JPH05273338A - Traveling object identifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make communication for specifying a responder so that the occurrence of an error can be easily discriminated by performing communication with an ID code until a communication sequence is completed between an interrogator when the responder enters a communicable area. CONSTITUTION:When a responder 10 enters the effective area of radio waves from an interrogator 20 and receives an actuation command from the interrogator 20, the responder 10 responds to the interrogator 20 by sending its own ID code stored in a RAM 14. Upon receiving the response, the interrogator 20 stores the ID code in a RAM 24 and, thereafter, transmits an execution command with the ID code to the responder 10. When the responder 10 corresponding to the ID code processes the execution command, the responder 10 sends the processed result to the interrogator 20 as an answer. Thus one-to-one communication can be performed with a specific responder 10 until a communication sequence is completed. Therefore, since the occurrence of a phase shift can be avoided between the interrogator 20 and responder 10, this traveling object identifying device can be effectively used in a state where the effective extent of radio waves changes due to the surrounding environment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving body identifying apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a moving body identifying apparatus is provided with an interrogator arranged at a fixed position and a responder attached to a moving body or the like.
It is an effective device for managing information such as specifications of individual products, processing and inspection in the process of paying out. The mobile body identification device is used for transportation, physical distribution, etc. in addition to the production line, and is also called a data carrier system.

The transponder of this type of moving body identifying apparatus is also called a data carrier, and usually has a hermetically sealed structure in which an antenna, a transmitting / receiving section and the like are built in, and is attached to a moving body.

Communication between the responder and the interrogator is performed as follows.

A transponder that has entered the effective radio range of the interrogator is
When the activation command is received from the interrogator, it responds to this and sends an activation response back to the interrogator. This activation response may include data. Therefore, this causes the interrogator to read the data from the transponder. Next, the interrogator receives the activation response and knows that the responder exists within the effective radio wave range. Then, an execution command for reading or writing data is transmitted to the responder. The transponder that has received the execution command executes the process corresponding to the execution command and sends back the result response including the processing result to the interrogator. When the interrogator receives the result response, the interrogator knows the end of execution by this, and sends an end command to the responder to notify the responder of the end of the communication sequence.

It is also possible to specify a specific transponder for communication. In this case, the interrogator knows the presence of the transponder to be accessed by adding the ID code of the transponder that wants to access the activation command and transmitting it, and receiving the activation response.

Also in this latter case, no special means has been taken for recognizing and distinguishing the transponders after the start response.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional communication system, when a plurality of responders 40 exist within the effective radio wave range 42 of the interrogator 41 as shown in FIG. 6, the following inconvenience occurs. obtain.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, in response to the activation command from the interrogator 41, activation responses are returned from all the responders 40 of A, B and C. Is weak, it may not reach the interrogator 41. Next, the interrogator 41 receives the activation response from A and transmits the execution command, but since the responders A, B, and C are moving during this time, the execution response from any of the responders A, B, and C. Is not known to be returned. That is, for example, A
The execution response of the execution command may be returned from B.

As described above, in the conventional moving body identifying apparatus,
If multiple transponders exist in the effective radio range of one interrogator, commands and responses cannot be sent / received by specifying the transponders during one communication sequence, and processing is performed even if an error occurs. It cannot be given.

Therefore, the present invention provides a mobile body identifying apparatus which can identify a responder and communicate during a communication sequence to easily determine an error occurrence.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile body identification device comprising a transponder and an interrogator which communicates with the transponder via a non-contact transmission medium, the transponder being an own device. And a means for storing an ID code for distinguishing the other from each other, and a means for entering a communicable area of the interrogator and receiving a start command from the interrogator, and then adding the ID code and returning a response. , ID the interrogator returned from the responder
After receiving the activation response with the code added, ID
Provided is a mobile body identification device including means for adding a code and transmitting a command.

[0013]

When the transponder enters the effective radio wave range of the interrogator and receives the activation command from the interrogator, the stored ID command is added and the response is transmitted. After receiving this response, the interrogator adds the ID code added to the response to the command and transmits it. As a result, the transponder can be specified to send and receive commands and responses, and appropriate processing can be performed when an error occurs.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of a communication sequence on the interrogator side of an embodiment of the moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an example of a communication sequence on the responder side corresponding to FIG. It is a flowchart figure shown. Further, FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a responder and an interrogator of an embodiment of the moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication sequence.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transponder 10 includes an antenna 11, a transceiver 12, and a ROM (read only memory) 1.
3, RAM (random access memory) 14, power supply 1
5 and a CPU 16, the antenna 11 is connected to the CPU 16 via a transmitter / receiver 12, and a ROM
13, the RAM 14, the power supply 15, and the CPU 16 are connected to each other. ID for the transponder to distinguish itself from others
The means for storing the code corresponds to the RAM 14.

The transceiver 12 is connected to the CPU 16. The transceiver 12 has a function of demodulating the modulated microwave received from the interrogator 20 received via the antenna 11 and digitally modulating the non-modulated wave received from the interrogator 20 according to the data to be transmitted. Have.

