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

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system comprising: 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 includes a storage unit that stores, for each printing medium, 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. The writing device includes: an acquisition unit that transmits medium identification information for identifying 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

Information Processing System, Information Processing Method, Writing Device, and Writing Method

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

[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 in which the IC tags are continuously arranged. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-321073 describes a manufacturing apparatus in which a label sheet on which a large number of wireless chip-attached labels are temporarily attached to a strip-shaped release paper is conveyed, and data is written to each wireless chip.

[0003] 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.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to efficiently write data to an IC tag.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a writing device that writes data to an IC tag arranged on a printing medium, and an information processing device that communicates with the writing device, wherein 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.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0007] This figure shows a schematic system configuration of an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This is a plan view of the continuous paper used in the IC tag issuing system of Figure 1. This is an enlarged view of section G and an enlarged cross-sectional view of X-X in Figure 2. This figure shows an example of the data configuration of the TID map and the print data allocation map. This figure shows an example of the data configuration of the EPC data allocation map. This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the printing device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the encoding device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This figure shows an example of the antenna arrangement when the encoding device of Figure 7 is viewed from above. This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the inspection device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This figure shows the configuration of the server control system in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This figure shows the configuration of the control systems of the printing device and the encoding device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This is a flowchart of the printing process in the printing device. This figure explains the relationship between the antenna arrangement of the encoding device shown in Figure 8 and the tag arrangement of the continuous paper. This figure shows an example of the position of the continuous paper being transported on the transport surface of the encoding device. This figure shows an example of the data configuration of the write status data. This is a flowchart of the encoding process in the encoding device. This figure explains an example of the application of an automatic adhesive device in an IC tag issuing system according to one embodiment. This figure illustrates the relationship between the antenna arrangement of an encoding device and the tag arrangement of continuous paper, which differs from Figure 8. This is a side view showing the configuration of the printing unit in the printing device of Figure 6. This figure shows the configuration of the control system of the printing device in one embodiment of the IC tag issuance system. This is a flowchart of the processing of the printing device. This is a flowchart detailing the printing process in Figure 21. This is a flowchart of the setting process of printing conditions in the printing device. This figure shows the schematic system configuration of the IC tag issuance system in one embodiment. This figure shows an example of the data configuration of a factory allocation map. This figure shows an example of dividing continuous paper. This figure shows the configuration of the server control system in one embodiment of the IC tag issuance system. This is a sequence chart showing a series of processes when dividing a map in one embodiment of the IC tag issuance system. This figure shows an example of dividing and outputting an EPC data allocation map. This figure shows another example of dividing continuous paper.This figure shows an example of the data structure of the device allocation map. This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the inspection device in an IC tag issuing system of one embodiment. This figure schematically illustrates an example of processing when a defective tag occurs in encoding (post-processing). This is a sequence chart showing the operation of the IC tag issuing system when a defective tag occurs in encoding (post-processing). This figure shows an example of updating the EPC data allocation map. This is a sequence chart showing another operation of the IC tag issuing system when a defective tag occurs in encoding (post-processing). This is a sequence chart showing another operation of the IC tag issuing system when a defective tag occurs in encoding (post-processing). This figure shows an example of updating the print data allocation map. This figure schematically illustrates an example of processing when a defective tag occurs in encoding (pre-processing). This is a sequence chart showing the operation of the IC tag issuing system when a defective tag occurs in encoding (pre-processing). This figure schematically illustrates an example of processing when a missing tag occurs in printing (pre-processing). This is a sequence chart showing the operation of the IC tag issuing system when a missing tag occurs in printing (pre-processing). This figure shows an example of updating the print data allocation map. This figure shows an example of updating the EPC data allocation map. This diagram schematically illustrates the processing example when a defective tag is found during inspection, assuming printing is a pre-processing step. This diagram schematically illustrates the processing example when a defective tag is found during inspection, assuming printing is a post-processing step.

[0008] The forms described below are not limited to those shown in the brief description of the drawings.

[0009] A first aspect of 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 for storing 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 for transmitting medium identification information for identifying the printing medium to the information processing device and acquiring IC tag location information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and a writing unit for writing data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0010] According to a first aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0011] A second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to the first embodiment, wherein the writing device has a transport unit having a transport surface for transporting a printing medium, the writing unit is equipped with a plurality of antennas, and a plurality of different regions are associated on the transport surface for each antenna as the communication range on the transport surface for each antenna, and the writing unit writes data to the IC tag using the antenna corresponding to the region where the IC tag is located among the plurality of regions when the transport unit transports the printing medium.

