JP2009187270A - Tag id control system, tag id control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tag ID control system, a tag ID control method, and a program capable of converting a tag ID of a specification different from a specification which processing means supports thereto into the tag ID of the specification which the processing means supports. <P>SOLUTION: The tag ID control system to be connected to the processing means for managing an RFID tag for storing extension information for identifying a first specification using a first tag ID supporting a first specification and a second tag ID supporting a second specification different from the first specification includes a storing means for storing the extension information and conversion information for converting the second tag ID to the first tag ID after performing correlation, a reading means for reading the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag, and a converting means for providing the first tag ID to the processing means after reading the conversion information relating to the read extension information and converting the read second tag ID to the first tag ID using the conversion information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tag ID control system, a tag ID control method, and a program.

  RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tags are used for various purposes. For this reason, there are worldwide standards for RFID tags such as ISO15693, EPCglobal, and ucode. There are also RFID tag manufacturers that use proprietary protocols and tag ID formats for RFID tags.

  The RFID tag can exchange data with a device called a reader / writer (hereinafter referred to as “RW”) by radio.

  RFID tags corresponding to different standards have different physical characteristics such as communication frequency band and communication distance, and logical characteristics such as communication speed, protocol, and tag ID format. Therefore, RWs that communicate with RFID tags and read / write information also exist for each RFID tag standard.

  Patent Document 1 describes RW that reads a target data item from each of a plurality of RFID tags corresponding to a common standard and having different data structures.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing features of the RFID tag.

  Wireless technology is used for communication between the RFID tag and the RW. Wireless transmission is basically a shared bus type transmission system. For this reason, when a plurality of RFID tags and RW communicate, collision is likely to occur. Therefore, RW communicates with the RFID tag on a one-to-one basis. That is, RW cannot communicate with other RFID tags while communicating with one RFID tag. In addition, full duplex communication cannot be performed between the RFID tag and the RW.

  In particular, passive RFID tags are supplied with electric power from RW, so high-speed data communication is difficult. In the case of ISO15693, the maximum logical speed is 26 Kbps. However, since the maximum logical speed is a transmission speed, the amount of data that can be actually transmitted is further reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the amount of communication between the RFID tag and RW and exchange data efficiently.

  A tag ID is used to identify the RFID tag itself. The tag ID is an identifier for individually distinguishing RFID tags. A unique tag ID set in accordance with a standard to which the RFID tag corresponds is assigned to the RFID tag. When reading / writing data of the RFID tag, the RFID tag is designated by the tag ID.

  The tag ID format of the RFID tag is defined by each standard. In many standards, tag IDs are layered. The upper part of the hierarchical tag ID is determined by each standard. However, the lower part is often a serial number (serial number) for identifying each RFID tag.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the tag ID format of each standard of the RFID tag.

  For example, in ISO15693, as shown in FIG. 13A, the tag ID length is 64 bits, the first 8 bits are 'E0', the next 8 bits are the tag vendor code, and the lower 48 bits are the serial number ( Serial number).

  In EPCglobal, as shown in FIG. 13B, various bit lengths such as 64, 96, and 198 are defined as tag lengths. The internal data representation is defined by EPCglobal Tag Data Standard and has a logical hierarchical structure. Further hierarchies are also defined for the Domain Identifier. The following is an example of SGTIN-96.

  In ucode, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), the tag length is predetermined in units of 128 bits. The tag ID is logically hierarchized. As for tag IDs, various ID formats can be defined by TLD code and Class code.

  An RFID tag is affixed to a single component like a barcode and is used by multiple routes, companies or systems. Once an RFID tag is affixed to an item, it is used many times in various fields to determine the item.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which a plurality of RFID tags corresponding to any of a plurality of standards are used in various companies.

  In FIG. 14, a razor manufacturing company 102A and a water purifier manufacturing company 102B manage products using RFID tags corresponding to ISO15693. The shampoo manufacturing company 102C manages products using RFID tags corresponding to EPCglobal. Each manufacturing company 102A-102C ships a product to each sales chain 102D-102E.

  In this case, for example, in the sales chain 102E, RFID tags corresponding to ISO15693 and RFID tags corresponding to EPCglobal are mixed. Therefore, a plurality of RFID tag standards exist in the system of the sales chain 102E.

  Furthermore, regarding the RFID tag, the standardization is now further advanced, and a new standard is further added.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the pet food manufacturing company 102F newly ships pet food to the sales chain 102E. When the pet food manufacturing company 102F uses an RFID tag corresponding to ucode, the sales chain 102E newly needs to handle an RFID tag corresponding to ucode.

  Since there are a plurality of standards for RFID tags in this way, RFID tags of various standards are mixed in a system using RFID tags, and the number of RFID tag standards may further increase.

  A user uses the same management device (for example, a processing device that operates according to an application) to manage an item using an RFID tag corresponding to a certain standard, while using an RFID tag corresponding to another standard. When trying to manage, the following problems occur.

  The first problem is that it is difficult to create applications and add functions. The reason is as follows.

  Because the tag ID format of RFID tags varies from one standard to another, the application must support multiple standard tag ID formats. In addition to the serial number, the tag ID format includes a code representing the company and a code representing the product type. For this reason, for example, even if the same company has different RFID tag standards, different codes are assigned to the standards as codes representing the companies.

  The second problem is that, for example, in order to avoid the first problem, it is costly to unify RFID tags into one standard RFID tag. The reason is as follows.

  When unifying RFID tags to a certain standard, users of RFID systems need to re-attach new RFID tags to all things and purchase RWs that comply with the new standards. Also, old standard RFID tags and RWs cannot be used.

  A third problem is that an existing application cannot use another standard RFID tag without modifying the existing application. The reason is as follows.

  Because the tag ID code system of RFID tags is completely different for each standard, users of RFID systems must create applications that incorporate different code systems.

  The fourth problem is that when RFID tags with different standards are added in a situation where RFID tags are used by systems owned by multiple companies, system linkage between multiple companies is reconfigured. The need arises and the work becomes complicated.

  Next, a specific example of the problem will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 14, the case where the razor manufacturing company 102A and the shampoo manufacturing company 102C ship products to the sales chain 102E is considered.

  In this case, in the sales chain 102E, the RFID tag corresponding to ISO15693 and the RFID tag corresponding to EPCglobal are mixed. That is, a plurality of RFID tag standards exist in the system of the sales chain 102E.

  The sales chain 102E needs to manage the product to which the RFID tag corresponding to ISO15693 is pasted and the product to which the RFID tag corresponding to EPCglobal is pasted.

