Abstract:
A tag location guiding method and a tag location guiding system for communication terminals that enable guiding of tag location during reception of tag information are disclosed. The tag location guiding method for communication terminals includes: recognizing, upon reception of tag information, a guide level set in correspondence to the tag information; and outputting, if previously set location guide data according to the recognized guide level is present, the set location guide data. Accordingly, a user of a communication terminal can accurately obtain a situation through location guide data.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to an application entitled “TAG LOCATION GUIDING METHOD AND TAG LOCATION GUIDING SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION TERMINALS” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 14, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0115826, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a tag information using method and a tag information using system for communication terminals and, more particularly, to a tag location guiding method and a tag location guiding system for communication terminals that enable guiding of tag location during reception of tag information. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Generally, in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, a tag stores unique tag information and transmits tag information to a reader located within a distance range. In this case, a reader can decode tag information of a plurality of tags located within a radius range even if it does not make direct contact with the tags and also can decode information of moving tags. Accordingly, RFID technology using tags and readers is being applied to various fields such as parking management systems (PMS), record management systems (RMS), entrance control systems (ECS), intelligent transportation systems (ITS), integrated management systems (IMS), livestock identification systems (LIS), and factory automation systems (FAS). 
         [0004]    However, a communication terminal to which a reader is mounted just manages tag information as a record. As a result, there exists a demand for a technology that enables wider application of RFID technology using RFID tags and readers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object to provide a tag location guiding method for communication terminals comprising: recognizing, upon reception of a tag information, a guide level set to correspond to the tag information; and outputting, if previously set location guide data according to the recognized guide level is present, the set location guide data. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tag location guiding system for communication terminals comprising: a tag storing a tag information; and a communication terminal having a reader unit for receiving the tag information, a control unit recognizing, upon reception of the tag information, a guide level corresponding to the received tag information and outputting, if previously set location guide data according to the recognized guide level is present, the set location guide data, and a memory having a tag setting database for storing the set location guide data for the tag information under the control of the control unit. 
         [0007]    Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a view schematically illustrating a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a signal flow in a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a tag location guiding procedure of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a tag setting procedure of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a tag information managing procedure of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIGS. 1 through 6 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged tag location system. 
         [0016]    In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the term ‘tag information’ refers to information transmitted from tags. Tag information contains unique data stored in tags, such as identification codes, and areas where the tags are attached (i.e., titles of tag locations). Tag information may further contain vision data by which transmission of tag information from tags is carried out. 
         [0017]    The term ‘location guide data’ refers to data that, upon reception of tag information from a tag, are output to guide location of the tag in a communication terminal. Such location guide data may be data for explaining the location of a tag or data warning approach to the location of the tag. Location guide data may be output as signals such as audio signals and text signals. The term ‘location guide data’ will be used in conjunction with the term ‘notification data’ for playback of a communication terminal and the term ‘transmission data’ for transmission from one communication terminal to another. 
         [0018]    The term ‘a guide level’ refers to a level that, upon reception of tag information from a tag, is set to output specific location guide data according to a reference in a communication terminal. Then, a guide level may be classified according to a distance between a tag and a communication terminal receiving the tag information (i.e., a tag distance). 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a view schematically illustrating a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the tag location guiding system includes at least one tag  110  and a first communication terminal  130 . The tag location guiding system may include a second communication terminal  150 . 
         [0021]    The tag  110  stores and transmits tag information. The tag  110  is mounted to a specific tag location, such as a doll, a traffic sign, a home appliance, and an inner or outer wall of a building. The tag  110  may transmit tag information at a time interval. As an alternative, the tag  110  may transmit tag information in response to a demand. 
