JP2010086147A - Wireless tag management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wireless tag management system capable of greatly reducing the labor of an operator in the confirmation work of communication reliability to be performed after the wireless tag is created.
A wireless tag creation device transmits a plurality of tag IDs respectively written to a plurality of created wireless tags T to an operation terminal 100, and the operation terminal 100 stores the received plurality of tag IDs in a storage unit 106. In addition to storing, the plurality of tag IDs are collectively transmitted to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200. The RFID tag communication apparatus 200 stores the received plurality of tag IDs in the storage unit 207 as a search target, and the plurality of tags While sequentially specifying the ID, information is acquired from the radio circuit element To of the radio tag T designated via the communication device side antenna 203, and the communication reliability is confirmed.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag management system for creating a wireless tag including a wireless tag circuit element including an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information.

  An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system that transmits and receives information in a non-contact manner (an electromagnetic coupling method using a coil, an electromagnetic induction method, a radio wave method, etc.) to a wireless tag having a wireless tag circuit element that stores information is known. Yes.

An example of a wireless tag creation device that creates the wireless tag is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this RFID tag producing apparatus (RFID label printer), information is written to a RFID circuit element (RFID tag) included in the label by a reader / writer device provided in the apparatus, and the above-mentioned information is written on the label. A wireless tag is created by printing corresponding to the information. At this time, the RFID tag producing apparatus has a test mode for confirming whether or not the writing is normally performed. When the test mode is set, the information writing is performed. Information is read from the RFID tag circuit element by a reader / writer device, and whether or not the writing has been normally performed is confirmed based on the reading result.
JP 2006-18455 A

  In general, in an RFID system, a wireless tag is installed on an object to be managed, and an operator reads information from the wireless tag from a position separated by a predetermined distance by, for example, a portable wireless tag communication device. The management of the object is performed.

  Here, in the above-described conventional RFID tag producing apparatus, in order to confirm whether or not information has been normally written to the RFID circuit element, information is written to the RFID circuit element after the information is written by the reader / writer device. Although reading is performed, since this communication is performed from a distance close to a reader / writer device provided in the apparatus, it cannot be said that it is a practical confirmation method in view of the practical aspect of the wireless tag.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to check the information by reading information with a separately prepared RFID tag communication device. In this case, tag identification information (tag ID) of the RFID tag circuit element of the created RFID tag is used as the RFID tag communication device. Therefore, a great deal of labor is required especially when a plurality of wireless tags are created.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless tag management system that can greatly reduce the labor of an operator in a communication reliability check operation to be performed after the wireless tag is created.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless tag management system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a wireless tag that creates a wireless tag including a wireless tag circuit element including an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information. A wireless tag management system comprising: a creation device; an operation terminal for operating the wireless tag creation device; and a wireless tag communication device for reading information from the wireless tag created by the wireless tag creation device. The wireless tag creation device includes a transport unit for transporting a tag medium, a creation device-side antenna for wireless communication with the wireless tag circuit element provided in the tag medium, and installation of the wireless tag Tag identification information given to the RFID circuit element corresponding to target object information is written to the IC circuit unit via the creation device side antenna, and the RFID tag Creating device side writing means for creating, and creating device side information output means for outputting the tag identification information written by the creating device side writing means to the operation terminal, wherein the operation terminal creates the radio tag A terminal-side storage unit that stores the tag identification information transmitted from the creation-device-side information output unit of the device; and the wireless tag creation device stores at least one of the wireless tags and then stores it in the terminal-side storage unit Terminal-side information output means for collectively outputting at least one tag identification information corresponding to each of the at least one RFID tag to the RFID tag communication device, and the RFID tag communication device includes: A communication device side antenna for performing wireless communication with respect to the RFID circuit element, and the small amount output from the terminal side information output means of the operation terminal. Both the communication device-side storage means for storing one tag identification information as a search target, and the at least one tag identification information stored in the communication device-side storage means, sequentially specifying the tag identification information via the communication device-side antenna. And an information acquisition means for acquiring information from the IC circuit portion of the designated RFID tag circuit element.

  In the first invention of the present application, a wireless tag is created by the wireless tag creation device based on an operation from the operation terminal. In the wireless tag creation device, the transport means transports the tag medium, and the creation device side writing means writes the tag identification information to the IC circuit unit provided in the RFID tag circuit element of the tag medium to create the wireless tag. . The used tag identification information is output from the creation device side information output means and stored in the terminal side storage means of the operation terminal. After at least one wireless tag is created as described above, the tag identification information of each of the at least one wireless tag circuit element stored in the terminal-side storage unit is collectively collected from the terminal-side information output unit. Are output to the RFID tag communication device and stored in the communication device storage means. As a result, when it is desired to try whether information can be read by wireless communication with respect to the created wireless tag, at least one tag identification information stored in the communication device-side storage means by the information acquisition means The information may be acquired from the IC circuit unit of the designated RFID tag circuit element.

  As described above, in the first invention of the present application, the tag identification information of at least one wireless tag used at the time of creation by the wireless tag creation device is automatically sent to the wireless tag communication device collectively through the operation terminal. , It is possible to easily attempt to read information with respect to the at least one wireless tag. As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor of the operator in the confirmation work of communication reliability that should be executed after creating the wireless tag. This effect is particularly noticeable when a plurality of wireless tags are created.

  The wireless tag management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the wireless tag management system according to the first aspect, wherein the wireless tag communication device uses the information acquisition means while sequentially specifying a plurality of the tag identification information stored in the communication device-side storage means. A multiple tag detection mode for acquiring the information, and a single tag detection mode for designating one piece of tag identification information stored in the communication device-side storage unit and acquiring the information by the information acquisition unit. The operation terminal has switchable mode switching means, and the operation terminal instructs switching to the multiple tag detection mode in response to the terminal side information output means outputting the plurality of tag identification information. Switching instruction output means for outputting a switching instruction signal to be transmitted, wherein the mode switching means is configured to respond to the switching instruction signal from the switching instruction output means of the operation terminal. And performs switching to the detection mode.

  In the second invention of the present application, when outputting a plurality of tag identification information from the operation terminal to the RFID tag communication apparatus, the switching instruction output means outputs a switching instruction signal, and in response to this, the mode switching means of the RFID tag communication apparatus Switch to multiple tag detection mode. As a result, even when the RFID tag communication device has been switched to the single tag detection mode so far, when performing the communication reliability check operation after the creation of the plurality of RFID tags, it is ensured that the plurality of tags. You can automatically switch to detection mode. As a result, manual mode switching by the operator becomes unnecessary, and the labor of the operator can be reliably reduced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wireless tag management system according to the second aspect, wherein the wireless tag communication device has the wireless tag circuit element that has failed to acquire information by the information acquisition means specifying the tag identification information. A first reissue request output means for outputting a reissue request signal for requesting the issuance of the corresponding new wireless tag to the operation terminal, if the operation terminal is present; In response to the reissue request signal from the first reissue request output means, the wireless tag producing device has first reissue instruction output means for outputting a reissue instruction signal to the wireless tag producing device. In response to the reissue instruction signal from the first reissue instruction output means of the operation terminal, a new wireless tag is created using the new tag identification information and the tag identification information is changed to the operation So as to output to the end of the conveying means, the producing apparatus side writing means, and for controlling said producing apparatus side information output means, and having a first reissue control means.

  As a result, after the creation of a plurality of wireless tags, a communication reliability check operation is performed, and if there is a wireless tag for which information cannot be read (communication reliability is suspected), the use of the wireless tag is abandoned. Instead of the wireless tag, a new wireless tag can be automatically created by the wireless tag creation device.

  The wireless tag management system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the wireless tag management system according to the third aspect, wherein the terminal-side storage means of the operation terminal is the new tag identification information transmitted from the creation device-side information output means of the wireless tag creation device. And the terminal-side information output means collectively outputs the new tag identification information stored in the terminal-side storage means to the RFID tag communication apparatus, and the switching instruction output means In response to the terminal-side information output means outputting the new tag identification information, the switching instruction signal instructing switching to the single tag detection mode or the multiple tag detection mode is output, and the wireless tag communication The mode switching means of the device switches to the single tag detection mode or the multiple tag detection mode according to the switching instruction signal from the switching instruction output means of the operation terminal. And performing.

