JP2010250584A - Programmable/logic and rfid controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce data transmission and processing time, to cope with increases in function and capacity of an RFID tag, and to reduce cost by integration of an RFID system. <P>SOLUTION: A reader/writer part 3 in charge of two-way radio transmission/reception to/from an RFID tag, a communication/system/memory part 21 in charge of a shared memory and network connection, and a PID function part 23 for performing system control based on a program prepared by various logic instructions are integrated by a multi-processing system which shares a cache memory and a main memory, to merge SQL (language) and PLC (instruction/language), thereby reducing data transmission and processing time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a programmable / logic / controller connected to an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) reader / writer unit via serial communication or a network in an RFID system. Specifically, the RFID reader / writer function, the PLC function Further, the present invention relates to a stand-alone programmable / logic & RFID controller in which functions for sharing data and instructions (commands) are integrated as a multiprocessing system having a shared memory and a shared bus.

  Conventionally, various improvements have been made in an RFID system in order to increase the speed and functionality of the system. In the first conventional structure, a shared memory is provided in the PLC that is the host controller of the RFID reader / writer unit, and the shared data is stored in the shared memory so that both the PLC main unit and peripheral devices can access them. Therefore, the shared data is deleted and the restoration process is accelerated (see Patent Document 1). In the second conventional structure, an API (Application Program Interface) is set with the host PLC by providing an RFID search server function in the RFID reader / writer unit (see Patent Document 2). In the third conventional structure, an RF wireless interface capable of wirelessly communicating with a plurality of wireless devices is provided in the PLC (see Patent Document 3). In the fourth conventional structure, the antenna is improved (see Patent Document 4).

Japanese Patent No. 3038900 U.S. Pat. European Patent 1764665 Specification US Patent 20070164868

  In the RFID system, the number of tags used in the system is increasing due to its convenience, and the processing is also becoming more sophisticated. However, with the above conventional structure, the RFID system as a whole that handles the ever-increasing items with RFID tags is increasing. It cannot contribute to high-speed and high-performance processing. This will be described below.

In recent years, RFID RFID tag standards are shifting from local standards to international standards (EPC global standards) combined with network technologies such as IP (Internet Protocol) technology. It has become much more sophisticated and large-scale. In an RFID system that is evolving in this way, a system configuration in which independent devices are connected by serial communication or network, as before,
That is,
(RFID tag) ← [radio transmission] → (RFID reader / writer section) ← [serial communication] → (host controller: PLC etc.) ← [network communication] → (search server) ← [LAN / WAN] → (server / client )
Build
In addition to the increase in communication time and processing time between the devices, the cost of each device is increased due to higher functionality.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a high-speed, high-function and simple RFID system.

In order to achieve the above object, the programmable / logic & RFID controller of the present invention
A reader / writer unit that receives a wireless transmission signal from the RFID tag and transmits a write signal to the RFID tag; and at least one of logic processing, arithmetic processing, PID processing, and input / output processing for the wireless transmission signal and the writing signal One programmable logic controller unit is integrated and integrated by a multiprocessing system in which at least a part of the main memory and cache memory of the CPU is a shared memory.

  According to the above configuration, an RFID reader / writer unit that performs wireless transmission / reception with a plurality of RFID tags, and a programmable logic control function that performs logical processing, arithmetic processing, PID processing, input / output processing, etc. in a user program, Stand-alone logable / logic / RFID controller by integrating read / write and data processing operation functions with RFID tags in a multi-processing system in which each CPU's main memory and cache memory (partial) are shared memory Is realized.

The present invention also provides:
The first RFID data is wirelessly received from the RFID tag, the initial data included in the first RFID data is confirmed, and the second and third RFID data generated based on the first RFID data are confirmed. A reader / writer unit for wirelessly transmitting and writing necessary data to the RFID tag,
A peripheral device connected via serial communication or a network, and a communication / system / memory unit for controlling data transmission / data management / data storage of the first to third RFID data;
PLC function unit that performs system control based on programs created with various logic instructions;
Each of the reader / writer unit, the communication / system / memory unit, and the PLC function unit can be concurrently accessed via a shared bus, and
With
The PLC function unit performs data processing on the first RFID data that the reader / writer unit receives from the RFID tag via wireless communication to form the second RFID data. The third RFID data is generated by the peripheral device by storing the data as shared data in the shared memory via the shared bus and processing the communication / system / memory unit and the peripheral device. Then, the third RFID data is received from the peripheral device, and the received third RFID data is stored in the shared memory as shared data via the shared bus,
The communication / system / memory unit executes control related to the data transmission / data management / data storage by a CPU circuit included in the PLC function unit or an independent CPU circuit.

