KR20110013671A - Apparatus and method for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An information processing apparatus and a method for the same are provided to decide whether performing data processing which is related with RFID(Radio Frequency IDentification) tag or not using a separator of the RFID tag packet. CONSTITUTION: A packet analyzing unit(460) confirms whether a separator is included in a packet received from an RFID or not. If a separator is included in the packet, a message generating part(470) generates a response message permitting the packet transmitting. A communications unit(410) transmits the response message to the RFID tag. A storage(430) stores the separator.

Description

Apparatus and method for processing information

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method for determining whether or not to process information associated with an RFID tag with reference to the identifier included in the packet of the RFID tag.

In the past, the Internet, which was confined to a specific class, became widespread through the implementation of the Web, which had a great impact on the digital industry as a whole. Internet-based services and content distributed through the Internet have become the yardstick for the digital industry in the 21st century. In addition, as the multimedia of contents has been realized through the high speed of the internet network, mobile phones, PDAs, notebooks, etc., multimedia has become an essential item, not an option.

Meanwhile, the concept of computer-based information communication is changing to the concept of ubiquitous. Ubiquitous is a Latin word meaning that it exists anytime, anywhere. It means an information and communication environment where users can freely access the network regardless of the network or computer.

The core of ubiquitous computing is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which is a diagram showing a conventional RFID system.

The RFID system includes a transponder 11 that stores unique information, a transceiver (reader or reader) 12 that reads and decrypts functions, a server (host computer) 13, a network 14, and an application program ( It consists of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM).

Transponder 11, commonly called a tag, is composed of an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip and an antenna, and has various shapes and sizes. Transponder 11 implanted under the skin to track the animal is as small as a pencil lead diameter is only 1cm in length. The main functions of the IC chip are the data storage, the memory size (25 bit ~ 512 kb or more), the memory type (read-only, read-write type, write once and read multiple times), memory type (Electrically Erasable Prices vary depending on Programmable Read-Only Memory (FRAM) and Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM).

The RFID system may be classified into an inductively coupled method and an electromagnetic wave method according to a wireless access method. The mutual induction method is short-range (within 1m), the electromagnetic wave method is used for medium and long distance RFID, the mutual induction method uses a coil antenna and the electromagnetic wave method uses a high frequency antenna to wirelessly connect to each other.

In mutual induction, the transponder 11 is operated almost manually. That is, all the energy required for the operation of the IC chip of the transponder 11 is supplied by the transceiver 12. Thus, the antenna coil of the transceiver 12 generates a strong magnetic field in the surrounding area. A portion of the emitted magnetic field generates an inductive voltage in the coil antenna of the transponder 11 away from the transceiver 12, rectifies and supplies it with energy for the IC. The electromagnetic wave transponder 12 does not receive enough power to drive the IC chip from the transceiver 12, and thus includes an additional battery for long-range recognition (active type).

The transceiver 12 and the transponder 11 process baseband data using various digital codings. The wireless signal is mainly converted into a high frequency signal and transmitted using a basic three digital modulation schemes, namely, Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and Phase Shift Keying (PSK). However, in a specific frequency band (UHF band of the United States), only a specific modulation scheme is required to reduce the human body influence of electromagnetic waves or interference with other communication systems, and the most widely used is spread spectrum (SS). Among the frequency spreading methods, a direct sequence (DS) used for a CDMA mobile phone or a wireless LAN and a frequency hopping (FS) used for Bluetooth are mainly used. However, applying such a modulation scheme to a tag requires a more complicated circuit and increases the price, so in practice, only the transceiver 12 uses this modulation scheme, and the transponder 11 covers the entire frequency of frequency spreading. And transmit the signal using ASK.

In addition, various signal processing is performed to increase the reliability of data information, such as an error rate reduction method using a method such as cyclic redundancy check (CRC), Aloha or the like used in a wireless LAN to distinguish multiple transponders 11. An anti-collision method using a similar method to Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA), a data security method using a symmetric or asymmetric encryption algorithm to protect data, and the like are applied. In particular, such signal processing depends on the functionality of the memory of the transponder 11.

On the other hand, since the transceiver 12 needs to receive and process RFID packets from the plurality of transponders 11, excessive throughput may occur.

Therefore, the emergence of the invention to facilitate the RFID packet processing by the transceiver 12 is required.

An object of the present invention is to determine whether to process information associated with an RFID tag by referring to the identifier included in the packet of the RFID tag.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a packet of an RFID tag to be transmitted through a frequency channel set corresponding to the identifier.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the packet analysis unit for checking whether a predetermined delimiter is included in the packet received from the radio tag; A message generation unit for generating a response message for allowing subsequent packet transmission of the radio tag when it is confirmed that the predetermined delimiter is included in the packet; And a communication unit for transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a storage unit in which the predetermined separator is stored.

