The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP2007-068967 filed on Mar. 16, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
The present invention relates to an IC memory, such as one represented by an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, which has a plurality of memory portions, an information communication apparatus for communicating with the IC memory, and an information management system comprising the IC memory and information communication apparatus.
Conventionally, an article management system employing the RFID tag has been proposed that aims to make it possible to accurately know whether all tags can be read even if information on a total number of the tags is not provided. According to the proposition, the article management system comprises a plurality of RFID tags that are each attached to an article, an RFID reader/writer apparatus for reading and writing data from and to the RFID tags, and a personal computer for connecting to the RFID reader/writer apparatus via a communication network to control the RFID reader/writer apparatus. The RFID reader/writer apparatus comprises an antenna for transmitting and receiving an electric wave to and from the RFID tags, and an antenna cable for connecting the antenna to the RFID reader/writer apparatus. Relevant information, which indicates the relationship with other RFID tags and is simultaneously read out by the RFID reader/writer apparatus, is written in each RFID tag (e.g., JP-A-2002-92114).
However, in the above-configured conventional article management system, there sometimes arises a case in which the RFID reader/writer apparatus cannot write and read data to and from the tags. For example, in article distribution equipment equipped with the article management system, when a plurality of articles, each attached with the RFID tag, are loaded on a cargo-handling stage in disorder, the RFID reader/writer apparatus cannot write and read data to and from the tags due to a relationship between the positions of the articles attached with the RFID tags and the position where the RFID reader/writer apparatus is disposed.
If there are RFID tags from or into which the RFID reader/writer apparatus cannot read or write data, it becomes impossible to manage the articles placed on the cargo-handling stage, in their entirety. Besides, when some articles are extracted from the plurality of articles that are placed on the cargo-handling stage, some articles are replaced by other ones, or other articles are added, it would not only be difficult to identify which articles are involved in the cases, but also impossible to even know that those cases took place.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to enable the information management system, which comprises IC memories and an information communication apparatus for performing information communication with the IC memories, to readily read or read to identify all information written in the IC memories that are each mounted on each of a number of articles.
It is another object of the present invention to enable the information management system, which comprises the IC memories and information communication apparatus for performing information communication with the IC memories, to also manage packaged finished products as well as parts thereof in a case where the packaged finished products as well as parts thereof are to be managed.
The IC memory according to a first aspect of the present invention has an information transmission/reception capability and an information processing capability, and transmits and receives information to and from an external information communication apparatus. The IC memory stores, first identification data for identifying that IC memory, the first identification data being required by a plurality of IC memories to form links between the IC memories themselves on the data, and second identification data for identifying an IC memory other than that IC memory, in a memory portion thereof.
In a preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first and second identification data are written into the above memory portion by the above external information communication apparatus.
In an embodiment different from the embodiment described above, at least two or more pieces of the above identification data are stored in the memory portion.
The information communication apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention has an information processing capability, and transmits and receives information to and from an IC memory that has an information transmission/reception capability as well as an information processing capability. The information communication apparatus stores comprehensive IC memory identifying data that includes at least first identification data for identifying a certain IC memory, the first identification data being required by a plurality of IC memories to form links between the IC memories themselves on data, and second identification data for identifying an IC memory other than the certain IC memory, in a storage unit thereof.
In a preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, the above comprehensive IC memory identifying data is generated based on the first and second identifying data that are transmitted from the above IC memories.
In an embodiment different from the one described above, the above comprehensive IC memory identifying data includes at least two or more pieces of the above second identification data.
In an embodiment different the one described above, the above comprehensive IC memory identifying data further includes flag data that indicates whether a link is actually formed in the data.
In addition, in an embodiment different the one described above, the above flag data is set to a value that indicates that the above link is not formed during generation of the above comprehensive IC memory identifying data.
The information management system according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises IC memories that have an information transmission/reception capability and an information processing capability, and one or a plurality of information processing apparatuses that have an information processing capability and transmits and receives information to and from the above IC memories. The above IC memories store first identification data for identifying that IC memory, the first identification data being required by a plurality of IC memories to form links between the IC memories themselves on the data, and second data for identifying an IC memory other than that IC memory, in a memory portion thereof. The above information communication apparatus stores comprehensive IC memory identifying data that includes at least first identification data for identifying a certain IC memory, the certain identification data being required by a plurality of memories to form links between the IC memories themselves on the data, and second identification data for identifying an IC memory other than the certain IC memory, in a storage unit thereof.
