KR101182858B1 - RFID Reader controlling device, Interlocking method for RFID Reader, and RFID Reader controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a radio frequency identification (hereinafter referred to as "RFID") reader control device, a method for interworking with an RFID reader, and an RFID reader control method.

The apparatus for controlling the RFID reader based on the plurality of RFID reader protocols receives a control command for controlling the RFID reader from an application device providing a service, checks the type of the RFID reader protocol corresponding to the control command, and checks the RFID reader. Check whether the communication channel corresponding to the protocol is created. In addition, the control command is transmitted to the RFID reader through the communication channel, and the control result of the RFID reader corresponding to the control command is transmitted to the application.

Thus, the present invention can control the RFID reader in accordance with the purpose of the application service in the application environment using the RFID reader in combination.

RFID, Reader, Application, Protocol

Description

How to interoperate with the RFID reader control device, the RFID reader and the RFID reader control method

The present invention relates to a radio frequency identification (hereinafter referred to as "RFID") reader control device, a method for interworking with an RFID reader, and an RFID reader control method. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an RFID reader using a plurality of RFID reader protocols simultaneously, a method for interworking with an RFID reader, and a method for controlling an RFID reader.

The present invention is derived from the research conducted as part of the IT growth engine technology development project of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Information and Communication Research and Development. [Task management number: 2006-S-022-03, Task name: USN middleware platform technology development].

The method of controlling an RFID reader is used to control a specific RFID reader to identify an RFID tag existing within a recognition range of the corresponding RFID reader, and to read and change the identified data. At this time, the control of the RFID reader is possible only through a specific RFID reader protocol supported by the RFID reader.

The RFID reader protocol defines commands, message types, and communication methods provided by the RFID reader. Currently, international standards and industry standards for RFID reader protocols include ISO / IEC 15961 (hereinafter referred to as "ISO15961"), EPCglobal Reader Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "RP"), EPCglobal Reader Management (hereinafter referred to as "RM"), and EPCglobal. Low Level Reader Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "LLRP").

RFID readers support only the RFID reader protocol of the RFID reader manufacturer or comply with the RFID reader protocol according to a specific one of the above standards.

Since RFID readers have limitations such as recognition range and installation location, in order for a plurality of RFID readers to be provided with a service from one application, a plurality of RFID readers need to be linked to perform consistent data collection and modification. In this case, when a plurality of RFID readers do not support the same RFID reader protocol, it should be possible to separately perform communication connection and message processing for each RFID reader protocol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device capable of controlling an RFID reader according to an RFID reader protocol provided by an RFID reader for an RFID reader supporting a plurality of RFID reader protocols, a method for interworking with an RFID reader, and RFID reader control. To provide a way.

In addition, the technical problem to be achieved in the present invention is to control the RFID reader in an environment using a plurality of RFID reader protocols in one RFID reader, or an environment in which a plurality of RFID readers are driven according to different RFID reader protocols, respectively. In addition to providing a single path, an RFID reader control device capable of independently managing each communication channel for a plurality of RFID reader protocols, a method of interworking with an RFID reader, and an RFID reader control method are provided.

To control the RFID reader based on a plurality of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader protocol according to the characteristics of the present invention for achieving the above object, to provide an RFID reader control device for providing services provided by each application device to the RFID reader In

Command processing unit for performing a command according to the configuration message and the control message for interworking with the RFID reader from the application device providing a service, an interpretation unit for converting the configuration message and the control message based on the RFID reader protocol corresponding to the RFID reader And a controller for generating and releasing a communication channel for each RFID reader protocol corresponding to the RFID reader, and a message processing unit for storing the setting message and the control message or transferring the communication message to the RFID reader through the communication channel in a set order. do.

In a method of interworking with an RFID reader in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader control apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention,

Receiving a setup message for interworking with an RFID reader from an application device providing a service; establishing a first communication channel with the RFID reader based on a first RFID reader protocol included in reader connection information corresponding to the setup message; Forming a second communication channel with the RFID reader based on a second RFID reader protocol included in the reader connection information corresponding to the setting message, and first and second communication with the RFID reader. If the channel is connected, notifying the application device that the interworking with the RFID reader is established.

