JP2005189997A - Commodity information management system and tag reading and writing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent malicious alteration for data of a personal radio IC tag. <P>SOLUTION: A commodity information management system comprises a personal radio IC tag which memorizes specific information related to individuals and is carried by an individual , a radio IC tag for commodities which memorizes commodity information related to commodities and is mounted on the commodities, a tag reading and writing device 3 having a reading means 11 and a writing means 12 for reading and writing the specific information and the commodity information, and a history information management server registering and controlling the specific information and the commodity information. The tag reading and writing device 3 has a writing authentication means 14 capable of determining whether or not the specific information is registered in the record information controlling server after reading the specific information memorized in the personal radio IC tag by the reading means 11, and permitting writing with the writing means 12 if the specific information is registered, and refusing writing with the writing means 12 if the specific information is not registered. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise information management system that manages merchandise information, and in particular, merchandise information management that manages merchandise information at each stage, such as manufacturing, distribution, retail, and consumption, in each process from manufacturing to distribution to sales. The present invention relates to a system and a tag reading / writing device.

In the merchandise distribution channel, safety of products such as food is demanded in particular, and a mechanism capable of tracking and retroactively tracking merchandise information such as food processing information at each stage in the merchandise distribution channel is required. Therefore, for example, a mechanism for managing each process from manufacturing to consumption has been studied in a demonstration experiment by an industry group, etc., and some of them have been introduced and put into practical use.
For example, at each stage in the distribution channel of a product, necessary information is sequentially written to a wireless tag, and information stored in a memory in the wireless tag is read as necessary, and these information and a server are combined. A manufacturing distribution management system that manages processes from manufacturing to distribution by combining them is proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Alternatively, a history information management server for managing product information, a personal wireless IC tag carried by an individual, a product wireless IC tag attached to a product, a personal wireless IC tag, and a product wireless IC tag There has been proposed a technique for ensuring the reliability of product information that changes every moment using a tag reading / writing device that reads and writes data (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Further, in such a management system, since the reliability of information is important, an invention has been proposed in which data is encrypted so that unauthorized processing such as tampering with data in product management cannot be performed (for example, And Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-144012 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-307055 JP 2003-123033 A

However, the inventions of the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem that unauthorized processing such as falsification of data for product management can be easily performed.
In addition, the invention of Patent Document 3 merely encrypts data, and does not mention measures against data being altered by some means, and therefore has a problem in that it cannot prevent unauthorized processing. It was.

In particular, there is a very high market demand for a mechanism that can follow up at least whether it has been tampered with or who has tampered with it.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a product information management system and a tag reading / writing device that are useful for preventing the malicious data of a wireless IC tag from being falsified in order to solve the above-described problems.
Further, the present invention provides a product information management system that is useful for locating a wireless IC tag possessed by a falsified person or a falsified person even if malicious data has been falsified. The object is to provide a tag reader / writer.

  In order to achieve the above object, the product information management system according to claim 1 stores personal information related to an individual and a personal wireless IC tag carried by the individual, stores product information about the product, and is attached to the product. A wireless IC tag for merchandise, a tag reading / writing device having reading means and writing means for reading / writing the unique information and the merchandise information, and connected to the tag reading / writing device to register and manage the unique information and the merchandise information A product information management system comprising: a history information management server, wherein the tag reading / writing device is configured to read the product by the writing unit based on unique information read from the personal wireless IC tag by the reading unit. And a writing authentication means for permitting writing to the wireless IC tag.

With this configuration, an operator who has a designated personal IC tag can write on a wireless IC tag attached to a product, and it is difficult for others to tamper with the data.
The invention according to claim 2 relates to the product information management system according to claim 1, wherein the write authentication means determines whether or not the unique information is registered in the history information management server and is registered. If so, writing by the writing means is permitted, and if not registered, writing by the writing means is rejected.