[0012] According to a second aspect of one 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.

[0013] A third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is the information processing system according to the second embodiment, wherein the plurality of regions include regions that are spaced apart on the transport surface in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

[0014] According to a third 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to write data to invalid tags.

[0023] 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 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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 provided with 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] According to a tenth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0029] An eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment 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.

[0030] According to an eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0031] A twelfth aspect of a certain embodiment 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 for identifying the 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; 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.

[0032] According to a twelfth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, data can be efficiently written to an IC tag.

[0033] 1. The first embodiment and subsequent embodiments will be described in detail 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 of which is 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 on the 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. The tag issuance process includes a printing process in which prints print data corresponding to each IC tag on the surface of the continuous paper supplied sequentially from the tag production process, an encoding process in which data is written to each IC tag on the continuous paper, and an inspection process in which the printing results and encoding results are checked. Printing device 4 is installed in the printing process, encoding device 5 is installed in the encoding process, and inspection device 6 is located in the inspection process.

[0036] Server 2 acquires and stores data (TID map described later) generated by the continuous paper production system 1 when producing continuous paper. Information processing terminal 3, in response to operations by the operator, gives 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 the data (TID map described later) stored in Server 2. Driver software for assigning print data and EPC data is installed on Information Processing Terminal 3. 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, but for example, it is a barcode corresponding to a product identification code (e.g., JAN code). Encoding device 5 performs encoding on each IC tag placed on the continuous paper supplied from the tag production process. Encoding performed by 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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 taken along the line X-X. The exemplary continuous sheet 10 shown in Figure 2 is a fanfold paper in which pages with multiple rows 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, and any arrangement and number of IC tags can be arranged on one side of a page. Perforations PF are formed between adjacent pages of the continuous sheet 10, making it easy to fold. Sprocket holes 14 are formed at equal intervals on both sides of the continuous sheet 10 along the direction in which the continuous sheet 10 is transported (transport direction). Near the beginning of the page in the transport direction in the area where the sprocket holes 14 are 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 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 (for example, paper ID and page number) may be printed in legible characters. This makes it possible for an 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 the encoding device 5.

[0039] 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 electrically connected to it. 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.

[0040] 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. As a result, 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, sometimes an IC tag as a label is attached to an item, and sometimes a label with an IC tag incorporated into it is attached to an item.

[0041] 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 the 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 shows the location of IC tags placed on each page of the continuous paper 10 corresponding to the paper ID.

[0042] A TID map is data that shows, for example, the TID of each IC tag on a continuous sheet of paper 10 and the position where each IC tag is placed on each page. 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 sheet production system 1. For example, the continuous sheet production system 1 generates a TID map by sequentially reading the TID from each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the produced continuous sheet of paper 10, for example, page by page of the continuous sheet of paper 10. For each continuous sheet of paper 10 produced, the continuous sheet 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. The TID map may be provided to the server 2 indirectly via a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, rather than via the network NW from the continuous paper production system 1.

[0043] 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 fifth column is an unreadable tag, and the value corresponding to that tag is "NR".

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the print data assignment map is data in which, for each TID in the TID map, corresponding print data (shown as "PD: xxxxx" in FIG. 4), for example, for each job, is assigned. The print data assignment map is generated by the server 2 in association with the sheet ID based on the TID map 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 issue an instruction to assign print data corresponding to the article to which the IC tag is to be attached to each IC tag, and based on this instruction, the server 2 generates a print data assignment map. Note that it is possible to control so that print data is not assigned to unreadable tags (in the example of FIG. 4, the IC tag located in the C row of the fifth column). In one embodiment, the print data assignment map shows the correspondence between, for example, labels as IC tags arranged for each page of the continuous paper 10, or labels including IC tags, and the print data printed on the labels.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the EPC data assignment map is data in which, for each TID in the print data assignment map, EPC data (shown as "EPC: xxxxx" in FIG. 5) corresponding to the print data, for example, for each job, is assigned. The EPC data assignment map is generated by the server 2 in association with the sheet ID based on the print data assignment map, 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 issue an instruction to assign EPC data corresponding to the article to which the IC tag is to be attached to each IC tag, and based on this instruction, the server 2 generates an EPC data assignment map. That is, the print data and the EPC data corresponding to the article to which the IC tag is to be attached are associated with each other and assigned to each IC tag for each TID. Note that it is possible to control so that EPC data is not assigned to unreadable tags (in the example of FIG. 5, the IC tag located in the C row of the fifth column). In one embodiment, the EPC assignment map shows the correspondence between, for example, labels as IC tags arranged for each page of the continuous paper 10, or labels including IC tags, and the write data written on the labels.