  According to the above configuration, the first to third RFIDs are provided by the software (PLC function unit, communication / system / memory unit, reader / writer unit) that controls the shared bus and the shared memory. Data is integrated and integrated into a multiprocessing system connected by each CPU local bus and multibus (shared bus). Thereby, there is no duplication of communication connection / processing between the functional elements in the system and duplication of the buffer memory and the like, and simultaneous parallel processing becomes possible.

In the present invention,
The shared memory has a shared address space that is a whole or a part of a main memory or a cache memory of a CPU circuit that the PLC function unit has or an independent CPU circuit,
The reader / writer unit, the PLC function unit, and the communication / system / memory unit are mounted with relational database managing software (RDBMS) for sharing, managing, and storing the first to third RFID data. In this way, data search, authentication, processing, cancellation, etc. can be performed concurrently.
There is a mode.

  According to this aspect, data and commands are shared between the PLC function of this system and the data processing, management, and storage functions, and the parallel operation of both functions becomes possible. As a result, the communication time and the processing time of both functions are shortened, and the main memory and cache memory capacity are reduced.

Software (middleware) optimized for high-speed real-time processing is implemented as the relational database managing software by fusing SQL (Structured Query Language) standard or compliant standard software with PLC function software. To be
Is preferred.

The data of one RFID tag is much smaller than the data (including audio data and image data) handled by a personal computer or the like. In view of this, in this preferred embodiment, the relational database managing software optimized for the transmission of the first to third RFID data compliant with Structured Query Language is used as a PLC function unit or a communication / system / memory unit. To implement this,
-Minimize the number of tables that can be manipulated with one SQL (conformity), etc.
・ Squeeze SQL functions to the minimum necessary.
It is possible to significantly speed up the processing by adding such ideas.

In the present invention,
Management of supplying and storing at least one of the first to third RFID data by a function of a client device / device connected to the communication / system / memory unit via a local network or a wide area network A software function that implements a relational database server function to perform and a search server function to perform ID management of the RFID tag is implemented in the reader / writer unit, the PLC function unit, and the communication / system / memory unit.
There is a mode.

  In recent years, the use and alignment of the Internet infrastructure, which is the de facto standard, has become essential for RFID systems. Conventionally, this type of utilization and alignment is based on the EPCglobal standard (the international de facto standard for EPC (Electronic Product Code) and RFID development, implementation, and adoption). Devices having functions such as processing and search were connected to the RDIF system via their respective serial communications. This will result in insufficient data processing time and system elements. In the present invention, the reader / writer unit, the PLC function unit, and the communication / system / memory unit are connected to the client device via the server function (first to third RFID data is transmitted via a network (including a wide area network)). By providing the function to be provided, it becomes possible to realize a standardized Internet infrastructure with the minimum necessary system elements and the minimum data processing time.

In the present invention,
Each of the reader / writer unit, the communication / system / memory unit, and the PLC function unit includes a CPU circuit that constitutes multiprocessing with each other, and in addition to the local bus and the shared bus that the CPU circuit has, a USB It is a dual shared bus with another shared bus that uses the standard or IEEE1394 standard as an internal bus.
There is a mode. As a result, it is possible to increase the capacity of data, increase the processing speed, and increase the reliability.

  In the present invention, the reader / writer unit, the communication / system / memory unit, and the PLC function unit are integrated and integrated into a multiprocessing system that is connected so that data and commands can be mutually transmitted via a shared bus and a shared memory. This eliminates duplication of communication connections and buffer memories in the system and enables concurrent processing.

  As a result, the communication time is greatly shortened and the simultaneous / synchronous processability is improved, thereby improving the reliability of the RFID system.

It is the figure which contrasted the structure of the RFID system containing the RFID controller of this invention with the conventional system. It is a block diagram of the RFID controller of one embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part detail drawing of the RFID controller of embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in which a shared bus is duplicated by further adding a USB / IEEE bus in the programmable / logic / RFID controller of the embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process in the conventional RFID controller. It is a flowchart of the process in the RFID controller of embodiment. It is a block diagram of the instruction word in the RFID controller of an embodiment. It is a figure for comparing the structure of embodiment in a RFID controller with the conventional structure.

