JP6706866B2 - RFID reader control device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an RFID reader control device, and more particularly to a technique of avoiding tags other than the reading target and reading the reading target tag.

As a problem at the time of reading the RFID tag, there is a problem that even unrelated RFID tags in the vicinity are read. Below are three examples of countermeasures. Hereinafter, the RFID tag is also simply referred to as a tag.
(1) Suppression of reading range by radio field intensity or RSSI value Narrow the reading area by narrowing down the radio field intensity to the necessary minimum, or use the received signal strength (RSSI) from the tag to see the distance of the tag position and keep it at a fixed value. Items below (threshold) are excluded.
(2) Pre-read/stationary tag removal method The tag information existing in the vicinity is collected in advance or at an empty time, and the tag portion read in advance is removed at the time of necessary reading. It should be noted that tags that have been temporarily read by, for example, temporarily passing in the vicinity are removed by monitoring/analyzing changes in the number of readings and RSSI values.
(3) Physical radio wave shielding method Create a sealed space that is physically shielded by using a shield or a radio wave absorber, and put the target tag in it to read.

However, each of the above countermeasure methods has the following problems.
(1) Suppression of reading range by radio field intensity or RSSI value In any method, the accuracy of the boundary line between the range to be read and the range not to be read is poor, and the line is located between the boundaries or the tag condition (tag movement) If the reading becomes unstable due to the orientation with respect to the antenna, the overlapping of tags, etc., the possibility of erroneous reading increases.
(2) Pre-reading/stationary tag removal method A method of reading and accumulating tags existing in the vicinity in advance or in free time and comparing them in the necessary reading process, or increasing the reading frequency and comparing changes in RSSI values, etc. There are techniques for analyzing the movement to determine the movement, but if the number of peripheral tags increases, the reading performance of the processing device deteriorates. Further, in order to maintain the reading performance, the processing device becomes expensive.
(3) Physical radio wave shielding method Although the method is the most reliable in that it shields radio waves with a shielding material, the shielding member for realizing the shielded space is relatively expensive and the reading target New restrictions on operation and equipment installation when loading and unloading are issues.

In addition to the above methods, various measures have been proposed. For example, the data reading device of Patent Document 1 does not allow the flag control unit of the tag to be read to change the determination information by the Select command, and does not allow the flag control unit of the tag to be read to respond to the determination information. Make it change.

JP, 2010-21901, A

At checkout counters such as department stores and retail stores, RFID readers connected to POS terminals perform payment processing for products. In addition to the products for POS processing, other products may exist in the checkout counter, and the RFID tags of other products may be erroneously read by the RFID reader. There is also a risk that the store clerk may perform the settlement process without noticing the error.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an RFID reader control device that controls an RFID reader so as to reliably read an RFID tag to be read even in an environment in which RFID tags to be read and non-read targets are mixed. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, in an RFID reader control device that controls an RFID reader that reads an RFID tag provided with a flag that can switch between a response-permitted state and a response-non-permitted state, the flag is set to a response-disabled state. And a suppression unit that causes the RFID reader to issue a suppression command that suppresses the response of the RFID tag, a reading unit that causes the RFID reader to issue a reading command that instructs reading of the RFID tag, and the suppression unit and the An operation control unit that controls the operation of the reading unit is provided, and the operation control unit does not allow a response to the flag of the RFID present in the area where the RFID tag is read until a new RFID tag reading instruction is given. When the RFID reader is instructed to issue the inhibition command from the RFID reader and the inhibition unit issues the inhibition command from the RFID reader, the inhibition command is issued from the RFID reader. When the reading unit starts the issuing of the reading command from the RFID reader and the reading unit finishes reading the new RFID tag, the suppressing unit causes the RFID reader to execute the suppressing command. Issue is resumed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an RFID reader control device that controls an RFID reader so as to reliably read an RFID tag to be read even in an environment in which RFID tags to be read and RFID tags not to be read are mixed.

It is an external view of the POS system 1 applied to 1st-4th embodiment. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the POS system 1. FIG. It is a functional block diagram regarding RFID reader control applied to the 1st-4th embodiment. 9 is a table summarizing conditions for maintaining the state of each session flag. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a radio wave area and a tag in order in 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a reading process in the first embodiment. 6 is a time chart of a reading operation in the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a radio wave area and a tag in 2nd Embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the second embodiment. 9 is a time chart of a reading operation in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a radio wave area and a tag in 3rd Embodiment. 11 is a flowchart 1 illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the third embodiment. 9 is a flowchart 2 illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the third embodiment. 9 is a time chart of a reading operation in the third embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a radio wave area and a tag in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart 1 explaining the procedure of the reading process in the fourth embodiment. 11 is a flowchart 2 illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the fourth embodiment. 13 is a flowchart 3 illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the fourth embodiment. 9 is a time chart of a reading operation in the fourth embodiment. 9 is a time chart of a reading operation in the fourth embodiment. 9 is a time chart of a reading operation in the fourth embodiment. It is an external view of the POS system 2 of 5th Embodiment. It is a functional block diagram regarding RFID reader control in a 5th embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a radio wave area and a tag in 5th Embodiment. It is a flow chart explaining the procedure of flag clear processing in a 5th embodiment. 13 is a time chart of a flag clearing operation according to the fifth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, an example in which the RFID reader control device is applied to a POS system will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view of a POS system 1 to which an RFID reader control device is applied.

The POS system 1 of FIG. 1 is applied to the first to fourth embodiments described below. The POS system 1 has a POS terminal device 10, an RFID reader 20, and an antenna 25. The POS terminal device 10 is a device that performs product registration and settlement processing based on the tag information attached to the product. In the following, the POS terminal device 10 operated by a clerk is taken as an example, but the POS terminal device 10 may be a self-POS terminal device.

The RFID reader 20 is a device that is connected to the POS terminal device 10, reads an RFID tag attached to a product, and outputs the read tag information to the POS terminal device 10. The RFID reader 20 is connected to the POS terminal device 10 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus), a LAN (Local Area Network), or the like. The LAN may be wired or wireless.

The antenna 25 transmits the output from the RFID reader 20 as a radio wave, receives the signal returned from the RFID tag, and outputs the signal to the RFID reader 20. The RFID reader 20 and the antenna 25 are connected by, for example, a coaxial cable.

