JP2010128538A - Authentication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an authentication system allowing use of an information terminal to logon and logoff control while suppressing consumption of a built-in battery of a responder. <P>SOLUTION: An interrogator 200A repeatedly transmits an interrogation signal, and the responder 300A transmits a response signal including identification information of itself every time receiving the interrogation signal. When the information terminal 100A is in a logoff state, the interrogator 200A transmits the interrogation signal at 300 ms interval, collates the identification information included in the received response signal and stored identification information, and transmits a logon request signal to the information terminal 100A when they accord. Thereafter, the interrogator 200A sets a transmission interval of the interrogation signal as 600 ms, the information terminal 100A having received the logon request signal transfers to a logon state, and transmits an operation signal to the interrogator 200A when receiving user operation, and the interrogator 200A having received the operation signal sets the transmission interval as 900 ms for a prescribed period. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an authentication system using a response signal from a responder (active tag) that transmits a response signal when receiving an interrogation signal, and more particularly to a control technology for logon and logoff of an information terminal.

An authentication system using an interrogator and a responder (active tag) is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The flow of authentication processing by this authentication system will be described below.
The interrogator repeatedly transmits an interrogation signal in the LF band (30 to 300 kHz). Since the interrogation signal is transmitted in the LE band, the area where the interrogation signal can be received (hereinafter referred to as “authentication area”) is limited to a relatively narrow range.

Also, the responder is an active tag with a built-in battery. When the user who owns the responder enters the above-described authentication area, the responder receives its own identification information (hereinafter referred to as “recognition information”). And a response signal including “responder ID”).
When the interrogator receives this response signal, it uses the responder ID included in the response signal to authenticate the user who possesses the transponder that transmitted this response signal.

As described above, the transponder in the conventional authentication system transmits a response signal only when the user who owns the transponder enters a limited authentication area where the interrogator transmits the interrogation signal. Therefore, the consumption of the built-in battery can be suppressed as compared with the case where the response signal is transmitted independently regardless of the area.
This authentication system is, for example, information terminal log-on and log-off control for managing entry / exit with respect to a management target area and automatically logging off when the operator approaches the information terminal and automatically logging off when leaving the information terminal. It can be used for
JP 2007-295168 A

  However, in the conventional authentication system, since the interrogator repeatedly transmits the interrogation signal at a very short interval (for example, about 300 milliseconds), while the user who possesses the responder is in the authentication area, A response signal is transmitted each time the interrogation signal transmitted at a very short interval is received. Therefore, when the conventional authentication system is used particularly for controlling the logon and logoff of the information terminal, an interrogator is generally installed in the vicinity of the information terminal. Therefore, while the user is near the information terminal, the responder possessed by the operator repeatedly transmits the response signal in response to the reception of the interrogation signal, which may cause a problem that the built-in battery is consumed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an authentication system that can be used for log-on and log-off control of an information terminal while suppressing the consumption of a built-in battery of a responder. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an authentication system according to the present invention includes an information terminal that logs on and off according to a received signal, and is connected to the information terminal that is installed in the vicinity of the information terminal. An authentication system comprising: an interrogator that transmits and receives a response signal; and a responder that receives a power supply from a built-in battery and transmits a response signal including identification information of the device upon receiving the question signal. A response signal storing means for repeatedly transmitting a query signal at a first interval; a responder information storing means for storing identification information of a responder possessed by a user who should be permitted to log on to the information terminal; and a response signal Each time it is received, it is determined whether the identification information of the responder included in the response signal matches the identification information stored in the responder information storage means, and a signal based on the determination result is determined. After determining that the first authenticating means to be transmitted to the information terminal and the first authenticating means match, the inquiry signal transmission interval by the inquiry signal transmitting means is set to a second interval longer than the first interval. And a question transmission control means to be changed.

  Further, the interrogator used in the authentication system according to the present invention to solve the above problem is installed in the vicinity of the information terminal that logs on and off according to the received signal, and is connected to the information terminal, An interrogator that transmits an interrogation signal, receives the interrogation signal, receives a power supply from the built-in battery, and receives a response signal including identification information of the transponder transmitted by the transponder. A question signal transmitting means for repeatedly transmitting at one interval, a responder information storage means for storing identification information of a responder possessed by a user who should be permitted to log on to the information terminal, and the response each time a response signal is received It is determined whether or not the identification information of the transponder included in the signal matches the identification information stored in the transponder information storage means, and the signal based on the result of repeated determination is After determining that the first authentication means and the first authentication means to be transmitted to the information terminal match, the inquiry signal transmission interval by the inquiry signal transmission means is set to a second interval longer than the first interval. And a question transmission control means to be changed.

  In the authentication system according to the present invention having the above-described configuration and the interrogator used in the authentication system according to the present invention, the first authentication means includes the identification information included in the response signal and the identification information stored in the own device. If it is determined that they match, that is, if the owner of the transponder is a user who should be permitted to log on to the information terminal, the interrogator will thereafter increase the transmission interval and Therefore, the transponder can reduce the number of times of transmission of the response signal that receives and transmits the inquiry signal per fixed time, and can reduce the consumption of the built-in battery used for transmitting the response signal.

  In addition, the information terminal includes an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal to the interrogator when an operation by a user is performed in a logon state, and the interrogator is further transmitted from the information terminal. Operation signal receiving means for receiving the operation signal, and the question transmission control means further sets a transmission interval of the question signal by the question signal transmission means within a predetermined period after the operation signal receiving means receives the operation signal. The third interval may be longer than the second interval.

  As a result, when the information terminal is in a logon state and the user performs an operation, the interrogator further increases the transmission interval of the interrogation signal. Therefore, the transponder receives and transmits the interrogation signal per certain time. The number of response signals transmitted can be further reduced, and consumption of the built-in battery used for response signal transmission can be further reduced. Even if the transmission interval of the question signal is increased in this way, when the operation is performed by the user when the information terminal is in the logon state, the transmission interval of the question signal is increased. It is clear that the information terminal is being used, and it is possible to prevent an unfavorable security situation in which the information terminal is left in a logon state.

The question transmission control means may return the inquiry signal transmission interval by the question signal transmission means to the first interval after determining that the first authentication means does not match.
Thereby, even if the transmission interval of the interrogation signal by the interrogator is changed to the second interval or the third interval, a user who is not permitted to log in to the information terminal approaches the information terminal to use the information terminal. When this happens, the responder ID included in the response signal of the responder possessed by the user does not match the responder ID stored in the interrogator, and the question transmission control means sets the first transmission interval of the question signal. Since it is returned to the interval, high security can be secured.

  In addition, when the first authentication unit determines that they match, the first authentication unit transmits a logon request signal for requesting logon to the information terminal as a signal based on the determination result, and the interrogator further includes the interrogator. After determining that the first authentication means match, it is determined whether a response signal for any of two or more predetermined number of question signals transmitted continuously by the question signal transmitting means has not been received. And a second authentication means for transmitting a logoff request signal for requesting logoff to the information terminal when the determination is made, wherein the information terminal receives the logon request signal or the logoff request signal transmitted from the interrogator. Control signal receiving means, and when the control signal receiving means receives a logon request signal, the control signal receiving means logs on when in a logoff state, and the control signal receiving means In case of receiving a logoff request signal, it may be provided with state control means for logoff when a logon state.

  Thus, the second authentication means transmits a logoff request signal to the information terminal when no response signal corresponding to any of two or more predetermined number of question signals continuously transmitted by the question signal transmission means is received. The information terminal in the logon state that has received the signal logs off. In other words, if the responder happens to be unable to receive a single question signal and send a response signal, there is no need to log off. In addition, the situation where the information terminal is left in the logon state can be appropriately prevented because the user is logged off when a plurality of response signals cannot be received.

  Further, the responder information storage means further stores shortened information having a data size smaller than the identification information in association with the stored identification information of the responder, the question signal transmission means, The interrogation signal transmitted immediately after the determination that the first authentication means matches is made to include the shortened information stored in the responder information storage means in association with the identification information of the responder used for the determination. And the response device includes response signal transmission means for transmitting a response signal including identification information of the device itself. Further, when the interrogation signal including the shortened information is received, A response transmission control unit that causes the response signal transmission unit to transmit the shortened information instead of the identification information to the response signal, and the first authentication unit includes a question that the question signal transmission unit includes the shortened information Send a signal After that, instead of the identification information of the responder, the shortened information included in the response signal and the shortened information stored in the responder information storage means transmitted by the question signal transmitting means included in the question signal are It may be determined whether or not they match.

