Reading device, computer program product and reading system

• US 20090243809A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Matsui, Kazuki, Sugano, Hiroyasu, Kihara, Hideto
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10217 parameter settings controlling the transmission power of the interrogator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10435 the interrogation device being positioned close to a conveyor belt or the like on which moving record carriers are passing conveying in accordance with bodily destination marks, see B65G47/46, sorting of objects carrying identity markings, see B07C5/34

Abstract

The reader/writer repeatedly reads data, which is stored in an IC tag existing in an area where communication with the reader/writer can be established, from the IC tag in a noncontact method. The reader/writer transmits the read data to the administrative device. The administrative device generates read data which shows the result of reading in chronologic order and generates feature data indicative of the feature of the result of reading on the basis of the generated time series data. An IC tag is sorted as a target tag or an unnecessary tag by sorting the read data as necessary data or unnecessary data on the basis of the generated feature data.

Claims

1. A reading device for repeatedly reading data, which is stored in a recording medium existing in an area where communication with the reading device can be established, in a noncontact method, comprising:

a first generation unit for generating time series data which shows a result of reading in chronologic order;

a second generation unit for generating feature data indicative of a feature of the result of reading based on the time series data generated by the first generation unit; and

a first sorting unit for sorting read data as necessary data or unnecessary data based on the feature data generated by the second generation unit.

2. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a request signal for causing a recording medium to send out data; and

a receiver for receiving data sent out from a recording medium which has received the request signal, wherein

the first generation unit generates time series data, which shows whether data stored in the recording medium has been read or not in chronologic order, for the request signal transmitted from the transmitter, and

the first sorting unit sorts data as necessary data when the data is read continuously a predetermined number of times.

3. The reading device according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit for changing strength of an output level of the request signal.

4. The reading device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an obtaining unit for obtaining identification data, which is included in read data, for identifying a recording medium storing said data;

a storage unit for storing identification data of data which has been sorted as unnecessary data by the first sorting unit;

a determination unit for determining whether identification data obtained by the obtaining unit in reading data is stored in the storage unit or not; and

a second sorting unit for sorting read data as unnecessary data when the determining unit has determined that the identification data is stored in the storage unit.

5. A reading device for repeatedly reading data, which is stored in a recording medium existing in an area where communication with the reading device can be established, in a noncontact method, comprising:

first generation means for generating time series data which shows a result of reading in chronologic order;

second generation means for generating feature data indicative of a feature of the result of reading based on the time series data generated by the first generation means; and

first sorting means for sorting read data as necessary data or unnecessary data based on the feature data generated by the second generation means.

6. The reading device according to claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting a request signal for causing a recording medium to send out data; and

receiving means for receiving data sent out from a recording medium which has received the request signal, wherein

the first generation means generates time series data, which shows whether data stored in the recording medium has been read or not in chronologic order, for the request signal transmitted from the transmitting means, and

the first sorting means sorts data as necessary data when the data is read continuously a predetermined number of times.

7. The reading device according to claim 6, further comprising control means for changing strength of an output level of the request signal.

8. The reading device according to claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining identification data, which is included in read data, for identifying a recording medium storing said data;

storage means for storing identification data of data which has been sorted as unnecessary data by the first sorting means;

determination means for determining whether identification data obtained by the obtaining means in reading data is stored in the storage means or not; and

second sorting means for sorting read data as unnecessary data when the determining means has determined that the identification data is stored in the storage means.

9. A computer program product for causing a computer to repeatedly read data, which is stored in a recording medium existing in an area where communication with the computer can be established, in a noncontact method, comprising:

a first generation step of generating time series data which shows a result of reading in chronologic order;

a second generation step of generating feature data indicative of a feature of the result of reading based on the time series data generated in the first generation step; and

a first sorting step of sorting read data as necessary data or unnecessary data based on the feature data generated in the second generation step.

10. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein

time series data, which shows whether data stored in the recording medium has been received or not in chronologic order, is generated in response to transmission of a request signal for causing the recording medium to send out data, in the first generation step, and

data is sorted as necessary data in the first sorting step when the data is received continuously a predetermined number of times.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, further comprising a control step of changing strength of an output level of the request signal.

12. The computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising:

a storage control step of causing storage means to store identification data for identifying a recording medium storing data which is sorted as unnecessary data in the first sorting step;

a determination step of determining whether identification data for identifying a recording medium storing data is stored in the storing means or not when said data is read; and

a second sorting step of sorting read data as unnecessary data when it is determined in the determination step that the identification data is stored in the storage means.

13. A reading system for repeatedly reading data, which is stored in a recording medium existing in an area where communication with the reading system can be established, in a noncontact method, comprising:

a first generation unit for generating time series data which shows a result of reading in chronologic order;

a second generation unit for generating feature data indicative of a feature of the result of reading based on the time series data generated by the first generation unit; and

a first sorting unit for sorting read data as necessary data or unnecessary data based on the feature data generated by the second generation unit.