JP2008027377A - Time recorder device using portable music player - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-functionalized time recorder device. <P>SOLUTION: The time recorder device comprises a reader/writer which communicates with an IC card having an authentication function and ID data by radio, a clock, a portable music player, a display device, a controller and a communication interface capable of communicating with a host computer, when the IC card is held over an antenna part of the reader/writer, the ID data is transmitted from the IC card to the reader/writer after authenticating individual using the authentication function, the controller sequentially reproduces pieces of accumulated data corresponding to the ID grouped for each ID in the portable music player by the ID data, the pieces of accumulated data comprising basic data which is not erased even after being reproduced and temporary data which is received from the host computer and erased after the being reproduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a time recorder device having a multimedia function using a portable music player.

  Although it is said to be the era of the Internet, many offices still manage time using paper-based time cards. For the most part, it is cheap and easy to handle, and the time recorder itself continues to sell products with a single function and low price.

  On the other hand, although an attendance management system using an IC card has been developed, the introduction cost is high for the function and the linkage with the core system is not popular because it is troublesome.

Therefore, for the purpose of adding high added value to the time recorder, it is equipped with an RF reader / writer that reads and writes data to and from a contactless IC card using electromagnetic waves, and a clock, and within the communication area of the RF reader / writer by means of response wave detection means Control means to detect the presence of the non-contact type IC card at the time and write the attendance time data or leaving time data to the date and current time data at the time of detection to the non-contact type IC card The time recorder technology provided is known. (Patent Document 1)
JP 2003-233848 A

  In Patent Document 1, time data is written to a non-contact type IC card, and each person usually manages the non-contact type IC card containing the data, and from the plurality of non-contact type IC cards at the time of counting Since the time data is read in a lump, if the contactless IC card is lost, not only the time data but also a melody arbitrarily selected by the individual previously written on the contactless IC card or Audio compression data such as call sign by tone signal is also lost. Furthermore, for each contactless IC card that each person has, a character code such as an employee code number and personal name, and a call sign by a melody or tone signal arbitrarily selected by the individual. Writing audio-compressed data can take hours for dozens of business establishments, and it is realistic for large-scale establishments because it takes a lot of time for larger establishments. It cannot be said to be a time recorder device.

  Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a time recorder apparatus that can be easily and inexpensively collected at a large-scale office and can easily introduce working time data collection and aggregation processing.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a reader / writer device that communicates wirelessly with an IC card having an authentication function and ID data, a clock, a portable music player, a display device, a control device, In a time recorder configured with a communication interface capable of communicating with a host computer, when the IC card is held over the antenna unit of the reader / writer device, the ID data is transferred from the IC card after personal authentication using the authentication function. The control device reproduces the stored data corresponding to the ID grouped for each ID in the portable music player in order by the ID data transmitted to the reader / writer device, and the stored data remains after the reproduction. Basic data that will not be erased and data that is erased after being received from the host computer and played back It was to be composed of data.

  Further, the stored data is only character data, only voice data, or a combination of character data and voice data, the communication interface uses a wireless communication interface, or personal authentication using the authentication function Mutual authentication may be performed between the contactless IC card and the host computer.

  In the above, a portable music player such as i-Pod (registered trademark) that is generally distributed can be used as the portable music player. Regarding the i-Pod (registered trademark), the technology is disclosed in US Patent Application No. 20040055446, which provides configuration data prepared by the user for the purpose of easy management of music files. Multimedia device, method, apparatus, and system that have been implemented for hierarchical GUIs, and the first interface is the highest in the highest user selectable items When the item is selected, the lower priority user interface associated with the selected item is automatically communicated to the command, and other users can select the lower priority interface. Contains an item, which is a higher-order user interface item that was selected earlier Technology to be associated is known.

  In the present invention, secure personal authentication using an IC card is associated with a data group including a voice message stored in the portable music player, and the portable music is linked to the personal music at different timings. A portable music player is used as a composite information providing apparatus by playing back the data group stored in the player.

