The present invention relates to an electronic tag data writing method and an electronic tag data read/write apparatus used to conduct communication between a reader/writer and an electronic tag and write data into the electronic tag. In particular, the present invention relates to a masking technique in writing to the electronic tag.
Conventional writing data into the electronic tag will now be described. The electronic tag generates a random number having a fixed size, and transmits it to the reader/writer. The reader/writer conducts masking corresponding to the fixed size on write data by using the random number, and transmits the write data to the electronic tag. The electronic tag writes the received write data into a memory. This procedure is repeated until write data in the reader/writer runs out. Write data is thus written into the electronic tag (see, for example, Class 1 Generation 2 UHF Air Interface Protocol Standard Version 1[1]. 0.9)
For writing write data into the memory in the electronic tag, however, it is necessary, in the related art, to repeat the procedure of conducting masking on partial write data in the reader/writer, transmitting the partial write data to the electronic tag, and writing the partial write data into the memory, a plurality of times. If the electronic tag gets out of a range in which communication with the reader/writer is possible during communication, therefore, there is a risk of failing in writing.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic tag data writing method and an electronic tag data read/write apparatus capable of reducing writing failures when writing data into an electronic tag.
Representative aspects of the present invention will now be described briefly.
An electronic tag data writing method according to the present method is an electronic tag data writing method for writing write data into an electronic tag by conducting communication between a reader/writer and the electronic tag, the electronic tag data writing method including causing the reader/writer to transmit a response request to the electronic tag, causing the electronic tag to receive the response request from the reader/writer, generate and store a random number, and transmit the generated random number to the reader/writer, causing the reader/writer to conduct masking processing on the write data on the basis of the random number every size of the received random number, repeat the masking processing until all of the write data are subjected to masking processing, and then transmit the masked write data to the electronic tag collectively, and causing the electronic tag to conduct deciphering processing on the received masked write data every size of the random number, repeat the deciphering processing until all of the masked write data are deciphered, and write the write data into a memory.
An electronic tag data writing method according to the present method is an electronic tag data writing method for writing write data into an electronic tag by conducting communication between a reader/writer and the electronic tag, the electronic tag data writing method including causing the reader/writer to transmit a response request to the electronic tag, causing the electronic tag to receive the response request from the reader/writer, generate and store a first random number, and transmit the generated first random number to the reader/writer, causing the reader/writer to generate a second random number by using the received first random number as an initial value, conduct masking processing on the write data on the basis of the second random number every size of the generated second random number, repeat the masking processing until all of the write data are masked, and then transmit the masked write data to the electronic tag collectively, and causing the electronic tag to generate the second random number by using the stored first random number as an initial value, conduct deciphering processing on the received masked write data every size of the second random number, repeat the deciphering processing until all of the masked write data are deciphered, and write the write data into a memory.
An electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic tag data read/write apparatus which writes write data into an electronic tag by conducting communication between a reader/writer and the electronic tag, the electronic tag data read/write apparatus including the electronic tag having a memory and a random number generator, and the reader/writer having an antenna to conduct communication, wherein the reader/writer transmits a response request to the electronic tag, the electronic tag receives the response request from the reader/writer, generates a random number in the random number generator, stores the random number in the memory, and transmits the generated random number to the reader/writer, the reader/writer conducts masking processing on the write data on the basis of the random number every size of the received random number, repeats the masking processing until all of the write data are subjected to masking processing, and then transmits the masked write data to the electronic tag collectively, and the electronic tag conducts deciphering processing on the received masked write data every size of the random number stored in the memory, repeats the deciphering processing until all of the masked write data are deciphered, and writes the write data into the memory.
An electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic tag data read/write apparatus which writes write data into an electronic tag by conducting communication between a reader/writer and the electronic tag, the electronic tag data read/write apparatus including the electronic tag having a memory and a first random number generator, and the reader/writer having an antenna to conduct communication and having a second random number generator, wherein the reader/writer transmits a response request to the electronic tag, the electronic tag receives the response request from the reader/writer, generates a first random number in the first random number generator, stores the first random number in the memory, and transmits the generated first random number to the reader/writer, the reader/writer generates a second random number in the second random number generator by using the received first random number as an initial value, conducts masking processing on the write data on the basis of the second random number every size of the generated second random number, repeats the masking processing until all of the write data are subjected to masking processing, and then transmits the masked write data to the electronic tag collectively, and the electronic tag generates the second random number in the first random number generator by using the stored first random number as an initial value, conducts deciphering processing on the received masked write data every size of the second random number, repeats the deciphering processing until all of the masked write data are deciphered, and writes the write data into the memory.
Effects obtained by the representative aspect of the present invention will now be described briefly.
According to the present invention, it becomes unnecessary to conduct communication between the reader/writer and the electronic tag a plurality of times, and failures such as incomplete writing into the electronic tag are prevented.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout all drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same members are denoted in principle by like characters and repetitive explanation thereof will be omitted.
A configuration of an electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
In
At least one antenna 20 is connected to the reader/writer 10 to make communication with the electronic tag 30 possible. The reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 execute processing in the present embodiment by conducting wireless communication.
The reader/writer 10 includes a processor 11 and a memory 12. The reader/writer 10 is a device which transmits and receives instructions and data by using the antenna 20.
The electronic tag 30 has a processor 32, a memory 33 and a random number generator 34 on an IC chip 31. The electronic tag 30 is a device which operates in a range where communication with the reader/writer 10 is possible, conducts processing in accordance with a received instruction, and transmits a result.
Operation using an electronic tag data writing method for the electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
First, at step 101, the reader/writer 10 transmits a response request.
Subsequently, at step 102, the electronic tag 30 which is in a range where communication with the reader/writer 10 is possible receives the response request.
Subsequently, at step 103, the electronic tag 30 generates a random number in the random number generator 34.
It is supposed that the size of the generated random number is defined in specifications of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30. In the present embodiment, the random number size of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 104, the electronic tag 30 stores the random number generated at the step 103.
Subsequently, at step 105, the electronic tag 30 transmits the random number generated at the step 103 to the reader/writer 10.
Subsequently, at step 106, the reader/writer 10 receives the random number generated at the step 103.
Subsequently, at step 107, the reader/writer 10 uses the random number received at the step 106 and conducts EXOR (exclusive OR) masking on write data by the random number size.
In the present embodiment, the random number size of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, as shown in
If there is still write data which is not yet subjected to the EXOR masking at step 108, processing is started again from the step 107.
If all write data are subjected to EXOR masking, processing at step 109 is started.
In the present embodiment, the random number size of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of write data (48 bits) as shown in
Subsequently, at the step 109, the reader/writer 10 transmits the write data subjected to the EXOR masking at the step 107 and its data size to the electronic tag 30.
Subsequently, at step 110, the electronic tag 30 receives the EXOR-masked write data and its data size transmitted at the step 109.
Subsequently, at step 111, for example, as shown in
In the present embodiment, the random number size of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example as shown in
If at step 112 there is still EXOR-masked write data received by the electronic tag at the step 110, processing is started from the step 111.
If all EXOR-masked write data are deciphered, processing at step 113 is started.
In the present embodiment, the random number size of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of EXOR-masked write data (48 bits) shown in
Subsequently, at the step 113, the electronic tag 30 writes the write data deciphered at the step 111 into the memory 33 by the write data size received at the step 110.
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the reader/writer 10 generates all EXOR-masked write data and then transmits the EXOR-masked write data to the electronic tag 30. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate failures such as incomplete writing into the electronic tag.
A configuration of an electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
In
The random number generator 13 in the reader writer 10 and the random number generator 34 in the electronic tag are configured so as to output the same random number when given the same data as an initial value (seed or seed value). For example, if the same 8-bit data is given as the initial value (seed), the same 16 bit data is generated as the random number.
Operation using an electronic tag data writing method for the electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
First, at step 151, the reader/writer 10 transmits a response request.
