JP2012068748A - Wireless tag reader, short-range wireless communication connection system and short-range wireless communication connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for enabling connection approval information which is necessary for Bluetooth communication to be exchanged by using a wireless tag reading function held as a main function by a wireless tag reader.SOLUTION: A wireless tag reader reads information recorded in a wireless tag provided in a communication terminal of a communication object, and when wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag is predetermined information, causes a connection request via short-range wireless communication based on the wireless tag identification information to the communication terminal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for establishing near field communication with a portable information terminal in a wireless tag reader.

  When using a wireless tag reader with a portable information terminal as a host, it is desirable to perform communication between the portable information terminal and the wireless tag reader by short-range wireless communication. However, in general, there are parts that require the user to input, such as selection of a connected device or input of a personal identification number, in order to perform short-range wireless communication, and this is not convenient for users who are not familiar with the operation.

  As a technique for facilitating the operation necessary for this short-range wireless connection, a system is known in which connection approval information is exchanged between communication devices using Near Filed Communication (NFC) (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  In the above system, the communication device includes a BT communication unit that performs near field communication using Bluetooth and an NFC communication unit that performs near field communication using NFC. The communication device first exchanges connection approval information necessary for BT communication using the NFC communication unit, and then switches the communication means to the BT communication unit.

  However, in the above system, an NFC communication unit is required for exchanging connection approval information for BT communication. However, since the RFID tag reader does not require an NFC communication function as a main function, in order to exchange connection approval information. If an NFC communication unit is provided, an extra cost is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to exchange connection approval information necessary for Bluetooth communication by using a wireless tag reading function which the wireless tag reading apparatus has as a main function. Is.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, this specification includes a wireless tag reading unit that reads information recorded in a wireless tag, a short-range wireless communication unit that performs communication using a short-range wireless communication with a communication terminal that is a communication target, Communication in which the short-range wireless communication unit makes a connection request based on the wireless tag identification information to the communication terminal when the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reading unit is predetermined information And a wireless tag reader including the controller.

  This specification also includes a wireless tag reading unit that reads information recorded in a wireless tag included in a communication terminal that is a communication target, and a short-range wireless communication that performs communication using the short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal that is a communication target. And the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reading unit is predetermined information, the short-range wireless communication unit, the connection request based on the wireless tag identification information in the short-range wireless communication unit A wireless tag reading device comprising: a communication control unit for performing a short-range wireless communication connection process with the short-range wireless communication unit based on a connection request received from the short-range wireless communication unit The short-range radio | wireless communication connection system provided with the said communication terminal provided with.

  Further, this specification reads information recorded in a wireless tag provided in a communication terminal that is a communication target, and when the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag is predetermined information, The present invention relates to a short-range wireless communication connection method for making a connection request by short-range wireless communication based on the wireless tag identification information.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a technique for exchanging connection approval information necessary for Bluetooth communication using a wireless tag reading function that the wireless tag reader has as a main function. Can be provided.

It is an external appearance perspective view of a handy type RFID tag reader. It is a block diagram which shows the logic structure of a handy type | mold radio | wireless tag reader. It is a figure which shows the structure of the function part implement | achieved by the wireless tag reader control program which operate | moves on CPU201. It is an external appearance perspective view of a portable information terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the logical structure of a portable information terminal. This is a configuration of a storage area of the short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 assuming an EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 tag. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in a portable information terminal. 10 is a flowchart of standby processing in the BT module 504. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in a wireless tag reader. It is a figure which shows the example of ID of the radio tag generally affixed on the management object article. It is a figure which shows the example of radio | wireless tag ID which instruct | indicates BT connection with respect to a radio | wireless tag reader. It is a flowchart of the radio | wireless tag reading process after BT connection establishment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As an embodiment of the present invention, the structure and operation of the apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings by taking the case of using a portable handheld wireless tag reader and a portable information terminal.

(Structure of handheld type RFID tag reader)
First, the structure of the handheld wireless tag reader will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a handy type wireless tag reader.

  The handheld wireless tag reader includes a control circuit, a battery, and a Bluetooth communication module (hereinafter referred to as a BT module) inside the housing 101, and the wireless tag communication antenna 102 and the grip 104 are connected to the housing 101. Has been.

