JP2009181191A - Ic product management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a check on a history in a process in which IC chips are embedded in IC products, after the embedding of IC chips in IC products, without confusing the management of shipped IC products. <P>SOLUTION: An IC product management system has a process management part 20 for associating and managing in a process history database 22 a UID read from an IC chip in the process in which the IC chip is embedded in an IC product and history information in the process, a code rewrite management part 30 for reading the UID from the IC chip and rewriting it to an EPC code when the IC product with the embedded IC chip is shipped, and associating and managing the rewritten UID and the EPC code in a code database 32, and a history information check part 40 for, when the EPC code is read from the IC chip embedded in the IC product, retrieving the UID associated with the EPC code in the code database 32 and retrieving the history information associated with the UID in the process history database 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an IC product management system for managing an IC product such as an IC card or an IC tag, and in particular, an IC product management system for managing an IC product using specific information written in an IC chip incorporated in the IC product. About.

  In recent years, with the progress of the information society, information is recorded on tags and labels attached to products and the like, and products and the like are managed using the tags and labels. In information management using such tags and labels, non-contact IC tags and non-contact IC labels equipped with an IC chip capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state are superior. It is rapidly spreading due to its convenience.

  In recent years, non-contact type IC tags and non-contact type IC labels capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state have been recently communicated using a microwave band in order to reduce the size and ensure a communicable distance. Increasingly fine IC chips are used.

  When such a fine IC chip is used, information is written to or read from the IC chip by connecting a conductive antenna to the IC chip.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a non-contact type IC tag on which an IC chip that performs communication using a microwave band is mounted. FIG. 7A is a top view, and FIG. 7B is a diagram shown in FIG. It is AA 'sectional drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the present configuration example includes two strip-shaped conductor portions 102a and 102b formed on a base substrate 103 made of resin, paper, or the like with a predetermined interval so as to be arranged in series with each other. And an IC chip 101 capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state so as to be connected to a feeding point provided at one end of each of the two conductors 102a and 102b. Is installed and configured.

  In the non-contact type IC tag 110 configured as described above, when close to an external reader / writer (not shown), current flows in the antenna unit 102 by resonating with radio waves from the reader / writer. This current is supplied to the IC chip 101, whereby information is written from the reader / writer to the IC chip 101 in a non-contact state, or information written to the IC chip 101 is read by the reader / writer. Or

  In the IC chip 101 incorporated in such a non-contact type IC tag 110, a unique serial code is written for each IC chip 101 called a unique ID at the time of manufacture, and the non-contact type IC tag 110 is shipped. When attached to a product or the like, the product or the like is managed using this unique ID. In addition, since the process management is performed using this unique ID in the process of incorporating the IC chip 101 into the non-contact type IC tag 110, the IC chip 101 is integrated into the non-contact type IC tag 110 and then the IC By reading the unique ID from the chip 101, it is possible to confirm a history in the process of incorporating the IC chip 101 into the non-contact type IC tag 110. In addition, depending on the type of IC chip, the above-described unique ID is not written, but the same code is written. In that case, an individual code is written to identify the IC chip in process management. Yes.

  In addition, a technique for printing information including a unique ID of the IC chip 101 on a work to which the non-contact type IC tag 110 is attached and managing the work using this information is also considered (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).

  However, the IC chip 101 is subjected to various inspections in the manufacturing process, and those that are determined to be defective in the inspection are collected without being incorporated into the non-contact type IC tag 110. Therefore, the shipped non-contact type IC tag 110 is shipped. In this case, the unique IDs written in the IC chip 101 are not serially arranged, and so-called tooth loss occurs. For this reason, there is a possibility that the management of products using the shipped non-contact type IC tag 110 may be confused, and the yield rate of the IC chip 101 will be known to a third party.

