JP2010226273A - Device, method and program of wireless communication management - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wireless communication management device which improves the communication disabled state owing interference among the waves transmitted from transmitters, and to provide a wireless communication management method and wireless communication management programs. <P>SOLUTION: If it is determined that a handy-type RFID reader 121 exists within an area, in which interference of waves occurs between fixed-type RFID readers 111 to 118, a wave interference avoiding means 204 compares a channel of each of the fixed-type RFID readers with a channel of the handy-type RFID reader 121; and then determines whether interference of waves occurs between the channels. If there is an interference of waves among the channels, the wave interference avoiding means changes the channel of the handy-type RFID reader 121 to another channel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication management device, a wireless communication management method, a wireless communication management program, and the like, and more specifically, for example, to improve an incommunicable state caused by interference between radio waves emitted by transmitters. The present invention relates to a technical field such as a wireless communication management device, a wireless communication management method, and a wireless communication management program.

  The revision of the Radio Law in April 2005 made it possible to use the UFH band for RFID systems in Japan. However, the UHF band that can be used as an RFID is limited to a small frequency band of 952 MHz to 954 MHz. Therefore, there is a problem that radio interference is likely to occur when a plurality of RFID readers are used.

  There is a method called LBT (Listen before talk) as a technique for avoiding the radio wave interference.

  In the LBT system, before an RFID reader device transmits radio waves, it checks whether radio waves of the frequency to be transmitted are already transmitted from other RFID reader devices, and transmits radio waves when no radio waves are transmitted. It is a method to do.

  In the wireless communication field, when the position of the fixed wireless base station and the position of the mobile wireless base station are close to each other, the communication channel is changed to the communication channel of the mobile wireless base station that does not interfere with the communication channel of the fixed wireless base station. An invention for transmitting information to a radio base station is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a channel for wireless communication is assigned to each base station in each communication area of the wireless LAN system, and each wireless communication terminal uses wireless communication in another communication area in which wireless communication is performed using the same channel. An invention has been disclosed in which when a transmission radio wave is received from a communication terminal, a signal for notifying the wireless communication terminal of its presence and requesting a reduction in transmission power is wirelessly transmitted and the transmission power of the terminal is reduced.

JP 2003-250177 A JP 2008-148360 A

  However, the LBT method has a problem that a specific RFID reader may not be able to transmit radio waves when a plurality of RFID reader devices exist in the field.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, radio interference occurs when there are more base stations than the number of channels that can be allocated (especially, when adjacent channels are used, radio interference occurs). appear).

  Moreover, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, in order to avoid radio wave interference, the channel of the radio terminal device is changed or the radio wave output is changed. Therefore, the radio wave reception sensitivity of the wireless terminal device whose radio wave output is changed is lowered.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an example of the purpose thereof is to use channels (predetermined channels) used by a transmitter that exists in the vicinity of a target transmitter using position information. A wireless communication management device, a wireless communication management method, a wireless communication management program, and the like that can enable communication by dynamically allocating channels and radio wave outputs so that interference does not occur are determined. There is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is an RFID reader device that transmits and receives radio waves belonging to a predetermined frequency band and reads data stored in an RFID tag. In each of a plurality of stationary RFID reader devices provided in a place and a wireless communication management device that acquires data read by the RFID reader device and a movable RFID reader device that is freely movable, each stationary RFID reader Position information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the current position of the apparatus and the movable RFID reader apparatus, and a distance for measuring the distance between each stationary RFID reader apparatus and the movable RFID reader apparatus based on the current position Based on the information acquisition means, the current position and the distance, the movable RFID reader device is configured so that each stationary R A radio wave interference range searching means for determining whether or not the radio wave interference is present within a range in which radio wave interference occurs with the ID reader device, and each stationary RFID reader device when the radio wave interference is determined to occur. Radio wave interference frequency determining means for comparing the frequency band of the radio wave to be transmitted and received and the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device to determine whether or not the frequency band causes radio wave interference. And a radio wave interference avoiding means for changing the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device to another frequency band when the radio frequency interference occurs.

