JP2008299813A - Radio communication system, radio communication tag, radio communicating method and radio communication program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To retrieve information without affecting the entire system even when a failure occurs in a server by sufficiently securing a radio communication distance and memory capacity by a radio communication tag. <P>SOLUTION: This radio IC tag system is provided with passive IC tag-attached product groups A to C105 to 107 attached to articles and storing each identification information, active IC tag categories A to C102 to 104 for reading identification information stored in the passive IC tag-attached product groups A to C105 to 107, storing the identification information in association with individual information of corresponding objects, and a radio IC tag reader terminal 101 for reading the individual infomation of articles stored in association with the identification information from the active IC tag categories A to C102 to 104. The radio IC tag reader terminal 101 retrieves the individual information of the articles from the active IC tag category A to C102 to 104. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a wireless communication system, a wireless communication tag, a wireless communication method, and a wireless communication program using a terminal having a wireless IC tag reader function for performing wireless communication over a short distance.

  In recent years, with the practical use of wireless IC tag readers, the use of wireless IC tags has been proposed for various uses such as distribution, history management, and article management.

  Here, a conventional wireless IC tag reader includes a tag called an active IC tag that has a built-in battery, transmits radio waves by itself, and can perform wireless communication at a distance of about 10 m to 100 m. An active IC tag can secure a sufficient memory capacity, but is relatively expensive. Therefore, it is not realistic in terms of cost to attach it to all articles having a low unit price.

  In recent years, a tag called a passive IC tag has been proposed. The passive IC tag can transmit radio waves by reflecting the radio waves of the reader / writer without requiring a battery. The passive IC tag can be manufactured at a lower cost than the active IC tag.

  Passive IC tags are expected to promote the operation of wireless IC tag readers. However, since they do not have a built-in battery, there is only a proximity distance of about 3 m to 5 m for wireless communication, and a sufficient memory capacity can be secured. could not.

  Even when such a passive RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag is used, the article can be managed by increasing the communication distance with the reader / writer, and the article is identified between the passive RFID tag and the active RFID tag. There has been proposed an information system that eliminates the need for the process of associating the information (see Patent Document 1).

  That is, this information system uses an electronic tag including a passive structure that stores information for identifying an article and an active structure that reads the information and transmits the information to a reader / writer. Thereby, even if it uses a passive structure, the communication distance with a reader / writer can be lengthened and the convenience of article management can be maintained.

  In addition, the passive structure stores information for identifying an article, whereas the active structure does not store other information for identifying an article. It is no longer necessary to perform processing for associating information for identifying articles between the two.

  In addition, an RFID tally tag system has been proposed that informs the position of a person or object moving within a predetermined area without error of the related parties (see Patent Document 2). That is, this system includes an active tag interrogator that reads ID data of an active tag and an active tag that transmits ID data.

  This system is also deployed in a detection area, a passive tag interrogator, a passive tag that transmits ID data to the interrogator, a control unit, a communication means for exchanging data between the interrogator and the control unit. A plurality of active tag interrogators.

The control unit stores ID data stored in both tags as reference data in association with each other. Along with this, the control unit takes in the ID data of the active tag received by the active tag interrogator for position detection, and forms the ID data and the ID data of the passive tag stored in the control unit in association with each other, The reference data and the detection data are compared, and the comparison result is displayed on the display unit.
JP 2006-197202 A JP 2006-293603 A

  The above-described conventional active IC tag alone is too expensive for product management. Moreover, the radio wave reach is short with only passive IC tags. For this reason, at the time of information search, there is a disadvantage that only products that are arranged at a close distance (about 3 m to 5 m) where the wireless IC tag reader terminal can perform wireless communication can be searched.

  Further, as in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, in a system using a passive RFID tag and an active RFID tag, an external server is always required for management and search of information for normal processing. .

  For this reason, when a server that holds information in the system configuration manages all active RFID tags, if a failure occurs in this server, the operation of the entire system is interrupted or stopped.