  A programmable / logic & RFID controller (hereinafter abbreviated as an RFID controller) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration range of the RFID controller 1 of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a detailed view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of its memory and bus. The RFID controller 1 can wirelessly communicate with a plurality of types of RFID tags 100 (label type IC tags, IC cards, wedge type IC tags, coin type IC tags, stick type IC tags, etc.). ing.

  The RFID controller 1 includes a reader / writer antenna 2, a reader / writer unit 3, a controller (PLC) 4, a local RFID network 5, an application server 6, and other application software devices (hereinafter referred to as software devices) 7. With. The application server 6 and the software device 7 are examples of peripheral devices. The reader / writer antenna 2 includes an internal antenna 2a, and switches to the external antenna 2b depending on the usage situation. The application server 6 functions as all or a part of an RFID tag ID authentication (station) server, an ONS server (Object Name Server), and an RDBMS (Relational Database Management Software) server. The controller (PLC) 4, the application server 6, and the software device 7 are connected via a local RFID network 5 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The reader / writer unit 3 includes a transmission / reception circuit 8, an ID authentication / decryption circuit 9, and a first CPU circuit 10. The transmission / reception circuit 8 is connected to the reader / writer antenna 2 and performs wireless communication. The ID authentication / decryption circuit 9 compares ID authentication related data included in the RFID issue data of the RFID tag 100 received by the transmission / reception circuit 8 with previously stored authentication data. If the ID authentication data is encrypted, the ciphertext is decrypted. The first CPU circuit 10 controls the operation of each circuit in the reader / writer unit 3. The internal antenna 2 a is built in the RFID controller 1, and the external antenna 2 b is provided outside the RFID controller 1, and is switched to the internal antenna 2 a according to the usage situation and connected to the reader / writer unit 3. The reader / writer unit 3 is connected to a controller (PLC) 4 through a shared bus 49.

  Further, the reader / writer unit 3 includes a first local main memory 40, a first large-capacity memory (such as a hard disk device) 43, and a first CPU local bus 46. The first CPU circuit 10 is connected to the memories 40 and 43 via the first CPU local bus 46. The first local main memory 40 is a storage unit that stores commands and local data handled in the reader / writer unit 3.

  The controller (PLC) 4 includes a PLC function unit 20 and a communication / system / memory unit 21. The PLC function unit 20 includes a PLC execution calculation unit 22, a PID function unit 23, a counter / timer 24, an input / output driver 25, and a second CPU circuit 26. Further, the PLC function unit 20 includes a second local main memory 41, a second large-capacity memory (such as a hard disk device) 44, and a second CPU local bus 47. The second CPU circuit 26 is connected to the memories 41 and 44 via the second CPU local bus 47. The second local main memory 41 is a storage unit that stores local data handled in the PLC function unit 20.

  The communication / system / memory unit 21 includes a multi-bus control unit 27 (hereinafter referred to as a multi-bus control unit 27) including a bus conversion function, a shared memory 28, an Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 29, and a third CPU. Circuit 30. The Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 29 is connected to the local RFID network 5 via the Ethernet (registered trademark) terminal 31, and the Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 29 is connected to the application server 6 and the software via the local RFID network 5. It is connected to the wear device 7 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The application server 6 functions as a database (relational database) of the RFID tag 100 in addition to functioning as an authentication server in which an ID authentication text group that identifies the RFID tag 100 that can be properly communicated is stored.

  The communication / system / memory unit 21 further includes a third local main memory 42, a third large-capacity memory (such as a hard disk device) 45, and a third CPU local bus 48. The third local main memory 42 is a storage unit that stores commands and local data handled in the communication / system / memory unit 21.

  The first CPU circuit 10, the second CPU circuit 26, and the third CPU circuit 30 have a shared bus 49 that enables data sharing and transmission between the CPU circuit 10, the CPU circuit 26, and the CPU circuit 30. Provided. Data transmitted through the shared bus 49 is managed by a multibus control unit 27 provided in the communication / system / memory unit 21.

  In the present embodiment, the shared memory 28 is used together when the third CPU circuit 30 of the communication / system / memory unit 21 requires a cache memory. That is, in the shared memory 28, in addition to a part of the local main memory of each of the CPU circuits 10, 26, and 30, each cache memory unit is a shared memory and a shared address space.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multi-bus control unit 27 and the shared memory 28 are provided in the communication / system / memory unit 21, but this is only one embodiment of the present invention. The multibus control unit 27 and the shared memory 28 may be provided in the reader / writer unit 3 or in the controller (PLC) 4. Furthermore, the multibus control unit 27 and the shared memory 28 may be provided separately without being incorporated in the reader / writer unit 3, the PLC function unit 20, and the communication / communication / system / memory unit 21.

