Patent Publication Number: US-2009231106-A1

Title: Tag Apparatus,Transceiver Apparatus, and Tag System

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tag apparatus, a transceiver apparatus, and a tag system and more particularly, to a tag apparatus, a transceiver apparatus, and a tag system which can prevent collisions while driving peripheral devices and notifying of the state of the peripheral devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There have been known a tag apparatus of one-way communication type for periodically transmitting over the wireless its ID (a user non-rewritable identification data which has been assigned in advance and inhibited from being rewritten by a user) and a tag apparatus of two-way communication type for transmitting over the wireless its ID or user ID (a user rewritable identification data which can be rewritten partially or entirely by a user) and receiving relevant commands (for example, see Patent Citation 1). 
     Patent Citation 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-268837. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     Such a tag apparatus of one-way communication type is not capable of receiving over the wireless a command for driving a peripheral device or notifying of the state of a peripheral device. 
     On the other hand, such a tag apparatus of two-way communication type has a drawback that its communication time is longer than that of the one-way communication type, whereby the occurrence of collisions will increase as the number of tag apparatuses in a given space is increased thus hardly ensuring the communication over the wireless. 
     It is hence an object of the present invention to provide a tag apparatus, a transceiver apparatus, and a tag system which can prevent collisions while driving peripheral devices and notifying of the state of the peripheral devices. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     As a first aspect, a tag apparatus ( 10 ) according to the present invention is provided comprising an RF transmitter ( 11 ) for communication at a first frequency, an RF transmitter/receiver ( 12 ) for communication at a second frequency, and a data processor ( 13 ), wherein the data processor ( 13 ) is arranged to periodically transmit an ID from the RF transmitter ( 11 ) while receiving a command with and transmitting a user ID from the transmitter/receiver ( 12 ). 
     The tag apparatus ( 10 ) of the first aspect allows the RF transmitter ( 11 ) to periodically transmit its ID in the one-way communication mode, thus minimizing the communication time, decreasing the occurrence of collisions even when the number of the tag apparatuses ( 10 ) in a given space is increased, and ensuring the communication over the wireless. Also, with its RF transmitter/receiver ( 12 ) arranged to receive a Command and transmit a user ID in the two-way communication mode, the tag apparatus ( 10 ) can drive a peripheral device and notify of the state of the peripheral device. Since the RF transmitter ( 11 ) and the RF transmitter/receiver ( 12 ) are different from each other in the frequency to be used, their overlapping action will disallow the occurrence of collisions. Moreover, when the number of the two-way communication actions is decreased to a less number than that of the one-way communication actions, the operating life of a built-in battery in the tag apparatus ( 10 ) can increase. 
     As a second aspect, a transceiver apparatus ( 20 ) according to the present invention is provided comprising an RF receiver ( 21 ) for communication at a first frequency, an RF transmitter/receiver ( 22 ) for communication at a second frequency, and a data processor ( 23 ), wherein the data processor ( 23 ) is arranged to receive an ID with the RF receiver ( 21 ) while transmitting a command from and receiving a user ID with the transmitter/receiver ( 22 ). 
     The transceiver apparatus ( 20 ) of the second aspect allows the RF receiver ( 21 ) to receive the ID from the tag apparatus ( 10 ) of the first aspect in the one-way communication mode, thus minimizing the communication time, decreasing the occurrence of collisions even when the number of the tag apparatuses ( 10 ) in a given space is increased, and ensuring the communication over the wireless. Also, with its RF transmitter/receiver ( 22 ) arranged to transmit a command and receive a user ID in the two-way communication mode, the transceiver apparatus ( 20 ) can drive a peripheral device of the tag apparatus ( 10 ) and examine the state of the peripheral device. Since the one-way communication mode and the two-way communication mode are different in the frequency to be used, their overlapping action will disallow the occurrence of collisions. 
     As a third aspect, a tag system ( 100 ) according to the present invention is characterized in that the tag apparatus ( 10 ), which is defined in claim  1 , transmits an ID periodically over the wireless at the first frequency, and the transceiver apparatus ( 20 ), which is defined in claim  2 , when receiving the ID notifies an up hierarchy apparatus (H) of the reception of the ID and when receiving a command from the higher hierarchy apparatus (H) transmits the command over the wireless at the second frequency, and the tag apparatus ( 10 ) when receiving the command conducts a processing action determined by the command. 
     The tag system ( 100 ) of the third aspect allows the ID to be transmitted periodically in the one-way communication mode, thus minimizing the communication time, decreasing the occurrence of collisions even when the number of the tag apparatuses ( 10 ) in a given space is increased, and ensuring the communication over the wireless. Also, since the transmission and reception of a command and a user ID is carried out in the two-way communication node, a peripheral device of the tag apparatus ( 10 ) can be driven or the state of the peripheral device can be examined. Since the one-way communication mode and the two-way communication mode are different in the frequency to be used, their overlapping action will have no trouble. Moreover, when the number of the two-way communication actions is decreased to a less number than that of the one-way communication actions, the operating life of a built-in battery in the tag apparatus ( 10 ) can increase. 
