Information processing system, information processing method, writing device, and writing method

Abstract

To efficiently write data to IC tags. [Solution] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a writing device that writes data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device. The information processing device has a storage unit that stores tag identification information that identifies the IC tag and IC tag position information that indicates the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium. The writing device has an acquisition unit that transmits medium identification information that identifies the printing medium to the information processing device and acquires IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag position information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, a writing device, and a writing method.

Background Art

[0002] With the spread of inventory management and sales management of products using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), the production of IC tags having an antenna and an IC (Integrated Circuit) chip electrically connected to the antenna has been expanding. When manufacturing an IC tag, it is configured to write individual data to each IC tag on a continuous sheet where the IC tags are continuously arranged. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a manufacturing apparatus in which a label sheet having a large number of wireless chip-attached labels temporarily attached to a strip-shaped release paper is conveyed, and data is written to each wireless chip.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, conventionally, when writing data to each IC tag on a continuous sheet, in order to prevent radio wave interference between adjacent writing antennas, the arrangement of the writing antennas may be optimized according to the arrangement of the IC tags or the writing antennas may be shielded with a cover, which may not be efficient.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to efficiently write data to an IC tag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a writing device for writing data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, and an information processing device for communicating with the writing device, wherein the information processing device has a storage unit that stores tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag location information indicating the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium, and the writing device has an acquisition unit that transmits medium identification information for identifying the printing medium to the information processing device and acquires IC tag location information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information acquired by the acquisition unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic system configuration of an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a plan view of the continuous paper used in the IC tag issuance system. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of section G and an enlarged cross-sectional view of section XX. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the data structure for the TID map and the print data allocation map. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the data structure of an EPC data allocation map. [Figure 6] This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a printing device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of an encoding device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of antenna arrangement when viewing the encoding device in Figure 7 from a plan view. [Figure 9]This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of an inspection device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] This diagram shows the configuration of the server control system in one embodiment of an IC tag issuance system. [Figure 11] This diagram shows the configuration of the control system for the printing device and the encoding device in one embodiment of an IC tag issuing system. [Figure 12] This is a flowchart showing the printing process in a printing device. [Figure 13] Figure 8 illustrates the relationship between the antenna arrangement of the encoding device and the tag arrangement of the continuous paper. [Figure 14] This figure shows an example of the position of continuous paper being transported on the transport surface of an encoding device. [Figure 15] This figure shows an example of the data structure of write status data. [Figure 16] This is a flowchart showing the encoding process in an encoding device. [Figure 17] This figure illustrates an example of applying an automatic tagging device to an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. [Figure 18] This figure illustrates the relationship between the antenna arrangement of an encoding device and the tag arrangement of continuous paper, which differs from that shown in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The forms described below are not limited to those shown in the brief description of the drawings.

[0010] A first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system including a writing device that writes data to an IC tag disposed on a printing medium, and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device. The information processing device has a storage unit that stores, for each printing medium, tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating the arrangement position of the IC tag on the printing medium. The writing device transmits medium identification information for identifying the printing medium to the information processing device, and has an acquisition unit that acquires the IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag position information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0011] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0012] A second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is that the writing device has a transport unit having a transport surface for transporting the printing medium, the writing unit includes a plurality of antennas, and a plurality of different regions are associated with each antenna on the transport surface as a communication range of each antenna on the transport surface. When the transport unit transports the printing medium, the writing unit writes data to the IC tag by an antenna corresponding to the region where the IC tag is located among the plurality of regions. The information processing system according to the first aspect.

[0013] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, data writing to an IC tag disposed on a printing medium can be completed in a short time.

[0014] A third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to the second aspect, wherein the plurality of regions include regions spaced apart in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction on the transport surface.

[0015] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, data writing to an IC tag disposed on a printing medium can be completed in a short time.

[0016] A fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to the second or third embodiment, wherein the plurality of regions include regions spaced apart in the transport direction of the printing medium on the transport surface.

[0017] According to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the writing of data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium can be completed in a short time.

[0018] A fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to any one of the second to fourth embodiments, wherein the acquisition unit acquires area allocation information for the allocation of any of the plurality of areas of the IC tag from the information processing device, and the writing unit writes data to the IC tag based on the area allocation information.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the writing device does not need to identify or estimate which area the IC tag to be written to corresponds to.

[0020] A sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to any one of the second to fifth embodiments, wherein the writing unit and each antenna do not write data to IC tags that have already had data written to them among the one or more IC tags in the corresponding area.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, since duplicate data is not written to the IC tag, data writing can be completed more reliably and in a shorter time.

[0022] A seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the IC tag location information includes information indicating the location of an unreadable tag among the IC tags arranged on the printing medium, and the writing unit identifies the location of the unreadable tag based on the IC tag location information and does not write data to the unreadable tag.

[0023] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to write data to invalid tags.

[0024] An eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to any one of the first to seventh embodiments, further comprising a printing device that communicates with the information processing device, wherein the printing device has a printing unit that acquires the IC tag location information from the information processing device and prints print information on the printing medium according to the acquired IC tag location information.

[0025] According to an eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, print information corresponding to each IC tag placed on the printing medium can be printed without error.

[0026] A ninth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to any one of the first to eighth embodiments, wherein the printing medium is accompanied by the medium identification information, the acquisition unit reads the medium identification information from the printing medium, transmits the read medium identification information to the information processing device, and acquires IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device.

[0027] According to a ninth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, IC tag position information corresponding to the printing medium to be processed by the writing device can be reliably obtained.

[0028] A tenth aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention is an information processing method between a writing device that writes data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device, wherein the information processing device stores tag identification information that identifies the IC tag and IC tag position information that indicates the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium, the writing device transmits medium identification information that identifies the printing medium to the information processing device, obtains IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and the writing device writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag position information obtained from the information processing device.

[0029] According to a tenth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0030] An eleventh aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention is a writing device for writing data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, comprising: a communication unit that communicates with an information processing device that stores tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium; an acquisition unit that transmits medium identification information for identifying the printing medium from the communication unit to the information processing device and acquires IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device; and a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag position information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0031] According to an eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0032] A twelfth aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention is a writing method for writing data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, comprising: transmitting medium identification information to an information processing device that stores tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium; obtaining IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device; and writing data to the IC tag according to the obtained IC tag position information.

[0033] According to a twelfth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0034] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, one embodiment of the IC tag issuing system 100 (an example of an information processing system) includes, for example, a continuous paper production system 1, a server 2 (an example of an information processing device), an information processing terminal 3, a printing device 4, an encoding device 5 (an example of a writing device), an inspection device 6, and an automatic adhesive device 7, each connected to a network NW. The network NW is not limited to, but could be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

[0035] The tag production process is a process for producing continuous paper (an example of a printing medium) in which IC tags are connected in a continuous sequence. The tag production process includes a continuous paper production system 1. The continuous paper production system 1 is a system that produces continuous paper using an IC tag manufacturing machine. Although no data is written on each IC tag of the continuous paper produced by the continuous paper production system 1, a unique tag identification information, TID (Tag ID), is recorded on it. For example, nothing is printed on the surface of the IC tags on the continuous paper produced by the continuous paper production system 1.

[0036] Server 2, information processing terminal 3, printing device 4, encoding device 5, and inspection device 6 are provided in the tag issuance process. The tag issuance process is a process in which data is written to each IC tag of continuous paper supplied sequentially from the tag production process, and prints print data corresponding to each IC tag on the surface of the continuous paper.

