JP5415834B2 - Information reading apparatus, information reading method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information reading device and a program for reading information by short-range communication from a medium or a device that stores information in advance.

  As an example of information reading technology, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is known in which personal information, product information, and the like are stored in advance in a memory in an IC chip, and the information is read by short-range wireless communication (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). RFID is currently widely used for electronic money and automatic ticket gates. In the RFID, for example, the IC chip is embedded (attached) in a medium (member) such as a card or a tag, or is built in a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone. When a medium (hereinafter referred to as an RFID medium) or a device (hereinafter referred to as an RFID device) on which the IC chip is mounted is held over (not contacted with) or touched (contacted) with an information reading device, information in the memory becomes information. It is read by the reader.

  By the way, although the RFID is rapidly spreading at present, a plurality of types of RFID are currently used. For example, RFID communication protocols (communication specifications / communication methods) differ for each company that provides / operates services using RFID. For this reason, some information readers are equipped with a plurality of types of RFID communication protocols. Thereby, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of RFIDs with a single information reading device, thereby ensuring the convenience of the user.

JP 2006-154923 A JP 2006-222619 A

  Although the above-described information reading apparatus can handle a plurality of types of RFID, it cannot apply a plurality of types of communication protocols at the same time. That is, the information reading apparatus described above supports a plurality of types of RFID by switching processing based on each communication protocol according to a preset setting. The “process based on the communication protocol” refers to a process in which the information reading device detects an RFID medium or an RFID device and reads information using a predetermined communication protocol. be called. The above-mentioned “switching processing based on each communication protocol in accordance with preset settings” is called multi-search.

  However, in the information reading apparatus, as a preset setting, the number of times each search is executed (the number of searches) is always constant. Therefore, each search is always performed equally regardless of the frequency of use of each RFID. However, at present, there are many cases in which the usage frequency of various RFIDs varies depending on the environment. That is, the information reading apparatus has a problem in that the time required for each search is wasted because the frequency of use of each RFID is not considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an information reader and information capable of dynamically optimizing the time required for each search when corresponding to a plurality of types of RFIDs having different communication protocols. An object is to provide a reading method and a program.

  In order to achieve such an object, the information reading apparatus of the present invention can read information by detecting an information storage body that stores information in advance and performing a search for reading the information. An information reading apparatus capable of performing a plurality of types of search corresponding to a plurality of types of information storage bodies having different protocols, a wireless communication means for executing one search among the plurality of types of searches, and a plurality of types For each type of search, a setting storage unit that stores setting information in which a search count indicating the number of times the search is executed, and a search switching unit that switches a search executed by the wireless communication unit based on the setting information And setting change means for automatically changing the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the result of the search executed by the wireless communication means.

  The information reading method of the present invention is capable of reading information by detecting an information storage body storing information in advance and performing a search to read the information, and storing a plurality of types of information with different communication protocols. An information reading method performed by an information reading apparatus capable of performing a plurality of types of searches corresponding to each body, wherein the number of searches indicating the number of times the search is executed is defined for each of the plurality of types of searches. A setting information saving step for saving information, a setting changing step for automatically changing the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the result of the executed search, and a search executed based on the setting information And a search switching step for switching between.

  The program of the present invention is capable of reading information by detecting an information storage body that stores information in advance and performing a search to read the information, for each of a plurality of types of information storage bodies having different communication protocols. A program to be executed by a computer capable of performing multiple types of searches corresponding to the above, and for each of the multiple types of searches, a setting for storing setting information in which the number of searches indicating the number of times the search is executed is stored Information storage processing, setting change processing that automatically changes the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the results of the executed search, and search switching processing that switches the search to be executed based on the setting information And making the computer execute.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of types of RFIDs having different communication protocols are supported, the time required for each search can be dynamically optimized.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the information reading apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of the information reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the information reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the information reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information in the information reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting information in the information reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the configuration of an information reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The information reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is an information processing apparatus that performs near field communication with an RFID medium or an RFID apparatus and reads personal information or the like. In the present embodiment, a description will be given below using an example of performing wireless communication with an RFID tag (an example of an RFID medium). The RFID medium and the RFID device are examples of the information storage body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the RFID2 tag includes a memory 21, a wireless communication circuit 22, and an antenna 23. The memory 21 stores, for example, personal information related to users, product information related to products, and the like. The wireless communication circuit 22 is the above-described IC chip, and generates a current and operates when it is brought close to the information reading device 1 that oscillates radio waves using a predetermined communication protocol. Then, the wireless communication circuit 22 reads the information in the memory 21 and transmits it to the information reading device 1 of the present embodiment via the antenna 23.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information reading apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a plurality of wireless communication circuits 13, an antenna 14, and the like. Have

  The CPU 10 reads a control program stored in the ROM 12 and controls each unit (for example, the RAM 11 and the wireless communication circuit 13) connected via the bus 15 according to the control program to realize various functions. The CPU 10 also has a timer function (a function for measuring the passage of a predetermined time) and a clock function (a function for measuring the year, month, day, day of the week, hour, minute, second, etc., as in a general clock). Have.