As a result, since the responder receives the interrogation signal including the shortened information, the responder transmits the response signal including the shortened information whose data size is smaller than the identification information of the own device. Can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the internal battery used for transmitting the response signal.
In addition, the information terminal includes an operation signal transmitting unit that transmits an operation signal when an operation is performed by a user in a logon state, and the interrogator further receives an operation signal transmitted from the information terminal. The question transmission control means may further stop the transmission of the question signal by the question signal transmission means within a predetermined period after the operation signal reception means receives the operation signal. .

  Thus, when the information terminal is in the logon state, when the user performs an operation, the interrogator stops the transmission of the interrogation signal. Therefore, during this time, the transponder does not need to transmit the response signal. The consumption of the built-in battery used for transmission of can be further reduced. Even if the transmission of the question signal is stopped in this way, the transmission of the question signal is stopped when the operation is performed by the user when the information terminal is in the logon state, so that the user uses the information terminal. This makes it possible to prevent an unfavorable security situation in which the information terminal is left in a logon state.

  The interrogation signal transmission means transmits an interrogation signal in the LF band, and the transponder transmits a response signal including identification information of its own apparatus at a frequency higher than that of the LF band. And when the next question signal is received within a predetermined time after receiving the previous question signal, the response signal transmission means stops the transmission of the response signal and the user who owns the device By moving, if the next question signal is not received even after a time when a predetermined number of question signals of 2 or more have been received since the previous question signal was received, logoff from the information terminal is performed. Response information is included in a response signal to be transmitted to the response signal transmission unit, and when the first authentication unit determines that they match, the response signal related to the determination includes When the display information is not included, a logon request signal for requesting logon, and when the instruction information is included in the response signal for determination, a logoff request signal for requesting logoff is a signal based on the determination result. And when the control signal receiving means receives the logon request signal, the control signal receiving means receives the logon request signal or the logoff request signal transmitted from the interrogator. Further, it is possible to provide a state control means for logging on when in the logoff state and performing logoff when in the logon state when the control signal receiving means receives the logoff request signal.

  As a result, the transponder stops the transmission of the response signal when it repeatedly receives the interrogation signal, so it is possible to reduce the consumption of the internal battery used for the transmission of the response signal, and the transponder When the next question signal is not received even after a time when a predetermined number of question signals of 2 or more should have been received since the question signal was received, instruction information for instructing logoff from the information terminal is included. Send a response signal. Since the interrogator that has received the response signal including the instruction information transmits a logoff request signal to the information terminal, it is possible to appropriately prevent a situation in which the information terminal is left in the logon state.

  Further, there are a plurality of the information terminals and the interrogators, the interrogator signal transmitting means transmits the interrogator identification information included in the interrogation signal, and the responder is the identification information of the interrogator. A response signal transmission means for transmitting a response signal including the information, and among the plurality of information terminals, a question for storing identification information of an interrogator connected to an information terminal for which the user of the device is permitted to log on If the identification information of the interrogator included in the instrument information storage means and the received interrogation signal does not match the identification information of the interrogator stored in the interrogator information storage means, a response signal by the response signal transmission means Response transmission control means for stopping the transmission of.

  Thus, the responder stores the identification information of the interrogator connected to the information terminal that the user of the own device is permitted to log on, and the identification information and the interrogator included in the received question signal are stored. Since the response signal is transmitted only when the identification information matches, the response signal should be transmitted when the user of the device receives a question signal from an interrogator connected to an information terminal that is not permitted to log on. It is possible to reduce the consumption of the built-in battery.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an authentication system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<< Embodiment >>
<Overview>
The authentication system according to the embodiment includes an interrogator, a transponder, and an information terminal, and uses the transponder ID included in the response signal transmitted by the transponder that has received the interrogator signal transmitted from the interrogator. It automatically controls terminal logon and logoff.

  The interrogator is installed in the vicinity of the information terminal and repeatedly transmits an interrogation signal. The interrogator ID of the responder held by the user who is permitted to use the information terminal is stored in advance. Also, the responder is held by the user who uses the information terminal, and receives a response signal including the responder ID of its own device by receiving power supply from the built-in battery every time it receives an inquiry signal transmitted repeatedly from the interrogator. To be sent.

Hereinafter, how to control logon and logoff of the information terminal will be described.
When a user who possesses a transponder (that is, wears a transponder) approaches the information terminal to use the information terminal, the user can receive a question signal repeatedly transmitted from the interrogator. The authenticator transmits a response signal every time a question signal is received.

  Each time the interrogator receives a response signal transmitted from the transponder, the interrogator collates the transponder ID included in the response signal with the transponder ID stored in the own device, and the two transponder IDs match. Sometimes, a logon request signal for requesting logon is transmitted to the information terminal. When the information terminal receives this logon request signal in the logoff state, the information terminal shifts to the logon state, and the user having the responder can use the information terminal. That is, it is possible to automatically log on to the information terminal without user operation.

  In addition, when the user who possesses the transponder finishes using the information terminal and moves away from the information terminal, the transponder cannot receive the interrogation signal because it cannot receive the interrogation signal. Since no response signal is received for any of the plurality of interrogation signals transmitted in this manner, a logoff request signal for requesting logoff is transmitted to the information terminal. When the information terminal receives this logoff request signal in the logon state, the information terminal shifts to the logoff state. That is, it is possible to automatically log off from the information terminal without user operation.

Thus, since the interrogator in this authentication system repeatedly transmits a question signal, it detects that the user has finished using the information terminal and left when the response signal is not received from the responder. The information terminal can be controlled not to be left in the logon state.
However, as described above, the interrogator repeatedly transmits an interrogation signal, and each time the interrogator receives this interrogation signal, it receives a power supply from the built-in battery and transmits a response signal. Even when the user who owns the device uses the information terminal after logging on to the information terminal, the responder continues to transmit a response signal, and the built-in battery is consumed.

Therefore, the interrogator in this authentication system increases the transmission interval of the interrogation signal from the interrogator and reduces the number of transmissions of the response signal of the transponder after logon or when the user operates the information terminal. Thereby, the consumption of the internal battery of the responder can be reduced.
Further, the interrogator in this authentication system transmits the question signal transmitted immediately after the logon request signal is transmitted, including data smaller in size than the responder ID (hereinafter referred to as “tempID”). Instead of its own responder ID, a response signal including this tempID is transmitted. Since the data size of tempID is smaller than that of the responder ID, it is possible to shorten the time required for transmitting one response signal, and to reduce the consumption of the battery in the responder.

<Configuration>
First, the configuration of the authentication system according to the embodiment will be described.
<Authentication system>
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the authentication systems 1000A and 1000B.
As shown in the figure, the authentication system 1000A includes an information terminal 100A, an interrogator 200A, and a responder 300A, and the authentication system 1000B includes an information terminal 100B, an interrogator 200B, and a responder 300B.

The information terminal 100A and the interrogator 200A are connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 1A, and the information terminal 100B and the interrogator 200B are connected by a USB cable 1B. Each USB cable is compliant with the USB 2.0 standard, for example, and the cable length is, for example, about 50 cm.
Since the information terminals 100A and 100B have the same configuration, the interrogators 200A and 200B have the same configuration, and the responders 300A and 300B have the same configuration, the authentication system 1000A is configured below. The information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A will be described.

  The information terminal 100A is a PC (Personal Computer) or the like having a display, and has a function of switching between a logon state and a logoff state according to a logon request signal and a logoff request signal received from the interrogator 200A. Here, the log-off state refers to a state where user operations from a mouse, a keyboard, etc. are not accepted, and the logon state refers to a state where user operations from a mouse, keyboard, etc. are accepted. In addition, when a user operation is performed in the logon state, the information terminal 100A has a function of transmitting an operation signal to that effect to the interrogator 200A.

  The interrogator 200A has a function of repeatedly transmitting a question signal in the LF band by changing the transmission interval and the content of the signal according to the state of the information terminal 100A (logon state or logoff state) and whether or not an operation signal is received. When the response signal transmitted from the responder 300A is received in response to the inquiry signal transmitted by the own device, the logon request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A, and the own device continuously transmits a plurality of times (for example, three times). When no response signal is received from the responder 300A, the logoff request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A.

Note that since the interrogation signal is transmitted in the LF band, the range of each authentication area that can receive the interrogation signal is limited to a relatively narrow range. In this embodiment, each interrogator has no obstacle. The range is about 1.5 m.
The responder 300A is a so-called active tag and is possessed by the user, and receives a question signal when entering an authentication area where the question signal transmitted by the interrogator 200A can be received, and transmits a response signal in the UHF band. Have.

Since the response signal is transmitted in the UHF band, the area where the response signal can be received is a relatively wide range. In this embodiment, the range is about 20 m from each responder without any obstacle. And
In the present embodiment, two authentication systems 1000A and 1000B are described as an example, but this is an example, and there may be authentication systems for the number of information terminals.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A will be described in more detail.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of main parts of the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A.
<Information terminal>
First, the configuration of the information terminal 100A will be described.