[0037] Server 2 acquires and stores the data (TID map described later) generated by the continuous paper production system 1 when producing continuous paper. In response to operator input, the information processing terminal 3 issues instructions for assigning print data to each IC tag on the continuous paper and data to be written to each IC tag (EPC (Electronic Product Code) data, described later) based on data stored in the server 2 (TID map, described later). Driver software for assigning print data and EPC data is installed on the information processing terminal 3. The printing device 4 prints print data on the surface of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper supplied from the tag production process. The print data corresponding to the IC tag is not limited to, but could be, for example, a barcode corresponding to a product identification code (e.g., JAN code). The encoding device 5 performs encoding on each IC tag placed on the continuous paper supplied from the tag production process. Encoding performed by the encoding device 5 means, for example, writing EPC data to the EPC memory of the IC tag. EPC data is data such as a product identification code (e.g., JAN code). The inspection device 6 checks, for example, whether EPC data has been correctly written to each IC tag on a continuous sheet of paper. The inspection device 6 can also check, for example, whether the information printed by the printing device 4 is correct. The inspection device 6 may mark IC tags that failed to write EPC data correctly, and IC tags that failed to print print data correctly.

[0038] The automatic adhesive device 7 is provided in the post-processing step. The post-processing step is, for example, a step of separating each IC tag from the continuous paper on which printing and encoding for each IC tag has been completed. The automatic adhesive device 7 peels each IC tag from the continuous paper and attaches it to the item.

[0039] Next, an exemplary continuous sheet 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a plan view of the continuous sheet 10. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of section G in Figure 2 and an enlarged cross-sectional view of section XX. The exemplary continuous paper 10 shown in Figure 2 is a fanfold paper in which pages with multiple columns of IC tags TG arranged in them are folded alternately. In this example, 40 IC tags TG in 10 columns x 4 rows (rows A, B, C, and D) are arranged on one side of a single page, but this is not limited to this arrangement; any arrangement and any number of IC tags can be arranged on one side of a page. Perforations PF are formed between adjacent pages of the continuous paper 10, making it easy to fold. On both sides of the continuous paper 10, sprocket holes 14 are formed at equal intervals along the direction in which the continuous paper 10 is transported (transport direction). Near the beginning of the page in the transport direction in the area where the sprocket hole 14 is formed, for example, a reference mark 12 and code information 13 are printed. The reference mark 12 is a reference mark when transporting the page. As will be described later, the device that transports the continuous paper 10 generates a reference timing signal based on the reference mark 12. For example, each device such as the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 recognizes the position of each page of the transported continuous paper 10 based on the reference timing signal. The code information 13 is, for example, a two-dimensional code as shown in Figure 3, and includes information such as a paper ID (an example of media identification information) that identifies the continuous paper 10 and the page number on the continuous paper 10. The contents of the code information 13 (e.g., paper ID and page number) may be printed in legible characters. This allows the operator to visually confirm whether the continuous paper 10 matches the print data allocation map or EPC data allocation map obtained from the server 2 in association with the paper ID when setting the continuous paper 10 in the printing device 4 or encoding device 5.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the IC tag TG is constructed by sequentially laminating a base material 15, an inlay 11, and plain paper 16. The side of the plain paper 16 opposite to the inlay 11 becomes the printing surface for the printing device 4. The inlay 11 includes an IC chip 111 and a thin-film antenna 112 having a predetermined pattern shape. The IC chip 111 is physically fixed to the antenna 112 by a conductive adhesive and is also electrically connected. The IC chip 111 includes a TID memory for storing TID, which is tag identification information for identifying the IC tag TG, an EPC memory for storing EPC data, a user memory for storing user data, and the like.

[0041] In one embodiment, an adhesive is applied to the surface of the base material 15 facing the backing paper 10a, thereby temporarily attaching the IC tag TG to the backing paper 10a of the continuous paper 10. Therefore, the IC tag TG can be peeled off from the backing paper 10a one by one. In one embodiment, each IC tag TG placed on the continuous paper 10 may be labeled as a "label". In practice, IC tags as labels may be attached to articles, or labels with integrated IC tags may be attached to articles.

[0042] Next, the TID map, print data allocation map, and EPC data allocation map, which are used in the IC tag issuance system 100, will be explained with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the TID map and the print data allocation map. Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the EPC data allocation map. The TID map, print data allocation map, and EPC data allocation map correspond to the arrangement of IC tags on the continuous paper 10 exemplified in Figure 2. The print data allocation map and EPC data allocation map are managed in association with the paper ID, similar to the TID map. The TID map, print data allocation map, and EPC data allocation map are all examples of IC tag location information that show the location of IC tags placed on each page of the continuous paper 10 corresponding to the paper ID.

[0043] A TID map is data that shows the TID of each IC tag and the position of each IC tag on each page of a continuous sheet of paper 10, for example. In the example shown in Figure 4, the TID map describes the TID value of each of the 40 IC tags arranged in 10 columns x 4 rows (rows A, B, C, and D). In Figure 4, it is shown as "TID:xxxx", but the TID is a unique value for each IC tag. The TID map is generated by the continuous paper production system 1. For example, the continuous paper production system 1 generates the TID map by sequentially reading the TID from each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the produced continuous paper 10, for example, page by page of the continuous paper 10. For each continuous paper 10 produced, the continuous paper production system 1 associates the paper ID with the TID map and sends it to the server 2. The server 2 associates the paper ID with the TID map and records it in its internal storage. Furthermore, the TID map may be provided to server 2 indirectly via a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, rather than directly from the continuous paper production system 1 via the network NW.

[0044] The TID map may include information indicating the location of IC tags whose TIDs cannot be read (hereinafter referred to as "unreadable tags"). Figure 4 shows an example where the IC tag located in column C of the 5th column is an unreadable tag, and the value corresponding to that tag is "NR".

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, the print data allocation map is data in which print data (shown as "PD:xxxx" in Figure 4) is assigned to each TID in the TID map. The print data allocation map is generated by Server 2 in the tag issuance process based on the TID map and associated with the paper ID. For example, in the tag issuance process, the issuer of the IC tag uses the information processing terminal 3 to give instructions to assign print data to each IC tag according to the item to which the IC tag will be attached, and Server 2 generates the print data allocation map based on these instructions. Note that it is possible to control the process so that print data is not assigned to unreadable tags (in the example in Figure 4, the IC tag located in row C of the 5th column). In one embodiment, the print data allocation map shows, for example, the correspondence between labels as IC tags placed on each page of continuous paper 10, or labels containing IC tags, and the print data printed on the labels.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the EPC data assignment map is data in which EPC data (shown as "EPC:xxxx" in Figure 5) is assigned to each TID in the print data assignment map. The EPC data assignment map is generated by the server 2 based on the print data assignment map and associated with the paper ID, for example, in the tag issuance process. For example, in the tag issuance process, the issuer of the IC tag uses the information processing terminal 3 to give instructions to assign EPC data corresponding to the item to which the IC tag will be attached to each individual IC tag, and the server 2 generates the EPC data assignment map based on these instructions. In other words, the print data and EPC data corresponding to the item to which the IC tag will be attached are associated and assigned to each individual IC tag for each TID. Note that it is possible to control the assignment of EPC data to unreadable tags (in the example in Figure 5, the IC tag located in row C of the 5th column). In one embodiment, the EPC assignment map shows, for example, the correspondence between labels as IC tags arranged on each page of continuous paper 10, or labels containing IC tags, and the data written to the labels.

[0047] Next, the configurations of the printing device 4, encoding device 5, and inspection device 6 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the printing device 4. Figure 7 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the encoding device 5. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of antenna arrangement when the encoding device 5 in Figure 7 is viewed from above. Figure 9 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the inspection device 6.

[0048] Figure 6 shows the configuration of the printing device 4 when the printing device 4 employs an electrophotographic method. The printing device 4 includes a first transport unit 41, a second transport unit 42, a rotary encoder 43, a paper out sensor 44, transport rollers 451-453, a scanner 46, a printing unit 47, a light fixing unit 473, a filter unit 474, and a stacker 49. The first transport section 41, the second transport section 42, and the transport rollers 451 to 453 constitute a transport mechanism for transporting continuous paper 10. The first transport unit 41 includes rollers and a transport belt provided with feed pins that engage with sprocket holes 14. A rotary encoder 43 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported is incorporated into the rollers of the first transport unit 41. The paper out sensor 44 is a sensor for detecting when the continuous paper 10 runs out, and is configured, for example, as a light-transmitting sensor. The scanner 46 reads the reference marks 12 and code information 13 printed on each page of the continuous paper 10. The read data is processed by the control device 70, which will be described later. The printing device 4 is configured to be able to determine the position of the continuous paper 10 being transported based on the detection result of the reference marks 12.

