WO2000008594A1

WO2000008594A1 - System for data exchange in multiple forms

Info

Publication number: WO2000008594A1
Application number: PCT/FR1999/001946
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gérard Michot
Original assignee: Ordicam Recherche Et Developpement
Priority date: 1998-08-06
Filing date: 1999-08-04
Publication date: 2000-02-17
Also published as: FR2782211B1; FR2782211A1; AU5170299A

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for data exchange in multiple forms comprising at least one active transponder circuit (1) associated with a mobile support (2) and at least two dialogue units (6, 15, 17) of different types, said transponder circuit (1) comprising a memory integrated circuit (3) associated with a coil whereof the function is to ensure at least one data exchange between the integrated circuit (3) and a read/write device. The transponder circuit (1) further includes means (12) for transmitting, in the form of a coded sound signal, digital data contained in the transponder circuit (1) memory. The invention is useful for contractual payment of ski stations mechanical tow.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MULTIFORM INFORMATION EXCHANGE.

The present invention relates to a system for the multiform exchange of information involving at least one active transponder circuit associated with a mobile support and at least two dialogue units of different types.

It relates, of course, to a transponder module capable of allowing such an exchange.

In general, it is known that the use of contactless read / write transponder circuits tends to be generalized, these circuits being mounted on very varied supports such as cards, jewelry, watches, stickers, badges, key chains, modules intended to be implanted under the skin of animals, etc.

These transponder circuits usually include an integrated circuit associated with a coil whose function is to ensure both:

the exchange of information between the integrated circuit and a reading and / or writing device, and

- supplying the integrated circuit, by induction, from a magnetic field generated by the reading device. It turns out that the possibilities of these transponder circuits are limited due to the fact that the exchange of information can only be done in the presence of a specific read / write device, usually installed at a fixed station.

The invention therefore more particularly aims to overcome this problem and allow a user in possession of a transponder circuit to be able to establish an exchange of information between the memory of this transponder circuit and a dialogue unit of its choice can be located at very great distance and this, thanks to usual means of communication usable by everyone without adaptation.

It therefore proposes for this purpose to associate with the transponder circuit described above a circuit capable of carrying out the transmission in the form of an encoded sound signal of digital information contained in the memory of the transponder circuit.

This audible signal can be transmitted to a dialogue unit via the usual telephone network.

Thanks to these arrangements, an active transponder is obtained, that is to say a transponder which functions as a passive transponder and which is capable of communicating in another form with a dialogue unit, here thanks to the transmission and / or receiving a coded audio signal.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the transponder circuit may also comprise a circuit for receiving, demodulating and / or decoding a sound signal coming from a dialogue unit and, possibly, transmitted by telephone. Advantageously, the transponder will also be provided with a calendar clock, allowing a time stamping of the information which it delivers.

The applications of the device described above are multiple.

Thus, for example, this device could be used by skiers for the payment of ski lifts. In this case, the transponder module may initially include an identification code of its holder. To obtain a package, the latter may, from home (or elsewhere), connect by telephone to a payment station with which the transponder will be able to connect after a communication sequence in which the holder can choose the type of package that suits him and pay this package by teleshopping. The payment station will then, by means of a voice server emitting an encoded sound signal, download the memory in order to store therein the information relating to the package which has just been paid, for example the dates defining the period of the package , the lift identification codes that can be used for this package, etc.

Of course, during the teleshopping, the payment station will be able to use the identification number stored in the memory of the transponder and which may consist of a password, a subscriber number or a credit card number.

Once these operations have been carried out, the transponder holder may use the lifts he has chosen according to the conditions of the package he has paid for, by presenting the transponder at the entrance to each of the lifts for reading the memory by through an inductive reading device authorizing access to the ascent. Based on the information contained in the memory, the reading device determines whether the transponder holder is authorized or not to use the ascent.

Furthermore, the device according to the invention can advantageously be applied to the management and monitoring of the activity of certain categories of personnel working outside such as medical assistants or household assistants visiting patients. or clients to provide services at home.

In this case, this personnel must have a device of the type of that previously described comprising time stamping means. Patients or clients will each have an identification device, for example in the form of a badge, equipped with a transponder in which an identification code is stored which the device can read by induction.

In this case, at each visit, the assistant will have to read this identification code, at the beginning and at the end of her intervention, so that the device can memorize in its memory the relative information on the date and duration of the intervention associated with the identification code of the assisted person as well as, if applicable, information on the nature of this assistance (for example the social security code).

At the end of the day, the assistant can connect the device to a management station via the telephone network and upload the contents of the memory to this station (i.e. a reading of the activity of the day). The management station will be able to record this information in particular to establish a payroll. Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation illustrating the operating principle of an apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic section of a watch equipped with an active transponder circuit.

In this example, the system firstly involves an active transponder module 1, incorporated into a mobile support, for example a badge, a key ring, etc., represented here by a box 2. This transponder module 1 comprises a microprocessor 3 connected to an inductive transmitter / receiver circuit 4 connected to an induction coil 5 used to transmit and / or receive by induction information to or from dialogue units 6, 7 themselves equipped with coils d 'induction 8, 9.