  The control circuit is provided with a blue LED that indicates the connection state of the BT module and an orange LED that indicates the reading state of the wireless tag. The casing 101 is provided with windows 103a and 103b for making these LEDs visible from the outside. The grip 104 includes a trigger switch 105 and a power switch 106, and a portable information terminal can be detachably connected to the upper portion of the grip 104.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a logical structure of the handy type wireless tag reader.

  The wireless tag reader includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a read only memory (ROM) 202, a random access memory (RAM) 203, a trigger switch 105, a BT module 205, an RF front end unit 207, and wireless tag communication. An antenna 102 and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 210 are provided.

  The CPU 201, ROM 202, and RAM 203 are used to execute a wireless tag reader control program. Note that the CPU 201 can be replaced by an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) capable of performing equivalent arithmetic processing.

  The trigger switch 105 is used to instruct the CPU 201 to start reading the wireless tag. The BT module 205 (corresponding to the short-range wireless communication unit) is used to receive a command from a portable information terminal that is a communication partner and to transmit a response and RFID tag reading result information to the portable information terminal. The RF front end unit 207 and the wireless tag communication antenna 102 (which correspond to the wireless tag reading unit) are used for transmission and reception of radio waves necessary for communication with the wireless tag.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a functional part realized by the wireless tag reader control program operating on the CPU 201.

  In FIG. 3, a portion surrounded by a dotted line indicates a functional portion realized by a wireless tag reader control program operating on the CPU, ROM, and RAM. The functional portion includes the host communication processing unit 301, the reader state A management unit 302, a peripheral device control unit 303, and a software radio processing unit 304 are configured. The host communication processing unit 301, the reader state management unit 302, the peripheral device control unit 303, and the software radio processing unit 304 correspond to a communication control unit.

  The host communication processing unit 301 receives the command message from the host, determines the processing content to be executed, transmits it to the reader state management unit 302, and accumulates the tag ID read result information read from the wireless tag. Assemble the command execution result as a response message and send it to the host. Here, the “host” refers to a device that transmits a command message and receives a response message to the RFID tag reader. In this embodiment, the portable information terminal is a host.

  The reader state management unit 302 receives processing contents to be executed from the host communication processing unit 301 and manages the operation state of the wireless tag reading device. The operation state includes, for example, a “standby state” and a “wireless tag reading state”. In the “wireless tag reading state”, encoding of a transmission signal necessary for communication with the wireless tag using the software wireless processing unit 304 is performed. And the received signal is decoded.

  The transmission signal encoded by the software radio processing unit 304 is modulated by the RF front end unit 207 and transmitted from the radio tag communication antenna 102. A signal (reception signal) transmitted from the wireless tag is received by the wireless tag communication antenna 102, demodulated by the RF front end unit 207, decoded by the software wireless processing unit 304, and the wireless tag ID is received. Read out. The wireless tag ID is stored in the host communication processing unit 301 as tag ID reading result information.

  The peripheral device control unit 303 monitors the pressed state of the trigger switch 105 and controls the sounding of the buzzer 209. The peripheral device control unit 303 is responsible for managing the connection state of the BT module 205.

(Structure of personal digital assistant)
Next, the structure of the portable information terminal that operates as a host will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the portable information terminal. 401 a is a front side of the portable information terminal, and includes a screen 403 and an operation unit 404 in a housing 402. Reference numeral 401b denotes a back side of the portable information terminal, which includes a short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 on a back cover 405.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a logical structure of the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal includes a Bluetooth communication module (BT module) 504 for communicating with the wireless tag reader. The BT module 504 (corresponding to the connection processing unit) uses the same value as the PIN code held by the short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 as the PIN code. The short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 is not connected to the CPU 501, the ROM 502, and the RAM 503, and is independent.

  FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the storage area of the wireless tag 406 for short-range wireless connection assuming an EPCglobal Class 1 Generation 2 tag. The short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 stores a password permitting a write to the short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 and a wireless tag invalidation command in “Bank 0”, and a wireless tag ID in “Bank 1”. Storing. “Bank 2” stores the manufacturer number and model number of the wireless tag 406 for short-range wireless connection. Further, “Bank 3” stores a PIN code and communication protocol information such as a protocol type such as SSP, a communication speed, a communication format, and presence / absence of handshake.