[0049] The printing unit 47 includes an OPC (organic photoconductor) drum 471 and a transfer roller 472. The printing unit 47 prints on the continuous paper 10 using an electrophotographic method that utilizes laser light. Specifically, the printing unit 47 forms a latent image on the OPC drum 471 using laser light, develops this latent image with toner, and then transfers it to the surface of the continuous paper 10 using the transfer roller 472. The printing unit 47 prints print data such as a barcode corresponding to a product identification code (e.g., JAN code) on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, for example, based on a print data allocation map obtained from the paper ID identified by the code information 13 read by the scanner 46.

[0050] The light fixing unit 473 irradiates the surface of the continuous paper 10, which is transported by the second transport unit 42, with flash light using a xenon tube or the like, thereby melting the toner transferred by the printing unit 47 and fixing the toner image. This allows the toner image to be fixed non-contact without damaging the IC tag TG. The filter unit 474 is an air filter for eliminating gases and odors generated during light fixing by the light fixing unit 473. The stacker 49 sequentially accumulates the continuous paper sheets 10 after printing is complete. The stacker 49 may be configured to move up and down to facilitate the accumulation of the continuous paper sheets 10.

[0051] Figure 7 shows the configuration of the encoding device 5. The encoding device 5 includes a first transport unit 51, a second transport unit 52, a rotary encoder 53, a paper out sensor 54, a shielding plate 55, transport rollers 551-553, a scanner 56, a plurality of writing antennas Aw, and a stacker 59. The first transport unit 51, the second transport unit 52, and the transport rollers 551 to 553 constitute a transport mechanism for transporting continuous paper 10. The first transport unit 51 includes rollers and a transport belt provided with feed pins that engage with sprocket holes 14. A rotary encoder 53 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported is incorporated into the rollers of the first transport unit 51. The paper out sensor 54 is a sensor for detecting when the continuous paper 10 runs out, and is configured, for example, as a light-transmitting sensor. The shielding plate 55 is designed to allow access by the writing antenna Aw only to IC tags located in the access area (the area facing the writing antenna Aw). In the access area, the shielding plate 55 has openings (for example, the parts facing each of the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 in Figure 8), so as not to affect communication with IC tags within the access area. Outside the access area, the shielding plate 55 does not have openings, so IC tags outside the access area cannot communicate due to the radio wave shielding effect of the shielding plate 55. The scanner 56 reads the reference marks 12 and code information 13 printed on each page of the continuous paper 10. The read data is processed by the control device 80, which will be described later. The encoding device 5 is configured to be able to determine the position of the continuous paper 10 being transported based on the detection result of the reference marks 12. Multiple writing antennas Aw are arranged along the transport surface on which the continuous paper 10 is transported in the second transport unit 52. The stacker 59 sequentially stores the continuous sheets of paper 10 after encoding is complete. The stacker 59 may be configured to move up and down to facilitate the smooth storage of the continuous sheets of paper 10.

[0052] Figure 8 illustrates an example of the arrangement of multiple writing antennas of the encoding device 5. In Figure 8, the display of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 has been omitted. In the example shown in Figure 8, the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 (an example of multiple antennas) are arranged in a distributed manner in a plan view. Depending on the number of writing antennas Aw of the encoding device 5, multiple writing areas can be provided for the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10. Each of the multiple writing antennas Aw is configured to encode (write data to) at least one IC tag on the continuous paper 10 being transported on the transport surface FS of the second transport unit 52.

[0053] Figure 9 shows the configuration of the inspection device 6. The inspection device 6 includes a first transport unit 61, a second transport unit 62, a rotary encoder 63, a paper out sensor 64, transport rollers 651, 652, a scanner 66, a marking unit 67, a reading antenna Ar, and a stacker 69. The first transport unit 61, the second transport unit 62, and the transport rollers 651 and 652 constitute a transport mechanism for transporting continuous paper 10. The first transport unit 61 includes rollers and a transport belt provided with feed pins that engage with sprocket holes 14. A rotary encoder 63 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported is incorporated into the rollers of the first transport unit 61. The paper out sensor 64 is a sensor for detecting when the continuous paper 10 runs out, and is configured, for example, as a light-transmitting sensor. The scanner 66 reads the reference marks 12 and code information 13 printed on each page of the continuous paper 10. The inspection device 6 is configured to determine the position of the continuous paper 10 being transported based on the detection results of the reference marks 12.

[0054] The reading antenna Ar reads the TID and EPC data from each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 being transported. The control device (not shown) of the inspection device 6 verifies for each IC tag whether the combination of TID and EPC data read by the reading antenna Ar is the same as the combination described in the EPC data assignment map. The marking unit 67 marks an IC tag if the combination of TID and EPC data read from the IC tag by the reading antenna Ar is not the same as the combination described in the EPC data assignment map. The marking method is not limited, but for example, an error mark (specific characters or symbols indicating an error) can be printed to indicate that the IC tag to be marked is unusable in a later process. Alternatively, the IC tag may be embossed instead of being marked.

[0055] Although not shown, the inspection device 6 may include an imaging unit that images each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 being transported. The imaging unit sequentially images the transported continuous paper 10 and acquires image data including the printed data printed on each IC tag. The control device (not shown) of the inspection device 6 determines whether the printed data printed on each IC tag is correct or not based on the acquired image data and according to the printed data assignment map. The marking unit 67 applies marking or embossing to IC tags that are determined to have incorrect printed data.

[0056] The inspection device 6 shown in Figure 9 may be configured integrally with the encoding device 5. In that case, the continuous paper 10 that has been encoded in the encoding device 5 (Figure 7) is not accumulated in the stacker 59, but is instead directed toward the transport roller 651 of the inspection device 6. In Figure 9, the continuous paper 10 that has passed through the transport roller 652 of the inspection device 6 is configured to go towards the automatic bonding device 7, but this is not limited to this configuration; the continuous paper 10 that has passed through the transport roller 652 may be temporarily stored in a stacker (not shown).

[0057] Next, the configuration of the control systems for server 2, printing device 4, and encoding device 5 will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system for server 2 in the IC tag issuing system 100. Figure 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control systems for printing device 4 and encoding device 5 in the IC tag issuing system 100. As shown in Figure 10, the server 2 comprises a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23. The control unit 21 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read-only memory), and RAM (Random access memory), and performs various processes by executing a server program. Examples of processes performed by the control unit 21 include the following:

[0058] (i) Obtain a TID map from the continuous paper production system 1, associate it with the paper ID, and store it in storage 22. (ii) Based on instructions from the information processing terminal 3, a print data assignment map (Figure 4) is generated by assigning print data to be printed on the corresponding IC tag to each TID in the TID map stored in the storage 22 in association with the paper ID. (iii) Based on instructions from the information processing terminal 3, an EPC data assignment map (Figure 5) is generated by assigning EPC data to be encoded on the corresponding IC tag to each TID in the print data assignment map stored in the storage 22 in association with the paper ID.

[0059] Storage 22 (an example of a storage unit) is a non-volatile memory, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Storage 22 stores the TID map acquired by the control unit 21, associating it with the paper ID. Storage 22 also stores the print data allocation map and EPC data allocation map generated by the control unit 21, associating them with the paper ID, respectively. The communication unit 23 includes a communication interface that communicates with each device included in the continuous paper production system 1 and the IC tag issuing system 100 via the network NW.

