KR20100004429A - An embeded type middleware flatform for handheld rfid reader and handheld device loading thereof, and interlock system using thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An embedded type middleware platform for a handheld RFID reader, the handheld device loading thereof, and an interlock system using the same are provided to supply a platform and a UI(User Interface) for easily developing software for a handheld RFID reader, thereby applying to convenient and various applications. CONSTITUTION: A reader interface component(4) connects RFID readers provided by venders with middleware using a common interface. A filter interface component(5) processes RFID(Radio Frequency ID) tag information transmitted from the reader interface component according to user definition. A connector interface component(6) transfers processing result data to an external application.

Description

Embedded middleware platform for portable RDF reader, portable terminal with same and interworking system using same {An Embeded Type Middleware Flatform For Handheld RFID Reader And Handheld Device Loading Thereof, And Interlock System Using Thereof}

The present invention relates to an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same. More particularly, the hardware control portion and RFID tag information necessary for developing an application to be mounted in an RFID portable device are described. Embedded middleware for portable RFID readers that require users to develop the business logic and UI part of the application by providing the processing function and the function of delivering the processed tag information to the enterprise system through various communication channels. The present invention relates to an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader providing a platform, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

Recently, RFID and USN technologies have been introduced that attach radio frequency identification (RFID) to objects, identify information of objects, and sense surrounding situation information. This technology replaces bar codes to intelligently manage goods, leading innovation in security, safety, and environmental management as well as distribution and goods management, realizing informatization not only for humans but also for anything. It is emerging as a core technology.

Advanced countries such as the United States and Japan have been actively supporting RFID / USN technology through various projects for many years.The future technology, RFID technology, is utilized in various real-life situations such as transportation, logistics, environment, disaster relief, defense, home network, etc. It is an essential technical field for the realization of a ubiquitous society.

RFID / USN attaches electronic tags to all necessary places (Ubiquitous) and detects not only the recognition information of objects but also the environmental information (temperature, humidity, pollution information, crack information, etc.) of the surroundings in real time. By connecting to the network and managing information, the network ultimately gives computing and communication capabilities to all things to create a ubiquitous environment that can communicate anytime, anywhere, anything. Is to implement. RFID / USN technology will first evolve around RFID, which provides recognition information, and then USN, which will add sensing functions.

In the future, the use of this technology is expected to evolve in stages as the application of electronic tags (sensor) such as chip price, size, and performance is spread in the market. If the Centro price is lowered, it is expected to be widely applied in real life such as logistics / distribution and environment, disaster prevention, medical management, and food management.

Communication is added to the electronic tag and sensing function that gradually detects the surrounding environment is developed to become an intelligent micro network terminal that processes information actively. It is expected to evolve to a processing level and to develop into an intelligent u-sensor network with inter-object communication after 2010.

On the other hand, portable terminals equipped with RFID readers have OS (WinCE, Windows Mobile 5.0, etc.) and user applications that use limited resources, and are rapidly being applied to customer management, fixed asset management, and distribution fields where mobility is important. have.

Directly integrating and deploying RFID in legacy systems existing in these fields has created a lot of risks to the system, and in the early stages of the RFID industry, building a system using the technology is a high risk. . While many companies recognize RFID as an attractive technology in terms of industrial automation, it becomes a deterrent to the development of the RFID industry, which delays the introduction of the system to the market activation stage.

In addition, even if RFID systems are applied and deployed at a high cost, the expansion of functions within the system, the change of the operating environment of the portable terminal, and the change of the interface with external channels will lead to an increase in maintenance costs, and the expansion of RFID technology. And the system has a problem that can not actively cope with changes.

The inability to allocate adequate time to the business system's business logic and user interface requirements due to the software considerations required to implement an RFID system increases the development period and the cost of deployment. It does not have a suitable ROI for companies that want to apply the industry in real time to increase work efficiency.

Currently, RFID middleware is a product that supports a fixed RFID reader and there is no middleware that supports a portable RFID reader. Therefore, the system is being developed in a form of one-time software development for each portable RFID product. Due to the increased dependency on sex and hardware equipment, it is not easy to replace RFID reader in the future.

In addition, domestic and foreign RFID reader products are used as essential equipment for real-time logistics tracking service, goods import / export, asset management service with RFID tag scanning function. In other words, the focus is on being intelligent. Therefore, in order to support various RFID reader technologies, development of converged software that can be used as a new application service platform is urgently required.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the prior art, and it is necessary to develop a hardware control part, an RFID tag information processing function, and processed tag information to an enterprise system, which are essential for developing an application to be mounted on an RFID portable device. Embedded middleware platform for handheld RFID readers that provides tag middleware platform for handheld RFID readers that require users to develop only the business logic and UI part of the application An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal equipped with the same and an interworking system using the same.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a platform and portable software that can easily develop software running on the PDA when the system is built using the RFID reader included in the PDA-type portable device in accordance with the demand of the portable RFID reader market is expanding By providing the necessary user interface between the device and the RFID reader, it provides an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader that integrates and intelligentizes various functions for simple and diverse applications, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same. There is.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to support a variety of embedded operating environment and RFID reader module by integrating middleware in a device including a portable RFID reader, and operating system by utilizing the embedded middleware component module in a limited resource environment that is characteristic of embedded device The present invention provides an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader that provides a structure for developing software that can be driven independently in an environment, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to use after-request resources when needed using the framework proposed by the middleware, rather than integrating reader, filter, connector functions, etc. directly within the application implemented the task Accordingly, the present invention provides an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