[0046] Next, the configurations of the printing device 4, the encoding device 5, and the 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 of Figure 7 is viewed from above. Figure 9 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the inspection device 6.

[0047] 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 40. The first transport unit 41, the second transport unit 42, and the transport rollers 451-453 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. The rollers of the first transport unit 41 incorporate a rotary encoder 43 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported. 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 mark 12.

[0048] The printing unit 47 includes an OPC (organic photoconductor) drum 471 and a transfer roller 472. The printing unit 47 performs printing on the continuous paper 10 by an electrophotographic method using laser light. That is, the printing unit 47 forms a latent image on the OPC drum 471 by laser light, develops this latent image with toner, and then transfers it to the surface of the continuous paper 10 by the transfer roller 472. The printing unit 47 prints print data such as a barcode corresponding to a product identification code (for example, JAN code) on the surface of each IC tag of the continuous paper 10, for example, based on a print data allocation map obtained from the paper ID specified by the code information 13 read by the scanner 46.

[0049] The optical fixing unit 473 irradiates the surface of the continuous paper 10 conveyed by the second conveying 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. Thereby, the toner image can be fixed without contacting and damaging the IC tag TG. The filter unit 474 is an air filter for eliminating gases and strange odors generated during optical fixing by the optical fixing unit 473. The stacker 40 sequentially accumulates the continuous paper 10 on which printing has ended. The stacker 40 may be configured to be driven up and down to smoothly accumulate the continuous paper 10.

[0050] 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 to 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. The rollers of the first transport unit 51 incorporate a rotary encoder 53 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported. 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 provided so that only IC tags in the access area (the area facing the writing antennas Aw) can be accessed by the writing antennas 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 so that the position of the continuous paper 10 being transported can be determined 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 accumulates the continuous paper 10 after encoding is completed. The stacker 59 may be configured to be driven up and down to facilitate the accumulation of the continuous paper 10.

[0051] 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 is omitted. In the example shown in Figure 8, 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.

[0052] 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, 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. The rollers of the first transport unit 61 incorporate a rotary encoder 63 for detecting the amount of continuous paper 10 being transported. The paper out sensor 64 is a sensor for detecting paper outages in the continuous paper 10 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 be able to determine the position of the continuous paper 10 being transported based on the detection result of the reference mark 12.

[0053] 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. 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 unit 67 marks the IC tag. 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.

[0054] 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 marks or embosses IC tags that are determined to have incorrect printed data.

[0055] The inspection device 6 shown in Figure 9 may be integrated 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 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 directed toward the automatic bonding device 7, but this is not limited to that configuration, and the continuous paper 10 that has passed through the transport roller 652 may be temporarily accumulated in a stacker (not shown).

[0056] 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, server 2 comprises a control unit 21, storage 22, and 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.

[0057] (i) The control unit 21 acquires a TID map from the continuous paper production system 1, associating it with a paper ID, and stores it in the storage 22. (ii) Based on instructions from the information processing terminal 3, the control unit 21 generates a print data assignment map (Figure 4) by assigning print data to be printed on the corresponding IC tag to each TID in the TID map stored in the storage 22 as associating it with a paper ID. For example, the control unit 21 generates a print data assignment map by assigning each print data corresponding to a print job to each TID included in the TID map. (iii) Based on instructions from the information processing terminal 3, the control unit 21 generates an EPC data assignment map (Figure 5) 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 as associating it with a paper ID.

[0058] The storage unit 22 (an example of a storage unit) is a non-volatile memory, such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 22 stores the TID map acquired by the control unit 21, associating it with the paper ID. The storage unit 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 issuance system 100 via the network NW.