The information terminal 100A includes a memory and a processor, and includes an operation unit 101, a display unit 102, a USB interface 103, and a control unit 104 in terms of functions, as shown in FIG.
Here, the operation unit 101 is an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard, and has a function of transmitting an input signal corresponding to a key pressed by the user to the control unit 104.

The display unit 102 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and has a function of displaying characters, images, and the like in accordance with instructions from the control unit 104.
The USB interface 103 transmits the operation signal transmitted from the control unit 104 to the interrogator 200A through the USB cable 1A based on the USB 2.0 standard, and from the interrogator 200A to the USB cable based on the USB 2.0 standard. It has a function of transmitting the logon request signal and the logoff request signal transmitted through 1A to the control unit 104.

The control unit 104 has a function of executing processing desired by the user according to the input signal transmitted from the operation unit 101 and transmitting the operation signal to the interrogator 200 </ b> A via the USB interface 103.
In addition, when the log-on request signal is received via the USB interface 103, the control unit 104 executes log-on processing when the log-off state is received, and when the log-off request signal is received and when the log-on state is received A function of executing logoff processing;

Here, execution of the logon process means execution of a process for enabling a user operation in the operation unit 101 or execution of a preset application program. Execution of the logoff process is an execution. The application program in the middle is terminated and processing for invalidating the user operation in the operation unit 101 is executed.
Each function of the control unit 104 is realized by a processor executing a control program stored in the above-described memory.

<Interrogator>
Next, the configuration of the interrogator 200A will be described.
The interrogator 200A includes a memory and a processor, and functionally includes a USB interface 201, a question signal transmission unit 202, a response signal reception unit 203, a storage unit 204, a time measurement unit 205, and a control unit 206, as shown in FIG. .

Here, the USB interface 201 transmits the logon request signal and the logoff request signal transmitted from the control unit 206 to the information terminal 100A through the USB cable 1A in conformity with the USB 2.0 standard, and conforms to the USB 2.0 standard. Thus, the operation signal transmitted from the information terminal 100A through the USB cable 1A is transmitted to the control unit 206.
The interrogation signal transmission unit 202 includes a filter, an amplifier, and the like (not shown) in addition to the LF antenna, and has a function of transmitting the interrogation signal as an LF band radio signal according to an instruction from the control unit 206.

The response signal receiving unit 203 includes a filter, an amplifier, and the like (not shown) in addition to the RF antenna, and has a function of receiving a response signal and transmitting it to the control unit 206.
The storage unit 204 stores in advance the identification information of the own device (hereinafter referred to as “interrogator ID”) and the responder ID of the responder 300A (for example, preset by the administrator of the authentication system 1000A). This is a memory area for storing a part of data (tempID) of the responder ID in association with the responder ID.

The time measuring unit 205 includes a plurality of timers, and according to an instruction from the control unit 206, an elapsed time after transmitting the question signal, an elapsed time after receiving the operation signal, and a elapsed time from the start of using the same tempID Has the function of measuring time.
The control unit 206 has a function of repeatedly transmitting a question signal via the question signal transmission unit 202 in addition to a function of controlling the entire device.

  Further, the control unit 206, based on the response signal received via the response signal receiving unit 203 and the data stored in the storage unit 204, provides information about the user who owns the transponder that is the transmission source of the response signal. The so-called logon authentication to the information terminal 100A is performed, and a logon request signal or a logoff request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201 according to the authentication result. It has a function to control.

  In more detail, this logon authentication indicates whether each time a question signal is transmitted via the question signal transmission unit 202, whether or not a response signal having a content corresponding to the question signal is received, and the received response signal and The determination is based on the data stored in the storage unit 204. If it is determined in this determination that a response signal having contents corresponding to the transmitted inquiry signal has been received, the logon request signal is transmitted to the USB interface 201. If it is determined that the response signal having the content corresponding to the question signal has not been received continuously for a plurality of times (for example, three times), the logoff signal is sent to the USB interface 201. To the information terminal 100A.

In addition, the control unit 206 has a function of transmitting a question signal by changing the transmission interval and the content of the signal according to the above determination result and whether or not an operation signal is received from the information terminal 100A.
How to change the content of the transmission interval and the interrogation signal will be described in detail later. The transmission interval is divided into a short interval (for example, 300 milliseconds), a medium interval (for example, 600 milliseconds), and a long interval. There is an interval (for example, 900 milliseconds), and the question signal may or may not include tempID stored in the storage unit 204 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). The tempID is generated by the control unit 206 based on the responder ID of the responder 300A stored in the storage unit 204, and is stored in association with the responder ID.

Each function of the control unit 206 is realized by a processor executing a control program stored in the above-described memory.
<Responder>
Next, the configuration of the responder 300A will be described.
The responder 300A includes a memory and a processor, and includes a built-in battery 301, a question signal receiver 302, a response signal transmitter 303, a memory 304, a timer 305, and a controller 306 in terms of functions. .

The built-in battery 301 has a function of supplying power to each part of the responder 300A.
The interrogation signal receiving unit 302 includes an LF antenna, a filter, an amplifier, and the like (not shown), and has a function of transmitting the interrogation signal received from the interrogator 200A to the control unit 306.
The response signal transmission unit 303 includes an RF antenna, a filter, an amplifier, and the like (not shown), and transmits the response signal as a UHF band radio signal according to an instruction from the control unit 306 based on power supplied from the built-in battery 301. It has a function.

The storage unit 304 stores the responder ID of the own device and the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A in advance (for example, preset by the administrator of the authentication system 1000A), and the question including the tempID from the interrogator 200A. This is a memory area for storing the interrogator ID and the tempID in association with each other when a signal is received.
The time measuring unit 305 includes a timer and has a function of measuring the elapsed time after receiving the question signal in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 306.

The control unit 306 is stored in the storage unit 304 according to the content of the question signal received via the question signal receiving unit 302 based on the power supplied from the built-in battery 301 in addition to the function of controlling the entire device. The response signal including the responder ID or tempID of the own device is transmitted via the response signal transmission unit 303.
More specifically, until a question signal including tempID is received, a response signal including its own responder ID stored in the storage unit 304 is transmitted, and the question signal including tempID is transmitted to the question signal receiving unit. After receiving through 302, the tempID is stored in association with the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304, and a response signal including the tempID is transmitted.

Each function of the control unit 306 is realized by a processor executing a control program stored in the above-described memory.
<Data>
Hereinafter, data used in the authentication system 1000A will be described.
<Question signal>
First, the question signals 10 and 20 transmitted by the interrogator 200A will be described.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the question signal 10.
The interrogation signal 10 includes a PR (preamble) 11, a UW (Unique Word) 12, a signal type 13, an interrogator ID 14, and a CRC 15, as shown in FIG.
Here, PR11 is a bit string (synchronous code) indicating the start of data of the interrogation signal 10, UW12 is a so-called frame synchronization signal, signal type 13 is identification information indicating the interrogation signal 10, and a responder 300A is used to identify the type of signal received. In the following description, it is assumed that the signal type 13 is “1”.

The interrogator ID 14 is identification information stored in the storage unit 204 that can identify the own device (interrogator 200A) indicating the transmission source of the interrogation signal 10, and the CRC 15 is the responder that has received the interrogation signal 10. 300A is data for detecting whether an error has occurred in the interrogation signal 10 or not.
FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the data configuration of the question signal 20.

As shown in the figure, the interrogation signal 20 includes PR21, UW22, signal type 23, interrogator ID14, tempID24, and CRC25.
Since PR21, UW22, and CRC25 are the same data as the above-mentioned PR11, UW12, and CRC15, and the interrogator ID 14 is the same data as the data included in the above-described question signal 10, description thereof is omitted.

Here, the signal type 23 is identification information indicating the interrogation signal 20, and is used to identify the type of signal received by the responder 300A. In the following description, it is assumed that the signal type 23 is “2”.
The tempID 24 is identification information that can identify the responder 300A. Based on the responder ID of the responder 300A stored in the storage unit 204 (which is 4-byte data as will be described later), the control unit 206 This is 1-byte data generated and stored in the storage unit 204 in association with the responder ID of the responder 300A.

<Response signal>
Next, the response signals 30 and 40 transmitted by the responder 300A will be described.
FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the response signal 30.
As shown in the figure, the response signal 30 is composed of PR31, UW32, signal type 33, interrogator ID14, responder ID34, and CRC35.