In a preferred embodiment according to the third aspect of the present invention, the above information management system comprises a placement stage for placing articles thereon, and is applied to an operation device that is required when sending the articles placed on the placement stage in a distribution process.
In an embodiment different from the one described above, the above information communication apparatus is disposed in such a way that a transmission/reception unit thereof faces the above placement stage, the above IC memory is mounted on an area of the placement stage that faces the above transmission/reception unit, and the above IC memory is also mounted on an appropriate place of the article loaded on the above placement stage.
In an embodiment different from the one described above, the IC memory mounted on the above placement stage stores: first identification data for identifying that IC memory, which is required by a plurality of IC memories to form links between the IC memories themselves on the data; second identification data for identifying IC memories that are different from the foregoing IC memory and are mounted on any of the articles loaded on the above placement stage; data indicating whether the above link, in its entirety, forms a circulation structure; multiplicity data indicating how many of above links are formed between that IC memory and a plurality of IC memories that are different from that IC memory and are mounted on a plurality of articles loaded on the placement stage; data indicating a total number of the IC memories attached to each of the above articles; at least the above first and second identification data of update link information for indicating a change in the above link; and data indicating whether above links, in their entirety, form a circulation structure.
Moreover, in an embodiment different from the one described above, each of the comprehensive IC memory identifying data stored by the above information communication apparatus includes at least two or more pieces of the above second identification data.
In an embodiment different from the one described above, it is configured that when an article is additionally loaded on the placement stage, and thereby a communication is established between the above information communication apparatus and a new IC memory mounted on the additional article, the new IC memory is caused to store data for identifying the IC memory mounted on the placement stage, and the IC memory mounted on the placement stage is caused to store the data for identifying the new IC memory.
In an embodiment different from the one described above, it is configure that when any of the plurality of articles loaded on the above placement stage is removed, resulting in loss of communication between the above information communication apparatus and the IC memory of the removed article, the IC memory of the above placement stage is caused to store the first identification data for identifying the IC memory of the removed article, and second identification data, which is stored in the IC memory, for identifying a different IC memory that formed a link with the IC memory on data, and the IC memory of another article that stored the above first identifying data is caused to store the above second identifying data. Then, the above first and second identification data that were stored are configured to be erased from the IC memory of the above placement stage.
Furthermore, in an embodiment different from the one described above, when a communication is lost between the above information communication apparatus and the IC memory of the article that is removed from the above placement stage, data related to the above circulation structure, which is stored in the IC memory of the above placement stage, is changed to unsuccessful circulation. After the above processing of the IC memory of the above placement stage and IC memory of another article on the above placement stage is terminated, the data related to the above circulation structure is changed to successful circulation.
The present invention enables the information management system, which comprises IC memories and an information communication apparatus for performing information communication with the IC memories, to readily read or read to identify all information written in each IC memory mounted on each of a number of articles.
Moreover, when packaged finished products as well as parts thereof are to be managed, the present invention enables the information management system that comprises the IC memory and information communication apparatus for performing information communication with the IC memory to manage the packaged finished products as well as the parts thereof.
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.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to appended drawings.
The scope of the present invention covers not only the RFID tags but also other kinds of IC memories. However, in the following sections, aspects in which the present invention is applied to the RFID tags will be described as embodiments of the present invention with reference to the appended drawings. Therefore, even if the following description relates only to the RFID tags, this should not be construed as to mean that the scope of the present invention does not cover other kinds of IC memories.
As
Data is configured to be written into the RFID tags 1, 3 by, for example, the RFID reader/writer 5, and the written data is configured to be read by an RFID reader/writer apparatus (different from the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5) or the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5.
As
The RF circuit 11 demodulates the above (UHF-band) electric wave, which is a modulated wave, from the antenna 9 under the management of the logic circuit 15 to thereby take out a modulated signal (signal representing various kinds of information) from the electric wave for outputting to the logic circuit 15. The RF circuit 11 also modulates a (UHF-band) carrier wave by a signal representing various kinds of information that is outputted from the logic circuit 15 under the management of the logic circuit 15, and transmits a (UHF-band) electric wave generated by the modulation to the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 through the antenna 9. The power supply unit 13 generates power by means of electromagnetic induction caused by the above (UHF-band) electric wave that is inputted from the antenna 9 to the RF circuit 11, and supplies the generated power to each part of the RFID tab body 7 as a drive power.