  For this reason, in the sales chain 102E, the handling of the product, that is, the RFID tag becomes complicated. Specifically, the sales chain 102E uses tag IDs of completely different formats for razors and shampoos.

  In addition, when the RFID tag standard to be handled is unified, the cost increases.

  Although it is possible to re-attach the RFID tag corresponding to EPCgloabl to the razor in the sales chain 102E, the corresponding cost will be generated in the sales chain 102E.

  In addition, when the razor manufacturing company 102A changes the RFID tag corresponding to ISO15693 to the RFID tag corresponding to EPCgloabal, there is no problem in the sales chain 102E.

  However, if the sales chain 102D uses a tag corresponding to ISO15693, the razor manufacturing company 102A cannot ship the razor to the sales chain 102D. Further, the razor manufacturing company 102A needs to discard the existing equipment corresponding to ISO15693 and purchase a new equipment for EPCglobal.

  In addition, when the RFID tag corresponding to ISO15693 is simply changed to the RFID tag corresponding to EPCglobal, if there are multiple companies handling RFID tags compatible with ISO15693, the products of those multiple companies are compatible with EPCglobal. It becomes difficult to distinguish using RFID tags.

  For example, consider a case where the sales chain 102E newly handles a water purifier. If the water purifier manufacturer 102B used an RFID tag that complies with ISO15693, simply converting the ISO15693 tag to EPCglobal, the sales chain 102E cannot distinguish between the razor RFID tag and the shampoo RFID tag. , Handling becomes complicated.

  It is also difficult to add a new RFID tag standard.

  Consider the case where the sales chain 102E newly handles pet food as shown in FIG. Assume that the pet food manufacturing company 102F manages pet food with an RFID tag corresponding to ucode. In this case, the sales chain 102E needs to modify the system and application in order to handle the tag ID of the RFID tag corresponding to the new standard ucode.

  Also, when multiple standards for RFID tags coexist in a situation where manufacturing companies and sales chains exchange information about goods in SCM (Supply Chain Management), it is necessary to modify the systems of each company. In addition, when a distributor is present in the middle of SCM, the situation becomes more complicated.

  Patent Document 2 describes an IC tag (RFID tag) management system that can use codes of different standards.

  In this IC tag management system, a memory area for storing information for each standard is provided in the IC tag, and codes of different standards are stored in the memory area.

For this reason, in this IC tag management system, one RFID tag can be managed using codes of different standards. For this reason, it becomes possible to solve the said subject.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-21776 JP-A-2005-346132

  In the IC tag management system described in Patent Document 2, when a user newly writes a tag ID corresponding to another standard to an RFID tag in which a tag ID corresponding to a certain standard is written, for example, for each RFID tag In addition, a cumbersome task of writing different tag IDs must be performed.

  For example, the user must separately write different tag IDs corresponding to other standards to 10 RFID tags in which tag IDs corresponding to a certain standard have already been written.

  The objective of this invention is providing the tag ID control apparatus, the tag ID control method, and program which can solve the subject mentioned above.

  The tag ID control device of the present invention uses the first tag ID corresponding to the first standard, the extension information for specifying the first standard, and the second corresponding to the second standard different from the first standard. Processing means for managing an RFID tag that stores a tag ID; and a tag ID control system to be connected, wherein the extension information, conversion information for converting the second tag ID into the first tag ID, Storage means for storing the information in association with each other, reading means for reading the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag, and reading conversion information related to the read extension information from the storage means, Conversion means for converting the read second tag ID into the first tag ID using conversion information and providing the first tag ID to the processing means.

  The tag ID control method of the present invention uses the first tag ID corresponding to the first standard, the extended information for specifying the first standard, and the second corresponding to the second standard different from the first standard. A tag ID control method performed by a processing unit that manages an RFID tag that stores a tag ID and a tag ID control system to be connected, and is different from the first standard in extended information for specifying the first standard A storage step of associating and storing the conversion information for converting the second tag ID corresponding to the second standard into the first tag ID in the storage means; and from the RFID tag, the extension information and the second tag A reading step of reading the ID, and conversion information related to the read extension information is read from the storage means, and the read second tag ID is used as the first tag ID by using the conversion information. Strange And, including a conversion step of providing the first tag ID to the processing means.

  The program of the present invention uses the first tag ID corresponding to the first standard, the extended information for specifying the first standard, the second tag ID corresponding to the second standard different from the first standard, A computer connected to the processing means for managing the RFID tag for storing the information and the reading means for reading out the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag, the computer connected to the extension information and the first standard other than the first standard Storage means for associating and storing conversion information for converting a second tag ID corresponding to two standards to the first tag ID, and conversion information related to the extended information read by the reading means Is converted from the storage means, using the conversion information, the second tag ID read by the reading means is converted to the first tag ID, and the first tag ID is provided to the processing means. means To to function.

  According to the present invention, if extended information for specifying a conversion destination standard and a tag ID are stored in the RFID tag, the processing unit supports a tag ID of a standard different from the standard supported by the processing unit. It becomes possible to convert the tag ID of the standard. For this reason, the RFID tag only needs to store the tag ID and extension information corresponding to the standard of the conversion destination. For example, it is troublesome to individually register a plurality of tag IDs having different standards in each RFID tag. Work can be made unnecessary.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a tag ID control system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, an example in which RFID tag standards A and B (hereinafter simply referred to as “standard A” and “standard B”) are mixed is shown. In the standards A and B, the frequency band and the tag ID format are separately defined, and are not compatible. In the present embodiment, the standard A corresponds to the second standard, and the standard B corresponds to the first standard.

  In FIG. 1, a tag ID control system 1 communicates with RFID tags 2 and 3 and a processing unit 4. The tag ID control system 1 includes RWs (reader / writers) 5 and 6 and middleware 7. The middleware 7 includes a setting registration unit 8 and a conversion unit 9. The conversion unit 9 includes an RW control unit 9a and a control unit 9b.

  RFID tags 2 and RW5 correspond to standard A, and RFID3 and RW6 correspond to standard B.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing storage areas (storage means) possessed by the RFID tags 2 and 3. 2A shows the storage area 2a of the RFID tag 2, FIG. 2B shows the storage area 3a of the RFID tag 3, and FIG. 2C is stored in the storage areas 2a and 3a. It is the figure which showed information.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the storage area 2a is provided with an ID storage unit 2a1 and a user area 2a2.