Here, PR31 is a bit string (synchronization code) indicating the start of data of the response signal 30, UW32 is a so-called frame synchronization signal, signal type 33 is identification information indicating the response signal 30, and an interrogator. 200A is used to identify the type of signal received. In the following description, it is assumed that the signal type 33 is “3”.
The interrogator ID 14 is an interrogator ID (identification information) of the interrogator 200 A included in the interrogator signal 10 received by the responder 300 A, and the responder ID 34 is an own device indicating the transmission source of the response signal 30. This is 4-byte identification information stored in the storage unit 304 that can identify the (responder 300A).

The CRC 35 is data for detecting whether or not an error has occurred in the response signal 30 by the interrogator 200A that has received the response signal 30 transmitted from the responder 300A.
FIG. 4D shows the data structure of the response signal 40.
The response signal 40 is composed of PR41, UW42, signal type 43, interrogator ID14, tempID24, and CRC44 as shown in FIG.

Since PR41, UW42, and CRC44 are the same data as PR31, UW32, and CRC35, respectively, description thereof is omitted.
Here, the signal type 43 is identification information indicating the response signal 40, and is used to identify the type of signal received by the interrogator 200A. In the following description, it is assumed that the signal type 43 is “4”.

The interrogator ID 14 is an interrogator ID (identification information) of the interrogator 200A included in the interrogator signal 10 or 20 received by the responder 300A, and tempID 24 is a responder indicating the transmission source of the response signal 40. This is identification information of 300A, which is 1-byte data included in the interrogation signal 20 received by the responder 300A.
Since the tempID 24 of the response signal 40 has a smaller data size than the responder ID 34 of the response signal 30, the response signal 40 has a data size smaller than that of the response signal 30. Therefore, the responder 300A can shorten the time taken to transmit one response signal when transmitting the response signal 40 rather than transmitting the response signal 30, and the consumption of the internal battery 301 can be reduced.

<Operation>
Next, the operation of the authentication system 1000A having the above configuration and handling the data will be described.
<Interrogator>
First, the operation of the interrogator 200A will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the transmission process of the interrogation signals 10 and 20 of the interrogator 200A and the process when the response signals 30 and 40 are received.
The control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A sets a transmission interval to a short interval (300 milliseconds) and measures a timer (hereinafter referred to as a “tempID timer” for measuring the elapsed time from the start of use of the same tempID in the timing unit 205. ”) Is initialized to“ 0 ”(step S1), and the question signal 10 is transmitted through the question signal transmitter 202 at the set transmission interval (step S2). At this time, the control unit 206 initializes the value of a timer (hereinafter referred to as “transmission interval timer”) for measuring the elapsed time after transmitting the question signal in the time measuring unit 205 to “0”. Start timing.

  The control unit 206 determines whether or not the response signal (30 or 40) corresponding to the transmitted inquiry signal has been received via the response signal receiving unit 203 (step S3). That is, in the first execution of Step S3, the question signal 10 is transmitted in Step S2, and the question signal 20 including tempID is not transmitted. Therefore, the response signal 30 including the own interrogator ID is received. After the inquiry signal 20 is transmitted in step S7 described later, it is determined whether or not the response signal 40 including the own interrogator ID is received. Whether one of the response signals 30 and 40 is received is determined by the signal type of the response signal.

Below, first, execution of step S3 of the 1st time is demonstrated.
In step S3, when the response signal 30 including the own interrogator ID is received (step S3: YES), the responder ID 34 included in the response signal 30 and the responder 300A stored in the storage unit 204 are displayed. It is determined whether or not the responder IDs coincide with each other (step S4).

  If they match (step S4: YES), the control unit 206 sets the number of non-receptions (the initial value is “0”) indicating the number of times the response signal corresponding to the question signal transmitted by the own device has not been received as “ Initially set to “0”, a log-on request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201 (step S5), and the time period until the tempID timer value is greater than 0 and tempID is updated (hereinafter referred to as “update period”). It is referred to as “P1”, which is less than 5 minutes, for example (step S6).

  Since the value of the tempID timer is initialized to “0” in step S1, in the first determination of step S6, the value of the tempID timer is not greater than 0 (step S6: NO), and the control unit 206 The 1-byte data in the transponder ID stored in the storage unit 204 is stored in the storage unit 204 as tempID, and the question signal 20 including this tempID is transmitted via the question signal transmission unit 202 (step S7). ).

The control unit 206 may set any one byte in the responder ID as tempID, but hereinafter, every time step S7 is executed, the 1st to 8th bits in the 4-byte responder ID, 9 The -16th bit, the 17th to 24th bit, and the 25th to 32nd bit are set as tempID in order, and thereafter, the tempID is set again from the 1st to 8th bit.
Subsequently, the control unit 206 initializes the value of the timer for tempID to “0”, starts timing (step S8), and sets the transmission interval to the medium interval (600 milliseconds) (step S9). The process is performed again from step S3.

  Since the question signal 20 including tempID is transmitted in step S7, the control unit 206 determines whether or not the response signal 40 including its own interrogator ID is received via the response signal receiving unit 203 ( In step S3), when the response signal 40 including the own interrogator ID is received (step S3: YES), the tempID 24 included in the response signal 40 is associated with the responder ID of the responder 300A in the storage unit 204. Whether or not the stored tempID matches is determined (step S4).

If they match (step S4: YES), similarly to the above, the control unit 206 initializes the number of non-receptions to “0”, transmits a logon request signal (step S5), and the value of the tempID timer is 0. It is determined whether it is larger and less than the update period P1 (step S6).
In step S8, the time measurement of the tempID timer is started. In step S6, the value of the tempID timer is larger than 0. Therefore, when the value of tempID is larger than the update period P1 (step S6: NO), Similarly to the above, processing is performed from step S7, and if the value of tempID is less than the update period P1 (step S6: YES), the control unit 206 receives an operation signal from the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201. It is determined whether or not (step S10).

  When the operation signal is received (step S10: YES), the control unit 206 counts a timer (hereinafter referred to as “operation signal timer”) for measuring the elapsed time after receiving the operation signal in the time measuring unit 205. The initial value is “0”, the value is initialized to “0”, and time counting is started, the transmission interval is set to a long interval (900 milliseconds) (step S11), and the question signal transmission unit The question signal 10 is transmitted via 202 (step S12), and the processing from step S3 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the operation signal is not received (step S10: NO), the control unit 206 sets the transmission interval to a long interval after the value of the operation signal timer receives one operation signal. It is determined whether or not it is longer than the set period (hereinafter referred to as “effective period P2”, for example, 10 seconds) (step S13).
When the value of the operation signal timer is equal to or less than the valid period P2 (step S13: NO), the control unit 206 transmits the question signal 10 via the question signal transmission unit 202 (step S12), and the step again. The process from S3 is performed.

On the other hand, when the value of the operation signal timer is greater than the valid period P2 (step S13: YES), the control unit 206 sets the transmission interval to the intermediate interval (step S14) and passes the question signal transmission unit 202. The question signal 10 is transmitted (step S12), and the processing from step S3 is performed again.
In step S3, when the response signal (30 or 40) including the own interrogator ID corresponding to the transmitted interrogation signal (10 or 20) is not received (step S3: NO), and in step S4, the response If the responder ID 34 or tempID 24 included in the signal (30 or 40) does not match the responder ID or tempID of the responder 300A stored in the storage unit 204 (step S4: NO), the number of times of non-reception Is counted up, and it is determined whether or not the number of non-receptions coincides with “3” (step S15).

If the number of non-receptions does not match “3” (step S15: NO), the processing is performed again from step S2. If the number of non-receptions matches “3” (step S15: YES), the control is performed. The unit 206 transmits a logoff request signal to the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201 (step S16), and performs the processing from step S1 again.
<Responder>
Next, the operation of the responder 300A will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the response signals 30 and 40 of the responder 300A.
The controller 306 of the responder 300A receives the question signal 10 from the interrogator 200A via the question signal receiver 302 (step S20).
The control unit 306 determines whether or not the interrogator ID 14 included in the received question signal (10 or 20) matches the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304 (step S21). If they coincide with each other (step S21: YES), the value of a timer (hereinafter referred to as “reception interval timer”) for measuring the elapsed time after receiving the question signal in the timer 305 is set to “0”. Start timing after initialization.

Further, the control unit 306 determines whether or not tempID 24 is included in the received question signal (step S22). This can be determined by the signal type of the received question signal.
Since the tempID 24 is included when the question signal 20 is received (step S22: YES), the control unit 306 uses the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304 for the tempID 24 included in the question signal 20. Are stored in association with the interrogator ID (step S23).

When the process of step S23 is performed or the question signal 10 is received, the tempID 24 is not included (step S22: NO), so the control unit 306 determines whether the tempID is stored in the storage unit 304 ( Step S24).
When tempID is not stored in the storage unit 304 (step S24: NO), the control unit 306 uses the response signal 30 including the responder ID stored in the storage unit 304 as a response signal. If the tempID is stored in the storage unit 304 (step S24: YES), the response signal 40 including the tempID in the storage unit 304 is transmitted as a response signal. It transmits via the part 303 (step S26).