  The ROM 12 stores the control program and fixed data in advance. As an example of the control program and the fixed data, in addition to a function for realizing a general function of the information reading apparatus (information reading in RFID), the characteristic functions of the present embodiment shown in FIGS. Including those for realization.

  The RAM 11 stores data temporarily necessary for the CPU 10 to execute the control program. As an example of this data, in addition to a function for realizing a general function of an information reading device (information reading in RFID), a characteristic function of this embodiment shown in FIGS. Also included. The RAM 11 may store personal information, product information, and the like read from the RFID tag 2.

  The wireless communication circuit 13 performs processing necessary for performing short-distance wireless communication with the RFID tag 2 using a predetermined communication protocol. For example, in response to an instruction from the CPU 10, the wireless communication circuit 13 outputs a transmission signal having a predetermined frequency to the antenna 14 and outputs a reception signal input from the antenna 14 to the CPU 10. Further, the wireless communication circuit 13 may perform processing such as signal modulation / demodulation and amplification. In this embodiment, as an example, four wireless communication circuits A, B, C, and D that perform wireless communication using different communication protocols are provided. For example, the wireless communication circuit 13A is a circuit that performs wireless communication using the communication protocol A. However, two or more wireless communication circuits 13A to 13D are not used at the same time, and only those designated by the CPU 10 are used. Instead of providing four wireless communication circuits 13 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, one wireless communication circuit 13 may be configured to enable wireless communication using a plurality of different communication protocols.

  The antenna 14 transmits the transmission signal from the wireless communication circuit 13 to the outside of the information reading apparatus 1 as a radio wave signal. Further, the antenna 14 outputs a reception signal received from the RFID tag 2 that has reacted to the radio signal to the wireless communication circuit 13.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the information reading apparatus 1 has a display (an example of a display unit) for displaying various information, and an operator (user) of the information reading apparatus 1 performs various settings. Operation keys and buttons (an example of operation means) may be included. Further, the information reading apparatus 1 may include an interface circuit (an example of an external connection unit) for connecting to other apparatuses, devices, systems, etc. regardless of wired or wireless. Further, the information reading apparatus 1 may include not only an information reading function but also an information writing function.

  Next, functions of the information reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment (functions realized by the hardware shown in FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the information reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the information reading apparatus 1 includes a determination unit 101, a search switching unit 102, a count unit 103, a setting change unit 104, a setting storage unit 105, and a wireless communication unit 106.

  The wireless communication means 106 transmits a transmission signal for detecting the RFID tag 2 by any one of communication protocols A to D respectively corresponding to a plurality of RFIDs (four types of A, B, C, and D in this embodiment). It transmits to the outside as a radio wave signal, or receives a reception signal from the RFID tag 2. The wireless communication means 106 may be capable of supporting the communication protocols A to D by one means as shown in FIG. 2, or individually corresponding to the communication protocols A to D, although not shown in FIG. Four means may be used. The wireless communication means 106 is realized by a plurality of wireless communication circuits 13A to 13D shown in FIG.

  The setting storage unit 105 stores setting information indicating the number of times each search is executed (referred to as the number of searches). The search is a process based on a predetermined communication protocol (a process for detecting the RFID tag 2 using a predetermined communication protocol and reading information), which is performed by the wireless communication unit 106. In this embodiment, since four communication protocols (RFID) A to D are taken as an example, there are four types of searches A to D. Therefore, the content of the setting information is the number of searches for each search A to D. In the present embodiment, the length of time for which each search A to D is executed (referred to as search time) and the order in which each search A to D is executed (referred to as search order) are set as fixed settings. Suppose that

  Here, an example of the setting information is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, for example, the description “RFID A” means “search A” (the same applies to the remaining B, C, and D). The contents will be described using the setting information in the initial state shown in FIG. 6 as an example. The initial state setting information is applied, for example, when the information reading apparatus 1 is used for the first time. As shown in FIG. 6, the setting information in the initial state has the same length for each search time of searches A to D, and the search order is such that the order of A → B → C → D is repeated four times. Yes. That is, each search time and search order are constant. The search order of the setting information (initial state, state 1 and state 2) shown in FIG. 6 is referred to as “cool” in the order of A → B → C → D as a basic order. Up to 4 courses are performed continuously. After the 4th course, return to the 1st course. Also, the first to fourth courses are called “turns”. The first turn made is called the first turn, and the rest are called the second turn, the third turn, and so on.

