KR20060111232A - System for preventing missing product using rfid-chip and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and a system for preventing articles from being lost are provided to track the position of a lost article by using an active type RFID(Radio Frequency IDentification) chip. A system for preventing articles from being lost includes plural tags(100) and an RFID reader(200). The tag stores keeper information and unique ID information according to a request from the RFID reader and transmits an ACK signal corresponding to a position acknowledgement command signal. The RFID reader registers the tags based on the unique ID information and stores the keeper information on the tag. The RFID reader sets maximum operation ranges for the respective tags and periodically transmits a position acknowledgement command signal to the tags. When the ACK signal is received from the tag, the distance between the RFID reader and the tag is calculated. When the distance is greater than the maximum operation range of the tag, the keeper is informed of the result. The RFID reader continuously keeps the track of the tag. When a danger signal is received from the tag, the tag is recognized based on the unique ID information of the tag and alarm sound is generated by the RFID reader.

Description

Lost and Found prevention system using active RFID chip and its method {SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING MISSING PRODUCT USING RFID-CHIP AND METHOD THEREOF}

Figure 1a is a conceptual diagram showing a lost property prevention system using an active RFID chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1b is a block diagram showing a lost property prevention system using an active RFID chip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2B and 2C are detailed flowcharts of a method for preventing lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100: TAG 101: antenna

110: RFID chip 120: power supply

200: Alprider 201: antenna

210: transceiver 220: input unit

230: output unit 240: power supply

250: microprocessor

The present invention relates to a system and a method for preventing the loss of various objects by using a wireless communication transmission and reception method, and more particularly, to a lost object prevention system using an RFID tag embedded with an active RFID chip and an RFID reader managing the same. And to a method thereof.

Representative systems for preventing the loss of the related art and methods thereof are disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0325780 (hereinafter referred to as "prior patent").

The preceding patent is a method for preventing loss and loss of goods by using a system having at least one user computer and a server computer connected through a computer network, wherein the server computer is a product identification number provided by a partner company A buyer database that stores the personal information of each buyer, a acquirer database that stores the personal information of the learner who can search the buyer database, an authentication program for authenticating the acquirer, and the personal information of the buyer corresponding to the input product unique number. Including a search program for outputting, the acquirer registered in the acquirer database is connected to the server computer to be authenticated according to the authentication program, and the certified acquirer is the product unique number of the item lost or worn by Mia The steps for entering And outputting, to the learner, the personal information of the buyer in the buyer database that matches the product unique number entered according to the search program.

Although the prior patent as described above prevents the occurrence of lost items through a method of searching for the unique number of the product, this is related to passive post-processing after the lost items cannot be prevented, and moreover, the operation of such a system is prevented. There is a problem that the steps for the complex, and also takes a considerable cost to build the system.

An object of the present invention, which was devised to solve the above problems, to provide a system and method for preventing a lost object using an active RFID chip that can prevent the occurrence of lost and found in advance.

The present invention for achieving the above object relates to a system for preventing the loss of objects using an active RFID chip, the unique identification consisting of the owner's information and mutually identifiable predetermined code information in response to the request of the RF Frieder 200 below. A plurality of tags 100 for storing information and transmitting confirmation signals for the following positioning command signals; And registering the tag 100 based on code information through wireless communication, storing the owner's information received from the owner in the tag 100, and setting a maximum allowable distance for each tag 100. Al fritter 200; Including, the RF reader 200 transmits a periodic positioning command signal to the tag 100 through wireless communication, and receives a confirmation signal corresponding to the positioning command signal from the tag 100, Based on the received confirmation signal, a distance is calculated through a predetermined measurement method, and whether the calculated distance is outside the maximum allowable distance preset in the tag 100 and the tag 100 in which the confirmation signal is not received. Identify and output the result to the owner as a predetermined output information.

Preferably, the predetermined measurement method is characterized in that at least one of the method of measuring the signal strength of the confirmation signal and the method of measuring the transmission and reception time difference between the confirmation signal.

Also preferably, the tag 100 may include an RFID chip 110 that stores the unique identification information and transmits a positioning signal corresponding to the positioning command signal, and a power supply unit supplying power required for operation. 120, and an antenna 101.