  The ID storage unit 2a1 stores a tag ID (XXXX0001) assigned to the RFID tag 2 in accordance with the standard A. Extended information B is stored in the user area 2a2. The extension information B is information for specifying the standard B. The user area 2a2 is an area where the user can freely read and write data using RW. The tag ID (XXXX0001) of the RFID tag 2 is an example of a second tag ID.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the storage area 3a is provided with an ID storage unit 3a1 and a user area 3a2.

  The ID storage unit 3a1 stores a tag ID (YYYY0002) assigned to the RFID tag 3 in accordance with the standard B. Extended information A is stored in the user area 3a2. The extension information A is information for specifying the standard A. The user area 3a2 is an area where the user can freely read and write data using RW. The tag ID (YYYY0002) of the RFID tag 3 is an example of a first tag ID.

  Usually, RFID tag standards are determined by international standards, and the length and format of the ID part (tag ID) are different.

  The upper part of the ID part is defined by the standard. A fixed pattern for each header or company is assigned to the upper part of the ID part. A serial number for identifying individual RFID tags is assigned to the lower part of the ID part.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the processing unit 4 can be generally referred to as processing means.

  The processing unit 4 operates according to an application (program) 4a. The application 4a is an application (program) corresponding to the standard B. For this reason, the processing unit 4 manages and designates the RFID tag using a tag ID corresponding to the standard B, for example. The processing unit 4 is connected to the middleware 7 and acquires information of the RFID tag 2 or 3 via the RW 5 or 6 and the middleware 7.

  RW5 can generally be referred to as reading means. The RW 5 communicates with the RFID tag 2 and can read and write the tag ID in the ID storage unit 2a1 and the information (extended information B) in the user area 2a2.

  RW 6 can generally be referred to as tag ID reading means. The RW 6 communicates with the RFID tag 3 and can read and write the tag ID in the ID storage unit 3a1 and the information (extended information A) in the user area 3a2.

  The middleware 7 can read out information from the RFID tags 2 and 3 and write information into the RFID tags 2 and 3 by controlling the RWs 5 and 6, and can also read information from the RFID tags 2 and 3 into the application 4a. It is a device that can notify (provide).

  The middleware 7 is realized by a computer including a recording medium such as a hard disk or a memory, for example. A hard disk or memory can be generally called a computer-readable recording medium. In this case, the middleware (computer) 7 functions as a setting registration unit 8 and a conversion unit 9 (RW control unit 9a and control unit 9b), for example, by reading and executing a program recorded on a recording medium.

  The setting registration unit 8 can be generally called storage means.

  The setting registration unit 8 uses at least the extension information B for specifying the standard B corresponding to the application 4a and the tag ID (second tag ID) corresponding to the standard A as the tag ID (first tag). ID) and the conversion information for conversion to ID) are stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the setting registration unit 8.

  In FIG. 3, the setting registration unit 8 includes an application information storage unit 8a, an RW information storage unit 8b, and an information storage unit 8c.

  In the application information storage unit 8a, for each application, an application name and a standard name corresponding to the application are stored in association with each other.

  In the RW information storage unit 8b, for each RW, an RW name and a standard name corresponding to the RW are stored in association with each other.

  In the information storage unit 8c, for each extension information, an extension information name, an extension standard name, prefix data, and an ID pattern are stored in association with each other. The prefix data and the ID pattern are included in the conversion information. The prefix data is additional information according to the related extended standard. The ID pattern is designation information for designating the serial number in the tag ID.

  The extended information in the information storage unit 8c indicates data registered in the user area of the RFID tag. The extended standard represents the RFID tag standard that the extended information should be extended. The prefix data represents the prefix of the tag ID to be extended. The ID pattern represents a pattern extracted from the original tag ID to be used.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the conversion unit 9 can be generally referred to as conversion means.

  For example, the conversion unit 9 reads conversion information (prefix data and ID pattern) related to the extension information read by the RW 5 from the RFID tag 2 from the setting registration unit 8. The conversion unit 9 converts the tag ID read from the RFID tag 2 by the RW 5 into a tag ID corresponding to the standard B using the read conversion information, and converts the tag ID into the processing unit 4 (application 4a). To provide.

  For example, the conversion unit 9 extracts the serial number specified by the ID pattern in the conversion information from the tag ID of the RFID tag 2 and adds the prefix data in the conversion information to the serial number, thereby adding the RFID tag 2 is converted into a tag ID corresponding to the standard B.

  The RW control unit 9a can control the RW and acquire the information of the RFID tag through the RW. The RW control unit 9a can also read the information of each RW from the setting registration unit 8 and add the RW information to the information of the RFID tag.

  The control unit 9b controls RFID tag information for each application. For example, a plurality of control units 9b may be held in the middleware 7 for each application. In the present embodiment, the control unit 9b operates for an application (application 4a) in the processing unit 4.

  Next, an outline of the operation will be described.

  In the case of this system, when the RFID tag 2 is detected, the RW 5 reads the tag ID (XXXX0001) and the extension information B from the RFID tag 2. Subsequently, the RW 5 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (XXXX0001) of the RFID tag 2 and the extension information B.

  In the middleware 7, when the tag ID (XXXX0001) and the extension information B of the RFID tag 2 are received from the RW 5, the RW control unit 9a refers to the setting registration unit 8 and recognizes that the RW 5 corresponds to the standard A. Thereafter, the RW control unit 9a notifies the control unit 9b of the tag ID (XXXX0001) of the RFID tag 2, the extension information B, and the standard information indicating the standard A (standard corresponding to the RW5).

  Upon receiving information on the RFID tag 2 (tag ID = XXXX0001, extended information = extended information B, standard information = standard A), the control unit 9b refers to the setting registration unit 8 and analyzes information on the RFID tag 2. .

  The application 4a corresponds to the standard B, and information related to the RFID tag 2 corresponds to the standard A. For this reason, the control part 9b cannot pass the information regarding the RFID tag 2 to the application 4a as it is.

  In this case, the control unit 9a searches for extended information in the setting registration unit 8.

  Since information related to the extension information B is registered in the setting registration unit 8, the control unit 9 b uses the information related to the extension information B to correspond the tag ID of the RFID tag 2 to the standard B. Extend (convert) to tag ID.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the control unit 9b first extracts the lower 16 bits from the tag ID (XXXX0001) based on the ID pattern related to the extension information B. Next, the control unit 9b adds prefix data (YYYYZZ) related to the extension information B to the lower 16 bits, and generates a new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001).