  Therefore, the present invention can secure a sufficient distance and memory capacity for wireless communication using a wireless communication tag, and does not require a server when managing or retrieving information for normal processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication system, a wireless communication tag, a wireless communication method, and a wireless communication program capable of executing information search without affecting the whole.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a wireless communication system for searching for individual information of an article, wherein the wireless communication system is attached to the article and stores a plurality of pieces of identification information stored therein. Read the identification information stored in the first wireless communication tag and the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to each other within the communication area, and correspond to the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags And a plurality of second wireless communication tags for storing in association with individual information of articles to be stored.

  Further, the wireless communication system is stored in association with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags by being close to the communication range. And a portable terminal device that reads out individual information of the article, and the individual information of the article is searched from the plurality of second wireless communication tags using the portable terminal device.

  Moreover, the wireless communication tag of the present invention is a plurality of wireless communication tags that perform wireless communication for searching for individual information of articles between a plurality of other wireless communication tags and a mobile terminal device, Wireless communication means for performing communication, control means for controlling, and storage means for storing information.

  In addition, the wireless communication tag is stored in the plurality of other wireless communication tags that are attached to the article and are disposed close to the communication area with respect to the plurality of other wireless communication tags in which the identification information is stored. The identification information is read by the wireless communication means, and the identification information of the plurality of other wireless communication tags is associated with the individual information of the corresponding article and stored in the storage means.

  The wireless communication tag also reads the individual information of the article stored in association with the identification information of the plurality of other wireless communication tags with respect to the mobile terminal device in the vicinity of the communication range. It is possible to search for individual information on an article using the portable terminal device.

  Further, the wireless communication method of the present invention is a wireless communication method for searching for individual information of an article, and storing each identification information in a plurality of first wireless communication tags attached to the article; Reading the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to the communication area, and associating the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags with the individual information of the corresponding article And storing in a plurality of second wireless communication tags.

  Further, the wireless communication method stores the information associated with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags in association with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags when the mobile terminal device approaches in the communication range. A step of reading out individual information of the article being used, wherein the individual information of the article is retrieved from the plurality of second wireless communication tags using the portable terminal device.

  Further, the wireless communication program of the present invention enables wireless communication for searching for individual information of articles between a plurality of first wireless communication tags and a portable terminal device, and a plurality of second wireless communication tags. In order to control this, the computer is caused to function as means for storing each identification information in the plurality of first wireless communication tags attached to the article.

  In addition, the wireless communication program reads out identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged in the vicinity of the communication area to control the plurality of second wireless communication tags. , Functioning as means for associating the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags with the individual information of the corresponding article and storing them in the plurality of second wireless communication tags.

  Further, the wireless communication program causes the computer to control the plurality of second wireless communication tags, and the portable terminal device approaches the plurality of second wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags. It is characterized by functioning as means for reading out individual information of articles stored in association with the identification information of one wireless communication tag.

  Thereby, for example, the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags (passive IC tags) and the individual information of the corresponding article are stored in association with the plurality of second wireless communication tags (active IC tags). As a result, the second wireless communication tag can perform wireless communication and memory storage of the first wireless communication tag, and only the first wireless communication tag needs to be attached to the article.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to search for individual information (product name, position, number information, etc.) of articles placed in a store using a mobile terminal device (wireless IC tag reader). .

  In addition, the second wireless communication tag (active IC tag) having a long wireless communication distance and sufficient memory capacity is used for search communication from the category with the mobile terminal device (wireless IC tag reader) to the individual information of the article. The system capability is appropriately constructed by using the first wireless communication tag (passive IC tag) with a short wireless communication distance and insufficient memory capacity for communication only with the wireless communication tag (active IC tag) of No. 2 be able to.

  Further, only a plurality of expensive second wireless communication tags (active IC tags) are used for each category, and tags attached to individual articles are all used as a plurality of inexpensive first wireless communication tags (passive ICs). Tag), the entire system can be constructed at low cost.