  In the time recorder device using the portable music player of the present invention, the user brings the IC card for personal authentication close to the antenna of the IC card reader / writer device provided in the time card, and is connected to the IC card reader / writer device. When the individual is identified by the authentication means, music and voice stored in advance by the user's request through the acoustic signal output means flow, and when the identity confirmation is notified to the person by the acoustic signal output means, the urgent A message addressed to the person such as a voice mail is played and information necessary for starting work is provided on the spot, so the start of work becomes smooth.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof is omitted.

 FIG. 1 is an example of a time recorder apparatus using a portable music player according to the present invention. The time recorder device 1 provides a time card function by holding a non-contact IC card 2 over it. The time recorder device 1 includes a portable music player 3, a control device 4, a program memory ROM 5 for storing a program, a working memory RAM 6 used for data processing when the program is executed, an IC card reader / writer device 7, a wireless communication It is composed of a device 8 and an antenna 9. In the file at the memory map address 00000 of the portable music player 3, a basic list in which the employee number of the office in charge is data is registered as ID data in advance.

  The antenna 9 can communicate with the antenna 11 using radio waves 10 as a medium. Since the antenna 11 is connected to the host computer 13 via the RF circuit 12, the host computer 13 and the control device 4 can communicate with each other through these communication paths.

  The host computer 13 is connected to a basic database 14 including ID data and an extended database 15. In the basic data database 14, in addition to the employee number of the employee as ID data, personal information such as name and affiliation as reference data, sound data for a time card selected by the employee in advance, for example, ringtones for you Is registered, and rewriting is not permitted except when necessary. When an employee with a non-contact IC card 2 performs a time-and-out procedure at a time recorder device 1 other than a pre-registered office, necessary data can be sent from the host computer 13 to the time recorder device 1. Therefore, it is not necessary that the ID data of all employees be registered in the portable music player 3.

  In addition, the extended database 15 includes voice mails such as telephone calls etc. when the employee is absent the previous day or at night, or communication items with a schedule, such as scheduled departure date, announcement of establishment anniversary, etc. Are stored in MP3 format or the like.

  When the employee holds the non-contact IC card 2 serving as his / her employee ID over the reader antenna 7a provided in the reader / writer device 7 of the time recorder device 1, the IC chip embedded in the non-contact IC card 2 and the reader / writer Mutual authentication is performed by an authentication function built in the apparatus 7. When each other is authenticated, the control device 4 reads the ID data from the non-contact IC card 2 and stores it in the work memory RAM 6.

  Assume that the employee number is 10. Here, referring to the registered employee number list stored in the file 00000 of the portable music player 3, if the employee number 10 is registered in this list, the corresponding file group, for example, addresses from 01000 to 01010 Play the audio file in the folder formed by.

  If the employee number 10 is not stored in the file at the memory map address 00000, that is, if the employee comes on a business trip from another office, the control device 4 makes an inquiry to the host computer 13. Then, the employee data of employee number 10 is received from the basic database 14 and the music data registered by the employee is output from the portable music player 3 as an audio signal.

  Thereafter, the data associated with the employee number 10 is retrieved from the extended database 15, and if there is such data, the voice is output through the portable music player 3 as described above.

  The ID data stored in the basic database 14 is maintained by periodic communication between the host computer 13 and the control device 4, and the basic data stored in the communication portable music player 3 is not deleted except for this periodic maintenance. Absent.

  Data such as voice mail stored in the extended database 15 is stored for a predetermined number of days in the extended database 15, but the data transferred from the extended database 15 to the memory of the portable music player 3 is not contacted IC card 2. It is erased when it is played once by access using.

  Further, the access history (for example, time and employee number) to the time recorder device 1 by the non-contact IC card 2 is once stored in the working memory RAM 6, but while the message is being reproduced by the portable music player 3. The radio wave 10 is transmitted to the host computer 13 and the history is left as a log together with the registration number of the time recorder device 1.

