JP4580494B2 - Non-contact IC card issuing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of contactless IC cards. In particular, the present invention relates to a non-contact IC card issuing system for issuing a non-contact IC card by writing data such as ID information on an IC chip mounted on the non-contact IC card.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When the data capacities to be written to the individual non-contact IC cards are different, the time required for issuing the individual non-contact IC cards is different. However, in the conventional non-contact IC card issuance system, the non-contact IC card issuance is performed at uniformly defined time intervals. In other words, the time obtained by adding a margin to the maximum possible time is uniformly defined as the time interval applied to all non-contact IC cards to be issued.
[0003]
FIG. 3 shows the method of this conventional non-contact IC card issuing system as an explanatory diagram.
When the transport speed is constant, as shown in FIG. 3, supply of cards {circle around (1)}, {circle over (2)}, {circle over (3)} fed from the card feeder of the card transport unit to the antenna of the data writing unit The interval is uniformly constant. Also, the time within the communication range of the card and the antenna is uniformly constant.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if such a time interval is uniformly defined, a non-contact IC card having a data capacity to be written smaller than the maximum data capacity causes a write dead time. In almost all contactless IC cards, the data capacity to be written is smaller than the maximum, so the total write time is enormous, which significantly impedes the productivity of the contactless IC card issuing system. ing.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a contactless IC card issuing system with extremely high productivity.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above problems are solved by the present invention described below. That is, the contactless IC card issuing system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a contactless IC card issuing system that issues a contactless IC card by writing predetermined data, and includes a transmission data generation unit and a card transport The transmission data generation unit extracts basic data to be written to each contactless IC card from the aggregate data file , and directly from the data capacity that is an attribute of the basic data. The basic transmission time A when the data transmission is performed is compared with the actual transmission time B when the data is decompressed after the data is compressed and transmitted, and the basic transmission time is minimized. The transmission data is generated as data and the conveyance control data for minimizing the dead time for writing is generated. The card conveyance unit The non-contact IC card is conveyed at an appropriate conveyance interval that minimizes the write dead time, and the data writing unit generates write data in a form to be written to the non-contact IC card based on the transmission data. The write data is written to the non-contact IC card transported in a data writable range.
[0007]
According to the present invention, the basic data to be written to each contactless IC card is extracted from the aggregate data file by the transmission data generation unit , and data transmission is performed as it is from the data capacity that is an attribute of the basic data . The actual transmission time A is compared with the actual transmission time B when data is decompressed after data compression and data transmission, and transmission data is generated as basic data in a form that minimizes the actual transmission time. At the same time, transport control data for minimizing the write dead time is generated, and the non-contact IC card is transported at an appropriate transport interval that minimizes the write dead time based on the transport control data by the card transport unit. Write data in the form of writing to the non-contact IC card based on the transmission data is generated by the data writing unit, and the non-contact I is conveyed to a data writable range Predetermined data is written to the card. That is, the substantial transmission time and write dead time are minimized. Therefore, a contactless IC card issuing system with extremely high productivity is provided.
[0009]
The contactless IC card issuance system according to claim 2 of the present invention is the contactless IC card issuance system according to claim 1 , wherein the write dead time is until the writing data of the next contactless IC card is generated. And the time until the next non-contact IC card is transported to a data writable range. According to the present invention, the time difference between the time until the next non-contact IC card write data is generated and the time until the next non-contact IC card is transported to the data writable range is the write dead time. As minimized.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. An example of the configuration of the contactless IC card issuing system of the present invention is shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a host computer, 2 is a transport control device, 3 is a card feeder, 4 is a read / write (RW) control device, 5 is an antenna, and 6 is a card collection unit. Also, (1), (2), and (3) are non-contact IC cards.
[0011]
The host computer 1 stores in the storage device a collective data file that is all basic data to be written to the contactless IC card to be written. A collective data file in which a set of basic data to be processed in one operation is recorded is created in advance by another computer system for data editing, for example. The aggregate data file is stored in a storage device of the host computer 1 from a portable recording medium such as a floppy disk or an MO (magneto-optical) disk or through a communication line such as a LAN (local area network). .