  The control unit 9b checks that the new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) is a tag ID conforming to the standard B. For example, the control unit 9b stores a tag ID format conforming to the standard B in advance, and checks whether the new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) corresponds to the tag ID format conforming to the standard B.

  When the new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) is a tag ID conforming to the standard B, the control unit 9b notifies the application 4a of the new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001).

  On the other hand, when the RW 6 detects the RFID tag 3, the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) and the extension information A are read from the RFID tag 3. Subsequently, the RW 6 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) of the RFID tag 3 and the extension information A.

  In the middleware 7, when the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) and the extension information A of the RFID tag 3 are received from the RW 6, the RW control unit 9a refers to the setting registration unit 8 and recognizes that the RW 6 corresponds to the standard B. Thereafter, the RW control unit 9a notifies the control unit 9b of the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) of the RFID tag 3 and the standard information (standard corresponding to the RW6) indicating the extended information A and the standard B.

  Upon receiving information on the RFID tag 3 (tag ID = YYYYYY0002, extended information = extended information A, standard information = standard B), the control unit 9b refers to the setting registration unit 8 and analyzes information on the RFID tag 3. .

  The information of the application 4a and the RFID tag 3 both comply with the standard B. For this reason, the control unit 9a notifies the application 4a of the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) of the RFID tag 3 as it is.

  Thereby, when the RFID tag 2 is detected, the tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) is notified, and when the RFID tag 3 is detected, the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) is notified.

  Next, the operation will be described in detail.

  In the present embodiment, information related to the RFID tag standard B supported by the application 4 a is registered in advance in the application information storage unit 8 a in the setting registration unit 8.

  In addition, it is registered in the RW information storage unit 8b in the setting registration unit 8 that RW5 corresponds to the standard A and RW6 corresponds to the standard B.

  Further, information about the extended information A (standard = standard A, prefix data = XXXZ, ID pattern = lower 16 bits) and information about the extended information B (standard = standard B, prefix data = YYYYZZ, ID pattern = lower 16 bits) Are registered in advance in the information storage unit 8c in the setting registration unit 8.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  For example, when the RFID tag 2 is detected by the RW 5, the RW 5 reads the tag ID (XXXX0001) and the extension information B from the RFID tag 2, and sends the tag ID (XXXX0001) and the extension information B to the RW control unit 9a. Notification is made (step 1).

  Since the information of the RFID tag 2 is notified from the RW 5, the RW control unit 9 a reads the information of the RW 5 (standard A) from the setting registration unit 8, and displays the standard information indicating that it corresponds to the standard A as the tag ID Along with (XXXX0001) and the extended information B, the control unit 9b is notified (step 2).

  The control unit 9b compares the notified standard information of the RFID tag 2 with the standard information of the application 4a read from the setting registration unit 8 (step 3).

  In the present embodiment, the standard information of the RFID tag 2 is the standard A, which is different from the standard of the application 4a, so the processing proceeds to step 5.

  The control unit 9b searches whether the notified extension information of the RFID tag 2 is registered in the setting registration unit 8 (step 5).

  In the present embodiment, since the extension information B is in the setting registration unit 8, the control unit 9b acquires data related to the extension information B from the setting registration unit 8 (step 6).

  The control unit 9b uses the data acquired from the setting registration unit 8 to expand the tag ID. First, the control unit 9b extracts a part (serial number) of the tag ID (XXXX0001) of the RFID tag 2 using the ID pattern associated with the extension information B = lower 16 bits, and the extracted data (serial number). Is combined with prefix data = YYYYZZ related to the extended information B to create a new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) (step 7).

  The control unit 9b confirms whether or not the new tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) complies with the standard B (step 8).

  If the format of the new tag ID conforms to the standard B, the control unit 9b notifies the new tag ID to the application 4a (step 4). In this case, since the newly created tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) complies with the standard B, the control unit 9b notifies the application 4a of the tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) (step 4).

  On the other hand, if the format of the new tag ID does not comply with the standard B, the control unit 9b discards the new tag ID and ends this process (step 9).

  Next, when the RFID tag 3 is detected by the RW 6, the RW 6 reads the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) and the extension information A from the RFID tag 3, and sends the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) and the extension information A to the RW control unit 9a. Notification is made (step 1).

  Since the information of the RFID tag 3 is notified from the RW 6, the RW control unit 9 a reads the information of the RW 6 from the setting registration unit 8, and uses the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) as standard information indicating that it corresponds to the standard B. Along with the extension information A, the control unit 9b is notified (step 2).

  The control unit 9b compares the notified standard information of the RFID tag 3 with the standard information of the application 4a read from the setting registration unit 8 (step 3).

  In this embodiment, since the standard information of the RFID tag 3 is standard B, the process proceeds to step 4 because it matches the standard of the application 4a.

  Then, the control unit 9b notifies the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) to the application 4a (step 4), and ends this process (step 9).

  In this way, when the RFID tag 2 is detected by the middleware 7 expanding the tag ID, the tag ID (YYYYZZ0001) is notified to the application 4a, and when the RFID tag 3 is detected, the tag ID (YYYYYY0002) is notified to the application 4a.

  According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  The first effect is that an RFID tag standard that an application wants to use can be specified.

  Since the middleware 7 notifies the application of the tag ID of the standard specified for each application, the application does not need to support a plurality of standards. Therefore, even if a plurality of RFID tag standards coexist, each tag ID can be unified into the tag ID format required by the application, so that application development is simplified.

  The second effect is that even when a new RFID tag standard is added, it can be dealt with by adding extended information, so that it is not necessary to modify an existing application.

  The third effect is that it can be realized by using the existing RFID tag and RW, so that it is not necessary to change the RFID tag or RW and to add functions, and the cost can be reduced. For this reason, for example, it is not necessary to attach the RFID tag of the standard B again.

  A fourth effect is that the amount and time of data and communication can be shortened because a tag ID of another standard can be generated with only a part of the tag ID and the extension information.

  This is because, when ID information is registered in the data part (storage part) of the RFID tag for each standard, it is necessary to store information on all tag IDs in the data part. For this reason, the capacity required for the data portion increases, and the amount and time of communication between the RW and the RFID tag increases. In the present embodiment, since the tag ID is generated only from the tag ID and the short extension information, the amount and time of data and communication can be shortened.

  According to the present embodiment, the conversion unit 9 reads, for example, conversion information (prefix data and ID pattern) related to the extension information read by the RW 5 from the RFID tag 2 from the setting registration unit 8. The conversion unit 9 converts the tag ID read from the RFID tag 2 by the RW 5 into a tag ID corresponding to the standard B using the read conversion information, and converts the tag ID into the processing unit 4 (application 4a). To provide.