The POS terminal device 10 is installed on the counter 50. The RFID reader 20 and the antenna 25 are housed inside the counter 50, for example. In addition, the antenna 25 is often arranged immediately below the open space of the counter 50 in order to read the products placed on the counter 50.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the POS system 1. The POS terminal device 10 includes a CPU 100, a RAM 102, a ROM 104, a graphic processing unit 106, an input/output IF 108, a communication IF 110, a display unit 112, an input unit 114, a card R/W 116, a barcode scanner 118, a receipt printer 120, and a deposit/withdrawal unit 122. And so on.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 100 is a processor that integrally controls the POS terminal device 10. The CPU 100 reads the control program, executes the control program, and performs product registration and settlement processing based on the tag information attached to the product.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 temporarily stores an OS (Operating System) program to be executed by the CPU 100, a part of an application program, and image data.

The ROM (Read Only Memory) 104 is, for example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and stores the application program executed by the CPU 100 and table data in a nonvolatile manner.

The graphic processing unit 106 creates an operation screen and a POS processing screen for product registration and settlement according to an instruction from the CPU 100, converts it into an image signal, and outputs it to the display unit 112. The display unit 112 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

An input/output IF (Interface) 108 controls peripheral devices such as the input unit 114 connected thereto. The communication IF (Interface) 110 transmits/receives data to/from the outside, and has a connection format such as LAN or USB. A RAM 102, a ROM 104, a graphic processing unit 106, an input/output IF 108, a communication IF 110, and the like are connected to the CPU 100 via a bus 130.

An input unit 114, a card R/W 116, a barcode scanner 118, a receipt printer 120, a deposit/withdrawal unit 122, etc. are connected to the input/output IF (Interface) 108. The input unit 114 is an operation unit for a store clerk to input operation contents and instructions, and is, for example, a touch panel. The card R/W 116 reads and writes a magnetic card and an IC card. The barcode scanner 118 reads the barcode scanner attached to the product. The receipt printer 120 issues a receipt to be given to the customer. The deposit/withdrawal unit 122 stores and manages banknotes and coins deposited by the customer, and manages withdrawal of change given to the customer.

The RFID reader 20 is also connected to the input/output IF 108. In response to the reading instruction from the POS terminal device 10, the RFID reader 20 reads information from the RFID tag of the product via the antenna 25 and notifies the POS terminal device 10 of the reading result.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram relating to RFID reader control. The POS control unit 200 performs control processing of the POS terminal device 10. The POS control unit 200 is realized by software processing by the CPU 100 that reads the control program from the ROM 104.

The POS control unit 200 has a POS processing unit 210 that mainly performs POS processing according to store clerk operation, and an RFID reader control unit 220 that controls the RFID reader 20 and reads information from an RFID tag. The RFID reader control unit 220 includes a suppression unit 222, a normal reading unit 224, a new product detection unit 226, and an operation control unit 228. The RFID reader control unit 220 is also called an RFID reader control device.

The suppression unit 222 performs a process of suppressing the reading of the RFID tag of the non-handled product. The RFID tag of the non-handled product is an RFID tag that originally exists within the radio range of the antenna 25 (placed on the counter 50). RFID tags of non-handled products are also referred to as non-handled tags.

Specifically, for the RFID tag provided with a flag that can switch between the response-permitted state and the response-non-permitted state, the inhibition unit 222 sets a command that sets the flag to the response-disabled state and inhibits the RFID tag response. It is issued from the RFID reader 20. A command that sets the flag in the response non-permission state to suppress the response of the RFID tag is also called a suppression command.

The suppression unit 222 sets the flag of the RFID tag that is not the target to the response non-permission state. Then, the suppression unit 222 causes the RFID reader to issue a suppression command at predetermined time intervals so that the response non-permission state of the flag of the RFID tag that is not the target is continuously maintained.

Further, the suppression unit 222 may cause the RFID reader to issue a maintenance command for maintaining the non-target flag in the response-disabled state by the suppression command in the response-disabled state after issuing the suppression command. The suppression unit 222 may change the suppression command to the maintenance command at the timing of starting the transaction of the new product approaching the vicinity of the counter 50. An RFID tag that is newly brought in from outside and attached to a new product that has approached the vicinity of the counter 50 is called a new RFID tag. The maintenance command has different flag types from the suppression command. Further, the suppression unit 222 may set the radio field intensities of the suppression command and the maintenance command to be higher than the radio field intensity of the reading command (reading command).

The normal reading unit 224 causes the RFID reader 20 to issue a command to read an RFID tag of a new product, which is a new RFID tag. The command for reading the RFID tag of the new product is also called a reading command. The new RFID tag is also called a target tag. The normal reading unit 224 is also simply referred to as a reading unit.

The new product detection unit 226 performs a process of detecting a new RFID tag. The new product detection unit 226 causes the RFID reader 20 to issue a command for detecting a new RFID tag. The command for detecting a new RFID tag is also called a new product detection command. The new product detection unit 226 may set the radio field intensity of the new product detection command to be higher than the radio field intensity of the suppression command.

The suppression unit 222, the normal reading unit 224, and the new product detection unit 226 issue a command specifying a session flag according to each process, set a radio wave intensity according to each process, and instruct the RFID reader 20.

The operation control unit 228 controls the operations of the inhibition unit 222, the normal reading unit 224, and the new product detection unit 226. Specifically, the operation control unit 228 instructs the deterrence unit 222 to set the RFID flag existing in the area where the RFID tag is read into the response non-permission state until a new RFID tag read instruction is issued. The reader 20 issues a suppression command.

Then, when there is an instruction to read a new RFID tag, the operation control unit 228 causes the inhibiting unit 222 to stop issuing the inhibiting command from the RFID reader 20, and causes the normal reading unit 224 to issue a reading command from the RFID reader 20. To start issuing. Further, when the normal reading unit 224 finishes reading a new RFID tag, the operation control unit 228 causes the inhibiting unit 222 to resume issuing the inhibiting command from the RFID reader 20.

Note that the RFID tag is also referred to simply as a tag, the RFID tag of a non-handled product is referred to as a non-target tag, and the RFID tag of a non-handled product is referred to as a target tag.