[0060] As shown in Figure 11, the printing device 4 includes a control device 70. The control device 70 comprises a printing control unit 71, a transport control unit 72, a paper information acquisition unit 73, a reference timing generation unit 74, a storage unit 75, and a communication unit 76. The print control unit 71 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs print-related control by executing one or more programs. These one or more programs include control programs that control the operation of the printing unit 47 and the optical fixing unit 473. By executing the control programs, the print control unit 71 prints print data on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map. The transport control unit 72 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs control related to the transport of the continuous paper 10 by executing one or more programs. The transport control unit 72 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10 based on a reference timing signal sent from the reference timing generation unit 74 and the amount of continuous paper 10 to be transported, which is calculated based on signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 43. The paper information acquisition unit 73 obtains the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 from the scanner 46's reading result of the code information 13 of the continuous paper 10 and sends it to the print control unit 71. The print control unit 71 controls the communication unit 76 to obtain a print data allocation map from the server 2 that corresponds to the paper ID and page number obtained from the paper information acquisition unit 73. Alternatively, instead of the server 2 generating the print data allocation map, the printing device 4 may obtain a TID map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2 and generate the print data allocation map by assigning print data to each TID in the obtained TID map. The reference timing generation unit 74 receives the reading result of the scanner 46 on the reference mark 12 of the continuous paper 10, generates a reference timing signal for each page of the continuous paper 10, and sends it to the transport control unit 72. Storage 75 stores the print data allocation map obtained from Server 2. The communication unit 76 is a communication interface with server 2 via the network NW.

[0061] The print control unit 71 and the print unit 47 (Figure 6) acquire a print data allocation map from the server 2 and function as a print unit that prints print data on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 according to the acquired print data allocation map.

[0062] As shown in Figure 11, the encoding device 5 includes a control device 80. The control device 80 comprises a write control unit 81, a transport control unit 82, a paper information acquisition unit 83, a reference timing generation unit 84, a storage unit 85, a tag communication unit 86, and a communication unit 87. The write control unit 81 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs control related to encoding of IC tags by executing one or more programs. The one or more programs include a control program that controls the operation of the tag communication unit 86 so as to encode each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data allocation map. The transport control unit 82 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs control related to the transport of the continuous paper 10 by executing one or more programs. The transport control unit 82 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10 based on a reference timing signal sent from the reference timing generation unit 84 and the amount of continuous paper 10 to be transported, which is calculated based on signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 53. The paper information acquisition unit 83 obtains the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 from the scanner 56's reading result of the code information 13 of the continuous paper 10 and sends it to the write control unit 81. The write control unit 81 controls the communication unit 87 to obtain an EPC data allocation map from the server 2 that corresponds to the paper ID and page number obtained from the paper information acquisition unit 83. Alternatively, instead of the server 2 generating the EPC data allocation map, the encoding device 5 may obtain a TID map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2 and generate the EPC data allocation map by assigning EPC data to each TID in the obtained TID map. The reference timing generation unit 84 receives the reading result of the scanner 56 on the reference mark 12 of the continuous paper 10, generates a reference timing signal for each page of the continuous paper 10, and sends it to the transport control unit 82. Storage 85 stores the EPC data allocation map obtained from Server 2.

[0063] The writing control unit 81 functions as an acquisition unit that transmits the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to the server 2 and obtains the EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2. The write control unit 81 and the tag communication unit 86 function as writing units that write EPC data to each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 according to the acquired EPC data allocation map.

[0064] The tag communication unit 86 has multiple EPC writing units, each connected to a plurality of writing antennas Aw (for example, writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 in Figure 8). Each EPC writing unit is a reader / writer that uses its corresponding writing antenna Aw to write EPC data to the IC tags on the transported continuous paper 10 based on a writing command from the writing control unit 81. Each EPC writing unit writes EPC data specifying the TID via its corresponding writing antenna Aw based on a control command from the writing control unit 81. Communication between each EPC writing unit and each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 is performed using Reader Talk First (RTF) communication. In RTF communication, when a reader / writer communicates in an environment where multiple IC tags exist, it is possible to write data to a specific IC tag without causing a collision with other IC tags by supplying power to the multiple IC tags to activate them and then calling up a specific IC tag by specifying its TID. The communication unit 87 is a communication interface with server 2 via the network NW.

[0065] Next, the operation of the IC tag issuing system 100 will be described. In the IC tag issuance system 100 (see Figure 1), the continuous paper production system 1 sequentially produces continuous paper sheets 10. Each continuous paper sheet 10 has code information 13 (see Figure 2) printed on it, including the paper ID and page number. The produced continuous paper sheets 10 are supplied to the tag issuance process. Furthermore, the IC tag issuing system 100 generates a TID map corresponding to each page of each continuous sheet 10 produced, associates it with the sheet ID, and sends it to the server 2. In the server 2, each TID map is stored in association with the sheet ID of the corresponding continuous sheet 10.

[0066] Server 2 obtains a TID map corresponding to the continuous paper 10 supplied to the tag issuance process from the continuous paper production system 1, associating it with the paper ID. Information processing terminal 3, for example, instructs server 2 to assign print data to each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 based on the TID map corresponding to the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 supplied to the printing device 4, and server 2 generates a print data assignment map in response to the instruction. Information processing terminal 3 further instructs server 2 to assign EPC data to each IC tag of the supplied continuous paper 10 based on the generated print data assignment map, and server 2 generates an EPC data assignment map in response to the instruction.

[0067] In the tag issuance process, the printing device 4 prints on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map obtained from the server 2. The encoding device 5 encodes (writes EPC data to) each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data allocation map obtained from the server 2. In the tag issuance process, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 can each perform processing independently. For example, the printing device 4 may print print data on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and then encode each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, or the printing device 4 may encode each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and then print print data on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. Therefore, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 do not need to be arranged consecutively. By using a print data allocation map and an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 can each perform processing that associates the print content with the write content for continuous paper 10 with matching paper IDs.

[0068] The printing process of the printing device 4 will be explained below with reference to Figure 12. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the printing process in the printing device 4. Although Figure 12 shows the printing process for one page of continuous paper 10, the same process is performed for each page.

[0069] In Figure 12, the printing device 4 reads the code information 13 of the transported continuous paper 10 to obtain the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 (step S2), and obtains a print data allocation map corresponding to the obtained paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S4). At this time, the printing device 4 sends a data request including the paper ID and page number to the server 2, and the server 2 extracts the print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number included in the received data request and sends it to the printing device 4. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the printing device 4 may obtain a TID map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2 and generate a print data allocation map by assigning print data to each TID in the obtained TID map.

[0070] Next, the printing device 4 reads the reference mark 12 and generates a reference timing signal (step S6). This reference timing signal is the reference signal for transporting the corresponding page of the continuous paper 10. Based on this reference timing signal and the amount of continuous paper 10 to be transported, which is calculated based on the signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 43, the printing device 4 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10. The printing device 4 transports the continuous paper 10 and starts printing on the page to be processed based on the print data allocation map acquired in step S4 (step S8). The printing device 4 has pre-registered information corresponding to the paper ID, such as the type of continuous paper 10 and the size and layout information of each IC tag (or label as an IC tag) placed on the continuous paper 10 (for example, the distance from the edge of the continuous paper 10 in the width direction to the IC tag, the distance between adjacent IC tags, etc., information to identify the position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10). Therefore, by acquiring the paper ID, the printing device 4 can print on each IC tag based on the information such as the size and layout of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 and the print data allocation map. When all printing on the page to be processed is completed (step S10: YES), the printing device 4 moves on to processing the next page. The printing device 4 may also identify the location of the unreadable tag on the continuous paper 10 from the print data allocation map and print an error mark on the surface of the unreadable tag.

[0071] In one embodiment, the printing device 4 is provided with a reading antenna that reads the TID from at least one IC tag located at the leading edge of the continuous paper 10. If the TID read from any of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10 via this reading antenna is included in the print data allocation map acquired in step S4, it can be more reliably determined that the print data allocation map acquired in step S4 corresponds to the continuous paper 10 to be printed by the printing device 4.