Also, preferably, the RF reader 200 may include an antenna 201, a transceiver 210 configured to perform wireless communication with the tag 100, and measure signal strength of a received signal. Including a function button input unit 220 for detecting a predetermined pressing signal by the owner, an output unit 230 for outputting the output information in the form of a text or voice, and a power supply unit 240 for providing power for operation And a microprocessor 250 for performing a control operation by predetermined operating software stored in the internal memory.

Also preferably, the operation software is characterized in that it includes a function for calculating the distance for a predetermined signal received through the transceiver 210.

Also, the predetermined output information may include code information, a predetermined maximum allowable distance of the tag 100 corresponding to the code information, and a calculated distance.

Also preferably, after the output information is output to the owner, if there is a location tracking request for the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance,

In addition, the RF reader 200 may periodically receive a confirmation signal for the positioning command signal and output the distance of the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance to the owner in real time.

On the other hand, the present invention relates to a method for preventing the loss of an object using an active RFID chip, the RF reader 200 reads the identification code information of the tag 100 by wireless communication and registers it in the internal memory, the tag from the owner A first step of receiving information about the maximum allowable distance and the owner of the (100) and to store in the tag (100); The RF reader 200 to the positioning command signal to a plurality of registered tags (100) Transmitting and receiving, from a plurality of tags (100), an acknowledgment signal corresponding to the positioning command signal; The RF reader 200 calculates the distance through a predetermined measurement method based on the confirmation signal received in the second step through the operating software, and the maximum allowable distance of the corresponding tag 100 in which each calculated distance is preset Determining whether or not it is within; And a fourth step in which the RF reader 200 outputs information on each tag 100 that is out of the maximum allowable distance to the owner through the determination of the third step. It includes.

Preferably, after the fourth step, when there is a location tracking request for the tag 100 that is out of the maximum allowable distance from the owner, the RF reader 200 periodically receives a confirmation signal for the positioning command signal A fifth step of outputting the distance of the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance to the owner in real time; It characterized in that it further comprises.

The predetermined measurement method may be at least one of a method of measuring a signal strength of the confirmation signal and a method of measuring a transmission / reception time difference between the confirmation signals.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention. Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be noted that the detailed description of known functions and configurations related to the present invention is omitted if it is determined that the gist of the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention. . Referring to Figures 1a and 1b with respect to the lost property prevention system using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system for preventing lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating a system for preventing a lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a lost-loss prevention system using an active RFID chip (hereinafter, referred to as a "lost-loss prevention system") includes a tag 100 having unique identification information and a radio communication (RF). And an RF reader 200 which reads and decodes in a manner. Lost and found prevention system having such a configuration uses an RF (Radio Frequency Indentification) system to achieve the characteristic purpose (prevention of lost) of the present invention. The so-called RFID system is also referred to as a smart tag due to the characteristic operation of RFID, and as is well known, the RFID system is a thin flat RF ID attached to an object in a non-contact manner through a radio signal of a predetermined frequency band. A system for identifying and processing a tag (RFID tag), comprising an RFID (RF) reader (reader) that performs reading and decoding functions, a tag for storing unique identification information, and predetermined operating software. In some cases, a separate wired / wireless communication system is further included.

In this regard, the tag 100 according to the characteristic aspect of the present invention stores unique identification information at the request of the RF reader 200, as shown in FIG. RFID chip 110 to transmit, a power supply unit 120 for supplying power necessary for operation, and an antenna 101. Here, a tag that transmits an RF signal from the tag itself, such as the tag 100 of the present invention, and receives power for all operations from its power supply unit 120 is referred to as an active tag. The tag 100 may be attached to an object to be managed by the user in various forms.