In the present embodiment, the session flag is used to read the target tag while suppressing the reading of the non-target tag. Therefore, the outline of the session flag will be described first.

When reading a tag conforming to EPC global Class1 Generation2 (ISO/IEC 18000-63) which is an air interface between the RFID reader 20 and the RFID tag used in this embodiment, the RFID reader 20 sends an inventory command to the RFID tag group. Issue. When issuing an inventory, even if multiple tags or a large number of tags exist in the same area, you can select and read RFID tags in order by anti-collision processing.

Specifically, the RFID tag has a flag (inventory flag) for storing that it has been inventoried. When the tag responds, the tag inverts this flag (A→B) so that it does not respond. By performing this for all tags in order, it is possible to realize reading of all tags.

Then, the tag has four independent session flags (S0, S1, S2, S3) as inventoried flags. Each session flag has a state value of A and B. The initial value of each session flag (when the power is off) is in the state A, and the inventory from the RFID reader 20 results in the state B. FIG. 4 is a table summarizing conditions for each session flag to maintain a state. The maintenance time in FIG. 4 is the case at room temperature. State A is also called a response-permitted state, and state B is also called a response-not-permitted state. The response-enabled state is also called a response-enabled state, and the response-disabled state is also called a non-response state.

If the tag side is in the power supply state (command receivable state), the session flag can be controlled (arbitrarily inverted) by the parameter of the select command issued by the reader. In the following, the session flag is also simply called a flag.

Next, the present embodiment will be specifically described. As this embodiment, five embodiments are shown.
<First embodiment>
First, a process of POS processing of a product by the POS terminal device 10 will be briefly described. FIG. 5 is a diagram sequentially showing a positional relationship between the area G, which is a radio wave range in the POS processing, and the tag. The area G is also called a radio wave area. FIG. 5 is a view of the counter 50 of the cash register as seen from above, with the counter 50 sandwiching the counter, the left side is the clerk, and the right side is the customer side. The product settlement process proceeds in the order of P1→P2→P3.

P1 is a state in which the customers A to D are lined up on the counter 50. It is assumed that the customers A to D have two target tags Ta before reading. Hereinafter, the target tag before reading will be denoted as Ta1, the target tag at reading will be denoted as Ta2, and the target tag after reading will be denoted as Ta3.

Area G, which is a radio wave range centered on the position of the antenna 25, is a reading range (area) of the RFID tag. In the area G on the counter 50, there are many cases where non-handling goods such as returned goods are placed in addition to the goods to be handled (sales). It is assumed that the counter 50 has four non-target tags Tb.

In P2, the store clerk receives the product from the customer A, puts the target tag Ta2 in the area G, and is reading. P3 is a state in which the customer who has completed the reading of the tag of the product and has completed the settlement leaves the counter 50 with the product with the tag Ta3 after the reading.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the tag reading process according to the first embodiment. The RFID tag reading process by the POS system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

Further, FIG. 7 is a time chart of the reading operation by the POS terminal device 10 and the RFID reader 20. The horizontal axis is time, and progresses from left to right. The axis of the inhibition process in FIG. 7 indicates the timing of issuing the select command specifying the flag S2. The axis of the normal reading process in FIG. 7 indicates the issue timing of the inventory command specifying the flag S2. Further, the axis of the POS processing in FIG. 7 shows the timing of various events of the POS processing generated by the operation of the store clerk. The same applies to the time charts of the second and subsequent embodiments.

The non-target tag suppression process of FIG. 6 is mainly performed by the suppression unit 222 and the operation control unit 228. In the standby time zone in which there are no customers, the suppression unit 222 issues the select command at regular intervals within 2 seconds by designating the flag S2 (step S100, see FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 4, since the maintenance time of the flag S2 after the power stop is at least 2 seconds, by issuing the flag within 2 seconds, the non-target tags in the area G maintain the flag S2 in the B state. And the response continues to be suppressed. A command issued for such a purpose is also called a dummy command. Further, an inventory command may be issued instead of the select command as the dummy command.

The operation control unit 228 determines whether or not a transaction start instruction is received from the store clerk (step S102). The store clerk performs an input operation (for example, a transaction start operation, see FIG. 7) to the POS terminal device 10 when determining that the customer is approaching the counter, or by other means (detection by a sensor or the like, not shown). The POS processing unit 210 receives the transaction start operation from the clerk and notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the transaction start.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the transaction start is not notified from the POS control unit 200 (NO in step S102), the inhibition unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S104). The state maintenance time is 2 seconds. When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S104), the process returns to step S102. When the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has arrived (YES in step S104), the process returns to step S100. That is, the inhibiting unit 222 performs dummy access at 2-second intervals in order to maintain the B state of the flag S2.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the transaction start is notified (YES in step S102), the operation control unit 228 switches to the normal reading process. When the flag S2 is issued, the inventory command is issued and the process is switched so that the readable item is treated as an item to be handled (traded). The operation control unit 228 stops the operation of the inhibition unit 222 and starts the operation of the normal reading unit 224.

That is, in response to the transaction start notification, the suppressing unit 222 stops issuing the select command for the suppressing process (see FIG. 7), and the normal reading unit 224 starts issuing the inventory command for the normal reading process (FIG. 7). reference).

The normal reading unit 224 issues the inventory command by designating the flag S2 (step S130). In a normal reading process, inventory commands are frequently issued (see FIG. 7). As a result, only the tag whose flag S2 is in the A state, that is, only the target tag before reading is read.
That is, power is supplied to the session flag of the non-target tag by repeatedly issuing access to the flag S2 to the non-target tag within the predetermined maintenance time described in FIG. The B state of the flag of the non-target tag is continued, and only the new target flag can be reliably read.

The normal reading unit 224 determines whether reading of all tags has been completed (step S132). When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the reading of all tags is not completed (NO in step S132), the process returns to step S130. In addition, in order to suppress the response of unrelated tags even in the normal reading process, an inventory command for normal reading or another command that emits radio waves to the tag is included (tag S2 flag status). Must be issued at intervals within 2 seconds of the specified time (in order to maintain

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the reading of all the tags is completed (YES in step S132), the operation control unit 228 determines whether the POS processing completion is notified (step S134).

