JPH05197728A - Response device provided with information processing function and moving body identifying device using same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a response device capable of executing rapid processing and corresponding to various system and to obtain a moving body identifying device using the responde device. CONSTITUTION:At the time of receiving a response device detecting command from a questioning device, the response device in a queuing state resets the queuing state and transmits a response to the questioning device. Whether an application program has been received from the questioning device or not is judged, and when the program has been received, the sending of the program from the questioning device is started. At the time of receiving the program, whether the reception of the program has been completed or not is judged, and when the reception has been completed, the received program is sent to the questioning device to collate the complete transmission of the received program. If the sending of the program is not normally executed, the response device receives a collation NG command and receives the program again. When the sending of the program is normal, a normal end command is received to end the processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transponder having an information processing function and a moving body identifying apparatus using the transponder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a moving body identifying apparatus is provided with an interrogator arranged at a fixed position and a responder attached to a moving body or the like.
It is an effective device for managing information such as specifications of individual products, processing and inspection in the process of paying out. The mobile body identification device is used for transportation, physical distribution, etc. in addition to the production line, and is also called a data carrier system.

A transponder of this type of mobile body identification device is also called a data carrier, and usually has a sealed structure in which a communication control unit connected to an antenna is built in, in consideration of environmental resistance. And attached to the moving body.

As shown in FIG. 7, the responder 30 has a communication control unit 32 having a function of transmitting and receiving a non-contact transmission medium to and from the interrogator 40, control of the communication control unit 32, and the interrogator 4.
CPU (central processing unit) 33 for storing information transmitted from 0 and decoding instructions from an interrogator, ROM (read only memory) 34 for storing system programs, and RAM for storing information (Random access memory) 35. The system program of the responder 30 is written in the ROM 34 by a ROM writer in advance. The antenna 31 is connected to the communication control unit 32, and the communication control unit 32 includes a modulation unit of a transmission medium and the like.

The transponder 30 of the moving body identifying apparatus having such a configuration is positioned as a storage medium similar to an IC card or a magnetic card, and the IC card or the magnetic card is a contact type, but a non-contact type. Is different.

When transmitting (reading) information from the responder 30 to the interrogator 40, the responder 30 within the effective radio wave range of the interrogator 40 receives the interrogation signal radio wave from the interrogator 40 and then R
The transmission medium transmitted from the interrogator 40 is modulated based on the information stored in the AM 35 and transmitted to the interrogator 40.
Upon receiving (writing) information from the interrogator 40 to the responder 30, the responder 30 responds to the interrogation signal radio wave from the interrogator 40, and then the interrogator 40 transmits information to the responder 30. Information is written in the RAM 35 of the responder 30. This combination of basic read and write operations is executed, and the information is processed by the application software of the data processing terminal 48 connected to the interrogator 40.

For example, in a toll road toll collection system, the expiration date written in the responder is checked,
When writing the usage amount to the transponder, read the expiration date, vehicle type code and running history from the transponder, send it to the data processing terminal via the interrogator, check the expiration date on this terminal, and calculate the usage amount. The operation of writing this result in the transponder is executed.

[0008]

However, in the case of a system that requires a short communication time between the interrogator and the responder of the mobile body identification device, such as a highway or a railroad, the above-mentioned conventional method is used. In the mobile unit identification device, the combination of the basic operations is used for processing by the application software on the data processing terminal, so that there is a problem that it takes time to process between the interrogator and the responder.

Therefore, the present invention provides a transponder capable of high-speed processing and adaptable to various systems, and a moving object identifying apparatus using the transponder.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a transponder having a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from an interrogator via a non-contact transmission medium is transmitted from the interrogator. Provided is a transponder including means for storing an application program and means for processing information using the application program stored by the storing means.

Further, there is provided a moving object identifying apparatus provided with the responder, and an interrogator having means for sending an application program to the responder and means for storing the application program.

[0012]

The transponder receives the application program sent from the interrogator and stores it in the memory by the means for storing it. When information is exchanged between the transponder and the interrogator, information processing is executed by means for processing the information based on this application program. At this time, the application program of the responder stores the information transmitted from the interrogator in the memory, or stores it in the memory after performing the processing. Further, it is possible to execute the processing with reference to the information stored in the memory.

The interrogator transmits the application program to the responder within the effective radio wave range by the means for transmitting the application program. Also, it is stored in its own memory by the storing means.

[0014]

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

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of a transponder and an interrogator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a memory map of the transponder.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transponder 10 includes an antenna 11 and a communication controller 12 including a modulator, a write receiver, and a modulated signal generator (not shown).