  In addition, since a server is not required for management and retrieval of normal processing information, even if a failure occurs in the server, the entire system is not affected. For example, individual information (product name, position, number information, etc.) of articles managed by the second wireless communication tag (active IC tag) is managed for each cell (product name, position, number information, etc.). Therefore, even if there is a problem, the influence range can be made in units of cells. For this reason, the search of the information of another cell can be performed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a network configuration example of the wireless IC tag system of the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the network of the wireless IC tag system is a wireless communication system for searching for individual information of articles.
That is, the network of this wireless IC tag system includes a passive IC tag attached product group A105, a passive IC tag attached product group B106, and a passive IC tag attached product group C107 that are attached to articles and each identification information is stored. .

  In addition, the network of this wireless IC tag system has identification information stored in a passive IC tag attached product group A105, a passive IC tag attached product group B106, and a passive IC tag attached product group C107 arranged close to each other in the communication range. An active IC tag category A102, an active IC tag category B103, and an active IC tag category C104 that read out and associate and store this identification information and the individual information of the corresponding article are provided.

  Further, the wireless IC tag system network is stored in association with the identification information from the active IC tag category A102, the active IC tag category B103, and the active IC tag category C104 by being close to the communication range. There is provided a wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 for reading out individual information of an article.

  In such a wireless IC tag system network, individual information on an article is retrieved from the active IC tag category A102, the active IC tag category B103, and the active IC tag category C104 using the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101. It is.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone as a wireless IC tag reader terminal.
In FIG. 2, a mobile phone 200 is the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 shown in FIG. ing.

In addition, the mobile phone 200 includes a speaker unit 204 that outputs a received voice, a voice of a moving image file, and a voice of music data, and a microphone 203 that collects a transmitted voice and the like.
The mobile phone 200 includes a display unit 207 that displays operation information, transmission / reception data, and the like, and an operation unit 206 that includes a plurality of keys for inputting operation information, transmission / reception data, and the like.

  The mobile phone 200 also stores a memory 205 for storing various application programs such as a communication application program, and reads information from the active IC tags 102 to 104 shown in FIG. And an RFID reader 209 that performs wireless processing.

The mobile phone 200 includes a control unit 208 that is connected to each unit via the control line 220 and the data line 230 to control each unit.
Here, the memory 205 stores an RFID reader driver program 250 that causes the control unit 208 to perform wireless communication processing between the RFID reader 109 and the active IC tags 102 to 104 shown in FIG.

  The memory 205 is an interface for writing information read from the active IC tags 102 to 104 shown in FIG. 1 by the RFID reader 209 to the memory in the control unit 208 via the data line 230. It stores an interface program 260 to be executed.

  Further, the mobile phone 200 searches the product information based on the information read from the active IC tags 102 to 104 shown in FIG. 1 by the RFID reader 209 and displays the search result on the display unit 207. To run.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an active IC tag system.
In FIG. 3, an active IC tag 301 includes an IC 304 having a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication via a loop antenna 302, a control unit that performs control, and a storage unit that stores information, and supplies power voltage to the IC 304. And a power supply regulator 305 to be supplied.

  Here, the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags is read out to the storage unit of the IC 304 to identify the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. A management program 312 for executing an operation of associating and storing the information and the individual information of the corresponding article is stored.

  For example, the management program 312 is loaded in advance in the storage unit of the IC 304 of the active IC tag 301 so as to be rewritable wirelessly from an external server (not shown). The management program 312 is rewritten, for example, once a day from an external server before opening the store.

  The active IC tag 301 receives the identification information from the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. A process of reading out and storing is executed.

  Further, the active IC tag 301 executes a process of associating and storing each identification information and the individual information of the corresponding article by executing the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304.

  The process for reading and storing each identification information and the process for storing each identification information in association with the individual information of the corresponding article are the passive IC tag shown in FIG. 105, for each group such as the attached product groups A, B, and C of the passive IC tag 106 and the passive IC tag 107.

  When the active IC tag 301 corresponds to the category A, B, or C of an article to which a group such as the attached product group A, B, or C is classified by the execution of the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304, the category A of the article , B, and C, each identification information and corresponding individual information of the article are stored in association with each other, and each identification information and corresponding individual information of the article are managed.

