Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
  • G06K17/0022—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
  • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
  • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
  • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
  • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/27—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass with central registration
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
  • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
  • G07C9/28—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Definitions

• the invention relates to an information device on an article as well as to a system intended to use at least one such device.
• the main object of the invention is an information device on an article linked to said article, comprising:
• an electric generator characterized in that it comprises a microprocessor, and that the storage means store:
• the invention also relates to a system for remote management and / or location of articles, comprising at least one computer and at least one transmitter / receiver, characterized in that it comprises at least one device capable of communicating with said transmitter / receiver.
• the device and the system according to the present invention not only allow the location of objects, but also make it possible to carry out complete management of a stock or fleet of articles, or even of living beings, in particular humans.
• each device allows simultaneous processing of a request by all devices. This improves the speed of response, and simplifies the request processing software.
• all the devices, or all the groups of devices include request processing software, advantageously identical. This software is much simpler than centralized processing software for all responses to requests.
• each device responds only to specific requests. This avoids the emission of responses by all the devices present. The amount of information to be transmitted is therefore very much lower, which makes it possible to use a transmission channel. this bandwidth less wide and / or speed up the transmission ?.
• Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the system according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a diagram of a device according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of organization of the memory of the device in FIG. 2.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 the same references have been used to designate the same elements.
• FIG. 1 we can see a system according to the present invention comprising a computer 1 connected to at least one transmitter / receiver 11, advantageously to a plurality of transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M.
• Each transceiver 11 at 1M is capable of transmitting and / or receiving modulated waves, advantageously modulated electromagnetic waves, typically radio waves.
• the use of radio waves is symbolized by the connection of a transmit / receive antenna 2 to each transmitter / receiver 11 to 1M.
• Radio waves have the advantage of being able to be reflected and to propagate through non-metallic obstacles.
• the use of other types of electromagnetic waves does not depart from the scope of the present invention.
• modulated infrared waves allow the use of a very wide bandwidth.
• the system of FIG. 1 also comprises a plurality of devices 3 for information on an article.
• each device 3 for information on an article is fixed to the corresponding article, for example by a clamp or an adhesive.
• the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M are distributed, on the one hand so as to be able to enter into communication with all the devices 3 for information on an item, and, on the other hand, to be able to locate one of the devices 3.
• the location is obtained for example by triangulation, several receivers being capable of receiving the response of each device 3, either by cutting up the space, for example by partitions preventing the propagation of the waves used.
• the device 3 is located according to the transmitters / receivers which have received the signals transmitted by the device 3 to be located.
• the computer 1 is for example a microcomputer.
• the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M comprise means of connection to the computer 1, for example by the electricity distribution network or of the computer network type.
• Each transmitter / receiver comprises a device for modulating and coding the waves to be transmitted, and a device for demodulating and decoding the waves received.
• all the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M transmit substantially simultaneously a request intended for the devices 3.
• the exchange of information between the computer 1 and the transmitters / receivers is managed by software constituting an additional layer of the operating system. .
• terminal control software, computer network management software or management of controllers or interfaces is used.
• each transmitter / receiver 11 to 1M specifies its number or address so that the computer 1 knows which of the transmitters / receivers 11 to 1M has received said response.
• the device 3 of FIG. 2 comprises a transmit / receive antenna 31 connected to a transmitter / receiver 32.
• the transmitter / receiver 32 is connected, advantageously by means of an analog-digital converter and a converter digital-analog 33 to a microprocessor 34.
• the microprocessor 34 is connected to the storage means 35 typically an electronic memory.
• a clock 36 for example quartz, ensures the synchronization of various elements of the device 3.
• This device 3 also comprises an electric generator 39, advantageously a chemical generator, in particular a battery or an accumulator.
• an electric generator 39 advantageously a chemical generator, in particular a battery or an accumulator.
• a lithium battery or a screen-printed battery is used.
• the device 3 includes means for testing 37, 38 of the amount of energy available in the generator 39.
• the device 3 comprises signaling means 40, for example a light-emitting diode or an audible alarm device.
• the operation of the device 3 according to the present invention comprises three stages:
• a message is picked up by the antenna 31 and demodulated by the transmitter / receiver 32.
• the analog-digital converter 33 digitizes the message.
• the message in its digital form is stored in a buffer memory, not shown, in memory 35 or in a register of microprocessor 34.
• a buffer memory for example, an address bus is used to transmit the message.
• the message is stored under the supervision of the microprocessor 34 or of a direct memory access device (DMA in English terminology) not shown.
• DMA direct memory access device
• the mircoprocessor 34 processes the request. In most cases, the request includes a selective query. The microprocessor 34 determines whether the device 3 is concerned by the selection criteria contained in the request. If so, it selects the information that is requested by the request.