[0059] 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, storage 75, and a communication unit 76. The printing control unit 71 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs printing-related control by executing one or more programs. These one or more programs include a control program that controls the operation of the printing unit 47 and the optical fixing unit 473. By executing the control program, the printing 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 calculated based on signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 43. The paper information acquisition unit 73 acquires 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 acquire a print data allocation map from the server 2 corresponding to the paper ID and page number acquired from the paper information acquisition unit 73. Alternatively, instead of the server 2 generating the print data allocation map, the printing device 4 may acquire 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 acquired TID map. The reference timing generation unit 74 receives the scanner 46's reading result of 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. The storage 75 (an example of a second storage unit) stores the print data allocation map acquired from the server 2. The communication unit 76 is a communication interface with the server 2 via the network NW.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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 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 of 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 calculated based on signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 53. The paper information acquisition unit 83 acquires 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 acquire an EPC data allocation map from the server 2 corresponding to the paper ID and page number acquired from the paper information acquisition unit 83. Alternatively, instead of the server 2 generating the EPC data allocation map, the encoding device 5 may acquire 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 acquired TID map. The reference timing generation unit 84 receives the scanner 56's reading result of 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. The storage 85 stores the EPC data allocation map acquired from the server 2.

[0062] The write control unit 81 functions as an acquisition unit that transmits the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to the server 2 and acquires an 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 a write unit that writes EPC data to each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 according to the acquired EPC data allocation map.

[0063] 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 with a specified 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 by 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 the server 2 via the network NW.

[0064] Next, the operation of the IC tag issuing system 100 will be described. In the IC tag issuing system 100 (see Figure 1), the continuous paper production system 1 sequentially produces continuous paper 10. Each continuous paper 10 has code information 13 (see Figure 2) printed on it, including the paper ID and page number. The produced continuous paper 10 is supplied to the tag issuing process. The IC tag issuing system 100 also generates a TID map corresponding to each page of each produced continuous paper 10, associates it with the paper ID, and sends it to the server 2. The server 2 stores each TID map in association with the paper ID of the corresponding continuous paper 10.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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) 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 the print data allocation map and the 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 and the written content for continuous paper 10 with matching paper IDs.

[0067] 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.

[0068] In Figure 12, the printing device 4 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 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 described 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.

[0069] 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 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 43, the printing device 4 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10. While transporting the continuous paper 10, the printing device 4 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 obtaining the paper ID, the printer can print on each IC tag based on information such as the size and layout of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10, and the print data allocation map. When printing on all pages to be processed is completed (step S10: YES), the printer 4 moves on to processing the next page. The printer 4 may also identify the location of unreadable tags on the continuous paper 10 from the print data allocation map and print an error mark on the surface of the unreadable tags.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] The encoding process in the encoding device 5 will be described 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 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".

[0073] 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 of 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).

[0074] 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 the IC tag located in the corresponding writing zone. In this case, the antenna case functions as an electromagnetic shielding material. When the continuous paper 10 is transported and any IC tag on the continuous paper 10 is included in the writing zone Zw1, the tag communication unit 86 can write EPC data to the IC tag via the writing antenna Aw1 (perform encoding). The same applies to the 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 appropriately set according to the arrangement layout of the 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.

[0075] In the encoding device 5, the 40 IC tags on the continuous paper 10 are configured to pass through writing zones Zw1 to Zw4, distributed in the column direction. For example, focusing on the IC tags in the first row of the continuous paper 10, Figure 14 shows that when the continuous paper 10 is at position P1, IC tags 1A, 2A, and 3A of the continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw1, and IC tags 6A, 7A, and 8A of the continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw3. Furthermore, when the continuous paper 10 is at position P2, which is further than position P1, IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A of the continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw2, and IC tags 8A, 9A, and 10A of the continuous paper 10 are located in writing zone Zw4.

[0076] 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, ...

[0077] 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 a reference timing signal is generated and the information on the placement 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, in order to accurately identify the timing or the amount of transported material, the encoding device 5 may, based on the paper ID of the continuous paper 10, acquire in advance layout information of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10 associated with each paper ID (for example, the distance from the edge of the continuous paper 10 in the width direction to the IC tag, the distance between adjacent tags, etc., information for identifying the position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10).

[0078] The write control unit 81 controls the IC tag to write (encode) EPC data to the IC tag when the IC tag enters one 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. The encoding device 5 divides the writing of EPC data for each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the continuous paper 10 according to the write zone. Therefore, the writing of EPC data to the IC tags arranged on the continuous paper 10 can be completed in a short time.