  The mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 includes a wireless communication circuit 202 that performs wireless communication, a control unit 208 that performs control, and a display unit 207 that displays information. Therefore, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 searches for the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 that is close to the communication area.

  Then, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 displays on the display unit 207 the category of the article to which each identification information of the searched active IC tag 301 belongs, and performs an input operation from the category of the article to which each displayed identification information belongs. The article is selected based on the information, and the individual information of the selected article is displayed on the display unit 207.

  Here, the active IC tag 301 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the IC 304, a control unit that performs control, and a storage unit that stores information.

  Therefore, the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to an article and is within communication range with respect to the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. The identification information stored in the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. Are stored in the storage unit.

  In addition, the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 has a passive IC tag 105, a passive IC tag 106, a passive IC shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. The individual information of the article stored in association with the identification information of the tag 107 can be read, and the individual information of the article can be searched using the mobile phone 200.

  In the active IC tag system shown in FIG. 3, an operation of wireless communication by non-contact between the active IC tag 301 and the RFID reader 209 will be described. Here, the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 reads out the identification information stored in the passive IC tag 105, passive IC tag 106, and passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the information and the individual information of the corresponding article are associated with each other and stored in the storage unit.

  Note that the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. 1 are attached to an article, each identification information is stored, and close to the communication range of the active IC tag system shown in FIG. Arranged.

  That is, the active IC tag 301 arranged at a specific position for each product category in the store uses electromagnetic waves as a medium with respect to the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. Then, power to be a power source is supplied in a non-contact manner, and identification information writing processing and reading processing are performed.

  Here, in the active IC tag system shown in FIG. 3, for example, an active IC tag 301 arranged at a specific position for each category of products in the store, and an electromagnetic wave as a medium for the active IC tag 301, An RFID reader (including a reader / writer) 209 that supplies power as a power source in a non-contact manner and performs data reading / writing and other necessary processing.

  In the RFID reader 209, a command and, if necessary, write data are radiated as electromagnetic waves from a loop coil 307 whose cross-sectional shape is rectangular, for example, and an unmodulated wave is radiated for a certain period. That is, first, the CPU 309 controls the modulation / demodulation circuit 308 so as to apply a voltage corresponding to a predetermined modulation wave to the loop coil 307 according to a predetermined program.

  The modulation circuit that performs modulation processing in the modulation / demodulation circuit 308 includes, for example, a carrier generator that generates a carrier with a predetermined frequency (for example, 14 MHz), and a drive circuit (amplifier) whose amplification factor changes according to the control of the CPU 309. It is composed of A carrier is inputted to the drive circuit from a carrier generator.

  The drive circuit further includes adding means for weighting and adding the detected voltages of the connection points between the secondary coils and the capacitors of each of the plurality of loop antennas 307. The amplification factor of the drive circuit is controlled by the CPU 309 corresponding to a command to be transmitted to the active IC tag 301, write data, or the like. Therefore, in the drive circuit, the carrier is amplitude-modulated and output according to a command or write data to be transmitted to the active IC tag 301.

  The output terminal of the drive circuit is connected to a coil (loop coil) 307 that is an antenna (loop antenna). Therefore, the amplitude-modulated wave output from the drive circuit is supplied to the loop coil 307. That is, a voltage corresponding to the amplitude modulated wave is applied to the loop coil 307. Thereby, in the loop coil 307, a current corresponding to the voltage flows, and a magnetic flux (magnetic field) corresponding to the change in the current is generated.

  That is, the amplitude-modulated wave output from the drive circuit is radiated from the loop coil 307 as an electromagnetic wave.

  Thereafter, the RFID reader 209 is controlled by the CPU 309 so that the amplification factor of the drive circuit becomes a constant value. As a result, the unmodulated wave is radiated as an electromagnetic wave in the same manner as the amplitude-modulated wave described above.

  Then, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the active IC tag 301. Here, whether or not there is a response from the active IC tag 301 is determined as follows. That is, in the active IC tag 301, although not shown in FIG. 3, for example, a loop coil 307 and a capacitor (resonance capacity) are connected in parallel to form a resonance circuit.