(Pairing operation between wireless tag reader and portable information terminal)
Next, a pairing operation between the BT module 205 of the wireless tag reader having the above-described configuration and the BT module 504 of the portable information terminal will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the portable information terminal.

  When activated, the portable information terminal 401 sets a PIN code in the BT module 504 (ACT 701), and causes the BT module 504 to start standby processing (ACT 702).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of standby processing in the BT module 504. When starting the standby state, the BT module 504 waits for a device detection request from another BT module (ACT 901).

  Here, in the pairing operation between the BT modules, the BT module 205 of the wireless tag reader operates as a “master” of the master-slave model, and the BT module 504 of the portable information terminal 401 serves as the “slave” of the master-slave model. Operate. That is, the pairing process proceeds in such a manner that the BT module 504 of the portable information terminal 401 as the “slave” responds to the request transmitted by the BT module 205 of the RFID tag reading device as the “master”.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the wireless tag reader.

  When the wireless tag reader is activated, the BT module 205 of the wireless tag reader and the BT module 504 of the portable information terminal have not been paired yet. The wireless tag reader starts connection processing of the BT module when the short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 is read by a user operation. When the trigger switch 105 of the wireless tag reader is pressed (ACT901, Yes), the wireless tag reader uses the software wireless processing unit 304, the RF front-end unit 207, and the wireless tag communication antenna 102, thereby using the wireless tag communication antenna. The ID of the wireless tag in the readable range 102 is read (ACT 902).

  If the ID of the read wireless tag is “ID meaning BT connection command” (ACT 903, Yes), the wireless tag reader reads Bank 3 of the same wireless tag and communicates with the PIN code necessary for BT connection Protocol information is acquired (ACT 904).

  Here, a difference between an ID of a wireless tag attached to a general article to be managed and an ID of a wireless tag (short-range wireless connection wireless tag) including an ID indicating an instruction to the wireless tag reader will be described.

  As the ID of the wireless tag attached to the management target article, for example, an SGTIN (Serialized General Trade Item Number) as shown in FIG. 10 is used. On the other hand, the short tag wireless connection wireless tag 406 uses a code system including an instruction for the wireless tag reader.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless tag ID that instructs the wireless tag reader to make a BT connection.

  This ID indicates that this ID is GID-96, which is a general-purpose ID having a 96-bit length, in the “header part” of the first 8 bits, and the organization that issues this ID in the subsequent “domain part” of 28 bits. Shows the code. The 24-bit “class part” indicates that this ID is an ID indicating a command for the RFID tag reader, and the remaining 36-bit “instance part” indicates that the command content is BT connection. Yes.

  In this ID example, the contents of the command are assigned to the instance part, but as another method, the contents of the command may be assigned to the class part and the PIN code may be assigned to the instance part. Also, here, SGTIN is used for the wireless tag ID for the managed article so that the IDs of the wireless tags distributed throughout the world do not overlap, and the ID of the wireless tag for short-range wireless connection is unique to GID-96. A code to which an instruction is added is used, but a simpler ID may be used as long as the code system can guarantee that IDs do not overlap.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the description of the BT connection process will be continued.

  Subsequent to ACT 904, the wireless tag reader sets the PIN code and communication protocol information acquired previously in the BT module 205 and causes the BT module 205 to start BT connection (ACT 905). Hereinafter, ACT 905 is an internal process of the BT module 205, and ACT 802 is an internal process of the BT module 504.

  When the BT module 205 on the wireless tag reader side transmits a device detection request, the BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side in the standby state receives this device detection request and returns a device detection response (device detection). .

  Subsequently, the BT module 205 on the wireless tag reader side transmits a BT call request to the BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side.

  When receiving the BT call request, the BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side sets the operation timing used by both BT modules. Thereafter, the BT module 205 generates a link key from the PIN code, and transmits a security authentication request to the BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side using the link key as a parameter. The BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side generates a link key from its own PIN code, and when the same link key is obtained, returns a security authentication response (authentication success).