The memory circuit 17 stores various data such as, for example, self ID number data 19, reference ID number data 21, and additional information 23 (e.g., data arbitrarily produced by a user) that are written by the logic circuit 15, under the management of the logic circuit 15. The memory circuit 17 also outputs requested data to the logic circuit 15 in response to a data read-out request from the logic circuit 15 under the management of the logic circuit 15.
The logic circuit 15 performs predetermined protocol processing. In other words, the logic circuit 15 writes command, data and the like, which are represented by the modulated signal (from the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5) that is outputted from the RF circuit 11 and, into a plurality of memory banks (i.e., memory circuit 17). The logic circuit 15 also reads out the data (self ID number data 19, reference ID number data 21, and additional information 23) and the like that are stored in a plurality of above memory banks, and outputs the read data and the like to the RF circuit 11 in order to transmit them to the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5. The logic circuit 15 manages an internal state of the RFID tag body 7 by placing the RF circuit 11 and memory circuit 17 under the management of the logic circuit 15 as described above. It should be noted that the management of the internal state of the RFID tag body 7 includes the management of a lock state such as the advisability of rewriting the memory circuit 17 by a logical management approach using a state management flag.
As is the case with the RFID tag 1, the RFID tag 3 also comprises an RFID body 25; an antenna 27 that is mounted on an appropriate place external to the RFID tag body 25; a power supply unit 29 embedded in the RFID tag body 25; an RF circuit 31; a logic circuit 33; and a memory circuit 35. Detailed description of the RFID tag body 25, antenna 27, power supply unit 29, RF circuit 31, logic circuit 33, and memory circuit 35 is omitted. It should be noted that reference ID number data 37, self ID number data 39, and additional information 41 are also stored in the memory circuit 35, as is the case with the memory circuit 17.
It should be noted that in the present embodiment, as is clear from the reference to
As
The RFID tag communication unit 47 demodulates the above (UHF-band) electric wave, which is a modulated wave, from the antenna 45 under the management of the information processing unit 51, and thereby takes out a modulated signal (signal representing various kinds of information) from the electric wave and outputs it to the information processing unit 51. The RFID tag communication unit 47 also modulates a (UHF-band) carrier wave by a signal representing various kinds of information that is outputted from the information processing unit 51, and transmits the (UHF-band) electric wave generated by the modulation to the RFID tag 1 (or the RFID tag 3) through the antenna 45 under the management of the information management unit 51.
The user I/F unit 53 is connected to, for example, an operation unit (not shown), a display unit (not shown), and the like that are mounted on appropriate places of the RFID reader/writer apparatus body 43, and outputs various kinds of data, information, and the like that are inputted by a user via the operation unit (not shown) to the information processing unit 51. The user I/F unit 53 also inputs various kinds of data, information, and the like that are outputted from the information processing unit 51, and outputs them for displaying on the display unit (not shown) in order to inform the user.
The external communication unit 57 operates as a communication interface to an external management apparatus (not shown) that is required to operate the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 in cooperation, for example, with the external management apparatus (not shown) under the management of the information processing device 51. The power supply unit 49 operates as a direct current stabilizing power source for supplying stabilized direct current to each part that constitutes the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 to ensure that each portion operates in an appropriate manner.
In the information storage unit 55, an ID table 59 is set, and a control program 61 is embedded. In the ID table 59, for example, the self ID number data (shown by a reference numeral 19 in the RFID tag 1 side, and by a reference numeral 39 in the RFID tag 3 side), and reference ID number data (shown by a reference numeral 21 in the RFID tag 1 side, and by a reference numeral 37 in the RFID tag 3 side) are written by the information processing unit 51. The control program 61 is a program in which a calculation processing operation for the information processing unit 51 is defined. The information storage unit 55 outputs the above requested data to the information processing unit 51 in response to a data read-out request from the information processing unit 51 under the management of the information processing unit 51.