  Therefore, if the RFID tag stores the extension information for specifying the conversion destination standard and the tag ID, the tag ID of the standard different from the standard supported by the processing means is changed to the standard corresponding to the processing means. It can be converted to a tag ID.

  Therefore, even if multiple standards are mixed, it is possible to unify the tag ID format provided to the processing means, and the RFID tag stores the tag ID and extended information according to the conversion destination standard For example, the troublesome work of registering a plurality of tag IDs with different standards in each RFID tag can be eliminated.

  For example, when ten RFID tags corresponding to the standard A are extended to the standard B, extension information for specifying the standard B may be registered in all the ten RFID tags. Therefore, the registration process can be simplified as compared to the case where tag IDs of different standards B are set in 10 RFID tags corresponding to the standard A.

  In the present embodiment, the conversion unit 9 extracts the serial number specified by the ID pattern in the conversion information from the tag ID of the RFID tag 2, and adds prefix data in the conversion information to the serial number. The tag ID of the RFID tag 2 is converted into a tag ID corresponding to the standard B.

  In this case, for example, a common serial number can be used among a plurality of standards.

  In the present embodiment, the conversion unit 9 further provides the processing unit 4 with the tag ID read from the RFID tag corresponding to the same standard as the processing unit 4.

  In this case, even if a plurality of standards relating to RFID tags are mixed, it is possible to efficiently provide a tag ID in a format required by the application to the application.

(Extended embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case of two standards has been described, but the number of standards is not limited.

  In the first embodiment, two RWs are used, but the number of RWs is not limited. Further, when a multi-compatible RW corresponding to a plurality of RFID tag standards is used as the reading means and the tag ID reading means, one RW may be used. Specifically, in the case of the first embodiment, if a multi-compatible RW corresponding to the RFID tags of standards A and B is used, one RW may be used.

  If a plurality of pieces of extended information corresponding to a plurality of standards are stored in the user area of the RFID tag, a plurality of tag IDs can be generated from one physical RFID tag. Further, by inserting header information in the data portion, the number of extended information, the type of standard, etc. may be stored in the user area.

  For example, the number of extended information, extended information A, and extended information B are put in the user area [02 0A 0B]. Using both extension information, one RFID tag may be regarded as two other RFID tags.

  In the first embodiment, the extended information is entered in the user area 3a2 of the RFID tag 3. However, if there is only one application, it is not necessary to force the extension information with the RFID tag corresponding to that application. If RW is an application-compatible standard, there is no need to read the user area. In the first embodiment, the user area 3a2 of the RFID tag 3 has no extended information, and the RW 6 can perform the same operation without reading the user area.

  In the first embodiment, there is one application. However, by increasing the number of control units 9b for each application, it becomes possible to support a plurality of applications.

  In the first embodiment, the case of one standard is shown for each application, but the tag IDs of a plurality of standards may be notified to one application by increasing the control unit 9b.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is a first usage example of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the tag ID control system of the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the present embodiment, the sales chain 102E shown in FIG. 14 receives products from each of the manufacturing companies 102A to 102C, and the system of the sales chain 102E uses the EPCglobal compatible tag ID to uniformly manage the goods. Indicates.

  A razor manufacturing company system 102A1, a shampoo manufacturing company system 102C1, and a water purifier manufacturing company system 102B1 are enterprise systems of the respective manufacturing companies.

  The razor manufacturing company system 102A1 and the water purifier manufacturing company system 102B1 are systems using RFID tags that comply with ISO15693. The shampoo manufacturing company system 102C is a system using an RFID tag corresponding to EPCglobal.

  RWs 102A2, 102C2, and 102B2 are facilities of the respective manufacturing companies, and can read the tag ID of the RFID tag and read / write the user area. Assume that RWs 102A2 and 102B2 correspond to ISO15693, and RW102C2 corresponds to EPCglobal.

  The razor manufacturing company 102A manages the razor 102A3 by attaching an ISO15693 RFID tag 102A4 to the razor 102A3.

  The shampoo manufacturing company 102C manages the shampoo 102C3 by attaching an RFID tag 102C4 of EPClogbal to the shampoo 102C3.

  In the water purifier manufacturing company 102B, the RFID tag 102B4 of ISO15693 is attached to the water purifier 102B3 to manage the water purifier 102B3.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing storage areas (storage means) possessed by the RFID tags 102A4, 102C4 and 102B4.

  FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a storage area (storage means) 102A4a of the RFID tag 102A4.

  FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing the storage area 102C4a of the RFID tag 102C4.

  FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing the storage area 102B4a of the RFID tag 102B4.

  FIG. 6D shows information stored in the storage areas 102A4a, 102C4a, and 102B4a.

  In the storage area 102A4a, as shown in FIG. 6A, an ID storage unit 102A4a1 and a user area 102A4a2 are provided.

  A tag ID (E0010001) corresponding to ISO15693 is registered in the ID storage unit 102A4a1. In the user area 102A4a2, 1-byte extension information A (0x0A) is written by the manufacturer at the time of shipment. The user area 102A4a2 is an area where the user can freely read and write data using RW.

  In the storage area 102C4a, as shown in FIG. 6B, an ID storage unit 102C4a1 and a user area 102C4a2 are provided.

  A tag ID (3000.02.0002) corresponding to EPCglobal is registered in the ID storage unit 102C4a1. In the user area 102C4a2, 1-byte extended information B (0x0B) is written by the manufacturer at the time of shipment. The user area 102C4a2 is an area where the user can freely read and write data using RW.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, the storage area 102B4a is provided with an ID storage unit 102B4a1 and a user area 102B4a2.

  A tag ID (E0010003) corresponding to ISO15693 is registered in the ID storage unit 102B4a1. In the user area 102B4a2, 1-byte extended information C (0x0C) is written by the manufacturer at the time of shipment. The user area 102B4a2 is an area where the user can freely read and write data using RW.

  The middleware 7 can control the multi-compatible RW 10 and acquire tag IDs and user area information of RFID tags of various standards.

  The multi-compatible RW 10 supports a plurality of RFID tag standards, and can read and write user IDs and tag IDs of RFID tags of various standards.