As a result, an operator who has a designated personal IC tag can write on the wireless IC tag attached to the product, and others are refused to write, making it more difficult to tamper with the data. Become.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to the commodity information management system according to the second aspect, wherein the tag reading / writing device reads the unique information and the commodity information, and uses a part of the commodity information or the unique information as a key. It is characterized by comprising encrypted message generation means for encrypting the whole to generate encrypted message information.

As a result, even if a fraudulent act is performed by the holder of the personal IC tag, the owner can be identified, that is, the tamper can be identified by decrypting the encrypted message information.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the commodity information management system according to the third aspect, wherein the writing means of the tag reading / writing device writes the encrypted message information into the commodity wireless IC tag. .

As a result, even if a fraudulent act is performed by the holder of the personal IC tag, the owner can be identified, that is, the tamper can be identified by decrypting the encrypted message information.
A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the commodity information management system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the tag reading / writing device simultaneously transmits the encrypted message information and the commodity information of the commodity wireless IC tag to the history. An inter-server communication means capable of transmitting to the information management server is provided.

As a result, even if the wireless IC tag attached to the product is lost, it is possible to identify the tamper by the information stored in the history information management server.
A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to the commodity information management system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the tag reading / writing device includes a time information receiving unit that obtains real-time information from the outside, A time measuring unit for measuring time information, and means for comparing and matching the real time information with the internal time information.

The time information receiving unit is preferably means for receiving radio timepiece information, but other means may be used as long as accurate real time information can be obtained.
The invention according to claim 7 relates to the product information management system according to claim 6, wherein the tag reading / writing device reads the product information, and part or all of the read product information and the time of the time measuring unit. Message generating means for generating a message from information is provided.

  As a result, when the wireless IC tag attached to the product is rewritten by illegally using the tag reader / writer without intentionally connecting to the history information management server, the last recorded history information management server By comparing the time information with the time information written in the wireless IC tag, it is found that at least tampering has occurred. The generated message can be stored in the history information management server, the tag reader / writer, or any other location.

The invention according to claim 8 relates to the commodity information management system according to claim 7, wherein the history information management server includes means for grasping the time information and the unique information by decoding the message. It is characterized by that.
Thereby, the external history information management server can grasp the unauthorized use of the tag read / write device, the unauthorized rewrite of the wireless wireless IC tag, and the like, and can cope with malicious tampering more reliably.

The tag read / write device according to claim 9 is for a personal wireless IC tag that stores unique information about an individual and is carried by the individual, and a product wireless IC tag that stores product information about a product and is attached to the product. In the tag reading / writing apparatus connected to a history information management server for registering and managing the unique information and the product information, the reading means includes a reading unit and a writing unit for reading and writing the unique information and the product information. According to the present invention, there is provided a writing authentication means for permitting writing to the product wireless IC tag by the writing means based on the unique information read from the personal wireless IC tag.
With this configuration, only an operator who has a designated personal IC tag can write to the wireless IC tag attached to the product, and it is difficult for others to tamper with the data.

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, since a person who does not have a personal wireless IC tag cannot change history information, it is basically possible to prevent malicious tampering.
Even if malicious alteration is performed, it is possible to locate the personal wireless IC tag possessed by the person who has performed the alteration or the person who has performed the alteration.
Thereby, since the reliability of the trace information of such a distribution channel increases, it gives the consumer a sense of trust and leads to an increase in purchase motivation. This is also a merit for distribution / production companies, etc., which in turn promotes the correct development of related industries.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The merchandise information management system according to the embodiment of the present invention is an application example to a distribution system that is distributed to a retail store through a plurality of processing places from a production area of meat that will eventually become a product.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a merchandise information management system according to the present invention.
The product information management system 100 includes a personal wireless IC tag 1, a product wireless IC tag 2, a tag read / write device 3, a network 7, and a history information management server 8. Each of the tag read / write devices 3 is connected to a history information management server 8 via a network 7.