  If the authentication is successful (ACT 906, Yes), the wireless tag reader sets the communication protocol information read from “Bank 3” of the short-range wireless connection wireless tag 406 in the BT module 205, and the portable information terminal side uses the communication protocol. Communication with the BT module 504 is started.

  For example, when SSP is used as a communication protocol, the wireless tag reader transmits an SSP connection request from the BT module 205 (ACT 907).

  When the BT module 504 on the portable information terminal side receives the SSP connection request (ACT 804), a series of BT connection processing is completed, and the wireless tag reader and the portable information terminal can perform application level communication. When the BT connection process is completed, the wireless tag reader turns on the blue LED and displays that the BT connection is completed (ACT 908).

  Then, the state of the reader state management unit 302 of the wireless tag reader is set to “standby state” (ACT 909), and the process proceeds to the wireless tag reading process (ACT910) for article management (ACT910), and the host Waiting for reception of a read command from the portable information terminal (ACT 1201).

(Wireless tag reading operation)
Subsequently, taking a stocktaking operation in a store or a warehouse as an example of an application, the wireless tag reading operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the wireless tag reading process after the BT connection is established.

  When the BT connection is established, the portable information terminal waits for application selection (ACT 703) by the user.

  For example, when an inventory operation is selected by the user, a logical inventory table of products that should be in the store is created (ACT 704).

  Subsequently, a wireless tag reading command is transmitted to the wireless tag reading device (ACT 705).

  In the wireless tag reader, when the host communication processing unit 301 receives a read command transmitted from the portable information terminal (ACT 1202, Yes), the reader state management unit 302 sets the reader state to the read state (ACT 1203).

  While the reader state is in the “reading state” (ACT 1201, reading state), the reader state management unit 302 monitors the state of the trigger switch 105 until an end command is received. If the trigger switch 105 is pressed (ACT 1206, Yes), the reader state management unit 302 instructs the software radio processing unit 304 to read the radio tag (ACT 1207), and the software radio processing unit 304 uses the RF front end unit 207. The wireless tag is read, and the read result is sent to the host communication processing unit 301 and transmitted to the portable information terminal as the host (ACT 1208).

  When the end command is received while the reader is in the “reading state” (ACT 1201, reading state) (ACT 1204, Yes), the reader state management unit 302 sets the reader state to the standby state (ACT 1205), and Ends the reading operation and waits for reception of the next reading command.

  In the portable information terminal, after receiving the wireless tag reading result (ACT 706), the logical inventory table and the wireless tag reading result are collated (ACT 707), and the excess or shortage of inventory is displayed as the collation result (ACT 708).

  The portable information terminal repeats the processes of ACT 705 to ACT 708 until the user performs an application termination operation in ACT 709. If the user performs an application termination operation (ACT 709, Yes), the portable information terminal terminates the application.

  The above is the description of the RFID tag reading operation taking the inventory application as an example.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which short-range wireless communication is performed using Bluetooth as the wireless communication method is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, any wireless communication system that can exchange information between the portable information terminal side and the wireless tag reader side as a result may be used. Therefore, it goes without saying that, for example, a wireless LAN or the like can be adopted.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been given in which various processes in the wireless tag reader are realized by the cooperation of the CPU, RAM, and ROM. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. As a result, if the function required for the wireless tag reader can be realized, it is needless to say that a part or all of the functions that the wireless tag reader should have can be realized by processing by the ASIC 210.

  Furthermore, a program for causing the computer constituting the wireless tag reader to execute the above-described operations can be provided as a wireless tag reader control program. In the present embodiment, the case where the program for realizing the function for carrying out the invention is recorded in advance in a storage area provided in the apparatus is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a similar program can be downloaded from the network. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus, or a similar program stored in a computer-readable recording medium may be installed in the apparatus. The recording medium may be in any form as long as it can store a program and can be read by a computer. Specifically, as a recording medium, for example, an internal storage device such as a ROM or a RAM, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card, a computer Examples include a database holding a program, another computer, its database, and a transmission medium on a line. Further, the function obtained by installing or downloading in advance may be realized in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.

  Note that a part or all of the program may be an execution module that is dynamically generated.

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications, various improvements, alternatives and modifications belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention.