The communication control unit 12 has a function of digitally modulating unmodulated microwaves received via the antenna 11 according to information to be transmitted to the interrogator 20, and demodulating the received modulated waves. ..

As the antenna 11, for example, a rectangular patch antenna that also serves as transmission and reception is used. Communication control unit 12
Is connected to the CPU 13. Further, the CPU 13 is connected to the ROM 14 and the RAM 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the ROM 14 stores a system program including a program for storing the application program sent from the interrogator in the RAM 15. Further, the RAM 15 stores an application program and an application accessible, and information for the application. Therefore, in this embodiment, the means for storing the application program is RO
Means for processing information in the system program stored in M14 are included in the CPU 13 and the RAM 15.

Further, the responder 10 includes a communication controller 12, C
It has a power supply 16 for supplying a current to the PU 13, the ROM 14, and the RAM 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, the interrogator 20 includes an antenna 21 and a communication controller 22 including a question transmitting section, a reading receiving section, and a writing transmitting section. The communication control unit 22 transmits a read command via the antenna 21,
After that, it has a function of transmitting unmodulated microwave. Also, the response from the transponder 10 is received and demodulated. further,
The communication control unit 22 has a function of modulating microwaves according to information transmitted to the responder 10. As the antenna 21, an array antenna in which a plurality of rectangular patch antennas are arranged is usually used for improving directivity and supporting long-distance communication.

The interrogator 20 further includes a CPU 23, RO
M24, RAM25, and I / O interface 27
Is equipped with. The interrogator 20 is also connected to a display device 28 such as a liquid crystal display device via an I / O interface 27.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ROM 24 stores a system program including a program for storing the application program in the RAM 25 and a program for sending the application program to the responder 10. Further, the RAM 25 stores an application program and information accessible by the application. Therefore, the means for sending the application and the means for storing the application are the ROM 2
4 is included in the system program stored in 4.

Next, the operation flow of the means for sending the application program to the responder and the means for storing it in the responder will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an application program storage program on the responder 10 side, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an application program transmission program on the interrogator 20 side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transponder 10 normally in the standby state receives the transponder detection command from the interrogator 20 when the transponder 10 enters the communicable area with the interrogator 20 (step S1). ), The responder 10 releases the waiting state and transmits a response to the interrogator 20 (step S2). It is determined whether or not the application program is received from the interrogator 20 (step S3), and if the answer to this is affirmative, that is, if the interrogator 20 starts sending the application program and receives it, go to the next step. Transition. Next, it is judged whether or not the application program reception is completed (step S4), and if the reception is completed, the received application program is sent to the interrogator 20 to check whether the received application program has been completely transmitted. It is sent (step S5). Next, it is determined whether or not the collation NG command, which is issued from the interrogator 20 and indicates that the application program was not normally sent, is received (step S6). When the verification NG command is received, the process returns to step S3.

If the answer to step S6 is negative, that is, if the application program is sent normally, it is judged whether or not the end command is received (step S7). If the end command is not received, a predetermined time is passed. Whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timeout) to repeat step S7 until the end command is received
It is determined whether or not (step S8). If the answer in step S7 is affirmative or if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S1.

If the answer in step S3 is negative, that is, if the application program has not been received, whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timed out) to repeat step S3 until the application program is received for a predetermined time. Is determined (step S
9). Then, if the predetermined time has elapsed, step S
Return to 1.

Interrogator 20 for the above flow chart
The flowchart on the side will be described below with reference to FIG.

The interrogator 20 transmits a transponder detection command to the transponder 10 which is normally in the standby state (step S10). It is determined whether or not a response is received from the responder 10 (step S11), and if the result is affirmative, the application program is transmitted to the responder 10 (step S12). If the answer to step S11 is negative, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timed out) to repeat step S11 until a response is received for a predetermined time (step S1).
3). If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to step S10.

Subsequent to step S12, it is judged whether or not the transmission of the application program is completed (step S14). When the transmission of the application program is completed up to the end, the response program is sent from the responder 10 to the application program for collation. Is transmitted (step S1)
5). If the answer to step S15 is a positive result, it is collated whether or not the collation application program sent from the responder 10 is the same as the application program sent to the responder 10, and if collated. An end command is transmitted to the transponder 10 (step S17).

If the answer to step S15 is negative, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timed out) to repeat step S15 until an application program for collating for a predetermined time is received (step S18). .. If the predetermined time has passed, step S
Return to 10.

