Information access system for accessing information in contactless information storage device, and method therefor

• US 8,223,000 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shiotsu, Shinichi, Yamada, Isamu, Itasaki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin
• Application Number:
  US11/822,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.34, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.5, 340/5.61, 340/572.1, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/556.1, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

An information access system includes: a passive contactless information storage device (500) capable of transmitting and receiving signals; a fixed-station information processing device (100) having an information processing unit, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting, in a contactless manner, a command signal for requesting transmission of information stored in the information storage device and supplying power in a contactless manner to the information storage device; and a mobile-station information processing device (200) having an information processing unit, an information presenting unit, a battery, and a wireless receiver for receiving a response signal for response to the command signal, from the information storage device in a contactless manner. While the fixed-station device is supplying power to the information storage device in the contactless manner, the information storage device transmits, in response to the command signal, the response signal to the mobile-station device in the contactless manner.

Claims

1. An information access system for accessing information in a contactless information storage device, the information access system comprising:

a passive contactless information storage device to receive a command signal and transmit a response signal carrying at least an identification thereof, in a contactless manner;

a fixed-station information processing device including;

a unit to process information,

a wireless receiver to receive a first request signal carrying the identification, and

a wireless transmitter to transmit, in a contactless manner, a command signal for requesting transmission of information that is stored in the passive contactless information storage device, and supply power in the contactless manner to the passive contactless information storage device, and to transmit, in response to reception of the first request signal, a second request signal carrying the identification for requesting additional information to the passive contactless information storage device; and

a mobile-station information processing device including;

a unit to process information,

a unit to present information,

a wireless receiver to receive the response signal for response to the command signal and the response signal for response to the second request signal, directly from the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner, and

a wireless transmitter to transmit, to the fixed-station information processing device, the first request signal carrying the identification as selected by a user from identifications carried by received response signals for response to the command signal, for requesting additional information.

2. An information access system according to claim 1, wherein the passive contactless information storage device is either an RF ID tag or a contactless IC card.

3. An information access system according to claim 1, wherein

the mobile-station information processing device transmits a request signal for requesting transmission of a command signal, via the wireless transmitter thereof to the fixed-station information processing device, and

in response to the request signal, the fixed-station information processing device both transmits a command signal and supplies power via the wireless transmitter thereof.

4. An information access system for accessing information in a contactless information storage device, the information access system comprising:

a plurality of passive contactless information storage devices, each of which receives a command signal and transmits a response signal carrying at least an identification thereof, in a contactless manner,

at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices, each of the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices including;

a unit to process information,

a wireless receiver to receive a first request signal carrying a selected identification from a mobile station, and

a wireless transmitter to transmit, in a contactless manner, a command signal for requesting transmission of information that is stored in any of the passive contactless information storage devices, and supply power in the contactless manner to one or ones of the passive contactless information storage devices, and to transmit, in response to reception of the first request signal, a second request signal carrying the selected identification for requesting additional information to one of the passive contactless information storage devices that has the selected identification;

a timing supply device which provides a timing signal to transmit a command and supply power, to the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices in a cycle or at intervals;

one or more mobile-station information processing devices, each of the one or more mobile-station information processing devices including;

a unit to process information,

a unit to present information,

a wireless receiver to receive the response signal for response to the command signal and the response signal for response to the second request signal in the contactless manner directly from one or ones of the passive contactless information storage devices that is or are located in a communication range of that mobile-station information processing device, and

a wireless transmitter to transmit, to one of the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices, the first request signal carrying the selected identification as selected by a user from identifications carried by the received response signals for response to the command signal, for requesting additional information.

5. A mobile information processing device comprising:

an information presenting unit;

a wireless transmitter to transmit, to the another information processing device, a first request signal carrying an identification of a passive contactless information storage device as selected by a user for requesting information that is stored in the passive contactless information storage device and selected from identifications carried by received response signals for response to a command signal from another information processing device, the another information processing device to supply power to the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner;

a wireless receiver to receive, in a contactless manner directly from the passive contactless information storage device, response signals carrying at least the identification that are transmitted respectively in response to reception of the command signal and in response to reception of a second request signal transmitted from the another information processing device in response to the first request signal; and

an information processing unit to present content information carried by the response signal, to the information presenting unit on the basis of the identification carried by the response signal.

6. In a system comprising a fixed-station information processing device and a mobile-station information processing device, a method of accessing information in a passive contactless information storage device configured to transmit and receive signals, the method comprising:

causing the fixed-station information processing device both to transmit, in a contactless manner, a command signal for requesting transmission of information stored in the passive contactless information storage device, and to supply power to the passive contactless information storage device in the contactless manner;

causing the mobile-station information processing device to receive, from the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner, a response signal carrying at least an identification of the passive contactless information storage device for response to the command signal, while the fixed-station information processing device is supplying power to the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner;

causing the mobile-station information processing device to transmit, to the fixed-station information processing device, a first request signal carrying an identification as selected by a user from identifications carried by received response signals, for requesting additional information;

causing the fixed-station information processing device to transmit, in response to reception of the first request signal, a second request signal carrying the selected identification for requesting additional information to the passive contactless information storage device; and

causing the mobile-station information processing device to receive, directly from the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner, a response signal carrying the identification and the additional information of the passive contactless information storage device for response to the second request signal, while the fixed-station information processing device is supplying power to the passive contactless information storage device in a contactless manner.

7. In a system comprising at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices, one or more mobile-station information processing devices, and a timing supply device for providing a timing signal for transmitting a command and supplying power, a method for accessing information in a passive contactless information storage device, the method comprising:

causing the timing supply device to transmit a timing signal to each of the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices in a cycle or at intervals;

in response to the timing signal, causing each of the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices to both transmit a command signal for requesting transmission of information stored in any of a plurality of passive contactless information storage devices and supply power, in a contactless manner to the passive contactless information storage devices;

causing one or ones of the mobile-station information processing devices that is or are located in communication ranges of the passive contactless information storage devices to receive response signals, each carrying at least an identification of a corresponding passive contactless information storage device, for response to the command signal in a contactless manner, while each passive contactless information storage device is receiving power in the contactless manner from the one of the at least first and second fixed-station information processing devices;

causing one of the mobile-station information processing devices to transmit, to one of the fixed-station information processing devices, a first request signal carrying an identification as selected by a user from identifications carried by received response signals, for requesting additional information;

causing the one fixed-station information processing device to transmit, in response to reception of the first request signal, a second request signal carrying the selected identification for requesting additional information to the passive contactless information storage device that has the selected identification; and

causing the one mobile-station information processing device to receive, directly from the passive contactless information storage device that has the selected identification, a response signal carrying at least the selected identification of the passive contactless information storage device, for response to the second request signal in a contactless manner, while the passive contactless information storage device is receiving power in the contactless manner from the one fixed-station information processing device.