The CPU 16 also includes a ROM 13 and an R
AM14 is connected. ROM 13 generally contains
A system program for controlling the operation of the transponder 10 is stored, and the RAM 14 stores data such as an ID code for distinguishing itself from the other.

As the antenna 11, for example, a rectangular patch antenna that also serves as a transmitter and a receiver is used.

The interrogator 20 includes an antenna 21 and a transceiver 2.
2, the ROM 23, the RAM 24, the power supply 25, the I / O interface 26, and the CPU 27. The antenna 21 is connected to the CPU 27 via the transceiver 22, and the ROM 23, the RAM 24, the power supply 25, and the I / O interface 26. , And the CPU 27 are connected to each other.

The transmitter / receiver 22 has a function of transmitting various commands through the antenna 21 and then transmitting unmodulated microwave to read a response and data from the responder 10. That is, the modulated wave including the response and data returned from the responder 10 is received and demodulated. Further, the transmitter / receiver 22 has a function of modulating the microwave according to the information transmitted to the responder 10. The antenna 21 is usually
An array antenna in which a plurality of square patch antennas are arranged is used for improving directivity and supporting long-distance communication.

The interrogator 20 is an I / O interface 2
A data processing terminal 30 such as a personal computer or a programmable controller is connected via 6.

A system program for controlling the operation of the interrogator 20 is stored in the ROM 24, and data and the like are stored in the R
It is stored in AM25. The ID code added to the activation response sequence from the transponder 10 is stored in the RAM 25.

As shown in FIG. 4, a series of communication sequences between the responder 10 and the interrogator 20 include a start command, a start response, an execution command, a result response, and an end command. The ID code of the responder is added to the communication packet.

Information is exchanged between the transponder 10 and the interrogator 20 by the execution command, and writing of data to the transponder and reading of data from the transponder are executed.
These data may be processed by the data processing terminal 30.

Next, a flow of an example of a communication sequence between the responder and the interrogator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interrogator transmits an activation command to the responder which is normally in the standby state (step S10). Next, it is determined whether an activation response with an ID code is received from the transponder (step S1
1) If the result is negative, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timeout has occurred) to repeat step S11 until the activation response is received (step S).
12). If there is no responder within the effective radio range of the interrogator, the predetermined time has elapsed, so the process returns to step S10.

When the activation response is received in step S11, the added ID code is stored in the RAM (step S13). And ID towards the responder
The coded execution command is transmitted (step S14).
The content of this execution command is writing or reading of various data, although it depends on the application program and the system program.

When the execution command is processed by the responder corresponding to the ID code, the result response is transmitted from the responder. Therefore, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the response has been received as a result. Step S15
If the answer to is negative, step S15 is repeated until the result response is received. However, the result response is not always received, and it may be determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timed out), and if the predetermined time has elapsed, error processing may be performed.

If the answer to step S15 is affirmative, then the ID code is the ID stored in step S13.
It is determined whether or not the code matches (step S1
6). If the ID codes do not match, step S1
Returning to step 5, if they match, processing of the data transmitted according to the execution command is executed (step S1).
7). At this time, if the ID codes do not match, a predetermined error process may be performed.

Finally, an end command with an ID code is transmitted to the transponder to end the series of communication sequences (step S18).

On the other hand, the responder in the standby state determines whether or not the activation command is received from the interrogator, as shown in FIG. 2 (step S20). If the responder is within the effective radio range of the interrogator, the responder receives the activation command. Therefore, the waiting state is released, the ID code is read from the RAM, and the activation response with the ID code is transmitted to the interrogator (step S21). . Next, it is determined whether or not the execution command with the ID code is received from the interrogator (step S2
2) If not received, step S2 until received
Repeat 2. However, the execution command is not always received, and it may be determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (timed out), and if the predetermined time has elapsed, error processing may be performed.

If the answer to step S22 is affirmative, that is, if the execution command with ID code is received from the interrogator, whether the ID code of the received execution command with ID code matches the ID code stored in RAM. It is determined whether or not (step S23). If the ID codes do not match, the process returns to step S22, and if they match, the process according to the execution command is executed (step S22).
24). Next, a result response with an ID code indicating that the processing of the execution command is completed is transmitted to the transponder (step S25), and it is determined whether or not the end command with an ID code issued from the transponder that has received the response is received. It is determined (step S26). If the reception is not completed, step S26 is repeated until the reception. However,
The end command is not always received, and it may be determined whether a predetermined time has passed (timed out), and if the predetermined time has passed, error processing may be performed.

If the answer to step S26 is affirmative, that is, if the end command with ID code is received from the interrogator, whether the ID code of the received end command with ID code matches the ID code stored in the RAM. It is determined whether or not (step S27). If the ID codes do not match, the process returns to step S26, and if they match, the series of communication sequences ends. If the ID codes do not match, a predetermined error process may be performed.