  Subsequently, the control unit 306 determines whether or not the question signal (10 or 20) is received from the interrogator 200A via the question signal reception unit 302 (step S27), and if received (step S27: YES). ), The process from step S21 is performed again, and if not received (step S27: NO), the value of the reception interval timer is a threshold for determining that the question signal has not been received three times in succession. (Hereinafter referred to as “non-reception period P3”, for example, 2.7 seconds) is determined (step S28). Here, the reason why the non-reception period P3 is set to 2.7 seconds is to detect a case where none of the three interrogation signals continuously transmitted by the interrogator 200A can be received. The period (2.7 seconds) is three times the long interval (900 milliseconds), which is the longest transmission interval of the interrogation signal by the interrogator 200A.

  In step S28, when the value of the reception interval timer is equal to or less than the non-reception period P3 (step S28: NO), the control unit 306 performs the processing from step S27 again, and the value of the reception interval timer is not received. If it is longer than the period P3 (step S28: YES), the tempID stored in the storage unit 304 is deleted (step S29), and the transmission processing of the response signals 30 and 40 is terminated.

<Information terminal>
Next, the operation of the information terminal 100A will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the log-on and log-off switching processing of the information terminal 100A.
Hereinafter, it is assumed that the information terminal 100A is in the logoff state when the process of step S30 is started.

The control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A determines whether a logon request signal is received from the interrogator 200A via the USB interface 103 (step S30).
If the logon request signal has not been received (step S30: NO), the process of step S30 is performed again. If the logon request signal has been received (step S30: YES), the logon process is executed (step S31). ). Thereby, the user operation in the operation unit 101 becomes valid.

Subsequently, the control unit 104 determines whether there is a user operation, that is, whether an input signal is transmitted from the operation unit 101 (step S32). If there is a user operation (step S32: YES), An operation signal is transmitted to the interrogator 200A via the USB interface 103 (step S33).
If step S33 is processed or if there is no user operation in step S32 (step S32: NO), the control unit 104 has received a logoff request signal from the interrogator 200A via the USB interface 103. Is determined (step S34).

  When the logoff request signal has not been received (step S34: NO), the processing is performed again from step S32. When the logoff request signal is received (step S34: YES), the control unit 104 performs the logoff processing. (Step S35), the process is performed again from Step S30. By the processing in step S35, the user operation on the operation unit 101 is invalidated.

<Specific example>
Operations of the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A will be described using specific examples.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating signal transmission timings in the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A.

Note that at T1 in the figure, the information terminal 100A is in a logoff state, and the user possessing the transponder 300A immediately before T1 to T14 is in the authentication area of the interrogator 200A and operates the information terminal 100A from T10 to T13. A description will be given assuming that a user operation is performed via the unit 101.
At T1, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A sets the transmission interval to a short interval, initializes the value of the tempID timer of the timing unit 205 to “0” (step S1 in FIG. 4), and sets the transmission interval at the set transmission interval. The question signal 10 is transmitted via the question signal transmission unit 202 (step S2).

  At T2, the control unit 306 of the responder 300A receives the interrogation signal 10 via the interrogation signal reception unit 302 (step S20 in FIG. 5). In this example, the interrogator ID 14 included in the received interrogation signal 10 and Since the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304 matches (step S21: YES), the value of the reception interval timer of the time measuring unit 305 is initialized to “0”, and time measurement is started. Since the tempID 24 is not included in the received question signal 10 (step S22: NO) and the tempID is not stored in the storage unit 304 (step S24: NO), the control unit 306 of the responder 300A stores the tempID 24. The response signal 30 including the own responder ID stored in the unit 304 is transmitted via the response signal transmitting unit 303 (step S25).

  At T3, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A receives the response signal 30 transmitted by the responder 300A in step S2 (step S3 in FIG. 4: YES), and in this example, the responder included in the response signal 30 Since the ID 34 and the responder ID of the responder 300A stored in the storage unit 204 match (step S4: YES), the control unit 206 initializes the number of non-receptions to “0” via the USB interface 201. The logon request signal 60 is transmitted to the information terminal 100A (step S5).

At T4, the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A receives the logon request signal 60 from the interrogator 200A via the USB interface 103 (step S30 in FIG. 6: YES), and executes a logon process (step S31). Thereby, the user operation in the operation unit 101 becomes valid.
In this example, since there is no user operation at T4 (step S32: NO), the control unit 104 does not transmit the operation signal 70 and does not receive the logoff request signal (step S33: NO), so the logoff process is also executed. do not do. Thereafter, the information terminal 100A performs the same processing until T9.

  Further, since the value of the tempID timer is 0 at T4 (step S6: NO in FIG. 4), the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A has the 1st to 8th bits in the responder ID stored in the storage unit 204. Is stored in the storage unit 204 as tempID, and the question signal 20 including this tempID is transmitted via the question signal transmission unit 202 (step S7). Since the transmission interval is short at T1, the interval between T1 and T4 is 300 milliseconds. In addition, the control unit 206 initializes the value of the tempID timer to “0”, starts counting (step S8), and sets the transmission interval to the intermediate interval (step S9).

  At T5, the controller 306 of the responder 300A receives the interrogator signal 20 from the interrogator 200A via the interrogator signal receiver 302 (step S27 in FIG. 5: YES), and the interrogator included in the received interrogator signal 20 Since the ID 14 matches the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304 (step S21: YES), the value of the reception interval timer is initialized to “0”, and the time measurement is started. Since the tempID 24 is included in the received question signal 20 (step S22: YES), the tempID 24 is stored in the storage unit 304 (step S23).

Further, since tempID is stored in the storage unit 304 (step S24: YES), the control unit 306 transmits the response signal 40 including the tempID of the storage unit 304 via the response signal transmission unit 303 ( Step S26).
At T6, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A receives the response signal 40 transmitted by the responder 300A in step S5 via the response signal reception unit 203 (step S3 in FIG. 4: YES), and is included in the response signal 40. TempID 24 matches the tempID stored in the storage unit 204 in association with the responder ID of the responder 300A (step S4: YES), the control unit 206 initializes the number of non-receptions to “0”. The logon request signal 60 is transmitted (step S5).

Note that, since the information terminal 100A is already in the logon state, the control unit 104 does not perform any special processing even when the logon request signal 60 is received.
At T7, the value of the tempID timer is greater than 0 and less than the update period P1 (5 minutes) (step S6: YES in FIG. 4), and the operation signal has not been received from the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201. (Step S10: NO), the control unit 206 transmits the question signal because the value (0) of the operation signal timer is equal to or less than the valid period P2 (10 seconds) (Step S13: NO). The question signal 10 is transmitted through the unit 202 (step S12). In addition, since the transmission interval is set to the medium interval at T4, the interval between T4 and T7 is 600 milliseconds.

  At T8, the controller 306 of the responder 300A receives the question signal 10 from the interrogator 200A via the question signal receiver 302 (step S27 in FIG. 5: YES), and the interrogator included in the received question signal 10 Since the ID 14 matches the interrogator ID of the interrogator 200A stored in the storage unit 304 (step S21: YES), the value of the reception interval timer is initialized to “0”, and the time measurement is started. Since the tempID 24 is not included in the received question signal 10 (step S22: NO) and the tempID is stored in the storage unit 304 (step S24: YES), the response signal 40 including the tempID of the storage unit 304 is stored. Is transmitted via the response signal transmission unit 303 (step S26).

At T9, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A transmits the logon request signal 60 as in T6 (step S5).
At T10, in this example, there is a user operation via the operation unit 101 of the information terminal 100A (step S32 in FIG. 6: YES), and the control unit 104 sends the operation signal 70 to the interrogator 200A via the USB interface 103. Since the logoff request signal is not received (step S33: NO), the logoff process is not executed.

At T11, similarly to T10, the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A transmits the operation signal 70 to the interrogator 200A (step S33) and does not execute the logoff process.
At T11, the value of the tempID timer is greater than 0 and less than the update period P1 (5 minutes) (step S6: YES in FIG. 4), and an operation signal is received from the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201. (Step S10: YES), the control unit 206 initializes the value of the operation signal timer to “0” and starts measuring time, and sets the transmission interval to a long interval (900 milliseconds) (step S11). Then, the question signal 10 is transmitted through the question signal transmission unit 202 (step S12).

At T12, the control unit 306 of the responder 300A transmits the response signal 40 including the tempID of the storage unit 304 via the response signal transmission unit 303, similarly to T8 (step S26).
At T13, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A transmits the logon request signal 60, similarly to T9 (step S5).