  The tag reader / writer 3 is set at each stage of handling meat that will eventually become the product 5, that is, at each of the points A, B, and C. Point A indicates the production site 4a, point B indicates the processing plant 4b, and point C indicates the retail store 4c. Note that the distribution stages of the points A, B, and C are not limited to this, and can be considered as all stages from manufacturing to consumption, including logistics companies and service companies. Further, when the processing itself is divided into a plurality of stages, they may be considered as different points.

  The personal wireless IC tag 1 is produced at the production site 4a at the point A, at the producer wireless IC tag 1a, at the processing site 4b at the point B, at the processor wireless IC tag 1b, and at the retail store 4c at the point C. The wireless IC tag 1c for sellers is used, and at each stage, the tag reading / writing device 3 is used to read or write necessary information from these personal wireless IC tags 1a, 1b, 1c. is there. In this example, there are only three types shown: a producer's wireless IC tag 1a, a processor's wireless IC tag 1b, and a seller's wireless IC tag 1c. The personal wireless IC tag 1 can be used in various distribution stages such as a commercial wireless IC tag.

  The product wireless IC tag 2 is used when the product passes through each point in each stage of handling the meat that finally becomes the product 5. That is, it is attached to the raw material at the production site 4a, which is the point A, the processed product at the processing site 4b, which is the point B, and the product 5 at the retail store 4c, which is the point C. Used to read or write necessary information from the product wireless IC tag 2.

  The product wireless IC tag 2 includes an area for storing information related to the product 5. For example, a manufacturer writes information related to production in the product wireless IC tag 2 in a production process, or a producer wireless IC tag. By referring to the IC tag 2, production management of the product 5 can be performed. Further, the processor can perform processing management by writing information on the processing method into the product wireless IC tag 2 in the processing step or referring to the product wireless IC tag 2. Similarly, the seller can perform sales management by writing information related to the sales method in the product wireless IC tag 2 in the sales stage or referring to the product wireless IC tag 2. As described above, the logistics company, the service company, and the collection / recycling company write the information related to each business in the product wireless IC tag 2 or refer to the product wireless IC tag 2 in each business process. The business management of the product 5 is performed. In this way, information is written and referenced to one product wireless IC tag 2 attached to the product in a plurality of stages.

  Products 5 include household appliances in the electrical industry, electronic devices such as computers, or electronic components, industrial equipment, automobiles, motorcycles, etc. in the automotive industry, or these components, packaged foods in the food industry, etc. In addition, various products such as bags, shoes, tableware or sundries are intended, such as housing building materials, furniture, etc. in the housing industry, or clothes, etc. in the clothing industry. The product is distributed through each stage of production, distribution, sales, service, and collection and recycling, and the life is completed. In other words, it covers everything from product production to disposal / collection.

The history information management server 8 is a server that manages the product information sent from the tag reader / writer 3 and is installed at each of the points A, B, and C via the network 7 so that new information can always be input. It is connected to each of the tag reading / writing devices 3 individually, and is configured so that product information, unique information, etc. read by the tag reading / writing device 3 can be stored and retrieved as necessary. In addition, the encrypted message having a certain length can be decrypted so as to cope with the encrypted message. Furthermore, a means for grasping time information and unique information is provided.
The network 7 connects each of the tag read / write devices 3 and the history information management server 8 so that information can be exchanged in real time using a public network or the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the tag read / write device according to the present invention.
The tag reading / writing device 3 includes an antenna unit 9, a wireless communication unit 10, a reading unit 11, a writing unit 12, an encrypted message generating unit 13, a decrypting unit 17, a writing authentication unit 14, and an external input. Unit 15, external output unit 19, server-to-server communication unit 18, radio clock information receiving unit 20, and control unit 16, and the control unit 16 includes a timer unit, a memory unit, and the like (not shown). have.
The wireless communication unit 10 includes a wireless communication unit that communicates with a product wireless IC tag 2 attached to a product, a producer wireless IC tag 1a, a processor wireless IC tag 1b, and a seller wireless IC tag 1c possessed by an individual. The wireless communication unit that communicates with the personal wireless IC tag 1 such as the above may be another means that uses a different wireless system, but here, the same means will be described.