  In the present embodiment, the PLC function unit 20 is provided with the second CPU circuit 26 and the communication / system / memory unit 21 is provided with the third CPU circuit 30. Three CPU circuits 30 may be shared by one CPU circuit.

  Further, in this embodiment, RFID issue data issued by the RFID tag 100 (wireless transmission) and the first large-capacity memory 40 or the first local main memory 9 from the application server 6 or the software device 7 are stored in advance. After comparing and confirming the issued data of the RFID authentication text group, the first RFID data is configured. Further, the PLC function unit 20 receives the second RFID from the RFID single processing data and the decoded data stored in the second large-capacity memory 44 or the second local main memory 41 from the application server 6 or the software device 7 in advance. Data is composed. Further, the RFID system arithmetic processing data received by the controller (PLC) 4 from the application server 6 is processed by the second CPU circuit, and the third RFID data is configured.

  The application server 6 and the software device 7 can read and write the relational database of the RFID controller 1, and the reader / writer unit 3, the PLC function unit 20, and the communication / system / memory unit 21 have first to third RFIDs. Relational database management software that shares, manages, and stores data is implemented. As a result, the RFID controller 1 can simultaneously perform information processing including data search / authentication / cancellation processing by the application server 6 and software device 7 and data reception / transmission processing by the reader / writer unit 3. It becomes.

  Furthermore, the first to third RFID data are data conforming to the Structured Query Language, respectively, and the relational database managing software optimizes the Structured Query Language standard or conformance standard in high speed and in real time. Software (middleware) with integrated functions.

  An outline of the operation of the RFID controller 1 having the above configuration will be described. When the RFID tag 100 and the transmission / reception circuit 8 are connected so as to be capable of wireless communication via the internal antenna 2a or the external antenna 2b, the transmission / reception circuit 8 stores ID authentication confirmation data for specifying the communicable RFID tag 100. The confirmation data is transmitted to the RFID within the detection range. If confirmation = defect is indicated, the communication / system / memory unit 21 instructs the reader / writer unit 3 to stop communication with the defective RFID tag 100. Upon receiving the communication stop instruction, the reader / writer unit 3 (specifically, the first CPU circuit 10) instructs the transmission / reception circuit 8 to stop communication with the RFID tag 100. Upon receiving the communication stop instruction, the transmission / reception circuit 8 stops communication with the RFID tag 100 thereafter.

On the other hand, when the read determination result indicates confirmation = good, the RFID issuance data is received from the RFID tag 100. When the transmission / reception circuit 8 receives the RFID issuance data, the first CPU circuit 10 sends the RFID issuance data to the first large-capacity memory 43 or the first local main memory 40 via the first CPU local bus 46. And the ID authentication / decryption circuit 9 is instructed to decrypt. Upon receiving the decryption instruction, the ID authentication / decryption circuit 9 stores the second large-capacity memory 44 or the second local main memory 41 from the application server 6 or the software device 7 in advance in the memory 43 or the first local main memory 40. The decrypted data of the RFID authentication text group stored in the memory is read out, decrypted, and stored in the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49.
Next, from the application server 6 or the software device 7, the RFID authentication text group stored in the second large-capacity memory 44 or the second local main memory 41 is decrypted and processed by the single processing data from the single processing data and the decrypted data. Digitize and complete removal. The first CPU circuit 10 notifies the PLC function unit 20 of this fact. The decrypted / digitized RFID issuance data is referred to as RFID decrypted data.

  The PLC function unit 20 (specifically, the second CPU circuit 26) notified of the completion of the extraction / storage is the RFID system calculation processing data stored in the application server 6 in the communication / system / memory unit 21. The second CPU transmission request is made. Upon receiving the transmission request, the communication / system / memory unit 21 reads out the processing data of the RFID system from the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49, sends it to the PLC function unit 20, processes it by the second CPU circuit 26, and shares it. At the same time as being stored in the memory 28, it is transmitted from the Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 29 to the application server 6 via the local RFID network 5.