[0012]
The host computer 1 extracts basic data to be written on each contactless IC card from the aggregate data file. The basic data is a record in which information about processing related to one non-contact IC card as a unit is recorded. A set data file is a set of records. An ID (identification) indicating the issue order of the non-contact IC cards to be issued is attached to the record (for example, recorded in the first field). The host computer 1 receives data (flag) indicating that writing to the non-contact IC card by the read / write control device 4 has been completed. Receiving this flag, the host computer 1 reads the next issue order record. That is, the basic data to be written to the non-contact IC card next is extracted.
[0013]
The time for which the non-contact IC card is transported from the card feeder 3 to the antenna 5 varies depending on the distance between them. Therefore, when the distance between them is long and there is a non-contact IC card in the middle of conveyance, the host computer 1 reads a record in the issue order corresponding to the number of the cards. That is, synchronization is achieved by extracting the basic data to be written to the non-contact IC card ahead by that number.
[0014]
The extracted basic data is generally not data that can be read by the read / write control device 4. In this case, the host computer 1 generates base data obtained by converting the base data into data that can be read by the read / write control device 4.
[0015]
The host computer 1 generates transmission data as basic data in a form that minimizes the actual transmission time from the attribute of the basic data. The actual transmission time is a time substantially required in the process of transmitting data from the host computer 1 to the read / write control device 4. For example, the actual transmission time is a time obtained by adding the transmission time and the compression / decompression time.
[0016]
The transmission data expanded by the read / write control device 4 is not generally data written in a non-contact IC card. In that case, the read / write control device 4 generates write data obtained by converting the transmission data into data in a form for writing to the contactless IC card. Including the conversion time, the actual transmission time is a time obtained by adding the transmission time, the compression / decompression time, and the conversion time.
This time varies depending on the attribute of the base data, for example, the data capacity.
[0017]
The host computer 1 stores parameters relating to the transmission speed on the data transmission path to the read / write control device 4. The host computer 1 stores data relating to the compression speed in the host computer 1 and parameters relating to the decompression (restoration) speed and the conversion speed to write data in the read / write control device 4. Using these parameters, the host computer 1 calculates the actual transmission time A when data transmission is performed as it is based on the attributes of the base data. In addition, after the data is compressed in the host computer 1 and the data is transmitted, the actual transmission time B when the data is expanded in the read / write control device 4 is calculated. The host computer 1 compares the actual transmission time A and the actual transmission time B, generates transmission data from the basic data in a form with a shorter actual transmission time, and transmits the transmission data.
[0018]
For example, in the case of transmitting basic data with a data capacity of 9600 B (bytes) before compression, a compression rate of 2 and a decompression time of 2 sec in the read / writer control computer on the receiving side through a transmission line of 1024 B / sec (1) The time required for data transmission at the time of non-compression is 9.4 sec, and (2) the time required for data transmission at the time of compression is 9.4 / 2 = 4.7 sec. That is, the reduction in time required for data transmission by compression is (1)-(2) = 4.7 sec, whereas the decompression time is 2 sec. Therefore, the host computer 1 transmits data after compression.
[0019]
In addition, the host computer 1 generates transport control data for minimizing the write dead time. The write dead time is a time difference between the time until generation of write data for the next non-contact IC card and the time until the next non-contact IC card is transported to a data writable range. In other words, the write dead time is a time to wait because the non-contact IC card has not reached the data writable range while the read / write control device 4 can write.
[0020]
The conveyance control data for minimizing the writing dead time is, for example, data for determining an interval for conveying the non-contact IC card. That is, it is data relating to the timing at which the card feeder 3 supplies the non-contact IC card to the transport belt or the like. Specifically, the actual transmission time calculated by the host computer 1 can be used as the transport control data, but it is not limited to itself as described later.
[0021]
The transport control device 2 transports the non-contact IC card at an appropriate interval that minimizes the writing dead time based on the transport control data. The transport control device 2 controls the transport speed of the transport belt and performs timing control for supplying the non-contact IC card from the card feeder 3. For example, when the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt is constant, the conveyance control device 2 includes a card feeder 3 that allows a non-contact IC card to be conveyed with an interval corresponding to (conveyance speed) × (substantial transmission time). Control.