In T13, the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A transmits the operation signal 70 to the interrogator 200A in this example (step S33), and does not execute the logoff process.
At T14, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A transmits the question signal 10 in the same manner as T11 (step S12).

Further, since there is no user operation at T14 (step S32: NO), the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A does not transmit the operation signal 70 and does not receive the logoff request signal (step S33: NO). No processing is performed. Thereafter, the information terminal 100A performs the same processing until T19.
In T15, in this example, the responder 300A is not in the authentication area of the interrogator 200A, and the control unit 306 of the responder 300A has not received the question signal 10 from the interrogator 200A via the question signal receiver 302. (Step S27 in FIG. 5: NO), the response signal 40 is not transmitted, and the value of the reception interval timer is equal to or shorter than the non-reception period P3 (2.7 seconds) (Step S28: NO), so the tempID is not deleted. .

Further, since the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A does not receive the response signal 40 (step S3: NO in FIG. 4), the non-reception frequency is counted up to “1”, but does not match “3”. (Step S15: NO), the logoff signal is not transmitted.
At T16, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A transmits the question signal 10 through the question signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval (long interval) (step S2).

At T17, the control unit 306 of the responding device 300A does not transmit the response signal 40 as in T15, does not delete the tempID, and the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A counts up the number of non-receptions. Although “2” is set, it does not coincide with “3” (step S15: NO), so the logoff signal is not transmitted.
At T18, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A transmits the question signal 10 in the same manner as T16 (step S2).

At T19, the controller 306 of the responder 300A has not received the question signal 10 from the interrogator 200A via the question signal receiver 302 (step S27 in FIG. 5: NO).
Since the response signal 40 is not transmitted and the value of the reception interval timer is larger than the non-reception period P3 (2.7 seconds) (step S28: YES), the control unit 306 of the responder 300A is stored in the storage unit 304. TempID is deleted (step S29), and the transmission processing of the response signals 30 and 40 is terminated.

Further, since the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A does not receive the response signal 40 (step S3: NO in FIG. 4), the non-reception frequency is counted up to “3”, which matches “3” (step S3). (S15: YES), a logoff request signal 61 is transmitted (step S16).
At T20, the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A receives no log-off request signal without transmitting the operation signal 70 because there is no user operation (step S32: NO), so the log-off process is performed. Execute (Step S35). Thereby, the user operation in the operation unit 101 becomes invalid.

At T21, similarly to T1, the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A sets the transmission interval to a short interval and initializes the value of the tempID timer of the time measuring unit 205 to “0” (step S1 in FIG. 4). The question signal 10 is transmitted through the question signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval (step S2). Thereafter, the same processing as described above is performed.
As described above, the interrogator 200A transmits a question signal at a short interval when the information terminal 100A is in the logoff state, and transmits a question signal at a medium interval when the information terminal 100A is in the logon state. When a user operation is performed, a question signal is transmitted at a long interval. That is, since the transmission interval of the interrogation signal when the user who possesses the responder 300A is using the information terminal 100A is increased, the number of times the responder 300A transmits the response signal can be reduced. The consumption of the internal battery 301 can be reduced.

≪Modification≫
Hereinafter, the response signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A only when the user who possesses the transponder according to the modification (hereinafter referred to as “transformation transponder”) logs on and logs off from the information terminal 100A. A modified example will be described.
Thereby, the frequency | count that a deformation | transformation responder transmits a response signal can further be reduced, and consumption of the internal battery 301 of a deformation | transformation responder can further be reduced.

Hereinafter, an interrogator according to a modification (hereinafter referred to as “deformation interrogator”) and a deformation responder will be described. The deformation interrogator is obtained by changing the function of the control unit 206 of the interrogator 200A. The device is obtained by changing the function of the control unit 306 of the responder 300A.
Specifically, the control unit of the modified interrogator is different from the interrogator 200A in that it transmits only the interrogation signal 10 without transmitting the interrogation signal 20. Further, the modified responder does not transmit the response signal 40, but transmits a response signal 30 when a user who possesses the modified responder logs on to the information terminal 100A, and outputs a response signal 50 described below when logging off. It differs from the responder 300A in that it is transmitted. The following description will focus on the changes from the above embodiment.

<Data>
Hereinafter, the response signal 50 transmitted by the modified responder will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the response signal 50.
As shown in the figure, the response signal 50 includes a PR 51, a UW 52, a signal type 53, an interrogator ID 14, a responder ID 34, and a CRC 54.

Since PR51, UW52, and CRC54 are the same data as PR31, UW32, and CRC35 in the response signal 30, respectively, and the interrogator ID14 and the responder ID34 are the same data as the data included in the response signal 30, The signal type 53 will be described.
Here, the signal type 53 is identification information indicating the response signal 50 and is used to identify the type of signal received by the modified interrogator. In the following description, it is assumed that the signal type 53 is “5”. As will be described later, the modified interrogator determines that the response signal 50 has been received based on the signal type 53, and transmits a logoff request signal to the information terminal 100A.

<Operation>
<Transformation interrogator>
First, the operation of the modified interrogator will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the process of transmitting the interrogation signal of the modified interrogator and the process when the response signals 30 and 50 are received.

In the figure, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processes as those of the interrogator 200A shown in FIG.
The control unit of the modified interrogator sets the transmission interval to a short interval (300 milliseconds) (step S40), and transmits the question signal 10 via the question signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval (step S2). Then, the value of the transmission interval timer of the time measuring unit 205 is initialized to “0”, and then time measurement is started.

The control unit of the modified interrogator determines whether or not the response signal (30 or 50) including the own interrogator ID is received via the response signal receiving unit 203 based on the signal type of the received response signal. (Step S41).
When the response signal (30 or 50) including the own interrogator ID is not received (step S41: NO), the process proceeds to step S10, and when the response signal (30 or 50) is received. (Step S41: YES), the control unit of the modified interrogator determines whether or not the responder ID 34 included in the response signal matches the transponder ID of the modified responder stored in the storage unit 204. (Step S42).

  If they match (step S42: YES), the control unit of the modified interrogator initializes the number of non-receptions (initial value is “0”) to “0” and whether the signal type matches “5”. (Step S43), if they match (step S43: YES), a logoff request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A (step S16), the processing from step S40 is performed again, and the signal type is “5”. ”(Step S43: NO), a logon request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A (step S5).

The control unit of the modified interrogator sets the transmission interval to the medium interval (600 milliseconds) (step S9), and determines whether or not the operation signal is received from the information terminal 100A via the USB interface 201 (step S9). S10).
If an operation signal is received in step S10 (step S10: YES), the control unit of the modified interrogator initializes the value of the operation signal timer of the time measuring unit 205 to “0” and starts time measurement. Then, the transmission interval is set to a long interval (900 milliseconds) (step S11), and the processing from step S2 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the operation signal is not received (step S10: NO), the control unit of the modified interrogator determines whether or not the value of the operation signal timer is greater than the valid period P2 (step S13). .
When the value of the operation signal timer is equal to or shorter than the valid period P2 (step S13: NO), the control unit of the modified interrogator performs the process from step S2 again, and the value of the operation signal timer is When it is longer than the period P2 (step S13: YES), the control unit of the modified interrogator sets the transmission interval to the middle interval (step S14), and performs the processing from step S2 again.

On the other hand, when the responder ID 34 included in the response signal (30 or 50) does not match the responder ID of the deformed responder stored in the storage unit 204 in Step S42 (Step S42: NO), Since the processing is the same as that of the interrogator 200A, the description is omitted.
<Deformation transponder>
Next, the operation of the deformation responder will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the response signals 30 and 50 of the modified responder.
In the figure, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processes as those of the responder 300A shown in FIG.
The control unit of the modified responder receives the interrogation signal 10 (step S20), sets the value of the reception interval timer of the time measuring unit 305 to “0” (step S50), and the interrogator included in the received interrogation signal 10 It is determined whether or not the ID 14 and the interrogator ID of the modified interrogator stored in the storage unit 304 match (step S51).

  If they match (step S51: YES), it is determined whether or not the value of the reception interval timer matches “0” (step S52). If they match “0” (step S52: YES). Then, the control unit of the deformation responder transmits a response signal 30 (step S25), initializes the value of the reception interval timer to “0”, and starts measuring time (step S53). It is assumed that the value of the reception interval timer is greater than “0” when the process of step S52 is executed next due to the start of the time measurement.