In addition, another object of the present invention is a variety of operations required for the construction of the RFID system, such as considerations in terms of software of the portable RFID reader, expansion of the function of the system, changes in the device operating environment, changes in the interface on the external communication channel, expansion of the RFID technology standards Supporting the environment and utilizing the various module functions in the middleware to apply industry's requirements in a timely manner, inducing system slimmer, integrated, and intelligent, and securing the competitive edge of the industry through management convenience and construction cost reduction The present invention provides an embedded middleware platform for an RFID reader, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to support a variety of embedded device operating environment and RFID reader module by integrating and operating the middleware in a device including a portable RFID reader module, and included in a variety of embedded middleware even in a limited resource environment that is characteristic of embedded devices The purpose of the present invention is to provide an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader that can be driven independently of a platform, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same unit module.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a hardware control portion and RFID tag information processing function, which is essential for developing an application to be mounted on an RFID portable device in the form of a solution. It is to provide an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader that runs the system, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable RFID reader interface function, RFID tag information processing and filtering function, engine resource management function, mobile database processing function, portable terminal application, which are essential for developing an application to be mounted in a device including a portable RFID reader. It provides interface processing function, various communication channel support function for interworking with enterprise system, and the function to synchronize mobile database with master database in the form of middleware for portable RFID reader suitable for users who want to build a system using portable RFID reader. The present invention provides an embedded middleware platform, a portable terminal equipped with the same, and an interworking system using the same.

As a means for solving the above problems, the embedded middleware platform for the portable RFID reader of the present invention, the reader interface component for supporting the RFID reader provided by multiple vendors to interwork with the middleware using a common interface; ; A filter interface component for processing and processing RFID tag information transmitted from the reader interface component by user definition; A connector interface component for delivering processing result data of the filter interface component to an external application; A mobile database synchronization component configured to store data processed offline in a database and then synchronize the data stored in the database with a database server in a batch form when the data is stored online; A mobile adminitor that determines how the portable RFID middleware platform will be used within the device; A mobile agent which dynamically initializes a resource with information configured from the mobile adminitor and operates using the resource in a corresponding program, and interlocks an RFID processing result with an enterprise system in an automatic or triggered manner; A mobile user application that dynamically initializes a resource with information configured from the mobile administerator, operates using the resource in a corresponding program, and provides a function provided by the portable RFID middleware platform in a demo form to a user; And an engine core that provides a generalized framework for tag event messages to be delivered in connection with resources and external channels in the portable RFID middleware platform, and provides a service provider framework and library required for further development and expansion of new resources. Module; includes.

The engine core module provides a library required for development when supporting a new module while supporting a formal format for tag data interworking with the reader interface component, the filter interface component, the connector interface component, and an external channel in a framework structure form. It is a core component module that supports utility libraries required for user application development.

The engine core module includes a resource manager component configured to configure or dynamically load and release resources to be used in the mobile agent or mobile client application, and to manage mobile database connection, thread pool management, and memory management. It is characterized by.

The engine core module may include a tag data translation component in charge of encoding / decoding a format of tag data to support a structured data format structure when the tag data is transmitted to an external channel.

The filter interface component is a matching filter group that can match tags with only tag data having contents satisfying a user's input condition and checks the result, and an aggregation filter that converts the message into a specific tag event message to be used in an enterprise system and delivers the message. It is characterized by including the groups.

The mobile adder is configured to register, modify, delete, and configure components of the middleware to be used in the mobile agent or the mobile user application.

When the mobile administrator is configured to operate in an agent manner, the resources to be used refer to the configuration information (XML) in the mobile agent in an automated manner and triggered manner by registering a reader, an aggregation filter, and an online connector one by one. When configured to operate in user mode, the resource to be used is to register one reader adapter, multiple filters, connectors, etc. included in the device as needed so that the mobile client application can refer to the configuration information. It is characterized by.

The mobile client application includes a reader control function for checking the operation of the RFID reader device; A tag search function for associating specific tags or tag groups with pattern matching filters and checking whether they meet the corresponding conditions; An event handling function for performing a task of generating a business tag event message using a registered component using the mobile administrator and interworking an end result with an enterprise system using connectors that are online; And a mobile database synchronization function for storing a processing result processed after tag recognition in relation to the event handling in a mobile database and synchronizing with a master database.

The embedded middleware platform is characterized in that it uses a master installation program (MSI type installer) for building and packaging the middleware platform for each operating system to install the entire middleware platform for the corresponding device using a desktop.

The embedded middleware platform accesses a web file, an e-mail server, or the like in a cabinet file corresponding to the middleware platform through a web, an e-mail, etc. It is characterized by installing after saving to a folder.

The embedded middleware platform should be integrated with the middleware platform after new components (readers, filters, connectors, etc.) have been developed by the programmer in the .NET mobile program development environment with the service provider framework provided by the middleware platform. In this case, the resources are packaged in a cabinet structure, and then extended and operated to be installed in a portable device.

The embedded middleware platform maps a resource to be used as a unique name registered using a mobile manager program at the time of connection and resource request for a component (reader, filter, connector, etc.) to be provided in a program development environment. By having an architecture that is designed to have a flexible structure for resource changes to be used.

The embedded middleware platform adds a new resource for changing, modifying, or using a resource, and then requests the resource manager from the user program to use the function of the corresponding component with a consistent interface thereafter. .

The embedded middleware platform is characterized in that when the business logic is changed, it is downloaded to the desktop using an ActiveSync program, connected to a new device, uploaded, and then uploaded to complete the configuration of the corresponding device.

The embedded middleware platform downloads an installation file by selecting a hyperlink to a cabinet file divided by a portable device operating environment and included reader modules, and then automatically installs the middleware platform on a device by selecting the installation file. It is characterized by.

The embedded middleware platform may install a middleware platform through a synchronization service between a desktop computer and a device.

The embedded middleware platform may install a middleware platform by downloading and clicking a link file included in an e-mail or a short message service (SMS).