  The processing in the CPU circuit 26 instructs the PLC execution calculation unit 22 and the PID function unit 23 to start processing. Upon receiving the processing start instruction, the PLC execution calculation unit 22, the PID function unit 23, etc. read the RFID decoded data from the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49, and the read RFID decoded data is sent to the second CPU local bus 47. And stored in the second large-capacity memory 44. Furthermore, the PLC execution calculation unit 22, the PID function unit 23, and the like read the RFID decoded data from the second large-capacity memory 44 via the second CPU local bus 47, and add the second local to the read RFID decoded data. Various arithmetic processes related to RFID are performed using the main memory 41. Furthermore, the PLC execution calculation unit 22, the PID function unit 23, and the like store the second RFID data obtained by the data processing in the second large-capacity memory 44 via the second CPU local bus 47, The second CPU circuit 26 is notified of the completion of processing. The second CPU circuit 26 notified of the completion of processing reads the second RFID data from the second large-capacity memory 44 via the second CPU local bus 47 and then reads the second RFID data. Is temporarily stored in the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49. The second CPU circuit 26 that has completed the storage of the second RFID data notifies the reader / writer unit 3 and the communication / system / memory unit 21 of the completion of the storage of the second RFID data.

  At this time, the communication / system / memory unit 21 (specifically, the third CPU circuit 30) reads the RFID decoded data from the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49, and then reads the read RFID decoded data. The data is supplied from the Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 29 to the software device 7 or the like via the local RFID network 5. The software device 7 or the like that has received the RFID decrypted data performs various data processing (including various data processing related to the relational database) on the RFID decrypted data, and the third RFID data obtained by the processing is sent to the local RFID network 5. To the communication / system / memory unit 21 via The communication / system / memory unit 21 temporarily stores the received third RFID data in the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49, and communicates with the reader / writer unit 3 that the third RFID data has been stored. Informs the memory unit 21.

  The communication / system / memory unit 21 (specifically, the third CPU circuit 30) notified of the completion of storage of the second and third RFID data, stores the second and third stored in the shared memory 28. The RFID data is read via the shared bus 49, and the read second and third RFID data are transferred to the Ethernet (registered trademark) using the third large-capacity memory 45 and the third local main memory 42. The data is transmitted from the driver 29 to the application server 6 via the local RFID network 5. The application server 6 performs a process of writing the received second and third RFID data into the database of the managed RFID tag 100.

  On the other hand, the reader / writer unit 3 (specifically, the first CPU circuit 10) notified of the completion of the storage of the second and third RFID data, stores the second and third stored in the shared memory 28. After reading the RFID data via the shared bus 49, the data required for the RFID tag 100 (hereinafter referred to as write tag data) is read from the read second and third RFID data through the first CPU local bus 46. Through the first large-capacity memory 43. The transmission / reception circuit 8 reads out the write tag data from the first large-capacity memory 43 and transmits the read write tag data to the RFID tag 100 using the first local main memory 40. To write to the memory. The write tag data is composed of all or part of the second and third RFID data.

  In the RFID controller 1 according to the present embodiment that performs the above processing, not only data transferred between the reader / writer unit 3, the PLC function unit 20, and the communication / system / memory unit 21, but also various processing commands (commands) and control. Data related to (management) (control data) is once stored in the shared memory 28 via the shared bus 49, and the shared bus 49 is connected to the reader / writer unit 3, the PLC function unit 20, and the communication / system / memory unit 21. Are mutually supplied. Therefore, in the RFID controller 1, data, command (instruction) execution, and control (management) data of each CPU circuit 10, 26, 30 generated in accordance with the execution of the command (instruction) are transferred to a conventional reader / writer device. It is possible to input / output between each CPU circuit 10, 26, 30 and each circuit element much faster than the configuration in which the controller devices are connected by serial communication, and the processing speed is high. As a result, the memory capacity can be reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a modification of the present embodiment, and includes first to third USB drives 50, 52, and 53. The first USB drive 50 is a communication driver that exchanges data with peripheral devices in accordance with the Universal Serial Bus communication standard via the USB internal bus 51. Data acquired from the outside by the reader / writer unit 3 through this communication is stored in the first local main memory 40. The second USB drive 52 is a communication driver that exchanges data with peripheral devices through the USB internal bus 51 in accordance with the Universal Serial Bus communication standard. Data acquired by the PLC function unit 20 from the outside by this communication is stored in the second local main memory 41. The third USB drive 53 is a communication driver that exchanges data with peripheral devices via the USB internal bus 51 in accordance with the Universal Serial Bus communication standard. Data acquired from the outside by the communication / system / memory unit 21 by this communication is stored in the third local main memory 42. These first to third USB drives 50, 52, 53 can be operated independently of the first to third CPU circuits 10, 26, 30 (however, their operations are limited). -Go) function enables data transfer and processing between connection circuit and terminal. In this embodiment, the first to third USB drives 50, 52, and 53 and the USB internal bus 51 are provided to transmit and receive data according to the Universal Serial Bus communication standard. The same effect can be obtained even if data is transmitted / received by providing a drive and a bus of the communication standard.