As a POS process, the clerk confirms the registered (tag-read) product information and the actual product displayed on the display unit 112 and performs a payment process (settlement). The POS processing unit 210 receives the POS processing completion operation from the store clerk and notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the POS processing completion.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the POS processing completion is not notified (NO in step S134), the normal reading unit 224 returns to step S130.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the POS processing is completed (YES in step S134), the operation control unit 228 returns to step S100. Upon completion of the POS processing, the operation control unit 228 stops the operation of the normal reading unit 224 and restarts the operation of the inhibition unit 222. The inhibition unit 222 restarts issuing the select command at 2-second intervals (see FIG. 7). When the store clerk presses the total deposit button after the POS process is completed (the reading process is completed), it is determined that the transaction is completed, and the operation control unit 228 is notified of the completion of the POS process. The suppression unit 222 may restart the suppression process (issue of the select command at 2-second intervals) after receiving the notification of the completion of all the POS processes from the operation control unit 228.

Further, the read target tag (Ta3 in FIG. 5) is also kept in the read inhibited state within a fixed time (at least 2 seconds) after being separated from the area G.

The select command in step S100 may be replaced with the inventory command. Although the flag S2 is used in the above description, the flag S3 may be used. When there is a possibility that the counters approach each other and the area G overlaps, mutual interference can be avoided by using one for the flag S2 and the other for the flag S3.

In summary, the first embodiment described above uses the flag S2 to preliminarily maintain the non-target tag around the antenna in the B state, and when reading the target tag, the flag S2 is also used to continue the non-target tag. The target tag is read by using the flag S2 while maintaining the B state.

<Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment is a modification of the suppression processing of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the restraint process is immediately stopped when the clerk performs the transaction start operation. In the second embodiment, after the transaction start operation by the clerk, the flag S2 is switched to the flag S1 to continue the suppression process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the area G and the tag in the POS processing. FIG. 8 is a view in which the diagrams of the positional relationship described separately in FIG. 6 are put together into one sheet. The positional relationship between the area G and the tag in the second embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 6, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of reading processing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a time chart showing the reading operation in the second embodiment.

Since steps S100 to S104 are the same as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 6), description thereof will be omitted.

When determining that the transaction start instruction has been received from the salesclerk (YES in step S102), the inhibiting unit 222 specifies S1 and issues a select command (step S120). In response to the transaction start instruction, the inhibiting unit 222 switches from the previous issuance of the select command of the flag S2 at the 2-second interval to the issuance of the select command of the flag S1 at the 2-second interval (see FIG. 10).

The operation control unit 228 determines whether or not there is a reading instruction from the clerk (step S122). The reading instruction is an operation in which the clerk confirms the reading target (transaction target) one by one, puts them together on the area G, and presses the reading button (not shown) of the POS terminal device 10, for example. is there. Upon receiving the reading instruction from the clerk, the POS processing unit 210 notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the reading instruction.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that there is no read instruction (NO in step S122), the inhibition unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S124). The state maintenance time is 2 seconds. When the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S124), the process returns to step S122. When the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has arrived (YES in step S124), the process returns to step S120. The inhibition unit 222 performs dummy access (issue of the select command of the flag S1) at intervals of 2 seconds as power supply for maintaining the B state of the flag S1.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the reading instruction has been issued (YES in step S122), the operation of the normal reading unit 224 is started while the operation of the inhibition unit 222 (issue of the select command with the flag S1 specified) is continued. .. That is, by repeatedly issuing a dummy access (select command of flag S1) to the non-target tag within the predetermined maintenance time described in FIG. 4, the non-target tag receives power. Is supplied and the B state of the flag is continued. As a result, only the target flag can be read reliably.

The normal reading unit 224 performs normal reading processing. The normal reading process of steps S130 to S134 is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 6). When the operation control unit 228 determines that the POS processing is completed (YES in step S134), it stops the operation of the normal reading unit 224. The normal reading unit 224 stops issuing the inventory command (see FIG. 10). At the same time, the operation control unit 228 restarts the operation of the inhibition unit 222. The inhibition unit 222 stops the issuance of the select command (S1) of the flag S1 every two seconds, and restarts the issuance of the select command of the flag S2 every two seconds (see FIG. 10).

The select commands in step S100 and step S120 may be replaced with inventory commands. Further, similarly to the second embodiment, the suppression unit 222 may restart the suppression process (issue of the select command at 2-second intervals) after receiving the notification of the completion of the POS all processing from the operation control unit 228. ..

The point of the second embodiment described above is that, in contrast to the first embodiment, relaying is performed with another flag (flag S1 in this example) in the suppression process between the transaction start and the read instruction. As a result, a margin can be provided for the switching timing between the transaction start and the reading instruction. This is because, if there is no relay by another flag, there is a possibility that the margin for the switching timing is reduced and the reading target is erroneously suppressed. Specifically, without this relay, the flag S2 of the product is flagged while the customer brings the product to the counter 50, that is, from when the customer approaches the counter 50 until the clerk starts reading. This is because the select command in S2 may result in the B state, that is, the inhibition state.

<Third Embodiment>
In the third embodiment, the radio field intensity during the suppression process is made stronger than the radio field intensity during the normal reading process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the area G and the tag in the POS processing. In the third embodiment, the radio field intensity during the suppression process is made stronger than the radio field intensity during the normal reading process, and the area G2 that is the radio range during the suppression process is the area that is the radio range during the normal reading process. It is made larger than G1.

12A and 12B are flowcharts illustrating the procedure of the reading process according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a time chart showing the reading operation in the third embodiment. It starts from the process of FIG. 12A.

In FIG. 12A, the non-target tag suppression processing is performed by the suppression unit 222 and the operation control unit 228. In the non-target tag suppression process, the suppression unit 222 sets the radio field intensity to be stronger than that in the normal reading process (step S200). For example, the radio field intensity is increased by +3 dB over the normal reading process.

In the standby time period when there are no customers, the suppression unit 222 issues the select command at regular intervals within 2 seconds by designating the flag S2 (step S202, see FIG. 13). In addition, in FIG. 13, it is described as 2 seconds.

