JPH09214393A - Data carrier and data carrier system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the data carrier and data carrier system in which artificial error due to intervention of persons is reduced in the case of reading data. SOLUTION: When a transmission equipment 20 sends an electromagnetic beam with a strong directivity at a microwave band or a millimeter wave band to a data carrier 10, the data carrier 10 is started and sends required information such as identification ID, position coordinate and installation attribute superimposed on an electromagnetic with a weak directivity at a VHF band or a UHF band, a reception base station receives the electromagnetic wave and uses a control computer to store data and conduct control processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data carrier and a data carrier system using the data carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the sophistication and complexity of social systems,
The maintenance and management of infrastructure facilities and equipment typified by roads, railways, telephones, and the like are becoming increasingly important. In order to maintain and manage facilities and equipment, it is first necessary to grasp the positions of the target facilities and equipment. For this purpose, the method of registering the position coordinates and addresses of each facility or equipment in a database is common. Next, after the worker reaches the vicinity of the facility or equipment, it is necessary to search for or identify the facility or equipment.For example, there is a method of identifying the target with a photo of the facility or equipment. It is not applicable to facilities that are frequently updated or similar facilities and equipment. Conventionally, writing-type data carriers using names and symbols are pasted to facilities and equipment, and operators visually check these data carriers to search and identify objects, and determine whether they are applicable equipment. Was certified.

However, human error is basically unavoidable in such a method that depends on the visual search and judgment of the operator. Along with the increase, sophistication, and complexity of facilities and equipment, there has been a strong demand for a maintenance management system that searches, identifies, and authenticates facilities and equipment with few errors without human intervention. In other words, it is desirable that a data carrier system is capable of electronically and automatically searching, identifying, and authenticating a facility or equipment, rather than being read by a person as a data carrier for ID identification of the facility or equipment of infrastructure.

FIG. 4 shows a basic example of a data carrier system using electromagnetic waves which is used in ordinary parking lot management, production inventory management and the like. 1 is a data carrier, 2 is a base station, 3 is a computer for data management, 4 is a downlink signal from the base station 2 to the data carrier 1, and 5 is an uplink signal from the data carrier 1 to the base station 2. is there. In such a conventional data carrier system, in order to obtain information of the data carrier 1, the worker first uses a data read command for the data carrier 1 from the base station 2 (similar to the trigger signal of the data carrier 1). In some cases) is sent. The data carrier 1 receives it and sends back necessary information such as the identification ID to the base station 2. By receiving this information, the base station 2 completes a series of wireless communications associated with one trigger. The base station 2 sends the information such as the received identification ID to the RS.
Notification is made to the control computer 3 that automatically performs database management and work instructions via a signal line such as 232C.

As the data carrier 1 as described above, there are a read-only type and a read / write type. The former type is often used for facilities and equipment that have information that does not need to be updated, such as identification IDs and absolute coordinates of positions, and the latter type is equipment that requires frequent data updates and facilities that require historical information. It is often used for equipment. Therefore, the read-only data carrier 1 is considered to be appropriate from the economical point of view for fixed facilities and equipment that do not need to transmit special information.

Assuming a read-only data carrier 1 for maintaining and managing fixed facilities and equipment, several methods can be considered for extracting information such as an identification ID stored in the data carrier 1. Basically, it suffices to provide a trigger signal that the data carrier 1 can recognize. For example, an information reply request can be made to the data carrier 1 by using a signal such as light, electromagnetic wave, or magnetism as a trigger. At this time,
When the target facility or equipment is outdoors, the surface of the data carrier 1 may be contaminated due to dirt or snow, so the transmission medium of the trigger signal is preferably an electromagnetic wave or a magnetic trigger signal rather than light. We think that a trigger signal using electromagnetic waves as a transmission medium rather than magnetism is desirable because it requires a relatively long communication distance in outdoor facilities and equipment. On the other hand, a wide communication area is usually required for a reply from the data carrier 1 to the base station 2,
Reply using electromagnetic waves as a transmission medium is desirable.