  Thereby, the tag identification information of the wireless tag used when creating a new wireless tag (single or plural) with the wireless tag creating device is sent to the wireless tag communication device via the operation terminal, and the new wireless tag is However, further information reading can be easily attempted. At this time, the mode switching unit of the RFID tag communication apparatus switches the mode to the single tag detection mode or the multiple tag detection mode in accordance with the switching instruction signal from the switching instruction output unit. Thereby, even when the RFID tag communication apparatus is switched to the plural tag detection mode for the above-described communication reliability confirmation operation after the creation of the plural RFID tags, the number of the new RFID tags is single. In this case, the mode can be surely automatically switched to the single tag detection mode, and when there are a plurality of new wireless tags, the multiple tag detection mode can be maintained as it is. As a result, manual mode switching by the operator becomes unnecessary, and the labor of the operator can be reliably reduced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wireless tag management system according to the second aspect, wherein the wireless tag communication device has the wireless tag circuit element that has failed to acquire information by the information acquisition means specifying the tag identification information. The communication device side writing means for writing the specified tag identification information to the IC circuit portion of the RFID circuit element via the communication device side antenna when present.

  As a result, the communication reliability check operation is performed after the creation of a plurality of wireless tags, and if there is a wireless tag whose information cannot be read (communication reliability is suspected), the wireless tag circuit element of the wireless tag In contrast, the same tag identification information can be written again.

  The wireless tag management system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the wireless tag management system according to the fifth aspect, wherein the creation device side information output means of the wireless tag creation device includes the tag identification information written by the creation device side writing means and the tag identification information. The terminal information output means of the operation terminal outputs the object information from the creation apparatus side information output means to the RFID tag communication apparatus. The RFID tag communication apparatus has display means for displaying the object information output from the terminal side information output means.

  When the tag identification information is written by the communication device side writing means, information cannot be read from the target wireless tag, so that it is difficult to specify the wireless tag circuit element as it is. Therefore, in the sixth invention of the present application, the corresponding object information is output together with the tag identification information written by the creating apparatus side information output means of the RFID tag producing apparatus, and the object information is transmitted by the RFID tag communication apparatus via the operation terminal. Acquired and displayed on the display means. As a result, the operator can confirm the object information corresponding to the RFID tag circuit element to be written on the display means, specify the RFID tag circuit element, and perform writing.

  The wireless tag management system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the wireless tag management system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the wireless tag creation device corresponds to the object with respect to the tag medium or a print medium bonded to the tag medium. It has a printing means for printing print information, and the display means of the RFID tag communication apparatus displays the object information corresponding to the print information.

  Thereby, when the tag identification information is written by the communication device side writing means, the object information corresponding to the print information printed on the wireless tag (for example, object information substantially the same as the print information) is displayed. Is displayed. As a result, the operator can more easily specify the RFID tag circuit element to be written.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the wireless tag management system according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, wherein the wireless tag communication device specifies the tag identification information written by the communication device-side writing means. It has a re-acquisition control means for controlling the information acquisition means so as to obtain it.

  As a result, the communication reliability is suspected in the confirmation work performed after the creation of a plurality of wireless tags, and the communication reliability confirmation work is performed even for the wireless tag in which the tag identification information is written again using the wireless tag communication device. Can be executed.

  A wireless tag management system according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the reissue request signal for requesting the issuance of a corresponding new wireless tag when the information cannot be acquired by the reacquisition control means in the eighth aspect of the invention. In response to the reissue request signal from the second reissue request output means of the wireless tag communication device. A second reissuing instruction output means for outputting a reissuing instruction signal to the tag creating apparatus, wherein the wireless tag creating apparatus responds to the reissuing instruction signal from the second reissuing instruction output means of the operation terminal; And creating the new wireless tag using the new tag identification information and outputting the tag identification information to the operation terminal, and the creation device side writing means and the creation Controlling the 置側 information output means, and having a second reissue control means.

  As a result, communication reliability is suspected in the confirmation work performed after the creation of a plurality of wireless tags, and communication reliability is still suspected for a wireless tag for which tag identification information has been written again using the wireless tag communication device. Can abandon the use of the wireless tag and automatically create a new wireless tag in place of the wireless tag by the wireless tag creating apparatus.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operator's effort in the confirmation work of the communication reliability which should be performed after creation of a wireless tag can be reduced significantly.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the wireless tag management system of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the radio tag management system TS creates a radio tag T including a radio tag circuit element To including an IC circuit unit 150 that stores information and a tag antenna 151 that transmits and receives information. This is a system capable of confirming the communication reliability of T. The wireless tag management system TS includes a wireless tag creation device 500 that creates a wireless tag T, a display unit 101, and an operation unit 102, an operation terminal 100 for operating the wireless tag creation device 500, and the operation terminal. 100 is connected to the terminal 100 by wireless communication (Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.), and information is transmitted to one or a plurality (five in the illustrated example) of RFID tags T created by the RFID tag producing device 500. A wireless tag communication device 200 for reading or writing information. The operation terminal 100 and the wireless tag creation device 500 are connected to be able to transmit and receive information via a wired or wireless network NW (LAN, wireless LAN, etc.).

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the operation terminal 100 and the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  In FIG. 2, the operation terminal 100 includes the display unit 101 for displaying various operation screens, input screens, and the like, and appropriate buttons, keys, a mouse, and the like. Wireless communication between terminals performed between the wireless tag communication device 200 and the network communication control unit 103 that controls network communication performed between the operation unit 102 and the wireless tag creation device 500 via the network NW. An inter-terminal communication control unit 104 that controls communication; a control circuit 105 that controls the operation of the entire operation terminal 100 including the display unit 101, the network communication control unit 103, and the inter-terminal communication control unit 104; Of the RFID tag T (provided with the RFID tag circuit element To) transmitted from the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 via the network NW after creation. Tag ID as grayed identification information, and a storage unit 106 (terminal-side storage unit) for storing print data to be printed on the RFID tag T.

  In the operation terminal 100 having the above configuration, the single or plural tag IDs respectively corresponding to the single or plural radio tags T received from the radio tag producing apparatus 500 and stored in the storage unit 106 after the radio tag T is created, and The print data is collectively output to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 via the network NW (details will be described later).

  As described above, the wireless tag communication device 200 is a reader / writer that can read or write information on the wireless tag T created by the wireless tag creation device 500. The wireless tag communication apparatus 200 includes a display unit 201 (display unit) that performs various displays, an operation unit 202 for an operator to perform various operation inputs, and a single or plural (in the illustrated example, five) wireless tags. The wireless tag circuit element To of T is accessed by wireless communication to the communication device side antenna 203 for performing wireless communication, and the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To through the communication device side antenna 203, A high-frequency circuit 204 that processes a signal read from the RFID circuit element To, an inter-terminal communication control unit 205 that controls inter-terminal radio communication performed between the operation terminals 100, and the display unit 201 , The control circuit 206 that controls the entire RFID tag communication apparatus 200 including the high-frequency circuit 204 and the inter-terminal communication control unit 205, and the operation terminal 100. S tag ID and the print data, and a storage unit 207 for storing as search target (communication device side storage means).

  The wireless tag communication device 200 is configured to acquire information from a plurality of wireless tags T while sequentially specifying a plurality of tag IDs received from the operation terminal 100 and stored in the storage unit 207 (multiple tag detection mode). ) And a single search mode (single tag detection mode) for acquiring information from a single wireless tag T by specifying one tag ID received from the operation terminal 100 and stored in the storage unit 207 (Details will be described later).

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the wireless tag creation device 500.