  According to the present invention, when it is determined that the movable RFID reader device is within a range where radio wave interference occurs with each stationary RFID reader device, each stationary RFID reader device is The frequency band of the radio wave to be transmitted / received is compared with the frequency band of the radio wave to be transmitted / received by the movable RFID reader device, and it is determined whether or not the frequency band generates radio wave interference. If it is a frequency band to be transmitted, the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device is changed to another frequency band.

  Therefore, the channel (predetermined frequency band) used by each stationary RFID reader device existing in the vicinity of the target movable RFID reader device is determined using the position information, and interference (interference) does not occur. Thus, communication can be enabled by dynamically allocating channels and radio wave outputs.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the wireless communication management device according to the first aspect, the radio wave interference avoiding means transmits and receives the movable RFID reader device when the other frequency band does not exist. The frequency band of the radio wave is set to the same frequency band as the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the stationary RFID reader device existing at the farthest distance between each stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device. The output of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device and the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device are weakened.

  Therefore, the channel (predetermined frequency band) used by the transmitter existing in the vicinity of the target transmitter is determined using the position information, and interference occurs even when there is no free channel. Communication can be made possible by dynamically allocating channels and radio wave outputs.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer is caused to function as the wireless communication management device according to the first aspect.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an RFID reader device that transmits and receives radio waves belonging to a predetermined frequency band and reads data stored in an RFID tag, and is a stationary RFID reader provided at a predetermined location in a facility Apparatus and a wireless communication management method for acquiring data read by a movable RFID reader device that is freely movable and is a current position of the stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device A position information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating the distance, a distance information acquisition step of measuring a distance between the stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device based on the current position, and the current position and the distance On the basis of the interference between the movable RFID reader device and the stationary RFID reader device. A radio wave interference range searching step for determining whether the radio wave interference is present, a frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the stationary RFID reader device when the radio wave interference is determined to occur, and the movable type The frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the RFID reader device is compared, and a radio wave interference frequency determining step for determining whether or not the frequency band generates radio wave interference, and the frequency band where the radio wave interference occurs In this case, there is a radio wave interference avoiding step of changing a frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device to another frequency band.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the channel (predetermined frequency band) used by each stationary RFID reader device existing in the vicinity of the target movable RFID reader device is determined using position information. Communication can be made possible by dynamically assigning channels and radio wave outputs so that interference (interference) does not occur.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure outline | summary of the package management system S which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning condition of the package management system S which concerns on this embodiment. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a terminal device 101. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a handy type RFID reader device 121. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a stationary RFID reader device 111. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the channel allocated to each stationary RFID reader apparatus 111-118 and the handy type RFID reader apparatus 121. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control terminal 101 which concerns on this embodiment, the handy type RFID reader apparatus 121, and each stationary RFID reader apparatus 111-118. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning condition of the package management system S in case there exist multiple handy type RFID reader apparatuses. It is a table | surface which shows the channel allocated to each stationary RFID reader apparatus 511-518 and the handy type RFID reader apparatuses 121-122.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment described below is embodiment at the time of applying this application with respect to a package management system.

  First, the configuration and functional overview of the package management system S according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the package management system S according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the package management system S includes a control terminal 101 as a wireless communication management device of the present application, stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 as a plurality of stationary RFID reader devices of the present application, and a movable And a handy type RFID reader device 121 as a type RFID reader device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of the luggage management system S according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the package management system described below is, for example, in a situation where a plurality of stationary RFID reader devices are installed in a warehouse as an example of a facility. It has an RFID reader device and reads an RFID tag attached to a package at an arbitrary location in a warehouse.

  The control terminal 101, the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118, and the handy RFID reader device 121 are connected by, for example, wired or wireless (for example, infrared communication), and the stationary readers 111 to 118 and the handy type are connected. Overall control can be performed on the reader 121.