101 housing, 102 wireless tag communication antenna, 104 grip, 201 CPU (Central Processing Unit), 202 ROM (Read Only Memory), 203 RAM (Random Access Memory), 105 trigger switch, 205 BT module, 207 RF front end , 102 RFID tag communication antenna, 210 ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), 301 Host communication processing unit, 302 Reader state management unit, 303 Peripheral device control unit, 304 Software radio processing unit, 402 Case, 403 screen, 404 Operation unit, 405 Back cover, 406 Wireless tag for short-range wireless connection, 504 Bluetooth communication module (BT module), 501 CPU, 502 ROM, 503 RAM.

JP 2004-364145 A

Claims (12)

A wireless tag reader that reads information recorded on the wireless tag;
A short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with a communication terminal that is a communication target;
Communication in which the short-range wireless communication unit makes a connection request based on the wireless tag identification information to the communication terminal when the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag by the wireless tag reading unit is predetermined information A control unit;
A wireless tag reader. The wireless tag reader according to claim 1,
The wireless tag identification information includes connection command information for starting connection processing of short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless communication unit and the communication terminal, and a password used for connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. Information and
The short-range wireless communication unit is a wireless tag reading device that uses the password information when performing connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. The wireless tag reader according to claim 1,
The wireless tag holds wireless tag identification information including connection command information indicating a short-range wireless connection start command in a first storage area, and a second storage area different from the first storage area, Holding secret information and communication protocol information used for the connection processing of the short-range wireless communication;
The short-range wireless communication unit is a wireless tag reader that uses the personal identification information and the communication protocol information when performing connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. The wireless tag reader according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The near field communication unit is a wireless tag reader that performs near field communication with the communication terminal using Bluetooth. A wireless tag reading unit that reads information recorded in a wireless tag provided in a communication terminal that is a communication target, a short-range wireless communication unit that performs communication by short-range wireless communication with a communication terminal that is a communication target, and the wireless tag reading A communication control unit that causes the short-range wireless communication unit to make a connection request based on the wireless tag identification information when the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag by the unit is predetermined information; A wireless tag reader comprising:
Based on a connection request received from the short-range wireless communication unit, the communication terminal including a connection processing unit that performs connection processing of short-range wireless communication with the short-range wireless communication unit;
A short-range wireless communication connection system. The short-range wireless communication connection system according to claim 5,
The wireless tag identification information includes connection command information for starting connection processing of short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless communication unit and the communication terminal, and a password used for connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. Information and
The short-range wireless communication connection system uses the personal identification information when the short-range wireless communication unit performs connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. The short-range wireless communication connection system according to claim 5,
The wireless tag holds wireless tag identification information including connection command information indicating a short-range wireless connection start command in a first storage area, and a second storage area different from the first storage area, Holding secret information and communication protocol information used for the connection processing of the short-range wireless communication;
The short-range wireless communication unit is a short-range wireless communication connection system that uses the personal identification information and the communication protocol information when performing connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. A short-range wireless communication connection system according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The short-range wireless communication unit is a short-range wireless communication connection system that performs short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal using Bluetooth. Read the information recorded on the wireless tag of the communication terminal that is the communication target,
A short-range wireless communication connection method for making a connection request by short-range wireless communication based on the wireless tag identification information to the communication terminal when the wireless tag identification information read from the wireless tag is predetermined information. The short-range wireless communication connection method according to claim 9,
The wireless tag identification information includes connection command information for starting connection processing of short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless communication unit and the communication terminal, and a password used for connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. Information and
A short-range wireless communication connection method using the personal identification information when performing the short-range wireless communication connection process. The short-range wireless communication connection method according to claim 9,
The wireless tag holds wireless tag identification information including connection command information indicating a short-range wireless connection start command in a first storage area, and a second storage area different from the first storage area, Holding secret information and communication protocol information used for the connection processing of the short-range wireless communication;
A short-range wireless communication connection method that uses the personal identification information and the communication protocol information when performing connection processing of the short-range wireless communication. A short-range wireless communication connection method according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
A short-range wireless communication connection method for performing short-range wireless communication with the communication terminal using Bluetooth.

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