  In FIG. 3, the wireless tag creation apparatus 500 has a function of creating the wireless tag T as described above. That is, the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 includes a tag tape roll 504 wound with a tag tape 503 (tag medium) provided with RFID circuit elements To at a predetermined interval (originally a spiral shape, but simplified and concentrically illustrated. Or a cartridge holder 506 to which a cartridge (not shown) equipped with the cartridge holder 506 can be attached and detached, and a region corresponding to each RFID circuit element To in the tag tape 503 fed out from the tag tape roll 504. A print head 505 (printing means) that prints print data (for example, the name of the object) corresponding to an object to which the wireless tag T is installed, and a conveyance roller 508 (conveyance means) for conveying the tag tape 503. And wireless tag information (this embodiment) by transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication with the RFID tag circuit element To included in the tag tape 503 In this state, the production apparatus side antenna 501 and the high frequency circuit 502 for writing the tag ID) and the tag tape 503 that has finished printing on the tag tape 503 and writing information on the RFID circuit element To are cut to a predetermined length. A network communication control unit 509 that controls network communication performed between the cutter 507 that forms the wireless tag T and the operation terminal 100 via the network NW, and the above-described high-frequency circuit 502 and print head 505. A control circuit 510 that controls the operation of the entire RFID tag producing apparatus 500 including a cutter 507, a transport roller 508, a network communication control unit 509, and the like.

  In the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 having the above configuration, when producing the RFID tag T, the tag ID is written to the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To of the tag tape 503 via the producing apparatus side antenna 502. This tag ID is given to the RFID circuit element To in correspondence with the object information (for example, the name of the object) of the installation target of the wireless tag T in the operation terminal 200, and the operation terminal together with the print data. 200 is received. In addition, after the RFID tag T is created, the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 outputs the tag ID and print data written in the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T to the operation terminal 100 via the network NW. The output tag ID and print data are stored in the storage unit 106 of the operation terminal 100 as described above.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the high-frequency circuit 204 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  In FIG. 4, the high frequency circuit 204 accesses information in the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T via the communication device side antenna 203 and controls the RFID tag communication device 200. 206 reads the information by processing the signal read from the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T and accesses the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID tag circuit element To (information reading or information writing). ) To generate various commands.

  The high-frequency circuit 204 transmits a signal to the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T via the communication device side antenna 203, and a response from the RFID tag circuit element To received by the communication device side antenna 203. It comprises a receiving unit 143 for inputting a wave and a transmission / reception separator 144.

  The transmission unit 142 is a block that generates an interrogation wave for accessing the RFID tag information of the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID circuit element To. That is, the transmission unit 142 generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency by dividing / multiplying the output of the crystal resonator 145A by the control of the crystal resonator 145A that outputs a frequency reference signal and the control circuit 206. The generated carrier is modulated based on a signal supplied from the control circuit 206 (based on a “TX_ASK” signal from the control circuit 206 in this example), and a Locked Loop (145B) 145B and a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) 145C. A transmission multiplier circuit 146 (amplitude modulation may be used in the case of amplitude modulation) and a modulated wave modulated by the transmission multiplier circuit 146 is amplified (in this example, “ The amplification factor is determined by the “TX_PWR” signal) And a gain control transmission amplifier 147 to generate a desired interrogation wave. The generated carrier wave uses, for example, a frequency in the UHF band (or may be a microwave band or a short wave band), and the output of the gain control transmission amplifier 147 passes through the transmission / reception separator 144 to the communication device side. The signal is transmitted to the antenna 203 and supplied to the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID circuit element To. The interrogation wave is not limited to the signal (modulation wave) modulated as described above, and may be only a carrier wave.

  The receiving unit 143 multiplies the response wave from the RFID circuit element To received by the communication device side antenna 203 by the carrier wave and demodulates the I phase reception multiplication circuit 148, and the output of the I phase reception multiplication circuit 148 I-phase bandpass filter 149 for extracting only a signal of a necessary band from the I-phase, an I-phase reception amplifier 162 that amplifies the output of the I-phase bandpass filter 149, and an output of the I-phase reception amplifier 162 is further amplified. The I-phase limiter 163 that converts the signal into a digital signal, the response wave from the RFID tag circuit element To received by the antenna 203 on the communication device, and the signal whose carrier wave is delayed by 90 ° by the phase shifter 167 Q-phase band-pass fill for extracting only a signal of a necessary band from the output of the Q-phase reception multiplication circuit 172 and the Q-phase reception multiplication circuit 172 And 173, and a Q-phase receiving signal amplifier 175 for amplifying the output of the Q-phase bandpass filter 173, and a Q-phase limiter 176 which converts the digital signal further amplifies the output of the Q-phase receiving signal amplifier 175. The signal “RXS-I” output from the I-phase limiter 163 and the signal “RXS-Q” output from the Q-phase limiter 176 are input to the control circuit 206 and processed.

  The outputs of the I-phase reception amplifier 162 and the Q-phase reception amplifier 175 are also input to an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) circuit 178 as intensity detection means, and a signal “RSSI” indicating the intensity of those signals is input to the control circuit. 206 is input. Thereby, in the RFID tag communication apparatus 200, it is possible to detect the reception intensity of the signal from the RFID circuit element To during the communication with the RFID circuit element To.

  Although not described above, the high-frequency circuit 502 of the above-described RFID tag producing apparatus 500 also has the same configuration as the high-frequency circuit 204 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the RFID circuit element To.

  In FIG. 5, the RFID circuit element To transmits and receives signals without contact with the communication device side antenna 203 of the RFID tag communication device 200 (or the creation device side antenna 501 of the RFID tag creation device 500) as described above. The tag antenna 151 and the IC circuit unit 150 connected to the tag antenna 151 are included.

  The IC circuit unit 150 rectifies the interrogation wave (interrogation signal) received by the tag antenna 151, and a power source unit for accumulating the energy of the interrogation wave rectified by the rectification unit 152 and using it as a drive power source 153, a clock extraction unit 154 that extracts a clock signal from the interrogation wave received by the tag antenna 151 and supplies the clock signal to the control unit 157, a memory unit 155 that can store a predetermined information signal, and the tag antenna 151 Random number generation for generating a random number for determining to which identification slot the RFID circuit element To outputs a response signal upon reception of the interrogation signal from the connected modem 156 and the RFID tag communication device 200 158 (details of the inquiry signal and identification slot will be described later), the memory unit 155, the clock extraction unit 154, the random number generator Vessel 158, and via the modem part 156, etc. and the control part 157 for controlling the operation of the RFID circuit element To.

  The modem unit 156 demodulates the interrogation wave received from the tag antenna 151 and transmitted from the communication device side antenna 203 of the RFID tag communication device 200 (or the creation device side antenna 501 of the RFID tag creation device 500). The reply signal from the control unit 157 is modulated and transmitted as a response wave (a signal including a tag ID) from the tag antenna 151.

  The clock extraction unit 154 extracts a clock component from the received signal and supplies a clock corresponding to the frequency of the clock component to the control unit 157.

The random number generator 158 generates a random number from 0 to 2 ^Q −1 for the slot number designation value Q designated in the interrogation signal from the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 (details will be described later).

  The control unit 157 interprets the received signal demodulated by the modem unit 156, generates a return signal based on the information signal stored in the memory unit 155, and causes the random number generator 158 to generate the return signal. Basic control such as control of returning from the tag antenna 151 by the modulation / demodulation unit 156 is executed in the identification slot corresponding to the random number.

  The greatest feature of the RFID tag management system TS of the present embodiment configured as described above is that a plurality (or a single) RFID tag T can be created by the RFID tag creating apparatus 500 based on an operation from the operation terminal 100. When it is performed, a plurality of tag IDs written in each RFID circuit element To at that time are collectively output from the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 via the operation terminal 100. As a result, The RFID tag communication apparatus 200 automatically switches to the multi-search mode (single search mode when there is a single RFID tag T), and sequentially designates a plurality of tag IDs for the created RFID tag T. It is now possible to try whether information can be read by communication. Hereinafter, the details will be sequentially described.

  First, a signal transmitted and received between the wireless tag communication device 200 and the wireless tag circuit element To when the wireless tag communication device 200 reads information from the wireless tag T and a transmission / reception method thereof will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time chart of signals transmitted and received between the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 and one RFID tag circuit element To. The signal transmission / reception method shown in FIG. 6 is based on the well-known Random-Slotted Collation arbitration method, and is shown to change in time series from the left to the right. An arrow written between the RFID tag communication device 200 and the RFID circuit element To indicates the signal transmission direction. When the transmission partner is unspecified, it is indicated by a broken line, and the transmission partner is specified. In this case, it is indicated by a solid line.