         [0022]    The first communication terminal  130  includes a reader unit for receiving tag information. The first communication terminal  130  may transmit a message making a demand for tag information at a time interval. Upon reception of the tag information, the first communication terminal  130  may output location guide data. That is, the first communication terminal  130  may play back notification data or may transmit transmission data to the second communication terminal  150 . Moreover, the first communication terminal  130  processes tag information. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a signal flow in a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the tag  110  transmits tag information in step  211 . Then, the tag  110  may radiate tag information at a time interval. In addition, upon reception of a demand message from the first communication terminal  130 , the tag  110  may transmit tag information to the first communication terminal  130 . 
         [0025]    Thereafter, upon reception of the tag information, the first communication terminal  130  calculates a tag distance using the tag information in step  213 . The first communication terminal  130  recognizes a guide level preset to correspond to the tag distance in step  215 . Thereafter, the first communication terminal  130  determines if previously set notification data corresponding to the guide level is present in step  217 . Upon determination of the presence of the set notification data, the first communication terminal  130  plays back the set notification data in step  219 . The first communication terminal  130  determines if previously set transmission data corresponding to the guide level is present in step  221 . Upon determination of the presence of the set transmission data, the first communication terminal  130  transmits the set transmission data to the second communication terminal  150  in step  223 . Meanwhile, the first communication terminal  130  processes tag information in step  225 , regardless of the determination results of steps  217  and  221 . 
         [0026]    Upon reception of the transmission data, the second communication terminal  150  plays back the transmission data in step  227 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a tag location guiding system for communication terminals according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, it will be assumed that the first communication terminal  130  and the second communication terminal  150  are mobile phones. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the tag  110  stores and transmits tag information. The tag  110  includes a tag memory storing tag information, a tag communicator for transmitting tag information, a tag controller controlling transmission of tag information at a time interval or to a specific target. The tag  110  may be fixed or may be moved on demand depending on its location. 
         [0029]    The first communication terminal  130  includes a reader unit  131 , a first memory  133 , a first control unit  135 , a first audio processing unit  137 , a first display unit  139 , a first key input unit  141 , and a first wireless communication unit  143 . 
         [0030]    The reader unit  131  receives tag information from a plurality of tags within a readable distance. The reader unit  131  may transmit a demand message for tag information. 
         [0031]    The first memory  133  may include a program memory and a data memory. The program memory may store an operating program of the first communication terminal  130  and programs for controlling guide of tag location. The program memory stores data occurring during execution of a program. The first memory  133  includes a tag setting database for storing location guide data set for respective tag information and a tag information database for storing records about reception of tag information. 
         [0032]    The first control unit  135  controls the overall operation of the first communication terminal  130 . The first control unit  135  includes a data processing unit having a transmitter encoding and modulating a transmitted signal and a receiver demodulating and decoding a received signal. In this case, the data processing unit may include a modem and a codec. 
         [0033]    The first control unit  135  sets location guide data for at least two guide levels of tag information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Upon reception of tag information, the first control unit  135  determines a setting of the position guide data of tag information. Then, the first control unit recognizes a guide level from the tag information, and determines the existence of a location guide data set according to the recognized guide level. Upon setting the location guide data, the first control unit  135  outputs the set location guide data. In addition, the first control unit  135  processes tag information and stores the processed result in a tag information database. 
         [0034]    The first audio processing unit  137  plays back a received audio signal output from an audio codec of the data processing unit through a speaker or transmits a transmitted audio signal generated in a microphone to an audio codec of the data processing unit. The first audio processing unit  137  plays back location guide data as an audio signal under the control of the first control unit  135 . 
         [0035]    The first display unit  139  displays user data output from the first control unit  135 . The first display unit  139  may be an LCD, in which case it may include an LCD controller, a memory storing image data, and an LCD device. When the LCD is realized by a touch screen, it may be operated as an input unit. The first display unit  139  may play back location guide data as a text signal under the control of the first control unit  135 . 
         [0036]    The first key input unit  141  includes keys for input of numbers and letters and function keys for setting various functions. 