The reading unit 11 reads information stored in the product wireless IC tag 2 and the personal wireless IC tag 1 via the wireless communication unit 10.
The writing unit 12 writes the encrypted message information of a certain length encrypted by the encrypted message generating unit 13 into the product wireless IC tag.
The encrypted message generation unit 13 reads the unique information stored in the personal wireless IC tag 1 by the reading unit 11, reads the product information stored in the product wireless IC tag 2, and then reads the unique information. A part of the product information is encrypted using the information as a key to create encrypted message information of a certain length.

The writing authentication unit 14 reads the unique information stored in the personal wireless IC tag 1 by the reading unit 11, and then sends the writing unit 12 to the product wireless IC tag 2 based on the unique information. It is determined whether or not writing of product information is permitted.
The decryption unit 17 decrypts the encrypted message created by the encrypted message creation unit 13 using the decryption key and sends the decrypted message to the external output unit 19.
The server-to-server communication unit 18 can transmit the encrypted message information of a certain length and the product information of the product wireless IC tag 2 to the history information management server 8 at the same time.

The radio clock information receiving unit 20 obtains accurate real-time information. The radio clock information receiving unit 20 is not limited to the radio clock information receiving means as long as it can obtain accurate real-time information, and may be another means.
The control unit 16 includes a wireless communication unit 10, a reading unit 11, a writing unit 12, an encrypted message generation unit 13, a write authentication unit 14, a decryption unit 17, an inter-server communication unit 18, a radio clock information receiving unit 20, and the like. Each part in the reading / writing device 3 is controlled.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the personal wireless IC tag and the product wireless IC tag according to the present invention.
The personal wireless IC tag 1 and the commercial wireless IC tag 2 basically have the same functions and configurations as the wireless IC tag. That is, the wireless IC tag includes an antenna unit 23, a wireless communication unit 22 that communicates with the tag reading / writing device 3 via the antenna unit 23, and a storage unit 21 that stores information input via the wireless communication unit 22. The control unit 24 controls the wireless communication unit 22 and the storage unit 21.

Information including the unique ID is stored in the storage unit of the personal wireless IC tag and is read by the tag reader / writer 3.
Information on the product 5 is stored in the storage unit of the product wireless IC tag 2 and read by the tag reading / writing device 3 or new information is written from the tag reading / writing device 3. The information related to the product 5 includes, for example, the production process of the manufacturer, the production management of the product 5, the processing method of the processor, the sales management information of the seller, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a working state of the tag read / write device in the distribution stage.
For example, a processor who processes meat possesses a wireless IC tag 1b for a processor indicated by H in the figure, and a commercial wireless IC tag 2 indicated by M in the figure is used for meat that will eventually become a product. The processor wireless IC tag 1b and the product wireless IC tag 2 respectively read and write necessary information from the tag reading / writing device 3. The personal wireless IC tag 1 is a producer wireless IC tag 1a when used by a producer, a processor wireless IC tag 1b when used by a processor, and a seller wireless IC tag when used at a retail store. Tag 1c.