The predetermined separator stored in the storage unit may be changed.

The apparatus may further include an alarm generator for generating an alarm when it is determined that the predetermined separator is not included in the packet.

The communication unit may receive a packet including information on an article to which the wireless tag is attached, from the wireless tag receiving the response message.

On the other hand, the information processing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of checking whether a predetermined delimiter is included in the packet received from the radio tag; Generating a response message allowing subsequent packet transmission of the radio tag when it is determined that the predetermined packet is included in the received packet; And transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag.

Preferably, the predetermined delimiter is stored in advance in the information processing apparatus.

The predetermined separator may be changed.

The method may further include generating an alert when it is determined that the predetermined separator is not included in the packet.

The method may further include, after transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag, receiving a packet including information on an item to which the wireless tag is attached, from the wireless tag receiving the response message. do.

According to the information processing apparatus and method of the present invention as described above provides the following effects.

First, by determining whether to process information associated with an RFID tag by referring to the separator included in the packet of the RFID tag, there is an advantage of reducing the processing load of the packet.

Second, since the packet of the RFID tag is transmitted through a frequency channel set corresponding to the delimiter, there is an advantage of improving the recognition rate of the packet.

Third, there is an advantage of improving the accessibility of information on the corresponding RFID tag by using a delimiter.

Fourth, the corresponding RFID tag and the RFID transceiver correspond to each other by using a delimiter, thereby improving information security.

Fifth, there is also an advantage that can easily respond to the corresponding RFID code for the standardized or future RFID code system.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail. It should be noted that the same elements in the figures are represented by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

2 is a diagram illustrating an RFID packet according to an embodiment of the present invention, which shows an RFID packet 200 of an EPC (Electronic Product Code) standard.

The RFID packet 200 includes a tag identification (TID) area 210, an EPC area 220, a spare area 230, and a user area 240.

In the TID area 210, an identifier of a tag input by a manufacturer is stored. According to the EPC standard, a 12-bit tag mask-designer identifier, a 12-bit tag model number, and manufacturer-specific information may be stored in the TID area 210.

The reserved area 230 stores a kill and access password. Deactivation passwords permanently deactivate tag information. If the tag is deactivated, reading and writing of data is prohibited. The access password is used to control access to tag information.

The EPC region 220 includes a header field 221, a domain manager field 222, an object class field 223, and a serial number field 224. It is composed.

The header field 221 specifies the EPC code scheme, and the domain manager field 222 identifies the identifier (hereinafter referred to as administrator number) for the entity (corporate, administrator, or institution) responsible for managing the object class and serial number. Is stated).

The object class field 223 is a field used by the EPC management entity to identify the type or type of goods, and specifies a lower identifier (object class) belonging to a specific manager number.

In the serial number field 224, a lower identifier (serial number) belonging to a specific object class number is specified.

The user area 240 is an area that can be utilized by the user, and is an area in which user-defined data can be stored.

Meanwhile, the RFID packet 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a delimiter 250. In the present invention, the delimiter 250 may be used to indicate the type of tag information or to indicate whether to allow transmission and reception of tag information. Can be.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates that the separator 250 is included in the user area 240, the separator 250 may be included in the TID area 210, the EPC area 220, or the spare area 230.

An RFID transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit a response message only when the delimiter 250 is included in the RFID packet 200.

That is, the delimiter is an indispensable element for the transmission of the response message, and when the RFID packet including the delimiter is received, the RFID transceiver may not transmit the response message.

The RFID tag may transmit tag information only when receiving a response message. Accordingly, the RFID transceiver may process only tag information of a preset RFID tag, not process all tag information of all adjacent RFID tags.

In addition, the RFID transceiver may change the identifier of the RFID tag in consideration of the state of the RFID tag.

In addition, the RFID transceiver may determine an analysis order of the corresponding RFID packet by referring to the priority of the separator. For example, the RFID transceiver may determine the order of generation of the response message by referring to the priority given to the identifier. The RFID tag may include access information, login information, or tag information, and the highest access information may be included. Priority may be given, general information may be given to the login information, and low priority may be given to the tag information.

Accordingly, when the RFID transceiver simultaneously receives RFID packets from a plurality of different RFID tags, the RFID transceiver may determine the generation order of response messages for each RFID packet by referring to the priority of the separator included in each RFID packet.