  Further, a series circuit in which a capacitor and a switch (for example, FET) are connected in series is connected in parallel to the capacitor. Therefore, when the switch is turned on / off, the resonance circuit is configured by a loop coil and a capacitor, or a loop coil and another capacitor, and the resonance frequency (impedance) is changed. .

  In the active IC tag 301, when responding to the RFID reader 209, a control signal is turned on / off. As a result, the resonance frequency (impedance) of the resonance circuit constituted by the loop coil 307 and the capacitor is changed.

  In this case, it is assumed that the active IC tag 301 and the RFID reader 209 are at a distance that causes mutual induction between the loop coils 302 and 307. Note that the active IC tag 301 may also change the capacitance of a capacitor connected to the resonance circuit by a switch in the same manner as the RFID reader 209.

  As described above, the impedance when the loop antenna 307 side is viewed from the connection point (the terminal of the loop coil) between the drive circuit of the RFID reader 209 that emits electromagnetic waves corresponding to the unmodulated wave and the loop coil 307 is the on-state of the switch. / Changes corresponding to off.

  Therefore, the voltage at the connection point of the loop antenna 307 also changes. The voltage during this period is detected and demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 308 and supplied to the CPU 309. Whether or not there is a response from the active IC tag 301 is determined by the CPU 309 based on a signal (demodulated signal) from the modulation / demodulation circuit 308.

  When the CPU 309 determines that there is no response from the active IC tag 301, the process of radiating amplitude modulated waves and non-modulated waves is repeated as described above until there is a response from the active IC tag 301. That is, the case where it is determined that there is no response from the active IC tag 301 is a case where the active IC tag 301 and the RFID reader 209 are not at a distance that causes mutual induction between the loop coil 302 and the loop coil 307. .

  On the other hand, when the CPU 309 determines that there is a response from the active IC tag 301, necessary processing is performed based on the demodulated signal from the modulation / demodulation circuit 308 as the response obtained as described above.

  That is, the active IC tag system in FIG. 3 searches for individual product information using the RFID reader 209 built in the terminal, for example, for the active IC tag 301 arranged for each product category in the store. If so, the following operation is performed.

  The CPU 309 controls the display 310, the access controller 311 and other devices. Necessary displays are made on the display 310, and individual product information is searched by the access controller 311. Furthermore, predetermined processing is performed in other devices.

  Next, the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. In the active IC tag 301, first, an electromagnetic wave radiated from the RFID reader 209 is received. That is, when the active IC tag 301 is brought close to the RFID reader 209, a distance that causes mutual induction between the loop coils 302 and 307 is obtained.

Therefore, the loop coil 302 generates a back electromotive force in accordance with a change in magnetic flux (change in magnetic field) linked to the electromagnetic field (magnetic flux) radiated from the loop coil 307.
Here, in the active IC tag 301, although not shown, the loop coil 302 is connected in parallel with a capacitor, thereby forming a resonance circuit.

  Therefore, the voltage generated in the loop coil 302 having a predetermined frequency band centered on the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit composed of the loop coil 302 and the capacitor is efficiently supplied to the subsequent stage 304.

  Note that the resonance frequency of the resonance circuit including the loop coil 302 and the capacitor is configured to be the same as the frequency of the carrier generated by the carrier generator included in the RFID reader 209, for example.

  Then, supply of power to the IC 304 by back electromotive force based on the above-described mutual induction is started. Thereafter, a signal that has passed through a resonance circuit including a loop coil 302 and a capacitor is detected.

  That is, the signal that has passed through the resonance circuit composed of the loop coil 302 and the capacitor is rectified and smoothed (the ripple is removed) through a rectifying / detecting diode and a smoothing capacitor (not shown), It is supplied to the power regulator 305. Then, the power supply regulator 305 stabilizes the signal input thereto to obtain a predetermined constant voltage, which is supplied to the IC 304 as a power supply.

  As described above, after the power is supplied to the IC 304 and the operation becomes possible, the signal that has passed through the resonance circuit including the loop coil 302 and the capacitor is connected to the rectifying / detecting diode described above. It is detected by passing through. Further, the DC component is removed through an AC coupling capacitor (not shown) and supplied to the IC 304.