  Here, in recent years, when shipping the non-contact type IC tag 110 in which the IC chip 101 is incorporated as described above, a serial number unique to each non-contact type IC tag 110 called an EPC (Electronic Product Code) code is used. A code is written on the IC chip 101, and this EPC code is used like a barcode to manage a product or the like to which the non-contact type IC tag 110 is attached. By writing such a new code such as an EPC code on the IC chip 101 at the time of shipment of the non-contact type IC tag 110, the code written on the IC chip 101 of the shipped non-contact type IC card 110 is serialized. It is possible to avoid confusion in the management of products and the like using the shipped non-contact type IC tag 110.

At this time, the unique ID written at the time of manufacturing the IC chip 101 is preferably erased in order to secure a memory area in the IC chip 101. Therefore, in general, when the non-contact type IC tag 110 is shipped, the unique ID in the IC chip 101 is rewritten with a shipping code such as the above-described EPC code. As a result, the yield rate of the IC chip 101 is not known to a third party.
JP 2006-302234 A

  However, as described above, when an IC product such as a non-contact IC tag is shipped, if the unique ID in the IC chip is rewritten with a shipping code such as an EPC code, the history of the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product is recorded. There is a problem that it becomes impossible to confirm.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and after the IC chip is incorporated into the IC product without causing confusion in the management of the shipped IC product, An object of the present invention is to provide an IC product management system capable of confirming a history in a process in which an IC chip is incorporated into an IC product.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
An IC product management system for managing an IC product in which an IC chip is incorporated,
Process management means for associating the first unique information read from the IC chip in the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product with the history information in the process and managing it in the first database;
At the time of shipment of the IC product in which the IC chip is incorporated, the first unique information is read from the IC chip and rewritten with the second unique information, and the rewritten first unique information and second unique information are Code rewrite management means for managing the data in the second database in association with each other,
When the second unique information is read from an IC chip incorporated in the IC product, the first unique information associated with the second unique information in the second database is searched, History information confirmation means for retrieving history information associated with the first unique information in the first database.

  In the present invention configured as described above, when shipping an IC product in which an IC chip is incorporated, first, in the step of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product, first unique information written in the IC chip Is read, the process management means associates the read first unique information with the history information in the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product and manages them in the first database. Then, when the IC product in which the IC chip is incorporated is shipped, the code rewriting management means reads the first unique information from the IC chip and rewrites it with the second unique information. The unique information and the second unique information are associated with each other and managed in the second database. Thus, the first unique information is not written in the IC chip incorporated in the shipped IC product, and the second unique information is written. Therefore, by using a serial code as the second unique information, the shipped IC product can be managed by the serially arranged code, and the management of the IC product is not confused. Thereafter, when the second unique information is read from the IC chip incorporated in the IC product, the history information confirming means associates the second unique information with the second database in the second database. And the history information associated with the first unique information in the first database is retrieved. Thereby, the history in the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product can be confirmed using the second unique information written in the IC chip incorporated into the shipped IC product.

  As described above, in the present invention, the IC product is managed in association with the first unique information written in the IC chip in the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product and the history information in the process. At the time of shipment, since the first unique information is read from the IC chip and rewritten to the second unique information, the rewritten first unique information and the second unique information are associated with each other and managed. If a serial code is used as the second unique information, the shipped IC product can be managed by the serially arranged code, and the IC product can be managed using the second unique information after the IC product is shipped. The history of the process in which the chip is incorporated into the IC product can be confirmed, and the IC chip can be integrated without causing confusion in the management of the shipped IC product. After it has been incorporated into goods, IC chips can confirm a history in the process to be incorporated into the IC product.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an IC product managed by the IC product management system of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an IC product managed by the IC product management system of the present invention, in which (a) is a top view and (b) is an AA ′ shown in (a). It is sectional drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present embodiment comprises two strip-shaped conductor portions 2a and 2b formed on a base substrate 3 made of resin, paper, or the like with a predetermined interval so as to be arranged in series with each other. An antenna portion 2 is formed, and an IC chip 1 capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state is connected to a feeding point provided at one end of each of the two conductor portions 2a and 2b. It is installed and configured.