  Conventionally, for example, since the setting information in the initial state shown in FIG. 6 has not been changed, there has been a problem that the usage frequency of each RFID (in other words, the result of each search) is not considered. In order to solve such problems, the present embodiment aims to optimize each search by automatically changing (updating) the setting information according to the result of each search by the information reading apparatus 1. It is said. As a result of this search (search result), in this embodiment, the number of successful searches (the number of successful searches) will be described as an example. Examples of the number of successful searches include the number of successful tag detections (number of successful detections) and the number of successful readings of information such as tags (successful read times). Note that the number of successful searches used as a search result may be only the number of successful detections or only the number of successful readings. Alternatively, both the number of successful detections and the number of successful readings may be used.

  In FIG. 6, the state 1 and the state 2 indicate a state where the search result is reflected in the setting information in the initial state and the content (number of searches) is changed. Note that the process of changing the contents of the setting information is performed by the setting changing unit 104 described later.

  In addition to the setting information, the setting storage unit 105 stores change condition information indicating a condition (timing) for changing the setting information. For example, the change condition information is set (designated) in advance by a user operation before using the information reading apparatus 1. The change condition information includes, for example, the number of successful searches (for example, the number of successful detections and the number of successful readings), time (date and time), cool and turn (for example, after the end of a predetermined number of cools or the number of predetermined turns After finishing). For example, when the change condition information is set to “detection success count = 100”, when the detection success count reaches 100, it is changed to setting information reflecting the detection success count temporarily stored so far. become. Further, for example, when the change condition is set to “time = 22: 30”, when the time reaches 22:30 every day, the setting information is changed to reflect the number of successful detections temporarily stored so far. It will be. Also, for example, when the change condition is set to “4 cools (= 1 turn)”, when the 4 cools (1 turn) is completed, the setting information reflecting the number of successful detections temporarily stored so far Will be changed.

  The setting storage unit 105 is realized by at least one of the RAM 11 and the ROM 12 shown in FIG.

  Next, the determination unit 101, search switching unit 102, count unit 103, and setting change unit 104 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Each of these means is realized by the CPU 10 and the RAM 11 shown in FIG.

  For example, the determination unit 101 performs detection success determination, reading success determination, cool / turn recognition determination, and change condition determination. Here, each determination will be described.

  The detection success determination is a process of determining whether the RFID tag 2 has been successfully detected based on the presence / absence of a reception signal received from the RFID tag 2. The determination unit 101 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been successfully detected when a reception signal is input from the wireless communication unit 106. When the determination unit 101 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been successfully detected, the determination unit 101 performs a reading success determination described later, or the counting unit 103 described later performs a count.

  The successful reading determination is a process of determining whether information (personal information, product information, etc.) of the RFID tag 2 has been successfully read based on the content of the received signal received from the RFID tag 2. This successful reading determination is performed, for example, when the result of the successful detection determination is successful. When the reception signal input from the wireless communication unit 106 includes information (personal information, product information, etc.) stored in the memory 21 of the RFID tag 2, the determination unit 101 Judge that reading was successful. When the determination unit 101 determines that the information of the RFID tag 2 has been successfully read, the counting unit 103 described later performs counting. The read information is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but is output to the above-described display means, external connection means, storage means realized by the RAM 11, or the like.

  The cool / turn recognition determination recognizes whether or not a predetermined cool and a predetermined turn have been completed based on the currently applied setting information when search switching is performed by the search switching means 102 described later. Memorize the finished cool and the finished turn. As a result, the determination unit 101 can recognize how many turns and what cool the current turn. The object to be recognized may be either cool or turn.

  The change condition determination is a process for determining whether a preset change condition is satisfied. As described above, the change condition is stored in the setting storage unit 105 as change condition information.

  For example, a case where the change condition is the number of successful detections will be described. When the determination unit 101 determines that the counting by the counting unit 103 described later has been completed, the number of successful detections stored as a change condition in the setting storage unit 105 and the current detection counted by the counting unit 103 described later. Determine if the number of successes matches.

  For example, a case where the change condition is time will be described. When the determination unit 101 determines that the counting by the counting unit 103 to be described later has ended, the time (date and time) stored as the change condition in the setting storage unit 105 and the current time measured by itself are Determine whether they match.

  For example, a case where the change condition is cool and turn will be described. When the determination unit 101 determines that the counting by the counting unit 103 described later has been completed, the cool and turn recognized in the cool / turn recognition determination and the cool stored in the setting storage unit 105 as a change condition And determine if the turn matches.

  The determination unit 101 determines that the change condition is satisfied when the result of the determination is the same. Thereafter, setting information is changed by setting changing means 104 described later. On the other hand, the determination unit 101 determines that the change condition is not satisfied when the result of the determination is inconsistent. Thereafter, search switching is performed by search switching means 102 described later.