In addition, as a means for solving the above problems, a portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform for the portable RFID reader of the present invention is a portable RFID reader for any one of claims 1 to 17 It is characterized by a portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform.

In addition, as a means for solving the above problems, an interworking system using a portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader of the present invention is the portable type according to any one of claims 1 to 17. It is characterized in that the interworking system using a portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform for the RFID reader.

The embedded middleware platform for the portable RFID reader, the portable terminal equipped with the same, and the interworking system using the same are problems of software integration that originate from the problems of the development environment of the existing portable device and the use of limited resources in the embedded device. It is expected to provide market development effect in supporting various application service environments and application of RFID system for new handheld readers by providing RFID middleware for handheld readers in solution form to solve the problems with

In addition, the present invention has the following technical, business, and social effects.

1. Technical effect

The development of RFID tags and readers is developing rapidly. Even in areas that are considered as technical limitations, solutions are being found by applying new technologies. In addition, handheld readers are being applied to the RFID business throughout the industry along with fixed RFID readers. Now, when large-scale distribution of information begins, the current information processing system is vulnerable if RFID middleware for portable readers is not supported with RFID middleware. The middleware for portable RFID reader has the functions necessary to apply various specifications hardware in a short time and develop efficiently, and guarantee the flexibility and expandability of information system, compatibility with other systems, and stability.

PPS Handheld Reader Program Development Part Analysis-PPS RFID item management system Source level self-analysis results The development of hardware adapter part, tag information filtering, and connection part development totaled more than 30% of the total development part. In part, the application of RFID middleware for the handheld reader to be developed in this project can bring about an effect of saving more than 30% of the entire process.

RFID middleware for handheld readers guarantees the security of information security protocols through structured techniques, implements adaptive negotiation protocols for resource requests, and uses lightweight markup language techniques for logistics data filtering and transmission processing. The platform includes a definition process module, a portable reader interface, and the like and a module for linking with a real-time in-memory event DB (RIED) in a data processing field. We secured the element technology and developed a platform that integrates it.

It is required to secure element technology and integrated design ability, which will contribute to the development of intelligent agent development and large-scale real-time data processing development that ensure communication between objects without human intervention in the future without being limited to portable RFID middleware. In addition, the advent of wireless sensor networks and ubiquitous environments will require more intelligent and diverse data processing, which will greatly affect the synchronization and integration of information stored in various devices in the future.

2. Business effect

Domestic IT platform is completely dominated by foreign products. In the middleware field in particular, the dependency is very profound. Although some domestic middleware products are sold or applied in the field, they are inadequate in terms of market share and influence. Therefore, middleware, which is a major platform of information systems, is also completely dependent on foreign products classified as web logic and tuxedo.

As the application of the portable RFID reader is expanding in constructing the RFID system, companies have not been able to systematically develop the software mounted on the portable RFID reader. Currently, when the portable RFID reader is spread, it is developed in foreign countries. The time has come for RFID middleware and development platforms for a handheld reader to be applied. If the use of portable RFID middleware is left to market logic as it is now, there is a high possibility of following the last train. Although not a leader, the development of RFID middleware for portable readers is not too late. The rapid development and dissemination should break the dependence of the platform and effect the substitution of imports, as well as the overseas exports based on the cases and know-how applied in Korea.

Fortunately, RFID middleware is royalty-free in standard specifications and is supported by element technologies that can break platform dependencies in the open source group. By utilizing this properly, developing RFID middleware for portable readers for RFID will enable the development of international solutions with technical or cost competitiveness.

3. Social Effects

Based on our informatization infrastructure, development and distribution of various RFID services are expected to improve national competitiveness, reduce economic cost, and improve productivity. In addition, the RFID middleware for portable readers to be developed in this project avoids double development in various RFID projects that will be expanded in the future, and developers can concentrate on the development of upper application and user interface part, and the profits are enormous. In addition, the active adoption of RFID technology in the logistics sector is expected to drastically reduce national logistics costs. (Report on National Logistics Cost of 95 trillion won in 2008, MIT Auto-ID Center Report: Total Logistics with RFID Technology Expected to save up to 20% of costs)

The present invention provides a platform for easily developing software running on a PDA and an RFID reader when building a system using an RFID reader included in a PDA-type portable device according to the demand of the expanding portable RFID reader market. It is a technology that integrates and intelligentizes various functions for simple and various applications by providing the necessary user interface.

Essential technologies for developing RFID middleware for handheld readers include embedded OS device application technology, ISO and EPC standard RFID multiprotocol technology, EPC Global standard RFID middleware technology, and strategic technology for installing and deploying middleware platforms in embedded devices. For example, platform integration technologies that need to consider system operating environment conditions are needed.

This is the basis of the domestic RFID industry by securing a new core technology of RFID system using embedded middleware in the domestic market of portable RFID middleware, which is theoretically and technically inferior to developed countries in the application of software platform which is the foundation of system integration technology. It is important to secure competitiveness that induces strengthening, commercialization, and import substitution.

Building a system using a portable RFID reader has various risk factors. Actively failing to cope with direct and integrated deployment of RFID systems in existing systems with considerations such as expansion of RFID technology standards, changes in functions within the system, changes in the operating environment of portable devices, and changes in interfaces with external channels. Will be embraced. In addition, due to consideration of the various software issues required to implement RFID systems, the inability to allocate adequate time to the business logic and user interface requirements of an enterprise system can lead to increased development time and deployment costs. This resulted in not having a return on investment (ROI) suitable for the industry.

The present invention supports various embedded operating environments and RFID reader modules by integrating middleware in a device including a portable RFID reader, and can be driven independently of an operating system environment by utilizing an embedded middleware component module even in a limited resource environment, which is a characteristic of an embedded device. Its purpose is to provide a structure for the development of software.