For reference, a passive tag distinguished from an active tag reflects a radio signal received from a reader (reader) and uses the induced current generated in the antenna 101 by the radio signal to operate. Has the characteristic of generating the required power. Of course, the passive tag is easier to maintain and manage than the active tag, but in order to generate power, the distance between the tag and the reader should be within 0.16λ (lambda wavelength), which is inductively coupled. The low frequency must be utilized, and therefore, the communication distance is very short within 1m. Therefore, the tag 100 according to the characteristic aspect of the present invention is preferably set in an active tag method having a wider communication effective distance (typically 3 m or more, but up to 50 m or more depending on the power supply). In the present embodiment, the unique identification information is set to be information about the owner of the object and predetermined code information in which each tag 100 can be mutually identified, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the RF reader 200 performs a wireless transmission / reception function with the above-described tag 100 and transmits / receives 210 to measure signal strength of a predetermined signal, and Although not provided, the input unit 220 including a plurality of function buttons to detect the pressing signal for this, the output unit 230 for outputting information related to the operation in the form of a text or voice, and to provide power for operation It is composed of a power supply unit 240, and a microprocessor 250 for controlling the components of the RF reader 200. In addition, the antenna 201 is further provided for smooth transmission and reception of the radio signal through the transceiver 210. Herein, the antenna 201 may be set to various types of antennas installed outside or inside the RFID reader 200. In the present embodiment, the output unit 230 will be set to a display such as an LCD and a small speaker such as a buzzer, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The RF reader 200 according to an aspect of the present invention having the above-described configuration may store owner information in each tag 100 through wireless communication under the control of the microprocessor 250. Each tag 100 may be registered and managed based on unique identification information. Here, the information of the owner is information received through the input unit 220, this information may be registered and stored in the internal memory of the microprocessor 250 may be used repeatedly. For reference, the RF reader 200 is based on the final standard (6.3.4 Anti-collision Parameters of 18000-7) of the International Organization for Standardization / ISO (IEC). Up to 3,000 can be registered and managed without any logical conflict. Therefore, the user can manage up to 3,000 items he wants to manage. Of course, the upper limit of the number is obviously fluctuated by technological development, so the present invention is not limited to the upper limit.

In addition, the RF reader 200 according to another aspect of the present invention, may transmit a positioning command signal to the registered tag 100 through the transmission and reception unit 210 at predetermined time intervals, the location confirmation Each tag 100 receiving the command signal transmits a confirmation signal. In this case, the confirmation signal transmitted from each tag 100 includes unique identification information, and the RF reader 200 receiving the received signal measures the signal strength of the confirmation signal received through the transceiver 210. The distance between the RF reader 200 and the respective tags 100 may be calculated by at least one of a method and a method of measuring a transmission / reception time difference between the positioning command signal and the confirmation signal.

For reference, the signal strength basically shows a property inversely proportional to the square of the distance. In practice, however, the error can be large due to characteristics such as being inversely proportional to the cube of the distance or to the square of the square due to the influence of the surrounding environment. Therefore, as in this embodiment, the distance calculation between the tag 100 and the RF reader 200 uses a measurement method including a signal strength of the confirmation signal and a time difference between transmission and reception between the positioning command signal and the confirmation signal. desirable.

When the tag 100 that deviates by more than a predetermined distance (maximum allowable distance) is identified through the distance calculation, the identification information, the calculated distance, and a predetermined warning sound of the corresponding tag 100 are output to the output unit 230. . Therefore, the user can easily know whether the object attached to the tag 100 is separated. Here, each of the tags 100 may be individually set by predetermined numerical information (maximum allowable distance) input by the user through the input unit 220, and thus the user may set the tag 100 of the object to which the tag 100 is attached. The maximum allowable distance can be set flexibly.

And the RFID reader 200 according to another aspect of the present invention, the tag 100 is not received from each registered tag 100, the confirmation signal for the positioning command signal as described above and The identification information of the tag 100 that is out of the maximum allowable distance is output to the output unit 230 in a list format, and among the tags that are out of the maximum allowable distance, the tag that the user wants to track the position through the input unit 220 is If selected, the tracking mode for the tag 100 is performed. The position tracking mode means that the distance calculation as described above is performed in real time through continuous reception of a confirmation command signal for the positioning command signal. Accordingly, the user who owns the RFID reader 200 may have a corresponding tag 100. Tracking is possible while moving to attached objects. In the present embodiment, the function related to the distance calculation is preferably included in the operating software stored in the memory in the microprocessor 250.

Lost and found prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration and features are not the manner in which a predetermined action is taken after the item is lost as in the prior art, it identifies a lot of things that are likely to be lost Since it can manage, it has a characteristic which can prevent the loss of an object. An operation process of this characteristic function will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C. 2A is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are details of a method for preventing lost and found using an active RFID chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flow chart.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the microprocessor 250 of the RF reader 200 registers the tag 100 so as to be identified by wireless communication through the transceiver 210 (S210). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the microprocessor 250 reads the identification code information of the tag 100, registers and stores it in the internal memory (S212), and the user through the input unit 220. The information about the maximum allowable distance and the owner of the tag 100 is received from and stored in the tag 100 (S214, S216). Of course, through this step, the tag 100 that can be registered can be set up to 3,000 on a wide range of conditions that can be identified as described above without any logical collision.