In addition, in a method of controlling an RFID reader based on a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader protocols according to another aspect of the present invention,

Receiving a control command for controlling an RFID reader from an application device providing a service, checking a type of an RFID reader protocol corresponding to the control command, and determining whether a communication channel corresponding to the RFID reader protocol is generated Confirming, transmitting the control command to the RFID reader through the communication channel, and transmitting a control result of the RFID reader corresponding to the control command to the application.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an RFID reader may be controlled according to a plurality of RFID reader protocols.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in an application environment in which an RFID reader is used in combination, the RFID reader may be controlled according to the purpose of the application service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, it means that it can further include other components, without excluding other components unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, the terms “… unit”, “… unit”, “… module” described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software. Can be.

Hereinafter, an RFID reader control apparatus, a method of interworking with an RFID reader, and an RFID reader control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view schematically showing an environment to which an RFID reader control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, an RFID reader control environment according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of RFID readers 10, a multiple RFID reader protocol controller (MRRPC) 20, and a plurality of applications. It includes an application device 30 for processing a service.

Each RFID reader 10 recognizes an RFID tag existing in each recognition range and supports a plurality of RFID reader protocols.

The RFID reader control apparatus 20 controls each RFID reader 10 based on a plurality of RFID reader protocols, and provides a service provided by each application device 30 to each RFID reader 10.

The plurality of RFID reader protocols include ISO / IEC 15961 (ISO15961), EPCglobal Reader Protocol (RP), EPCglobal Reader Management (RM), and EPCglobal Low Level Reader Protocol (LLRP).

Each RFID reader protocol includes control functions differentiated from each other according to the corresponding standard specifications as shown in Table 1. For example, the ISO15961 protocol is used to collect and change data of RFID tags. In addition, since the RM protocol can be used to check the operation status and performing work statistics of the RFID reader, it must be possible to perform control functions corresponding to each protocol through two RFID reader protocols simultaneously with one RFID reader.

characteristic ISO15961 RP RM LLRP Standardization Organization ISO / IEC JTC 1 EPCglobal EPCglobal EPCglobal Is Asynchronous Report Supported? impossible possible possible possible Reader operating status
Monitoring impossible impossible possible possible Whether to perform repetitive control Impossible (only one time command) impossible
(However, asynchronous message generation is possible.) impossible
(However, asynchronous message generation is possible.) possible RFID tag data read / write possible possible impossible possible RFID Tag Down (Kill) impossible possible impossible possible RFID Tag Data Lock possible impossible impossible possible Message format No limit XML, Text XML, SNMP Binary Communication No limit Serial, TCP, HTTP Serial, TCP, UDP TCP Support RFID frequency band HF, UHF
(But expandable) UHF UHF UHF (Extensible)

The RFID reader control apparatus 20 may include a transmission control protocol (TCP), a user datagram protocol (UDP), a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), a Bluetooth, a wireless digital. The control message for the RFID reader is transmitted and received to each RFID reader 10 and each application device 30 through a communication method such as pulse or ultra wide band (UWB).

Each application device 30 controls the plurality of RFID readers 10 using the RFID reader control device 20 to work in a unified manner. Specifically, the plurality of application devices 30 includes a first application module, a second application module, and a third application module. Here, the first application module collects data of RFID tags recognized by each RFID reader using the plurality of RFID readers 10. The second application module performs state monitoring on the first RFID reader and the second RFID reader among the plurality of RFID readers 10, and the third application module records data in the RFID tag in the recognition area of the third RFID reader. Do the work. Here, the first, second, and third readers according to an embodiment of the present invention are specific readers that support only selective to some of corresponding RFID reader protocols.