[0072] In one embodiment, when assigning print data to each TID in the print data allocation map, the corresponding TID is included in the print data header, and the printing device 4 prints the TID corresponding to the blank portion of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. In this case, the printing device 4 reads the TID printed on the IC tag with a scanner 46 and compares the reading result with the print data allocation map. This allows the printing device 4 to verify whether the correspondence between the TID of each IC tag and the print data is appropriate.

[0073] The encoding process in the encoding device 5 will be explained below with reference to Figures 13 to 16. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the antenna arrangement of the encoding device 5 shown in Figure 8 and the arrangement of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10. In Figure 13, the continuous paper 10 is transported in the transport direction (upward in Figure 13) on the transport surface FS of the second transport unit 52 in the encoding device 5. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of the position of the continuous paper 10 transported on the transport surface FS of the encoding device 5. Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the write status data. In Figure 13, each IC tag TG placed on the continuous paper 10 is represented by a symbol mn corresponding to the position of the IC tag TG (where m corresponds to the column of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and is one of 1 to 10, and n corresponds to the row of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and is one of A, B, C, or D). For example, "5B" means the IC tag placed in the 5th column, row B, and in the following explanation, it may be written as "IC tag 5B".

[0074] In Figure 13, the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 (an example of multiple regions) are regions that indicate the communication range on the transport surface FS for the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 (see Figure 8). Each of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 is determined according to the arrangement of the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 when viewed in plan. In Figure 13, the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 include zones that are spaced apart on the transport surface FS in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (i.e., in the width direction of the continuous paper 10).

[0075] In one embodiment, each of the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 of the encoding device 5 is covered by an antenna case made of a conductive material so as to write data to an IC tag located in the corresponding writing zone. In this case, the antenna case functions as an electromagnetic shielding material. When a continuous sheet of paper 10 is transported and any IC tag on the continuous sheet of paper 10 is included in the writing zone Zw1, the tag communication unit 86 can write (encode) EPC data to the IC tag via the writing antenna Aw1. The same applies to writing zones Zw2 to Zw4. The arrangement and number of multiple writing zones (i.e., the arrangement and number of multiple writing antennas) can be set appropriately according to the arrangement layout of IC tags on the continuous paper 10 to be encoded and the processing capacity of the encoding device 5, and it is also possible to arrange multiple writing antennas based on the set multiple writing zones.

[0076] In the encoding device 5, the 40 IC tags on the continuous paper 10 are configured to pass through the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4, distributed in the column direction. For example, focusing on the IC tags of the first row of continuous paper 10, Figure 14 shows that when continuous paper 10 is at position P1, IC tags 1A, 2A, and 3A of continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw1, and IC tags 6A, 7A, and 8A of continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw3. Furthermore, when continuous paper 10 is at position P2, which is further than position P1, IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A of continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw2, and IC tags 8A, 9A, and 10A of continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw4.

[0077] Similarly, when continuous paper 10 is transported, the relationship between each of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 and the IC tags that may enter each zone is as follows: • Writing zone Zw1: IC tags 1A, 2A, 3A, 1B, 2B, 3B, ... • Writing zone Zw2: IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B,… • Writing zone Zw3: IC tags 6A, 7A, 8A, 6B, 7B, 8B,… • Writing zone Zw4: IC tags 8A, 9A, 10A, 8B, 9B, 10B,…

[0078] The write control unit 81 of the encoding device 5 identifies, for each page of the continuous paper 10, the amount of continuous paper 10 transported after the reference timing signal is generated and the placement information of each IC tag included in the EPC data allocation map, the write zone in which each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 can enter and the timing at which it enters the write zone. Instead of the timing at which each IC tag enters the write zone, the amount of transported material from the time the reference timing signal is generated until each IC tag enters the write zone may be identified. In one embodiment, the encoding device 5 may, in order to accurately determine the timing or the amount being transported, acquire in advance layout information of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10 associated with each paper ID (for example, information to identify the position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, such as the distance from the edge of the continuous paper 10 in the width direction to the IC tag, or the distance between adjacent tags).

[0079] The write control unit 81 controls the IC tag to write (encode) EPC data to the IC tag when the IC tag enters any of the write zones. At this time, the encoding device 5 writes data to the IC tag using the write antenna corresponding to the write zone in which the IC tag to be encoded is located among the write zones Zw1 to Zw4. As described above, multiple IC tags will be in one write zone, but since the TID of each of these multiple IC tags is known from the EPC data allocation map, data can be written to each IC tag without causing collisions by sequentially specifying the TID and calling up the IC tags one by one. In the encoding device 5, EPC data is written to multiple IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10, with each tag assigned to a different writing zone. Therefore, the writing of EPC data to the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 can be completed in a short amount of time.

[0080] The write control unit 81 of the encoding device 5 may obtain zone allocation information (an example of area allocation information) from the server 2 regarding the allocation of the IC tag to one of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4, and write data to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on this zone allocation information. This eliminates the need for the encoding device 5 to specify which writing zone the IC tag to be encoded corresponds to. In the example shown in Figure 13, the zone allocation information includes the following information. • Information on assigning TIDs (Timing Identifiers) for IC tags 1A, 2A, 3A, 1B, 2B, 3B, ... to the writing zone Zw1. • Information on assigning TIDs (TIDs) of IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, ... to the writing zone Zw2. • Information on assigning TIDs (Timing Identifiers) for IC tags 6A, 7A, 8A, 6B, 7B, 8B, ... to the writing zone Zw3. • Information on assigning TIDs (Timing Identifiers) for IC tags 8A, 9A, 10A, 8B, 9B, 10B, ... to the writing zone Zw4.

[0081] In one embodiment, the encoding device 5 manages the writing status of EPC data to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 using the writing status data shown in Figure 15. The writing status data includes a flag value ("1": written, "0": not written) indicating whether or not the IC tag identified by the column and row of the continuous paper 10 to be processed has been written to. In the example shown in Figure 15, it is shown that IC tags A1, A8, and A9 have been written to, and the other IC tags have not been written to. The writing status data is set for each page of the continuous paper 10, and the initial value of each flag is "0" (not written). When encoding device 5 finishes writing EPC data to an IC tag, it sets the flag corresponding to that IC tag in the write status data to "1" (written). Encoding device 5 refers to the write status data and does not write data to any target tags in a given write zone that have already had data written to them. This prevents encoding device 5 from attempting to encode multiple IC tags that could be in any of the adjacent zones.

[0082] Specifically, in the arrangement of writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 shown in Figure 13, one IC tag on the continuous paper 10 may be located in either of two adjacent zones. For example, IC tags 3A, 3B, ... may be located in either writing zone Zw1 or Zw2, IC tags 6A, 6B, ... may be located in either writing zone Zw2 or Zw3, and IC tags 8A, 8B, ... may be located in either writing zone Zw3 or Zw4. Therefore, the encoding device 5 checks the writing status data before encoding the target tag, and if the target tag is not yet written to, it writes the EPC data to the target tag. As a result, data is not written to a single IC tag twice, and the data writing can be completed in a short time.

[0083] In one embodiment, the encoding device 5 identifies the location of unreadable tags based on the EPC data assignment map and refrains from writing EPC data to the unreadable tags. This eliminates the need to write data to invalid IC tags.

[0084] Next, the encoding process of the encoding device 5 will be explained with reference to Figure 16. Figure 16 is a flowchart of the encoding process in the encoding device 5. Although Figure 16 shows the encoding process for one page of continuous paper 10, the same process is performed for each page.

[0085] In Figure 16, the encoding device 5 reads the code information 13 of the continuous paper 10 being transported to obtain the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 (step S20), and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the obtained paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S22). At this time, the encoding device 5 sends a data request including the paper ID and page number to the server 2, and the server 2 extracts the EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number included in the received data request and sends it to the encoding device 5.