  Hereinafter, the description will return to the embodiment. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are processing flows of the above processing group by the RFID controller 1. These flows are the above processing group in the case of simultaneously starting communication with a plurality of RFID tags 100 in the RFID controller 1 capable of simultaneously performing the processing of 9 channels (the UHF band high-power passive tag Japanese regulations). FIG. 5A is a processing flow when the above-described processing group is implemented in the conventional configuration, and FIG. 5B is a processing flow when the above-described processing group is implemented in the configuration of the present embodiment. .

  First, with reference to FIG. 5A, a processing procedure in the case where the above processing group is performed with a conventional configuration will be described. That is, when one or more RFID tags 100 appear in the wireless detection range of the reader / writer antenna 2 (step S401), the first CPU circuit 10 detects this via the reader / writer unit 3. Then, the first CPU circuit 10 performs tag detection notification to the second CPU circuit 26 of the PLC function unit 20. Receiving the tag detection notification, the second CPU circuit 26 issues a communication start instruction to the first CPU circuit 10. Receiving the communication start instruction, the first CPU circuit 10 wirelessly transmits a communication start command from the reader / writer antenna 2 to each RFID tag 100 via the reader / writer unit 3 (step S402). Upon receiving this communication start command wirelessly, the RFID tag 100 wirelessly transmits RFID issue data to the reader / writer antenna 2. The reader / writer unit 3 has the capability of simultaneously receiving nine channels, and receives and recognizes up to nine arrival order RFID issue data transmitted wirelessly from the RFID tag 100 from the reader / writer antenna 2 (step S403). ). This recognition processing is based on RFID authentication text group confirmation data stored in advance in the first large-capacity memory 40 or the first local main memory 9 from the application server 6 or the software device 7. When the RFID issue data recognition by the reader / writer unit 3 is completed, the first CPU circuit 10 inquires of the second CPU circuit 26 of the PLC function unit 20 whether or not the PLC function unit 20 is busy (step S404). . The first CPU circuit 10 waits until it receives a reply from the second CPU circuit 26 that it is not busy. If the second CPU circuit 26 obtains a reply that the busy state is not obtained, the first CPU circuit 10 decodes the received RFID issued data of up to nine and then sends the RFID decoded data to the PLC function unit 20. (Step S405). Specifically, the transmission process is to store the RFID decoded data in the shared memory 28 so that the data processing by the PLC function unit 20 or the like is possible. The PLC function unit 20 reads the RFID decoded data from the shared memory 28 and causes the PLC execution calculation unit 22 and the PID function unit 23 to process the read RFID decoded data. On the other hand, the communication / system / memory unit 21 reads the RFID decoded data from the shared memory 28 and then transmits the read RFID decoded data to the software device 7 via the local RFID network 5.

  The communication / system / memory unit 21 transmits the second and third RFID data obtained by the above data processing to the application server 6 via the local RFID network 5 and writes the data to the database in the server 6. The reader / writer unit 3 extracts write tag data (data necessary for the RFID tag 100) from the second and third RFID data, and wirelessly transmits the extracted write tag data to the RFID tag 100. To write to the RFID tag 100 memory. All or part of the second and third RFID data is written to the RFID tag 100 (step S406).

  When the above processing is completed, the reader / writer unit 3 determines whether transmission / reception of all RFID tags 100 detected in the detection range of the reader / writer antenna 2 has been completed (step S407). If it is determined in step S407 that reception of all RFID tags 100 has not been completed, the reader / writer unit 3 returns to step S402 and continues processing. When determining in step S407 that reception of all RFID tags 100 has been completed, the PLC function unit 20 determines whether there is unprocessed RFID decoded data in the PLC function unit 20 (step S407). S408). If it is determined in step S408 that the processing of all RFID tags 100 has not been completed, the PLC function unit 20 returns to step S401 and continues the processing. If it is determined in step S408 that the processing of all RFID tags 100 has been completed, the PLC function unit 20 determines whether the processing operation of the RFID tag 100 has been completed (step S409). If it is determined in step S409 that the processing operation of the RFID tag 100 has not ended, the PLC function unit 20 returns to step S401 and continues the processing. If it is determined in step S409 that the processing operation of the RFID tag 100 has been completed, the RFID controller 1 ends all the processes.