A service provided by an application device using an RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention may be constructed for various purposes ranging from data collection of an article tagged with RFID to operation state management of the RFID reader. In addition, the RFID reader control apparatus 20 may simultaneously receive a service provided by a plurality of applications by controlling the RFID reader through a multiple RFID reader protocol.

Next, the structure of the RFID reader control device 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an RFID reader control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the RFID reader control device 20 includes a command processor 210, a reader protocol analyzer 220, a connection information manager 230, a communication channel controller 240, and a message processor 250. .

The command processor 210 processes a setting message for setting interworking with each RFID reader 10 and a control message for each RFID reader 10.

The reader protocol analyzer 220 encodes or decodes the setting and control message received from the command processor 210 based on a specific RFID reader protocol.

The connection information manager 230 manages information such as network address and communication channel information corresponding to each RFID reader 10, message identifier for each RFID reader protocol, and the like.

The communication channel controller 240 generates and terminates communication channels for each RFID reader protocol corresponding to each RFID reader 10, and manages sending and receiving a predetermined message on the communication channel.

The message processing unit 250 stores control commands and responses, asynchronous report messages, or transmits them to each RFID reader 10 through a communication channel in a set order.

Next, a method of interworking with the RFID reader 10 by setting a communication channel for the RFID reader protocol will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of interworking with an RFID reader by setting a communication channel for the RFID reader protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the application device 30 transmits a reader interworking setting message to the command processor 210 in order to establish interworking with the RFID reader 10 (S301).

The command processor 210 transmits the reader connection information corresponding to the reader interworking setting message to the connection information manager 230 (S302). At this time, the reader connection information includes a unique identifier (eg, “reader0001”), an IP address (eg, “192.168.1.1”), an RFID reader protocol type supported by the RFID reader, and each RFID reader. At least one of the protocol-specific communication method / port number (for example, "(RP, TCP, 4084), (RM, TCP, 4085), (LLRP, TCP, 5084)").

The connection information manager 230 generates a virtual object corresponding to the corresponding RFID reader based on the received reader connection information and stores the reader connection information (S303).

Next, the connection information manager 230 requests a communication channel connection to the communication channel controller 240 for connection with the RFID reader 10 based on the RFID reader protocol type included in the received reader connection information.

For example, the connection information management unit 230 communicates the communication method / port number for each RFID reader protocol when it is determined that the RFID reader 10 supports two RFID reader protocols RP and LLRP according to the reader connection information. The channel controller 240 transmits the communication channel connection request. .

The communication channel controller 240 connects a communication channel with a predetermined RFID reader according to a request of the connection information manager 230. For example, the RFID reader 10 is connected to the message communication channel based on the communication method and port number for each RFID reader protocol received from the connection information manager 230. At this time, the initial connection mechanism of each message communication channel conforms to the standard defined in each RFID reader protocol.

Looking at the communication channel connection process in detail, when the RFID reader protocol types are RP and LLRP, the connection information management unit 230 requests the first communication channel connection request to connect the communication channel with the RFID reader 10 based on the RP. The message is transmitted to the communication channel controller 240 (S304). The communication channel controller 240 transmits the TCP communication channel connection request to the RFID reader 10 based on the TCP communication method corresponding to the received first communication channel connection request message (S305).

The RFID reader 10 performs a connection with the first communication channel in a TCP communication channel connection method for performing RP, and informs the communication channel controller 240 that the connection is successful (S306).

The communication channel controller 240 transmits the information on the first communication channel to the connection information manager 230 (S307).

The connection information manager 230 transmits a second communication channel connection request message to the communication channel controller 240 in order to connect the RFID reader 10 and the second communication channel based on the LLRP (S308).

The communication channel controller 240 uses the TCP communication channel connection request as the RFID reader 10 based on the TCP communication method corresponding to the received second communication channel connection request message (S309).

The RFID reader 10 performs a connection with a communication channel in a TCP communication channel connection method for performing LLRP, and informs the communication channel controller 240 that the connection is successful (S310). In this case, the TCP communication channel connection method for performing LLRP and the TCP communication channel connection method for performing RP may be different from each other.