The microprocessor 3 controls a modulation and amplification member 11 which attacks a transducer 12, for example of the piezoelectric type capable of emitting a modulated sound signal containing information from the memory associated with the microprocessor 3.

The power supply for all of the circuits of this module 1 is provided by an optionally renewable or replaceable energy source 13 (batteries, accumulator batteries, photovoltaic cells). Advantageously, this source could consist of a rechargeable battery, possibly by induction, thanks to the coil 5.

Of course, the invention is not limited to a mode of modulation of the sound signal generated by the transducer 12. In fact, this modulation can be frequency or phase amplitude modulation. Preferably, in the case where it is wished to transmit this signal over a GSM type telephone circuit, this modulation will preferably be of the phase jump modulation type.

Advantageously, the transducer 12 is reversible and can play the role of a microphone to receive a modulated sound signal. In this case, the module could include a demodulator 14 able to demodulate the sound signal received by the transducer 12 and to transmit the demodulated signal to an input of the microprocessor 3.

As previously mentioned, the piezoelectric transducer 12 is intended to constitute an interface between the microprocessor 3 and a management unit 15 accessible by telephone thanks to a handset 16 of the usual type comprising a microphone and an earpiece.

Of course, this management unit 15 may include means 17 for receiving the modulated signal coming from the telephone line, for demodulating it and for transmitting it to a management system 18 symbolized by a processor. Likewise, this management unit 18 must include means 19 making it possible to generate a suitably modulated sound signal, intended for the transducer 12, so as to be able to download information into the memory associated with the microprocessor 3.

At the same time, the active transponder module 1 can communicate with an inductive reading device of a dialogue unit 6 which may include a microprocessor 20 connected to an inductive transmitter / receiver circuit 21 connected to an induction coil 8 intended to be coupled to the induction coil 5 to ensure transfer of information (read or write) between the microprocessor 20 and the microprocessor 3. The dialogue unit 6 can also comprise a display 22 and / or a transmitter circuit 23, this display 22 and this transmitter 23 being controlled by the microprocessor 20 to display and transmit the information received from the transmitter / receiver circuit 21 and decoded by the microprocessor 20.

The transmitter circuit 23 is designed so as to be able to transmit to a receiver circuit 24 from a remote dialogue unit 25.

The active transponder module 1 can also communicate with a conventional passive transponder (dialogue unit 7) arranged at a fixed or mobile station which includes an integrated circuit 26 connected to a coil 9 used to ensure an induction transmission of data, for example d an identification code contained in a memory of the integrated circuit 26.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the active transponder module is integrated into an electronic or electromechanical wrist watch 27.

It comprises on the side of the front face of the watch, a clock unit 28 and a piezoelectric transducer 29, these two members being surrounded by an induction transmission coil 30 connected to a transponder circuit 31 similar to that of the module transponder 1. However, the clock unit 28 and the transponder circuit 31 are supplied by the same source of electrical energy, here a battery 32. Furthermore, the clock unit 28 can be used for time stamping information transmitted by the transponder module.

Claims

claims

1. System for the multiform exchange of information involving at least one active transponder circuit (1) associated with a mobile support (2) and at least two dialogue units (6, 15, 7) of different types, the circuit transponder (1) comprising an integrated memory circuit (3) associated with a coil (5) whose function is to ensure at least the exchange of information between the integrated circuit (3) and a reading device and / or writing, characterized in that this transponder circuit (1) comprises means (12) capable of transmitting in the form of an encoded sound signal of digital information contained in the memory of the transponder circuit (1).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the above sound signal is transmitted to one of the above dialogue units (15) via the telephone network (16).

3. System according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the transponder circuit (1) further comprises a circuit for receiving demodulation and / or decoding (14) of a sound signal from a unit dialogue (15), possibly transmitted by telephone.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transponder circuit (1) comprises a calendar clock allowing a time stamping of the information delivered by the above-mentioned transponder.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply of the above transponder module (1) with electrical energy is ensured by an optionally renewable or replaceable energy source (13).

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the aforesaid energy source (13) comprises an accumulator battery rechargeable by induction thanks to the aforesaid coil (5).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above sound signal is modulated in amplitude, frequency, phase or phase jump.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the memory of the transponder circuit (1) contains at least one identifying information item which may consist of a password, a subscriber number and / or a credit card.

9. System for the payment of the ski lifts of a ski resort according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transponder module (1) includes an identification code of its holder and is designed so as to be able to communicate by telephone link with a payment station in which the holder can choose the type of package that suits him and pay this package by teleshopping, the payment station being designed to make, through a voice server emitting a coded sound signal, a download from said memory to store therein information relating to the package which has just been paid, the holder being able to then use the lifts he has chosen according to the conditions of the package he has paid , by presenting the transponder at the input of each of the lifts for reading the memory, via an inductive reading device authorizing access at the ascent.

10. System for managing and monitoring a person working outside with clients or patients according to one of claims 1 to

8, characterized in that said person has an active transponder comprising time-stamping means, while customers and / or patients have an identification device which can communicate with the transponder by induction to memorize in the memory information relating to the date, duration and / or nature of the information associated with the client or patient identification code, and in that said active transponder is designed so as to be able to connect with a management station via of the telephone network and to upload the contents of the memory to this station.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active transponder is incorporated into a wristwatch (27).