  In FIG. 6, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 first transmits a “Select” command to all RFID tag circuit elements To existing in the communicable area. This “Select” command is a command for designating the conditions of the RFID circuit element To to which the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 performs radio communication thereafter, and the RFID circuit that is to read information by designating various conditions By limiting the number of elements To, it is possible to increase the efficiency of wireless communication. Of the RFID circuit elements To that have received this “Select” command, only the RFID circuit element To satisfying the specified condition is in a state where it can subsequently perform wireless communication (in the figure, this condition satisfying this condition). Only one RFID circuit element To is shown).

Next, the wireless tag communication device 200 transmits a “Query” command (read command) for requesting response transmission of each tag information (including a tag ID which is identification information) to the same wireless tag group. This “Query” command is a search command for performing a search under a condition in which the number of RFID circuit elements To expected to respond is uncertain. The “Query” command includes a slot number designation value Q designated by a predetermined number (for example, any value from 0 to 15 in this example). When a “Query” command is transmitted from the high-frequency circuit 204 via the communication device-side antenna 203, each RFID circuit element To generates random numbers from 0 to 2 ^Q −1 (= 2 to the Qth power −1). And generated as a slot count value S.

Then, after the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 transmits the “Query” command via the communication apparatus side antenna 203, it waits for a response from the RFID tag circuit element To in a predetermined identification slot. The identification slot is a time frame that is divided by a predetermined period after the first transmission of the “Query” command or a “QueryRep” command described later. The identification slot is normally repeated a predetermined number of times (1 ^Q identification slot of the “Query” command and 2 and subsequent identification slots 2 ^Q −1 of the “QueryRep” command in total 2 ^Q times).

  Then, as shown in the illustrated example, the RFID circuit element To that generates the value 0 as the slot count value S responds with the first identification slot including the “Query” command. At this time, the RFID circuit element To transmits a “RN16” command using, for example, a 16-bit pseudo random number for obtaining permission to transmit tag information to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 as a response signal.

  Then, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 that has received the “RN16” command transmits an “Ack” command that permits transmission of tag information with contents corresponding to the “RN16” command. When the RFID circuit element To that has received the “Ack” command determines that the “RN16” command transmitted by the RFID circuit element To itself and the received “Ack” command correspond to each other, The tag information (including the tag ID) is transmitted assuming that the individual RFID tag circuit element To is permitted to transmit the tag information. In this way, transmission / reception of signals in one identification slot is performed.

  Thereafter, in the second and subsequent identification slots, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 transmits a “QueryRep” command instead of the “Query” command, and another RFID circuit element To ( Wait for a response (not shown). Each RFID circuit element To that has received the “QueryRep” command subtracts and holds one of the slot count value S of its own, and holds “0” in the identification slot when the slot count value S becomes 0. Transmission / reception of signals including the “RN16” command is performed with the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  If there is no corresponding RFID circuit element To in each identification slot (those whose slot count value S is 0 in the identification slot), transmission / reception other than the “Query” command or the “QueryRep” command is not performed. The identification slot is terminated in a predetermined time frame.

In this way, each RFID circuit element To returns a response signal in a different identification slot, so that the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 does not receive interference through the communication apparatus side antenna 203, and each RFID circuit element To. Tag information can be clearly received and captured. Then, after the “Select” command is transmitted as described above, the identification starts with the transmission of the “Query Rep” command after the first identification slot (once) after the transmission of the “Query” command and the subsequent second identification slot. A processing unit until a predetermined number of slots are repeated (usually 2 ^Q −1) is referred to as a read trial process (a total of 2 ^Q identification slots are usually). In addition, the number of times the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 performs the reading trial process is referred to as the number of reading attempts.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control contents executed by the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication apparatus 200, and the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation apparatus 500.

  In step S5, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 sends a tag creation request signal for requesting creation of the wireless tag T to the wireless tag creation device 500 together with the tag ID and the print data, and the network communication control unit 103 and the network NW. To send through. At this time, one or a plurality of tag IDs and print data are transmitted corresponding to the number of RFID tags T to be created. The tag ID may be an ID server (not shown) connected to the network NW (or a hard disk built in the operation terminal 100, etc.) connected to the network NW when the operator performs a creation operation of the wireless tag T. ) And provided to each RFID circuit element To corresponding to the object information of the RFID tag T to be created. The print data is input by the operator via the operation unit 102. For example, when the wireless tag T is provided in a file, the file name or the like is printed as print data.

  Upon receiving the tag creation request signal from the operation terminal 100, the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation device 500 writes the received tag ID in the wireless tag circuit element To and the received print data in the tag tape 503 in step S100. A wireless tag creation process is performed to create a wireless tag T by printing (see FIG. 8 to be described later for the detailed procedure). As a result, one or a plurality of wireless tags T are created in the wireless tag creating apparatus 500.

  In step S10, the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation device 500 sends the single or plural tag IDs and print data respectively corresponding to the single or plural wireless tags T created above to the network communication control unit 509 and the network NW. Are sent to the operation terminal 100 at once. In addition, this step S10 comprises the creation apparatus side information output means as described in a claim, and this step S10 and said step S100 comprise a 1st reissue control means.

  The control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 that has received the tag ID and the print data from the wireless tag creation device 500 stores the received one or more tag IDs and print data in the storage unit 106 in step S15.

  In step S20, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 uses the RFID tag communication with the one or more tag IDs and print data stored in the storage unit 106 via the inter-terminal communication control unit 104 and the inter-terminal wireless communication. To device 200. In addition, this step S20 comprises the terminal side information output means as described in a claim.

  The control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200 that has received the tag ID and the print data from the operation terminal 100 stores the received one or more tag IDs and print data in the storage unit 207 in step S25.

  On the other hand, in step S30, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 determines whether or not there are a plurality of tag IDs received from the wireless tag creation device 500 in step S15. If there are a plurality of tags, the determination is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S35. In response to the transmission of a plurality of tag IDs and print data in step S20, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 enters the multi-search mode. A switching instruction signal for instructing switching is transmitted to the wireless tag communication device 200 via the inter-terminal communication control unit 104 and the inter-terminal wireless communication. On the other hand, if the received tag ID is singular, the determination in step S30 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S40, and a switching instruction signal for instructing the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 to switch to the single search mode is provided. The data is transmitted to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 via the inter-terminal communication control unit 104 and inter-terminal radio communication. In addition, the said step S30, step S35, and step S40 comprise the switching instruction | indication output means as described in a claim.

  The control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 that has received the switching instruction signal from the operation terminal 100 determines whether or not the instruction mode based on the switching instruction signal is the multi-search mode in step S45. When the switching instruction signal corresponding to the single search mode is received from the operation terminal 100, the determination is not satisfied and the process proceeds to Step S200, and the single tag ID stored in Step S25 is specified, and the information is received from the wireless tag T. The acquired single search process is executed (refer to FIG. 9 described later for the detailed procedure). On the other hand, when the switching instruction signal corresponding to the multi-search mode is received from the operation terminal 100, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S300, where the plurality of tag IDs stored in Step S25 are sequentially designated and a plurality of wireless radio signals are designated. A multi-search process for acquiring information from the tag T is executed (refer to FIG. 10 described later for the detailed procedure). In addition, the said step S45 comprises the mode switching means as described in a claim, and the said step S200 and step S300 comprise an information acquisition means.

  In step S50, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200 determines whether there is a wireless tag T for which information cannot be read by the single search process or the multi search process. If the information can be read from all the wireless tags T, there is no wireless tag T from which the information could not be read, so the determination is not satisfied and this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is a wireless tag T from which information cannot be read, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S55.

  In step S55, the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 requests the operation terminal 100 to create (reissue) the RFID tag T for which the information could not be read (reissue request signal). Are transmitted together with the corresponding tag ID and print data (stored in the storage unit 207 in step S25) via the inter-terminal communication control unit 205 and the inter-terminal wireless communication. In addition, this step S55 comprises the 1st reissue request output means as described in a claim.