  The IC 304 interprets a command included in the signal input thereto and performs processing corresponding to the command. That is, when the command is a request for writing, for example, data (write data) included in the input signal is written in a memory (not shown) such as a nonvolatile memory.

  Conversely, when the command is a request for reading, for example, data (read data) stored in a memory (for example, a non-volatile memory) is transmitted. Here, when the command is a request for reading, for example, data is read from the memory. Corresponding to the data, for example, capacitance variable control by a capacitor is performed.

  Here, the control signal for variable capacitance control by the capacitor is turned on / off according to the control of the IC 304. For example, normally, the capacitor is in an off state with a relatively large capacitance. When the control signal is turned on, the capacitance of the capacitor is reduced to a relatively small value.

  For this reason, the parallel resonance circuit composed of the loop coil 302 and the capacitor is resonated at the resonance frequency. As described above, the voltage at the connection point of the loop antenna 307 in the RFID reader 209 changes corresponding to the read data.

  Note that the parallel resonance circuit may be resonated at the resonance frequency by variably controlling the capacitance by connecting a capacitor in parallel to the resonance circuit including the loop coil 302 and the capacitor via a switch.

  Note that FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the active IC tag 301 itself is provided with the power regulator 305, but power is not provided unlike the passive IC tags 105 to 107, and power is supplied only from the RFID reader 209. The communication operation is the same even if it is received.

For this reason, the communication operation between the passive IC tags 105 to 107 and the active IC tag 301 can be made the same.
For example, when an active IC tag 301 is attached to a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone or PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), the power source of the portable electronic device can be used.

Next, a specific application example in a store will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a management procedure for in-store product information. As described in FIG. 3, the identification information stored in the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 shown in FIG. A management program 312 for executing an operation for storing the identification information and the individual information of the corresponding article in association with each other is stored.

  FIG. 4 shows a process of executing this management program 312 by the computer of the IC 304 of the active IC tag 301. For example, the management program 312 is loaded in advance in the storage unit of the IC 304 of the active IC tag 301 so as to be rewritable wirelessly from an external server (not shown). The management program 312 is rewritten, for example, once a day before opening a store.

  In FIG. 4, an ID for identifying each individual is previously input to the passive IC tag (step S401). Specifically, the active IC tag 301 stores the identification information ID in the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag 107 illustrated in FIG. 1 by executing the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304. Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and writing may be performed wirelessly from an external server (not shown).

  Next, in the active IC tag categories A, B, and C, IDs of passive IC tags in the corresponding product category are stored (step S402). Specifically, the active IC tag 301 is arranged in the vicinity of the communication range by the execution of the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304, and the passive IC tag 105, the passive IC tag 106, and the passive IC tag shown in FIG. A process of reading and storing each piece of identification information from 107 is executed.

  And the information of the product which provides the passive IC tag corresponding to ID memorize | stored in active IC tag category A, B, C is input (step S403). Specifically, the active IC tag 301 executes processing for associating and storing each identification information and the individual information of the corresponding article by executing the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304.

  The process for reading and storing each identification information and the process for storing each identification information in association with the individual information of the corresponding article are the passive IC tag shown in FIG. 105, for each group such as the attached product groups A, B, and C of the passive IC tag 106 and the passive IC tag 107.

  When the active IC tag 301 corresponds to the category A, B, or C of an article to which a group such as the attached product group A, B, or C is classified by the execution of the management program 312 by the control unit of the IC 304, the category A of the article , B, and C, each identification information and corresponding individual information of the article are stored in association with each other, and each identification information and corresponding individual information of the article are managed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating management of product information in the active IC tag. FIG. 5 shows a product information management state executed by the in-store product information management procedure of FIG.
In FIG. 5, active IC tag categories A102, B103, and C104 store ID1, ID2, and ID3 of passive IC tags in the corresponding product categories. This state corresponds to the processing in step S402 in FIG.