For the above reason, the electromagnetic waves with weak directivity in the VHF band or the UHF band are usually used for the communication between the data carrier 1 and the base station 2, and the purpose is to share the antenna in the uplink and downlink. Therefore, almost the same frequency is used in both communication links. Such a data carrier system is effective for work such as inventory management of a warehouse for grasping the type and quantity of goods (equipment) existing in a certain area. On the other hand, for workers who visually recognize the target equipment, such as the current status of the equipment or equipment and the update of the database due to equipment changes, proceed with the work and acquire / update equipment information. However, since it is difficult for an operator to visually recognize an object, it is problematic to use a conventional electromagnetic wave having a weak directivity as a trigger signal. Therefore, for the communication between the data carrier 1 and the base station 2 in such work, it is desirable that the worker recognizes the equipment object to some extent, but no data carrier satisfies this requirement.

[0008]

In the conventional data carrier system, the base station 2 which transmits the trigger signal for extracting the information of the data carrier 1 and the base station 2 which receives the information from the data carrier 1 are usually the same. Has become. This is a transmission between the data carrier 1 and the base station 2, and bidirectional communication is required to realize the required transmission protocol. Protocol control of this bidirectional communication is performed by the transmitter and the receiver. This is because one CPU is in charge. Therefore, the base station 2 usually must be equipped with a transmission function, a reception function and a control function. When the worker needs to visually recognize the target equipment in such a data carrier system, the worker must carry not only the base station 2 but also the computer 3 connected to the base station 2. Therefore, work and actions are restricted, and complicated operation of a portable computer is required. In order to improve this, an operator transmits a trigger signal to the data carrier 1 while visually recognizing the target equipment with a highly portable device that generates only a trigger signal,
It is desirable that the information returned from the data carrier 1 be received by the base station 2 mounted on the nearby work vehicle and the equipment authentication and information acquisition be performed automatically. However, in the conventional data carrier system, since the required communication protocol is relatively complicated, the device that transmits the trigger signal and the device that receives the information cannot be operated separately.

As described above, in the maintenance work of the facility or equipment, the worker recognizes the object and electronically automates the identification and the authentication, so that the operator's visual search and judgment do not intervene. There is a need for a maintenance management system with few errors, and there has been a strong demand for a data carrier and its system that enable it.

An object of the present invention is to allow a worker to recognize an object in maintenance and management work of an outdoor facility or equipment, and to intervene manually by automatically and automatically searching, identifying and authenticating the facility or equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a worker-friendly data carrier and a data carrier system in which human error caused by the above is reduced as much as possible.

[0011]

In the data carrier according to the present invention, the data carrier receives an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity in a microwave band or a millimeter wave band from a transmitting device, so that the data carrier has its identification ID. The major feature is that information such as is superposed on electromagnetic waves with weak directivity in the VHF band or UHF band and sent back to the receiving base station. It is fundamentally different from traditional data carriers. In fact, there has been no data carrier and its system using an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity in the microwave band or millimeter wave band.

The data carrier system according to the present invention comprises a transmitter for generating an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity, a data carrier, a receiving base station that only receives an electromagnetic wave having a weak directivity, and a control computer. However, the constituent elements are different from the conventional system which is composed of a data carrier, a base station and a computer.

[0013]

In the data carrier and the data carrier system according to the present invention, when the electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity in the microwave band or the millimeter wave band is received from the transmitting device, the data carrier is activated and its identification ID, position coordinate,
Information such as equipment attributes is superposed on electromagnetic waves having weak directivity in the VHF band or UHF band and transmitted to the receiving base station, and the receiving base station receives this and automatically extracts data from the data carrier.

[0014]

1 shows a functional block configuration of a data carrier according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a data carrier according to the present invention, 11 is a receiving antenna section including an antenna, 12 is a demodulation section, 13 is a VHF band or U.
An HF band electromagnetic wave modulation unit, 14 is a transmission antenna unit including an antenna, 15 is an overall control unit, and 16 is a power supply unit.
It should be noted that at least the receiving antenna unit 11 and the demodulation unit 12 are constantly supplied with power from the power supply unit 16.