The communication channel controller 240 transmits information on the second communication channel to the connection information manager 230 (S311).

The connection information manager 230 receives the information about the first and second communication channels and transmits a connection creation confirmation message to the command processor 210 to inform that the connection information of the RFID reader 10 is finished (see FIG. S312).

The command processor 210 transmits a reader interworking setting confirmation message to the application device 30 in order to notify that the connection information is generated and interlocked with the RFID reader 10 (S313).

Next, a method of controlling a specific RFID reader based on the RFID reader protocol will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the application device 30 calls a reader control command for controlling the RFID reader 10 to the command processor 210 (S401). At this time, the reader control command includes data such as a unique identifier, a control command message, and a control parameter for the RFID reader 10 and is represented as follows. Moreover, when the RFID tag whose tag ID (tagId) is 101010FF is recognized among the RFID tags in the recognition area of the RFID reader which has a unique identifier reader0001, the control instruction which reads all the data is shown schematically.

l Unique identifier for the RFID reader (eg "reader0001")

l Control command message (eg "RP_Source_Read")

l control parameters (for example, "data = All, passwords = 11110000, tagId = 101010FF")

The command processor 210 analyzes the reader control command to determine what kind of RFID reader protocol a control command is. If the check result is the RP-based reader control command, the command processing unit 210 calls the RP-based reader control command to the reader protocol interpreter 220 (S402).

The reader protocol analyzer 220 encodes the control command message and the control parameters to conform to the RFID reader protocol standard corresponding to the reader control command. In addition, the reader protocol analyzer 220 requests the connection information manager 230 to inquire the message identifier of each RFID reader protocol and information of a communication channel corresponding to the RFID reader protocol (S403).

The connection information manager 230 transmits an inquiry of information of a communication channel corresponding to the corresponding RFID reader protocol to the communication channel controller 240 (S404). The communication channel controller 240 determines whether a communication channel corresponding to the RFID reader protocol is generated, and if so, transmits the information of the communication channel to the connection information manager 230 (S405).

The connection information manager 230 transmits the message identifier for each RFID reader protocol corresponding to the RFID reader 10 and the received communication channel information to the reader protocol analyzer 220 (S406).

For example, the connection information manager 230 transmits the socket information and the RP command message identifier of the RP communication channel corresponding to the RFID reader having the unique identifier reader0001 to the reader protocol analyzer 220. At this time, since the message identifier is used to uniquely distinguish the message sent and received from the RFID reader, the message identifier should be assigned sequentially so as not to overlap. In addition, the connection information management unit 230 may request the communication channel information to the communication channel control unit 240 to check the connection state of the communication channel.

The reader protocol interpreter 220 converts the previously input RP-based reader control command to correspond to a specific RFID reader protocol and transmits it to the message processor 250 (S407).

The message processor 250 transmits a command message corresponding to the RP-based reader control command converted through the previously inquired communication channel to the RFID reader 10 (S408), and receives a response message from the RFID reader 10. (S409). In addition, when the message processor 250 receives the response message for the transmitted command message, the message processor 250 transmits the RP-based reader control response data to the reader protocol interpreter 220 (S410).

The reader protocol analyzer 220 decodes the received RP-based reader control response data and transmits the decoded response data, that is, the control command response message, to the command processor 210 (S411). Next, the command processor 210 transmits the reader control result corresponding to the control command response message to the application device 30 calling the reader control command (S412).

In the above, the flow in which the RFID reader 10 sends a synchronous response corresponding to the reader control command called by the application device 30 has been described.

On the other hand, there is a case where the RFID reader 10 generates the data of the identified RFID tag asynchronously and delivers it to the application device 30.

In this case, the RFID reader 10 transmits an asynchronous report message including the data of the identified RFID tag to the message processor 250 (S413). The message processing unit 250 transmits the RP-based reader asynchronous data to the reader protocol interpreter 220 (S414). The reader protocol analyzer 220 transmits the reader report data corresponding to the received RP-based reader asynchronous data to the application device 30 (S415).

