CPU 211. I do. Also, when a command to be transmitted to the non-contact IC card 146 is supplied via the bus 215, the SPU 216 performs BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) modulation (coding to a Manchester code) on the command and obtains the acquired data. Is output to the modulation unit 202.
[0050]
The modulation unit 202 performs ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation on a carrier having a predetermined frequency (for example, 13.56 MHz) supplied from the oscillation unit 203 based on data supplied from the SPU 216, and generates a modulated wave. Is output to the amplifier 204. The amplifying unit 204 amplifies the modulated wave input from the modulating unit 202 and outputs the modulated wave from the antenna 206 as an electromagnetic wave at the output level specified by the output characteristic adjusting unit 205. The output characteristic adjustment unit 205 adjusts the output level of the amplification unit 204 based on the control from the CPU 211. The process of adjusting the output level of the amplification unit 204 by the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0051]
The antenna 206 emits a predetermined electromagnetic wave, and detects whether or not the non-contact IC card 146 has approached, based on a change in load with respect to the predetermined electromagnetic wave. Then, for example, when the non-contact IC card 146 approaches, the antenna 206 transmits and receives various data to and from the non-contact IC card 146.
[0052]
Amplifying section 207 amplifies the modulated wave (ASK modulated wave) received by antenna 206 and outputs the amplified wave to demodulating section 208. Demodulation section 208 demodulates the modulated wave (ASK modulated wave) amplified by amplification section 207, and outputs the demodulated data to SPU 216.
[0053]
FIG. 7 shows a detailed configuration example of the non-contact IC card 146.
[0054]
The non-contact IC card 146 includes, for example, an antenna (loop antenna) 230 and a capacitor 231 shown in the drawing, and an IC in which other components are stored in one chip, and is provided in the PDA 1 using electromagnetic induction. It performs half-duplex communication of various data with the reader device 37 and the like. However, the shape does not have to be card-shaped. Further, the IC card is a name used for convenience of description, and intends a function as described above or as described later. As a device that provides basically the same function as the non-contact IC card 146, there is, for example, a FeliCa chip (registered trademark). That is, for example, when a FeliCa chip is mounted on a mobile phone, the mobile phone can be used similarly to the non-contact IC card 146.
[0055]
The CPU 221 loads the control program stored in the ROM 222 into the RAM 223 and controls the entire operation of the non-contact IC card 146. For example, when an electromagnetic wave radiated from the reader device 37 or the like provided in the PDA 1 is received by the antenna 230, the CPU 221 responds to the received information by using an IC including a card identification number and the like set in the non-contact IC card 146. It notifies the reader device 37 of the card information, and supplies the transaction device history information to the reader device 37 in response to a request from the reader device 37.
[0056]
The LC circuit formed by the antenna 230 and the capacitor 231 resonates with an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined frequency radiated from the reader device 37 provided in the PDA 1 disposed in the vicinity. In the ASK demodulation unit 243, the ASK demodulation unit 243 performs envelope detection and demodulation on the modulated wave (ASK modulated wave) received via the antenna 230, and demodulates the demodulated data to a BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) demodulation unit 232. Output.
[0057]
Further, the interface unit 229 rectifies the AC magnetic field excited in the antenna 230 by the ASK demodulation unit 243, stabilizes it in the voltage regulator 241, and supplies the DC power to each unit. The power of the electromagnetic wave radiated from the reader device 37 or the like is adjusted so as to generate a magnetic field that can supply necessary power to the non-contact IC card 146 as described later.
[0058]
The oscillation circuit 244 of the interface unit 229 includes a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit and generates a clock signal having the same frequency as the clock frequency of the received signal.
[0059]
Further, for example, when transmitting a request for balance information or the like to the reader device 37 provided in the PDA 1, the interface unit 229 responds to data supplied from the BPSK modulation unit 228, for example, by using a predetermined switching element ( (Not shown), the load of the antenna 230 is varied by connecting a predetermined load to the antenna 230 in parallel only when the switching element is in the on state.
[0060]
The ASK modulation unit 242 ASK modulates the BPSK modulation wave supplied from the BPSK modulation unit 228 due to a change in the load of the antenna 230, and transmits the modulated component to the reader device 37 via the antenna 230 (reader device 37). Fluctuates the terminal voltage of the antenna) (load switching method).
[0061]
When the data demodulated by the ASK demodulation section 243 is BPSK modulated, the BPSK demodulation section 232 demodulates the data (decodes the Manchester code) based on a clock signal supplied from a PLL circuit (not shown). , And outputs the demodulated data to the data receiving unit 233. The data receiving unit 233 outputs the supplied data to the CPU 221 as appropriate. The CPU 221 stores this data in the RAM 223 or the EEPROM 224.