[0022]
Of course, the restriction that the next non-contact IC card must not enter the data writable range while the previous non-contact IC card is in the data writable range and data is being written. There is a need to ensure an interval based on. Such a calculation including the constraint condition can be performed in the transport control device 2. However, the calculation may be performed in the host computer 1 having the capability of calculating at higher speed. In that case, the conveyance control data is the interval itself for conveying the non-contact IC card, that is, the supply interval data, and the conveyance control device 2 determines the conveyance speed in the conveyance belt and the supply in the card feeder 3 based on the supply interval data. Control timing.
[0023]
The card feeder 3 supplies a non-contact IC card to the conveyance belt under the control of the conveyance control device 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-contact IC cards {circle around (1)}, {circle over (2)}, {circle around (3)} supplied from the card feeder 3 are transported by the transport belt with the above-mentioned intervals and can be written by the antenna 5. After passing through the range, the card is collected by the card collecting unit 6.
[0024]
The read / write control device 4 generates write data in a form of writing to the non-contact IC card based on the transmission data. The read / write control device 4 receives transmission data generated by the host computer 1 and converts the transmission data into decompressed transmission data if the transmission data is compressed data. As already described, the transmission data expanded by the read / write control device 4 is not generally data written in a non-contact IC card. In that case, the read / write control device 4 performs data conversion of the transmission data and generates write data that is data to be written to the non-contact IC card.
[0025]
Further, when the non-contact IC card to be written is conveyed to a range where data can be written, the read / write control device 4 generates a signal obtained by modulating the write data by a predetermined method. The signal is an electric signal for driving the antenna 5.
Further, when the read / write control device 4 finishes generating the signal, that is, when writing to the non-contact IC card is completed, data (issue result data) indicating that to the host computer 1 and the transport control device 2 Forward. By this data, synchronization (adjustment of timing deviation) among the host computer 1, the transport control device 2, and the read / write control device 4 is performed.
[0026]
The antenna 5 is a data communication antenna for performing read / write in a non-contact manner with a non-contact IC card. For example, a loop antenna is used for the antenna 5 and the antenna provided inside the non-contact IC card, and they are coupled by electromagnetic action (electromagnetic induction).
The card collection unit 6 collects the non-contact IC card that has been written.
[0027]
The configuration and operation of the contactless IC card issuing system of the present invention have been described above. Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the outline of this operation method will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the contactless IC card issuance system of the present invention optimizes the supply interval of contactless IC cards. In FIG. 2, the interval between the non-contact IC cards (1) and (2) corresponds to the time required for transmission and conversion of the non-contact IC card (2). The interval between the non-contact IC cards (2) and (3) corresponds to the time required for transmission and conversion of the non-contact IC card (2). Each time is calculated by the host computer 1 before data transmission.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the non-contact IC card issuing system according to claim 1 of the present invention, a non-contact IC card issuing system with extremely high productivity is provided. According to the non-contact IC card issuance system according to claim 2 of the present invention, the time until the next non-contact IC card write data is generated and the next non-contact IC card can be written to the data. The time difference from the time until conveyance is minimized as the writing dead time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in a non-contact IC card issuing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the operation method in the non-contact IC card issuing system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of a conventional non-contact IC card issuing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Host Computer 2 Transport Control Device 3 Card Feeder 4 Read / Write Control Device 5 Antenna 6 Card Collection Unit

Claims (2)

A non-contact IC card issuance system that issues a non-contact IC card by writing predetermined data, and includes a transmission data generation unit, a card transport unit, and a data writing unit,
The transmission data generation unit extracts basic data to be written to each contactless IC card from the collective data file, and from the data capacity which is an attribute of the basic data, the actual transmission time A when the data transmission is performed as it is. Is compared with the actual transmission time B when the data is decompressed after data compression and data transmission, and transmission data is generated as the base data in a form that minimizes the actual transmission time, and writing waste Generate transport control data to minimize time,
The card transport unit transports a non-contact IC card at an appropriate transport interval that minimizes the write dead time based on the transport control data,
The data writing unit generates write data in a form to be written to a non-contact IC card based on the transmission data, and writes the write data to the non-contact IC card that is transported to a data writable range. Write
A non-contact IC card issuing system characterized by that. 2. The contactless IC card issuance system according to claim 1 , wherein the write dead time includes a time until generation of write data for the next contactless IC card and a range in which data can be written to the next contactless IC card. Non-contact IC card issuance system, characterized in that it is a time difference from the time until it is transported to the card.

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