  In the non-contact type IC tag 10 configured as described above, when close to an external reader / writer (not shown), current flows in the antenna unit 2 by resonating with radio waves from the reader / writer. This current is supplied to the IC chip 1 so that information is written from the reader / writer to the IC chip 1 in a non-contact state, and information written to the IC chip 1 is read by the reader / writer. Or

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the IC product management system of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the non-contact type IC tag 10 shown in FIG. 1 is managed. As shown in FIG. 1, the process management unit 20, the code rewrite management unit 30, and the history information confirmation unit 40 are provided. Have.

  The process management unit 20 is connected to a plurality of R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n that read the unique ID that is the first unique information written in the IC chip 1 of the non-contact type IC tag 10. The R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n are installed in processes that require management of history information among a plurality of processes in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10. In the process in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10, the process management unit 20 uses the R / W 11-1 in which the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 of the non-contact type IC tag 10 is installed in the process. When read at ~ 11-n, the read unique ID and the history information in the process are associated with each other and registered and managed in the process history database 22 which is the first database. The process history database 22 is configured to be accessible from a communication network 50 such as the Internet or an intranet.

  Connected to the code rewriting management unit 30 is an R / W 31 that reads the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 of the non-contact type IC tag 10 and rewrites the unique ID into an EPC code arranged serially. The R / W 31 is installed in the shipping process of the non-contact type IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated. When the non-contact type IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated is shipped, the code rewriting management unit 30 has the R / W 31 in which the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 of the non-contact type IC tag 10 is set in the process. Is read, the EPC code, which is the second unique information serially arranged, is sequentially written to the IC chip 1 using the R / W 31 with reference to the code database 32 which is the second database. At this time, the unique ID is rewritten to the EPC code by writing the EPC code so as to overwrite the unique ID written in the IC chip 1. The code rewriting management unit 30 registers and manages the rewritten unique ID and the EPC code in the code database 32 in association with each other. The code database 32 is configured to be accessible from the communication network 50.

  The history information confirmation unit 40 is configured to be connectable to the communication network 50 and reads a plurality of R / Ws 41-1 to 41- that read EPC codes written on the IC chip 1 of the shipped non-contact type IC tag 10. N is connected. The R / Ws 41-1 to 41-N are installed at shipping destinations of the non-contact type IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated.

  Hereinafter, a management method of the non-contact type IC tag 10 using the IC product management system configured as described above will be described.

  First, a management method until the IC chip 1 is incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10 and the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a management method until the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped in the IC product management system shown in FIG.

  Before the non-contact type IC tag 10 shown in FIG. 2 is manufactured and shipped, the process of mounting and bonding the IC chip 1 on the base substrate 3 or the base substrate 3 is not contacted IC tag 10. Various processes such as a process of cutting every time, or a process of laminating the non-contact type IC tag 10 when the non-contact type IC tag 10 has a multi-layer structure, and a process of inspecting the communication performance of the IC chip 1 are performed.

  Among these processes, in a process where history information needs to be managed (step S1), the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 is stored in the R / W 11-1 to 11-n installed in the process. It is read (step S2). The unique ID read from the IC chip 1 by the R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n is notified to the process management unit 20.