  When the search currently performed by the wireless communication unit 106 is performed for the search time specified in the setting information, the search switching unit 102 performs the next search from the currently executing search according to the search order specified in the setting information. Switch to the specified search. For example, when the initial state setting information shown in FIG. 6 is applied and the wireless communication means 106 is executing the search A, the search switching means 102 searches the search B specified next to the search A. The wireless communication means 106 is instructed to switch to This instruction is performed by sending a control signal or the like. Upon receiving this instruction, the wireless communication means 106 stops search A and starts search B. Such a “process for switching each search according to the setting information” is called a multi-search.

  The counting means 103 counts the number of successful detections or the number of successful readings after the determination of successful detection or successful reading by the determining means 101, and temporarily stores the counted result (count result). This count result is used for setting information change by the setting change means 104 described later and for the change condition determination by the determination means 101.

  The setting changing unit 104 reflects the count result (the number of successful detections or the number of successful readings) of the counting unit 103 in the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 105 and changes the contents of the setting information. The setting change unit 104 determines that the preset change condition is satisfied in the change condition determination by the determination unit 101 and then stores the count result temporarily stored by the count unit 103 in the setting storage unit 105. Reflect in saved setting information. In the present embodiment, the changed setting information is applied at the timing when the setting information change by the setting changing unit 104 is completed.

  Here, an example of setting information change by the setting change unit 104 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where the count result reflected in the setting information is the number of successful detections will be described. For example, it is assumed that the setting change unit 104 is preset so that one search number is added to the currently specified number of searches for one detection success number. Further, it is assumed that the setting storage unit 105 stores the change condition information in advance as content after the end of the fourth cool (= after the end of one turn).

  First, the setting information in the initial state shown in FIG. 6 is applied, and the information reading apparatus 1 starts searching for the RFID tag 2. For example, it is assumed that the first to fourth cools are performed as the first turn according to the setting information of the initial state shown in FIG. As a result, search A, C, and D were successfully detected in all cools (detection success count 4 times), while search B was detected successfully in the first and third cools (detection success count 2 times). To do. The setting changing means 104 reflects the search result in the initial state setting information after the fourth cool, and changes it to the state 1 setting information. As shown in FIG. 6, the setting information in state 1 is set so that search B is not executed in the second and fourth cools. “-” In the figure means that the search is not executed. In the second and fourth cools in the state 1, the search C is executed immediately after the search A. That is, in the setting information in state 1, the number of searches for searches A, C, and D with the highest number of successful detections in the first turn is four, and the number of searches for search B with the lowest number of successful detections is two. Yes. The second turn is performed according to the setting information of state 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the second turn to which the setting information in the state 1 is applied, it is possible to save time for searching for a tag corresponding to the search B that is less frequently used.

  Thereafter, for example, the setting information in the state 1 shown in FIG. 6 is applied, and the information reading device 1 starts searching for the RFID tag 2. For example, it is assumed that the first to fourth cools are performed as the second turn according to the setting information of the state 1 shown in FIG. As a result, search A succeeded in detection in the first to third cools (detection success count 3 times), search B succeeded in detection only in the first cool (detection success count 1 time), and search C It is assumed that the detection succeeds in cool (the number of successful detections is 4 times), and the search D is successful in detection in the first and second cools (the number of successful detections is 2 times). The setting change unit 104 reflects the search result in the setting information in the state 1 after the fourth cool, and changes the setting information to the setting information in the state 2. As shown in FIG. 6, in the setting information in state 2, all searches are executed in the first cool, but in the subsequent second to fourth cools, the search remains in the order of the number of successful detections. It has become. That is, in the setting information in the state 2, the number of searches of the search C having the highest number of successful detections in the second turn is four times, the search A having the highest number of successful detections is next three times, and the number of successful detections is next. Many searches D are performed twice, and finally, search B having the smallest number of successful detections is performed once. The third turn is performed according to the setting information of state 2 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the third turn to which the setting information of the state 2 is applied, it becomes possible to preferentially search for a tag corresponding to the search C having a high usage frequency, and a tag corresponding to the search B having a low usage frequency. Save time wasted searching.

  As described above, the setting changing unit 104 can dynamically change the number of searches specified in the setting information in accordance with a count result such as the number of successful detections. Therefore, the search can be optimized according to the usage frequency of the plurality of RFIDs.

  Next, an operation example of the information reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention (an embodiment of the information reading method of the present invention) will be described. Since there are a plurality of operation examples, they will be described in order with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that each of the following operation examples is realized by each unit of FIG. 2 described above. For convenience of explanation, the subject of the operation of each diagram will be described as “information reading apparatus 1”. In addition, each operation example is not only executed in time series as shown in each figure, but is also configured to be executed in parallel or individually as required by the processing capability of the device that executes the process. It is also possible to do.