Rather than integrating reader, filter, and connector functions directly within the application that implements the task, the resources of the terminal device equipped with the RFID reader are used by requesting and using resources when needed using the framework proposed by middleware. The middleware solution was developed to suggest a flexible structure for changing the operating environment and changing the external communication channel interface.

Example

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the difference between the methods applied before and after the embedded middleware for the portable RFID reader of the present invention is integrated into the RFID user application.

The contents presented in FIG. 1 show the difference between the methods applied before and after the embedded middleware for the portable RFID reader is integrated into the RFID user application. Changes in the operating environment of terminal devices equipped with RFID readers by using resources after request as needed using the framework proposed by middleware, rather than integrating reader, filter, and connector functions directly within the business process module. In addition, it can be seen that a flexible structure is proposed for changing external communication channel interfaces.

1. Configuration and function of portable RFID middleware

RFID technology is an important core element in the construction of the entire RFID system, including the ability to process tag information on objects or products to suit user requirements, the ability to control or monitor readers, and the integration with corporate application services. .

International standardization related to RFID middleware is centered on EPC Network Architecture as shown in EPC Global (Figure 2), Tag Data, Tag Data Translation , ALE Middleware, EPC Information Service, ONS, and many other standard documents.

RFID middleware is an essential system component for processing automatic recognition data collected from an RFID reader in conjunction with various application applications. RFID middleware is a solution that plays a role of a bridge for convenient interworking with existing systems and a messenger for standardized information exchange with other systems.

RFID middleware needs a function that can integrate with other systems by integrating adapter, data filtering and recognized tag data into meaningful contents for interfacing with RFID reader. In addition, due to the nature of portable devices, connectivity through various communication channels and support for mobile databases should support a link that enables the device to use a well-established system even when offline.

As shown in FIG. 3, EPC Global abstracts the RFID software architecture with the above-described technical specification diagram, which is an automatic identification processing system of tag information, an EPCIS system storing information corresponding to tag ID and derivative information, and a tag. It defines the mutual function with ONS system that identifies the location so that the location of EPCIS system can be reached with the information corresponding to the ID.

RFID middleware platform is a software to support seamless interworking with existing system to reduce cost and improve system automation through the introduction of RFID system, and must support RFID reader device included in various portable devices in the market. It increases work efficiency by supporting interworking with application applications that want to use information.

The RFID middleware platform supports the connection and management of RFID readers through a consistent interface and supports a series of processes that effectively remove identified data from connected readers and deliver refined tag information to application applications.

The embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader according to the present invention includes essential functions for developing an application for mounting on a portable RFID reader.

4 is a schematic diagram of an embedded middleware platform structure for a portable RFID reader according to the present invention, which includes an engine core module (1), a resource management component (2), and a tag data translation component (2). Tag Data Translation Component; ③), Reader Interface Component (④), Filter Interface Component (⑤), Connector Interface Component (⑥), Mobile Database Synchronization Component (Mobile Database) It comprises a synchronization component (7), a mobile agent (8), a mobile user application (mobile client) (9), a mobile administrator (i), and the like.

The engine core module ① supports a service such as a reader, a filter, a connector, and a formal format for tag data to be linked with an external channel in a framework structure form. It is a core component module that provides libraries needed for development when supporting new modules, and supports the utility libraries required for developing user applications.

The resource management component (②) is a module that enables configuration or dynamic loading and release of resources to be used in a mobile agent or a mobile client application. It is responsible for thread pool management and memory management.

The Tag Data Translation Component (3) is a module for supporting a standardized data format structure when the tag data is transferred to an external channel by encoding / decoding the format of the tag data.

The reader interface component (④) is a module that is in charge of the overall operation with the reader and supports interworking of RFID readers provided by a plurality of vendors with middleware using a common interface. In addition, by checking the status of the reader and providing the reader's abstracted interface, the application provides a consistent approach to minimizing maintenance by changing the device device, and provides a service program to provide convenience when developing a new reader. Support integrated library in the form of a provider framework.

The filter interface component ⑤ is a module that appropriately processes tag information coming from a reader according to a function. It integrates tag data with matching filter group that recognizes tag according to function and determines whether it meets specific condition and breaks it down into aggregation related filter group for delivering meaningful data to enterprise system. By providing an abstracted software interface for the filter, it minimizes maintenance and supports an integrated library in the form of a service provider framework that can be easily developed when supporting new filters.

The connector interface component (⑥) is responsible for event delivery in real time to the enterprise system through the processing of the tag data processed in the application according to the user-defined requirements. Minimize maintenance by providing an abstracted software interface for the connector, and support an integrated library in the form of a service provider framework that can be easily developed when supporting new connectors.

The Mobile Database Synchronization Component (⑦) is configured to be offline by configuring the mobile database in the device so that the RFID system can be continuously used without interruption even when the mobile device cannot participate in the network due to the characteristics of the mobile device. Synchronize data to the database server in batch form when it comes online after the task has been processed.

The mobile agent (8) is an application that interoperates RFID processing results with an enterprise system in an automatic or triggered manner with user-defined engine configuration information in an online mode, and is easy to collectively work.

The mobile user application (Mobile Client) (⑨) is a commercial application developed to meet client requirements using standardized interfaces (Reader Adapter, Filter, Connector) and is easy to perform various tasks.

The mobile administrator (⑩) registers and modifies the functions of the middleware to be used in the mobile agent or the mobile user application, and refers to the configured information when driving the corresponding application. It is responsible for storing configuration information in the mobile device so that it can be configured and used dynamically.