  In the process management unit 20, the unique ID notified from the R / W 11-1 to 11-n and the history information in the process in which the R / W 11-1 to 11-n is installed correspond to the process history database 22. Then, it is registered (step S3). Here, the history information may include information such as the name of the factory that performed the process, the date of execution of the process, the name of the machine that performed the process, the name of the person in charge who performed the process, etc. Information is input to the process management unit 20, and is registered in the process history database 22 in association with the unique ID notified from the R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n. At this time, in the process management unit 20, information such as the factory name, the machine name, and the person in charge input as described above is managed for each R / W 11-1 to 11-n, and the R / W 11- R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n are identified by IDs that can identify R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n that have been notified together with the unique IDs from 1 to 11-n. Process history database in which information such as factory name, machine name, and person in charge managed for each 11-n is associated with the unique ID notified from the R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n and the notification time. 22 will be registered.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the process history database 22 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the process history database 22 shown in FIG. 2, the unique ID read from the IC chip 1 by the R / Ws 11-1 to 11-n is a non-contact in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated. For each manufacturing process of the type IC tag 10, the name of the factory that performed the process, the execution date of the process, the name of the machine that performed the process, and the name of the person in charge who performed the process are registered. Yes.

  When the contactless IC tag 10 shown in FIG. 1 is completed and shipped (step S4), first, the R / W 31 installed in the shipping process of the contactless IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated. 1, the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 of the non-contact type IC tag 10 to be shipped is read, and the read unique ID is notified to the code rewriting management unit 30.

  In the code rewriting management unit 30, when the unique ID read from the IC chip 1 is notified from the R / W 31, the EPC code serially arranged in the shipping order is notified to the R / W 31 and the EPC code serially arranged. Is written to the IC chip 1 by the R / W 31. At this time, writing of the EPC code in the R / W 31 is performed so that the EPC code is overwritten on the unique ID written in the IC chip 1, whereby the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 is rewritten into the EPC code. (Step S5).

  In the code rewrite management unit 30, the rewritten unique ID and the EPC code are registered in the code database 32 in association with each other (step S6).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the code database 32 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the code database 32 shown in FIG. 2, the unique ID read from the IC chip 1 by the R / W 31 and the EPC code written to the IC chip 1 by the R / W 31 Are registered in association with each other.

  Since the EPC code written to the IC chip 1 by the R / W 31 is given as being serially arranged in the order of shipment by the code rewriting management unit 30 as described above, as shown in FIG. The unique ID read from the above is collected in the inspection process without being incorporated into the non-contact type IC tag 10, so that it is not serially arranged and so-called tooth loss occurs. Even if it is, the EPC codes written in the IC chip 1 are serially arranged in the order of shipment. Thus, since the EPC code serially arranged in the order of shipment is written in the IC chip 1 incorporated in the shipped non-contact IC tag 10, the shipped non-contact IC tag 10 or non-contact A product or the like to which the type IC tag 10 is attached can be managed by a serially arranged code, and management is not confused.

  Next, a description will be given of a process for confirming a history in the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 with respect to the shipped non-contact type IC tag 10 as described above.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when confirming the history in the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 after the contactless IC tag 10 is shipped in the IC product management system shown in FIG.

  When the history in the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 into the non-contact IC tag 10 is confirmed after the non-contact IC tag 10 is shipped, the R installed at the shipping destination of the non-contact IC tag 10 Information reading operation is performed on the IC chip 1 incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10 at / W41-1 to 41-N. In the IC chip 1 incorporated in the shipped non-contact type IC tag 10, since the EPC code is written as described above, the R / W 41-1 to 41-N reads the EPC code (step S11). The EPC code read from the IC chip 1 by the R / Ws 41-1 to 41-N is notified to the history information confirmation unit 40.

  In the history information confirmation unit 40, when the EPC codes read from the IC chip 1 are notified from the R / Ws 41-1 to 41-N, the code database 32 is first referred to via the communication network 50. Then, the unique ID associated with the EPC code notified from the R / W 41-1 to 41-N is searched in the code database 32 (step S12). In the code database 32, as shown in FIG. 5, the EPC code written in the IC chip 1 is registered in association with the unique ID. This unique ID is written in the IC chip 1 before the shipment of the non-contact type IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 from which the EPC code is read is incorporated. Therefore, the unique ID is associated with the unique ID. If the history information of the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 into the non-contact type IC tag 10 is managed, the history of the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 can be confirmed.