  In addition, for example, a farmer who keeps an animal that becomes meat at another distribution stage, for example, a wireless IC tag 1a for producers indicated by X, and a retailer that retails meat, for example, a wireless IC for sellers indicated by Y Of the wireless IC tags 1 for personal use, such as the tag 1c, the producer wireless IC tag 1a, the processor wireless IC tag 1b, the seller wireless IC tag 1c, or other Use wireless IC tags for the distribution stage.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of information writing of the tag reading / writing device in the merchandise information management method according to the present invention.
Here, the operation of the tag reader / writer 3 when the processing operator writes processing information at the time of processing will be described.
First, the processing operator inputs information to be newly added / changed in advance such as processing information (step S1), and the tag reading / writing device stores information including the unique ID stored in the processing wireless IC tag 1b. 3 is read by the reading unit 11 (step S2). This is an operation of simply holding the wireless IC tag 1b for the processor over the antenna unit 9 of the tag reading / writing device 3. It is assumed that a processing operator who has a unique ID of H, for example, in the processing wireless IC tag 1b is registered in advance in the processing site 4b and the history information management server 8 and can cope with it. Alternatively, the processing worker's personal information may be stored in the processing wireless IC tag 1b.

Next, the tag reading / writing device 3 reads information on the product wireless IC tag 2 attached to the meat to be written that exists in the wireless communication range (step S3).
Next, it is determined whether or not the unique ID read in step 1 is registered in the history information management server 8, and if it is registered, the write authentication unit 14 permits the write function and must be registered. If this is the case, the writing function is rejected, and it remains in an unusable state (step S4).

Next, a digest message encrypted with a certain length is created from a part of the information of the product wireless IC tag 2, the time information matching the real time, and the unique ID (step S5).
Next, the tag reading / writing device 3 writes the digest message and the processing information into the product wireless IC tag 2 by the writing function permitted by the writing authentication unit 14 (step S6).
The tag read / write device 3 that has completed the writing transmits the information of the product wireless IC tag 2 and the personal wireless IC tag 1, the digest message, and the processing information to the history information management server 8 (step S7), and then All the series of information is cleared (step S8), and it waits for the next operation.

Next, the method for creating a digest message in step S5 will be described in more detail.
First, the processor wireless IC tag 1b indicated by H (hereinafter referred to as the processor wireless IC tag H) has ID information (Key_ID) which is a unique ID, and the actual processor and this unique ID in advance. And is registered in the history information management server 8, for example. Moreover, in this case, it is preferable that the wireless ID tag H for the processor is devised, for example, to be a wristband type.

The product wireless IC tag 2 indicated by M (hereinafter referred to as product wireless IC tag M) stores the old information “info_M” composed of the old trace information “info_trace_M” and the old digest message “dgst_msg”.
The tag reading / writing device 3 reads old information from the product wireless IC tag M, and newly adds it to the processed work based on the received old trace information “Past (info_trace_M)” of the product wireless IC tag M. New trace information “New (info_trace_M)” is created.

Next, the real time information is added to the header part information “Hd (info_trace_M)” which is a part of the new trace information “New (info_trace_M)” as a time stamp “T_smp”, which is encrypted and has a fixed length. A digest message is created and used as a new digest message.
That is, header information “Hd (info_trace_M)” + time stamp “T_smp”) ** ID information “Key_ID” = digest message “dgst_msg”.

Note that “**” may be a general encryption logic.
Then, the new digest message “New (dgst_msg)” and the new trace information “New (info_trace_M)” are added to obtain new information “New (info_M)”.
Finally, the tag reader / writer 3 writes the new information “New (info_M)” into the product wireless IC tag M, and the product wireless IC tag M stores the new information “New (info_M)”. is there.

At the same time, the tag reading / writing device 3 transmits new information “New (info_M)” to the history information management server 8, and the history information management server 8 uses the new information “New ( info_M) ".
This makes it difficult for an operator who does not have the processing wireless IC tag H in which the ID information “Key_ID”, which is a unique ID, is stored, to change the product wireless IC tag M. It becomes difficult to tamper.

  Even if the product wireless IC tag M or the information of the history information management server 8 is altered using some means, the latest digest message “New (dgst_msg)” of the product wireless IC tag M or the history If the digest message “dgst_msg” stored in the information management server 8 is confirmed, the personal wireless IC tag 1 possessed by the person who has tampered with can be known, and at least a system that can understand the fact that tampering has been performed. Can be built. Therefore, it serves as a deterrent against tampering and helps to prevent malicious data tampering.