[0086] Next, the encoding device 5 reads the reference mark 12 and generates a reference timing signal (step S24). This reference timing signal is the reference signal when transporting the corresponding page of the continuous paper 10. Based on this reference timing signal and the amount of continuous paper 10 to be transported, which is calculated based on the signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 53, the encoding device 5 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10. The encoding device 5 identifies, for each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, the writing zone among the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 into which the IC tag will be placed as the continuous paper 10 is transported, and the timing at which the IC tag enters that writing zone (or the amount of continuous paper 10 transported after the reference timing signal is generated).

[0087] Specifically, when the encoding device 5 has transported the IC tag in the next row (the first row in the first execution) until it reaches one of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 (Figure 13) (step S26), it identifies the TID of the newly entering tag (step S28). The tag that is in any of the zones is the tag to be written to, and will be referred to as the "target tag" below as appropriate. For example, in the example shown in Figure 14, when the continuous paper 10 is transported to position P1, IC tags 1A, 2A, and 3A enter the writing zone Zw1, and IC tags 6A, 7A, and 8A enter the writing zone Zw3, so these IC tags are identified as target tags. When the continuous paper 10 is transported to position P2, IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A enter the writing zone Zw2, and IC tags 8A, 9A, and 10A enter the writing zone Zw4, so these IC tags are identified as target tags.

[0088] The encoding device 5 performs encoding for each writing zone by specifying the TID of the unwritten target tag (step S30). For example, as shown in Figure 14, when the continuous paper 10 is transported to position P1, the encoding device 5 specifies the TID for each of the target tags 1A, 2A, and 3A in writing zone Zw1 and sequentially writes the EPC data based on the EPC data allocation map acquired in step S22 (performs encoding). At this time, the encoding device 5 writes data to each target tag in each writing zone by calling it up one by one by specifying its TID.

[0089] If the IC tag on any of the continuous paper sheets 10 cannot be retrieved at a specified timing or transport amount, the encoding device 5 may output an error. If the IC tag cannot be retrieved, it means that the IC tag does not respond within a predetermined time to a command specifying the TID from the EPC writing unit. If one of several target tags in the writing zone cannot be retrieved, the encoding device 5 may be corrupted, and therefore retrieves another target tag from among the several target tags. If target tags cannot be retrieved consecutively, it is possible that the continuous paper 10 and the TID map do not match. Therefore, if multiple target tags cannot be retrieved, the encoding device 5 may determine that the continuous paper 10 and the TID map do not match, stop transporting the continuous paper 10, and output a message requesting confirmation of the continuous paper 10 and the TID map.

[0090] In step S30, the encoding device 5 refers to the write status data (Figure 15) before writing EPC data to the target tag, and writes the EPC data if the value of the flag corresponding to the target tag is "0" (not written). To prevent the encoding device 5 from attempting to write EPC data again to a target tag for which writing of EPC data has been completed, the value of the flag corresponding to the IC tag for which writing of EPC data has been completed is set to "1" (written) (step S32).

[0091] The encoding device 5 repeatedly executes the processes in steps S30 and S32 until encoding is completed for all target tags in each writing zone (step S34: NO). Once encoding is completed for all target tags in each writing zone (step S34: YES), the encoding device 5 determines whether encoding has been completed for all IC tags on the page being processed (step S36). If encoding has not been completed for all IC tags on the page being processed, the encoding device 5 transports the continuous paper 10 until the IC tags of the next row reach one of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 (Figure 13). When the encoding device 5 has finished encoding all IC tags on the page to be processed (step S36: YES), it moves on to processing the next page.

[0092] In the encoding process shown in Figure 16, data is written to the IC tags in each writing zone based on timing relative to a reference timing signal or the amount of continuous paper 10 transported after the reference timing signal is generated, but this is not the only case. The encoding device 5 may also determine the optimal position for encoding in each writing zone while transporting the continuous paper 10 in small increments in the forward or reverse direction, and write the data at the determined position.

[0093] Since the paper IDs of the continuous paper 10 supplied to the encoding device 5 are known, the server 2 may, in response to a request from the encoding device 5, pre-associate an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the continuous paper 10 supplied to the encoding device 5 with the paper ID and send it to the encoding device 5. The encoding device 5 records the EPC data allocation map obtained from the server 2 in storage 85, associating it with the paper ID. In that case, before starting encoding for each IC tag contained in the continuous paper 10, the encoding device 5 determines whether the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to be processed, recorded in the storage 85, matches the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 obtained in step S20. If they match, the continuous paper 10 set in the encoding device 5 is the appropriate continuous paper to be processed, so the encoding device 5 obtains the page number and executes the process in step S24. If they do not match, the encoding device 5 outputs a message indicating that the continuous paper is different without starting encoding. Even if a scanner 56 is not provided, the encoding device 5 can determine whether the continuous paper 10 set in the encoding device 5 is the appropriate continuous paper for processing. Specifically, the encoding device 5 reads the TID of at least one IC tag on the continuous paper 10 set in the encoding device 5 using, for example, a reading antenna (not shown). If the read TID is not included in the EPC data allocation map, the encoding device 5 can determine that the continuous paper 10 being processed is not the appropriate continuous paper for processing. In that case, the encoding device 5 stops the encoding process and ejects the continuous paper 10 by reverse transport.

[0094] In one embodiment, the encoding device 5 transmits the encoding result to the server 2 after the encoding process is completed. That is, during the encoding process, the encoding device 5 reads the data written to the IC tag from the IC tag and performs a verification process for each IC tag to determine whether the read data matches the corresponding EPC data. The encoding result indicates whether the verification result for each IC tag is OK or not. This allows the server 2 to recognize whether the encoding has been reliably performed by the encoding device 5 based on the EPC data allocation map.

[0095] The encoded continuous paper 10 is sent to the inspection device 6 (Figure 9). Similar to the encoding device 5, the inspection device 6 reads the code information 13 of the transported continuous paper 10, obtains the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10, and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the obtained paper ID and page number from the server 2. Next, the inspection device 6 reads the TID and EPC data from each IC tag on the page to be processed, and verifies whether the combination of TID and EPC data read matches the combination of TID and EPC data described in the EPC data allocation map obtained from the server 2. If there are IC tags on the page to be processed that do not match, the inspection device 6 prints an error mark on the surface of the IC tag. The inspection device 6 can also obtain a print data assignment map from the server 2 and, based on the print data assignment map, inspect whether the TID of each IC tag on the transported continuous paper 10 matches the print data assigned to each IC tag.

[0096] In one embodiment, the continuous paper 10 that has passed through the inspection device 6 is sent to a post-processing step where an automatic adhesive device 7 is located. In the post-processing step, the automatic adhesive device 7 sequentially peels the IC tags from the continuous paper 10 and attaches the peeled IC tags to items such as labels or products. In one embodiment, the automatic tagging device 7 attaches IC tags to articles by referring to an article assignment map (not shown) in which the data of the article to be tagged (article data) is associated with each TID on the TID map. For example, a person in charge of the post-processing of IC tags uses an information processing terminal 3 to give instructions to assign article data corresponding to the article to which the IC tags will be attached to each individual IC tag, and the server 2 generates an article assignment map based on these instructions. The automatic tagging device 7 accesses the server 2 to obtain the article assignment map.

[0097] Figure 17 shows examples of the use of multiple automatic tagging devices. Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the application of an automatic tagging device in the IC tag issuing system 100. In the example shown in Figure 17, it is assumed that each of the automatic tagging devices 7A to 7C peels an IC tag from the continuous paper 10 and attaches the IC tag to a different product being transported on three lanes (not shown). Each automatic tagging device is assigned a lane in advance to which it is responsible for attaching the IC tag, and each automatic tagging device is positioned on its assigned lane. Each of the automatic labeling devices 7A to 7C reads the TID of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and identifies the item to be labeled by referring to the item assignment map. Each automatic labeling device picks up the IC tag corresponding to the item it is responsible for from the continuous paper 10 and labels the item.