[0062]
The data stored in the EEPROM 224 is read by the CPU 221 and supplied to the data transmission unit 227. The BPSK modulation section 228 performs BPSK modulation (coding into a Manchester code) on the data supplied from the data transmission section 227, and outputs the data to the ASK modulation section 242.
[0063]
The EEPROM 224 stores electronic money information and the like. The user can use this electronic money to settle the price of the purchased product or service. The settlement history is also stored in the EEPROM 224.
[0064]
Here, an example of the specification of the non-contact IC card 146 is shown in FIG. As described above, communication between the reader device 37 and the non-contact IC card 146 is performed by half duplex, and the communication speed is, for example, 211.875 kbps.
[0065]
The center frequency of a frequency band used for power transmission and data transfer from the reader device 37 to the contactless IC card 146 and data transfer from the contactless IC card 146 to the reader device 37 is, for example, 13.56 MHz. Is done.
[0066]
As described above, data transfer from the reader device 37 to the non-contact IC card 146 is performed by ASK-modulating the data encoded in the Manchester code, and the degree of modulation (maximum amplitude of data signal / maximum amplitude of carrier wave) is performed. ) Is, for example, about 0.1. As described above, the data transfer from the non-contact IC card 146 to the reader device 37 is performed by converting output data into a transmission signal by the load switching method (by turning on / off the switching element in accordance with the output data, the antenna 170). Is varied).
[0067]
The user uses the function of the reader device 37 described above to record the history information of the commercial transaction (payment) stored in the non-contact IC card 146 and the electronic information stored (charged) in the non-contact IC card 146. The money balance information and the like can be displayed on the LCD 28 of the PDA 1.
[0068]
That is, when the user operates the PDA 1 to activate an application for performing the above-described processing and brings the non-contact IC card 146 close to the position on the reader device 37 on the surface 13-1 of the PDA 1, the CPU 131 of the PDA 1 Then, the reader device 37 is controlled to read history information and the like from the above-mentioned non-contact IC card 146 and display the history information on the LCD 28.
[0069]
Next, a process of adjusting the output level of the amplification unit 204 by the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 will be described.
[0070]
FIG. 9 shows an example of the shape of the antenna 230 incorporated in the non-contact IC card 146. As shown in the figure, the shape of the antenna 230 is not particularly defined, but is various. Therefore, the communication sensitivity with the reader device 37 also varies slightly depending on the shape of the antenna 230.
[0071]
Further, when the non-contact IC card 146 is brought close to the reader device 37 due to the metal casing of the main body 13 including the reader device 37 with which the non-contact IC card 146 communicates, The mutual inductance of the communication system between the contact IC card 146 and the reader device 37 fluctuates. The fluctuation of the mutual inductance of the communication system also causes the fluctuation of the communication sensitivity.
[0072]
As described above, the fluctuation of the communication sensitivity due to the fluctuation of the mutual inductance can be suppressed by always increasing the transmission output of the reader device 37. However, since the PDA 1 is driven using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of power saving to constantly transmit high power from the reader device 37 because power consumption increases.
[0073]
Therefore, in the PDA 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 gradually increases the output level of the amplification unit 204 and performs communication while maintaining the output level at which communication is enabled. It has been done.
[0074]
The process of adjusting the output level of the amplification unit 204 by the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 (hereinafter, referred to as output level adjustment process) will be described with reference to FIG. This output level adjustment processing is started in response to a user operation for turning on the communication function of the reader device 37 (for example, an operation of pressing a soft button (IC card viewer A) 41-8 displayed on the LCD 28). You.
[0075]
In step S1, the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 sets the output level of the amplification unit 204 to the lowest initial value based on the control from the control unit 201. In step S <b> 2, the amplifier 204 causes the antenna 37 to output the modulated wave of the communication confirmation command for the contactless IC card 146 supplied from the modulator 202 at the output level set by the output characteristic adjuster 205.
[0076]
In step S3, the control unit 201 determines whether a response from the non-contact IC card 146 to the communication confirmation command transmitted in step S2 has been received. If it is determined that the response from the contactless IC card 146 has been received, the currently set output level is maintained, the information recorded on the contactless IC card 146 is read, and the operation of the reader device 37 is performed. Is terminated (normal termination).
[0077]
If it is determined in step S3 that the response from the non-contact IC card 146 has not been received, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, after transmitting the communication confirmation command in step S2, the control unit 201 determines whether a predetermined time (several hundred milliseconds to several seconds) has elapsed, and the predetermined time has not elapsed. When the determination is made, the process returns to step S3, and the subsequent processing is repeated.