[Operation example 1]
Operation example 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The operation example 1 is an operation when the number of successful detections is counted. In the operation example 1, it is assumed that the initial setting information shown in FIG. 5 is applied. Further, it is assumed that the change condition information is stored in advance with the contents after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn).

  First, the information reading device 1 starts a search according to the search order defined in the initial setting information (step S1). Here, the information reading apparatus 1 starts the search A according to the setting information in the initial state shown in FIG.

  Next, the information reading apparatus 1 determines whether or not the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search A has been detected (step S2). This is the detection success judgment described above. Here, it is assumed that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search A has been detected.

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been detected (step S2 / YES), counts “1” as the number of successful detections of search A, and temporarily stores it (step S3).

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines whether a preset change condition is satisfied (step S4). This is the change condition determination.

  Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the change condition is not yet satisfied (step S4 / NO) and performs search switching (step S6). Here, the information reading device 1 switches from search A to search B based on the search order defined in the setting information in the initial state, and returns to step S1.

  The information reading device 1 starts the search B (step S1), and determines whether or not the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search B has been detected (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search B cannot be detected.

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 could not be detected (step S2 / NO), skips step S3, and makes a change condition determination (step S4).

  Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the preset change condition is not yet satisfied (step S4 / NO), and the search switching is performed. (Step S6). Here, the information reading apparatus 1 switches from search B to search C based on the search order defined in the setting information in the initial state, and returns to step S1.

  The information reading device 1 starts the search C (step S1), and determines whether or not the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search C has been detected (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search C can be detected.

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been detected (step S2 / YES), counts “1” as the number of successful detections of the search C, and temporarily stores it (step S3).

  The information reading apparatus 1 makes a change condition determination (step S4). Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the preset change condition is not yet satisfied (step S4 / NO), and the search switching is performed. (Step S6). Here, the information reading apparatus 1 switches from the search C to the search D based on the search order defined in the setting information in the initial state, and returns to step S1.

  The information reading device 1 starts the search D (step S1), and determines whether or not the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search D has been detected (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search D has been detected.

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been detected (step S2 / YES), counts “1” as the number of successful detections of the search D, and temporarily stores it (step S3).

  The information reading apparatus 1 makes a change condition determination (step S4). Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the change condition is satisfied by the end of the search D (step S4 / YES), and changes the setting information (Step S5).

  Here, the change of the setting information in step S5 will be described. The information reading device 1 reflects the number of successful detections of each temporarily stored search in the initial setting information. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the number of searches for the number of successful detections is set in advance so as to be defined in the setting information. The number of successful detections of each temporarily stored search is one for searches A, C, and D, and zero for search B. Therefore, the information reading apparatus 1 changes the search counts for the searches A, C, and D to be one each and the search count for the search B is decreased by one in the setting information in the initial state. The setting information at this time is in state 1 shown in FIG. The setting information in the state 1 is different from the setting information in the initial state in that the search B is not performed.

  After the setting information in the initial state is changed, a search is performed based on the setting information in state 1. Therefore, the information reading apparatus 1 performs search switching based on the setting information in the state 1 (step S6). Here, the information reading apparatus 1 switches from the search D to the search A based on the search order defined in the setting information of the state 1, and returns to step S1.

  The information reading apparatus 1 starts the search A again (step S1), and determines whether or not the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search A has been detected (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search A has been detected.

  The information reading apparatus 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been detected (step S2 / YES), counts “1” as the number of successful detections of search A, and temporarily stores it (step S3).

  The information reading apparatus 1 makes a change condition determination (step S4). Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the preset change condition is not yet satisfied (step S4 / NO), and the search switching is performed. (Step S6). Here, the information reading apparatus 1 switches from the search A to the search C based on the search order defined in the setting information of the state 1, and returns to step S1.

  It is assumed that the search C is successfully detected and counted in the search C as well as the search A (steps S1 to S3). The information reading apparatus 1 makes a change condition determination (step S4), and since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of one turn), it is determined that the change condition is not yet satisfied (step S4). / NO), search switching is performed (step S6). Here, the information reading device 1 switches from the search C to the search D based on the search order defined in the setting information of the state 1, and returns to step S1.

  In the search D, it is assumed that the detection is not successful and is not counted (S1 to S2 / NO). The information reading apparatus 1 makes a change condition determination (step S4). Since the change condition information is after the end of the first cool (= after the end of the first turn), the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the change condition is satisfied by the end of the search D. It is determined that the condition is satisfied (step S4 / YES), and the setting information is changed (step S5).