  Next, a processing procedure in the RFID controller according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5B. Note that the flow of FIG. 5B is basically the same as that of FIG. 5A in RFID units, and the same step numbers are assigned to the same or similar steps. In the flow of the present embodiment, in place of steps S403 to S406 in the configuration in which the conventional reader / writer device and the controller device are connected by serial communication, multiprocessing in which a shared bus, a shared memory, and a PLC function are integrated. The system is integrated into step S410, and is similarly integrated into step S411 instead of steps S407 to S409.

  In the present embodiment, the processes of steps S403 to S406 in the related art are performed by the first local main memory 40, the first large-capacity memory 40, and the transmission / reception circuit unit 8 connected to the second CPU local bus 46. The ID authentication / decryption unit is connected to the shared bus 49 via the bus conversion circuit to share data in the shared memory, and the application server and software device can also access the shared memory via the RFID internal network 6 or the Internet line 54. Thus, it is possible to perform simultaneous / parallel processing as compared with the configuration of FIG. 5A, and the processing speed is remarkably increased. Further, the processing (conditional branch processing) of steps S407 to S409 is similarly performed in step S411. Has been. As a result, the RFID controller 1 can greatly reduce the various data processing times of the RFID system.

  In the RFID controller 1 of this embodiment, continuous / random / real-time read / write processing for a plurality of RFID tags 100 can be performed in the processing time required for a single RFID tag 100 in the reader / writer unit 3. At the same time, it is possible to perform fraud / collision detection processing and relational database creation processing. This makes it possible to further speed up the system processing.

  FIG. 6A shows the SQL (Structured Query Language / ISO, JIS) standard used in relational database managing software implemented in the reader / writer unit 3, the PLC function unit 20, and the communication / system / memory unit 21. It is an example of an instruction word of a compliant standard. In FIG. 6A, (1) is a data definition related instruction word, (2) is a data operation related instruction word, (3) is a data control related instruction word, and (4) is another instruction word. Is a database management term programmed with. FIG. 6B is an example of Programmable Logic RFIF controller command used in the present embodiment. In FIG. 6 (b), (5) is an SQL prefetch and data control related command, (6) is a PLC basic logic control / execution & data manipulation related command, and (7) is a PLC application logic related command. (8) is a branch control related instruction word.

  In this embodiment, the SQL standard instruction word is expressed by the Programmable Logic RFIF controller instruction word, and then the SQL prefetch and the data control related instruction word are added to the SQL standard instruction word expressed by the Programmable Logic RFIF controller instruction word. (5), PLC basic logic control / execution & data manipulation related instruction word (6), PLC application logic related instruction word (7), and branch control related instruction word (8) are added. The added instruction words (5) to (8) are not independent instruction words, but the SQL instruction word (1) so that FIG. 6 (a) and FIG. 6 (b) are connected by a dotted line. It is an instruction word that is executed in correlation with ~ (4). In this way, in this embodiment, software (relational database managing software) to which a function (matching function) that incorporates and matches a part of the PLC function to optimize high-speed real-time processing is added. In addition, with this software, data and commands are shared between the PLC function and the matching function, and parallel processing of both functions is realized. As a result, the communication time and the processing time for both functions can be shortened.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for comparing the configuration of the embodiment of the RFID controller of the present invention with the conventional configuration. In FIG. 7, the same or similar parts as those in FIG. The application server 6 shown in FIG. 1 includes an edge server (front-end server) 60, an ONS server 61, and an ID authentication (station) server 62, which are external servers. An internet line 54 is connected. Furthermore, a client device 55 is connected to the local RFID network 5 and the Internet line 54.

  As a result, the PLC function unit 20 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 is connected to the client device 55 via the communication / system / memory unit 21 and the local RFID network 5 so that they can communicate with each other. Furthermore, the PLC function unit 20 is connected to the client device 55 via the local RFID network 5, the application server 6, and the Internet line 54 so as to be capable of mutual communication sharing an address space. Similarly, the application server 6 is connected to the client device 55 via the Internet line 54 so as to be capable of mutual communication sharing an address space.

