System for exchanging data remotely with an nfc radio tag

Technical field of the invention

0001The present invention relates to a system for exchanging data remotely with a radio tag, preferably of the NFC type.

State of the art

0002Radio tags, comprising a memory, a microprocessor and an antenna, are becoming more and more widespread. These are most often passive, that is to say they do not have any source to power their internal circuits. Their antenna allows them to capture electromagnetic signals emitted by a reading/writing station placed within range (less than 10 centimeters) and transforms these signals into electrical energy using inductive technology. The reading/writing station supplies said radio tag and communicates with it by modulating the electromagnetic signal. It can thus write data into the memory of the radio tag and read the data stored in said memory. These radio tags operate using so-called near field technology (NFC for “Near Field Communication”).

0003As written above, to be able to read data from the radio tag or write data to it, the station must be positioned close to the radio tag, that is to say at a distance of less than 10 centimeters . However, it is possible that the radio tag is placed in a location that is not easily accessible or which one does not wish to access each time a communication must be established. This will be the case, for example, of a radio tag placed inside an electrical cabinet kept closed.

0004The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a system making it possible to exchange data with a radio tag of the type described above, remotely, that is to say with a greater range than that normally provided for. this kind of radio label.

0005Patent publication<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2006116084A"><text>WO2006/116084</text></patcit> discloses a system for exchanging data between a reading station and a radio tag. The data is read from the radio tag memory and stored in a cache memory.

Presentation of the invention

0006This goal is achieved by a system for exchanging data, remotely, between a reading station and a radio tag, said system comprising the characteristics defined by claim 1.

0007According to another particularity, the wireless connection operates according to a ZIGBEE, ZIGBEE Green Power or BLUETOOTH type communication protocol.

0008According to another particularity, the first assembly is powered by a power source chosen from a cell, a battery or an electrical distribution network.

0009According to another particularity, the second assembly is arranged to be powered by inductive technology by the reading station and/or by a power source chosen from a cell, a battery or an electrical distribution network.

0010According to another particularity, the first set includes a display member activated when communication is established between the first set and the second set.

0011According to another particularity, the first assembly comprises a housing housing the reading interface and the first means of communication.

0012According to another particularity, the second assembly comprises a housing, distinct from the housing of the first assembly, housing the second means of communication and the remote radio tag.

Brief description of the figures

0013Other characteristics and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows, made in conjunction with the<figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref> which represents the system of the invention making it possible to exchange data remotely with a radio tag.

Detailed description of at least one embodiment

0014The invention relates to a system for exchanging data remotely with a radio tag, preferably of the NFC type.

0015In the present description it should be understood that the data exchange consists of reading data stored in the radio tag and in writing data in the radio tag. By "reading station" and "reading interface" of a radio tag, it must therefore be understood that this station and this interface are also capable of writing data in a radio tag.

0016A reading station could for example be installed in a mobile terminal, such as for example a mobile phone or a tablet.

0017A radio tag is well known and communicates for example using near field technology (NFC for “Near Field Communication”). Such a radio tag comprises a memory M1 making it possible to store a unique identifier UID1 and data D1, a microprocessor UC1 making it possible in particular to read the data contained in the memory M1 and to write data therein and an antenna A1 making it possible to communicate with an external playback station. The radio tag is preferably passive, that is to say it does not have an internal source to power its electronic circuits. Its antenna picks up an electromagnetic signal emitted by an antenna of the reading station positioned within range and, using inductive technology, converts it into electrical energy to be exploited by its internal circuits.

0018In reference to the<figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>, the system of the invention is intended to allow the remote exchange of data between a radio tag R1, called the main one, as described above and a reading station ST. The main R1 radio tag is for example positioned in a place that is difficult to access or in a place kept closed. It is for example attached to equipment and is intended to store data relating to this equipment.

0019The system of the invention thus comprises a first assembly E1 composed of a reading interface 10 and first communication means 11. This first assembly is powered by a power source SA1, composed for example of a battery, 'a battery or an electrical distribution network. The first set E1 is positioned close to the main radio tag R1, that is to say within range of the latter, so that the reading interface 10 can exchange data with the radio tag R1 main. The reading interface 10 comprises an antenna A10 making it possible to magnetically couple with the antenna A1 of the main radio tag R1 in order to power it and communicate with it and a microcontroller UC10 memorizing a unique identifier UID2 and allowing it to control the reading of data stored in the main R1 radio tag or the writing of data in the main R1 radio tag.

0020The reading interface 10 is connected to the first communication means 11 and its microcontroller UC10 is arranged to control the sending of one or more signals via said first communication means 11. The first communication means 11 can communicate by wired or wireless connection. Preferably, these means of communication communicate by wireless connection and are capable of exchanging data following a specific communication protocol, for example ZIGBEE, ZIGBEE Green Power or BLUETOOTH.

0021The first assembly E1 comprises for example a housing containing the reading interface 10 and the first communication means 11, this housing being intended to be fixed within range of the main radio tag R1, at a sufficient distance so that the interface reading 10 or in magnetic coupling with the main radio tag R1.

0022The system of the invention comprises a second assembly E2 comprising second communication means 21 and a radio tag R2, called remote, connected to the second communication means 21. The remote radio tag R2, like the main radio tag R1, comprises a microprocessor UC20 for controlling the second means of communication 21, a memory M20 for storing a unique identifier UID3 and data representative of the signals received by the second means of communication 21 and an antenna A20 to communicate with the ST reading station. The remote radio tag R2 is arranged to be able to control the second communication means 21 in order to be able to exchange data with the reading interface 10 located in the first set E1.