In this case, the maximum allowable distance of the tag 100 set in step S214 is stored based on the identification code information of the tag 100 stored in step S212. Therefore, from the confirmation signal of the tag 100 corresponding to the periodic positioning command signal of the RF reader 200 to be described below, it is possible to determine whether the tag 100 is within a predetermined maximum allowable distance. In the present embodiment, the information on the owner can be variously set by a plurality of letters or numbers, or a combination of letters and numbers through the input unit 220, the present invention is not limited to the combination method. .

Next, the microprocessor 250 transmits a positioning command signal to the plurality of tags 100 previously registered through the transceiver 210, and transmits a plurality of tags to confirm a signal corresponding to the positioning command signal. Received from the (100) (S220, S230). Here, the positioning command signal, and when the tag 100 receives it and the RF reader 200 to transmit a confirmation signal consisting of a predetermined code including the unique identification information stored in the tag 100 and The command signal is negotiated between the tags 100. On the other hand, the microprocessor 250 that receives the confirmation signal from the plurality of tags 100 through the transceiver 210, based on the unique identification information contained in the received confirmation signal, the confirmation signal is a tag It is easy to identify whether it was transmitted from.

Thereafter, the microprocessor 250 identifying the above-described confirmation signal calculates a distance based on each confirmation signal by using internal operating software, and the calculated distance is the maximum value of the corresponding tag 100 preset. It is determined whether or not it is within an allowable distance. In addition, the microprocessor 250 identifies the tag 100 missing the receipt of the confirmation signal in a list form by matching each received confirmation signal with the previously registered tag 100 (S240). Here, the tag 100 in which the confirmation signal reception is missed is out of a distance in which the confirmation signal reception is impossible due to exceeding a maximum allowable distance, or the tag 100 when the tag 100 is broken or inoperable. It can be estimated as

After the step S240, the microprocessor 250 includes, among the tags 100 whose distances are identified, information including identification code information and calculated distances for the tags 100 outside the maximum allowable distance, and / Or outputs a predetermined warning sound to the output unit 230 (S250). In this case, the information output through the output unit 230 includes not only the tags 100 that deviate from the maximum allowable distance, but also each of the plurality of registered tags 100, for example, "identification code information-maximum allowable distance-". It is preferable to output in the form of a list in the form of "current distance", and items of tags outside the maximum allowable distance and tags of which no confirmation signal is received are highlighted so as to be distinguished from other normal tags. It is desirable to be. Of course, such a series of subsidiary procedures (output in list form, highlighting) can be easily applied or modified by the operating software included in the microprocessor 250 to those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art. It is obvious that implementation is possible. In the present embodiment, each of the tags 100 pre-registered in the RF reader 200 is output to the user (owner) through the output unit 230 in the form of "identification code information-maximum allowable distance-current distance". However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

On the other hand, in the list of the tag 100 output through the output unit 230, the user can select the specific tag (tag outside the maximum allowable distance) through the input unit 220, it is possible to track the location of the tag There is (S260). To this end, as shown in FIG. 2C, the microprocessor 250 transmits a periodic positioning command signal to the selected specific tag through the input unit 200 (S262), and then receives the confirmation signal received from the specific tag. Received (S264), calculates the distance based on the received confirmation signal, and outputs the result to the output unit 230, by moving the owner (user) holding the RF reader 200, while a specific tag The location of the attached object can be located and tracked in real time. In the present embodiment, steps S262 to S266 are the same as steps S220 to S240 described above, and are described to illustrate a method for tracking a location of an object with a specific tag.

As described above, the lost-loss prevention system according to the present invention can easily grasp the distance between the RF readers 200 with respect to each of the objects to which the tag 100 is registered in advance. If there is a tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance, it can be identified by the owner, unlike the passive post-processing method that handles it after the loss of the object as in the prior art actively prevents the loss of the object in advance Has the advantage.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited to the drawing.