         [0037]    The first wireless communication unit  143  carries out wireless communication in the first communication terminal  130 . The first wireless communication unit  143  includes an RF transmitter raising the frequency of and amplifying a transmitted signal and an RF receiver low-noise amplifying and lowering the frequency of a received signal. In this case, the first wireless communication unit  143  may transmit location guide data under the control of the first control unit  135 . 
         [0038]    The second communication terminal  150  includes a second wireless communication unit  151 , a second control unit  153 , a second memory  155 , a second audio processing unit  157 , a second display unit  159 , and a second key input unit  161 . The elements of the second communication terminal  150  are similar to those corresponding elements of the first communication terminal  130 , and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the second communication terminal  150  does not include a reader unit  130 . 
         [0039]    In the second communication terminal  150 , upon reception of location guide data, the second control unit  153  may play back the location guide data. That is, the second control unit  153  may play back location guide data through at least one of the second audio processing unit  157  and the second display unit  159 . The second memory  155  may store records about reception of location guide data under the control of the second control unit  153 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a tag location guiding procedure of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a tag location guiding procedure of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, upon a demand for setting a tag, the first control unit  135  detects the demand in step  411 , and carries out a tag setting procedure in step  413 . Then, the first control unit  135  sets the location guide data to correspond to the tag information. A tag setting procedure carried out by the first control unit  135  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a tag setting procedure of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the tag setting procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention starts with the selection of a tag by the first control unit  135  in step  511 . For example, after the first control unit  135  receives tag information from a tag within a readable distance through the reader unit  131 , the first control unit  135  may select a specific tag information. That is, the first control unit  135  may display a title of a tag location contained in a tag information in a list, and may select a specific tag information in response to a detected signal. The first control unit  135  displays a settable guide level in step  513 . Then, the first control unit  135  may display a guide level classified according to a tag distance. Thereafter, upon selection of a specific guide level, the first control unit  135  detects the selected guide level in step  515  and determines a setting of the notification data that corresponds to tag information in step  517 . 
         [0044]    Thereafter, upon determination of the setting of the notification data in step  517 , the first control unit  135  sets the notification data in step  519 . Then, the first control unit  135  may record an audio signal generated in a microphone of the first audio processing unit  137 , and may set the recorded audio signal as notification data. Alternatively, the first control unit  135  may set notification data using an audio signal previously stored. The first control unit  135  may set a text signal generated through a touch screen or the first key input unit  141  as the notification data. Alternatively, the first control unit  135  may set the notification data using a text signal previously stored. 
         [0045]    Thereafter, the first control unit  135  determines a setting of the transmission data that corresponds to the tag information in step  521 . That is, upon determination of a failure in the setting of the notification data in step  517 , the first control unit  135  goes to step  521 . Alternatively, upon the setting of the notification data in step  519 , the first control unit  135  goes to step  521 . 
         [0046]    Then, upon determination of a setting of the transmission data in step  521 , the first control unit  135  sets the transmission data in step  523 . In this case, the first control unit  135  may set an identification number for communication with the second communication terminal  150 . The first control unit  135  may record an audio signal generated in the microphone of the first audio processing unit  137  and may set the recorded audio signal as the transmission data. Alternatively, the first control unit  135  may set the transmission data using an audio signal previously stored. The first control unit  135  may set a text signal generated through a touch screen or the first key input unit  141  as the transmission data. Alternatively, the first control unit  135  may set the transmission data using a text signal previously stored. 
         [0047]    Finally, upon a demand for the completion of the tag setting procedure, the first control unit  135  detects the demand in step  525 , and after completion of the tag setting procedure, returns to  FIG. 4 . Then, upon a failure in the demand for the completion of the tag setting procedure, the first control unit  135  may repeat steps  513  to  525  until the first control unit  135  detects a demand for completion. Accordingly, the first control unit  135  may set multiple notification data or transmission data for respective guide levels in a specific tag information. Then, the tag setting database of the first memory  133  may store location guide data set for the respective tag information as in Table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Identifi- 
                   