2. Portable RFID Middleware Implementation Structure

The first consideration to use for RFID middleware platform in portable devices is to define the problem of how to manage the middleware platform according to the operating system environment and reader module used for each portable device.

Portable devices equipped with RFID reader modules currently use Real Time Operating System (RTOS) such as Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC and WinCE 5.0. In the present invention, the master installation program (MSI type installer) and Web, which can easily install the entire middleware platform suitable for the device by installing and packaging the middleware platform for each operating system in order to manage the middleware platform. There are two main ways to install the cabinet file corresponding to the middleware platform by e-mail and access the web server, e-mail server, etc., and save the linked file (cab file) to a specific folder in the device and install it. Present your deployment strategy.

If the operating system environment and CPU are different, the resources to be used should be built in the form of an appropriate target image and then referred to as an assembly form within the .NET Compact Framework operating environment.

The second consideration to use for RFID middleware platforms in handheld devices is to define how to extend and operate the middleware platform when new components (readers, filters, connectors) are added dynamically.

The middleware platform is largely divided into a framework part that includes common functions, a reader, a filter, a connector, and the like that are dynamically configured in the platform to provide services to mobile agents and mobile user applications.

If new readers, filters and connectors are developed by programmers within the .NET mobile program development environment with the service provider framework provided by the middleware platform, then the resources should be packaged into a cabinet structure if they need to be integrated and operated within the middleware platform. It then presents an expansion and operation strategy that allows for additional installations in portable devices.

The third consideration to use for RFID middleware platforms in portable devices is to define how flexible the middleware platform can cope with changing requirements when an administrator or developer writes a user application with the middleware platform.

Change of resources to be used by having an architecture that maps the resources to be used as unique names that were registered by using the mobile manager program at the time of the interface connection and resource request for the components to be provided in the program development environment, reader, filter, and connector. It has a flexible structure for. You can simply change, modify, or add new resources you want to use, and then ask the resource manager for the resources in your program so that you can use the features of that component with a consistent interface.

The fourth thing to consider when using an RFID middleware platform in a handheld device is to define the problem of how an administrator or developer can easily configure the available resources when configuring a user application with a middleware platform.

In general, a portable device equipped with an RFID reader module is not a form in which a user program is developed for a single device, but a form in which a multi-user uses a corresponding device to perform a task by using the same program on multiple devices. In this case, as the business logic changes, the mobile administrator program must be used to configure resources within the middleware platform. Therefore, a duplicate task may need to be performed several times (configured on one device and continuously executed on another device). Repeat the same operation).

To solve this problem, the mobile manager program in the middleware platform is composed and stored as XML-formatted information in XML format, which is simply downloaded to the desktop using the ActiveSync program, connected to a new device, and uploaded. You can configure the device.

3. Portable RFID Middleware Installation and Deployment Strategy

5 is a diagram illustrating a strategy for installing and distributing portable RFID middleware.

① Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile

To install a middleware platform, users browse a corporate network or the Internet with a specific download site. By downloading the installation file by selecting a hyperlink to the cabinet file divided by the portable device operating environment and the included reader module, the installation file is automatically installed to install the middleware platform on the device.

② Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0 or later

The middleware platform is installed through a synchronization service between the desktop computer and the device. A partnership relationship between the computer and the device needs to be established and the middleware platform is installed and registered on the desktop computer to be installed on the device to be docked after the master installer runs on the desktop computer.

When the device is docked to the cradle using a USB or serial cable or connected to a desktop computer via a Bluetooth or infrared connection, the Application Manager within ActiveSync provides remote access to the Remote API (RAPI) interface. To transfer the cabinet file into the device. The device cabinet inserter is then automatically triggered, allowing the middleware platform to install automatically.

③ E-Mail / SMS (Short Message Service)

E-mail or short message service (SMS) contains a link that the user can select. You can install these middleware platforms by downloading and clicking these link files from Internet Explorer Mobile. Alternatively, the middleware platform installation cabinet file can be installed by adding the file as an attachment to an e-mail message and then executing the file.

4. Portable RFID Middleware Platform Structure

Because portable devices differ greatly from fixed RFID readers or bar code scanners in terms of function or use, it is important to have a perspective on a unique family of device devices. To integrate these devices into a portable RFID middleware platform, tag data captured from the reader module within the device must be processed using an event handling architecture for the portable RFID device, especially for the unique development of portable devices for application development and integration. Is to provide a model.

The portable RFID middleware platform supports the model in the following forms.

○ Agent Model

It is a method that collects data automatically in a set manner using a mobile manager program included in a portable RFID middleware platform without any device side programming, and delivers meaningful data to an enterprise system by a user's action.

○ Client Model

It provides a library for developers to write .NET Compact Framework applications that run on devices that extend the middleware platform with the service provider framework provided by the portable RFID middleware platform.

After registering multiple available resources using mobile manager program, request for initialization by using resource manager in developing application. A resource manager dynamically loads a resource to use and manages the resource. When the application needs to use a specific resource, the resource manager requests and uses the unique name registered with the application to use it.

By defining the interface to be used in the middleware platform according to the resource, the application only needs to program with the appropriate interface according to the type of resource to be used. This is an advantage of using the middleware in that there is no need to change the application even when the resource is changed. Can present

The portable RFID middleware platform has a policy of building and distributing middleware platform components to target images according to various OS environments and CPUs under the .NET program development environment. Therefore, the RFID middleware platform can actively cope with changes in the used device environment. Have

The portable RFID middleware platform supports connection management in a consistent format using the unique adapter of the RFID reader included in the device, and removes unnecessary data through the filter module for the recognized data from the connected readers. Software that delivers to the application in the form.