  On the other hand, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 determines whether or not a tag creation (reissue) request signal is received from the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 in step S60. When the tag creation request signal is transmitted from the wireless tag communication apparatus 200 in step S55 and the tag creation request signal is received, the determination is satisfied and the process returns to the previous step S5. Then, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 sends a tag creation request signal (reissue instruction signal) for requesting the RFID tag creation device 500 to create (reissue) the RFID tag T for which the information could not be read. Along with the tag ID and print data, it is transmitted via the network communication control unit 103 and the network NW. Note that step S5 in this case constitutes a first reissue instruction output means described in the claims. As a result, the RFID tag creating apparatus 500 creates (reissues) again the RFID tag T that cannot be read by the RFID tag communication apparatus 200. On the other hand, if the tag creation (reissue) request signal is not received from the wireless tag communication device 200 in step S60, the determination is not satisfied and this flow is terminated.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the wireless tag creation processing in step S100, which is executed by the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation device 500.

  In step S110, has the control circuit 510 received the wireless tag T creation request signal (including the tag ID and print data) from the operation terminal 100 (the control circuit 105) via the network NW and the network communication control unit 509? Determine whether or not. This step is repeated until a creation request signal is received from the operation terminal 100. If it is received, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to Step S120.

  In step S120, the control circuit 510 performs printing on a predetermined print area of the tag tape 503 with the print head 505 based on the print data received from the operation terminal 100 in step S110. Further, the access information is generated by the high frequency circuit 502 and transmitted to the RFID circuit element To via the creation apparatus side antenna 501, and the tag ID received from the operation terminal 100 is written to the IC circuit unit 150. In addition, this step S120 comprises the creation apparatus side writing means as described in a claim.

  In step S <b> 130, the control circuit 510 cuts the tag tape 503 with the cutter 507. As a result, the tag ID is written in the IC circuit unit 150 of the RFID circuit element To, and the RFID tag T on which printing corresponding to the printing data is performed in the printing area is created.

  In step S140, the control circuit 510 determines whether or not the creation of the RFID tag T corresponding to one or more tag IDs and print data received from the operation terminal 100 has been completed. If not completed, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to the previous step S120 and the same procedure is repeated. On the other hand, when the creation of all the wireless tags T is completed, this routine ends.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the single search process of step S200 executed by the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  In step S210, the control circuit 206 designates one tag ID received from the operation terminal 100 via the high frequency circuit 204 and the communication device side antenna 203 and stored in the storage unit 207 in the above step S25, and the RFID circuit A “Select” command signal is transmitted to the element To.

In the next step S220, the control circuit 206 transmits a “Query” command signal in the same manner as the “Select” command signal. At this time, the slot designation value Q is designated as 0, and the number of identification slots is 2 ⁰ = 1.

  In the next step S230, the control circuit 206 receives a response signal from the RFID circuit element To for a predetermined time via the communication device side antenna 203 and the high frequency circuit 204. Thereafter, in step S240, the control circuit 206 determines whether or not the “RN16” command is received as a response signal during the reception time. In this determination, if the “RN16” command is not received, the determination is not satisfied, that is, it is considered that there is no RFID circuit element To responding in the identification slot (here, the first identification slot), and the above steps are performed. Return to S210. On the other hand, when the “RN16” command is received, the determination is satisfied, that is, the RFID circuit element To responding in the identification slot (first identification slot) is considered to exist, and the process proceeds to the next step S250.

  In step S250, the control circuit 206 transmits the “Ack” command having the content corresponding to the pseudo-random number included in the “RN16” command received in step S230 via the high-frequency circuit 204 and the communication device side antenna 203. To do. Thereafter, in step S260, the control circuit 206 receives tag information from the RFID circuit element To via the communication device side antenna 203 and the high frequency circuit 204. Thereafter, in step S270, the control circuit 206 determines whether or not the received tag information includes a tag ID (in other words, whether or not the tag ID has been successfully received). If the tag ID is not included, the determination is not satisfied and the process returns to the previous step S210, and the same procedure is repeated again (retry). On the other hand, if the tag ID is included, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S280.

  In step S280, the control circuit 206 transmits a control signal to the display unit 201 to display on the display unit 201 that the tag ID that is the search target has been detected. Then, this routine ends.

  Although not shown in the flowchart, if the tag ID is not successfully received even after repeating the above retrying a predetermined number of times, the tag ID is stored in the storage unit 207 as a wireless tag T whose information cannot be read. To do. The stored contents are used for determining whether or not there is a wireless tag T that could not be read in step S50 described above.

  Although not described above, during the search, the tag ID and the print data (saved in the storage unit 207 in step S25) are displayed on the display unit 201 during the search. It is like that.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the multi-search process in step S300, which is executed by the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200.

  In step S305, the control circuit 206 resets the value of the variable N for counting a plurality of tag IDs received from the operation terminal 100 and stored in the storage unit 207 in step S25 to 0.

  In step S310, the control circuit 206 adds 1 to the value of the variable N, and then in step S315, whether the value of this variable N is equal to or less than Nmax (the number of tag IDs to be searched that are stored in the storage unit 207). It is determined whether or not the search for the last tag ID among the plurality of tag IDs stored in the storage unit 207 has ended. When the value of the variable N is larger than Nmax, the determination is not satisfied, that is, all the searches for the plurality of tag IDs stored in the storage unit 207 are considered to be completed (including the case where the tag ID cannot be received). This routine is terminated. On the other hand, when the value of the variable N is equal to or less than Nmax, the determination is satisfied, that is, it is considered that all the search processes for the plurality of tag IDs are not completed, and the process proceeds to step S320.

  In step S320, the control circuit 206 designates the Nth tag ID among the plurality of tag IDs stored in the storage unit 207 via the high frequency circuit 204 and the communication device side antenna 203, and performs “ A “Select” command signal is transmitted.

In the next step S325, the control circuit 206 transmits a “Query” command signal in the same manner as the “Select” command signal. At this time, the slot designation value Q is designated as 0, and the number of identification slots is 2 ⁰ = 1.

  In the next step S330, the control circuit 206 receives the response signal from the RFID circuit element To for a predetermined time through the communication device side antenna 203 and the high frequency circuit 204. Thereafter, in step S335, the control circuit 206 determines whether or not the “RN16” command is received as a response signal during the reception time. In this determination, if the “RN16” command is not received, the determination is not satisfied, that is, it is considered that there is no RFID circuit element To responding in the identification slot (here, the first identification slot), and the above steps are performed. Return to S310. On the other hand, when the “RN16” command is received, the determination is satisfied, that is, the RFID circuit element To responding in the identification slot (first identification slot) is considered to exist, and the process proceeds to the next step S340.

  In step S340, the control circuit 206 transmits an “Ack” command having a content corresponding to the pseudo-random number included in the “RN16” command received in step S330 via the high-frequency circuit 204 and the communication device side antenna 203. To do. Thereafter, in step S345, the control circuit 206 receives tag information from the RFID circuit element To via the communication device side antenna 203 and the high frequency circuit 204. Thereafter, in step S350, the control circuit 206 determines whether or not the received tag information includes a tag ID (in other words, whether or not the tag ID has been successfully received). If the tag ID is not included, the determination is not satisfied and the process returns to the previous step S310, and the same procedure is repeated by adding 1 to the value of the variable N. On the other hand, if the tag ID is included, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S355.

  In step S355, the control circuit 206 transmits a control signal to the display unit 201 to display on the display unit 201 that the tag ID that is the search target has been detected. And it returns to previous step S310.

  Although not described in the flowchart, if it is determined in step S350 that the tag ID has not been successfully received, the tag ID is stored in the storage unit 207 as the wireless tag T whose information cannot be read. Then, the process returns to step S310 (or the tag ID may be stored in the storage unit 207 when the tag ID is not successfully received even after retrying a predetermined number of times). The stored contents are used for determining whether or not there is a wireless tag T that could not be read in step S50 described above.

  The RFID tag management system TS operates as follows, for example, by the control described with reference to FIGS. That is, when, for example, five wireless tags T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 are generated by the wireless tag generating device 500 based on a tag generation request signal (including tag ID and print data) from the operation terminal 100 (step S1). S100), and at this time, the five tag IDs (and print data; the same applies hereinafter) written in the RFID circuit elements To-1, To-2, To-3, To-4, and To-5 are the RFID tags. The data is transmitted from the creation device 500 to the operation terminal 100 all at once via the network NW (step S10) and stored in the storage unit 106 (step S15). Furthermore, these tag IDs are collectively transmitted from the operation terminal 100 to the wireless tag communication device 200 via inter-terminal wireless communication (step S20) and stored in the storage unit 207 (step S25).