After the transponder enters the communicable area of the interrogator and receives the activation command from the interrogator, the means for adding the ID code and returning the response is step S21.
From step S13 to step S18, the means for adding the ID code and transmitting the command after the interrogator receives the activation response added with the ID code returned from the responder corresponds to the step S13. It corresponds.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the communication is executed with the ID code added until the sequence of operations such as the start command, the start response, the execution command, the result response, and the end command is completed. Therefore, it is possible to specify the transponder and realize the one-to-one communication. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the phases of the interrogator side and the responder side are deviated, and the mobile body identification device according to the above-described embodiment is effective for the purpose of changing the effective range of the radio wave depending on the surrounding environment.

In the above embodiments, the microwave system is used as the transmission medium system, but the transmission medium system is not limited to this, and an electromagnetic coupling system, an electromagnetic induction system, an optical communication system or the like may be used.

Next, an embodiment will be described in which the moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a system for collecting toll road charges by a host pay system.

FIG. 5 is a route diagram for explaining toll road charge collection to which the moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention is applied. In FIG. 5, a route A50 (entrance IC51 → A transit point 52 → exit IC53) and route B are routes from the entrance IC (interchange) 51 to the exit IC53.
54 (entrance IC51 → B waypoint 55 → exit IC53)
There are two ways.

As shown in Table 1, the data stored in the RAM of the transponder provided in the vehicle using the toll road is the unique data (ID code, expiration date) registered when the transponder issues a ticket, as shown in Table 1. They are entrance data (interchange code, vehicle type code) registered at the entrance IC, transit data (transit point data) registered at the transit point, and exit data (interchange code, vehicle type, usage amount) registered at the exit IC. Table 1 is an example of processing at the exit IC of the vehicle that has passed the route B54.

As described above, the interrogator repeatedly transmits the activation command in order to detect that the transponder attached to the vehicle entering at an arbitrary timing exists in the effective radio wave range. The transponder that has received the activation command knows that it is within the effective radio wave range, analyzes the activation command, and determines that it is the exit IC process. The ID code: 123456, the unique data, the expiration date: December 20, 1995, the interchange code: A111, which is the entrance data, the vehicle type: 01 (meaning a normal car), and the waypoint code, which is the transit data: A total of 11 bytes of C222 data is returned as an activation response.

[0042]

[Table 1]

Next, the interrogator that has received the activation response consisting of the unique data, the entrance data, and the transit data has expired (December 20, 1995) and has an ID code (1234).
56), the interchange amount of the entrance IC: A111, the transit point: C222, and the vehicle type: 01 are used to calculate the usage amount to 2000 yen. And
Interchange code, which is the exit data: D444,
The vehicle type: 01, the usage amount: 2000, and the ID code: 123456 read in the activation response are transmitted to the transponder as an execution command. Upon receiving the execution command, the responder collates the received ID code with the ID code registered in the RAM, and if they match, registers the exit data (interchange code, vehicle type, usage amount) in the RAM and I
Returns the result response with the D code. The interrogator that received the result response collates the ID code of the activation response with the ID code of the result response, and if they match, I
An end command with a D code is sent to the transponder to end the operation.

At this time, if the ID code of the start response and the ID code of the result response are different, the interrogator determines that another vehicle has entered the effective radio range, and performs processing such as closing the gate. , Prevents vehicles from passing through gates with incomplete operation.

[0045]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the transponder stores the ID code for distinguishing itself from the other, and the interrogator enters the communicable area and is activated by the interrogator. After the command is received, the ID code is added and a response is sent back. After the interrogator receives the activation response with the ID code returned from the responder, the ID code is added. Since a means for transmitting a command is provided, communication is executed with an ID code added until a series of operations such as a start command, a start response, an execution command, a result response, and an end command are completed. Specify 1
One-to-one communication can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to solve the problem that the phases of the interrogator side and the responder side are deviated, and the mobile body identification device according to the present invention is effective in the application in which the effective range of the radio wave changes depending on the surrounding environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram showing an example of a communication sequence on an interrogator side of an embodiment of a mobile body identification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram showing an example of a communication sequence on the responder side of the embodiment of the mobile unit identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a moving body identifying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a communication sequence of the mobile unit identification device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment in which the mobile body identification device according to the present invention is applied to a toll road.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a plurality of transponders exist within an effective radio wave range of an interrogator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Responder 11, 21 Antenna 12, 22 Transceiver 13, 23 ROM 14, 24 RAM 15, 25 Power Supply 16, 27 CPU 20 Interrogator 26 I / O Interface 30 Data Processing Terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mobile unit identification device comprising a transponder and an interrogator that communicates with the transponder via a non-contact transmission medium, wherein the transponder has an ID for distinguishing itself from the other. After storing the code and entering the communicable area of the interrogator and receiving the activation command from the interrogator, the I
Means for returning a response with a D code added, wherein the interrogator returns the I response from the responder.
A mobile body identifying device comprising means for transmitting a command by adding the ID code after receiving the activation response to which the D code is added.