  And the information of the product which gives the passive IC tag corresponding to ID1, ID2, ID3 memorize | stored in active IC tag category A102, B103, C104 is input. Specifically, the name, price, and location information of the assigned product are input as the information category A501 of the product to which the passive IC tag corresponding to ID1 stored in the active IC tag category A102 is assigned.

  Further, the name, price, and position information of the assigned product are input as the information category B502 of the product to which the passive IC tag corresponding to ID2 stored in the active IC tag category B103 is assigned. As the product information category C503 to which the passive IC tag corresponding to ID3 stored in the active IC tag category C104 is assigned, the name, price, and position information of the assigned product are input. This state corresponds to the processing in step S403 in FIG.

  The identification information ID1, ID2, and ID3 are read / stored, and the identification information ID1, ID2, and ID3 are associated / stored with the individual information of the corresponding article. The passive IC tag 105 and the passive IC tag 106 shown in FIG. This is performed for each category A501, category B502, and category C503 of the attached product groups A, B, and C of the passive IC tag 107.

  The active IC tag 301 associates and stores individual identification information ID1, ID2, and ID3 for each category A501, category B502, and category C503 such as the attached product group A, B, and C, and the individual information of the corresponding article. Each identification information ID1, ID2, ID3 and the individual information of the corresponding article are managed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a search procedure for in-store product information.
FIG. 6 shows a procedure for a user to search for individual product information using the RFID reader 209 built in the terminal for the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 arranged for each product category in the store, for example. Is shown.

  In FIG. 6, first, the active IC tag wirelessly communicates with the passive IC tag in the product category, and acquires ID information (step S601). This process is the process of step S402 shown in FIG.

  Next, the user searches the surrounding active IC tag using the wireless IC tag reader terminal in the store (step S602). Specifically, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 searches for the active IC tag 301 shown in FIG. 3 that is close to the communication area.

  At this time, if a nearby active IC tag is searched, the product classification corresponding to the category is displayed on the wireless IC tag reader terminal (step S603). Specifically, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 displays the category of the article to which each identification information of the searched active IC tag 301 belongs on the display unit 207.

  Then, the user selects a desired category from the product categories displayed in step S603 (step S603). Specifically, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 selects an article based on an input operation from the category of the article to which each displayed identification information belongs.

  Further, the product name, number, price, and position in the store in the selected product category are displayed (step S604). Specifically, the mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 2 displays the product name, the number, the price, and the position in the store on the display unit 207 as individual information of the selected article.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of product classification. FIG. 7 is a display example of product classification on the display unit 207 of the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 corresponding to the process of step S603 of FIG.
In FIG. 7, vegetables (category A) 702, fish (category B) 703, and meat (category C) 704 are displayed on the display unit 207 of the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 as the product classification 701.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display example of price, position, and the like. FIG. 8 is a display example of individual product information on the display unit 207 of the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 corresponding to the process of step S604 of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the price 805 of vegetables (category A) 801 and the arrangement position 804 in the store are displayed on the display unit 207 of the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 as individual product information. At this time, the positions of fish (category B) 802 and meat (category C) 803 are also displayed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an in-store product search sequence. FIG. 9 is a time chart showing a series of operations for searching for in-store products together with the operation times T1 to T6. In the operation time points T1 to T6, the downward direction from the top is the time progressing direction.

  In FIG. 9, at time T1, the active IC tags 102 to 104 make a passive IC tag ID request 901 to the passive IC tags 105 to 107. At the time T2, the passive IC tags 105 to 107 perform the passive IC tag ID response 902 to the active IC tags 102 to 104.

  At time T3, the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 performs an in-store product category search 903 for the active IC tags 102-104. At time T <b> 4, the active IC tags 102 to 104 perform an in-store product category display 904 for the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101.