In addition, the RFID transceiver may analyze the corresponding RFID packet according to the corresponding tag format by referring to the tag format specified in the identifier. That is, when there are RFID tags of various tag formats, an RFID transceiver that analyzes RFID packets according to one tag format cannot analyze an RFID packet received from an RFID tag having a different tag format. According to the RFID transceiver according to the first to identify the tag format of the RFID tag through the delimiter and can perform the correct analysis by switching the analysis method according to the result.

In addition, the RFID transceiver may determine whether to process the received RFID packet with reference to the priority given to the identifier. For example, when receiving an RFID packet from a 1st RFID tag, a 2nd RFID tag, and a 3rd RFID tag, the RFID transceiver receiving the RFID packet from the 1st RFID tag processes the corresponding RFID packet, that is, from the management server. Receive and output detailed information.

In this case, when the RFID packet is received from the third-order RFID tag by skipping the second-order RFID tag after the first-order RFID tag, the RFID transceiver may not perform the processing on the corresponding RFID packet. That is, the RFID transceiver performs processing on the received RFID packet only according to the priority.

3 is a diagram illustrating a separator table according to an embodiment of the present invention, the separator table 300 may include a separator 310 and a content 320 of the separator.

When receiving an RFID packet from an RFID tag, the RFID transceiver first checks the existence of the delimiter. Here, the delimiter may be composed of a combination of at least one letter and a number, and FIG. 3 illustrates a delimiter 310 composed of one letter.

3 illustrates an example of a delimiter according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, when 'I' is specified as a delimiter, this is an IP address of a management server that stores detailed information of an article with an RFID tag. Indicates that the RFID packet is included in the corresponding RFID packet, and 'H' is specified as the identifier, indicating that the RFID packet includes the identifier associated with the history information of the article to which the RFID tag is attached.

In addition, when simply wishing to receive a response message from the RFID transceiver, the RFID tag may include a separator for requesting only the response message in the RFID packet without additional content and transmit the RFID tag.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus 400 includes a communication unit 410, an input unit 420, a storage unit 430, a control unit 440, and a packet update unit. 450, a packet analyzer 460, a message generator 470, and an alert generator 480. It can be understood that the role of the information processing apparatus 400 in the present invention is performed by the RFID transceiver.

On the other hand, the alarm generating unit 480 may be provided in the information processing device as shown in Figure 4, in the implementation of the present invention may be implemented as a separate device connected to the communication unit 410 and a wired / wireless network. .

The communication unit 410 communicates with the RFID tag, receives an RFID packet from the RFID tag, and transmits a response message to the RFID tag.

The communication unit 410 may transmit and receive baseband data by using an RFID tag and various digital codings. ASK (Frequency Shift Keying), PSK (PSK) Phase Shift Keying) may be used to transmit and receive a radio signal converted from a base signal into a high frequency signal.

In addition, the frequency band for transmitting and receiving between the RFID tag and the communication unit 410 may be divided into a plurality of channels, the RFID tag may transmit an RFID packet through a channel corresponding to the identifier assigned to it. For example, an RFID tag having identifier 1 may transmit an RFID packet through channel 1, and an RFID tag having identifier 2 may transmit an RFID packet through channel 2. As such, as the RFID tag is transmitted and received through some frequency bands instead of the entire frequency bands, the recognition rate by the communication unit 410 may increase.

The packet analyzer 460 analyzes the received RFID packet and determines whether a delimiter is included. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the RFID packet includes a delimiter, and the packet analyzer 460 checks the existence of the delimiter.

Here, the delimiter may be included in a predetermined format in a predetermined position of the RFID packet. Accordingly, the packet analyzer 460 may extract the delimiter by approaching a specific location without further analyzing the RFID packet. In other words, even if the RFID packet has any tag format, the packet analyzer 460 may extract the delimiter. On the other hand, if the delimiter is not included in the predetermined position of the RFID packet, the packet analyzer 460 may of course extract the delimiter by scanning the entire packet.

In addition, the packet analyzer 460 may determine the analysis rank of the corresponding RFID packet by referring to the priority specified in the separator. That is, when a plurality of RFID packets are received at the same time, the packet analyzer 460 preferentially analyzes RFID packets having a high priority.

In addition, the packet analyzer 460 may analyze the corresponding RFID packet according to the corresponding communication protocol and the tag format by referring to the communication protocol and the tag format of the corresponding RFID packet specified in the separator.

For example, communication protocols for RFID tags include International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 18000-6A, ISO 18000-6B, ISO 18000-6C, Electronic Product Code (EPC) Class 0, EPC Class 1, and EPC Class 1 Gen 2 Among them, RFID tags by the EPC Class include GID (General Identifier), SGTIN (Serialized Global Trade Item Number), SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) and SGLN (Serialized Global Location Number). The analysis algorithm may vary depending on the communication protocol and the tag format.