[0098] As explained above, in the IC tag issuance system 100 described above, the server 2 stores a TID map indicating the placement positions of IC tags on the continuous paper 10, associated with the paper ID of the continuous paper 10, a print data assignment map assigning print data to each TID on the TID map, and an EPC data assignment map assigning EPC data to each TID on the TID map. The TID map is acquired in association with the continuous paper 10 produced by the continuous paper production system 1 and recorded in the server 2. The print data assignment map and the EPC data assignment map are generated by assigning print data to be printed on the IC tag and EPC data to be written to the IC tag to each TID on the TID map, respectively. The printing device 4 obtains a paper ID from the continuous paper 10 to be processed and sends it to the server 2, and obtains a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2. The printing device 4 further prints print data for each IC tag according to the position information of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 included in the print data allocation map. The encoding device 5 obtains a paper ID from the continuous paper 10 to be processed and sends it to the server 2, and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2. The encoding device 5 further writes EPC data to each IC tag according to the position information of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 included in the EPC data allocation map. The encoding device 5 can recognize the TID for each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 using the EPC data allocation map, and can write EPC data by specifying one of the TIDs among the multiple IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10. Therefore, unlike in the past, there is no need to take measures to prevent radio interference, such as optimizing the placement of the writing antenna according to the arrangement of IC tags or shielding the writing antenna with a cover, in order to enable one-to-one communication between the writing antenna and the IC tag, and encoding can be performed efficiently.

[0099] Furthermore, the IC tag issuing system 100 described above has the following advantages. (1) In the IC tag issuing system 100, the encoding device 5 encodes each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on an EPC data allocation map that is based on a TID map. In the EPC data allocation map, the TID of each IC tag at each position on the continuous paper 10 is associated with the EPC data, so the encoding device 5 can correctly write the EPC data to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. (2) The IC tag issuing system 100 can flexibly handle continuous paper containing IC tags of various sizes and arrangements. In conventional systems, writing was performed by associating IC tags with writing antennas on a one-to-one basis, so the accuracy of the position of the IC tags on the continuous paper relative to the writing antenna of the encoding device was high to prevent data from being written to adjacent tags. However, this made it cumbersome to adjust the position of the writing antenna of the encoding device each time for multiple types of continuous paper with different IC tag sizes. In contrast, the IC tag issuing system 100 writes data to IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 by specifying the TID, so there is no need to precisely adjust the position of the writing antenna relative to the position of the IC tags. Therefore, the IC tag issuing system 100 can flexibly handle continuous paper 10 containing IC tags of various sizes and arrangements. (3) In the IC tag issuing system 100, the printing device 4 prints on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on a print data allocation map that is based on the TID map. In the print data allocation map, the TID of each IC tag at each position on the continuous paper 10 is associated with the print data, so the printing device 4 can correctly print the print data on each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. The printing device 4 obtains a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number based on the code information 13 and prints page by page, thus avoiding printing data that should be printed on a specific IC tag onto an IC tag in a different location (misalignment of print data). (4) The continuous paper 10 has code information 13 printed on it, which includes the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10. The encoding device 5 and the printing device 4 each obtain the EPC data allocation map and the print data allocation map corresponding to the pages of the continuous paper 10 to be processed from the server 2 and process them. This prevents the encoding device 5 and the printing device 4 from performing processing based on map information that does not correspond to the pages of the continuous paper 10 to be processed. (5) The IC tag issuing system 100 has the advantage of being able to reliably match (associate) the EPC data written to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 with the print data printed on the surface of each IC tag. As described above, a TID map is supplied from the continuous paper production system 1 to the server 2 as data indicating the TID of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and the position where the IC tag is placed on each page. Based on this TID map, a print data allocation map and an EPC data allocation map are generated and provided to the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5, respectively. Therefore, there is no discrepancy between the EPC data written to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and the print data printed on the surface of each IC tag. In other words, the TID, print data, and EPC data are reliably associated with each of the multiple IC tags on the continuous paper 10. (6) In the IC tag issuing system 100, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 recognize the TID of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map and the EPC data allocation map, respectively, and execute their respective processes independently. Therefore, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 do not need to be placed consecutively and can operate as standalone units. Consequently, productivity is improved because there is no need to adjust the operating speed of both devices, and the overall system price and installation space can be reduced. (7) In the post-processing step, the automatic adhesive device 7 attaches the IC tags picked up from the continuous paper 10 to the items based on an item assignment map based on the TID map. In the item assignment map, the TID of the IC tags at each position on the continuous paper 10 is associated with the item data to which the tags will be attached, so the automatic adhesive device 7 can reliably attach each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 to the target item.

[0100] Next, we will explain the case where a different write zone is set in the encoding device 5 than in Figure 13, referring to Figure 18. The writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 shown in Figure 13 correspond to the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 (Figure 8), but the writing zone settings are not limited to this. Figure 18 shows an example of writing zone settings in another example. Figure 18 shows writing zones Zw1 to Zw3, which differ from the writing zones shown in Figure 13, when multiple long writing antennas are arranged at a distance from each other in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (the width direction of the continuous paper 10). The example shown in Figure 18 includes writing zones spaced apart in the transport direction of the continuous paper 10 on the transport surface FS.

[0101] In this case, the relationship between each of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw3 and the IC tags that may enter each zone is as follows. In one embodiment, the encoding device 5A shown in Figure 18 writes EPC data to the IC tag when the corresponding IC tag enters each zone of the continuous paper 10 being transported. • Writing zone Zw1: IC tags 1A~10A, 1B~10B • Writing zone Zw2: IC tags 1B~10B, 1C~10C • Writing zone Zw3: IC tags 1C~10C, 1D~10D

[0102] In one embodiment, the encoding device 5A shown in Figure 18 may write EPC data as follows. For example, the encoding device 5A transports the continuous paper 10 and, when IC tags 1A to 10A enter the writing zone Zw1, specifies the TID of each tag and performs encoding sequentially. Next, the encoding device 5 specifies the TID of each tag and performs encoding sequentially when IC tags 1B to 10B enter the writing zone Zw1 or Zw2. In this case as well, the encoding device 5 may determine the optimal position for encoding in each writing zone by transporting the continuous paper 10 in small increments in the forward or reverse direction, and then write the data. In this example, IC tags 1B to 10B may be in either writing zone Zw1 or Zw2, and IC tags 1C to 10C may be in either writing zone Zw2 or Zw3. However, duplicate encoding can be avoided by using the write status data (Figure 15).

[0103] Encoding is not necessarily performed only when the IC tags in a specific row are within a predetermined writing zone. For example, the above describes a case where encoding is performed for each of IC tags 1C to 10C when they are in writing zone Zw3, but a write error may occur. In that case, "0" (not written) may be recorded in the write status data for the IC tag corresponding to the write error, and the continuous paper 10 may be transported further, and the encoding may be retried when IC tags 1C to 10C enter writing zone Zw1 or Zw2.

[0104] One embodiment is an information processing method between an encoding device 5 that writes data to an IC tag and a server 2 connected to the encoding device 5. This information processing method includes the following steps. (i) The server 2 stores for each sheet of continuous paper 10 a TID that identifies the IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 and an EPC data allocation map that indicates the placement location of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10. (ii) The encoding device 5 sends a paper ID that identifies the continuous paper 10 to the server 2 and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2. (iii) The encoding device 5 writes data to the IC tag according to the EPC data assignment map obtained from the server 2.

[0105] While embodiments of the information processing system, information processing method, writing device, and writing method of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be improved or modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0106] In the embodiment described above, the tag issuance process was described in which printing is performed first on the continuous paper 10, and then encoding is performed on each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. However, this is not the only option. Encoding may be performed first on each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, and then printing may be performed on the continuous paper 10. In this case, an EPC data assignment map is generated by assigning EPC data to each TID in the TID map, and then a print data assignment map is generated by assigning print data to each TID in the EPC data assignment map. Even in this case, the encoding device 5 and the printing device 4 do not need to be arranged consecutively, and can each be operated as standalone units. If encoding is performed first, the printing device 4 has the advantage of being able to reflect the encoding result in the printed content. For example, if encoding fails for a particular IC tag, even if print data has already been assigned to that tag (defective tag), the print data assignment map can be edited to either leave the print data for the defective tag blank or replace it with data indicating an error mark. As a result, the printing device 4 will either not print on the defective tag or print an error mark, making it easier to identify the defective tag (the tag whose encoding failed). Furthermore, information about the defective tag is reflected in each map to prevent the defective tag from being attached to an item in a later process.