     According to the tag apparatus, the transceiver apparatus, and the tag system of the present invention, the occurrence of collisions is minimized even when the number of the tag apparatuses in a given space increases, whereby the communication over the wireless will easily be ensured. As the transmission and reception of a command and a user ID is carried out in the two-way communication mode, the peripheral device in the tag apparatus can be driven and their state can be examined. Also, since the one-way communication mode and the two-way communication mode are different in the frequency to be used, their overlapping action will have no trouble. Moreover, when the number of the two-way communication actions is decreased to a less number than that of the one-way communication actions, the operating life of a built-in battery in the tag apparatus can increase. 
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will be described in more detail in the form of one preferred embodiment illustrated in the relevant dings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is a structural view of a tag apparatus  10  showing Embodiment 1. 
     The tag apparatus  10  comprises an RF transmitter  11  for communicating at a first frequency f 1  (for example, 303.825 MHz), an RF transmitter/receiver  12  for communicating at a second frequency f 2  (for example, 315 MHz), a data processor  13 , and a peripheral apparatus  4  connected with the data processor  13 . 
     The peripheral apparatus  4  includes operating switches  1 , LEDs  2 , and a buzzer  3 . 
       FIG. 2  is an external view of the tag apparatus  10 . 
     The operating switches  1 , the LEDs  2 , and the buzzer  3  are mounted an a case  5 . 
       FIG. 3  is a structural view of a transceiver apparatus  20  showing Embodiment 1. 
     The transceiver apparatus  20  comprises an RF receiver  21  for communicating at the first frequency f 1  (for example, 303.825 MHz), an RF transmitter/receiver  22  for communicating at the second frequency f 2  (for example, 315 MHz), and a data processor  23 . 
     The data processor  13  is connected to a higher hierarchy apparatus H such as a host computer. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a structural view of a tag system  100  and a timing chart of its one-way communication showing Embodiment 1. 
     The tag system  100  is composed of a group of the tag apparatuses  10  (only one shown) and the transceiver apparatus  20 . 
     The data processor  13  in the tag apparatus  10  directs the RF transmitter  11  to transmit the ID at equal intervals of time T (for example, five seconds). The RF transmitter  11  transmits the ID over the wireless at the frequency f 1 . 
     The ID at the frequency f 1  is received by the RF receiver  21  and transferred to the data processor  23  in the transceiver apparatus  20 . The data processor  23  notifies the higher hierarchy apparatus H of the reception of the ID. 
       FIG. 5  is a timing chart of two-way communication in the tag system  100 . 
     The higher hierarchy apparatus H upon being notified of the reception of the ID frau the transceiver apparatus  20  examine whether or not there is a command assigned to the ID and when finding the command, delivers the command to the transceiver apparatus  20 . 
     When receiving the command assigned to the ID from the higher hierarchy apparatus H, the data processor  23  in the transceiver apparatus  20  directs the RF transmitter/receiver  22  to transmit the command over the wireless. The RF transmitter/receiver  22  transmits the command over the wireless at the second frequency f 2 . 
     The command at the second frequency f 2  is received by the RF transmitter/receiver  12  and transferred to the data processor  13  in the tag apparatus  10 . The data processor  13  discards a command which is not assigned to the ID of the tag apparatus  10 . When the command is assigned to the ID, the data processor  13  conducts a processing action determined by the command. In case that the processing action involves “notifying of the state of the operating switches  1 ”, the data processor  13  scans the state of the operating switches  1 , writes its scanned data into the user ID, and directs the RF transmitter/receiver  12  to transmit the written user ID. The RF transmitter/receiver  12  transmits the written user ID over the wireless at the frequency f 2 . 
     The written user ID at the frequency f 2  is received by the RF transceiver/receiver  22  and transferred to the data processor  23  in the transceiver apparatus  20 . The data processor  23  notifies the higher hierarchy apparatus H of the reception of the user ID. 
     The higher hierarchy apparatus H upon being notified of the reception of the user ID from the transceiver apparatus  20  examines whether or not there is a command assigned to the user ID and wen finding the command, delivers the command to the transceiver apparatus  20 . 
     When receiving the command assigned to the user ID from the higher hierarchy apparatus H, the data processor  23  in the transceiver apparatus  20  directs the RF transmitter/receiver  22  to transmit the command aver the wireless. The RF transmitter/receiver  22  transmits the command over the wireless at the second frequency f 2 . 
     The command at the second frequency f 2  is received by the RF transmitter/receiver  12  and transferred to the data processor  13  in the tag apparatus  10 . The data processor  13  discards a command which is not assigned to the ID of the tag apparatus  10 . When the command is assigned to the ID, the data processor  13  objects a processing action determined by the command. In case that the processing action involves “illuminating the LED  2  and turning the buzzer  3  on”, the data processor  13  directs the LED  2  to illuminate and the buzzer  3  to emit a sound. The data processor  13  then writes its completion of the action into the user ID and directs the RF transmitter/receiver  12  to transmit the rewritten user ID. The RF transmitter/receiver  12  transmits the rewritten user ID aver the wireless at the frequency f 2 . 
     The rewritten user ID at the frequency f 2  is received by the RF transceiver/receiver  22  and transferred to the data processor  23  in the transceiver apparatus  20 . The data processor  23  notifies the higher hierarchy apparatus H of the reception of the rewritten user ID. 
     The tag system  100  of Embodiment 1 has the following advantages. 
     (1) Since the one-way communication is selected for transmitting the ID periodically its consuming time remains short. Even when the number of the tag apparatuses  10  is increased in a given space in the system, the occurrence of collisions will rarely take place thus ensuring the communication over the wireless with much ease.
 