The information processing unit 51 performs predetermined protocol processing. In other words, the information processing unit 51 writes a command, data, and the like represented by a modulation signal (from the RFID tag 1 or RFID tag 3), which is outputted from the RFID tag communication unit 47, into the above table 59 of the information storage unit 55. The information processing unit 51 also reads out the command, data, and the like stored in the above ID table 59 and outputs the read out data, and the like to the RFID tag communication unit 47 in order to transmit it to the RFID tag 1 (or RFID tag 3). As described above, the information processing unit 51 manages an internal state of the RFID reader/writer apparatus body 43 by placing the RFID tag communication unit 47, user I/F unit 53, external communication unit 57, and information storage unit 55 under the management of the information processing unit 51.
It should be noted that while only two RFID tags, 1 and 3, and only one RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 are illustrated in
As
Next, description will be made on the processing operations performed by the information processing unit 51 shown in
The information processing unit 51 communicates with the RFID tag 1 through the RFID tag communication unit 47 and antenna 45 to thereby read out the self ID number data 19 and reference ID number data 21 stored in the memory circuit 17 of the RFID tag 1 via the logic circuit 15, RF circuit 11, and antenna 9. The information processing unit 51 also communicates with the RFID tag 3 through the RFID tag communication unit 47, and antenna 45 to thereby read out the self ID number data 39 and reference ID number data 37 stored in the memory circuit 35 of the RFID tag 3 via the logic circuit 33, RF circuit 31, and antenna 27.
In the above aspect, the information processing unit 51 reads out the self ID number data and reference ID number data from each RFID tag, and additionally writes all the read out self ID number data and reference ID number data into the ID table 59. The data stored in each row of the ID table 59 shown in
Next, the information processing unit 51 sets “0” in all rows of the link flag setting region 67 and checks whether a value of the reference ID number data in the M-th row of the ID table 59 is equal to a value of the self ID number data in the N-th row of the ID table 59. If it is determined, as a result of the check, that both are equal, then “1” is set in the N-th row of the link flag setting region 67. The information processing unit 51 repeats the above processing operations in all rows that constitute the ID table 59.
If, after the above processing operations are repeated, it can be verified that “1” is set in all rows of the link flag setting region 67, then the RFID tags that are linked to each other, in their entirety, form a rotation structure, thus causing the information processing unit 51 to determine that the data of all the RFID tags are read out.
In the sequence diagram of
In
Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues a query request again to each of the REID tags 1, 3, and 4 about the self ID number data (step S65). If, in response the query request, self ID number data 39 of the RFID tag 3 is transmitted from the RFID tag 3, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the self ID number data 39 (step S66). Then, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues a request to the RFID tag 3 to obtain reference ID number data (step S67). If, in response to the request, reference ID number data 37 is transmitted from the RFID tag 3, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the reference ID number 37 (step S68).
Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues a query request again to each of the REID tags 1, 3, and 4 about the self ID number data (step S69). If, in response the query request, self ID number data of the RFID tag 4 is transmitted from the RFID tag 4, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the self ID number data (step S70). Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues a request to the RFID 4 to obtain reference ID number data (step S71). If, in response to the request, reference ID number data is transmitted from the RFID tag 4, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the reference ID number (step S72).
The sequence processing shown in
In
If, in response to the query request, the self ID number data of the RFID tag 4 is transmitted from the RFID tag 4, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the self ID number data (step S78). Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues an request to the RFID tag 1 to obtain reference ID number data (step S79). If, in response to the obtain request, the reference ID number data 21 is transmitted from the RRID tag 1, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the reference ID number data 21 (step S80). Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues an request to the RFID tag 3 to obtain reference ID number data (step S81). If, in response to the obtain request, the reference ID number data 37 is transmitted from the RRID tag 3, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the reference ID number data 37 (step S82).
Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 issues an request to the RFID tag 4 to obtain reference ID number data (step S83). If, in response to the obtain request, reference ID number data is transmitted from the RRID tag 4, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the reference ID number data (step S84).
The sequence processing shown in
It should be noted that an anti-collision function, such as a bit collision method and a time slot method, is used, when the RFID reader/writer apparatus 5 receives the self ID number data from each of the RFID tags 1, 3, and 4 by issuing a query request to each of the RFID tags 1, 3, and 4 about the self ID number data in
RFID tags 87, 89 shown in
Each portion that constitutes the RFID tags 87, 89, described above, has the same configuration as each portion that constitutes the RFID tags 1, 3 shown in
As is clear from reference to
As is clear from reference to
As
It is assumed that unique ID number data configured as described above are stored in each memory of RFID tags 141, 143, and 145 shown in
In
If, in response to the query request, unique ID number data is transmitted from the RFID tag 143, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 140 receives the unique ID number data (step S154). Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus 140 issues again a query request to the RFID tags 141, 143, and 145 about the unique ID number data (step S155). If, in response to the query request, unique ID number data is transmitted from the RFID tag 145, then the RFID reader/writer apparatus 140 receives the unique ID number data (step S156).
