Information processing apparatus, method, and program

• US 8,217,758 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Maruo, Osamu, Onoe, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Brian
• Application Number:
  US12/307,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/20 Simultaneous marking of record carrier and printing-out of data, e.g. printing-punch
• 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

In an information processing apparatus in which a sheet having an RFID tag is transported, the transport speed is changed or the sheet is stopped to enable data to be communicated to or from the RFID tag without the need for setting a fixed speed in advance. Common communication standards are identified between the RFID tag and an RFID reader/writer, and common communication speeds are identified. Among the common communication speeds, the maximum common communication speed is identified. Based on the size of the data that needs to be communicated and the maximum common communication speed, a read/write required time is calculated. Based on the access range of the RFID reader/writer and the read/write required time, the maximum transport speed is calculated. When the maximum transport speed is lower than the minimum transport speed at which the sheet can be transported stably, the sheet is stopped.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an RFID reader/writer configured to read or write data from or into an RFID portion of an RFID-attached sheet; and

a control unit configured to control a speed at which the RFID-attached sheet is transported, wherein the sheet transport speed is changed depending on a read/write communication time required for reading or writing the data from or into the RFID portion of the RFID-attached sheet, wherein the control unit is configured to

compare one or more communication speeds at which the RFID portion can operate with one or more communication speeds at which the RFID reader/writer can operate, and select a maximum communication speed from among common communication speeds between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer;

calculate a read/write communication time required for reading or writing the data from or into the RFID portion from a size of the data and the selected maximum communication speed;

calculate a maximum transport speed at which the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, based on a communication-enabled region that exists along the path of sheet transport, in which region the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, and based on the calculated read/write communication time, and transport the sheet at the maximum transport speed; and

provide a transport-stop period in which the sheet is stopped when the calculated maximum transport speed is lower than a minimum transport speed at which the sheet can be transported stably.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet transport speed has a lower limit that is the minimum transport speed at which the sheet can be transported stably.

3. An information processing method of controlling a speed at which an RFID-attached sheet is transported in an image processing apparatus in which an RFID portion of the RFID-attached sheet is accessed by an RFID reader/writer, the method comprising:

a first step of comparing one or more communication speeds at which the RFID portion can operate with one or more communication speeds at which the RFID reader/writer can operate, and selecting a maximum communication speed from among common communication speeds between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer;

a second step of calculating a read/write communication time required for reading or writing data from or into the RFID portion from a size of the data and the maximum communication speed selected in the first step;

a third step of calculating a maximum transport speed at which the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, based on a communication-enabled region that exists along the path of sheet transport, in which region the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, and based on the read/write communication time calculated in the second step, and transporting the sheet at the maximum transport speed; and

a fourth step of providing a transport-stop period in which the sheet is stopped when the maximum transport speed calculated in the third step is lower than a minimum transport speed at which the sheet can be transported stably.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a program for causing a computer to perform an information processing method of controlling a speed at which an RFID-attached sheet is transported in an image processing apparatus in which an RFID portion of the RFID-attached sheet is accessed by an RFID reader/writer, the method comprising:

a first step of comparing one or more communication speeds at which the RFID portion can operate with one or more communication speeds at which the RFID reader/writer can operate, and selecting a maximum communication speed from among common communication speeds between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer;

a second step of calculating a read/write communication time required for reading or writing data from or into the RFID portion, based on a size of the data and the maximum communication speed selected in the first step;

a third step of calculating a maximum transport speed at which the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, based on a communication-enabled region that exists along the path of sheet transport, in which region the data can be communicated between the RFID portion and the RFID reader/writer, and based on the read/write communication time calculated in the second step, and transporting the sheet at the maximum transport speed; and

a fourth step of providing a transport-stop period in which the sheet is stopped when the maximum transport speed calculated in the third step is lower than a minimum transport speed at which the sheet can be transported stably.