(2) Since the two-way communication is selected for transmitting and receiving the command and the user ID, it permits the peripheral apparatus  4  to be driven or its state to be examined.
 
(3) Since the one-way communication and the two-way communication are different from each other in the frequency to be used, their overlapping action will have no trouble.
 
(4) Since its RF transmitter  11  is activated during the periodical, one-way communication, which is relatively short, and deactivated in the other duration while its RF transmitter/receiver  12  is activated during the two-way communication, which is less frequently carried out than the one-way communication, and deactivated in the other duration, the tag apparatus  10  can be increased in the operating life of its built-in battery.
 
(5) Since the two-way communication for each ID is carried out just after the one-way communication, the tag apparatus  10  allows the action of its transmitter/receiver  12  to be briefly commenced lust after the one-way communication and continued when the command assigned to its ID or canceled when the commend not assigned to its ID. Accordingly, the tag apparatus  10  can be increased in the operating life of its built-in battery.
 
     Although the action of the transmitter/receiver  12  in the tag apparatus  10  is briefly commenced just after every action of the one-way communication, it may be conducted intermittently (for example, one time in every two actions of the one-way communication) thus to further increase the operating life of the built-in battery of the tag apparatus  10 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The tag apparatus, the transceiver apparatus, and the tag system according to the present invention are then applicable to an asset retrieving (inventory taking) system, a questionnaire sampling system, or an auctioning system. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a structural view of a tag apparatus showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an external view of the tag apparatus showing Embodiment 1; 
       FIG. 3  is a structural view of a transceiver apparatus showing Embodiment 1; 
       FIG. 4  is a timing chart of one-way communication in a tag system showing Embodiment 1; and 
       FIG. 5  is a timing chart of two-way communication in the tag system showing Embodiment 1. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS 
       4 : Peripheral device,  10 : Tag apparatus,  11 : RF transmitter,  12 : RF transmitter/receiver,  13 : Data processor,  20 : Transceiver apparatus,  21 : RF receiver,  22 : RF transmitter/receiver,  23 : Data processor,  100 : Tag system.