If the answer to step S16 is negative, that is, if the verification application program sent from the responder 10 is different from the application program sent to the responder 10, step S16 is performed.
Returning to step 12, the application program is sent again to the responder 10.

As a result, the interrogator sends the application program previously stored in the memory of the interrogator to the responder by the means for sending the application program. The transponder receives the modulated transmission medium emitted from the interrogator including the application program and stores the application program in the RAM by means of storing in the memory. Various data processing of the transponder is executed by the application program stored in this memory.

Next, the present invention is applied to a toll road toll system as a specific example of a transponder in which the application program thus transmitted is stored in a RAM and an interrogator in which the application program is also stored. An applied example will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the responder at the toll gate (exit) of the toll road toll system, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the interrogator.

The toll road system toll table is stored in advance in the RAM of the responder as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the location code and the date are transmitted from an interrogator installed at a tollgate installed at an interchange or the like of a toll road system to a responder installed in a moving object such as an automobile. (Step S20).
Next, it is determined whether the usage amount and the travel history of the vehicle have been received from the responder (step S21). If the usage amount and the traveling history of the vehicle have been received from the responder of the moving object such as the vehicle arriving at the toll booth, this is displayed on the display (step S22) and one routine is terminated. , And returns to step S20. If the usage amount and the travel history are not received from the transponder in step S21, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (time out) to repeat step S21 until reception (step S23). If it has timed out, the process returns to step S20, and if it has not timed out, the process returns to step S21.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, in response to step S20 in FIG. 5, from an interrogator installed at a toll booth installed at an interchange of the toll road system or the like, a car or the like arriving at the toll booth is displayed. The transponder installed in the mobile unit determines whether the location code and the date have been received (step S30). If not received, step S30 is repeated until it is received. When received, it is determined whether the expiration date has passed (step S3).
1). If the expiration date has not passed, RAM
The usage amount is calculated from the travel history and the charge table stored in (step S32), and the usage amount and the travel history are transmitted to the interrogator (step S33). If the answer to step S31 is YES, the result notifying that the expiration date has passed is transmitted to the interrogator (step S34), and the process returns to step S30.

Therefore, in this way, the transponder of this embodiment is
Since it is not a mere storage medium but an intelligent transponder having an information processing function, it can have the information processing function of a conventional data processing terminal. Similarly, since the interrogator also stores the application program, the information processing function can be imposed only on the transponder and the interrogator without going through the data processing terminal. There is no need to combine the basic operations (reading and writing) in between in one place, only one operation of reading or writing is required, and high speed processing is possible.

Further, when it is necessary to change the application program of the system due to the specification change or the like, a new application program can be written by a non-contact transmission medium, so that the application program of the responder can be easily written. Can be changed.

In the above embodiments, the microwave system is used as the transmission medium system, but the transmission medium system is not limited to this, and an electromagnetic coupling system, an electromagnetic induction system, an optical communication system or the like may be used.

[0042]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, means for storing an application program sent from an interrogator, and means for processing information using the application program stored by the storing means Since it is provided with, the transponder can process information based on the application program. That is, the transponder of the present invention is not just a storage medium but an intelligent transponder having an information processing function. Similarly, since the interrogator also stores the application program, the information processing function can be imposed only on the responder and the interrogator without going through the data processing terminal. It is not necessary to combine the basic operations (reading and writing) in between at one place, and only one operation of reading or writing is required, and high speed processing is possible.

Further, when it is necessary to change the application program of the system due to the specification change or the like, a new application program can be written by a non-contact transmission medium, so that the application program of the responder can be easily written. Can be changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a means for storing an application program of a responder in a moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram showing an embodiment of means for transmitting an application program of an interrogator in the moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a memory map of a responder in the moving body identifying apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram showing an example of the operation of an application program in the interrogator of the specific example of the mobile unit identification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the application program in the transponder of the specific example of the moving object identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional mobile body identification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Responder 11, 21 Antenna 12, 22 Communication Controller 13, 23 CPU 14, 24 ROM 15, 25 RAM 16, 26 Power Supply 20 Interrogator 27 I / O Interface 28 Display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transponder having a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from an interrogator via a non-contact transmission medium, means for storing an application program sent from the interrogator, and the storage. A transponder having an information processing function, the transponder having a means for processing information using an application program stored by the means. 2. A mover comprising: the responder according to claim 1, and an interrogator including means for sending an application program to the responder and means for storing the application program. Body identification device.