  On the other hand, since the operation terminal 100 has five tag IDs stored in the storage unit 106, the operation terminal 100 transmits a switching instruction signal corresponding to the multi-search mode to the wireless tag communication device 200 via inter-terminal wireless communication. (Steps S30 and S35). As a result, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 automatically switches to the multi-search mode (step S45), and sequentially designates five tag IDs for the five created RFID tags T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5. Then, a multi-search process for reading information by wireless communication is executed (step S300).

  In this multi-search process, for example, tag IDs can be acquired for the wireless tags T1, T2, T4, and T5. However, if the tag ID cannot be acquired for the wireless tag T3, the wireless tag communication device 200 uses the wireless tag. T3 is regarded as a wireless tag suspected of communication reliability, and a tag creation request signal (including the tag ID and print data of the wireless tag T3) that requests the operation terminal 100 to create (reissue) the corresponding new wireless tag T3. ) Is transmitted via inter-terminal wireless communication (steps S50 and S55). In response to the tag creation request signal from the wireless tag communication device 200, the operation terminal 100 sends a tag creation request signal (including the tag ID and print data of the wireless tag T3) that requests creation (reissue) of the wireless tag T3. The data is transmitted to the wireless tag creation device 500 via the network NW (steps S60 and S5).

  When the wireless tag creation device 500 creates (reissues) one wireless tag T3 in response to the tag creation request signal from the operation terminal 100 (step S100), at that time, the wireless tag circuit element To-3 One written tag ID is transmitted to the operation terminal 100 via the network NW (step S10). The operation terminal 100 stores the tag ID corresponding to the received wireless tag T3 in the storage unit 106 (step S15), and transmits the tag ID to the wireless tag communication device 200 via inter-terminal wireless communication (step S20). The wireless tag communication device 200 stores the tag ID corresponding to the received wireless tag T3 in the storage unit 207 (step S25).

  At this time, since the operation terminal 100 has one tag ID stored in the storage unit 106, the operation terminal 100 transmits a switching instruction signal corresponding to the single search mode to the wireless tag communication device 200 via the inter-terminal wireless communication. (Steps S30 and S40). As a result, the wireless tag communication device 200 automatically switches to the single search mode (step S45), and information is transmitted by wireless communication while designating one tag ID for the one wireless tag T3 created (reissued). A single search process for reading is executed (step S200). As a result, if the tag ID can be acquired from the created (reissued) RFID tag T3, it is assumed that the communication reliability of the RFID tag T3 has been confirmed, and the process is terminated (step S50).

  The above operation is an example, and the operation of the RFID tag management system TS is not limited to this. For example, the case where there is one RFID tag T from which information could not be read has been described above. However, when there are a plurality of RFID tags T, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 again returns after the creation (reissue) of those RFID tags T. The mode is automatically switched to the multi-search mode, and information reading is executed for a plurality of wireless tags T. Further, when the re-issued wireless tag T cannot read the information again, the wireless tag T is issued again.

  In the embodiment described above, the tag ID of the RFID tag T used at the time of creation by the RFID tag producing device 500 is automatically sent to the RFID tag communication device 200 all at once via the operation terminal 100. An attempt to read information from T can be made easily. As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor of the operator in the communication reliability confirmation work to be performed after the RFID tag T is created. This effect is particularly remarkable when a plurality of wireless tags T are created.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, when a plurality of tag IDs are output from the operation terminal 100 to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200, a switching instruction signal corresponding to the multi-search mode is output, and the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 is responded accordingly. Automatically switches to multi-search mode. Thereby, even when the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 has been switched to the single search mode until then, when performing the communication reliability check operation after the creation of the plurality of RFID tags T, the multi-search is surely performed. You can switch to the mode automatically. As a result, manual mode switching by the operator becomes unnecessary, and the labor of the operator can be reliably reduced.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, when the wireless tag communication device 200 confirms the communication reliability of the wireless tag T created by the wireless tag creation device 500, the wireless tag T whose information cannot be read is found. If there is, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 transmits a tag creation request signal requesting its creation (reissue) to the RFID tag creating apparatus 500 via the operation terminal 100. As a result, when the communication reliability of the created wireless tag T is suspected, the use of the wireless tag T is abandoned and a new wireless tag T is automatically created instead of the wireless tag T. It can be created with the device 500.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the tag ID of the RFID tag T used when the RFID tag producing apparatus 500 creates (reissues) a new RFID tag T (one or more) is obtained via the operation terminal 100. It is sent to the wireless tag communication device 200. Thereby, it is possible to further easily try to read information for the new wireless tag T that has been reissued. At this time, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 automatically switches to the single search mode or the multi search mode in response to the switching instruction signal from the operation terminal 100. Thereby, even if the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 has been switched to the multi-search mode for the above-described communication reliability confirmation work after the creation of the plurality of RFID tags T, the new wireless device that has been reissued When there is a single tag T, it is possible to surely automatically switch to the single search mode, and when there are a plurality of re-issued new RFID tags T, the multi-search mode should be maintained as it is. Can do. As a result, manual mode switching by the operator becomes unnecessary, and the labor of the operator can be reliably reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea of the present invention. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.

(1) When the RFID tag communication device writes data to an unreadable RFID tag In the above embodiment, the RFID tag communication device 200 checks the communication reliability of the RFID tag T created by the RFID tag creation device 500. When there is a wireless tag T for which information could not be read when performing the above, creation (reissue) by the wireless tag creation device 500 is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this. In this modification, in this case, information is written to the wireless tag T by the wireless tag communication device 200.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200, and the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation device 500 in this modification. It should be noted that the same steps as those in FIG.

  Steps S5 to S50 are the same as those in FIG. That is, when the RFID tag T is created by the RFID tag producing device 500 based on the tag creation request signal (including tag ID and print data) from the operation terminal 100, the RFID tag circuit element To is written at that time. The tag ID and the print data are collectively transmitted from the wireless tag generation device 500 to the operation terminal 100 via the network NW and stored in the storage unit 106. Further, these tag IDs are collectively transmitted from the operation terminal 100 to the wireless tag communication device 200 via inter-terminal wireless communication, and stored in the storage unit 207.

  On the other hand, the operation terminal 100 determines whether or not there are a plurality of tag IDs stored in the storage unit 106. If there are a plurality of tag IDs, a switching instruction signal corresponding to the multi-search mode is provided. Transmits a switching instruction signal corresponding to the single search mode to the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 via inter-terminal radio communication. As a result, the wireless tag communication device 200 automatically switches to the single search mode or the multi-search mode, and reads information by wireless communication while sequentially specifying the tag IDs for the created wireless tags T. At this time, if there is a wireless tag T for which information could not be read, the process proceeds to step S52. Here, the case where information cannot be read includes the case where the tag ID is not successfully received even if the predetermined number of retries is repeated in the single search mode or the multi search mode as described above.

  In step S52, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200 outputs a control signal to the display unit 201, and print data corresponding to the wireless tag T for which the information could not be read (object information; stored in step S25). (Stored in the unit 207) is displayed on the display unit 201. When there are a plurality of RFID tags T from which information could not be read, they are displayed individually (or in a list). The operator can visually recognize which wireless tag T the information cannot be read by comparing the display on the display unit 201 and the printing on the wireless tag T. Although the print data itself is displayed here, the present invention is not limited to this, and other object information (for example, when the print data is the name of the object, a part of the name, a summary, a symbol, etc. are printed). Information that is substantially the same as the data) may be displayed.

  Next, in step S400, the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 executes an RFID tag writing process for writing the corresponding tag ID to the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T that cannot read the information ( (See FIG. 12 for details). In this wireless tag writing process, the operator specifies the wireless tag T (in other words, the wireless tag T to be written) that cannot be read with reference to the display on the display unit 201, and then operates the wireless tag. By performing a predetermined writing start operation via the unit 202, the wireless tag T is individually executed. Therefore, when there are a plurality of wireless tags T from which information cannot be read, the wireless tag writing process is individually executed for the plurality of wireless tags T. Note that the step S400 constitutes a communication device side writing unit described in the claims.