Accordingly, the packet analyzer 460 extracts a corresponding analysis algorithm from the storage unit 430 with reference to the communication protocol and tag format specified in the identifier of the received RFID packet, and then analyzes the packet using the extracted analysis algorithm. To do. Here, the analysis algorithm may be received from the management server.

The storage unit 430 may include a hard disk, flash memory, compact flash card, compact digital card, secure digital card, smart card, multimedia card, or memory stick. May be provided inside the information processing apparatus 400 or may be provided in a separate device.

The message generator 470 generates a response message including whether the RFID packet can be transmitted according to the determination result of the packet analyzer 460. Here, the RFID packet, which is the target of transmission availability, may be understood as an RFID packet (hereinafter, referred to as a second RFID packet) that is scheduled to be received after the previously received RFID packet (hereinafter, referred to as a first RFID packet).

That is, the RFID tag may transmit the second RFID packet after transmitting the first RFID packet. If the RFID tag does not receive a response message from the RFID transceiver in transmitting the second RFID packet, the RFID tag may transmit the second RFID packet. I can't.

To this end, the packet analyzer 460 may identify a specific identifier included in the first RFID packet. For example, when the first RFID packet includes a specific separator, the packet analyzer 460 determines whether to receive the second RFID packet, and when the first RFID packet does not include the specific separator, the packet analyzer 460 is to determine the reception restriction of the second RFID packet.

Here, the specific separator may be included in a predetermined specific location of the first RFID packet or may be included in an arbitrary location. In addition, the information on the specific delimiter may be stored in the storage 430 or may be stored in the management server.

In the present invention, the first RFID packet includes at least one of a TID area, a code area (for example, an EPC area), a spare area, a user area, and a separate area, wherein the delimiter is a TID area, a code area, a spare area, a user. It may be included in an area or a separate area. Here, the separate area may be understood as a special area that may include only separators.

In addition, the passive RFID tag may communicate with the RFID transceiver by transmitting an activation signal, wherein the first RFID packet may be an activation signal.

In addition, in the present invention, the second RFID packet may be understood as a packet including information on the article to which the RFID tag transmitting the first RFID packet or the second RFID packet is attached.

The packet updater 450 changes the delimiter included in the RFID packet. The article to which the RFID tag is attached may be changed in state, and the packet updater 450 may automatically change the separator to correspond to the changed state. To this end, the packet updater 450 may refer to a table (not shown) indicating a status separator of the article. The status separator table of the article may be stored in the storage 430 or may be stored in the management server. have.

In addition, the packet updater 450 may change the delimiter by referring to the position of the information processing apparatus 400. To this end, the packet updater 450 may refer to a table (not shown) indicating the location-specific separators. The location-specific separator table may be stored in the storage unit 430 or may be stored in the management server.

The change of the separator may be input through the input unit 420. The input unit 420 may include a button, a wheel, a jog shuttle, and the like to receive information from the user. In addition, when the display means of the monitor device provides a touch screen function, the display means may serve as the input unit 420. For example, a user may enter a command for selecting a specific icon or input login information by touching a finger or other tool with one of a plurality of icons (menus) displayed on a background screen.

Here, the input unit 420 may be a single device by itself, for example, the wireless remote controller may serve as the input unit 420. That is, the user can input information using buttons and wheels provided in the wireless remote controller, and when the wireless remote controller is provided with an inertial sensor, the user can input information corresponding to the corresponding movement trajectory by applying movement to the wireless remote controller. It may be.

The alarm generator 480 may generate an alarm when an RFID packet including a delimiter other than a predetermined delimiter is received. To this end, the alarm generating unit 480 may be configured to include a sound output means for outputting a warning sound and a warning light for providing a visual effect. For example, when an RFID packet including an identifier of E is received by the information processing apparatus 400 in a state in which separators scheduled to be processed are A, B, C, and D, the alarm generator 480 may generate an alarm. will be.

The controller 440 is configured to communicate with the communication unit 410, the input unit 420, the storage unit 430, the packet update unit 450, the packet analyzer 460, the message generator 470, and the alarm generator 480. It performs overall control and relays, manages and controls data transmitted and received between modules.

4 illustrates a communication unit 410, an input unit 420, a storage unit 430, a control unit 440, a packet update unit 450, a packet analyzer 460, a message generator 470, and an alarm generator. Although 480 indicates that each module is configured, a plurality of modules may be configured as one module or one module may be configured as a plurality of modules.

5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a delimiter of an RFID packet is changed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the packet updater 450 of the information processing apparatus 400 may change the identifier of the RFID packet.