The operation control unit 228 determines whether a transaction start instruction has been received from the store clerk (step S204). The store clerk performs an input operation (for example, a transaction start operation, see FIG. 13) to the POS terminal device 10 when determining that the customer is approaching the counter, or by other means (detection by a sensor or the like, not shown). The POS processing unit 210 receives the transaction start operation from the clerk and notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the transaction start.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the transaction start has not been notified from the POS control unit 200 (NO in step S204), the inhibition unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S206). State maintenance time is within 2 seconds. If the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S206), the process returns to step S204. When the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has arrived (YES in step S206), the process returns to step S202. That is, the inhibiting unit 222 performs dummy access at intervals of 2 seconds or less in order to maintain the B state of the flag S2.

When the operation control unit 228 determines that the transaction start is notified (YES in step S204), the operation control unit 228 performs the flag changing process. The inhibiting unit 222 stops issuing the select command with the flag S2 specified every 2 seconds, and instead starts issuing the select command with the flag S1 specified within 2 seconds (see FIG. 13).

The suppression unit 222 issues the select command by designating the flag S1 (step S210). The suppression unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S212). State maintenance time is within 2 seconds. When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has arrived (YES in step S212), the inhibiting unit 222 returns to step S210. The suppression unit 222 performs dummy access (issue of the select command of the flag S1) at intervals of 2 seconds or less in order to maintain the B state of the flag S1.

When the suppression unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S212), it determines whether the POS all processing completion notification has been received (step S214). The POS processing unit 210 notifies the operation control unit 228 of the completion of all the POS processing in response to the operation of the completion of all the POS processing by the clerk. Completion of all POS processing means completion of merchandise transaction. For example, when the clerk presses the total deposit button after the reading processing is completed, the completion of all POS processing is notified. The operation control unit 228 notifies the suppression unit 222 and the normal reading unit 224 of the completion of all POS processing. The POS all processing completion notification is also referred to as a commodity transaction processing completion notification.

When the suppression unit 222 determines that the POS all processing completion notification has not been received (NO in step S214), the process returns to step S212. If the suppression unit 222 determines that the POS all processing completion notification has been received (YES in step S214), the process returns to step S202. The inhibition unit 222 stops issuing the select command (S1) of the flag S1 within an interval of 2 seconds, and restarts issuing the select command of the flag S2 within an interval of 2 seconds (see FIG. 13).

Next, proceed to FIG. 12B. In FIG. 12B, the normal reading unit 224 performs the reading process of the target tag. In the normal reading process, the normal reading unit 224 makes a setting for weakening the radio wave intensity in the suppression process (step S220). For example, it is set to -3 dB compared to the radio field intensity of the suppression process.

The normal reading unit 224 determines whether the transaction start notification has been received (step S222). When the normal reading unit 224 determines that there is no transaction start notification (NO in step S222), the process returns to step S222.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the transaction start notification is received (YES in step S222), it issues the inventory command with the flag S2 specified (step S224). In the normal reading process, the inventory command is frequently issued (see FIG. 13). As a result, only the tag whose flag S2 is in the A state, that is, only the target tag before reading is read.

The normal reading unit 224 determines whether reading of all tags has been completed (step S226). When the normal reading unit 224 determines that reading of all tags is not completed (NO in step S226), the process returns to step S224.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the reading of all the tags is completed (YES in step S226), the operation control unit 228 determines whether the POS process is completed (step S228).

When the POS processing unit 210 determines that the POS processing is not completed (NO in step S228), the process returns to step S224. When the POS processing unit 210 determines that the POS processing is completed (YES in step S228), the POS processing unit 210 determines whether the POS all processing completion notification has been received (step S230).

When the store clerk determines that all the POS processing has been completed, he/she presses the total deposit button (not shown) of the POS terminal device 10, for example. When the POS processing unit 210 detects that the store clerk presses the total deposit button, the POS processing unit 210 notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the completion of all POS processing.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the POS all processing completion notification has not been received (NO in step S230), the process returns to step S224. When the normal reading unit 224 determines that it has received the POS all processing completion notification (YES in step S230), it finishes issuing the inventory command and ends the normal reading processing (see FIG. 13). The normal reading unit 224 returns to step S222 and waits for a new transaction start notification.

According to the third embodiment described above, power is supplied to non-target tags by repeatedly issuing a dummy access (select command of flag S1) within the predetermined maintenance time shown in FIG. The B state of the flag continues, and the target flag can be read reliably.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, since the radio wave intensity of the suppression process is set to be stronger than that of the normal reading process (for example, +3 dB higher than that of the normal reading process), the normal reading process is performed regardless of the normal reading process. It is possible to keep the non-target tags in a wider range (a range of about 1.4 times in a linear distance) than the range in the suppressed state.

Further, by making the radio field intensity during the normal reading process weaker (for example, -3 dB) than the non-target tag suppressing process, it is possible to reliably prevent reading of the non-target tag near the reading area limit. It should be noted that since the processing of the non-target tags around is executed independently (at intervals of less than 2 seconds) on the non-target tag suppression processing side, it is not necessary to be aware of the 2-second cycle on the normal reading processing side. Even after the reading process is completed, there is a degree of freedom in the time for irregular handling.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The fourth embodiment is a process in which the new product detection process is added to the third embodiment and the radio field intensity is set to three levels. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the area G and the tag in the POS processing. In the fourth embodiment, an area G3 is set as a radio wave range for new product detection processing, a G2 area is set as a radio wave range for suppression processing, and a G1 area is set as a radio wave range for normal reading processing.

The G3 area is an area where products are detected in advance, and there is only one customer in line at the counter (following people wait in front of this). The G2 area is an area on the counter, and in addition to products to be handled (sales), products not to be handled such as returned products may be placed. The G1 area is an area obtained by further narrowing the G2 area and is an area for normal reading. The size of the radio range has a relationship of area G1<G2 area<G3 area.

15A, 15B, and 15C are flowcharts illustrating the procedure of the reading process according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a time chart showing the reading operation in the fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, the three processes of the new product detection process, the suppression process, and the normal reading process are performed by one RFID reader 20 and the POS terminal device 10, and are performed independently and in parallel.

FIG. 15A is a procedure of a new product detection process. The new product detection process is mainly performed by the new product detection unit 226. The new product detection unit 226 sets the radio field intensity to high (step S300). For example, it is set to +3 dB compared to the inhibition processing and +6 dB compared to the normal reading processing.

The new product detection unit 226 issues an inventory command with the flag S3 specified at a relatively high frequency (for example, every 0.1 seconds) to read the new product (step S302). The radio range issued by the new product detection unit 226 is the G3 area in FIG.