Subsequently, at step 152, the electronic tag 30 which is in a range where communication with the reader/writer 10 is possible receives the response request.
Subsequently, at step 153, the electronic tag 30 generates a first random number in the random number generator 34. It is supposed that the size of the generated first random number is defined in specifications of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30.
In the present embodiment, the size of the first random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 8 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 154, the electronic tag 30 stores the first random number generated at the step 153 into the memory 33.
Subsequently, at step 155, the electronic tag 30 transmits the first random number generated at the step 153 to the reader/writer 10.
Subsequently, at step 156, the reader/writer 10 receives the first random number generated at the step 153.
Subsequently, at step 157, the reader/writer 10 generates a second random number in the random number generator 13 by using the first random number received at the step 156 as an initial value (seed).
The random number generator 13 and the random number generator 34 perform the same operation. If the same initial value (seed) is set as described above, therefore, a random number generated thereafter becomes quite the same.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 158, the reader/writer 10 performs EXOR masking on write data by the size of the second random number by using the second random number generated at the step 157.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, as shown in
If at step 159 there is still write data which is not subjected to the EXOR masking, the reader/writer 10 starts processing from the step 158 again. If all write data are subjected to EXOR masking, the reader/writer 10 starts processing to be conducted at step 160.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of write data (48 bits) as shown in
Subsequently, at the step 160, the reader/writer 10 transmits the write data subjected to the EXOR masking at the step 158 and its data size to the electronic tag 30.
Subsequently, at step 161, the electronic tag 30 receives the EXOR-masked write data and its data size transmitted at the step 160.
Subsequently, at step 162, the electronic tag 30 generates the second random number in the random number generator 34 by using the first random number stored in the memory 33 at the step 154 as an initial value (seed).
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 163, the electronic tag 30 performs an EXOR function to combine the second random number generated at the step 162 with the EXOR-masked write data received at the step 161 in the range of the size of the second random number from the head bit, and deciphers the write data.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, as shown in
If at step 164 there is still EXOR-masked write data, the electronic tag 30 starts processing from the step 163 again.
If all EXOR-masked write data are deciphered, the electronic tag 30 starts processing to be conducted at step 165.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of EXOR-masked write data (48 bits) as shown in
Subsequently, at the step 165, the electronic tag 30 writes the write data deciphered at the step 163 into the memory 33 by the write data size received at the step 161.
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the electronic tag 30 repeats the processing of deciphering the EXOR-masked write data by the size of the second random number and writes the deciphered write data into the memory 33 after all write data are deciphered. Alternatively, the electronic tag 30 may decipher the EXOR-masked write data by the size of the second random number, write the deciphered write data into the memory 33 successively, and execute the processing until the EXOR-masked write data runs out.
In the present embodiment, the reader/writer generates all EXOR-masked write data and then transmits the EXOR-masked write data to the electronic tag. Therefore, failures such as incomplete writing into the electronic tag can be prevented. In addition, the random number transmitted between the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 is only the first random number, and it is not the random number used when masking the write data. Therefore, data can be written more safely.
The present embodiment is obtained from the second embodiment by conducting generation of the second random number a plurality of times. The electronic tag read/write apparatus has a configuration similar to that in the second embodiment.
The random number generator 13 in the reader writer 10 and the random number generator 34 in the electronic tag are configured so as to output the same random number when given the same data as an initial value (seed). For example, if the same 8-bit data is given as the initial value (seed), the same 16 bit data is generated as the random number.
The random number generator 13 in the reader writer 10 and the random number generator 34 in the electronic tag generate a random number which is different every time. However, the same random number is generated in the random number generator 13 and the random number generator 34 every time.
Operation using an electronic tag data writing method for the electronic tag data read/write apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
First, at step 201, the reader/writer 10 transmits a response request.
Subsequently, at step 202, the electronic tag 30 which is in a range where communication with the reader/writer 10 is possible receives the response request.