• the microprocessor 34 selects in the memory 35 the information to be transmitted and elaborates a message.
• the message is modulated by the converter 33 and by the transmitter / receiver 32.
• the device simultaneously transmits a location signal for example, a sound or light signal facilitating its location to a human operator.
• the response is picked up by at least one of the transceivers 11 to 1M in FIG. 1 and transmitted to the computer 1.
• each device 3 monitors the transmission channel. If a transmission is in progress, no device 3 makes an attempt resignation. When the channel is free, and that a device 3 must transmit, it advantageously waits for a pseudo-random period of time, then, if during this period of time it has detected no transmission, it begins to transmit its response to the request . During transmission it continues to monitor the channel. So if two devices 3 have started to transmit simultaneously, they both interrupt the transmission. The device 3 with the shortest pseudo-random waiting period can start transmitting.
• the reduction in the number of responses to the requests to be transmitted avoids saturating the channel and in particular the collisions by simultaneous transmissions of the beginnings of response.
• a device 3 can transmit on the same transmission channel.
• the reliability of the system according to the present invention is improved by monitoring the energy level available in each device. For example, a test of the available energy level is carried out.
• the device 3 comprises a counter 37 accounting for the current consumptions. It measures either the flow rate or the operating times of various elements of the device 3.
• the energy level is equal to the difference between the initial energy level and the energy already consumed.
• the devices 3 whose energy level reaches 25% of the initial capacity of the generator 39 emits an alarm signal.
• the computer 1 interrogates the devices 3 on their energy levels. For example, it issues a request requesting the response of all the devices 3 whose energy level is less than or equal to 25% of the maximum capacity of the generator 39. An operator will change or recharge the generators 39 of the devices 3 having responded to the request . It is of course possible to issue a request by selecting all of the devices 3, in particular to ensure that there are no devices 3 whose generator 39 is unable to provide the energy required to generate an alarm. The comparison of the list of devices 3 stored in the computer 1 with the request responses makes it possible to determine possible faulty devices 3, in particular as a result of the exhaustion of their generator 39.
• FIG. 2 shows a single memory 35. It is understood that the memory 35 can comprise several electronic components and even several types of components. An example of the logical structure of the memory 35 is illustrated in FIG. 3.
• the memory 35 stores an operating program 351 and at least one selection criterion 353. The example
• N selection criteria referenced 353 to 35 (N + 2). It includes a memory 350 intended for the execution of the program 351. Advantageously, it also comprises a number 352 of the device 3 and a selection key 35 (N + 3) allowing for example to select a group of the device 3.
• the references 351 to 35 (N + 3) correspond to, - correspond to permanent memories. One can use for example a read only memory (ROM in Anglo-Saxon terminology).
• the program execution memory 350 is necessarily a random access memory (RAM in English terminology).
• the memories 352 to 35 are preferably of the reprogrammable __ type, for example of the erasable programmable memory type (EPROM in English terminology) or electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM in Anglo-Saxon terminology). It is understood that the use of other information media such as, for example, optical reading media, in particular of the digital optical disc or digital optical card type, does not depart from the scope of the present invention.
• EPROM erasable programmable memory type
• EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read only memory
• the 25 device 3 comprises the contacts necessary for programming data in the memory 35.
• the memory 35 is of the backed-up random access memory type.
• One uses for example a static memory (S RAM in English terminology) whose electrical consumption at rest is reduced. In such a case it is possible to use the antenna 31 to
• the microprocessor 34 executing the program 351 checks whether the information stored in the memory 35
• the requests can contain various boolean operators for example AND, OR, NOK, OR exclusive to combine the various selection criteria.
• the criteria lower or equal, lower, higher or higher or equal can be used.
• the criteria can vary according to their membership of a group, indicated by a key 35 (N + 3).
• a group we have for example a criterion "authors”, a criterion “title”, a criterion “publisher”, and a criterion “price”.
• a key "household appliance” we will have for example the criteria "nature of the product”, “brand of the product”, “product reference” and "price”.
• the memory 35 is loaded with the relevant information allowing remote management of the stock.
• the device 3 is removed therefrom and its emissions are blocked, for example by means of a switch not shown.
• the invention mainly applies to the localization and / or the remote management of articles, with the possibility by issuing appropriate requests to carry out an inventory.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9402277

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (11)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 1990
  • 1990-11-16 FR FR9014296A patent/FR2669453A1/fr active Granted
• 1991
  • 1991-11-15 AU AU89432/91A patent/AU8943291A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-11-15 WO PCT/FR1991/000901 patent/WO1992009054A1/fr active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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