  Further, the RW 10 has a function of notifying the read RFID tag information and standard information. In this embodiment, RW10 corresponds to ISO15693 and EPCglobal, and can communicate with RFID tags 102A4, 102C4, and 102B4 by radio waves.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the middleware 7 is the same as the middleware 7 shown in FIG. 1, and includes a setting registration unit 8, an RW control unit 9a, and a control unit 9b.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the setting registration unit 8 of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 7, the setting registration unit 8 includes an application information storage unit 8a, an RW information storage unit 8b, and an information storage unit 8c. Note that the application information storage unit 8a, the RW information storage unit 8b, and the information storage unit 8c are the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The control unit 9b refers to the data in the setting registration unit 8 and controls the data of the RFID tag notified from the RW 10. The RW control unit 9a can control the RW 10 and read information of the RFID tag. Also, the RW control unit 9a can receive standard information from the multi-compatible RW10.

  Next, an outline of the operation will be described.

  In this embodiment, the manufacturing company writes the extended information in advance in the user area before shipping. In this embodiment, extension information A is written in the RFID tag 102A4, extension information B is written in the RFID tag 102C4, and extension information C is written in the RFID tag 102B4.

  In the sales chain 102E, the multi-RW 10 controlled by the middleware 7 reads the tag ID and user area extension information from the RFID tag of the received item.

  The middleware 7 expands the tag ID using the read tag ID and the extended information, and notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID. Note that the sales chain system 11 can be generally called processing means, and corresponds to the processing unit 4 shown in FIG.

  For example, when the razor 102A3 arrives, the multi-compatible RW 10 controlled by the middleware 7 reads the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) from the RFID tag 102A4 of the razor 102A3. The RW 10 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (E0010001) and the extended information A (0x0A) together with the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102A4.

  In the middleware 7, the control unit 9b uses the extension information A (0x0A) to read information (prefix data and ID pattern) related to the extension information A (0x0A) from the setting registration unit 8, and the information and tag ID Based on (E0010001), the tag ID (E0010001) is expanded (converted) to a new tag ID.

  In the case of the razor 102A3, since it is the extended information A (0x0A), the control unit 9b generates the extended tag ID (3000.01.0001) using the prefix data (3000.01) and the lower 16 bits of the tag ID (0001), The tag ID (3000.01.0001) is notified to the sales chain system 11.

  When the shampoo 102C3 is received, the multi-compatible RW 10 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002) and standard information (EPCglobal) of the shampoo 102C3.

  In the middleware 7, since the notified standard information is the same as the standard required by the sales chain system 11, the control unit 9b notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002) as it is.

  When the water purifier 102B3 is received, the multi-compatible RW 10 reads the tag ID (E0010003) and the extension information C (0x0C) of the RFID tag 102B4 of the water purifier 102B3, and reads the tag ID (E0010003) and the extension information C ( 0x0C) is notified to the middleware 7 together with the RFID tag standard information (ISO15693).

  The middleware 7 generates an extended tag ID (3000.03.0001) using the prefix data (3000.03) specified by the extension information C (0x0C) and the lower 16-bit part (0001), similarly to the razor 102A3. The expanded tag ID (3000.03.0001) is notified to the sales chain system 11.

  As described above, the middleware 7 automatically expands the tag ID, so that the sales chain system 11 sets all tag IDs notified from the middleware 7 as the same EPCglobal tag ID format regardless of the RFID tag standard. It can be handled.

  Next, the operation will be described in detail.

  In this embodiment, the sales chain system 11 requests a tag ID corresponding to the RFID tag standard of EPCglobal, and the middleware 7 unifies the tag ID read by the RW 10 so as to correspond to the RFID tag standard of EPCglobal. It is.

  For this reason, in the setting registration unit 8, the sales chain system 11 as an application uses the RFID tag standard of EPCglobal, and data related to the extended information A and the extended information C is registered in advance.

  As information related to the extended information A, extended standard = EPCglobal, prefix data = 3000.01, ID pattern = lower 16 bits are registered in advance.

  As information related to the extended information C, extended standard = EPCglobal, prefix data = 3000.03, ID pattern = lower 16 bits are registered in advance.

  Further, each manufacturer writes the extended information A, B, B in advance in the RFID tags 102A4, 102C4, 102B4.

  The middleware 7 controls the RW 10 and, when the RFID tag standard is ISO15693, sets the RW 10 to read the tag ID and user area information. The middleware 7 sets the RW 10 so as to read the tag ID information when the RFID tag standard is EPCglobal. The RW 10 is set so as to notify the middleware 7 of the standard to which the read RFID tag corresponds together with the tag ID and the extension information.

  Next, a specific operation when the razor 102A3 is detected in the sales chain 102E will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the RW 10 detects the RFID tag 102A4 of the razor 102A3, the RW 10 reads the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) from the RFID tag 102A4 (step 1).

  The RW 10 notifies the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) to the middleware 7 together with the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102A4 (step 2).

  When the middleware 7 receives the tag ID (E0010001), the extended information A (0x0A), and the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102A4 from the RW 10, the RW control unit 9a reads the standard of the RW 10 from the setting registration unit 8. In the present embodiment, since the RW 10 is multi-compatible, the RW control unit 9a passes the standard information received from the RW 10 together with the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) to the control unit 9b. The control unit 9b confirms whether the RFID tag standard information is the same as the application standard of the sales chain system 11 (step 3).

  When the notified standard information is the same as the corresponding standard of the application of the sales chain system 11, the control unit 9b notifies the application of the sales chain system 11 with the tag ID (E0010001) as it is (step 4).

  In the present embodiment, an EPCglobal tag ID is required, but the standard information of the RFID tag 102A4 is ISO15693, so the processing proceeds to step 5.

  The control unit 9b searches for the extended information registered in the setting registration unit 8 (step 5). In the present embodiment, the extension information of the RFID tag 102A4 is the extension information A, and the extension information A exists in the setting registration unit 8. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 6. If it is not registered, the process proceeds to step 9 and ends.

  The control unit 9b acquires data related to the extended information A (extended standard = EPCglobal, prefix data = 3000.01, ID pattern = lower 16 bits) from the setting registration unit 8 (step 6).

  The controller 9b expands the tag ID of the RFID tag 102A4 using the acquired data. Specifically, the control unit 9b extracts 0001 from the tag ID (E0010001) based on ID pattern = lower 16 bits. Then, the control unit 9b combines 0001 with prefix data = 3000.01 to generate a new tag ID (3000.01.0001) (step 7).

  The controller 9b confirms whether the new tag ID matches the RFID tag standard (step 7). In the case of this embodiment, the control unit 9b checks whether the generated new tag ID (3000.01.0001) corresponds to EPCglobal which is an extended standard. If the format of the new tag ID is correct, the process proceeds to step 4 and the control unit 9b notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID. On the other hand, if the tag ID format is not correct, the process proceeds to step 9 and ends.