For example, when the state of the article to which the RFID tag is attached proceeds to the stages of production, receipt, shipment, and delivery, the packet update unit 450 inserts a separator corresponding to each state into the RFID packet. As the delimiter changes according to the state of the article, it is easy to access the corresponding information corresponding to the delimiter through the RFID tag.

In FIG. 5, the delimiter 1 510, the delimiter 2 520, the delimiter 3 530, and the delimiter 4 540 may be understood as delimiters corresponding to production, receipt, shipment, and delivery, respectively. The message generator 470 of the information processing apparatus 400 may determine whether to generate a response message.

For example, when the information processing apparatus 400 is set to process an RFID packet received from an RFID tag corresponding to the delimiter 2 520, when the information processing apparatus 400 receives the RFID packet including the delimiter 2 520, the information processing apparatus 400 is received. ) Transmits a response message, but when the RFID packet including the delimiter 1 510, the delimiter 3 530, or the delimiter 4 540 is received, the information processing apparatus 400 may not transmit the response message.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When receiving an RFID packet from an adjacent RFID tag (S610), the packet analyzer 460 of the information processing apparatus 400 determines whether a predetermined delimiter is included in the received RFID packet (first RFID packet) (S620). ). In this case, the packet analyzer 460 may extract the delimiter at a specific position of the first RFID packet.

According to the determination result, when the delimiter is included in the RFID packet, the message generator 470 generates a response message including whether the RFID packet (second RFID packet) which is a reception target can be transmitted (S630).

The generated response message is transmitted to the RFID tag through the communication unit 410 (S640), and the RFID tag receiving the response message can transmit the second RFID packet.

On the other hand, if the delimiter is not included in the first RFID packet or the predetermined delimiter does not include the information processing apparatus 400 may not proceed to the subsequent operation. Accordingly, the RFID tag does not transmit the second RFID packet.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing an RFID code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When receiving an RFID packet from an adjacent RFID tag (S710), the packet analyzer 460 of the information processing apparatus 400 determines whether a predetermined delimiter is included in the received RFID packet (S720). Here, the predetermined delimiter means a delimiter for the code system, hereinafter referred to as a code system delimiter.

That is, the RFID tag may have a different code system according to a tag format or a communication protocol. The packet analyzer 460 determines the code system of the corresponding RFID tag.

Thus, if the code system of the RFID tag is not the same code system as the currently executing analysis algorithm, the information processing apparatus 400 requests a new RFID code from the management server (S730). Accordingly, when the management server generates and transmits a new RFID code, the information processing apparatus 400 receives it (S740), and changes the code system of the RFID tag to the received RFID code (S750).

As such, as the code system of the RFID tag is changed, the corresponding RFID tag can freely transmit and receive data with the RFID transceiver according to the changed code system. The RFID tag may be performed by a system change command. The code system change command message may include a flag indicating a code system change and information about a code system to be changed.

While the above has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments and applications of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and applications described above, the invention without departing from the gist of the invention claimed in the claims Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

1 is a view showing a conventional RFID system,

2 is a diagram illustrating an RFID packet according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating a separator table according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram showing an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that a delimiter of an RFID packet is changed according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing process according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing an RFID code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

410: communication unit 420: input unit

430: storage unit 440: control unit

450: packet updater 460: packet analyzer

470: message generator

Claims (10)

A packet analyzer to determine whether a predetermined delimiter is included in the packet received from the wireless tag; A message generation unit for generating a response message for allowing subsequent packet transmission of the radio tag when it is confirmed that the predetermined delimiter is included in the packet; And Communication unit for transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag Information processing apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a storage unit for storing the predetermined delimiter. The method of claim 2, And the predetermined delimiter stored in the storage unit is changeable. The method of claim 1, And an alarm generating unit for generating an alarm when it is confirmed that the predetermined separator is not included in the packet. The method of claim 1, And the communication unit receives a packet including information on an article to which the wireless tag is attached, from the wireless tag receiving the response message. In the information processing apparatus, Checking whether a packet received from the wireless tag includes a predetermined delimiter; Generating a response message allowing subsequent packet transmission of the radio tag when it is determined that the predetermined packet is included in the received packet; And Transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag. Information processing method comprising a. The method of claim 6, And the predetermined delimiter is stored in advance in the information processing apparatus. The method of claim 7, wherein And said predetermined delimiter stored in advance is changeable. The method of claim 6, And if it is determined that the predetermined separator is not included in the packet, generating an alert. The method of claim 6, After transmitting the generated response message to the wireless tag, And receiving a packet from the wireless tag receiving the response message, the packet including information about the article to which the wireless tag is attached.

Images