WO2009065807A1

WO2009065807A1 - Method for transmitting data from one data carrier to a further data carrier on an object of a vending or rental system

Info

Publication number: WO2009065807A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/065694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven-Erik Carlson
Original assignee: Trion Ag
Priority date: 2007-11-19
Filing date: 2008-11-17
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Also published as: CH706628B1

Abstract

According to the invention, data from a data carrier (5), such as a so-called barcode, is transmitted to at least one further data carrier (7), such as an RFID label, which is disposed on an object or medium (3) of a vending system or a rental system. The transmission is performed either upon the release or rental of the object or medium or upon the redemption or return of the object or medium.

Description

METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING DATA FROM ONE DATA CARRIER TO ONE ON A OBJECT OF A PFAND OR

LOAN SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an arrangement for carrying out the method.

Libraries are increasingly using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to simplify the logistics of borrowing media and, in particular, to enable self-service.

Media to be lent out are accordingly equipped with RFID labels which can be read and written without contact. The labels uniquely identify the medium.

The RFID labels can then be in so-called

Selfcheck stations (www.biblioreturn.com) are booked out (borrowed) directly by the customer and are booked (returned). Safety gates ensure that an alarm is triggered when a non-booked medium (through the security gate) is taken out of the library.

Most libraries have so far labeled their media with barcodes as the basis for their logistics system. By capturing the barcode, media can be checked in and out. One Magnetic strip that is fixed to the medium is normally activated / deactivated for theft protection. An activated magnetic strip will trigger an alarm in safety gates set up for this purpose.

When libraries migrate to RFID, RFID labels must be fixed on the media. The labels are then described using an interrogator (reader and antenna) and thus get their identity. This creates a lot of effort in connection with the fixing / gluing and the programming of these RFID labels. Normally, this is done by the library staff or personnel hired by a person first scanning the bar code on the medium and then the related information downloaded from the attached computer system such as a Library Management System (LMS) onto the RFID tag be transmitted by means of the reader / antenna.

Normally, the library will be closed during the "conversion phase" and at least the large volume media will be converted before the library reopens.For a library with a large assortment, the conversion effort is very large and large even scares some libraries from switching to RFID.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to propose a method to facilitate retrofitting to RFID tags.

In general, the transmission of data from a data carrier to at least one further data carrier, which is arranged on an object or a medium of a deposit system or a lending system, should be simplified.

According to the invention, a method according to the wording of claim 1 is proposed.

For transmitting data from a data medium to at least one further data carrier, which is arranged on an object or medium of a deposit system or a lending system, it is proposed that the transfer of the data takes place when the object or medium is handed over or borrowed, or else on the return or return of the object or the medium.

The transfer of data, in the delivery or the loan or the redemption or return of the object or the medium is carried out such that initially by means of a reading device, the data from one volume detected or read and subsequently the data and / or information stored on a database for this data is transformed into a form compatible for at least one further data carrier in order subsequently to be stored in the further data carrier.

According to one embodiment variant, it is proposed that at least a part of the data recorded by a data carrier is transmitted to a database and / or data processing device and is processed or modified in order to adapt the data, to supplement it with additional data or to replace it with it / or to make compatibility with the at least one other disk and then stored on the at least one other disk.

The detection of the data from a disk is done for example by reading a barcode or barcode or a magnetic stripe and then the transfer is carried out on, for example, a so-called RFID disk.

The data acquired or read by the bar code or the magnetic stripe are transmitted to a database and / or to a data processing unit in order to modify, supplement, adapt, or modify the data if necessary for the bar code representative data or information to be replaced, after which the modified data are transmitted to a so-called interrogator (reader and antenna) to transfer the data to the RFID tag.

The method proposed according to the invention is particularly suitable for libraries or library-like institutions in which at least some medium or objects are borrowed and taken back. In such institutions, it is possible, for example, to provide the media or objects such as books, music or speech cassettes, videos, DVDs in addition to the already existing data carriers such as magnetic stripes or barcodes or barcodes with a so-called RFID label, which, for example can be done manually by auxiliary persons. When borrowing or delivering the media or objects, it is now possible to capture the data existing on the existing data carrier, such as a barcode or barcode, by means of a reading device, as is usually the case during dispensing, in a data processing system, for example, into a radio signal and / or to supplement data and information representative of the bar or bar code, and then at the same time Output process to transmit the transformed or supplemented or replaced data on the RFID label or store on this.

Of course, it is possible to perform this process even when returning or returning the medium or object to the library.