  Next, an operation when the shampoo 102C3 is detected in the sales chain 102E will be described.

  When the RW 10 detects the RFID tag 102C4 of the shampoo 102C3, the RW 10 reads the tag ID (3000.02.0002) from the RFID tag 102C4 (step 1).

  The RW 10 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002) together with the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4 (step 2).

  When the middleware 7 receives the tag ID (3000.02.0002) and the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4 from the RW 10, the RW control unit 9a obtains the tag ID (3000.02.0002) and the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4. It passes to control part 9b. The control unit 9b confirms whether the RFID tag standard information is the same as the application standard of the sales chain system 11 (step 3). In this embodiment, since the standard information of the RFID tag 102C4 is EPCglobal, the process proceeds to Step 4 and the control unit 9b notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002).

  Next, an operation when the water purifier 102B3 is detected in the sales chain 102E will be described.

  When the RW 10 detects the RFID tag 102B4 of the water purifier 102B3, the RW 10 reads the tag ID (E0010003) and the extension information A (0x0C) from the RFID tag 102B4 (step 1).

  The RW 10 notifies the tag ID (E0010003) and the extension information A (0x0C) to the middleware 7 together with the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102B4 (step 2).

  In the middleware 7, when receiving the tag ID (E0010003), the extension information A (0x0C), and the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102B4 from the RW 10, the RW control unit 9a performs the same processing as the razor and sends it to the control unit 9b. The tag ID (E0010003), the extension information A (0x0C), and the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102B4 are passed. The control unit 9b confirms whether the RFID tag standard information is the same as the application standard of the sales chain system 11 (step 3). In this embodiment, since the standard information of the RFID tag 102B4 is ISO15693, the process proceeds to step 5.

  The control unit 9b searches for the extended information registered in the setting registration unit 8 (step 5). In the present embodiment, the extension information of the RFID tag 102B4 is the extension information C, and the extension information C exists in the setting registration unit 8. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 6.

  The control unit 9b acquires data related to the extension information C (extension standard = EPCglobal, prefix data = 3000.03, ID pattern = lower 16 bits) from the setting registration unit 8 (step 6).

  The controller 9b expands the tag ID of the RFID tag 102B4 using the acquired data. Specifically, the control unit 9b extracts 0003 from the tag ID (E0010003) based on ID pattern = lower 16 bits. Then, the control unit 9b combines 0003 with prefix data = 3000.03 to generate a new tag ID (3000.03.0003) (step 7).

  The controller 9b confirms whether the new tag ID matches the RFID tag standard (step 7). In the case of the present embodiment, the control unit 9b checks whether the generated new tag ID (3000.03.0003) corresponds to EPCglobal which is an extended standard. If the format of the new tag ID is correct, the process proceeds to step 4 and the control unit 9b notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID (3000.03.0003).

  By performing these operations for each RFID tag, it is possible to recognize an article as a unified RFID tag even if a plurality of RFID tags are mixed.

  According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the effects achieved by the first embodiment, by using a multi-compatible RW, the tag ID can be expanded in the same way as in the first embodiment with a single RW. As a result, the RFID tag standard used in the application can be unified while simplifying the configuration. In addition, when a new standard is added, there is no need to change the application.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment is a second usage example of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where a distribution company 102F enters the middle of a manufacturing company and a sales chain, and goods with various RFID tags are distributed. Here, in order to configure the SCM, it is considered that the sales chain 102E grasps information on the distribution company. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an outline of the distribution company 102F. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In FIG. 9, the distribution company 102F uses the distribution company system 11A as a company system. The distribution company system 11A manages items using tag IDs of RFID tags corresponding to ISO15693. Here, middleware 7 and multi-compatible RW 10 are introduced. The sales chain system 11 is connected to the middleware 7 via a network 12.

  The middleware 7 includes control units 9b1 and 9b2, a setting registration unit 8, and an RW control unit 9a. In this embodiment, since there are two applications to be notified, the application information storage unit 8a in the setting registration unit 8 registers information indicating the application standards of the sales chain system 11 and the distribution company system 11A. . In this embodiment, the corresponding standards are registered as EPCglobal and ISO15693.

  The control unit 9b1 for the sales chain system and the control unit 9b2 of the distribution company system 11A can refer to data in the setting registration unit 8. As extended information, extended information B is additionally registered in the setting registration unit 8 (see FIG. 10).

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing storage areas (storage means) possessed by the RFID tags 102A4, 102C4 and 102B4. In this embodiment, the information stored in each storage area is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

  In the following, a situation is considered in which goods are received from each manufacturing company in the distribution company 102F.

  For example, when the RW 10 detects the RFID tag 102A4 of the razor 102A3, the RW 10 reads the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) from the RFID tag 102A4 (step 1).

  The RW 10 notifies the tag ID (E0010001) and the extension information A (0x0A) to the middleware 7 together with the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102A4 (step 2).

  When the middleware 7 receives the tag ID (E0010001), the extended information A (0x0A), and the standard information ISO15693 of the RFID tag 102A4 from the RW 10, the RW control unit 9a converts the standard information received from the RW 10 into the tag ID ( E0010001) and the extended information A (0x0A) are transferred to the control units 9b1 and 9b2. Control units 9b1 and 9b2 perform the operations after step 3 independently.

  The information of the RFID tag 102A4 notified to the control unit 9b1 is processed in the same manner as in the second embodiment, and a new tag ID (3000.01.0001) is generated and notified to the sales chain system 11.

  The control unit 9b2 compares the RFID tag standard information, and since the RFID tag standard supported by the distribution company system 11A is ISO15693, it notifies the distribution company system 11A of the tag ID (E0010001) as it is (step 4). .

  When the RW 10 detects the RFID tag 102C4 of the shampoo 102C3, the RW 10 reads the tag ID (3000.02.0002) from the RFID tag 102C4 (step 1).

  The RW 10 notifies the middleware 7 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002) together with the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4 (step 2).

  When the middleware 7 receives the tag ID (3000.02.0002) and the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4 from the RW 10, the RW control unit 9a obtains the tag ID (3000.02.0002) and the standard information EPCglobal of the RFID tag 102C4. It passes to control part 9b1 and 9b2.

  Since the corresponding standard of the sales chain system 11 is EPCglobal, the control unit 9b1 notifies the sales chain system 11 of the tag ID (3000.02.0002) as it is.