  As the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader device 121, for example, an RFID reader / writer adopting a known FeliCa (registered trademark) technology which is a non-contact IC card technology is applied, and the RFIC adopting the FeliCa technology is used. It is possible to read data from a tag (RFIC chip) and write data to the RFIC tag in a non-contact manner (by non-contact communication) using radio waves of a predetermined frequency.

  Thereby, the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader device 121 detect an RFIC tag within a predetermined receivable range, for example, according to an instruction from the control terminal 101, and store the detected RFIC tag in the RFIC tag. The read data or the like is read, and the read data is transmitted to the control terminal 101.

  Next, the configuration and functions of the terminal device 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the terminal device 101.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control terminal 101 includes an RFID reader control unit 201 that performs reading of data read by each RFID reader device (stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118, a handy RFID reader device 121, etc.) An RFID reader setting information unit 202 that records setting information of the RFID reader such as a frequency band set in each RFID reader device, and a position information acquisition unit and a distance information acquisition unit of the present application that manage the position information of the RFID reader device And a radio wave interference avoiding means 204 as radio wave interference range searching means, radio wave interference frequency determining means, and radio wave interference avoiding means of the present application.

  The RFID reader control unit 201 controls each RFID reader device such as reading an RFID tag.

  The RFID reader setting information unit 202 stores information set on each RFID reader device (information such as an RFID reader identifier and a radio wave channel).

  The position information management unit 203 stores position information where each RFID reader device is installed.

  Specifically, the position information management unit 203 acquires information indicating the current positions of the stationary RFID reader apparatuses 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader apparatus 121, and based on the current positions, the stationary RFID reader apparatuses The distance between the devices 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader device 121 is measured.

Based on the current position and the distance, the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 exists within a range where the movable RFID reader device 121 generates radio wave interference with each of the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118. In addition, the radio wave interference avoiding unit 204, when it is determined that the radio wave interference occurs, the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118, and the movable type The frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the reader 121 is compared to determine whether or not the frequency band causes radio wave interference.

  Further, the radio wave interference avoiding unit 204 adjusts the radio wave channel, the radio wave output intensity, and the like so that radio wave interference does not occur based on the position information of each RFID reader device.

  Next, the configuration and functions of the handy RFID reader device 121 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the handy type RFID reader device 121.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the handheld RFID reader device 121 includes a control unit 301 that controls the handy RFID reader device, an antenna unit 302 that transmits and receives radio waves, and an output radio wave adjustment that controls a channel of radio waves to be output. A unit 303, a position information acquisition unit 304 for acquiring position information, and a reading start trigger 305 for executing reading by the RFID reader.

  In response to a request from the control terminal 101, the control unit 301 instructs radio wave transmission to the antenna unit 302. Also, it instructs the output radio wave adjustment unit 303 to adjust the radio wave output. Also, the current location is acquired from the position information acquisition unit 304.

  The antenna unit 302 transmits a radio wave and receives a response wave in response to a request from the control unit 301.

The output radio wave adjustment unit 303 changes the channel of radio waves output from the antenna unit 302, radio wave intensity, and the like in response to a request from the control unit 301.
The position information acquisition unit 304 acquires a location (position information) where the handy type RFID reader device 121 currently exists using GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like.

  The reading start trigger 305 is kicked when reading the RFID tag by the handy type RFID reader device. When this trigger is executed, the handy type RFID reader device emits a radio wave and starts reading the RFID tag.

  Next, the configuration and function of the stationary RFID reader apparatuses 111 to 118 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Since the stationary RFID reader apparatuses 111 to 118 have the same configuration and function, the configuration and function of the stationary RFID reader apparatus 111 will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the stationary RFID reader device 111.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the stationary RFID reader device 111 includes a control unit 401 that controls the RFID reader, an antenna unit 402 that transmits and receives radio waves, and an output radio wave adjustment unit 403 that controls a channel of radio waves to be output. Composed.

  Here, the channel indicates a frequency band (Hz) of radio waves transmitted and received by the stationary RFID reader apparatus 111. The frequency band may be one frequency or a frequency within a predetermined range.

