Memory product controller, memory product control method, and memory product

• US 7,340,559 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamada, Isamu, Ito, Hidenobu, Yano, Katsutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Peugh; Brian R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bertram; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/256,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060280007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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

Abstract

To provide a memory product controller, a memory product control method, and a memory product storing a computer program, capable of realizing a multi-function memory product, without increasing the cost, by grouping a plurality of memory products. In a memory product controller, information identifying a memory product and an operating condition of the memory product are stored in association with information identifying a group, and when reading/writing is performed on one memory product belonging to a predetermined group by a reader/writer for a memory product, reference is made to an operating condition storage unit, and when other memory products having the similar operating condition are present in the same group, instruction information to perform reading or writing on one or a plurality of other memory products belonging to the same group and having the similar operating condition is transmitted to the reader/writer.

Claims

1. A memory product controller, which groups a plurality of non-contact type memory products and controls operations of the memory products to realize a predetermined function, comprising:

a group registration unit for storing information identifying a memory product in association with information identifying a group;

an operating condition storage unit for storing the information identifying a memory product, an operating condition of the memory product, and information indicating to perform either reading or writing on the memory product when the controller determines that the memory product is on the operating condition, in association with the information identifying a group;

a reader/writer for a memory product;

means for referring to the operating condition storage unit, when reading/writing is performed on one memory product belonging to a predetermined group by the reader/writer, by using the information identifying said one memory product on which reading/writing was performed as key information, and determining whether or not other memory products having the similar operating condition is present in the same group; and

means for transmitting instruction information to perform reading or writing on one or a plurality of other memory products belonging to the same group and having the similar operating condition to the reader/writer when said means determines that other memory products having the similar operating condition are present.

2. The memory product controller of claim 1, wherein

a plurality of sets of memory products, as one set consisting of two or more memory products having the similar function, are grouped, and the memory product controller comprises:

means for transmitting a predetermined signal to memory products through the reader/writer;

determining means for determining whether or not there is a response to the transmitted signal from each memory product; and

means for transmitting to the reader/writer instruction information to perform reading or writing on other memory products belonging to the same set as one memory product determined to be non-responsive by the determining means.

3. The memory product controller of claim 2, comprising

means for stopping transmission of instruction information to perform reading or writing on memory products determined to be non-responsive by the determining means.

4. A memory product controller, which groups a plurality of non-contact type memory products and controls operations of the memory products to realize a predetermined function, comprising:

a group registration unit for storing information identifying a memory product in association with information identifying a group;

an operating condition storage unit for storing the information identifying a memory product, an operating condition of the memory product, and information indicating to perform either reading or writing on the memory product when the controller determines that the memory product is on the operating condition, in association with the information identifying a group;

a reader/writer for a memory product; and

a processor capable of performing the operations of;

referring to the operating condition storage unit, if reading/writing is performed on one memory product belonging to a predetermined group by the reader/writer, by using the information identifying said one memory product on which reading/writing is performed as key information, and determining whether or not other memory products having the similar operating condition are present in the same group; and

transmitting instruction information to perform reading or writing on one or a plurality of other memory products belonging to the same group and having the similar operating condition to the reader/writer when a determination is made that other memory products having the similar operating condition are present in the same group.

5. The memory product controller of claim 4, wherein

a plurality of sets of memory products, as one set consisting of two or more memory products having the similar function, are grouped, and

the processor is further capable of performing the operations of

transmitting a predetermined signal to memory products through the reader/writer;

determining whether or not there is a response to the transmitted signal from each memory product; and

transmitting to the reader/writer instruction information to perform reading or writing on other memory products belonging to the same set as one memory product determined to be non-responsive.

6. The memory product controller of claim 5, wherein

the processor is further capable of performing the operations of stopping transmission of instruction information to perform reading or writing on a memory product determined to be non-responsive.

7. A memory product control method using a computer which groups a plurality of non-contact type memory products and controls operations of the memory products to realize a predetermined function, comprising the steps of:

storing information identifying a memory product in association with information identifying a group;

storing the information identifying a memory product, an operating condition of the memory product, and information indicating to perform either reading or writing on the memory product when the memory product is determined that it is on the operating condition, in association with the information identifying a group;

determining whether or not other memory products having the similar operating condition is stored in the same group, when reading/writing is performed on one memory product belonging to a predetermined group by a reader/writer for a memory product, by using the information identifying said one memory product on which reading/writing is performed as key information; and

transmitting instruction information to perform reading or writing on one or a plurality of other memory products belonging to the same group and having the similar operating condition to the reader/writer, when a determination is made that other memory products having the similar operating condition are stored in the same group.

8. The memory product control method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

grouping a plurality of sets of memory products, as one set consisting of two or more memory products having the similar function;

transmitting a predetermined signal to memory products through the reader/writer;

determining whether or not there is a response to the transmitted signal from each memory product; and

transmitting to the reader/writer instruction information to perform reading or writing on other memory products belonging to the same set as one memory product determined to be non-responsive.

9. The memory product control method of claim 8, further comprising the step of stopping transmission of instruction information to perform reading or writing on a memory product determined to be non-responsive.

10. A memory product storing a computer program for a computer,

the computer including:

a group registration unit for storing information identifying a memory product in association with information identifying a group; and

an operating condition storage unit for storing the information identifying a memory product, an operating condition of the memory product, and information indicating to perform either reading or writing on the memory product when the memory product is determined that it is on the operating condition, in association with the information identifying a group, wherein

a plurality of non-contact type memory products are grouped, and operations of the memory products are controlled to realize a predetermined function, and

the computer program comprises the steps of;

causing the computer to refer to the operating condition storage unit, when reading/writing is performed on one memory product belonging to a predetermined group by a reader/writer for a memory product, by using the information identifying said one memory product on which reading/writing was performed as key information and determine whether or not other memory products having the similar operating condition are present in the same group; and

causing the computer to transmit to the reader/writer instruction information to perform reading or writing on one or a plurality of other memory products belonging to the same group and having the similar operating condition, when a determination is made that other memory products having the similar operating condition are present in the same group.

11. The memory product of claim 10, wherein the computer program comprises the steps of:

causing the computer to group and store a plurality of sets of memory products, as one set consisting of two or more memory products having the similar function;

causing the computer to transmit a predetermined signal to memory products through the reader/writer;

causing the computer to determine whether or not there is a response to the transmitted signal from each memory product; and

causing the computer to transmit to the reader/writer instruction information to perform reading or writing on other memory products belonging to the same set as one memory product determined to be non-responsive.

12. The memory product of claim 11, wherein the computer program further comprises the step of causing the computer to stop transmission of instruction information to perform reading or writing on a memory product determined to be non-responsive.