Subsequently, at step 203, the electronic tag 30 generates a first random number in the random number generator 34.
It is supposed that the size of the generated first random number is defined in specifications of the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30.
In the present embodiment, the size of the first random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 8 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 204, the electronic tag 30 stores the first random number generated at the step 203 into the memory 33.
Subsequently, at step 205, the electronic tag 30 transmits the first random number generated at the step 203 to the reader/writer 10.
Subsequently, at step 206, the reader/writer 10 receives the first random number generated at the step 203.
Subsequently, at step 207, the reader/writer 10 generates a second random number in the random number generator 13 by using the first random number received at the step 206 as an initial value (seed). The random number generator 13 and the random number generator 34 perform the same operation as described above. If the same initial value (seed) is set, therefore, a random number generated thereafter becomes quite the same.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 208, the reader/writer 10 performs EXOR masking on write data by the size of the second random number by using the second random number generated at the step 207.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, as shown in
If at step 209 there is still write data which is not subjected to the EXOR masking, the reader/writer 10 starts processing from the step 207 again. If all write data are subjected to EXOR masking, the reader/writer 10 starts processing to be conducted at step 210.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of write data (48 bits) as shown in
Subsequently, at the step 210, the reader/writer 10 transmits the write data subjected to the EXOR masking at the step 208 and its data size to the electronic tag 30.
Subsequently, at step 211, the electronic tag 30 receives the EXOR-masked write data and its data size transmitted at the step 210.
Subsequently, at step 212, the electronic tag 30 generates the second random number in the random number generator 34 by using the first random number stored in the memory 33 at the step 204 as an initial value (seed).
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits as shown in
Subsequently, at step 213, the electronic tag 30 performs an EXOR function to combine the second random number generated at the step 212 with the EXOR-masked write data received at the step 211 in the range of the size of the second random number from the head bit, and deciphers the write data.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, as shown in
If at step 214 there is still EXOR-masked write data, the electronic tag 30 starts processing from the step 212 again. If all EXOR-masked write data are deciphered, the electronic tag 30 starts processing to be conducted at step 215.
In the present embodiment, the size of the second random number in the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 becomes 16 bits. For example, therefore, in the case of EXOR-masked write data (48 bits) as shown in
Subsequently, at the step 215, the electronic tag 30 writes the write data deciphered at the step 213 into the memory 33 by the write data size received at the step 211.
In the present embodiment, the deciphered write data is “110110011000011010100010111010101011110010110010” and the received write data size is 48 bits. Therefore, the electronic tag 30 writes, for example, “110110011000011010100010111010101011110010110010” into the memory 33.
In the present embodiment, the electronic tag 30 repeats the processing of deciphering the EXOR-masked write data by the size of the second random number and writes the deciphered write data into the memory 33 after all write data are deciphered. Alternatively, the electronic tag 30 may decipher the EXOR-masked write data by the size of the second random number, write the deciphered write data into the memory 33 successively, and execute the processing until the EXOR-masked write data runs out.
In the present embodiment, the reader/writer 10 generates all EXOR-masked write data and then transmits the EXOR-masked write data to the electronic tag 30. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate failures such as incomplete writing into the electronic tag. In addition, the random number transmitted between the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30 is only the first random number, and it is not a random number used when actually masking the write data. Therefore, data can be written more safely.
Heretofore, the present invention has been described concretely with reference to the embodiments. However, it is a matter of course that the present invention is not restricted to the embodiments, but various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
For example, although EXOR is used as the mask for write data in the first to third embodiments, other masks may also be used.
Although the method using an electric wave is described in the first to third embodiments, different means which makes possible wireless communication between the reader/writer 10 and the electronic tag 30, such as electromagnetic induction, may also be adopted.
The present invention relates to an electronic tag data writing method and an electronic tag data read/write apparatus used to conduct communication between a reader/writer and an electronic tag and write data into the electronic tag. The present invention can be applied to a read/write apparatus which conducts masking when writing to the electronic tag.
It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-063366 | Mar 2007 | JP | national |