  In the history information confirmation unit 40, the process history database 22 is then referred to via the communication network 50. Then, history information associated with the unique ID searched from the code database 32 in the process history database 22 is searched (step S13). In the process history database 22, as shown in FIG. 4, the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10 before the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped is For each manufacturing process of the non-contact type IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated, the name of the factory that performed the process, the date when the process was performed, the name of the machine that performed the process, and the person who performed the process It is registered in association with history information such as the name of the person. Therefore, by using the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10 before the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped, the non-contact type IC tag 10 A history in the process of incorporating the chip 1 can be confirmed.

  In this way, the history of the process of incorporating the IC chip 1 into the non-contact IC tag 10 can be obtained by simply reading the EPC code written on the IC chip 1 incorporated in the non-contact IC tag 10 after shipment. Can be confirmed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the unique ID written in the IC chip 1 and the history information in the process are managed in association with each other while the IC chip 1 is incorporated in the non-contact type IC tag 10. When the contact type IC tag 10 is shipped, the unique ID is read from the IC chip 1 and rewritten to the serial EPC code in the order of shipment, and the rewritten unique ID and the EPC code are managed in association with each other. The non-contact type IC tag 10 can be managed by a serially arranged code, and the IC chip 1 is non-contacted by using the EPC code written on the IC chip 1 after the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped. The history in the process incorporated in the mold IC tag 10 can be confirmed.

  In the present embodiment, the unique ID already written in the IC chip 1 is used as the first unique information. However, in the initial process, the non-contact IC tag 10 in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated is used. Alternatively, the unique information may be written in the IC chip 1, and the unique information and the history information in the process may be associated with each other and registered in the process history database 22. Further, the second unique information is not limited to the EPC code, and any information can be used as long as it can be serially written in the IC chip 1 in the order of shipment when the non-contact type IC tag 10 is shipped.

  Further, as an IC product in which the IC chip 1 is incorporated, as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna portion 2 including the two conductor portions 2 a and 2 b is formed on the base substrate 3 and connected thereto. Although the non-contact type IC tag 10 on which the IC chip 1 is mounted has been described as an example, the shape is not limited to this, and the antenna unit may be formed of one conductor portion. In addition, an IC chip capable of writing and reading information, such as a tag capable of writing and reading information in a contact state, is not the non-contact type IC tag 10 capable of writing and reading information in a non-contact state. Various IC products can be applied as long as they are incorporated.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of IC product managed with the IC product management system of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is AA 'sectional drawing shown to (a). . It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of IC product management system of this invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a management method until a non-contact type IC tag is shipped in the IC product management system shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows one structural example of the process history database shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a code database illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing when confirming a history in a process of incorporating an IC chip after a non-contact type IC tag is shipped in the IC product management system shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the non-contact-type IC tag with which the IC chip which communicates using a microwave band is mounted, (a) is a top view, (b) is AA 'shown to (a). It is sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC chip 2 Antenna part 2a, 2b Conductor part 3 Base base material 10 Non-contact-type IC tag 20 Process management part 21-1 to 21-n, 31, 41-1 to 41-N R / W
22 Process History Database 30 Code Rewrite Management Unit 32 Code Database 40 History Information Confirmation Unit 50 Communication Network

Claims (1)

An IC product management system for managing an IC product in which an IC chip is incorporated,
Process management means for associating the first unique information read from the IC chip in the process of incorporating the IC chip into the IC product with the history information in the process and managing it in the first database;
At the time of shipment of the IC product in which the IC chip is incorporated, the first unique information is read from the IC chip and rewritten with the second unique information, and the rewritten first unique information and second unique information are Code rewrite management means for managing the data in the second database in association with each other,
When the second unique information is read from an IC chip incorporated in the IC product, the first unique information associated with the second unique information in the second database is searched, An IC product management system comprising history information confirmation means for retrieving history information associated with first unique information in the first database.

Images