Through the execution of the sequence processing shown in
In
Links, for example, such as ones shown in
More specifically, the RFID tag 179 on the pallet 161 is linked to the RFID tag 177 (on the article 169) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). The RFID tag 177 (on the article 169) is also linked to the RFID tag 171 (on the article 163) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). The RFID tag 171 (on the article 163) is also linked to the RFID tag 175 (on the article 167) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). The RFID tag 175 (on the article 167) is also linked to the RFID tag 173 (on the article 165) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). Furthermore, the RFID tag 173 (on the article 165) is linked to the RFID tag 179 on the pallet 161 (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag).
Which one of the RFID tags (171 to 179) is attached to the pallet 161, and which RFID tag is attached to which article (of the articles 163 to 169) can be identified by the RFID reader/writer apparatus through the use of an ID number data system (such as the self ID number data, and reference ID number data), or additional information that is stored in (the memory circuit of) each RFID tag.
In
Links, for example, such as ones shown in
More specifically, the RFID tag 191 of the package 180 side is linked to the RFID tag 199 (on the attachment 189) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). The RFID tag 199 (on the attachment 189) is linked to the RFID tag 193 (on the attachment 183) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag).
The RFID tag 193 (on the attachment 183) is also linked to the RFID tag 197 (on the attachment 187) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). The RFID tag 197 (on the attachment 187) is also linked to the RFID tag 195 (on the attachment 185) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag). Furthermore, the RFID tag 195 (on the attachment 185) is linked to the RFID tag 191 of the package 180 side (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in the memory circuit of each RFID tag).
In the above-described aspect, an RFID tag is attached to an appropriate place of the outer surface of the package 180 that packages the finished product 181 and attachments 183 to 189, and the RFID tags are also attached to appropriate places of respective attachments 183 to 189. Then, the above described self ID number data, reference ID number data, and the like that are stored in (the memory circuits of) the RFID tags are configured to be read and checked through the RFID reader/writer apparatus. Therefore, even if there occurs an event in which the attachments packaged with the finished product are extracted or replaced in an unauthorized manner, it can be rapidly detected through the RFID reader/writer apparatus, thus making it possible to take an appropriate countermeasure.
In
In
The self ID number data and reference ID number data, as described above, are stored in (a memory circuit of) each of the individual article tags 2071 to 207n. Moreover, link multiplicity data, circulation structure formation flag data, individual article tag total data, and update link information are stored in (a memory circuit of) the package tag 203 in addition to the above self ID number data and reference ID number data.
The link multiplicity data in the above respective data and information, which are stored in the package tag 203, refers to the data that indicates the multiplicity of the link formed between respective individual tags (2071 to 207n) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in each memory circuit). In the above link multiplicity data, a multiplicity “0” indicates a state in which a link is not formed between any of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n). In other words, it indicates that the above described reference ID number data is not stored in any individual article tags (2071 to 207n). Next, a multiplicity “1” indicates a state in which one link is formed between each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in each memory circuit). In other words, it indicates that one piece each of the above described reference ID number data is stored in each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n).
Next, a multiplicity “2” indicates a state in which two links are formed between each of the individual package tags (2071 to 207n) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in each memory circuit). In other words, it indicates that two pieces each of the above described reference ID number data are stored in each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n). In addition, a multiplicity “3” indicates a state in which three links are formed between each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n) (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in each memory circuit). In other words, it indicates that three pieces each of the above described reference ID number data are stored in each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n). The state in which two or more pieces of reference ID number data are stored in each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n) as described above is referred to as a multiple state of link that is defined in one embodiment of the present invention.
The circulation structure formation flag data refers to flag (data) that indicates whether links formed (in one layer or a multiple state) via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in each of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n) establish a circulation structure, in their entirety. The individual article tag total number data refers to the data that indicates the total number of the individual article tags (2071 to 207n) each attached to each of the individual articles (2051 to 205n). The update link information refers to the information related to the individual article tags (that are attached to removed individual articles), which lost a link that has been formed until the time when, for example, any of the above individual articles (2051 to 205n) is removed from the pallet 201. The information related to the individual article tags refers to the self ID number data and reference ID number data of the individual article tags.
