Information access system, information storage device and reader/writer device

• US 8,587,413 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shiotsu, Shinichi, Yamada, Isamu, Inano, Satoshi, Tanaka, Hideki, Yamashita, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afrifa-Kyei, Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US12/433,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0705 the battery being connected to a power saving arrangement
• 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 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 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas

Abstract

An information access system includes a reader/writer device and an information storage device. In the information storage device, a receiver unit senses a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency for detection, in a first time period occurring at time intervals, and receives an information request signal in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and senses a carrier of an RF signal at a second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal. In the storage device, a control causes the receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a second time period after a sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period.

Claims

1. An information access system comprising:

a reader/writer device including;

a first memory,

a first timing generator configured to measure time,

a first transmitter unit configured to transmit an information request signal at a first frequency in a transmission time period,

a first receiver unit configured to receive a response signal at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, and

a first control configured to cause the first transmitter unit to suspend its transmission in a non-transmission time period; and

an information storage device including;

a second memory configured to store an identification,

a second timing generator configured to measure time,

a battery,

a second receiver unit configured to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency for detection, in a first time period that occurs at time intervals, and further receive the information request signal in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal,

a second control configured to cause the second receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a second time period after a sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to determination of non-detection by the second receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, wherein the shorter sleep time period and the subsequent sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency are repeated during the time interval unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected as long as a count of determination of the non-detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is smaller than a maximum count threshold, and wherein further sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is inhibited during a remaining time period of the time interval when the count of determination is equal to the maximum count threshold, and

a second transmitter unit configured to transmit the response signal at the second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal and in response to determination of non-detection by the second receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in the first time period.

2. An information access system comprising:

a reader/writer device including;

a first memory,

a first timing generator configured to measure time,

a first transmitter unit configured to transmit an information request signal at a first frequency in a transmission time period,

a first receiver unit configured to receive a response signal at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, and configured to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in a first time period within a non-transmission time period, and

a first control configured to cause the first transmitter unit to suspend its transmission in the non-transmission time period, and to continue the non-transmission time period and cause the first receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in a second time period after an inactivation time period, in response to detection by the first receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period; and

an information storage device including;

a second memory configured to store an identification,

a second timing generator configured to measure time,

a battery,

a second receiver unit configured to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency for detection, in a third time period that occurs at time intervals, and further receive the information request signal in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in a fourth time period in response to reception of the information request signal,

a second control configured to cause the second receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a fifth time period after a first sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to determination of non-detection by the second receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the third time period, and to cause the second receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency for detection, in a sixth time period after a second sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to detection by the second receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in the fourth time period, wherein the shorter sleep time period and the subsequent sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency are repeated during the time interval unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected as long as a count of determination of the non-detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is smaller than a maximum count threshold, and wherein further sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is inhibited during a remaining time period of the time interval when the count of determination is equal to the maximum count threshold, and

a second transmitter unit configured to transmit the response signal at the second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal and in response to determination of non-detection by the second receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency.

3. An information storage device comprising:

a memory configured to store an identification,

a timing generator configured to measure time,

a battery,

a receiver unit configured to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency for detection, in a first time period that occurs at time intervals, and further receive an information request signal in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, in response to reception of the information request signal,

a control configured to cause the receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a second time period after a sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, wherein the shorter sleep time period and the subsequent sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency are repeated during the time interval unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected as long as a count of determination of the non-detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is smaller than a maximum count threshold, and wherein further sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is inhibited during a remaining time period of the time interval when the count of determination is equal to the maximum count threshold, and

a transmitter unit configured to transmit the response signal at the second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal and in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency.

4. An information storage device according to claim 3, wherein

in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, the control causes the receiver unit to repeat a combination of a sleep state in the sleep time period and the subsequent carrier sensing of an RF signal at the first frequency in the second time period, up to the maximum count threshold unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected.

5. An information storage device comprising:

a memory configured to store an identification;

a timing generator configured to measure time;

a battery;

a receiver unit configured to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency for detection, in a first time period that occurs at time intervals, and further receive an information request signal in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, and to sense a carrier of an RF signal at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency in a second time period, in response to reception of the information request signal;

a control configured to cause the receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a third time period after a first sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, and to cause the receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency for detection, in a fourth time period after a second sleep time period which is shorter than the time interval, in response to detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in the second time period, wherein the shorter sleep time period and the subsequent sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency are repeated during the time interval unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected as long as a count of determination of the non-detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is smaller than a maximum count threshold, and wherein further sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is inhibited during a remaining time period of the time interval when the count of determination is equal to the maximum count threshold; and

a transmitter unit configured to transmit the response signal at the second frequency in response to reception of the information request signal and in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency.

6. The information storage device according to claim 5, wherein in response to determination of non-detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, the control causes the receiver unit to repeat a combination of a sleep state in the first sleep time period and the subsequent carrier sensing of an RF signal at the first frequency in the third time period, up to the maximum count threshold unless a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected.

7. The information storage device according to claim 5, wherein, in response to detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in the second time period, the control causes the receiver unit to repeat a combination of a sleep state in the second sleep time period and the subsequent carrier sensing of an RF signal at the second frequency in the fourth time period, up to a maximum number of times as long as a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency is detected.

8. The information storage device according to claim 6, wherein, in response to detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency in the second time period, the control causes the receiver unit to repeat a combination of a sleep state in the second sleep time period and the subsequent carrier sensing of an RF signal at the second frequency in the fourth time period, up to a maximum number of times as long as a carrier of an RF signal at the second frequency is detected.

9. A reader/writer device comprising:

a memory;

a timing generator configured to measure time;

a transmitter unit configured to transmit an information request signal at a first frequency in a transmission time period;

a receiver unit configured to receive a response signal at a second frequency which is different from the first frequency, and sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in a first time period within a non-transmission time period; and

a control configured to cause the transmitter unit to suspend its transmission in the non-transmission time period, and, in response to detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, continue the non-transmission time period and cause the receiver unit to sense a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency for detection, in a second time period after an inactivation time period, wherein the inactivation time period and the subsequent sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency are repeated during the non-transmission time period when a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected as long as a count of determination of the detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is smaller than a maximum count threshold, and wherein further sensing of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency and the transmission are inhibited during a remaining time period of the non-transmission time period when the count of determination is equal to the maximum count threshold.

10. The reader/writer device according to claim 9, wherein in response to detection by the receiver unit of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency in the first time period, the control causes the receiver unit to repeat a combination of an inactivation state of operation in the inactivation time period and subsequent carrier sensing of an RF signal at the first frequency in the second time period, up to the maximum count threshold as long as a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency is detected.