  Here, the change of the setting information in step S5 will be described. The information reading apparatus 1 reflects the number of successful detections of each search temporarily stored in the setting information of the state 1. Also here, it is assumed that the number of searches corresponding to the number of successful detections is defined in the setting information. The number of successful detections of each temporarily stored search is 1 for searches A and C, and 0 for search D. Therefore, the information reading apparatus 1 changes the setting so that the number of searches for the searches A and C is set to one and the number of searches for the search D is reduced by one in the initial setting information. The setting information at this time is in state 2 shown in FIG. The setting information in state 2 is different from the setting information in state 1 in that search D is not performed.

  After the setting information in state 1 is changed, a search is performed based on the setting information in state 2. Therefore, the information reading apparatus 1 performs search switching based on the setting information in the state 2 (step S6). Here, the information reading device 1 switches from the search D to the search A based on the search order defined in the setting information of the state 2, and returns to step S1. Thereafter, the series of operations described above is repeated.

  Thus, according to the operation example 1, the number of searches specified in the setting information can be dynamically changed based on the number of successful detections.

  In the description of the first operation example, for example, after the setting information in the state 2 is applied, the search B and D are not executed, so that the RFID tag 2 corresponding to the search B and D cannot be detected. In order to solve such a problem, for example, the initial state setting information (setting information for performing all searches) shown in FIG. 5 may be applied after a predetermined number of turns (cool). preferable. The timing for applying (inserting) the setting information in the initial state may be set freely by the user.

[Operation example 2]
Operation example 1 shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The operation example 2 is an operation when the number of successful readings is counted. The operation example 2 has the same basic operation as the operation example 1 described above, and is an operation in which a reading success determination is added after the detection success determination. Hereinafter, description of operations common to the above-described operation example 1 will be omitted, and differences from the operation example 1 will be described.

  In FIG. 4, the search start (step S11) to the detection success judgment (step S12) are the same as steps S1 and S2 in FIG. Further, when it is determined that the RFID tag 2 could not be detected in the detection success determination (step S12 / NO), the process proceeds to the change condition determination (step S15) as in the operation example 1.

  If the information reading device 1 determines that the RFID tag 2 has been detected in the detection success determination in step S12 (step S12 / YES), whether or not the information (personal information and product information) of the RFID tag 2 has been successfully read. Is determined (step S13). This is the above-described successful reading determination. If the information cannot be read (step S13 / NO), the process proceeds to step S15.

  When the information reading device 1 has read the information (step S13 / YES), the information reading device 1 counts “1” as the number of successful readings of the search being executed and temporarily stores it (step S14).

  Step S15 is the same as step S4 in FIG.

  When the information reading apparatus 1 determines that the change condition is satisfied (step S15 / YES), the information reading apparatus 1 changes the setting information (step S16). Here, as an example, it is assumed that the number of searches corresponding to the number of successful readings is set in advance so as to be defined in the setting information. The information reading device 1 reflects the number of successful reading times of each temporarily stored search in the currently applied setting information, and changes the number of searches.

  Thereafter, a search is performed based on the changed setting information. Therefore, the information reading apparatus 1 performs search switching based on the changed setting information (step S17). Step S17 is the same as step S6 of FIG. Thereafter, the series of operations described above is repeated.

  Thus, according to the operation example 2, the number of searches specified in the setting information can be dynamically changed based on the number of successful readings.

  Also in the second operation example, after the setting information is changed, for example, the setting information in the initial state (setting information in which all searches are executed) shown in FIG. 5 is applied after the predetermined number of turns (cool) ends. It is preferable to do so. The timing for applying (inserting) the setting information in the initial state may be set freely by the user.

  In the second operation example, only the number of successful readings is counted (step S14). However, in the case of unsuccessful reading (NO in step S13), the number of successful detections is counted. It may be. In the setting information change (step S16), at least one of the number of successful readings and the number of successful detections may be reflected in the setting information.

  In the second operation example, both the detection success determination (step S12) and the reading success determination (step S13) are performed, but only the reading success determination (step S13) may be performed. In that case, in FIG. 4, the detection success determination (step S12) is deleted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the time required for each search can be dynamically optimized when a plurality of types of RFIDs having different communication protocols are supported.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, it is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary. Hereinafter, each modification according to the present embodiment will be described.

[Modification 1]
In the above embodiment, the number of successful searches (for example, the number of successful detections and the number of successful readings) is used as the search result. However, the number of failed searches (for example, the number of failed detections and the number of failed readings) may be used. .

  The number of detection failures is an error when the search time has timed out without being able to detect itself. Therefore, the determination unit 101 determines that the detection has failed when the search time has passed without receiving the reception signal from the wireless communication unit 106 (detection failure determination).

  The number of reading failures is an error when the information in the RFID tag 2 cannot be read although it could be detected. Therefore, the determination unit 101 determines that reading has failed when the reception signal is input from the wireless communication unit 106 but information cannot be read from the reception signal (reading failure determination).