Next, the operation will be described. The data carrier 10 receives a trigger signal by an electromagnetic wave having a strong directivity in a microwave band or a millimeter wave band by the receiving antenna unit 11 and sends the signal to the demodulation unit 12 to send a data request command from a transmitting device described later. Demodulate the signal such as. As a result, the control unit 15 is activated, and the CPU or the ROM of the control unit 15 outputs information such as the identification ID to the VHF.
It is superposed on an electromagnetic wave having a weak directivity in the band or the UHF band, and is transmitted to the receiving base station via the modulating unit 13 and the transmitting antenna unit 14.

At this time, in the data carrier 10 of the present invention, as in the communication protocol of the conventional data carrier 1 of FIG. 4, a normal / abnormal (eg, ACK / NAK) signal for a command or reply information is returned to the sender. Not because
Since communication between the transmitting device and the data carrier 10 or between the data carrier 10 and the receiving base station is one-way communication and the communication protocol is simple, the CPU controlling the communication protocol also needs to be shared by the transmitting device and the receiving device. There is no.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the data carrier system according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a transmitting device, 2
1 is a downlink using an electromagnetic wave having a strong directivity in a microwave band or a millimeter wave band, 22 is a VHF band or UH
Uplink using weak electromagnetic waves in the F band, 30
Is a receiving base station, 40 is a control computer, and 50 is a target facility or equipment. The data carrier 10 and its system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to this drawing.

First, facilities and equipment 50 that require maintenance management.
The area in which is present is roughly specified using a map or database. Next, the worker irradiates the data carrier 10 of the target facility or equipment 50 with an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity using a microwave band or a millimeter wave band, and searches and specifies the target equipment. Since the electromagnetic beam has a strong directivity, the worker can recognize which facility or equipment the return information at that time is targeting (recognition of the search target) by pointing the transmitting device 20 to the target equipment.

Secondly, the data carrier 10 receives the modulated electromagnetic wave having a strong directivity by the receiving antenna section 11, and the demodulated signal, for example, the data request command is transmitted to the CPU as the control section 15.

Thirdly, after the control unit 15 recognizes the trigger signal (for example, data request command) from the transmitter 20, the CPU or the ROM continuously outputs simple information including its own identification ID for a certain period of time. The information is transmitted to the modulation unit 13 and the transmission antenna unit 14. This transmission is, for example, VHF band, UH
A signal modulation method is amplitude modulation (ASK) or frequency modulation (FS) using an F-band non-directional electromagnetic wave as a carrier.
K), phase modulation (PSK) or the like. This time,
A local oscillating circuit suitable for the frequency used is connected to the modulator 13 for generating carriers. VHF band or U
Simple information such as an identification ID superimposed on an HF band non-directional electromagnetic wave is transmitted to an area having a radius of about 10 m and is automatically received by a receiving base station mounted in a vehicle. This allows you to confirm the search target (authentication of the equipment), and the equipment ID
Based on, the contents of the database of the target facility or facility 50 can be automatically retrieved.

Fourth, when the status survey of the target facility or equipment 50 and the update and writing of the history information are completed, the database is rewritten or updated based on the identification ID received in the equipment authentication, and maintenance work is performed. finish.

The characteristics of such a data carrier 10 are as follows.
Since the electromagnetic waves having a strong directivity are used when searching and specifying the target equipment, the worker can recognize the target equipment being searched, which allows the maintenance work to proceed smoothly. Further, the data carrier 10 is in the VHF band or UH.
It sends back simple information such as an identification ID by superimposing it on the electromagnetic waves of the F band with weak directivity. With this reply method, a plurality of receiving base stations relatively distant from each other, such as a receiving base station mounted in a vehicle, can simultaneously receive. That is, information such as the identification ID of the target facility or facility 50 can be shared by a plurality of workers, and efficient maintenance work by the group can be supported.

FIG. 3 shows an application example of the data carrier system according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same parts, 20 is a transmitting device, 31 is a work vehicle for updating information of a data carrier, 32 is a receiving base station mounted on a vehicle, 51 is a telephone pole as an example of equipment, and 60 is a worker. is there.