[0079] 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 IC tags to any 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 assigned to IC tags 1A, 2A, 3A, 1B, 2B, 3B, ... for writing zone Zw1 - Information assigned to IC tags 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, ... for writing zone Zw2 - Information assigned to IC tags 6A, 7A, 8A, 6B, 7B, 8B, ... for writing zone Zw3 - Information assigned to IC tags 8A, 9A, 10A, 8B, 9B, 10B, ... for writing zone Zw4

[0080] 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 the encoding device 5 has finished writing EPC data to an IC tag, it sets the flag corresponding to that IC tag in the writing status data to "1" (written). The encoding device 5 refers to the writing status data and does not write data to target tags that have already had data written to them among multiple target tags in a given writing zone. This prevents the encoding device 5 from attempting to encode multiple IC tags that could be in any of the adjacent zones.

[0081] 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 EPC data to the target tag. As a result, data is not written to a single IC tag twice, and data writing can be completed in a short time.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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. For each IC tag on the continuous paper 10, the encoding device 5 identifies the writing zone in which the IC tag enters from among the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 as the continuous paper 10 is transported, and the timing of entering that writing zone (or the amount of continuous paper 10 transported since the generation of the reference timing signal).

[0086] Specifically, when the encoding device 5 has transported the IC tags in the next row (the first row in the first execution) to one of the writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 (Figure 13) (step S26), it identifies the TID of the newly entering tag (step S28). The tags that are in any of the zones are the tags to be written, and will be referred to as "target tags" 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 writing zone Zw1, and IC tags 6A, 7A, and 8A enter 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 writing zone Zw2, and IC tags 8A, 9A, and 10A enter writing zone Zw4, so these IC tags are identified as target tags.

[0087] 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 the 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.

[0088] If the encoding device 5 cannot retrieve any IC tag on the continuous paper 10 at a specified timing or transport amount, it may output an error. If the IC tag cannot be retrieved, it means that the IC tag has not responded within a predetermined time to a command specifying the TID from the EPC writing unit. If one of the multiple target tags in the writing zone cannot be retrieved, the encoding device 5 may retrieve another target tag from among the multiple target tags, as this may indicate that the target tag is damaged. 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.

[0089] In step S30, the encoding device 5 refers to the write status data (Figure 15) before writing the 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 the EPC data has already been written, the value of the flag corresponding to the IC tag for which the EPC data has already been written is set to "1" (written) (step S32).

[0090] 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 to be processed (step S36). If encoding has not been completed for all IC tags on the page to be 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). If encoding has been completed for all IC tags on the page to be processed (step S36: YES), the encoding device 5 proceeds to processing the next page.

[0091] 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. However, this is not the only case. The encoding device 5 may transport the continuous paper 10 while transporting it in each writing zone, determining the optimal position for encoding by transporting the continuous paper 10 in small increments in the forward or reverse direction, and then writing the data at the determined position.

[0092] Since the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 supplied to the encoding device 5 is 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 this 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 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, and 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 to be processed. 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 transporting it in the reverse direction.

[0093] 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.

[0094] 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 assignment 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 of 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 assignment 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, check whether the TID of each IC tag of the transported continuous paper 10 matches the print data assigned to each IC tag.

[0095] 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 and products. In one embodiment, the automatic adhesive device 7 attaches the IC tags to items by referring to an item assignment map (not shown) in which the data of the item to be attached (item data) is associated with each TID on the TID map. For example, a person in charge of post-processing of IC tags uses an information processing terminal 3 to give instructions to assign item data corresponding to the item to which the IC tag will be attached to each IC tag, and the server 2 generates an item assignment map based on these instructions. The automatic adhesive device 7 accesses the server 2 to obtain the item assignment map.

[0096] Figure 17 shows an example of the use of multiple automatic tagging devices. Figure 17 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the application of automatic tagging devices 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 each different product being transported on three lanes (not shown). Each automatic tagging device is assigned a lane to which it is responsible for attaching IC tags, and each automatic tagging device is positioned in the lane it is responsible for. Each of the automatic tagging devices 7A to 7C reads the TID of the IC tag on the continuous paper 10 and identifies the item to be tagged by referring to the item assignment map. Each automatic tagging device picks up the IC tag corresponding to the item it is responsible for from the continuous paper 10 and attaches it to the item.