  Each stationary RFID reader apparatus 111 to 118 is assigned a predetermined channel as an initial state.

  The allocation of the predetermined channel will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a table showing channels assigned to the stationary RFID reader apparatuses 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader apparatus 121.

  As shown in FIG. 6, channel 1 is assigned to the stationary RFID reader device 111, and 4 is assigned to the stationary RFID reader device 112. In each stationary RFID reader device 111 to 118 and the handy RFID reader device 121, a non-overlapping channel is assigned.

  The control unit 401 instructs the antenna unit 402 to transmit and receive radio waves in response to a request from the control terminal 101. It also instructs the output radio wave adjustment unit 403 to adjust radio wave output.

  In response to a request from the control unit 401, the antenna unit 402 transmits radio waves and receives response waves.

  The output radio wave adjustment unit 403 changes the radio wave channel and radio wave intensity output from the antenna unit 402 in response to a request from the control unit 401.

  Next, operations of the control terminal 101, the handy RFID reader device 121, and the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operations of the control terminal 101, the handy RFID reader device 121, and the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 according to the present embodiment.

  This flowchart shows in detail the operation of the pattern in which the operator reads the RFID tag in the vicinity of the stationary RFID reader device 118 using the handy RFID reader device 121.

  When the operator activates the reading start trigger 305 of the handy RFID reader device 121 (S101), the handy RFID reader device 121 acquires the current position information and notifies the control terminal 101 (S102).

  The control terminal 101 stores the notified position information of the handy RFID reader device in the position information management unit 203 (S103).

  The position information management unit 203 acquires position information of the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 (S104).

  The position information management unit 203 calculates the distance between the handy RFID reader device 121 and each of the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118 (S105).

  The radio wave interference avoiding means 204 searches for a stationary RFID reader device that exists within a range where radio wave interference occurs (S106).

  If there is no stationary RFID reader device in the vicinity of the handy RFID reader device 121 (S106: NO), the RFID tag is read using a predetermined channel (S114).

  When there is a stationary RFID reader device in the vicinity of the handy RFID reader device 121 (S106: YES), the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 uses the corresponding stationary RFID reader device from the RFID reader information setting unit 202. (S107).

  Then, the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 searches for a channel that does not interfere with the stationary RFID reader device existing in the vicinity of the handy type RFID reader device 121 (S108).

  When the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 has found a channel that does not cause radio wave interference between the handy type RFID reader device 121 and a stationary RFID reader device existing in the vicinity (S109: YES), the channel interference avoiding unit 204 The channel is set as a channel used by the handy type RFID reader device 121 (S110).

  When a channel that does not interfere with radio waves cannot be found between the handy type RFID reader device 121 and a stationary RFID reader device that is present in the vicinity (S109: NO), the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 uses the handy type RFID reader unit 204. The same channel as that of the stationary RFID reader device located at the most distant location is set in the reader device 121 (S111), and the stationary RFID reader device 121 and the stationary RFID reader device located farthest from the handy RFID reader device are set. The radio wave output of the type RFID reader is weakened (S112).

  The control terminal 101 stores the channel and radio wave output state set in the handheld RFID reader device 121 in the RFID reader setting information unit 202 (S113).

  After adjusting the radio wave output by the handy type RFID reader device, the RFID tag is read (S114), and the obtained result is notified to the control terminal 101 (S115).

  Next, an embodiment in the case where there are a plurality of handy type RFID reader devices will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of the luggage management system S when a plurality of handy-type RFID reader devices are present.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the embodiment where there are a plurality of handheld RFID reader devices, each of the stationary RFID reader devices 511 to 518 and a handy RFID reader device 521 as a plurality of handheld RFID reader devices in the warehouse. And 522, the control terminal 101, and the like.

  When each handy type RFID reader device performs reading, the position information of the handy type RFID reader device is stored in the position information section of the control terminal 501, and the channel used by the handy type RFID reader device is the control terminal 501. Since it is stored in the RFID reader setting information section 202 (see FIG. 9), even when there are a plurality of handheld RFID reader devices, radio wave interference is considered in consideration of position information and channels of other handheld RFID reader devices. Can be prevented.

