Abstract:
A file searching system includes a file storage device and a terminal device. The file storage device defines a plurality of slots for storing files having radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, the file storage device has a plurality of antennas and associated indicators mounted to a corresponding slot one to one. The terminal device wirelessly communicates with a first transceiver of the file storage device. The terminal device includes a user interface (UI) unit. Each antenna receives RFID tag self-identifying information from an RFID tag stored in the corresponding slot and transmit the RFID tag self-identifying information along with antenna self-identifying information to the first transceiver for transmission to the terminal. The first transceiver receives control commands from the terminal and the file storage device actuates one of the plurality of indicators based on a received control command. A file searching method of the file searching device is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to the co-pending U.S. patent application (Attorney Docket No. US52586), entitled “FILE STORAGE DEVICE”. This application has the same assignee as the present application and has been concurrently filed herewith. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to file searching systems, and particularly relates to a file searching system having radio frequency identification utility. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A company or an organization office needs to store a plurality of paper files. The paper files should be stored in an order and conveniently for searching. When a quantity of the paper files is large, searching efficiently for the right file becomes more important. Arching staff may also mis-store files. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a file storage device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the file storage device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of  FIG. 1 , showing a portion of the file storage device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a file searching system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a file searching method of the file searching system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 4  illustrate at least one embodiment of a file searching system  100 . The file searching system  100  includes a file storage device  50  and a terminal device  70 . The terminal device  70  can establish wireless communicating connection with the file storage device  50 , to transmit signals to or receives feedback signals from the file storage device  50 . 
         [0011]    Also referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the file storage device  50  is for storing a number of files with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags affixed on corresponding files. The file storage device  50  includes a holder assembly  10  and an antenna assembly  20 . 
         [0012]    The holder assembly  10  includes a bottom board  12 , a pedestal  14  mounted on the bottom board  12 , and a circuit board  16 . In at least one embodiment, the pedestal  14  is made of metal, such as aluminum. The pedestal  14  includes a base  142  and a plurality of interval boards  144 . The interval boards  144  are perpendicularly arranged on an upper surface of the base  142 . The interval boards  144  are evenly spaced from each other and are arranged in series, thereby forming a plurality of slots  146  between adjacent interval boards  144 . The slots  146  may receive the files. The circuit board  16  is mounted between the bottom board  12  and the pedestal  14  and electrically connected to the antenna assembly  20 , the circuit board  16  integrates a number of electronic components which can realize files searching function for the file storage device  50 . 
         [0013]    The antenna assembly  20  includes a plurality of antennas  22  and a plurality of housings  24  corresponding to the antennas  22 . The antennas  22  are coupled to interval boards  144  and each antenna  22  corresponds to one slot  246 . Each housing  24  receives one interval board  144  with one antenna  22 , thereby protecting the antenna  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna  22  can be adhered to a side surface of the interval board  144  by an adhesive. A working frequency of the antenna  22  can be, for example, about 915 megaHertz (MHz). The working frequency of the antenna  22  can be adjusted to be applied to receive signals from the RFID tags of the files and transmit the signals to an external device. Furthermore, the antennas  22  are electrically connected to the circuit board  16 . 
         [0014]    The slots  146  receive files therein, and each slot  146  receives one file. Each antenna  22  can establish a wireless communication with an RFID tag of the file in the corresponding slot  246  to read information stored in the corresponding RFID tags, and transmits the information of the RFID tags. The information at least includes a summary of the file. In an exemplary embodiment, the metal interval boards  144  can shield against electromagnetic interference from neighboring antennas  22 . 
         [0015]    The file storage device  50  further includes a processing unit  32 , a first transceiver  34 , and an indicator  36 . In an exemplary embodiment, the processing unit  32 , the first transceiver  34 , and the indicator  36  are integrated in the circuit board  16 . The antennas  22 , the first transceiver  34 , and the indicator  36  are electrically connected to the processing unit  32 . 
         [0016]    The antennas  22  are configured for transmitting information of the RFID tags and an identify information of itself to the processing unit  32 . Each antenna  22  includes an identify information of itself for showing a current location, that means, the identify information of the antenna  22  includes a current location data of the antenna  22 . The processing unit  32  is configured for processing information and signals, and also forwarding the information and signals among the antennas  22 , the first transceiver  34 , and the indicator  36 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first transceiver  34  is a Bluetooth module, which is configured for transmitting and receiving the information and signals to/from the terminal device  70 . The indicator  36  can be a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) or a buzzer. In an exemplary embodiment, the indicator  36  is a LED. A number of the indicator  36  is equated to a number of the antennas  22 , each indicator  36  is corresponding to one antenna  22 . The indicator  36  can communicate with and be controlled by the processing unit  32 , and then lights up to indicate a current location of the corresponding antenna  22 . 