There are two types of filters to be included in the portable device, which are largely supported according to their roles and functions. One of them is a matching that matches tags with only tag data that meets a user's input conditions. It is divided into filter groups and aggregation filter groups that convert messages into specific tag event messages for use in enterprise systems.

It is common to transmit a tag event message in real time using various connection characteristics of a portable device. However, by providing a mobile database in the device in case the device is offline, it provides the infrastructure to support work processing at any time while offline.

The tag event processing message that is processed offline is stored in the mobile database, and later the device is transferred to the master database on the server side using the mobile database replication manager module when the cradle or network connection is activated. This feature is unique to the middleware platform in that it can provide a number of advantages in areas where business processing is important.

6 illustrates a structure of a portable RFID middleware platform, and includes a mobile administrator, a mobile agent, a mobile client application, a core component module, and a reader component module. And a Reader Component Module, a Filter Component Module, a Connector Component Module, a Mobile Database Synchronizer Module, and the like.

① Mobile Administrator

As a mobile manager program that determines how a portable RFID middleware platform will be used in a device, the contents of resources can be largely configured in an agent manner and a user mode manner.

When configuring to act in an agent manner, each resource to be used can register a reader, an aggregation filter, and an online connector one by one to refer to the configuration information (XML) in a mobile agent in an automated manner and triggered manner. Make sure

When configuring to operate in user mode, the resource to be used registers one reader adapter, several filters, and connectors included in the device as needed so that the mobile client application can refer to the configuration information. .

The configured information is in XML format, and when it is saved, it goes through validation process and verifies that the resource to be used is registered correctly. It provides the function to set and modify the environmental information required for the portable RFID middleware platform to run as a whole.

② Mobile Agent

The mobile agent program operates by dynamically initializing a resource with information configured from the mobile manager program and using the resource in the corresponding program.

The Mobile Agent program can be used as an autonomous mode that reads tags continuously and as a trigger mode to selectively read distributed tags.

The tag data recognized and collected by the user is integrated into meaningful tag event messages through registered aggregation filters in the handheld middleware platform and then uses connector resources to automatically send those messages to the enterprise system.

The transmitted result can be checked through the mobile agent program and the contents of the recognized tag data can also be checked.

The purpose of using the mobile agent program is the same in terms of the method used when integrating automatically recognized tag data with an enterprise system such as a fixed reader, but only in that the function recognizes a tag by a user and works with an external channel. It's just different. This is useful when you want to work with legacy system automatically as a single terminal device without the need for processing other separate business logic in mobile device.

③ Mobile Client Application

The mobile client application operates by dynamically initializing a resource with information configured from the mobile manager program and using the resource within the program.

By demonstrating to the user the functionality provided by the portable RFID middleware platform as a whole, it presents various aspects that can be used to develop and integrate user applications with integrated business logic in mobile devices.

Mobile client applications are classified into functions related to reader control, specific tag search, mobile database synchronization, and event handling.

The reader control checks the operation of the RFID reader device (tag read, tag write, tag lock, tag kill, get power, set power, etc.).

The tag search associates a particular tag or tag group with pattern matching filters to check that it meets the conditions. If the condition is met, the list of automatically recognized tags is added to the list, and the detailed contents of the tag can be checked.

Mobile database synchronization stores the processing result in the mobile database when the final result processed after tag recognition in relation to event handling is reflected in the mobile database. After synchronization with the master database, you can use mobile database synchronization to ensure that the new additions are reflected on the server.

Event handling is to create business tag event message using various filters, connectors, etc. registered using mobile manager program, and shows the result of interworking with enterprise system by using online connectors.

④ Core Component Module

It is a core module that provides a generalized framework for tag event messages to be delivered by interworking with resources and external channels in the portable middleware platform, and provides service provider frameworks and libraries necessary for further development and expansion of new resources.

It dynamically loads and unloads resources to be used, manages mobile database connections, thread pools, and manages memory. Performs the operation in charge of encoding / decoding tags in EPC tag data format. It provides various utility libraries such as logging function, message conversion function, and registry key management function required for user application development.

⑤ Reader Component Module

RFID readers in portable devices support the ability to control and manage connectivity. The reader's abstracted interface enables the development of new reader library modules, even when changing portable devices and RFID readers, for easy integration and operation within the middleware platform, minimizing maintenance because applications are accessed consistently through the interface. Support the ability to do it. It supports many portable RFID reader modules such as AT570 (ATID) and MC9090G (Symbol).

The RFID reader module included in the portable device is configured to support only one specific reader module in the middleware platform installation program or cabinet file because the RFID reader module needs to be applied with only a limited model.

⑥ Filter Component Module

This function removes and summarizes unnecessary data from the reader and configures it as a tag event message.

The filter's functionality is divided into pattern matching filters that recognize tags and determine whether they match specific patterns, and aggregation-related filters that integrate tag data messages to deliver meaningful data to enterprise systems.

The pattern matching filter performs a function of determining whether a corresponding tag is matched by giving a condition according to the format of the EPC tag pattern presented in the EPC tag data specification. In addition, it provides a function to search by inputting a memory value corresponding to tag data to selectively search only a specific tag, not a tag group. Pattern Matching Filters and Non Pattern Matching Filters are provided within a middleware platform.

Aggregation filters are filters that aggregate tag event messages. An Observation Filter that only identifies tag events detected, an Aggregation Filter that consists of messages that form a parent / child relationship, and a Grouping Filter that organizes messages belonging to specific event class groups Can be divided into (Grouping Filter).

If you have a new filter development requirement, you can easily develop with a service provider framework to implement the filter's abstracted interface, then deploy and operate it within a middleware platform.

⑦ Connector Component Module

It performs the function to deliver the tag data recognized from the reader to the enterprise system.