[0097] As explained above, in the IC tag issuance system 100 described above, the server 2 stores a TID map indicating the placement position of IC tags on 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, all associated with the paper ID of the continuous paper 10. 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 acquires the paper ID from the continuous paper 10 to be processed and sends it to the server 2, and acquires the print data assignment 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 the paper ID from the continuous paper 10 to be processed and sends it to the server 2, and obtains the 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. Since the encoding device 5 can recognize the TID of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 using the EPC data allocation map, it can write EPC data by specifying any of the TIDs of 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 in order to communicate one-to-one between the writing antenna and the IC tag, such as optimizing the placement of the writing antenna according to the arrangement of IC tags or shielding the writing antenna with a cover, and encoding can be performed efficiently.

[0098] 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. Since the EPC data allocation map associates the TID of each IC tag at each position on the continuous paper 10 with the EPC data, 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 with various arrangements and tag sizes. 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 encoding device's writing antenna was high to prevent writing data to adjacent tags. However, this makes it cumbersome to adjust the position of the encoding device's writing antenna 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 tag. 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 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 for each page, so it is possible to avoid printing print data that should be printed on a specific IC tag on an IC tag at a different position (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 page 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 page 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) whether the EPC data written to each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 matches 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 that shows the TID of the IC tag and the position where the IC tag is placed on each page of the continuous paper 10. 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 assignment map and the EPC data assignment map, respectively, and execute the processing of each device independently. Therefore, the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 do not need to be placed in a continuous arrangement and can each be operated as standalone devices. Consequently, productivity is improved because there is no need to adjust the operating speed etc. of both devices, and the price and installation space of the entire system can be reduced. (7) In the post-processing step, the automatic adhesive device 7 adheres the IC tags picked up from the continuous paper 10 to the items based on the item assignment map based on the TID map.In the item assignment map, the TID of each IC tag at each position on the continuous paper 10 is associated with the item data to which the tag will be attached. Therefore, the automatic attachment device 7 can reliably attach each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 to the target item.

[0099] Next, a case in which a different writing zone is set in the encoding device 5 than that shown in Figure 13 will be explained with reference to Figure 18. The writing zones Zw1 to Zw4 shown in Figure 13 are zones provided corresponding to the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 (Figure 8), but the setting of writing zones is not limited to this. Figure 18 shows an example of a different writing zone setting. Unlike the writing zones shown in Figure 13, Figure 18 shows writing zones Zw1 to Zw3 that are set 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) in the transport direction. 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.

[0100] 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 tags when the corresponding IC tags enter each zone on the continuous paper 10 being transported. • Writing zone Zw1: IC tags 1A to 10A, 1B to 10B • Writing zone Zw2: IC tags 1B to 10B, 1C to 10C • Writing zone Zw3: IC tags 1C to 10C, 1D to 10D

[0101] 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 encodes them sequentially. Next, the encoding device 5A specifies the TID of each tag and encodes them 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 while transporting the continuous paper 10 in small increments in the forward or reverse direction in each writing zone, and then write the data. In this example, IC tags 1B to 10B may enter either the writing zone Zw1 or Zw2, and IC tags 1C to 10C may enter either the writing zone Zw2 or Zw3, but duplicate encoding processing can be avoided by using writing status data (Figure 15).

[0102] 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 writing error may occur. In that case, "0" (not written) may be recorded in the writing status data for the IC tag corresponding to the writing 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.

[0103] One embodiment is an information processing method between an encoding device 5 that writes data to IC tags and a server 2 connected to the encoding device 5. This information processing method includes the following steps: (i) The server 2 stores a TID that identifies the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 and an EPC data allocation map that indicates the placement position of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10 for each continuous paper 10. (ii) The encoding device 5 transmits 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 tags according to the EPC data allocation map obtained from the server 2.

[0104] 2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Conventionally, when printing on each IC tag on continuous paper, the printing process was sometimes inefficient. Therefore, this embodiment aims to efficiently perform printing on a printing medium on which IC tags are placed.

[0105] A first aspect of one aspect of the present invention is a printing device that can communicate with an information processing device and prints on a printing medium on which IC tags are arranged, the printing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires IC tag position information indicating the arrangement position of each IC tag on the printing medium to be printed from the information processing device; and a printing unit that performs printing on the printing medium based on printing information assigned to the IC tags according to the IC tag position information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0106] According to a first aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing can be efficiently performed on a printing medium on which an IC tag is placed.