For example, each telephone pole 51 has a data carrier 10
Is installed. When the service life of the fixed installation of a certain utility pole 51 is approaching, the worker 60 uses the transmitter 20 that emits a highly directional electromagnetic beam to the data carrier 10 of the utility pole 51 which is considered to be the target, and uses the downlink 21. To radiate an electromagnetic wave beam. As a result, information such as an identification ID superimposed on an electromagnetic wave having a weak directivity is returned from the data carrier 10, and the receiving base station 3 mounted on the vehicle is mounted.
2 receives the information. As a result, the worker 60 confirms the certification and change status of the target facility in the vehicle based on the signature (certification of the target facility, confirmation of appearance change) of another worker who is waiting in the vehicle. Contact. The vehicle-mounted receiving base station 32 automatically transmits the facility ID information to the computer connected to the network, and retrieves the facility history information. After changing the history information of the facility, the worker in the vehicle collates the recognition IDs of the facility and the facility, and updates the database of the target facility of the computer connected to the computer of the work vehicle 31.

As a result of using the data carrier 10 and its system according to the present invention in an outdoor facility or equipment such as this application example, a communication distance between the transmitting device 20 and the data carrier 10 is obtained by using an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity. Is slightly lowered, the data carrier 10 can receive the trigger even if the surface of the data carrier 10 is slightly dirty, and the worker 60 only needs to carry the transmitting device 20.
The behavior of the worker 60 is not restricted.

As described above, in the data carrier 10 and the system thereof according to the present invention, the operator 60 can visually recognize the facility or equipment when searching and specifying the maintenance target. Further, since the authentication of these facilities is automatically performed by the receiving base station 32 and the computer mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to avoid human error as much as possible due to the judgment of the operator 60 and visual confirmation. As a result, it is possible to reduce maintenance management costs and efficiently utilize human resources.

[0027]

As described above, the data carrier according to the present invention includes a receiving antenna section for microwave or millimeter wave electromagnetic waves, a demodulation section for demodulating the output of the receiving antenna section, a VHF band or a UHF band. It is composed of an electromagnetic wave modulator, a transmitting antenna unit for transmitting the output of the modulator, a controller for determining the information received by the receiving antenna unit and generating required information including an identification ID, and a power supply unit. Therefore, it can be automatically activated by the trigger signal by the electromagnetic wave beam with strong directivity from the transmitting device and transmit the necessary information.

Further, the data carrier system of the present invention includes a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity in the microwave band or millimeter wave band to the data carrier and activating the data carrier, and a V from the data carrier.
It is composed of a receiving base station that receives electromagnetic waves with weak directivity in the HF band or UHF band, and a control computer that performs data storage and control processing, so human error may occur in infrastructure facilities and equipment. Since the automation of maintenance management of facilities and equipment with few resources is possible, there are advantages that maintenance costs can be reduced and human resources can be efficiently used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a data carrier of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a data carrier system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the data carrier system of the present invention is applied to outdoor equipment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional data carrier system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 data carrier 11 reception antenna section 12 demodulation section 13 modulation section 14 transmission antenna section 15 control section 16 power supply section 20 transmitting device 21 downlink using strong electromagnetic wave 22 uplink 30 using weak directivity electromagnetic wave Base station 31 Work vehicle 32 In-vehicle receiving base station 40 Control computer 50 Target facilities and equipment 51 Utility pole 60 Worker

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ichinose 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reception antenna section for microwave or millimeter wave electromagnetic waves, a demodulation section for demodulating the output of this reception antenna section, a VHF band or UHF band electromagnetic wave modulation section, and an output of this modulation section. Electromagnetic wave having a strong directivity in a microwave band or a millimeter wave band, which is composed of a transmitting antenna unit, a control unit for determining information received by the receiving antenna unit and generating required information including an identification ID, and a power supply unit. A data carrier, which is activated by receiving a trigger signal by a beam, is superimposed on an electromagnetic wave having weak directivity in a VHF band or a UHF band, and transmits required information including the identification ID. 2. The data carrier according to claim 1, a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic wave beam having a strong directivity in a microwave band or a millimeter wave band to the data carrier and activating the data carrier, and a VHF band or a UHF band from the data carrier. A data carrier system comprising: a receiving base station for receiving an electromagnetic wave having a weak directivity, and a control computer for storing and controlling data.