  Needless to say, the control device 4 need not be externally connected to the program memory ROM 5 and the work memory RAM 6 and may use a one-chip microcomputer.

  As the sound amplifying device of the time recorder device 1, a speaker provided in the portable music player 3 may be used. When the portable music player 3 does not have a built-in speaker, it is connected to an external speaker system. You may do it.

  As a display device of the time recorder device 1, a liquid crystal display unit provided in the portable music player 3 may be used, or an independent display device may be connected to the control device 4 via an interface.

  It is conceivable that the control device 4 of the time recorder device 1 has a speech synthesis function. In this method, a text file is transmitted from the extended database 15 or an external system, and is voiced.

  When this time card system is operated by many offices, the basic database 14 and the extended database 15 connected to the host computer may be managed by a higher-level computer.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the memory map 17 of the portable music player used in the time recorder apparatus using the portable music player. Addresses are allocated from 00000 to 11111, and if it is voice, digital voice signals such as MP3, AAC, Audible, AppleLossless, AIFF, WAV can be used, and if it is character data , ASCII-coded employee numbers and the like are stored.

  Addresses 00000 to 00100 are basic files in which basic data 17 such as employee number files and authentication confirmation music is stored. Here, management numbers of employees of the office and regular business operators are stored. As described above, if the employee number is not included in the employee number file, the basic database 14 or the extended database 15 connected to the host computer 13 is accessed to receive desired data, music data, etc. Is reproduced by the portable music player 3.

  Further, the grouped folders from addresses 01000 to 01010 are storage areas for data 18 relating to the employee number 10 and the first file is for the time card selected by the employee in advance as described above. Sound data is included, and from the second, there is an urgent voice mail and a contact message from the boss.

  Further, in the grouped folders of addresses 11000 to 11111, a message 19 such as a communication item for all office members is registered, and access to the time recorder device 1 using the non-contact IC card 2 is possible. Send a message every time.

  By linking a time recorder that simply records time with a portable music player, it functions as a low-cost but highly functional time recorder, encouraging employees to work and, for example, urgent voice mail recording from customers By regenerating, it will lead to improvement of the company's business efficiency.

Example of time recorder device using portable music player according to the present invention Example of a portable music player memory map 17 used in a time recorder device using a portable music player

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Time recorder apparatus, 2 ... Non-contact IC card, 3 ... Portable music player, 4 ... Control apparatus, 5 ... Program memory ROM, 6 ... Work memory RAM, 7 ... Reader / writer apparatus, 7a ... Reader antenna, 8 ... RF circuit, 9 ... antenna, 10 ... radio wave, 11 ... antenna, 12 ... RF circuit, 13 ... host computer, 14 ... basic database, 15 ... extended database, 16 ... memory map, 17 ... memory map, 18 ... employee number Data on the 10th employee, 19 ... Messages for all office members.

Claims (4)

Time recorder device comprising a communication interface capable of communicating with a reader / writer device for wirelessly communicating with an IC card having an authentication function and ID data, a clock, a portable music player, a display device, a control device, and a host computer When the IC card is held over the antenna unit of the reader / writer device, the ID data is transmitted from the IC card to the reader / writer device after personal authentication using the authentication function. The control device sequentially reproduces accumulated data corresponding to the ID grouped for each ID in the portable music player, and the accumulated data is received from the host computer as basic data that is not deleted after reproduction. Mobile sound characterized by temporary data to be erased after playback Time recorder device using the player. 2. A time recorder using the portable music player according to claim 1, wherein the accumulated data is only character data, only voice data, or a combination of character data and voice data. Time recorder device using a player. 2. A time recorder using a portable music player according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface. 4. The time recorder using the portable music player according to claim 1, wherein personal authentication using the authentication function is mutual authentication between the contactless IC card and the host computer. A time recorder using a portable music player characterized by the above.