[0078]
In step S4, if it is determined that a predetermined time has elapsed after transmitting the communication confirmation command in step S2, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the control unit 201 determines whether the setting of the output level of the amplification unit 204 is the maximum value. If it is determined that the setting of the output level of the amplifying unit 204 is not the maximum value, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, based on the control from the control unit 201, the output characteristic adjustment unit 205 sets the output level of the amplifying unit 204 higher than the current level by a predetermined level. The process returns to step S2, and the subsequent processes are repeated.
[0079]
If it is determined in step S5 that the setting of the output level of the amplification unit 204 is the maximum value, it is determined that the reason why the response from the non-contact IC card 146 cannot be received is other than the fluctuation of the mutual inductance of the communication system. Then, the operation of the reader device 37 is ended (end by error).
[0080]
By the output level adjustment processing described above, the output level of the amplifying unit 204 is increased stepwise from the initial value, as shown in FIG. Since the recorded information is read out, it is possible to cope with the fluctuation of the communication sensitivity caused by the fluctuation of the mutual inductance of the communication system of the non-contact IC card 146 and the reader device 37 and to always keep the output level of the amplifying section 204 constant. The power consumption can be reduced as compared to the case where the state is high. Therefore, it is also effective to extend the drive time of the PDA 1 for powering the built-in battery.
[0081]
When the series of processes described above are executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in the PDA 1 from a network or a recording medium. However, the recording medium may be mounted not only directly on the PDA 1 but also on another device as needed. In this case, the other device and the PDA 1 communicate with each other, so that the program is installed in the PDA 1.
[0082]
This recording medium, as shown in FIG. 5, is not limited to a semiconductor memory such as a memory card 143 in which a program is stored, which is distributed to supply a program to a user separately from the apparatus main body, but is not shown. For example, a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disk (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)) or a magneto-optical disk (MD (Mini-Disk)) is used. , Etc.). Further, it is configured by a ROM 132 storing a program, which is supplied to a user in a state of being pre-installed in the apparatus main body, and a storage unit 139 as a hard disk.
[0083]
In the above description, the processing shown in each flowchart is executed by software. However, it is also possible to prepare hardware for executing each processing so as to be executed by hardware. It is possible.
[0084]
In this specification, the steps of describing a program recorded on a recording medium may be performed in chronological order according to the described order, or may be performed in parallel or not necessarily in chronological order. This also includes processes executed individually.
[0085]
Also, in this specification, a system refers to an entire device including a plurality of devices.
[0086]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a contactless communication system such as the FeliCa system, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of a communication unit mounted on a metal housing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a front configuration of a PDA to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an image displayed on the LCD of the PDA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed in a character input area of the LCD of the PDA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a back surface of the PDA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the PDA of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of the reader device of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a non-contact IC card corresponding to the reader device of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of specifications of the non-contact IC card of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of an antenna built in a non-contact IC card.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an output level adjustment process of the reader device.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a change in an output level of an amplification unit due to an output level adjustment process.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 PDA, 13 main unit, 37 reader device, 146 non-contact IC card, 201 control unit, 204 amplifying unit, 205 output characteristic adjusting unit, 206 antenna

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus for communicating with an IC card capable of recording information in a non-contact manner and reading information stored in the IC card,
Transmitting means for transmitting a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with the IC card;
Receiving means for receiving a response from the IC card to the communication confirmation command transmitted by the transmitting means,
An information processing apparatus comprising: an adjustment unit that adjusts an output level of the transmission unit based on a reception result of the reception unit. The adjusting means increases the output level of the transmitting means from the minimum settable output level to the maximum value in a stepwise manner when the response from the IC card cannot be received by the receiving means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a housing including the transmission unit, the reception unit, and the adjustment unit is made of metal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a battery that supplies power to the transmission unit. An information processing method for communicating with an IC card capable of recording information in a non-contact manner and reading information stored in the IC card,
A transmitting step of transmitting a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with the IC card;
A receiving step of receiving a response from the IC card to the communication confirmation command transmitted in the processing of the transmitting step;
An adjusting step of adjusting an output level of the processing of the transmitting step based on a reception result of the processing of the receiving step. A program for communicating with an IC card capable of recording information in a non-contact manner and reading information stored in the IC card,
A transmitting step of transmitting a communication confirmation command for confirming that communication is possible with the IC card;
A receiving step of receiving a response from the IC card to the communication confirmation command transmitted in the processing of the transmitting step;
A program causing a computer to execute a process including an adjusting step of adjusting an output level of the process of the transmitting step based on a reception result of the process of the receiving step.

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