As such, the flow of messages for controlling the RFID reader 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used by the application device 30 to directly set or command the RFID reader 10 and directly obtain a response thereto. On the other hand, asynchronous message flow may be used to autonomously convey the data collected by the RFID reader 10 or the operating state of the RFID reader 10 to the application device 30 at a specific time point.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are not only implemented by the apparatus and method but may be implemented through a program for realizing the function corresponding to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention or a recording medium on which the program is recorded, The embodiments can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art from the description of the embodiments described above.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

1 is a view schematically showing an environment to which an RFID reader control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

2 is a block diagram showing the structure of an RFID reader control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of interworking with an RFID reader by setting a communication channel for the RFID reader protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an RFID reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (10)

An RFID reader control apparatus for controlling an RFID reader based on a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader protocols to provide a service provided by each application device to an RFID reader, A command processor for performing a command according to a setting message and a control message for interworking with an RFID reader from an application device providing a service; An analysis unit for converting the setting message and the control message based on an RFID reader protocol corresponding to the RFID reader; A control unit for generating and canceling a communication channel for each RFID reader protocol corresponding to the RFID reader; A message processing unit for storing the setting message and the control message or transferring the configuration message and the control message to the RFID reader through the communication channel. RFID reader control device comprising a. The method of claim 1, The RFID reader control device further comprises a connection information management unit for managing the reader connection information including the RFID reader protocol type supported by the RFID reader and communication channels for each RFID reader protocol. The method of claim 1, RFID reader control that controls the RFID reader and provides services provided by the application device to the RFID reader using one of a transmission control protocol, a user datagram protocol, a hypertext transfer protocol, Bluetooth, and an ultra wideband communication method. Device. In the method of interworking with the RFID reader in the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader control device, Receiving a setting message for interworking with an RFID reader from an application device providing a service, Checking an RFID reader protocol type supported by the RFID reader included in the reader connection information corresponding to the setting message; When the RFID reader supports a first RFID reader protocol and a second RFID reader protocol, forming a first communication channel with the RFID reader based on the first RFID reader protocol to interwork with the RFID reader; Forming a second communication channel with the RFID reader based on the second RFID reader protocol to interwork with the RFID reader, and Notifying the application device that the interworking with the RFID reader is established when the first and second communication channels with the RFID reader are connected; How to interlock with the RFID reader comprising a. 5. The method of claim 4, The reader connection information is interlocked with an RFID reader including a unique identifier for the corresponding RFID reader, IP address, RFID reader protocol type supported by the RFID reader, communication method / port number for each RFID reader protocol. 5. The method of claim 4, Forming the first communication channel Forming a first communication channel with the RFID reader in a first communication scheme for performing the first RFID reader protocol How to interlock with the RFID reader comprising a. 5. The method of claim 4, Forming the second communication channel Connecting the RFID reader to a second communication scheme for performing the second RFID reader protocol How to interlock with the RFID reader comprising a. In the method for controlling the RFID reader based on a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader protocol, Receiving a control command for controlling an RFID reader from an application device providing a service, Checking a type of an RFID reader protocol corresponding to the control command, Checking whether a communication channel corresponding to the RFID reader protocol is generated; Transmitting the control command to the RFID reader through the communication channel, and Transmitting a control result of the RFID reader corresponding to the control command to the application device; RFID reader control method comprising a. 9. The method of claim 8, When the communication channel is created, receiving, from the RFID reader, an asynchronous report message containing data of the RFID tag identified by the RFIID reader, regardless of the control command from the application device, and Forwarding the asynchronous report message to the application device based on the RFID reader protocol RFID reader control method further comprising. 9. The method of claim 8, The control command comprises a unique identifier for the RFID reader, a control command message and a control parameter, Receiving the control command Encoding the control command message and control parameter corresponding to the RFID reader protocol. RFID reader control method comprising a.

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