                 Notifi- 
                   
               
               
                 Tag 
                 cation 
                 Guide 
                 cation 
                 Transmission 
               
               
                 Location 
                 Code 
                 Level 
                 Data 
                 Data 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Gas 
                 0x000010 
                 A 
                 Be careful! 
                   
               
               
                 Range 
                   
                 B 
                 It&#39;s hot. 
                 000-0000-0000 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Approach Gas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Range 
               
               
                 Bear 
                 0x00011  
                 A 
                 It&#39;s a doll. 
               
               
                 Doll 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0048]    On the other hand, upon a failure in the demand for the setting of a tag in step  411  and the reception of a tag information, the first control unit  135  detects the tag information in step  421 , and carries out a procedure of managing tag information in step  423 . Then, the first control unit  135  outputs location guide data set that corresponds to specific tag information. The first control unit  135  processes the specific tag information. Hereinafter, a process of carrying out a procedure of managing tag information by the first control unit  135  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a tag information managing procedure of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the tag information managing procedure starts with the calculation of a tag distance by the first control unit  135  using the tag information in step  611 . For example, the first control unit  135  may calculate a tag distance by comparing a transmission time and a reception time of the tag information. The first control unit  135  may calculate a tag distance according to the reception intensity of the tag information. Thereafter, the first control unit  135  recognizes a guide level for the calculated distance in step  613 . The first control unit  135  determines if previously set notification data according to the recognized guide level is present in step  615 . 
         [0051]    Thereafter, upon determination of the presence of the set notification data in step  615 , the first control unit  135  plays back the notification data in step  617 . When the set notification data is an audio signal, the first control unit  135  plays back the set notification data through a speaker of the first audio processing unit  137 . When the set notification data is a text signal, the first control unit  135  plays back the set notification data through the first display unit  139 . 
         [0052]    Then, the first control unit  135  determines if previously set transmission data according to the recognized guide level in a specific tag information is present in step  619 . Upon determination of a failure in the presence of the set notification data in step  615 , the control unit  135  goes to step  619 . Alternatively, after playback of the set notification data in step  617 , the first control unit  135  goes to step  619 . 
         [0053]    Upon determination of the presence of the set transmission data in step  619 , the first control unit  135  transmits the set transmission data in step  621 . In this case, the first control unit  135  may transmit the set transmission data to the second communication terminal  150  using a set identification number for communication. 
         [0054]    Finally, the first control unit  135  processes tag information in step  623 , and returns to  FIG. 4 . That is, upon determination of a failure in the presence of the set transmission data in step  619 , the first control unit  135  goes to step  623 . Alternatively, after transmitting the set transmission data in step  621 , the first control unit  135  goes to step  623 . For example, the first control unit  135  may count the number of repetitions of a specific tag information and may store it in the tag information database of the memory  130 . That is, the first control unit  135  may arrange the tag information using the number of repetitions. In this case, the first control unit  135  may calculate a preference and a preference time for a specific tag location from the counted number of repetitions. The first control unit  135  may store the preference and the preference time in the tag information data base. Meanwhile, the first control unit  135  may process tag information for a set time period (example.g., in units of predetermined time periods). That is, the first control unit  135  may classify the processed results of the tag information according to a set time period to store them. Then, the tag information database of the first memory  133  stores the processed results of tag information as in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Number of 
               
               
                   
                 Identifi- 
                 Number 
                   
                 Prefer- 
                 Repetitions 
               
               
                 Tag 
                 cation 
                 of Repe- 
                 Prefer- 
                 ence 
                 of Preference 
               
               
                 Location 
                 Code 
                 titions 
                 ence 
                 time 
                 time 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Bear 
                 0x000011 
                 8 
                 1 
                 14:00~15:00 
                 3 
               
               
                 Doll 
               
               
                 Gamer 
                 0x000015 
                 5 
                 2 
                 17:00~18:00 
                 2 
               
               
                 Robot 
                 0x000012 
                 3 
                 3 
                 11:00~12:00 
                 2 
               
               
                 Soccer 
                 0x000017 
                 2 
                 4 
                 15:00~16:00 
                 2 
               
               
                 Ball 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0055]    On the other hand, upon a failure in the detection of the tag information in step  421 , the first control unit  135  may perform a specific function in step  431 . For example, the first control unit  135  displays the processed result of the tag information stored in the tag information database through the first display unit  139  or may transmit it to the second communication terminal  150 . 
         [0056]    In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention, an example of, outputting location guide data set to correspond to the tag information whenever the tag information is received has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, upon reception of the same tag information within a set time period, the output of the location guide data may not be repeated. On the other hand, upon reception of the same tag information again after a lapse of a set time period, the output of the location guide data may be repeated. 
         [0057]    According to the present invention, upon reception of a tag information, a communication terminal processes the tag information and manages the tag information as a record, and outputs a location guide data set corresponding to the tag information. Then, the communication terminal sets the location guide data for a plurality of guide levels in a single tag information, and outputs the location guide data corresponding to a specific guide level according to an area. Therefore, a user of a communication terminal can accurately access an area through the location guide data. 
         [0058]    Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.