         [0017]    The terminal device  70  can be a device with data processing function, such as a reader, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a palmtop computer. The terminal device  70  includes a second transceiver  72 , a processor  74 , and a user interface (UI) unit  76 . The second transceiver  72  and the UI unit  76  are electrically connected to the processor  74 . The processor  74  is configured for storing and processing the information and signals, and also forwarding the information and signals between the second transceiver  72  and the UI unit  76 . The processor  74  can further convert the information of the RFID tags and the identify information of the antennas  22  to digital data for being display in the UI unit  76 . In an exemplary embodiment, the second transceiver  72  is a Bluetooth module, which is configured for communicating with the first transceiver  34 , thereby receiving and transmitting the information and signals from/to the first transceiver  34 . The UI unit  76  can be a display having touch-control function. The UI unit  76  displays the digital data of the RFID tags information and the current location data of the antennas  22 , to show the summary and the current locations of the antennas  22 . Users can browse the information of the files and current locations of the antennas  22  via the UI unit  76  and further input a search instruction using the UI unit  76 , for searching a right file needed. The processor  74  can further generate a controlling command according to the search instruction, the controlling command is for efficiently searching the right file in the file storage device  50 . 
         [0018]    Each slot  146  has an antenna  22  and receives a file with a RFID, the antenna  22  establishes wireless communication of the RFID, the antenna  22  transmits the information of the RFID and the identify information of itself to the processing unit  32 . Then the information is forwarded to the processor  74  via the first transceiver  34  and the second transceiver  72 , the processor  74  stores the information, including information of the files and current location data of the antennas  22 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of a file searching method of the file searching system  100 . The file storage device  50  receives a plurality of files with RFID tags in the slots  146 . The file searching method includes steps as follows: 
         [0020]    In block  101 , each antenna  22  reads information of the RFID tag of the file received in the corresponding slot  146 . The information of the RFID tag at least includes a summary of the file. 
         [0021]    In block  102 , each antennas  22  forwards the information of the RFID tag in the corresponding slot  146  and an identify information of itself to the processing unit  32 . The identify information of each antenna  22  includes a current location data of the antenna  22 . 
         [0022]    In block  103 , the processing unit  32  receives the information transmitted by all antennas  22  and transfers to the first transceiver  34 , and then the first transceiver  34  transmits the information to the second transceiver  72 . In at least one embodiment, the processing unit  32  converts the information into a Bluetooth format, which can be transmitted and received by the first transceiver  34  and the second transceiver  72 . 
         [0023]    In block  104 , the second transceiver  72  receives the information and forwards to the processor  74 . 
         [0024]    In block  105 , the processor  74  receives and stores the information and converts the information to digital data, and further transmits to the UI unit  76 , thus the UI unit  76  displays the information. In at least one embodiment, when the information is converted to the digital data, the digital data can be displayed by the UI unit  76 . The UI unit  76  displays the information of the RFID tags and the identify information of the antennas  22 , thus the summary of the files and the current locations of the antennas  22  in the file storage device  50  can be read by users. 
         [0025]    In block  106 , users input a search instruction via the UI unit  76 , the UI unit  76  highlights the file summary data and the current location data, and transmits the search instruction to the processor  74 . In at least one embodiment, the search instruction is for searching a right file in the file storage device  50 . 
         [0026]    In block  107 , the processor  74  receives the search instruction and generates a controlling command, and further transmits the controlling command to the second transceiver  72 . 
         [0027]    In block  108 , the second transceiver  72  receives the controlling command and transmits to the first transceiver  34 . 
         [0028]    In block  109 , the first transceiver  34  receives the controlling command and forwards to the processing unit  32 . 
         [0029]    In block  110 , the processing unit  32  processes the controlling command and thus controls a corresponding indicator  36  to work according to the search instruction, the indicator  36  works to indicates the right file that the search instruction is searching for. Therefore, the user can efficiently find the right file according to the indication. 
         [0030]    Since a wireless communication between the file storage device  50  and the terminal device  70  is established, the antenna  22  corresponding to one slot  146  reads information from FRID tag of the slot  146  when a file is placed in the slot  146 , or the antenna  22  captures null information when the file is took away from the slot  146 , which may present a real-time state of the slots  146  via the UI unit  76 . 
         [0031]    The true location of a particular file can be discovered very quickly, and all the files received in the file storage device  100  can report themselves as required, saving time and overcoming mistakes. 
         [0032]    It is believed that the embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being illustrative embodiments of the disclosure.