  At time T5, the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101 performs in-store product category selection 905 for the active IC tags 102 to 104. At time T6, the active IC tags 102 to 104 display the in-store product information 906 on the wireless IC tag reader terminal 101.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the radio | wireless IC tag system by one embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone as a wireless IC tag reader terminal. It is a figure which shows an active IC tag system. It is a flowchart which shows the management procedure of in-store product information. It is a figure which shows management of the product information in an active IC tag. It is a flowchart which shows the search procedure of in-store product information. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of product classification. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a price, a position, etc. It is a figure which shows a product search sequence in a store.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Wireless IC tag reader terminal, 102 ... Active IC tag category A, 103 ... Active IC tag category B, 104 ... Active IC tag category C, 105 ... Passive IC tag attached product group A, 106 ... Passive IC tag attached product group B , 107 ... Passive IC tag attached product group C, 200 ... Mobile phone, 209 ... RFID reader, 301 ... Active IC tag

Claims (8)

A wireless communication system for searching for individual information of an article,
A plurality of first wireless communication tags attached to the article and storing each identification information;
Reading the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to the communication area, and associating the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags with the individual information of the corresponding article A plurality of second wireless communication tags to be stored,
A portable terminal that reads individual information of articles stored in association with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags by approaching within the communication area Equipment,
With
A wireless communication system, wherein individual information on an article is searched from the plurality of second wireless communication tags using the portable terminal device. The plurality of second wireless communication tags include wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, control means for controlling control, and storage means for storing information,
The storage means reads the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags, stores the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags and the individual information of the corresponding article in association with each other. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein an operation program for executing the operation to be performed is stored so as to be rewritable by radio from outside. The plurality of second wireless communication tags are:
By executing the operation program by the control means,
A process of reading and storing each piece of identification information from the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to a communication area;
The process of associating and storing each identification information and the corresponding individual information of the article,
The wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless communication system is performed for each group of the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to each other within a communication area. The plurality of second wireless communication tags are:
By executing the operation program by the control means,
When the group corresponds to the category of the article to be classified,
For each category of the article, the identification information and the individual information of the corresponding article are stored in association with each other,
The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein each identification information and individual information of a corresponding article are managed. The portable terminal device
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, control means for controlling, and display means for displaying information,
Search for the plurality of second wireless communication tags in proximity to the communication area,
Displaying the category of the article to which the identification information of the plurality of second wireless communication tags searched for belongs to the display means;
Select an article based on an input operation from the category of the article to which each displayed identification information belongs,
The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the individual information of the selected article is displayed on the display means. A plurality of wireless communication tags that perform wireless communication for searching for individual information of articles between a plurality of other wireless communication tags and a portable terminal device,
A wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, a control means for controlling the control, and a storage means for storing information;
For a plurality of other wireless communication tags attached to the article and storing each identification information,
The identification information stored in the plurality of other wireless communication tags arranged close to the communication area is read by the wireless communication means,
Storing the identification information of the plurality of other wireless communication tags and the individual information of the corresponding article in the storage means in association with each other;
For mobile terminal devices close to the communication range,
It is possible to read individual information of articles stored in association with the identification information of the other wireless communication tags,
A wireless communication tag, wherein individual information of an article can be searched using the portable terminal device. A wireless communication method for retrieving individual information of an article,
Storing each identification information in a plurality of first wireless communication tags attached to the article;
Reading the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to the communication area, and associating the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags with the individual information of the corresponding article And storing in a plurality of second wireless communication tags;
Individual information of articles stored in association with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags due to the proximity of the mobile terminal device within the communication area A step of reading
Including
A wireless communication method, wherein individual information of an article is searched from the plurality of second wireless communication tags using the portable terminal device. A computer for enabling wireless communication for searching for individual information of articles between the plurality of first wireless communication tags and the mobile terminal device, and for controlling the plurality of second wireless communication tags,
Means for storing each identification information in a plurality of first wireless communication tags attached to the article;
Reading the identification information stored in the plurality of first wireless communication tags arranged close to the communication area, and associating the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags with the individual information of the corresponding article Means for storing in a plurality of second wireless communication tags;
Individual information of articles stored in association with the identification information of the plurality of first wireless communication tags from the plurality of second wireless communication tags due to the proximity of the mobile terminal device within the communication area Means for reading out,
A wireless communication program that functions as a wireless communication program.

Images