  As described above, the radio wave interference avoiding unit 204 determines that the handy type RFID reader device 121 exists within a range where radio wave interference occurs with the stationary RFID reader devices 111 to 118. When the channel of the stationary RFID reader device and the channel of the handy RFID reader device 121 are compared, it is determined whether or not the channel generates radio wave interference. Is configured to change the channel of the handy type RFID reader device 121 to another channel.

  Therefore, the channel used by each stationary RFID reader device in the vicinity of the target handy RFID reader device 121 is determined using the position information, and the channel and radio wave output are dynamically changed so that interference does not occur. Communication can be made possible by assigning to.

  Further, the radio wave interference avoiding means 204 is arranged such that when there is no other channel, the channel of the handy type RFID reader device 121 is separated from each stationary RFID reader device and the handy type RFID reader device 121. The same channel as the channel of the stationary RFID reader device existing in the mobile phone, and the output of the radio wave transmitted / received by the handy RFID reader device 121 and the output of the radio wave transmitted / received by the handy RFID reader device 121 are weakened.

  Therefore, the channel used by the transmitter that exists in the vicinity of the target transmitter is determined using the position information, and even if there is no vacant channel, the channel and radio Communication can be enabled by dynamically assigning outputs.

101, 501 Control terminal 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518 Stationary RFID reader device 121, 521, 522 Handy RFID reader Device S Location information provision system

Claims (4)

An RFID reader device that transmits and receives radio waves belonging to a predetermined frequency band and reads data stored in an RFID tag, and a plurality of stationary RFID reader devices provided at two or more locations in a facility, and the RFID reader In a wireless communication management device that acquires data read by a movable RFID reader device that is a device that is freely movable,
Position information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating the current position of each stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device;
Distance information acquisition means for measuring the distance between each stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device based on the current position;
Radio interference range search means for determining whether or not the movable RFID reader device is within a range where radio interference occurs with each stationary RFID reader device based on the current position and the distance When,
When it is determined that the radio wave interference occurs, the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by each stationary RFID reader device is compared with the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by the movable RFID reader device. Radio wave interference frequency determining means for determining whether or not the frequency band in which interference occurs,
When the frequency band in which the radio wave interference occurs, radio wave interference avoiding means for changing the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device to another frequency band,
A wireless communication management device comprising: The wireless communication management device according to claim 1,
The radio wave interference avoiding means determines the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by the movable RFID reader device when each of the other frequency bands does not exist, by using the stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device. The frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by the stationary RFID reader apparatus present at the farthest distance is set to the same frequency band as the radio wave transmitted / received by the movable RFID reader apparatus and the movable RFID reader apparatus transmits / receives. A radio communication management apparatus characterized by weakening the output of the radio wave.   A wireless communication management program for causing a computer to function as the wireless communication management device according to claim 1. An RFID reader device that transmits and receives radio waves belonging to a predetermined frequency band and reads data stored in an RFID tag, and a stationary RFID reader device provided at a predetermined location in a facility, and the RFID reader device. In a wireless communication management method for acquiring data read by a movable RFID reader device that is freely movable in
A position information acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a current position of the stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device;
A distance information acquisition step of measuring a distance between the stationary RFID reader device and the movable RFID reader device based on the current position;
A radio wave interference range searching step for determining whether or not the movable RFID reader device is within a range where radio wave interference occurs with the stationary RFID reader device based on the current position and the distance; ,
When it is determined that the radio wave interference occurs, the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by the stationary RFID reader device is compared with the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted / received by the movable RFID reader device. A radio wave interference frequency determination step for determining whether or not the frequency band is generated,
If the frequency band where the radio wave interference occurs, the radio wave interference avoiding step of changing the frequency band of the radio wave transmitted and received by the movable RFID reader device to another frequency band,
A wireless communication management method comprising:

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