The reason why the radio wave intensity of the new product detection process is set higher than that of the suppression process is to prevent the tag detected by the new product detection process from being suppressed by the suppression process and becoming unreadable by the normal reading process.

The new product detection unit 226 determines whether a new tag has been detected (step S304). When the new product detection unit 226 determines that no new tag is detected (NO in step S304), the process returns to step S302. When the new product detection unit 226 determines that a new tag has been detected (YES in step S304), it notifies the suppression unit 222 and the normal reading unit 224 of the tag detection (step S306).

FIG. 15B is the procedure of the suppression process. The suppression processing is mainly performed by the suppression unit 222. In the non-target tag suppression processing, the suppression unit 222 sets the radio field intensity to medium (step S320). For example, it is set to +3 dB as compared with the radio field intensity of a normal reading process.

In the standby time period when there are no customers, the suppression unit 222 periodically issues a select command specifying the flag S2 at intervals of 2 seconds or less (step S322, see FIG. 16).

The suppression unit 222 determines whether a new tag is detected in the G3 area (step S324). As described in step S306, the new product detection unit 226 notifies the suppression unit 222 of new tag detection.

When the deterrent unit 222 determines that a new tag is not detected in the G3 area (NO in step S324), the deterrent unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S326). The state maintenance time is 2 seconds. When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S326), the process returns to step S324. When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has reached (YES in step S326), the process returns to step S322. The inhibiting unit 222 makes a dummy access at intervals of 2 seconds in order to maintain the B state of the flag S2.

If the suppression unit 222 determines that a new tag has been detected in the G3 area based on the notification from step S306 (YES in step S324), it performs the flag changing process. The suppression unit 222 stops the issuance of the select command with the flag S2 every two seconds, and instead starts the issuance of the select command with the flag S1 (S1) every two seconds (see FIG. 16).

The suppression unit 222 issues a select command by designating S1 (step S330). The suppression unit 222 determines whether the state maintaining time has been reached (step S332). The state maintenance time is 2 seconds. When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has reached (YES in step S332), the inhibiting unit 222 returns to step S330. The inhibition unit 222 performs dummy access (issue of the select command of the flag S1) at intervals of 2 seconds in order to maintain the B state of the flag S1.

When the deterrent unit 222 determines that the state maintaining time has not arrived (NO in step S332), the deterrent unit 222 determines whether the POS all processing completion notification has been received (step S334). The process is the same as step S214.

When the inhibiting unit 222 determines that the POS all process completion notification has not been received (NO in step S334), the process returns to step S332. When the suppression unit 222 determines that the POS all processing completion notification has been received (YES in step S334), the process returns to step S322. The inhibition unit 222 stops the issuance of the select command (S1) with the flag S1 for every 2 seconds, and restarts the issuance of the select command with the flag S2 for every 2 seconds (see FIG. 16).

Proceed to FIG. 15C. FIG. 15C shows the procedure of a normal reading process. The normal reading process is mainly performed by the normal reading unit 224. The normal reading unit 224 sets the radio field intensity to small (step S340). For example, it is set to -3 dB as compared with the radio field intensity of the suppression process.

The normal reading unit 224 determines whether a new tag is detected in the G3 area (step S342). As described in step S306, the new product detection unit 226 notifies the normal reading unit 224 of the new tag detection.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that a new tag is not detected in the G3 area (NO in step S342), step S342 is repeated. When the normal reading unit 224 determines that a new tag is detected in the G3 area (YES in step S342), it determines whether the POS transaction service is in progress (step S344). When the normal reading unit 224 determines from the notification from the POS processing unit 210 that the POS transaction service is not in progress (NO in step S344), the process proceeds to step S352. During the POS transaction service is a period during which the store clerk receives the product, performs an operation of reading the RFID tag of the received product, and confirms the read display. If the POS service is stopped, this process is ignored.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the POS transaction service is in progress (YES in step S344), it issues the inventory command with the flag S2 designated (step S346). In the normal reading process, the inventory command is frequently issued (see FIG. 16). As a result, only the tag whose flag S2 is in the A state, that is, only the target tag before reading is read.

The normal reading unit 224 determines whether reading of all tags has been completed (step S348). When the normal reading unit 224 determines that reading of all tags is not completed (NO in step S348), the process returns to step S346.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the reading of all tags is completed (YES in step S348), the normal reading unit 224 determines whether the POS process is completed (step S350). The POS processing unit 210 receives the POS processing completion operation from the store clerk and notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the POS processing completion.

When the POS processing unit 210 determines that the POS processing is not completed (NO in step S350), the process returns to step S346. When the POS processing unit 210 determines that the POS processing is completed (YES in step S350), the POS processing unit 210 determines whether the POS all processing completion notification has been received (step S352). When the POS processing unit 210 detects that the store clerk presses the total deposit button, the POS processing unit 210 notifies the RFID reader control unit 220 of the completion of all POS processing.

When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the POS all processing completion notification has not been received (NO in step S352), the process returns to step S346. When the normal reading unit 224 determines that the POS all process completion notification has been received (YES in step S352), the issue of the issue of the inventory command ends, and the normal reading process ends (see FIG. 16). The normal reading unit 224 returns to step S342 and waits for a new tag to be detected in the G3 area.

According to the fourth embodiment described above, power is supplied to the non-target tag by repeatedly issuing dummy access (select command of flag S1) within the predetermined maintenance time shown in FIG. The B state of 2 is continued, and the target flag can be read reliably.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, the tag newly brought into the POS terminal device 10 is automatically detected in the G3 area, so that the load on the clerk can be reduced. Further, since the new product detection area (G3 area) is made sufficiently larger than the inhibition area (G2 area), it is possible to reliably detect the tag newly brought into the POS terminal device 10.

Further, in the new product detection process, the tag approaching the POS terminal device 10 is detected as the target tag subjected to the POS process. However, even when an irrelevant tag that is not the target tag approaches the POS terminal device 10, it may be detected by the new product detection process. Two examples of irregular processing for eliminating an irrelevant tag in the new product detection processing will be described.