[0107] In the embodiments described above, roll paper may be used instead of continuous paper (fanfold paper). Individual sheets may be used instead of continuous paper. It should be noted that using continuous paper has the advantage of preventing page rearrangement. In the embodiments described above, the case in which the printing device 4 employs an electrophotographic method was explained, but it is not limited to this, and thermal transfer, thermal, or inkjet methods may also be used. In the embodiments described above, the case in which an automatic pasting device 7 is provided as a post-processing step has been explained, but this is not limited to that case. A cutter stacker for cutting and accumulating continuous paper 10 page by page may also be provided as a post-processing step. In the embodiment described above, the case in which EPC data is written to the IC tag by the encoding device 5 has been explained, but this is not the only case. The encoding device 5 may, for example, write arbitrary user data to the user memory of the IC tag. In that case, instead of the EPC data allocation map, a user data allocation map is generated in which user memory is allocated to each TID in the TID map.

[0108] In the IC tag issuing system 100 described above, an example was explained in which adhesive is applied to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and each IC tag is peeled off from the backing sheet 10a, but this is not the only option. The backing sheet 10a does not need to be provided, nor does adhesive need to be applied to each IC tag. In that case, each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 can be cut individually with a cutter and used. The IC tags can be arranged on the continuous sheet 10 according to their intended use and destination, and the continuous sheet 10 can be separated as needed after printing or encoding. For example, in the continuous sheet 10 shown in Figure 2, the IC tags in the first and second columns are for factory A, the IC tags in the third and fourth columns are for factory B, the IC tags in the fifth and sixth columns are for factory C, the IC tags in the seventh and eighth columns are for factory D, and the IC tags in the ninth and tenth columns are for factory E, with the IC tags pre-arranged accordingly. In this case, after printing or encoding, the continuous sheet 10 is cut and supplied to each factory responsible for subsequent processes.

[0109] The processing between Server 2 and Printer 4, and between Server 2 and Encoding Device 5 described above, are merely examples. At least a portion of the processing performed by Server 2 described above may be executed by Printer 4, or at least a portion of the processing performed by Server 2 described above may be executed by Encoding Device 5. Here, the processing performed by Server 2 includes the processing performed by Server 2 in relation to Information Processing Terminal 3. The functions between Server 2 and Printer 4, and between Server 2 and Encoding Device 5, may be distributed as appropriate. The printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 may each directly acquire the TID map from the continuous paper production system 1 and store it in their own device storage. In that case, the information processing terminal 3 may have applications installed to access the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5, respectively, and generate print data allocation maps and EPC data allocation maps based on the TID map. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0110] 100... IC tag issuance system 1…Continuous paper production system 2… Server 3…Information processing terminal 4…Printing device 5.5A…Encoding device 6…Inspection equipment 7...Automatic adhesive device 10...Continuous paper, 10a...Backing paper, TG...IC tag, 11...Inlay, 111...IC chip, 112...Antenna, 12...Reference mark, 13...Code information, 14...Sprocket hole, 15...Base material, 16...Plain paper 21...Control unit, 22...Storage, 23...Communication unit 41...First transport unit, 42...Second transport unit, 43...Rotary encoder, 44...Paper out sensor, 451, 452, 453...Transport rollers, 46...Scanner, 47...Printing unit, 471...OPC drum, 472...Transfer roller, 473...Photofixing unit, 474...Filter unit, 49...Stacker 51...First transport unit, 52...Second transport unit, 53...Rotary encoder, 54...Paper out sensor, 55...Shielding plate, 521, 522, 551, 552, 553...Transport rollers, 56...Scanner, 59...Stacker 61...First transport unit, 62...Second transport unit, 63...Rotary encoder, 64...Paper out sensor, 651, 652, 653...Transport rollers, 66...Scanner, 67...Marking unit, 69...Stacker 70...Control device, 71...Printing control unit, 72...Transportation control unit, 73...Paper information acquisition unit, 74...Reference timing generation unit, 75...Storage, 76...Communication unit 80...Control device, 81...Writing control unit, 82...Transport control unit, 83...Paper information acquisition unit, 84...Reference timing generation unit, 85...Storage, 86...Tag communication unit, 87...Communication unit Ar... Reading antenna Aw1~Aw4... Writing antenna FS...Conveyor surface NW...Network PF... Perforation Zw1~Zw4... Writing Zones

Claims

1. An information processing system including a writing device that writes data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device, The aforementioned information processing device is The system has a storage unit that stores, for each printing medium, tag identification information that identifies the IC tag and IC tag position information that indicates the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium. The aforementioned writing device is An acquisition unit that transmits media identification information for identifying a printing medium to the information processing device and acquires IC tag location information corresponding to the media identification information from the information processing device, The system includes a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information acquired by the acquisition unit, Information processing system.

2. The writing device has a transport section having a transport surface for transporting a printing medium, The writing unit is equipped with multiple antennas, For each antenna, multiple different regions are associated with the carrier surface on the carrier surface, representing the communication range on the carrier surface for each antenna. The writing unit writes data to the IC tag using an antenna corresponding to the area where the IC tag is located among the plurality of areas when the transport unit transports the printing medium. The information processing system described in claim 1.

3. The plurality of regions include regions that are spaced apart on the transport surface in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, The information processing system described in claim 2.

4. The plurality of regions include regions on the transport surface that are spaced apart in the transport direction of the printing medium. The information processing system described in claim 2.

5. The acquisition unit acquires area allocation information from the information processing device regarding the allocation to any of the multiple areas of the IC tag. The writing unit writes data to the IC tag based on the area allocation information. The information processing system described in claim 2.

6. The writing unit ensures that each antenna does not write data to any IC tag within its corresponding area for which data has already been written. The information processing system described in claim 2.

7. The IC tag location information includes information indicating the location of unreadable tags among the IC tags arranged on the printing medium, from which the tag identification information cannot be read. The writing unit identifies the location of the unreadable tag based on the IC tag location information and refrains from writing data to the unreadable tag. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The system further includes a printing device that communicates with the aforementioned information processing device, The aforementioned printing device is The system has a printing unit that acquires IC tag location information from the information processing device and prints print information on the printing medium according to the acquired IC tag location information. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. The aforementioned printing medium is provided with the aforementioned medium identification information. The acquisition unit reads the media identification information from the printing medium, transmits the read media identification information to the information processing device, and acquires IC tag location information corresponding to the media identification information from the information processing device. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. An information processing method between a writing device that writes data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device, The information processing device stores, for each printing medium, tag identification information that identifies the IC tag and IC tag position information that indicates the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium. The writing device transmits media identification information that identifies the printing medium to the information processing device, and the information processing device obtains IC tag location information corresponding to the media identification information. The writing device writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information obtained from the information processing device. Information processing methods.

11. A writing device for writing data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, A communication unit communicates with an information processing device that stores tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium. An acquisition unit transmits media identification information for identifying the printing medium from the communication unit to the information processing unit, and acquires IC tag location information corresponding to the media identification information from the information processing unit. The system includes a writing unit that writes data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information acquired by the acquisition unit, Writing device.

12. A method for writing data to an IC tag placed on a printing medium, To an information processing device that stores tag identification information for identifying the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium for each printing medium, medium identification information for identifying the printing medium is transmitted, and IC tag position information corresponding to the medium identification information is obtained from the information processing device. Data is written to the IC tag according to the acquired IC tag location information. How to write.

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