  In step S53, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200 determines whether or not there are a plurality of wireless tags T to which information has been written. If there is a single RFID tag T on which information has been written, the determination is not satisfied and the routine goes to Step S200, where the single search process described above is executed (refer to FIG. 9 for the detailed procedure). On the other hand, if there are a plurality of RFID tags T on which information has been written, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to Step S300, where the aforementioned multi-search process is executed (refer to FIG. 10 for the detailed procedure). In addition, the said step S53, step S200, and step S300 comprise the reacquisition control means as described in a claim.

  Thereafter, similarly to the above-described step S50, the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 does not read the information again by the single search process or the multi-search process even though the information is written. It is determined whether or not exists. If the information can be read for all the wireless tags T, the determination is not satisfied and this flow ends. On the other hand, if there is a wireless tag T from which information cannot be read, the determination is satisfied, and the routine goes to Step S55.

  In step S55, the control circuit 206 of the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 requests the operation terminal 100 to create (reissue) the RFID tag T for which the information could not be read (reissue request signal). Are transmitted together with the corresponding tag ID and print data (stored in the storage unit 207 in step S25) via the inter-terminal communication control unit 205 and the inter-terminal wireless communication. Note that step S55 in this case constitutes the second reissue request output means described in the claims.

  In step S60, the control circuit 105 of the operation terminal 100 determines whether or not a tag creation (reissue) request signal is received from the wireless tag communication apparatus 200 in step S60, and receives the tag creation request signal. If so, the process returns to the previous step S5, and a tag creation request signal (reissue instruction signal) for requesting creation (reissue) of the wireless tag T for which the information could not be read is sent to the wireless tag creation device 500. Along with the tag ID and print data, the data is transmitted via the network communication control unit 103 and the network NW. Note that step S60 in this case constitutes the second reissue instruction output means described in the claims.

  As a result, in step S100, the control circuit 510 of the wireless tag creation device 500 creates again (reissues) the wireless tag T for which information could not be read again after writing information in the wireless tag communication device 200. Process. In step S10, the tag ID and the print data corresponding to the created (reissued) RFID tag T are collectively transmitted to the operation terminal 100 via the network communication control unit 509 and the network NW. Note that step S10 and step S100 in this case constitute second reissue control means. After this, the same procedure is repeated.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the wireless tag writing process in step S400.

  In step S410, the control circuit 206 of the wireless tag communication device 200 outputs a control signal to the high frequency circuit 204, and the wireless tag T that cannot read information (the wireless tag T corresponding to the print data displayed in step S52). As a signal for writing the tag ID in the memory unit 155 of the corresponding RFID circuit element To by designating the tag ID corresponding to (a write command signal in this example), the interrogation wave having undergone predetermined modulation is used as the communication device side antenna 203. The information is written to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the.

  In step S420, the control circuit 206 outputs a control signal to the high-frequency circuit 204, and designates a tag ID to read out data recorded in the memory unit 155 of the corresponding RFID circuit element To (in this example, a Read command). The interrogation wave that has been subjected to the predetermined modulation is transmitted as a signal) to the RFID circuit element To as the information writing target via the communication device side antenna 203 to prompt a reply.

  In step S430, the control circuit 206 receives the reply signal transmitted from the RFID tag circuit element To to be written in response to the Read command signal via the communication device side antenna 203.

  In step S440, the control circuit 206 confirms the tag ID stored in the memory unit 155 of the RFID circuit element To based on the received reply signal, and a known error detection code (CRC code; Cyclic Redundancy Check). Or the like) is used to determine whether or not the transmitted tag ID is normally stored in the memory unit 155. If the information writing is not successful, the determination is not satisfied and the routine returns to the previous step S410 and the same procedure is repeated (retry). On the other hand, if the information writing has been completed normally, the determination is satisfied and the routine goes to Step S450.

  In step S450, the control circuit 206 outputs a control signal to the display unit 201, and displays an indication that the information writing to the RFID tag circuit element To of the RFID tag T has been completed normally (for example, “the writing has been completed successfully). Etc.). Thus, this routine is finished.

  By the control described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the RFID tag management system TS of the present modification operates, for example, as follows. Here, for example, five RFID tags T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 are created by the RFID tag producing apparatus 500, and among them, tag IDs can be obtained for the RFID tags T1, T2, and T5. , T3 will be described in the case where the tag ID could not be acquired. In this case, the wireless tag communication device 200 displays the print data of the wireless tags T2 and T3 individually (or in a list) on the display unit 201 (step S52). As a result, the operator identifies the wireless tags T2 and T3 (in other words, the wireless tag T to be written) for which information could not be read with reference to the display on the display unit 201, and the predetermined tag is obtained via the operation unit 202. When the writing start operation is performed, the wireless tag communication device 200 executes wireless tag writing processing for writing the corresponding tag IDs to the wireless tag circuit elements To of the wireless tags T2 and T3 that cannot read information (step S400). ).

  After the information is written, the RFID tags T on which the information is written are the two RFID tags T2 and T3. Therefore, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 automatically switches to the multi-search mode, and the RFID tags T2 and T3 on which the information is written are written. A multi-search process is performed on the information to read information (steps S53 and S300). In this multi-search process, for example, if the tag ID can be acquired for the wireless tag T2, but the tag ID cannot be acquired again for the wireless tag T3, the wireless tag communication device 200 determines that the wireless tag T3 is the communication reliability. A tag creation request signal (including the tag ID and print data of the wireless tag T3) for requesting the operation terminal 100 to create (reissue) the corresponding new wireless tag T3 between the terminals. Transmission is performed via wireless communication (steps S54 and S55). After this, the operation terminal 100 is the same as described above, and the operation terminal 100 responds to the tag creation request signal from the RFID tag communication apparatus 200, and generates a tag creation request signal (a request for the RFID tag T3). The tag ID and the print data are transmitted) to the wireless tag creation device 500 via the network NW (steps S60 and S5). Thus, the wireless tag creation device 500 creates (reissues) one wireless tag T3 in response to the tag creation request signal from the operation terminal 100 (step S100).

  The above operation is an example, and the operation of the RFID tag management system TS is not limited to this. For example, in the above description, the case where there are two RFID tags T from which information could not be read has been described. However, if there is a single RFID tag T, the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 automatically enters the information after writing information to the RFID tag T. The mode is switched to the single search mode, and information is read from the wireless tag T.

  According to the modified example described above, the communication reliability is confirmed after the plurality of wireless tags T are created, and when there is a wireless tag T in which information cannot be read (communication reliability is suspected), The same tag ID can be written again to the RFID circuit element To of the RFID tag T.

  Moreover, according to this modification, there exist the following effects. That is, when the tag ID is written by the RFID tag communication apparatus 200, information cannot be read from the target RFID tag T, so that it is difficult to specify the RFID circuit element To as it is. Therefore, in the present modification, the print data printed when the wireless tag creating apparatus 500 creates the wireless tag T is output together with the written tag ID, and the printed data is sent via the operation terminal 100 to the wireless tag communication apparatus 200. Obtained at. When the tag ID is written by the wireless tag communication device 200, the print data printed on the wireless tag T to be written is displayed on the display unit 201. As a result, the operator can easily identify the RFID tag T to be written by checking the display on the display unit 201.

  Further, in this modification, after the information is written by the wireless tag communication device 200, the wireless tag communication device 200 automatically switches to the single search mode or the multi search mode, and information is again transmitted to the wireless tag T on which the information has been written. Perform a read. As a result, communication reliability is suspected in the confirmation work performed after the creation of the plurality of RFID tags T, and even with respect to the RFID tag T in which the tag ID is written again using the RFID tag communication apparatus 200, the communication reliability is further increased. Confirmation work can be executed.

  Further, according to the present modification, communication reliability is suspected in the confirmation work performed after the creation of the plurality of RFID tags T, and the RFID tag T for which the tag ID has been written again by using the RFID tag communication apparatus 200 still remains. When communication reliability is suspected, the use of the wireless tag T can be abandoned, and a new wireless tag T can be automatically created by the wireless tag creating apparatus 500 instead of the wireless tag T.