The connectors are divided into groups that can be used in online mode and offline mode. Communication mode that supports online mode is Http connector, socket connector, SOAP connector, database connector, etc. Connector mobile DB that can be used in offline mode It is divided into a connector (Mobile DB Connector).

All event messages delivered to the enterprise system follow the tag event message format in XML format, and the system that wants to interwork with the portable middleware platform can analyze and process the appropriately delivered message by providing the tag event schema format.

If you have new connector development requirements, you can easily develop with a service provider framework to implement the connector's abstracted interface, then deploy and operate within the middleware platform.

⑧ Mobile Database Synchronizer Module

Performs the function to synchronize the processed tag event message to the master database using the Mobile DB Connector used in offline mode.

It is useful to reflect the result of processing in batch form when the business logic is processed online and placed online (placed in the cradle or connected to various communication channels).

5. Portable RFID middleware software configuration

Portable RFID middleware software requires a solution for operating and managing a middleware platform within a portable device, including an RFID middleware engine. According to the present invention, a mobile manager program is dynamically installed in a device in order to dynamically configure resources such as a reader adapter, a filter, a connector, and the like, which can be run on a portable device. In addition, the parser and loader can be dynamically loaded by analyzing the xml information configured through this.

In addition, the system supports a logging system to track various message conversion functions and problem areas required for system development within mobile devices, and adds various utility functions to manipulate registry information that may be required when configuring the system. It was.

Through mobile manager program, it can be divided into agent type and client type according to role type. This allows the user to use the provided mobile agent program as it is if the user needs automated processing without any intervention on the system, and can use the interface provided by the middleware within the user program to help understand all the functions provided when the program is desired. The client program is presented.

end. Mobile Administrator

The mobile administrator program registers, modifies, and removes resources such as readers, filters, and connectors according to the method to be used when applying a middleware platform in a portable device. (See FIG. 7).

I. Mobile Agent

The mobile agent program operates by dynamically initializing a resource with information configured from the mobile manager program and using the resource in the corresponding program (see FIG. 8). The Mobile Agent program can be used as an autonomous mode that reads tags continuously and as a trigger mode to selectively read distributed tags.

This is useful when you want to work with legacy system automatically as a single terminal device without the need for processing other separate business logic in mobile device.

All. Mobile User Application

The mobile user application operates by dynamically initializing a resource with information configured from a mobile administrator (manager) program and using the resource in the corresponding program (see FIG. 9).

By demonstrating the functionality provided by the portable RFID middleware platform as a whole to users, it presents various aspects that can be used when developing and integrating user applications with business logic into mobile devices.

The mobile client application is classified into functions related to reader control, specific tag search, mobile database synchronization, and event handling.

리더 Control reader functions such as Tag Read, Tag Write, Tag Lock, Tag Kill, etc.

매칭 Pattern Matching Filter and Aggregation Filter

커넥터 Connector that can interoperate with legacy system in various online modes such as SOAP, HTTP, TCP, DB

동기화 Synchronization function between mobile database and master database

The present invention supports various embedded operating environments and RFID reader modules by integrating middleware in a portable RFID reader, and develops software that can be stably operated independently of a platform by utilizing middleware component modules in a limited resource environment of an embedded device. We have developed Korea's first RFID middleware for portable readers.

Instead of integrating reader, filter, and connector functions directly in the business process module, the resources of the terminal device equipped with the RFID reader are used by requesting and using resources when necessary using the framework proposed by middleware. Flexible structures such as changing driving environment and changing external communication channel interface are proposed.

The result of the present invention is to provide a portable RFID middleware in the form of a solution to solve the problems of the development environment of the existing portable device and the issue of software integration issues originated from the use of limited resources in the embedded device. It was developed to support application service environment and to apply to new portable RFID system application field.

In addition, RFID middleware (SAVANT), which captures, filters, and connects tag data between the RFID reader and the application program, is embedded in the Windows CE-based embedded system, and various readers and operating environments can be installed. Considering this, the system was developed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art, which should be regarded as included in the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. will be.

The present invention can be applied to all industrial fields using RFID technology, and in particular, can be used for systems using ubiquitous technology.

The industrial applicability of the present invention will be described by field, for example.

1) Food Management

Conventionally, product information such as expiration date is indicated by barcode or character, and proper response such as trace of harmful food distribution route including toxic substance, mineral oil bottle, etc. is insufficient. By recording the process and food recipes, it is possible to identify distribution channels and respond quickly when hazardous foods are found.

2) Induction of the elderly and the disabled

In the past, when a user presses a button of a voice guidance device installed on a traffic light pole or a road sign, the voice guidance service is provided. However, when using the present invention, RFID is attached to a pedestrian space such as a sidewalk or an underpass or an address display to provide location information. The walking path can be induced by voice or remotely.

3) anti-counterfeiting

Conventionally, optical interference fringes are used for copy protection, but there is still a problem that a copy accident occurs. However, in the case of using the present invention, forgery can be prevented by discriminating forgery using a chip having information of a thing embedded therein.

4) Waste Management

In the past, the entire process of waste was manually managed to increase the possibility of infection, and there was a difficulty in managing waste tracking. However, when the present invention is used, the entire process from waste generation to disposal can be tracked and managed in real time by RFID blocking / attaching to the waste. have.

5) Logistics / Distribution

Previously, real-time tracking and management of logistics / distribution process was not possible due to binary processing of logistics. However, when the present invention is used, real-time linked management is possible from shipment to destination and real-time tracking and management of distribution process is possible.

6) Car Maintenance / Traffic Safety

In the past, the vehicle status was grasped using the naked eye or a measuring device. However, when the present invention is used, vehicle service such as remote trouble diagnosis of a vehicle, road condition, signal control, vehicle accident / failure notification, tire with RFID It can provide production history management, real-time air pressure inquiry and traffic accident prevention, and telematics service using GPS.