FIG. 17 is a time chart explaining the first irregular processing. An unrelated tag may temporarily pass through the G3 area. In this case, the control process once shifts to the inhibition process and the normal reading process, but if a new tag is not detected in the G1 area within a fixed time (for example, 10 seconds) after the start of the normal reading process, the POS process is performed. The unit 210 performs a time-out process. The store clerk may judge the time-out and operate.

FIG. 18 is a time chart illustrating the second irregular processing. This is a case where an irrelevant tag is temporarily passed along the route of G3 area→G2 area→G1 area. If the POS processing unit 210 is not in a transaction, and the POS processing unit 210 does not start the reading process even after a lapse of a certain time (for example, 10 seconds) after the reading is started, the tag is regarded as an irrelevant tag and systematically invalidated. You can deal with it. Further, when the POS terminal device 10 is under transaction, the clerk may invalidate the irrelevant tag by confirming the actual item or quantity on the screen.

In the fourth embodiment, by using an antenna other than the antenna 25 for the G3 area, it is possible to concentrate the customer side in a row different from that in FIG.

<Fifth Embodiment>
According to the first to fourth embodiments, the tag that already exists in the counter 50 becomes unreadable due to the suppression process. However, there are cases where it is necessary to read a tag that has already existed in the counter 50 and has been suppressed. The fifth embodiment is a process of reading a tag, which is present in the counter 50 and which has been subjected to the suppression process, as a target tag by using the clear box. An example in which the flag clearing process is applied to the configuration of the fourth embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 19 is an external view of the POS system 2 of the fifth embodiment. The POS system 2 is an example of a configuration in which a clear box 60 is added to the basic configuration of the POS system 2. The clear box 60 is a radio wave shielding box that shields radio waves from the outside.

The clear box 60 is arranged above the counter 50 beside the POS terminal device 10. The second antenna 25b is provided inside the clear box 60. An antenna 25 and a second antenna 25b are connected to the RFID reader 20.

FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram relating to RFID reader control of the POS system 2. Regarding the functional block diagram relating to the RFID reader control of the POS system 2, differences from the functional block diagram of the POS system 1 of FIG. 3 will be mainly described.

The RFID reader control unit 220 further includes a flag clear processing unit 230. The flag clear processing unit 230 causes the RFID reader 20 to issue a clear command for switching the flag of the RFID tag stored in the clear box 60 to the response permission state.

In addition to the antenna 25, a second antenna 25b is connected to the RFID reader 20. The second antenna 25b is housed inside the clear box 60. The flag clear processing unit 230 instructs the RFID reader 20 to issue a clear command from the second antenna 25b.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the radio wave area and the tag. As an example, a case where the customer's reserved item (2 points) is placed on the counter (inhibited state) and the customer comes to receive the item will be described. As described above, the configuration based on the fourth embodiment will be described. The G3 area, G2 area, and G1 area are the same as in the fourth embodiment.

Then, as described in the fourth embodiment, the flag S3 of the RFID tag already existing in the G3 area has the B state maintained by the new product detection process, and the flag S3 of the RFID tag already existing in the G2 area. In S2, the B state is maintained by the inhibition process.

As a result, since the customer's reserved item (target tag Tc) is already placed in the G3 area and the G2 area, it cannot be read (detected) with the flag S3, and the reading with the flag S2 is also in a suppressed state. The status is unreadable. Note that No1 to No6 are numbers that sequentially indicate the operation procedure of the clerk.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the flag clearing process. When the customer comes to the store, the clerk puts the reserved item (target tag Tc) of the customer in the clear box 60 and executes the flag clearing process. The RFID tag flag clearing process is mainly performed by the flag clearing processing unit 230.

The store clerk stores the customer's reserved item (target tag Tc) placed on the counter 50 in the clear box 60 and closes the door (No1→No2 in FIG. 21). The flag clear processing unit 230 determines whether the door of the clear box 60 is in the closed state (step S400). The closed state of the door of the clear box 60 is detected by the RFID reader controller 220 based on, for example, a signal from a sensor (not shown) of the door of the clear box 60.

When the flag clear processing unit 230 determines that the door of the clear box 60 is not in the closed state (NO in step S400), step S400 is repeated. When the flag clear processing unit 230 determines that the door of the clear box 60 is closed (YES in step S400), the flag clear processing unit 230 sends a select command for changing the flag of the target tag Tc from the B state to the A state to the RFID reader 20. It is issued from the second antenna 25b.

Specifically, the flag clear processing unit 230 alternately outputs a select command for clearing the S2 flag (B to A state) and a select command for clearing the S3 flag (B to A state) from the second antenna 25b. The RFID reader 20 is instructed to issue it (step S402, see FIG. 23).

The flag clear processing unit 230 determines whether the issuance of the select command has been executed twice (step S404). When the flag clear processing unit 230 determines that the select command is issued twice (YES in step S404), the flag clear processing is completed. The select command may be issued once. In this embodiment, the processing is executed twice in order to perform the processing more reliably. The flag clear processing unit 230 may issue a completion notification to the POS processing unit 210.

Next, the clerk takes out the customer's reserved item (target tag Ta1) from the clear box 60 (No3 in FIG. 21) and moves it to the reading position (No4, No5 in FIG. 21). The reading process according to the fourth embodiment is directly applied to the processes after the flag clearing process. This product state is in the same state as that of a normal customer bringing a product placed in the store to the counter cash register. That is, the product can be detected as a new product in the G3 area and can be read in the G1 area.

Specifically, the customer's reserved product (target tag Ta1) is detected by the new product detection unit 226 as a new product in the G3 area, and the following process is triggered by this. The other products in the G2 area are switched from the flag S2 to the flag S1 and the suppressed state is maintained. When the customer's reserved item enters the G1 area, it is treated as a transaction item. After the reading process, the store clerk hands the customer's reserved item (target tag Ta3) to the customer (No6 in FIG. 21).

The flag clearing process may be started by a method other than the door closed state detection of the clear box 60 described above. For example, similar to the reading process of the first embodiment and the like, an activation switch is prepared on the POS terminal device 10, and the RFID reader 20 is caused to issue a select command for flag clear (described in step S402) by operating the activation switch. You may do it. Alternatively, it may be activated by a manual operation after closing the clear box 60. Further, the issue of the select command may be always executed. In addition, generally, the flag clear process itself can be completed in a short time of less than 1 second.