  In the control unit 9b2, since the correspondence standard of the distribution company system 11A is ISO15693, the process proceeds to Step 5.

  The control unit 9b2 searches the setting registration unit 8 for information on the extension information B (0x0B) (step 5), and acquires the data of the extension information B in the setting registration unit 8 (step 6).

  The controller 9b2 uses the acquired data to expand the tag ID of the RFID tag 102C4 as described above. In the present embodiment, the control unit 9b2 expands to a new tag ID (E0020002) using the prefix data (E002) (step 7).

  The control unit 9b2 checks whether the new tag ID (E0020002) conforms to the ISO15693 standard (step 8), and if there is no problem, notifies the distribution company system 11A of the tag ID (E0020002).

  In this way, the distribution company system 11A is notified of the tag ID (E0010001) and tag ID (E0020002) conforming to the ISO15693 tag ID standard, and the sales chain system 11 conforms to the EPCglobal tag ID standard. The tag ID (3000.01.0001) and tag ID (3000.02.0002) are notified.

  When multiple applications want to use multiple RFID tag standards, the tag ID can be extended to each standard and notified for each application.

  According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, since the RFID tag standard to be notified for each application can be specified, even when there are a plurality of applications, the tag ID can be expanded, and each application need not be changed. Further, the tag ID in one physical RFID tag can be extended and notified for each application.

  Secondly, if the extended information is set by the company that cooperates, it is not necessary to construct a complex inter-company cooperation system, and an original system can be operated.

  According to each of the above embodiments, without changing the existing RFID tag or RW, using the lower serial number portion of the tag ID of the RFID tag and the extension information having a short bit length in the readable / writable data portion, By compressing the prefix data and efficiently extending one physical RFID tag to a tag ID of another standard, it is possible to notify a tag ID specified for each application. Therefore, it is possible to handle a new RFID tag standard without modifying or changing an existing application.

  In each embodiment described above, the illustrated configuration is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration.

It is the block diagram which showed the tag ID control system 1 of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the storage area (memory | storage means) which RFID tag 2 and 3 has. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting registration unit 8. FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement. It is the block diagram which showed the tag ID control system of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the storage area (memory | storage means) which RFID tag 102A4, 102C4, and 102B4 have. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting registration unit 8. FIG. It is explanatory drawing showing the condition where the distribution company 102F enters the middle of a manufacturing company and a sales chain, and the goods with various RFID tags distribute | circulate. It is the block diagram which showed the outline | summary of the distribution company 102F. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting registration unit 8. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which showed the storage area (memory | storage means) which RFID tag 102A4, 102C4, and 102B4 have. It is explanatory drawing which showed the characteristic of the RFID tag. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of the format of tag ID of each specification of a RFID tag. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example in which the some RFID tag corresponding to either of several standards is utilized in various companies. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example which pet food manufacturing company 102F ships pet food newly to the sales chain 102E.

Explanation of symbols

1 Tag ID control system 2, 3 RFID tag 4 Processing unit 4a Application 5, 6 RW
7 Middleware 8 Setting registration unit 9 Conversion unit 9a RW control unit 9b, 9b1, 9b2 Control unit 10 Multi-compatible RW
11 Sales churn system 11A Distribution company system

Claims (9)

An RFID tag that stores extension information for specifying the first standard using a first tag ID corresponding to the first standard and a second tag ID corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard A tag ID control system connected to a processing means to be managed,
Storage means for storing the extended information in association with the conversion information for converting the second tag ID into the first tag ID;
Reading means for reading out the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag;
Conversion information related to the read extension information is read from the storage means, and using the conversion information, the read second tag ID is converted to the first tag ID, and the first tag ID A tag ID control system comprising: conversion means for providing the processing means to the conversion means. In the tag ID control system according to claim 1,
The second tag ID includes a serial number,
The conversion information includes additional information according to the first standard, and designation information for designating a serial number in the second tag ID,
The converting means extracts the serial number designated by the designation information from the read second tag ID, and adds the additional information to the serial number, thereby converting the second tag ID into the first tag ID. Tag ID control system that converts to one tag ID. In the tag ID control system according to claim 1 or 2,
A tag ID reading means for reading the first tag ID from the RFID tag storing the first tag ID;
The tag ID control system, wherein the conversion means provides the read first tag ID to the processing means. In the tag control system according to claim 3,
The tag ID control system, wherein the reading means also serves as the tag ID reading means. An RFID tag that stores extension information for specifying the first standard using a first tag ID corresponding to the first standard and a second tag ID corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard A tag ID control method performed by a processing means to manage and a tag ID control system to be connected,
The extended information for specifying the first standard and the conversion information for converting the second tag ID corresponding to the second standard different from the first standard into the first tag ID are associated with the storage means. A storage step for storing;
A step of reading out the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag;
Conversion information related to the read extension information is read from the storage means, and using the conversion information, the read second tag ID is converted to the first tag ID, and the first tag ID A tag ID control method comprising: a conversion step of providing the processing means to the processing means. The tag ID control method according to claim 5, wherein
The second tag ID includes a serial number,
The conversion information includes additional information according to the first standard, and designation information for designating a serial number in the second tag ID,
In the conversion step, the serial number designated by the designation information is extracted from the read second tag ID, and the second tag ID is added to the serial number by adding the additional information to the serial number. A tag ID control method for converting to one tag ID. In the tag ID control method according to claim 5 or 6,
A tag ID reading step of reading out the first tag ID from the RFID tag storing the first tag ID;
In the conversion step, a tag ID control method of providing the read first tag ID to the processing means. An RFID tag that stores extension information for specifying the first standard using a first tag ID corresponding to the first standard and a second tag ID corresponding to a second standard different from the first standard A computer connected to a processing means for managing and a reading means for reading out the extension information and the second tag ID from the RFID tag;
Storage means for associating and storing the extension information and conversion information for converting a second tag ID corresponding to a second standard other than the first standard to the first tag ID; and
The conversion information related to the extension information read by the reading means is read from the storage means, and the second tag ID read by the reading means is used as the first tag ID using the conversion information. A program for converting and functioning as conversion means for providing the first tag ID to the processing means. The program according to claim 8, wherein
The second tag ID includes a serial number,
The conversion information includes additional information according to the first standard, and designation information for designating a serial number in the second tag ID,
The converting means extracts the serial number designated by the designation information from the read second tag ID, and adds the additional information to the serial number, thereby converting the second tag ID into the first tag ID. Program that converts to 1 tag ID.

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