The inventive method is by no means limited to libraries, but the inventive transmission of data may be useful, for example, in conventional deposit systems where on data carriers of pledged objects such as also by bar codes these data are detected in the delivery of objects, then subsequently adjusted accordingly For example, RFID tags to be transmitted, which are also arranged on the corresponding object.

This can be done for example in reusable consumer goods, where on the bar code data carrier a reference code is stored, which is representative of information such as name of the object, materials contained therein such as type of beverage, first use, date of filling, etc., etc. These data can, for example on an external database be stored. Especially with reusable consumer goods, it may therefore be advantageous if instead of a bar code RFID tag is present, since in the latter these data can be taken from the external database and so or more data modifications, additions and changes can be made easier than with bar codes or magnetic stripe.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Showing:

Fig. 1 shows schematically the transmission of data from a bar code label on an RFID label in the delivery of a medium from its library, and

Fig. 2. a possible embodiment of a

Return station of objects in a library in turn suitable for transferring data from a bar code to an RFID tag.

Figure 1 shows schematically the transmission of data from a conventional bar code label to recently used so-called RFID labels. In general, the check-out of media 3, such as a book, which is arranged on a base 1, by means of a reader 9 which still applied so-called bar codes 5 read. Since barcodes, once located on the medium such as a book, can no longer be changed, data changes require either new barcodes to be applied to the medium, or the data must be adjusted in an external database for which the barcode is representative. Here lies the advantage of the recently used so-called RFID labels 7, in which data can be changed or adapted at any time.

In order to be able to use such RFID labels, these are preferably arranged on the medium 3 at a predefined location. When checking out the medium 3 such as a book, a

Video, etc. from a library, the bar code 5 is detected by the reader 9. The data record acquired by the reader 9 is transmitted to a data processing unit 11 for the programming or transformation of the data. The

Data processing unit 11 may be connected to an external database 12. With the bar code read as a reference, the information associated with it can be recorded by the database, which may be, for example, a so-called LMS (Library Management System). at the programming of the bar code data can be supplemented by the further information or data from the database, or be replaced by this. Additional data may be added which are media specific or which are specific to the person borrowing the medium. The data thus programmed or transformed are transmitted to a so-called reader 13, which transfers this data to the RFID label 7 by means of an antenna 15. Now the transaction is complete. It is essential in this transaction that the medium with the correspondingly arranged RFID label 7 is within the range of the antenna 15. The transmission of the data can be done for example by the library staff themselves, at a serving counter or by library customers at a so-called self-service terminal. In this regard, a good customer interface via an associated screen is beneficial in which the customer is informed. Thus, the customer can ensure that on the one hand, the loan of the medium is done correctly and on the other hand, the transfer of the data from the bar code to the RFID label. However, it is also quite possible that borrowing or delivering the media from the library will take place as usual, ie without the transfer of the data to the RFID label. In other words, the medium is checked out using the applied RFID label, which is still empty and out of focus.

The return of the media can take place in a return station or a reverse vending machine, as shown for example in FIG. 2.

Now, if a user person returns the borrowed medium 3, such as a book or a video, to the library, he can input it to a conveyor 1 in an input area. Preferably are on the

Conveyor 1 corresponding markers present so that the user enters the medium correctly, so that the disk can be read correctly or described. The medium 3 entered by the user is now transported in the direction of the arrow into a read / write area 4. This area 4 is limited in the direction of the arrow, for example by a barrier 21, so that the object can not be transported away from this area before the reading

/ Write is complete. Once the object 3 is arranged in the area 4, for example, a back further barrier 23 can be closed so that no other objects can get into this area to disturb the read / write operation.

Again, the bar code 5 is read by a reading device 9 and the detected reference code is transmitted to a database or to a data processing unit 11, which is optionally connected to an external database 12. In this, the read code is optionally supplemented with information representative of the code, or replaced by it, programmed or transformed, in order subsequently to be transmitted to the RFID label 7. Again, it is possible to add additional data, to modify it, or to supplement or delete, for example, user-specific data in addition to the data acquired by or associated with the barcode 5. The data programmed or transformed in this way are transmitted to a reader 13, from which by means of antenna 15 the data is transferred or transmitted to the RFID label. Once the process is completed, the front-side barrier 21 can now be raised, so that the object 3 is moved further in the direction of the arrow can. As soon as the object 3 has left the area 4, the barrier or door 21 can be closed again and, on the other hand, the barrier 23 is opened again so that a further object can enter the read / write area 4.

