IC tag module, electronic device, information communication system, and communication control method for an IC tag module

• US 20050280511A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Goto, Akihiro, Yokoyama, Kazuyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/154,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280511A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07769 the further communication means being a galvanic interface, e.g. hybrid or mixed smart cards having a contact and a non-contact interface

Abstract

An IC tag module enables data communication with, and receipt of power from, an external unit through a wireless port and enables the same with an electronic device in which the IC tag module is incorporated through a wired port, which includes a wired communication port and a wired power supply port. The IC tag module further includes a power supply circuit unit for combining power supplied from both the wireless port and the wired power supply port and for supplying the combined power supply to the IC tag module. A data storage circuit unit of the IC tag module stores data received through the communication ports, and a control circuit controls the operation of the module. The power supply circuit detects whether power is supplied first through the wireless port or the wired power supply port. If power is supplied from both ports, the control circuit enables communication with the data storage circuit unit through the port from which power was supplied first, and disables communication through the other port.

Claims

1. An IC tag module, comprising:

a wireless port through which the IC tag module is adapted to send and receive data and to receive power wirelessly;

a wired port including a wired communication port through which the IC tag module is adapted to send and receive data and a wired power supply port through which the IC tag module is adapted to receive power;

a power supply circuit configured to combine power received through the wireless port and the wired power supply port and to supply power to the IC tag module, the power supply circuit being further configured to detect whether power is first supplied through the wireless port or the wired port;

a data storage medium configured to store data received through the wireless port and wired communication port; and

a control circuit configured to control the IC tag module, wherein the control circuit enables communication between the data storage medium and whichever of either the wireless port or the wired port through which power was first supplied, if power is supplied through both the wireless port and the wired port, and disables communication through the other port.

2. An IC tag module as described in claim 1, wherein, when a communication request is asserted by a device through whichever of either the wireless port or the wired port is disabled, the control circuit returns a communication disabled status message to the device.

3. An IC tag module as described in claim 2, wherein, when a communication request is asserted through whichever of either the wireless port or the wired port is disabled, the control circuit detects if the enabled port is being used for data communication, and returns a communication disabled status message if the enabled port is being used for data communication, and switches the enabled/disabled status of both ports if the enabled port is not being used for data communication.

4. An IC tag module as described in claim 1, wherein the control circuit switches the enabled/disabled status of both ports when a command is received from the enabled port for switching communication to the other port.

5. An IC tag module as described in claim 4, wherein the power supply circuit regularly detects from which port power is being supplied, and when a command is received from the enabled port for switching communication to the other port, the control circuit first confirms that power is being supplied from the other port before switching the enabled/disabled status of both ports.

6. An electronic device comprising an IC tag module as described in claim 1, the electronic device further comprising:

a device control circuit configured to send data to and receive data from the IC tag module through the wired communication port; and

a device power supply circuit configured to supply power to the IC tag module through the wired power supply port.

7. An information communication system comprising an IC tag module as described in claim 1, the information communication system further comprising:

an electronic device configured to send data to and receive data from the IC tag module, and to supply power to the IC tag module through the wired port; and

a wireless communication terminal configured to send data to and receive data from the IC tag module, and to supply power to the IC tag module through the wireless port;

wherein the IC tag module stores parameter settings of the electronic device in the data storage medium,

the wireless communication terminal reads and writes the parameter settings in the data storage medium through the wireless port, and

the electronic device reads the parameter settings written in the data storage medium through the wired port, and customizes the electronic device based on the parameter settings or changes the parameter settings.

8. An information communication system as described in claim 7, wherein the electronic device writes at least one of electronic device maintenance information or error log information in the data storage medium through the wired port, and the wireless communication terminal reads and writes at least one of electronic device maintenance information or error log information in the data storage medium through the wireless port.

9. An information communication system as described in claim 7, wherein the data storage medium stores ID information identifying the electronic device.

10. A communication control method for an IC tag module capable of data communication through a wireless port and a wired port, comprising:

switching the enabled/disabled status of each port according to a communication request asserted through the currently enabled port.

11. A communication control method for an IC tag module as described in claim 10, wherein power is supplied to the IC tag module through at least one of the wireless port or the wired port, the communication control method further comprising:

switching the enabled/disabled status of each port according to presence or absence of at least one of the communication request or presence or absence of supply power.