(2) Others In the above, in the RFID tag producing apparatus 500, the tag tape 503 that has finished printing and accessing the RFID circuit element To (written in the above embodiment) is cut by the cutter 507, and the RFID tag T is cut. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in the case where a label mount (so-called die-cut label) previously separated into a predetermined size corresponding to the label is continuously arranged on the tape fed out from the roll, even if it is not cut by the cutter 507, After the tape has been discharged from the discharge port, only the label mount (the one with the already accessed RFID circuit element To and the corresponding printing performed) may be peeled off from the tape to create the RFID tag T. The invention can also be applied to such a case.

  Further, in the above, in the production of the RFID tag T by the RFID tag producing apparatus 500, a method of directly printing on the tag tape 503 (printed tape layer provided on the tag tape 503) (a so-called non-laminate type in which bonding is not performed). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a method of printing on a cover film (medium to be printed) different from the tag tape 503 provided with the RFID circuit element To and bonding them together (so-called laminating type in which bonding is performed) The present invention may be applied to:

  In the above, the arrows shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. show an example of the signal flow, and do not limit the signal flow direction.

  The flowcharts shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and the like do not limit the present invention to the procedure shown in the above flow, and the addition / deletion or order of the procedures within the scope of the gist and technical idea of the invention. May be changed.

  In addition to those already described above, the methods according to the above-described embodiments and modifications may be used in appropriate combination.

  In addition, although not illustrated one by one, the present invention is implemented with various modifications within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a wireless tag management system according to an embodiment. It is a functional block diagram showing the functional structure of an operation terminal and a wireless tag communication apparatus. It is a functional block diagram showing the function structure of a radio | wireless tag production apparatus. It is a functional block diagram showing the detailed structure of the high frequency circuit of a wireless tag communication apparatus. It is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional composition of a RFID circuit element. It is a figure showing an example of the time chart of the signal transmitted / received between a wireless tag communication apparatus and one RFID circuit element. It is a flowchart showing the control content performed by the control circuit of an operating terminal, the control circuit of a wireless tag communication apparatus, and the control circuit of a wireless tag production apparatus. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the radio | wireless tag creation process of step S100. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the single search process of step S200. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the multi search process of step S300. In the modification in which the RFID tag communication device writes to an unreadable RFID tag, the control contents executed by the control circuit of the operation terminal, the control circuit of the RFID tag communication device, and the control circuit of the RFID tag creation device It is a flowchart. It is a flowchart showing the detailed procedure of the radio | wireless tag write-in process of step S400.

Explanation of symbols

100 operation terminal 106 storage unit (terminal side storage means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 150 IC circuit part 151 Tag antenna 200 Wireless tag communication apparatus 201 Display part (display means)
203 Communication device side antenna 207 Storage unit (Communication device side storage means)
500 RFID tag creation device 501 Creation device side antenna 503 Tag tape (tag medium)
505 Print head (printing means)
508 Conveying roller (conveying means)
T wireless tag To wireless tag circuit element TS wireless tag management system

Claims (9)

A wireless tag creation device that creates a wireless tag including a wireless tag circuit element including an IC circuit unit that stores information and a tag antenna that transmits and receives information;
An operation terminal for operating the wireless tag producing device;
A wireless tag management system having a wireless tag communication device for reading information on a wireless tag created by the wireless tag creation device,
The wireless tag creation device includes:
Conveying means for conveying the tag medium;
A creation device side antenna for wireless communication with the RFID tag circuit element provided in the tag medium;
A creation device for creating the wireless tag by writing tag identification information given to the RFID circuit element corresponding to the object information of the installation target of the wireless tag to the IC circuit unit via the creation device side antenna Side writing means,
The tag identification information written by the creation device side writing means has a creation device side information output means for outputting to the operation terminal,
The operation terminal is
Terminal side storage means for storing the tag identification information transmitted from the creation apparatus side information output means of the wireless tag creation apparatus;
After the wireless tag creation device creates at least one wireless tag, the at least one tag identification information corresponding to each of the at least one wireless tag stored in the terminal-side storage unit is collectively collected. Terminal side information output means for outputting to the wireless tag communication device,
The wireless tag communication device includes:
A communication device side antenna for performing wireless communication with the RFID circuit element;
A communication device-side storage unit that stores the at least one tag identification information output from the terminal-side information output unit of the operation terminal as a search target;
While sequentially specifying the at least one tag identification information stored in the communication device-side storage means, information is acquired from the IC circuit unit of the specified RFID tag circuit element via the communication device-side antenna. An RFID tag management system comprising: an information acquisition unit. The wireless tag communication device includes:
A plurality of tag detection modes in which the information acquisition means acquires the information while sequentially specifying the plurality of tag identification information stored in the communication apparatus side storage means, and 1 stored in the communication apparatus side storage means Having a mode switching means that can switch between a single tag detection mode that designates one of the tag identification information and performs acquisition of the information by the information acquisition means,
The operation terminal is
In response to the terminal-side information output means outputting the plurality of tag identification information, the terminal-side information output means has a switching instruction output means for outputting a switching instruction signal instructing switching to the multiple tag detection mode,
The mode switching means is
2. The wireless tag management system according to claim 1, wherein switching to the multiple tag detection mode is performed in accordance with the switching instruction signal from the switching instruction output means of the operation terminal. The wireless tag communication device includes:
When there is the RFID circuit element for which information acquisition by the information acquisition means specifying the tag identification information is present, a reissue request signal for requesting issue of the corresponding new RFID tag A first reissue request output means for outputting to the operation terminal;
The operation terminal is
In response to the reissue request signal from the first reissue request output means of the wireless tag communication device, there is first reissue instruction output means for outputting a reissue instruction signal to the wireless tag creation device,
The wireless tag creation device includes:
In response to the reissue instruction signal from the first reissue instruction output means of the operation terminal, a new wireless tag is created using the new tag identification information and the tag identification information is output to the operation terminal. The wireless tag management system according to claim 2, further comprising a first reissue control unit that controls the transport unit, the creation device side writing unit, and the creation device side information output unit. The terminal-side storage means of the operation terminal is
Storing the new tag identification information transmitted from the creation device side information output means of the wireless tag creation device;
The terminal side information output means includes
The new tag identification information stored in the terminal side storage means is collectively output to the wireless tag communication device,
The switching instruction output means includes
In response to the terminal-side information output means outputting the new tag identification information, the switching instruction signal instructing switching to the single tag detection mode or the multiple tag detection mode is output,
The mode switching means of the wireless tag communication device is
4. The wireless tag management system according to claim 3, wherein switching to the single tag detection mode or the multiple tag detection mode is performed in accordance with the switching instruction signal from the switching instruction output means of the operation terminal. The wireless tag communication device includes:
When there is the RFID circuit element for which information acquisition by the information acquisition means specifying the tag identification information is present, the IC circuit unit of the RFID circuit element via the communication device side antenna The wireless tag management system according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication device side writing unit that writes the specified tag identification information. The creation device side information output means of the wireless tag creation device,
Along with the tag identification information written by the creating device side writing means, the object information corresponding to the tag identification information is output to the operation terminal,
The terminal side information output means of the operation terminal is
The object information from the creation device side information output means is output to the RFID tag communication device,
The wireless tag communication device includes:
6. The wireless tag management system according to claim 5, further comprising display means for displaying the object information output from the terminal side information output means. The wireless tag creation device includes:
A printing unit that prints printing information corresponding to the object with respect to the tag medium or a printing medium to be bonded to the tag medium,
The display means of the wireless tag communication device is:
The wireless tag management system according to claim 6, wherein the object information corresponding to the print information is displayed. The wireless tag communication device includes:
6. A re-acquisition control unit that controls the information acquisition unit so as to acquire the information by designating the tag identification information written by the communication device side writing unit. The wireless tag management system according to claim 7. And second reissue request output means for outputting a reissue request signal for requesting issuance of a corresponding new wireless tag to the operation terminal when the information cannot be obtained by the reacquisition control means. And
The operation terminal is
In response to the reissue request signal from the second reissue request output means of the wireless tag communication device, there is a second reissue instruction output means for outputting a reissue instruction signal to the wireless tag creation device,
The wireless tag creation device includes:
In response to the reissue instruction signal from the second reissue instruction output means of the operation terminal, a new wireless tag is created using the new tag identification information and the tag identification information is output to the operation terminal. The wireless tag management system according to claim 8, further comprising: a second reissue control unit that controls the transport unit, the creation device side writing unit, and the creation device side information output unit.

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