The digest message is “fixed length”. However, the digest message is not limited to this, and a digest message that is not fixed length may be used.
In addition, the storage location of the digest message is not limited to the history information management server 8 and can be stored in the tag reader / writer 3 or any other location.
Further, the writing authentication unit 14 can permit the writing when the reading unit 11 reads the unique information from the personal wireless IC tag, or the writing authentication unit 14 can write after the rejection is determined based on the unique information. Can also be allowed.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the merchandise information management system which concerns on this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the tag reading / writing apparatus based on this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the personal radio | wireless IC tag which concerns on this invention, and the radio | wireless IC tag for goods. It is the schematic which shows the working state of the tag reading / writing apparatus in a distribution | circulation stage. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of the information writing of the tag reading / writing apparatus in the merchandise information management method based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal wireless IC tag, 1a ... Producer wireless IC tag, 1b ... Processor wireless IC tag, 1c ... Seller wireless IC tag, 2 ... Merchandise wireless IC tag, 3 ... Tag reading / writing device, 4a ... Production area, 4b ... Processing plant, 4c ... Retail store, 5 ... Product, 7 ... Network, 8 ... History information management server, 9 ... Antenna part, 10 ... Radio communication part, 11 ... Reading part, 12 ... Writing part , 13: Encrypted message generation unit, 14: Write authentication unit, 15 ... External input unit, 16 ... Control unit, 17 ... Decryption unit, 18 ... Inter-server communication unit, 19 ... External output unit, 20 ... Radio clock information Receiving unit, 21 ... storage unit, 22 ... wireless communication unit, 23 ... antenna unit, 24 ... control unit, 100 ... merchandise information management system

Claims (9)

A personal wireless IC tag that stores personal information related to an individual and is carried by the individual, a wireless IC tag for products that stores product information related to a product and is attached to the product, and a reading unit that reads and writes the specific information and the product information A product information management system comprising a tag read / write device having a writing means, and a history information management server connected to the tag read / write device for registering and managing the unique information and the product information,
The tag reading / writing device includes a writing authentication unit that allows the writing unit to write to the product wireless IC tag based on the unique information read from the personal wireless IC tag by the reading unit. Product information management system characterized by   The write authentication means determines whether or not the unique information is registered in the history information management server, and if it is registered, permits writing by the write means, and if not registered, the write means 2. The merchandise information management system according to claim 1, wherein writing by is rejected.   The tag read / write device includes encrypted message generation means for reading the unique information and the product information, and encrypting part or all of the product information using the unique information as a key to generate encrypted message information. The product information management system according to claim 2.   4. The product information management system according to claim 3, wherein the writing means of the tag read / write device writes the encrypted message information to the product wireless IC tag.   The tag read / write device comprises server-to-server communication means capable of simultaneously transmitting the encrypted message information and the product information of the product wireless IC tag to the history information management server. Item 4. A product information management system according to item 3.   The tag read / write device includes a time information receiving unit that obtains real time information from the outside, and a time measuring unit that measures internal time information, and compares and matches the real time information with the internal time information The product information management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:   The tag reading / writing device includes message generation means for reading the product information and generating a message from a part or all of the read product information and time information of the timekeeping unit. Item 6. The product information management system according to item 6.   8. The product information management system according to claim 7, wherein the history information management server comprises means for grasping the time information and the unique information by decoding the message. Read / write the unique information and the product information to / from a personal wireless IC tag that stores personal information related to the individual and carried by the individual, and a product wireless IC tag that stores product information related to the product and is attached to the product In a tag reading / writing apparatus connected to a history information management server that has a reading means and a writing means for registering and managing the unique information and the product information,
Tag reading and writing comprising: writing authentication means for permitting writing to the product wireless IC tag by the writing means based on unique information read from the personal wireless IC tag by the reading means apparatus.

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