In the above description, as the fifth embodiment, an example in which the flag clear processing is applied to the configuration of the fourth embodiment has been described. According to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the detection of a new product in the G3 area (flag S3) is a trigger for starting a normal reading process (explained in step S342), and thus signal cooperation with the flag clearing process is unnecessary. become.

Further, as the fifth embodiment, it is also possible to apply the flag clear processing to the configurations of the first to third embodiments. In this case, it can be easily realized by using "completion of flag clear processing" as a start trigger for normal reading processing. Further, since it can be realized in cooperation with an instruction from the same POS terminal device 10 and the same RFID reader 20, the configuration is also easy. In the case of the first to third embodiments, the flag clearing process may be performed only in the clear box 60 by clearing the S2 flag.

As for the antenna for the clear box 60, only the second antenna 25b may be connected to the RFID reader 20 used in the first to fourth embodiments.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, by using the clear box 60, even the target tag Tc that is already present in the counter 50 and that has been subjected to the suppression processing can clear the flag in a short time and reliably and read it.

As another method for clearing the target tag Tc (state from B to A), it can be realized by placing it in a general (open) environment where radio waves do not hit for a certain period of time. However, there are some cases where it takes several tens of seconds or more for the S2/S3 flag holding regulation of 2 seconds or more, and it is in the field to prepare a general (open) and reliable environment where radio waves do not hit. It's getting harder. On the other hand, the flag clear processing takes less than 1 second.

The RFID reader control unit (RFID reader control device) 220 in each embodiment has been described as an example realized by software processing, but a part or all may be configured by hardware.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention at the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments may be combined appropriately. Furthermore, the constituent elements of different embodiments may be combined appropriately. It goes without saying that various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1, 2 POS system
10 POS terminal device 20 RFID reader 25 antenna 25b second antenna 50 counter 60 clear box 100 CPU
102 RAM
104 ROM
106 graphic processing unit 108 input/output IF
110 Communication IF
200 POS control section 210 POS processing section 220 Reader control section 222 Suppressing section 224 Normal reading section 226 New product detection section 228 Operation control section 230 Flag clear processing section

Claims (13)

In an RFID reader control device that controls an RFID reader that reads an RFID tag provided with a flag that can switch between a response-permitted state and a response-non-permitted state,
A suppression unit that causes the RFID reader to issue a suppression command for suppressing the response of the RFID tag by setting the flag to the response disapproval state,
A reading unit for issuing a reading command instructing to read the RFID tag from the RFID reader;
An operation control unit that controls the operations of the suppressing unit and the reading unit;
The operation control unit,
Until the instruction to read a new RFID tag is issued, the inhibition command is issued from the RFID reader to the inhibition unit so that the flag of the RFID tag existing in the area where the RFID tag is read is set to the response non-permission state. Let it be issued,
If there is a reading instruction of the new RFID tag, said stopping the issuance of restraining command from the RFID reader, to start issuing commands for reading said from the RFID reader to the reading unit to the inhibiting unit ,
The RFID reader control device, wherein when the reading unit finishes reading the new RFID tag, the inhibiting unit restarts issuing of the inhibiting command from the RFID reader. The new RFID tag, the area in which the reading of the RFID tag is performed, RFID reader control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the RFID tag is brought newly from outside. 2. The inhibiting unit causes the RFID reader to issue the inhibiting command at predetermined time intervals so that the response non-permission state of the flag of the RFID tag is continuously maintained. RFID reader controller. The RFID reader control device according to claim 1, wherein the types of flags of the suppression command and the reading command are the same type. Further, the deterrence unit causes the RFID reader to issue a maintenance command for maintaining the flag in the response disapproval state by the suppression command after the issuance command is issued,
For the operation control unit, when a reading instruction of the new RFID tag, the said inhibiting portion to stop the issuance of the restraining command from the RFID reader, and reading the from the RFID reader to the reading unit A command issuance is started, and at the same time, the suppression unit is caused to issue the maintenance command from the RFID reader.
The RFID reader control device according to claim 1, wherein: The RFID reader control device according to claim 5, wherein the inhibiting unit specifies a type of the flag of the maintaining command that is different from a type of the flag of the inhibiting command. The RFID reader control device according to claim 5, wherein the suppression unit sets the radio field intensities of the suppression command and the maintenance command to be larger than the radio field intensity of the reading command. The operation control unit receives a transaction processing completion notification of a product corresponding to the new RFID tag after the reading of the new RFID tag is completed, and then the deterrence unit receives the deterrence command from the RFID reader. The RFID reader control device according to claim 1, wherein issuance is resumed. A new product detection unit for issuing a new product detection command for detecting the new RFID tag from the RFID reader,
The RFID reader according to claim 1, wherein the operation control unit determines that there is an instruction to read the new RFID tag when the new RFID tag is detected by the new product detection unit. Control device. The new product detection unit sets the radio field intensity of the new product detection command to be larger than the radio field intensity of the suppression command, and detects the new RFID tag existing outside the radio range of the suppression command. The RFID reader control device according to claim 9, wherein. The RFID reader control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the RFID reader control device is mounted on a POS terminal device. In an RFID reader control method for controlling an RFID reader for reading an RFID tag provided with a flag capable of switching between a response permission state and a response non-permission state,
Until a new RFID tag read instruction is issued, the RFID reader issues a suppression command so that the flag of the RFID tag existing in the area where the RFID tag is read is set to the response non-permission state,
Wherein when there is a reading instruction of a new RFID tag, said stopping the issuance of restraining command from the RFID reader, to start issuing the command preparative RFID reader or Ra読,
The RFID reader control method, wherein when the reading of the new RFID tag is completed by the reading command, the issuing of the inhibition command is restarted from the RFID reader. In a program that causes a computer to execute a control method for controlling an RFID reader that reads an RFID tag provided with a flag that can switch between a response-permitted state and a response-non-permitted state,
The control method is
Until a new RFID tag read instruction is issued, the RFID reader issues a suppression command so that the flag of the RFID tag existing in the area where the RFID tag is read is set to the response non-permission state,
Wherein when there is a reading instruction of a new RFID tag, said stopping the issuance of restraining command from the RFID reader, to start issuing the command preparative RFID reader or Ra読,
A program for restarting the issuing of the inhibition command from the RFID reader when the reading of the new RFID tag is completed by the reading command.