  Therefore, the PLC function unit 20 and the application server 6 can supply various shared data constituting the first to third RFID data to the client device 55 via the local RFID network 5, and the application server 6. Can supply the various data to the client device 55 via the Internet line 54.

1 RFID controller 2 Reader / writer antenna 2a Internal antenna 2b External antenna 3 Reader / writer 4 Controller (PLC)
5 Local RFID Network 6 Application Server 7 Software Device 8 Transmission / Reception Circuit 9 ID Authentication / Decryption Circuit 10 First CPU Circuit 20 PLC Function Unit 21 Communication / System / Memory Unit 22 PLC Execution Operation Unit 23 PID Function Unit 24 Counter / Timer 25 Input / output driver 26 Second CPU circuit 27 Multibus control unit 28 Shared memory 29 Ethernet (registered trademark) driver 30 Third CPU circuit 40 First local main memory 41 Second local main memory 42 Third Local main memory 43 First large capacity memory 44 Second large capacity memory 45 Third large capacity memory 46 First CPU local bus 47 Second CPU local bus 48 Third CPU local bus 49 Shared bus 50 First 1 USB drive 51 USB internal bus 52 2nd USB drive 53 3rd USB drive 4 internet 55 client terminal equipment 60 edge server 61 ONS server 62 ID authentication station server 100 RFID tags

Claims (6)

A reader / writer unit that receives a wireless transmission signal from the RFID tag and transmits a write signal to the RFID tag; and at least one of logic processing, arithmetic processing, PID processing, and input / output processing for the wireless transmission signal and the writing signal Integrated a programmable logic controller unit that executes one by a multi-processing system in which at least a part of the main memory and cache memory of the CPU is a shared memory.
It is characterized by
Programmable / logic & RFID controller. The first RFID data is wirelessly received from the RFID tag, the initial data included in the first RFID data is confirmed, and the second and third RFID data generated based on the first RFID data are confirmed. A reader / writer unit for wirelessly transmitting and writing necessary data to the RFID tag,
A peripheral device connected via serial communication or a network, and a communication / system / memory unit for controlling data transmission / data management / data storage of the first to third RFID data;
PLC function unit that performs system control based on programs created with various logic instructions;
Each of the reader / writer unit, the communication / system / memory unit, and the PLC function unit can be concurrently accessed via a shared bus, and
With
The PLC function unit performs data processing on the first RFID data that the reader / writer unit receives from the RFID tag via wireless communication to form the second RFID data. The third RFID data is generated by the peripheral device by storing the data as shared data in the shared memory via the shared bus and processing the communication / system / memory unit and the peripheral device. Then, the third RFID data is received from the peripheral device, and the received third RFID data is stored in the shared memory as shared data via the shared bus,
The communications / system / memory unit, a control relating to the data transmission / data management / data storage, the execution by the CPU circuit or separate CPU circuit PLC function unit has.
It is characterized by
Programmable / logic & RFID controller. The shared memory is a main memory or cache memory of the CPU circuit of the PLC function unit or the independent CPU circuit as a shared address space,
The reader / writer unit, the PLC function unit, and the communication / system / memory unit are mounted with relational database managing software (RDBMS) for sharing, managing, storing, and erasing the first to third RFID data. Data search, authentication, processing, cancellation, etc. can be performed in parallel.
It is characterized by
The programmable / logic & RFID controller according to claim 2. Software (middleware) optimized for high-speed real-time processing by combining SQL (Structured Query Language) standard or compliant standard software with PLC function software is implemented as the relational database managing software. The
It is characterized by
The programmable / logic & RFID controller according to claim 3. Management of supplying and storing at least one of the first to third RFID data by a function of a client device / device connected to the communication / system / memory unit via a local network or a wide area network A software function that implements a relational database server function to perform and a search server function to perform ID management of the RFID tag is implemented in the reader / writer unit, the PLC function unit, and the communication / system / memory unit.
It is characterized by
The programmable / logic & RFID controller according to claim 2. Each of the reader / writer unit, the communication / system / memory unit, and the PLC function unit includes a CPU circuit that constitutes multiprocessing with each other, and in addition to the local bus and the shared bus that the CPU circuit has, a USB It is a dual shared bus with another shared bus that uses the standard or IEEE1394 standard as an internal bus.
It is characterized by
The programmable / logic & RFID controller according to claim 2.

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