According to the present invention as described above, the owner can determine in real time the distance between the tag and the article attached to the RFID reader through a plurality of tags attached to the article to be managed and the RFID reader to register and manage the tag. And, by setting the maximum allowable distance for each tag to identify whether the maximum allowable distance deviation for each of the tags, there is an effect that can actively manage things and prevent loss.

Claims (10)

In the loss prevention system using active RFID chip, A plurality of tags (100) for storing unique identification information consisting of owner information and mutually identifiable predetermined code information according to the request of the RF reader 200, and transmitting a confirmation signal for the following positioning command signal. ); And Registering the tag 100 based on code information through wireless communication, storing the owner information received from the owner in the tag 100, and setting the maximum allowable distance for each tag 100 RF Frieder 200; Including, The RF reader 200 transmits a periodic positioning command signal to the tag 100 through wireless communication, receives an acknowledgment signal corresponding to the positioning command signal from the tag 100, and receives the received confirmation. The distance is calculated through a predetermined measurement method based on the signal, and whether the calculated distance is out of the maximum allowable distance preset in the tag 100 and the tag 100 for which the confirmation signal is not received is identified. Lost and found prevention system using an active RFID chip, characterized in that the output to the owner as a predetermined output information. The method of claim 1, The predetermined measurement method is At least one of the method of measuring the signal strength of the confirmation signal and the method of measuring the transmission and reception time difference between the positioning command signal and the confirmation signal characterized in that at least one method using an active RFID chip. The method of claim 1, The tag 100, The RFID chip 110 stores the unique identification information and transmits a positioning signal corresponding to the positioning command signal, a power supply unit 120 for supplying power for operation, and an antenna 101. Lost and found prevention system using an active RFID chip. The method of claim 1, The RF pile 200, A predetermined push signal by the owner, including an antenna 201, a transceiver 210 for measuring the signal strength for a predetermined signal received while performing wireless communication with the tag 100, and a plurality of function buttons An input unit 220 for detecting a signal, an output unit 230 for outputting the output information in the form of a text or a voice, a power supply unit 240 for supplying power for operation, and predetermined operating software stored in an internal memory. Loss and loss prevention system using an active RFID chip, characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor for performing a control operation by. The method of claim 4, wherein The operation software, Loss and loss prevention system using an active RFID chip, characterized in that it includes a function to calculate the distance for a predetermined signal received through the transceiver 210. The method of claim 1, The predetermined output information, Lost and lost prevention system using an active RFID chip, characterized in that it comprises a code information, the predetermined maximum allowable distance, and the calculated distance of the tag 100 corresponding to the code information. The method of claim 1, After the output information is output to the owner, if there is a location tracking request for the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance, The RF reader 200 periodically receives an acknowledgment signal for the positioning command signal and outputs the distance of the tag 100 deviating from the maximum allowable distance to the owner in real time, using an active RFID chip. Lost & Found Prevention System. In the lost article prevention method of the lost article prevention system composed of a plurality of tags (100) and the RF reader 200 to register and manage the tag 100, The RFID reader 200 reads identification code information of the tag 100 by wireless communication and registers the identification code information in the internal memory, and receives information on the maximum allowable distance and owner of the tag 100 from the owner. Storing in 100); A second step in which the RF reader 200 transmits a positioning command signal to a plurality of registered tags 100 and receives a confirmation signal corresponding to the positioning command signal from the plurality of tags 100; ; The RF reader 200 calculates the distance through a predetermined measurement method based on the confirmation signal received in the second step through the operating software, and the maximum allowable distance of the corresponding tag 100 in which each calculated distance is preset Determining whether or not it is within; And A fourth step of the RF reader 200 outputting information on each tag 100 that is out of the maximum allowable distance to the owner through the determination of the third step; Lost and found prevention method using an active RFID chip comprising a. The method of claim 8, After the fourth step, If there is a location tracking request for the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance from the owner, the RF reader 200 periodically receives a confirmation signal for the positioning command signal to the tag 100 outside the maximum allowable distance A fifth step of outputting the distance to the owner in real time; Lost items prevention method using an RFID chip further comprising a. The method of claim 8, The predetermined measurement method is Loss and thing prevention method using an active RFID chip, characterized in that at least one of the method of measuring the signal strength of the confirmation signal and the method of measuring the transmission and reception time difference between the confirmation signal.

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