  For example, when only the detection failure determination is performed by the determination unit 101, the counting unit 103 counts the number of detection failure times when the determination unit 101 determines that the detection is failed. Then, the setting change unit 104 reflects the count result (number of detection failures) in the setting information, and changes the content of the setting information. This changing method is the same as in the case of the number of successful searches described in the above embodiment. For example, the number of searches to be reduced is set in advance for each detection failure frequency, and the setting change unit 104 decreases the search frequency for the counted number of detection failures from the specified search frequency in each search. I will let you.

  In the first modification, the search failure frequency used as the search result may be only the detection failure frequency or the reading failure frequency as described above. Alternatively, both the number of detection failures and the number of reading failures may be used.

[Modification 2]
Further, in relation to the first modification, the search results used in the above embodiment include the number of successful searches (for example, the number of successful detections and the number of successful readings) and the number of failed searches (for example, the number of failed detections and the number of failed readings). Both may be used. In the above embodiment, at least one of the number of successful searches and the number of failed searches may be used as a search result. More specifically, in the above embodiment, at least one of the four types of detection success count, read success count, detection failure count, and read failure count may be used as the search result.

[Modification 3]
In addition, when two or more types of search results are used in relation to the modification 2, for example, the number of increases or decreases in the number of searches is made different for each type of search results in the setting information change. May be.

  For example, the counting unit 103 counts both the number of successful detections (number of reading failures) and the number of successful readings, for example, for a search currently being executed. Here, the setting changing means 104 is preset with the number of searches to be increased (detected increase number) for each successful detection number, and the number of searches to be increased (reading) for each successful reading number. It is assumed that (increase number) is set in advance. The increase in detection and the increase in reading are different values.

  First, the setting change unit 104 multiplies the counted number of successful detections and the detected increase number, and calculates the result as the total detected increase number. Next, the setting changing unit 104 multiplies the counted number of successful readings and the number of reading increases, and calculates the result as the total number of reading increases. Next, the setting change unit 104 calculates the sum of the total detection increase number and the total reading increase number, and adds the sum to the search number of the currently executed search specified in the setting information, To change. In this way, by changing the value to be changed according to the type of search result, it is possible to optimize the setting information with higher accuracy.

[Modification 4]
The information reading device 1 may allow the user to visually confirm the contents of the current setting information (setting information currently being applied) on the screen. For example, if the determination unit 101 determines that the user's operation (display instruction operation) has been received, the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 105 (the currently applied setting information) is read and displayed on a display unit (not shown). Display it. As a display example at this time, a band graph form shown in FIGS.

[Modification 5]
Further, in relation to the modified example 4, after the user confirms the contents of the current setting information on the screen in the information reading apparatus 1, the setting information can be stored in the information reading apparatus 1. Also good. For example, if the determination unit 101 determines that an operation (storage instruction operation) has been received from the user while displaying the current setting information, the determination unit 101 displays the setting information being displayed separately from the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 105. The setting information is stored in storage means (not shown) (implemented by the RAM 11 in FIG. 1 or a storage medium not shown in FIG. 1) or the like. Also, a plurality of setting information can be stored.

[Modification 6]
Further, in relation to the modified example 5, the user selects desired setting information while confirming a plurality of setting information stored in advance on the screen in the information reading apparatus 1, and applies the selected setting information. Thus, the search may be started. For example, when the determination unit 101 determines that an operation (display instruction operation) has been received from the user, the determination unit 101 reads a plurality of setting information stored in a storage unit (not shown) and displays the setting information on a display unit (not shown). If the determination unit 101 determines that an operation (selection instruction operation) has been received from the user while displaying a plurality of setting information, the determination unit 101 switches from the current setting information to the selected setting information. Thereby, the setting information selected by the user is applied.

[Modification 6]
In addition, when the user operates the operation unit (not shown) while confirming the current setting information displayed on the display unit (not shown) in the information reading apparatus 1, the contents of the setting information (the length of each search time, The search order and the number of times of each search) may be freely changed. For example, if the determination unit 101 determines that an operation (change instruction operation) has been received from the user while displaying the current setting information, the parameter is changed and changed according to the instruction from the user. The content setting information is stored in the setting storage means 105.

[Modification 7]
In the above embodiment, the wireless communication circuit 13 is A to D, but the user may arbitrarily add / delete the wireless communication circuit 13. For example, when the wireless communication circuit 13E that performs the search E is added in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the determination unit 101 determines that each search A specified in the setting information when the detection or reading in the search E is successful. Decrease the number of searches for ~ D by a predetermined number of times. Then, the determination unit 101 sets the decreased amount as the number of searches for the search E, and newly adds it to the setting information. On the other hand, for example, when the wireless communication circuit 13D that performs the search D in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is deleted, the determination unit 101 deletes all the search times of the search D specified in the setting information, All other searches A, B, and C are allocated as the number of searches.