In an example shown in
In other words, as
Data (self ID number data and reference ID number data), such as shown in
Next, in a memory circuit of the individual article tag 2071, as the self ID number data, “0002” is stored, and as the reference ID number data, “0003” which is the self ID number data for the individual article tag 2072 with the next self ID number data, “0004” which is the self ID number data for the individual article tag 2073 with the next self ID number data but one, and “0001” which is the self ID number data for the package tag 203 with the preceding self ID number data are stored.
Similarly, in a memory circuit of the individual article tag 2072, as the self ID number data, “0003” is stored, and as the reference ID number data, “0004” which is the self ID number data for the individual article tag 2073 with the next self ID number data, “0001” which is the self ID number data for the package tag 203 with the preceding self ID number data but one, and “0002” which is the self ID number data for the individual article tag 2071 with the preceding self ID number data are stored.
Furthermore, in a memory circuit of the individual article tag 2073, as the self ID number data, “0004” is stored, and as the reference ID number data, “0001” which is the self ID number data for the package tag 203 with the preceding self ID number data but two, “0002” which is the self ID number data for the individual article tag 2071 with the preceding self ID number data but one, and “0003” which is the self ID number data for the self ID number data 2072 with the preceding self ID number data are stored.
Therefore, while links are formed between the package tag 203 and individual tag 2071, between the individual tag 2071 and individual tag 2072, and between the individual tag 2072 and package tag 203, no link is formed between the individual article tag 207i and package tag 203, and between the individual article tag 207i and individual article tag (any one of 2071 and 2072).
Accordingly, links are formed between the package tag 203 and new individual article tag 207i, between the new individual article tag 207i and individual article tag 2071, between the individual article tag 2071 and individual article tag 2072, and between the individual article tag 2072 and package tag 203.
In
Through the execution of the processing operations represented by the above two steps, links shown in
In
In other words, links are formed between the package tag 213 and individual article tag 2171, between the individual article tag 2171 and individual article tag 2172, and between the individual article tag 2172 and package tag 213 (via the self ID number data and reference ID number data that are stored in (the memory circuit of) each tag).
In
Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus searches an individual article tag (individual tag 2171 in this case), in which the self ID number data (“0003”) is stored as the reference ID number data, by tracing the existing link. The self ID number data (“0003”) is written in (the memory circuit of) the package tag 213 as the above update link information (step S223). It is checked whether the above search was successful (step S224). If it is determined, as a result of the check, that the search was successful (YES at the step S224), then the RFID reader/writer apparatus rewrites the reference ID number data (“0003” in this case) stored in (the memory circuit of) the searched individual article tag (individual article tag 2171 in this case) into the reference ID number data (“0001” in this case) written in (the memory circuit of) the package tag 213 as the update link information (step S225).
Then, it is checked whether the rewrite was successful or not (step S226). If it is determined, as a result of the check, that the rewrite was successful (YES in step S226), then the RFID reader/writer apparatus erases both the self ID number data (“0003”) and reference ID number data (“0001”) that are written in (the memory circuit of) the package tag 213 as the update link information (step S 227). Next, the RFID reader/writer apparatus rewrites the circulation structure formation flag data held in (the memory circuit of) the package tag 213 from “not formed” (for example “0”) to “formed” (for example, “1”), and a series of processing operations are completed (step S228).
If it is determined, as a result of the check at step S224, that the search was unsuccessful (NO at step S224), and if it is determined, as a result of the check at step S226, that the rewrite was unsuccessful (NO at step S226), then the series of processing operations are suspended at that point.
Even if it was unsuccessful to eliminate the self ID number data (“0003”), and reference ID number data (“0001”) of the individual article tag of the individual article that was removed from the pallet from (the memory circuit of) the remaining individual article tag (individual article tag 2171 in this case) the execution of the processing operations shown in
While the preferred embodiments according to the present invention and examples of the variation have been described in the foregoing, they are just an exemplification for the purpose of describing the present invention. It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments and samples of the variation. It is to be understood that the present invention can be embodied in other various forms.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-068967 | Mar 2007 | JP | national |