1 is a diagram illustrating the difference between the methods applied before and after the embedded middleware for the portable RFID reader of the present invention is integrated into an RFID user application.

2 illustrates an EPC Global Network Architecture.

3 illustrates an RFID software architecture

4 is a conceptual diagram of a portable RFID middleware according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a strategy for installing and distributing portable RFID middleware.

6 is a structure diagram of a portable RFID middleware platform

7 is the Mobile Administrator main screen

8 is a mobile agent main screen

9 is a mobile user application (User Application) main screen

Claims (19)

An embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, A reader interface component that supports RFID readers provided by multiple vendors to interoperate with middleware using a common interface; A filter interface component for processing and processing RFID tag information transmitted from the reader interface component by user definition; A connector interface component for delivering processing result data of the filter interface component to an external application; A mobile database synchronization component configured to store data processed offline in a database and then synchronize the data stored in the database with a database server in a batch form when the data is stored online; A mobile adminitor that determines how the portable RFID middleware platform will be used within the device; A mobile agent which dynamically initializes a resource with information configured from the mobile adminitor and operates using the resource in a corresponding program, and interlocks an RFID processing result with an enterprise system in an automatic or triggered manner; A mobile user application that dynamically initializes a resource with information configured from the mobile adminitor and operates using the resource in a corresponding program, and provides a function provided by the large-capacity RFID middleware platform in a demo form to a user; And Engine core module that provides a generalized framework for tag event messages to be delivered in connection with resources and external channels in the portable RFID middleware platform, and provides service provider frameworks and libraries required for further development and expansion of new resources. Embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader comprising ;. The engine core module of claim 1, wherein the engine core module comprises: As a core component module that provides a library required for development when supporting a new module while supporting a formal format for tag data interworking with the reader interface component, the filter interface component, the connector interface component, and an external channel in a framework structure form. Embedded middleware platform for portable RFID reader, characterized in that it supports a utility library required for user application development. The engine core module of claim 1, wherein the engine core module comprises: And a resource manager component for configuring or dynamically loading and releasing resources to be used in the mobile agent or mobile client application, and for managing mobile database connection, thread pool, and memory management. Embedded middleware platform for RFID readers. The engine core module of claim 3, wherein the engine core module comprises: An embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, comprising: a tag data translation component supporting a structured data format structure when the tag data is transmitted to an external channel by encoding / decoding a format of the tag data. . The method of claim 1, wherein the filter interface component is: It includes a matching filter group that can match tags with only the tag data that meets the user's input condition and check the result, and an aggregation filter group that converts the message to a specific tag event message to be used in the enterprise system and delivers the message. Embedded middleware platform for portable RFID readers. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile adjuvant is: Embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, characterized in that the registration, modification, deletion and configuration of the components of the middleware to be used in the mobile agent or the mobile user application. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile adjuvant is: When configuring to act in an agent manner, each resource to be used is to register readers, aggregation filters, and online connectors one by one so that the mobile agent can refer to the configuration information (XML) in an automated and triggered manner. When configuring to operate in a user mode, the resource to be used is a portable type that registers one reader adapter, several filters, and connectors included in the device as needed so that the mobile client application can refer to the configuration information. Embedded middleware platform for RFID readers. The mobile client application of claim 1, wherein the mobile client application comprises: A reader control function for checking the operation of the RFID reader device; A tag search function for associating specific tags or tag groups with pattern matching filters and checking whether they meet the conditions; An event handling function for performing a task of generating a business tag event message using a registered component using the mobile administrator and interworking an end result with an enterprise system using connectors that are online; And And a mobile database synchronization function for storing a processing result processed after tag recognition in relation to the event handling in a mobile database and synchronizing with a master database. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: Embedded middleware for portable RFID readers, which uses a master installer (MSI type installer) that builds and packages middleware platforms for each operating system differently and installs the entire middleware platform for the corresponding device using a desktop. platform. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: After the cabinet file corresponding to the middleware platform is accessed online, such as web or e-mail, the linked file (cab file) is saved by accessing the web server, e-mail server, etc. to a specific folder in the device. Embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, characterized in that the installation. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: If new components (readers, filters, connectors, etc.) need to be developed by the programmer within the .NET mobile program development environment with the service provider framework provided by the middleware platform and then integrated and operated within the middleware platform, then the resources are cabinet-structured. An embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, characterized in that the device is expanded and operated for further installation in a portable device after packaging. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: For the components (readers, filters, connectors, etc.) to be provided within the program development environment, it is used by having an architecture that maps the resources to be used as unique names that were registered using the Mobile Manager program when requesting the interface and resource request. Embedded middleware platform for portable RFID reader, characterized by a flexible structure against resource changes. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: Embedded for handheld RFID readers, after modifying, modifying, or adding new resources that you want to use, and then requesting the resource manager from the user program to use the functions of the component with a consistent interface. Middleware platform. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: Embedded middleware platform for handheld RFID readers, when business logic changes, using ActiveSync program to download to desktop, connect to new device, upload and complete configuration for the device. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: Handheld RFID, which downloads an installation file by selecting a hyperlink to a cabinet file divided by a portable device operating environment and included reader modules, and then automatically installs a middleware platform on the device by selecting the installation file. Embedded middleware platform for readers. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: An embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, comprising installing a middleware platform through a synchronization service between a desktop computer and a device. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded middleware platform is: An embedded middleware platform for a portable RFID reader, wherein the middleware platform is installed by downloading and clicking a link file included in an e-mail or short message service (SMS). A portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform for portable RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 17. An interworking system using a portable terminal equipped with an embedded middleware platform for portable RFID reader according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

Images