0023The second communication means 21 are arranged to communicate with the first communication means 11 by wired connection, for example via a serial or Ethernet protocol, or through a wireless connection, via the adopted communication protocol, for example ZIGBEE, ZIGBEE Green Power or BLUETOOTH.

0024The second assembly E2 comprises a housing containing the remote radio tag R2 and the second communication means 21. This housing is positioned so as to establish communication with the first assembly E1, via the wired or wireless connection.

0025The system is intended to be positioned between the main R1 radio tag and the ST reading station. The ST reading station is placed within range of the remote R2 radio tag in order to be able to power it as well as exchange data with it. The reading interface 10 is for its part positioned within range of the main radio tag R1 in order to be able to read and/or write data D1 there.

0026The reading station ST is associated with a man-machine interface making it possible to control the reading of the data stored in the remote R2 radio tag and the writing of data in this remote R2 radio tag. This reading station ST is for example installed in a mobile terminal as described above.

0027The remote R2 tag radio is self-powered by electrical energy generated by inductive technology when the ST reading station is approached. This electrical energy is preferably used to also power the second means of communication 21. However, if its quantity is insufficient, it is possible to power, partially or in full, the second means of communication 21 and/or the remote radio tag R2 with another power source SA2, for example a battery, a battery or the electrical network.

0028According to the invention, the remote R2 radio tag is previously associated with the main R1 radio tag so as to only exchange data with the main R1 radio tag. The connection between the ST reading station and the main R1 radio tag is secured by relying on the NFC capabilities of both sets. Securing the communication will be achieved by generating a unique token based on the unique identifiers of the main R1 radio tag, the reading interface 10 and the remote R2 radio tag.

0029The system of the invention operates as follows: Pairing/configuration phase: The first step consists of pairing the main radio tag R1 attached to equipment with the reading interface 10 of the first set. For that :<ul id="ul0001" list-style="dash"><li>the operator positions the reading interface 10 in pairing mode in order to store information on the equipment in its memory, for example its description, a photo, its geographical position.</li><li>By approaching the reading interface 10 of the main R1 radio tag, the reading interface 10 also recovers the unique identifier UID1 of the main R1 radio tag.</li></ul>

0030The second step is to pair the first set to the second set. For that :<ul id="ul0002" list-style="dash"><li>The operator approaches the first set E1 of the second set E2 so that the reading interface 10 and the remote radio tag R2 exchange their respective unique identifiers and the reading interface 10 also transmits the unique identifier UID1 of the radio -main R1 label to the remote R2 radio label. The three unique identifiers UID1, UID2 and UID3 constitute the pairing token used for any communication between the first set E1 and the second set E2.</li><li>The remote R2 radio tag can also retrieve equipment description information.</li></ul>

0031Once pairing is complete, communication between the main R1 radio tag and the ST reading station begins with an initialization phase, described below:<ul id="ul0003" list-style="dash"><li>The operator approaches the reading station ST of the remote radio tag R2, making it possible to power, by induction via the NFC, the electronic circuits of the remote radio tag R2 and to activate the second means of communication 21.</li><li>By approaching the reading station ST of the remote radio tag R2, communication between the second communication means 21 and the first communication means 11 is established, allowing an exchange of the unique identifiers UID1, UID2, UID3 for verification.</li><li>In the event of a mismatch between the unique identifiers, communication between the ST reading station and the main R1 radio tag will not be possible. If validated, the main R1 radio tag will authorize the exchange of data with the ST reading station.</li></ul>

0032After validation of the communication, the equipment description information is for example sent to the reading station ST, for example for display via a dedicated application executed on the station. In an alternative embodiment, this information can be displayed directly on a screen associated with the remote radio tag R2 or on a screen present on the reading interface 10. According to the invention, a display member, for example a light-emitting diode L1, is for example positioned on the first assembly E1 so as to signal the establishment of communication.

0033Once communication has been established, from the main radio tag R1 to the reading station ST, the data exchange can be carried out according to two distinct embodiments.

0034In the first embodiment, the data stored in the main R1 radio tag are reproduced in full in the remote R2 radio tag. The remote R2 radio tag is therefore the perfect image of the main R1 radio tag. The reading interface 10 periodically reads the data stored in the main radio tag R1 and is sent over the same period to the second set E2 in order to be written in the memory of the remote radio tag R2. Thus, when the operator approaches the reading station ST of the remote radio tag R2, it is as if he were approaching his station ST of the main radio tag R1. The principle is the same when writing data to the main R1 radio tag. The data is written in the remote R2 radio tag and is transferred periodically to the main R1 radio tag.

0035In the second embodiment, the data exchanges are carried out at the request of the reading station ST. The data written in the remote R2 radio tag are those requested by the reading station ST from the main R1 radio tag. In this second embodiment, the reading station ST writes a read or write request in the remote radio tag R2, said request is transferred to the reading interface 10, which then executes the request in the radio tag R1 main. In the case of data reading, the information read is sent back into the remote radio tag R2 so that it can be transmitted to the reading station ST.

0036According to the invention, the same first set could be dedicated to several radio tags. In this configuration, the reading interface 10 includes for example a correspondence table allowing it to associate each radio tag with a separate remote radio tag.

0037The system of the invention therefore has numerous advantages listed below:<ul id="ul0004" list-style="dash"><li>possibility of exchanging data with a radio tag, even if it is located in a place with restricted or difficult access,</li><li>solution that is quasi-autonomous in energy and active only when the reading station is approached,</li><li>compatibility with known wired or wireless communication protocols,</li><li>reading security thanks to the pairing made between the radio tag and the remote radio tag,</li><li>ease of installation,</li><li>compactness, because it only requires two sets,</li><li>possibility of maintaining a standard reading station, such as that already present in mobile terminals.</li></ul>