In connection with the return of borrowed objects, it should also be noted that it is also possible to check at a return station whether the procedure has been carried out correctly or whether errors have occurred. Accordingly, in the area 4, as shown in Figure 2, in the case of detected errors, the object can be returned to the user. For example, with the request to consult the staff. Or, the object can be accepted, whereupon it is sorted out separately to be fed to a manual post-processing.

It goes without saying that the transferring of the data from one data carrier to another is not limited to libraries and library institutions, but can also be done, for example, with reusable consumer goods, such as reusable bottles, reusable packaging, etc. etc. Analogous to the examples shown with respect to a library, for example, for reusable consumer goods, the data from the original conventional data carrier to a new such as an RFID label either in the issue or release of the reusable article made, or in the return or return of the object.

In this case, the transfer of the data can also be made one to one, that is, without connection to another database.

Since RFID labels can usually be provided with much more information and also a

Modifying data is at all possible, it is certainly useful and advantageous if these properties are used by supplementing with other data and information. In other words, it is certainly advantageous if the transfer of the data takes place by connection to a database, where for a barcode product-specific and / or user-specific additional data are available, which can now be transferred to the RFID label.

Of course, the inventive method is not limited to the transmission of data from a bar code to an RFID label, but the transfer can be made from any disk to another disk, the two disks on the same object or medium are arranged. Yes, it is even possible that such a data transfer can take place when exchanging objects, where, for example, an old object with an "old data carrier" is returned and at the same time a new object is obtained, on which a new data carrier is arranged Transfer of data when replacing the old to the new object.

Claims

claims

1. A method for transmitting data from a data carrier to at least one further data carrier, which is arranged on an object or medium of a deposit system or a lending system, characterized in that the transfer takes place during the delivery or the loan of the object or medium or at the return or return of the object or medium.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer in the delivery or the loan or the redemption or the return takes place by the data from one data carrier are detected by means of a reading device, then the data in compatible for the other disk Form are transformed and then stored in another disk.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the data collected by a data carrier is transmitted to a database and / or data processing unit and processed or modified and / or supplemented by other data to on the one hand, to adapt the data, to supplement it with further data and / or to establish compatibility with the further data carrier.

4. Device according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that of a bar code or

Barcode or a magnetic stripe, the data are read and transmitted to a so-called RFID data carrier.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the of a barcode or

Barcode transmitted information to a data processing unit, which is optionally connected to an external database to capture information or data for which the bar or bar code is representative, then the bar or bar code and / or the external If necessary, modify, supplement, and / or adapt the data recorded in the database, and / or replace the barcode information entirely with the externally acquired data and then transmit it to an interrogator (reader and antenna) for the data finally save on an RFID tag.

6. A method for transferring the data in a library or library-like institution, in which at least part of the media or objects are borrowed and taken back, characterized in that when borrowing or redemption the data, such as media-specific or institution-specific data, from the one Data carriers are read as a bar code and then transferred to at least one further data carrier such as an RFID tag, which is arranged on a medium such as a book, a video, a music cassette, a DVD, etc., wherein the transmission in the Loan of the object or on the return or return of the object takes place.

7. Arrangement for carrying out a method according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that in the region of the delivery or lending of an object (3) and / or in the region of the return or return of an object or medium at least one reading device (9) is provided for the acquisition of data from a data carrier (5), and the at least one writing device (15) is provided to the data on the at least one further data carrier (7) to transfer.

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the reading device (9) is suitable for reading data from a

Barcode or barcode label (3) that further means (11) is provided to transform the data so that they are transferable to a so-called RFID label (7), and further that a so-called reader (13) and an antenna (15) is provided to transfer the transformed data to the RFID label (7).

9. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the device is a data processing system, in which the bar or bar code information transmitted by the reading device are transferable, which data processing system is optionally connected to an external database, in which data or Information is stored for which the read bar code is representative, and that the data processing system is such, or is programmed so that the read bar and bar code information and the associated data or information from the Database are transformable, and / or can be supplemented by other data.

10. Arrangement according to one of claims 7-9, characterized in that a read / write zone is provided, which is marked such that the object for reading and writing can be entered correctly.

11. Arrangement according to one of claims 7-10, characterized in that in a return station, a transport device is provided with an input zone, where a user person can insert the medium or object to be returned and that in the transport direction a read / write zone is provided which is limited by closable and re-opening barrier-like devices to keep the object / medium in reading / writing in the correct position.