  When step S53 is processed, or when the interrogator ID 14 included in the received interrogation signal 10 does not match the interrogator ID of the modified interrogator stored in the storage unit 304 in step S51 (step S51: NO) Then, the control unit of the deformed responder determines whether or not the question signal 10 is received from the deformed interrogator via the question signal receiving unit 302 (step S54), and if received (step S54: YES). ) The process from step S51 is performed again, and if not received (step S54: NO), the determination of step S28 is performed in the same manner as the responder 300A, and the value of the reception interval timer is equal to or less than the non-reception period P3. (Step S28: NO), the process is performed again from step S54. If the value of the reception interval timer is greater than the non-reception period P3 ( Step S28: YES), the control unit of the deformation response unit transmits a response signal 50 via the response signal transmission unit 303, and ends the process of transmitting the response signal 30 and 50.

<Specific example>
The operations of the information terminal 100A, the modified interrogator, and the modified responder will be described using specific examples.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating signal transmission timings in the information terminal 100A, the modified interrogator, and the modified responder.
At T31 in the figure, the information terminal 100A is in a logoff state, and the user who possesses the responder 300A from T31 to T41 is in the authentication area of the interrogator 200A, and the operation unit 101 of the information terminal 100A from T37 to T40. It is assumed that a user operation is performed via

At T31, the control unit of the modified interrogator sets the transmission interval to a short interval (step S40 in FIG. 9), and transmits the question signal 10 via the question signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval (step S2). ) After the value of the transmission interval timer of the time measuring unit 205 is initialized to “0”, time measurement is started.
At T32, the control unit of the deformation responder receives the question signal 10 (step S20 in FIG. 10), sets the value of the reception interval timer of the time measuring unit 305 to “0” (step S50), and receives the received question signal. 10 and the interrogator ID of the modified interrogator stored in the storage unit 304 match (step S51: YES), and the value of the reception interval timer matches “0” (step S52). : YES), the control unit of the deformed responder transmits a response signal 30 (step S25), initializes the value of the reception interval timer to “0”, and starts measuring time (step S53).

  At T33, the control unit of the modified interrogator receives the response signal 30 via the response signal receiving unit 203 (step S41: YES), and is stored in the responder ID 34 and the storage unit 204 included in the response signal 30. Since the response ID of the modified transponder matches (step S42: YES), the control unit of the modified interrogator initializes the non-reception count to “0” and the signal type does not match “5” ( Step S43: NO), the logon request signal 60 is transmitted to the information terminal 100A (Step S5), and the transmission interval is set to the middle interval.

  At T34, similarly to T4 shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A receives the logon request signal 60 (step S30 in FIG. 6: YES), and executes a logon process (step S31). In the example, since there is no user operation (step S32: NO), the control unit 104 does not transmit the operation signal 70 and does not receive the logoff request signal (step S33: NO), and does not execute the logoff process.

  At T35, no operation signal is received (step S10: NO), and the value of the operation signal timer is smaller than the valid period P2 (step S13: NO), so the control unit of the modified interrogator transmits the set transmission. The interrogation signal 10 is transmitted at an interval (medium interval) via the interrogation signal transmission unit 202 (step S2), the value of the transmission interval timer of the timing unit 205 is initialized to “0”, and the timing is started. .

  At T36, the control unit of the modified responder receives the question signal 10 from the modified interrogator via the question signal receiving unit 302 (step S54: YES), and the interrogator ID 14 and the storage unit included in the received question signal 10 Since the interrogator ID of the modified interrogator stored in 304 matches (step S51: YES) and the value of the reception interval timer does not match “0” (step S52: NO), send the response signal 30. Instead, the control unit of the deformation responder initializes the value of the reception interval timer to “0” and then starts measuring time (step S53).

In T37, since there is a user operation in this example (step S32: YES), the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A transmits the operation signal 70 (step S33), and does not receive the logoff request signal (step S33: NO), log off processing is not executed. The same processing is performed at T38 and T40.
In T37, the control unit of the modified interrogator does not receive the response signal (30 or 50) (step S41: NO) and receives the operation signal 70 (step S10: YES). (Step S11). The same processing is performed at T41.

In T39, the control unit of the modified interrogator transmits the question signal 10 through the question signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval (long interval) (step S2), and the value of the transmission interval timer of the time measuring unit 205 Is initialized to “0”, and the timing is started. The same processing is performed at T42, T44, and T46.
In each of T43 and T45, the control unit of the deformation responder does not receive the inquiry signal 10 (step S54: NO), and the value of the reception interval timer is equal to or less than the non-reception period P3 (step S28: NO), the response signal 50 is not transmitted.

Further, at T47, the control unit of the deformation responder does not receive the interrogation signal 10 (step S54: NO), and the value of the reception interval timer is larger than the non-reception period P3 (step S28: YES). The control unit of the device transmits the response signal 50 (step S54) and ends the process.
At T48, the control unit of the modified interrogator receives the response signal 50 (step S41: YES), the responder ID 34 included in the response signal, and the responder ID of the modified responder stored in the storage unit 204, (Step S42: YES), the number of non-receptions is initialized to “0” and the signal type matches “5” (step S43: YES), and a logoff request signal is transmitted to the information terminal 100A (step S43: YES). Step S16).

At T49, since there is no user operation (step S32: NO), the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A receives the logoff request signal without transmitting the operation signal 70 (step S33: YES). Execute (Step S35). Thereby, the user operation in the operation unit 101 becomes invalid.
Also, the control unit of the modified interrogator sets the transmission interval to a short interval (step S40 in FIG. 9), and transmits the inquiry signal 10 via the interrogation signal transmission unit 202 at the set transmission interval, similarly to T31. (Step S2).

  In this manner, the modified responder transmits the response signal 30 when the interrogation signal 10 is received for the first time (when the value of the reception interval timer is “0”), and has not been received since the interrogation signal 10 was last received. A response signal 50 is transmitted when the reception period P3 has elapsed. That is, since the response signal is transmitted only when logging on to the information terminal 100A and when logging off from the information terminal 100A, the built-in battery of the modified responder is compared with the case where the response signal is transmitted each time a question signal is received. The consumption of 301 can be greatly reduced.

<Supplement>
As described above, the authentication system according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment and the modification. However, the authentication system may be modified as follows, and the present invention is as described in the above-described embodiment and modification. Of course, the authentication system is not limited to this.
(1) In the embodiment, the case where the number of users of the information terminal 100A is one (the user who owns the responder 300A) has been described as an example, but a plurality of users may share the information terminal 100A. In this case, since the number of responders in the authentication system 1000A is not one, it matches the number of users, and therefore the storage unit 204 of the interrogator 200A has each responder (each user of the information terminal 100A possesses). It is necessary to store the responder ID of the responder) in advance, and it is necessary to manage which responder ID is the user who is actually logged on.

The same modification may be performed for the authentication system (including the information terminal 100A, the modified interrogator, and the modified responder) according to the modified example.
(2) In the embodiment, it has been described that the interrogator 200A transmits the question signal 20 only once when the condition is not satisfied in step S6 shown in FIG. 4 (step S6: NO). If the responder 300A cannot receive the interrogation signal 20, the response signal 40 including the tempID included in the interrogation signal 20 cannot be transmitted, and the information terminal 100A is logged off (step S4). : NO, S15: YES, S16).

In order to avoid this, when the condition is not satisfied in step S6 shown in FIG. 4 (step S6: NO), the question signal 20 may be transmitted continuously a predetermined number of times thereafter.
As another method, when the interrogator 200A first transmits the interrogation signal 20, authentication is possible even if the response signal 30 is received from the responder 300A (the condition of step S4 in FIG. 4 is satisfied). When the interrogator 200 transmits the question signal 20 after the second time (when the tempID has been updated), it may be authenticated even if the response signal 40 including the tempID before the update is received. In this case, the interrogator 200A needs to store the tempID before and after the update in association with each other.

  (3) In the embodiment, when the interrogator 200A transmits a logon request signal (logon to the information terminal 100A), the interrogator 200A transmits a question signal at a medium interval, and receives an operation signal, transmits a question signal at a long interval. In other words, it has been described that the transmission interval becomes longer step by step, but even if the logon request signal is transmitted, the transmission interval of the inquiry signal is not changed, and only when the operation signal is received, it is longer than the short interval. It is good also as a transmission interval (for example, 600 milliseconds may be sufficient). You may perform the same deformation | transformation also about a deformation | transformation interrogator.

(4) In the embodiment, tempID has been described as being 1-byte data of the responder ID of the responder 300A. However, tempID is not generated using the responder ID, but is simply a 1-byte random number. Data may be generated.
(5) Similar to the interrogator 200A according to the embodiment, the modified interrogator according to the modified example has been described as changing the transmission interval of the question signal, but at a constant interval (for example, a short interval) without being changed. A question signal may be transmitted. In that case, the non-reception period P3 in the responder 300A also needs to be changed in accordance with this change.