[Modification 8]
For example, the operation in the above-described embodiment can be executed by hardware, software, or a combined configuration of both.

  When executing processing by software, a program in which a processing sequence is recorded may be installed and executed in a memory in a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. Or you may install and run a program in the general purpose computer which can perform various processes.

  For example, the program can be recorded in advance on a hard disk or ROM as a recording medium. Alternatively, the program is temporarily or permanently stored on a removable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), an MO (Magneto optical) disc, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magnetic disc, or a semiconductor memory. It can be stored (recorded). Such a removable recording medium can be provided as so-called package software.

  The program may be wirelessly transferred from the download site to the computer in addition to being installed on the computer from the removable recording medium as described above. Or you may wire-transfer to a computer via networks, such as LAN (Local Area Network) and the internet. The computer can receive the transferred program and install it on a recording medium such as a built-in hard disk.

  The present invention can be applied to apparatuses, devices, systems, systems, methods, programs, and the like that can be prepared by preparing a plurality of types of communication systems in advance and switching each communication system.

1 Information Reader 2 RFID Tag 10 CPU
11 RAM
12 ROM
13 Wireless communication circuits A, B, C, D
14 antenna 15 bus 21 memory 22 wireless communication circuit 23 antenna 101 determination means 102 search switching means 103 count means 104 setting change means 105 setting storage means 106 wireless communication means A, B, C, D

Claims (5)

It is possible to read the information by detecting an information storage body storing information in advance and performing a search to read the information, and a plurality of information storage bodies corresponding to a plurality of types of information storage bodies having different communication protocols An information reader capable of performing types of search,
A wireless communication means for executing one search among the plurality of types of searches;
For each of the plurality of types of searches, setting storage means for storing setting information in which the number of searches indicating the number of times the search is executed is specified;
Search switching means for switching a search executed by the wireless communication means based on the setting information;
Setting change means for automatically changing the number of searches defined in the setting information based on a result of a search executed by the wireless communication means;
As a result of a search executed by the wireless communication means, the counter has a counting means for counting at least one of a search success number that is the number of successful searches and a search failure number that is the number of times the search has failed,
The setting change unit is defined in the setting information based on the search failure number indicating that the information storage body has been successfully detected but the reading has failed among the number of search failure times counted by the counting unit. An information reading apparatus, wherein the number of searches is changed. Further comprising reading determination means for determining whether reading of information stored in the information storage body has succeeded or failed by a search executed by the wireless communication means;
The counting means includes
If it is determined by the reading determination means that the information stored in the information storage body has been successfully read, the number of successful readings is counted as the number of successful searches,
2. The information reading according to claim 1 , wherein when the reading determination unit determines that reading of the information stored in the information storage body has failed, the number of reading failures is counted as the number of search failures. apparatus. A change condition determining means for determining whether a change condition for changing the setting information designated in advance is satisfied;
The setting change means includes
When it is determined by the change condition determination means that the change condition is satisfied, the setting information is defined based on at least one of the search success count and the search failure count counted by the count means. 3. The information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of searches is changed. It is possible to read the information by detecting an information storage body storing information in advance and performing a search to read the information, and a plurality of information storage bodies corresponding to a plurality of types of information storage bodies having different communication protocols An information reading method performed by an information reading apparatus capable of performing a kind of search,
A setting information storing step for storing setting information in which the number of searches indicating the number of times the search is executed is stored for each of the plurality of types of searches;
A setting change step of automatically changing the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the search result;
A search switching step for switching a search to be executed based on the setting information;
As a result of the search, there is a counting step that counts at least one of a search success number that is the number of successful searches and a search failure number that is the number of failed searches, and in the setting change step, Of the number of search failures counted in the counting step, the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the number of search failures indicating that the information storage body has been successfully detected but has failed to read. A method for reading information, characterized in that: It is possible to read the information by detecting an information storage body storing information in advance and performing a search to read the information, and a plurality of information storage bodies corresponding to a plurality of types of information storage bodies having different communication protocols A program to be executed by a computer capable of performing a kind of search,
For each of the plurality of types of searches, setting information storage processing for storing setting information in which the number of searches indicating the number of times the search is executed is specified;
A setting change process for automatically changing the number of searches specified in the setting information based on the result of the executed search;
A search switching process for switching a search to be executed based on the setting information;
As a result of the search, the computer executes a counting process that counts at least one of the number of successful searches that is the number of successful searches and the number of failed searches that are the number of failed searches.
In the setting change process, based on the search failure number indicating that the information storage body has been successfully detected but the reading has failed among the search failure times counted in the counting step, the setting information is changed to the setting information. A program for changing the prescribed number of searches.

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