  (6) In the first embodiment, the interrogator 200A has been described as making the transmission interval of the interrogation signal longer when the operation signal is received. However, every time the operation signal is received, the interrogator 200A has a certain period (for example, The transmission of the inquiry signal may be stopped for several seconds). In this case, it is necessary to change the non-reception period P3 in the responder 300A in accordance with the period during which the transmission of the inquiry signal is stopped. As a result, the responder 300A does not need to receive the interrogation signal, so that the consumption of the internal battery 301 can be reduced. You may perform the same deformation | transformation also about a deformation | transformation interrogator and a deformation | transformation responder.

  (7) The question signal transmission means provided in the interrogator constituting the authentication system according to the present invention corresponds to the question signal transmission unit 202 and the control unit provided in the interrogator 200A and the modified interrogator, and the responder information storage means includes: It corresponds to the storage unit 204 included in the interrogator 200A and the modified interrogator, and the first authentication unit, the second authentication unit, and the operation signal receiving unit are respectively connected to the USB interface 201 and the control unit included in the interrogator 200A and the modified interrogator. Correspondingly, the question transmission control means corresponds to a control unit provided in the interrogator 200A and the modified interrogator.

Further, the response signal transmission means included in the responder constituting the authentication system according to the present invention corresponds to the response device 300A and the response signal transmission unit 303 and the control unit of the modified responder, and the response transmission control means includes the responder 300A. The interrogator information storage means corresponds to the responder 300A and the storage unit 304 of the modified responder.
Further, the operation signal transmitting means and the control signal receiving means included in the information terminal constituting the authentication system according to the present invention correspond to the USB interface 103 and the control unit 104 of the information terminal 100A, respectively, and the state control means corresponds to the information terminal 100A. Corresponds to the control unit 104.

It is a system configuration diagram of authentication systems 1000A and 1000B. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of each principal part of the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A. It is a figure which shows the data structure of each of the question signals 10 and 20, and the response signals 30 and 40. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the question signals 10 and 20 of the interrogator 200A and the process when the response signals 30 and 40 are received. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the response signals 30 and 40 of the responder 300A. It is a flowchart which shows the switching process of logon and logoff of the information terminal 100A. It is a figure which shows the transmission timing of the signal in the information terminal 100A, the interrogator 200A, and the responder 300A. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the response signal. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the question signal of a deformation | transformation interrogator, and the process at the time of receiving the response signals 30 and 50. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process of the response signals 30 and 50 of a deformation | transformation responder. It is a figure which shows the transmission timing of the signal in 100 A of information terminals, a deformation | transformation interrogator, and a deformation | transformation responder.

Explanation of symbols

100A, 100B Information terminal 101 Operation unit 102 Display unit 103, 201 USB interface 104, 206, 306 Control unit 200A, 200B Interrogator 202 Question signal transmission unit 203 Response signal reception unit 204, 304 Storage unit 205, 305 Timing unit 300A, 300B transponder 301 built-in battery 302 question signal receiving unit 303 response signal transmitting unit 1000A, 1000B authentication system

Claims (9)

An information terminal that logs on and off according to the received signal, an interrogator that is installed in the vicinity of the information terminal and connected to the information terminal, transmits a question signal and receives a response signal, and receives a question signal Then, it is an authentication system including a responder that receives a power supply from the built-in battery and transmits a response signal including identification information of the own device,
The interrogator is
Question signal transmitting means for repeatedly transmitting the question signal at a first interval;
Responder information storage means for storing identification information of a responder possessed by a user who should be permitted to log on to the information terminal;
Each time a response signal is received, it is determined whether the identification information of the responder included in the response signal matches the identification information stored in the responder information storage means, and a signal based on the determination result First authentication means for transmitting to the information terminal;
After determining that the first authentication means match, it includes inquiry transmission control means for changing the transmission interval of the inquiry signal by the inquiry signal transmission means to a second interval longer than the first interval. Authentication system. The information terminal
In the logged-on state, when an operation by the user is performed, an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal to the interrogator is provided.
The interrogator further comprises an operation signal receiving means for receiving an operation signal transmitted from the information terminal,
The inquiry transmission control means further changes the transmission interval of the inquiry signal by the inquiry signal transmission means to a third interval longer than the second interval within a predetermined period after the operation signal reception means receives the operation signal. The authentication system according to claim 1. The question transmission control means returns the question signal transmission interval by the question signal transmission means to the first interval after determining that the first authentication means does not match. The described authentication system. The first authentication means includes
If it is determined that they match, a logon request signal for requesting logon is transmitted to the information terminal as a signal based on the determination result,
Whether the interrogator has further received a response signal to any of two or more predetermined number of interrogation signals continuously transmitted by the interrogation signal transmission means after determining that the first authentication means coincides A second authentication unit that transmits a logoff request signal for requesting logoff to the information terminal when a positive determination is made,
The information terminal
Control signal receiving means for receiving a logon request signal or a logoff request signal transmitted from the interrogator;
When the control signal receiving means receives a log-on request signal, the state control means performs log-on when the log-off state is established, and when the control signal receiving means receives the log-off request signal, the state control means performs log-off when the log-on state is established. The authentication system according to claim 3, further comprising: The responder information storage means further includes:
In association with the stored identification information of the responder, the shortened information having a data size smaller than the identification information is stored,
The question signal transmitting means includes
The interrogation signal transmitted immediately after the determination that the first authentication means matches is made to include the shortened information stored in the responder information storage means in association with the identification information of the responder used for the determination. Send
The responder is
Response signal transmitting means for transmitting a response signal including identification information of the own device, and further receiving a query signal including the shortened information, after the reception, the shortened information is replaced with the identification information of the own device. A response transmission control means included in a response signal and transmitted to the response signal transmission means;
The first authentication means includes
After the interrogation signal transmission means transmits the interrogation signal including the shortening information, instead of the identification information of the responder, the interrogation information included in the response signal and the interrogation signal transmission means include the interrogation signal. The authentication system according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether or not the transmitted shortened information stored in the responder information storage means matches. The information terminal
In the logged-on state, when an operation by the user is performed, an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal is provided,
The interrogator further comprises an operation signal receiving means for receiving an operation signal transmitted from the information terminal,
2. The authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the question transmission control unit further stops transmission of the question signal by the question signal transmission unit within a predetermined period after the operation signal reception unit receives the operation signal. . The question signal transmission means transmits a question signal in the LF band,
The responder is
When response signal transmission means for transmitting a response signal including identification information of its own device at a frequency higher than the LF band is provided, and when the next question signal is received within a predetermined time after receiving the previous question signal Stops the transmission of the response signal by the response signal transmission means, and the user who owns the device should have moved so that two or more predetermined number of question signals have been received since the previous question signal was received. When the next interrogation signal is not received even after elapse of the time, a response transmission control means for including the instruction information for instructing logoff from the information terminal to be transmitted to the response signal transmission means,
The first authentication means includes
When it is determined that they match, when the instruction information is not included in the response signal related to the determination, a logon request signal requesting logon is used, and when the instruction information is included in the response signal related to the determination A logoff request signal for requesting logoff is transmitted to the information terminal as a signal based on the determination result,
The information terminal
Control signal receiving means for receiving a logon request signal or a logoff request signal transmitted from the interrogator;
State control means for performing log-on when the control signal receiving means receives a log-on request signal and logging off when the control signal receiving means receives a log-off request signal when the control signal receiving means receives a log-off request signal The authentication system according to claim 1, further comprising: There are a plurality of information terminals and interrogators,
The question signal transmission means of each interrogator is
Send the identification information of your device in the question signal,
The responder is
Response signal transmitting means for transmitting a response signal including identification information of the device itself is further provided, and among the plurality of information terminals, identification of an interrogator connected to an information terminal to which the user of the device is permitted to log on Interrogator information storage means for storing information;
A response for stopping transmission of the response signal by the response signal transmitting means when the identification information of the interrogator included in the received interrogation signal does not match the identification information of the interrogator stored in the interrogator information storage means; The authentication system according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission control unit. Installed in the vicinity of the information terminal that logs on and off according to the received signal, is connected to the information terminal, transmits the interrogation signal, receives the interrogation signal, and receives power supply from the built-in battery An interrogator that receives a response signal including identification information of the responder transmitted by the responder,
Question signal transmitting means for repeatedly transmitting the question signal at a first interval;
Responder information storage means for storing identification information of a responder possessed by a user who should be permitted to log on to the information terminal;
Each time a response signal is received, it is determined whether or not the identification information of the transponder included in the response signal matches the identification information stored in the transponder information storage means. First authentication means for transmitting a signal based on the information terminal;
After determining that the first authentication means match, it includes inquiry transmission control means for changing the transmission interval of the inquiry signal by the inquiry signal transmission means to a second interval longer than the first interval. A characteristic interrogator.

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