[0107] A second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to the first embodiment, which has a determination unit that determines whether or not printing on the printing medium can be completed based on the remaining amount of printing material for printing on the printing medium, the IC tag position information, and the printing information assigned to each IC tag based on the IC tag position information.

[0108] According to a second aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, the system can be configured so that the user can recognize whether or not printing on the printing medium can be completed based on the remaining amount of printing material. Therefore, for example, measures can be taken to prevent the printing material from running out during printing, such as replenishing the printing material before printing.

[0109] A third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to the second embodiment, comprising an inspection unit that checks whether the printing result for each IC tag on the printing medium matches the printing information assigned to each IC tag, and if there is an IC tag that the inspection unit determines does not match, the determination unit determines whether it can complete printing on additional IC tags corresponding to the IC tags that the inspection unit determined did not match.

[0110] According to a third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, if there is an IC tag that the inspection unit determines does not match (for example, if there is a printing error), the system can be configured so that the user can determine whether or not printing on additional IC tags can be completed based on the remaining amount of printing material.

[0111] A fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to the second embodiment, wherein, if there is an IC tag on the printing medium for which data writing has failed, the determination unit determines whether or not it can complete printing on an additional IC tag corresponding to the IC tag for which data writing has failed.

[0112] According to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, if a writing error occurs during encoding, the system can be configured so that the user can determine whether or not printing on additional IC tags can be completed based on the remaining amount of printing material.

[0113] A fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to the second or third embodiment, comprising: a storage unit for storing the printing material; a remaining amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of the printing material in the storage unit; and an estimation unit for estimating the amount of the printing material to be used when printing on the printing medium based on the IC tag position information and the printing information, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not printing on the printing medium can be completed based on the remaining amount of the printing material by comparing the remaining amount detected by the remaining amount detection unit with the amount of use estimated by the estimation unit.

[0114] According to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the system can be configured so that the user can recognize whether or not printing on the printing medium can be completed based on the remaining amount of printing material.

[0115] A sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to any one of the second to fourth embodiments, which has a display control unit that estimates the amount of printable printing medium and / or the remaining printable time based on the remaining amount of printing material when printing on the printing medium cannot be completed due to the remaining amount of printing material, and displays this on a display unit.

[0116] According to a sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the user can recognize the amount of printable printing medium and / or the remaining printable time based on the amount of printing material remaining.

[0117] A seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to any one of the first to fifth embodiments, comprising an adjustment unit that adjusts the printing conditions when printing on the printing medium in accordance with the user's request for the print density when printed on the printing medium.

[0118] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing conditions can be set according to the print density requested by the user.

[0119] An eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a printing device according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the IC tag position information includes media information indicating at least one of the type and thickness of the printing medium, and the device has an adjustment unit that adjusts the printing conditions when printing on the printing medium based on the media information.

[0120] According to an eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing conditions can be set according to the type and thickness of the printing medium.

[0121] A ninth aspect of one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for a printing device that can communicate with an information processing device and prints on a printing medium on which IC tags are arranged using a printing material, wherein the printing device obtains IC tag position information from the information processing device indicating the position of each IC tag on the printing medium to be printed, and prints on the printing medium based on the printing information assigned to the IC tags according to the obtained IC tag position information.

[0122] According to a ninth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing can be efficiently performed on a printing medium on which an IC tag is placed.

[0123] A tenth aspect of one aspect of the present invention is a program for a printing device that can communicate with an information processing device and prints on a printing medium on which IC tags are arranged, which causes a computer to execute a procedure for obtaining IC tag position information from the information processing device, indicating the position of each IC tag on the printing medium to be printed on, and a procedure for printing on the printing medium based on the printing information assigned to the IC tags according to the IC tag position information obtained by the acquisition procedure.

[0124] According to a tenth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing can be efficiently performed on a printing medium on which an IC tag is placed.

[0125] An eleventh aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention is an information processing system comprising an information processing device and a printing device that can communicate with the information processing device and prints on a printing medium on which IC tags are arranged, wherein the information processing device has a storage unit that stores IC tag position information indicating the position of each IC tag on the printing medium to be printed on, and the printing device has an acquisition unit that acquires the IC tag position information from the information processing device and a printing unit that prints on the printing medium based on printing information assigned to the IC tags according to the IC tag position information acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0126] According to an eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing can be efficiently performed on a printing medium on which an IC tag is placed.

[0127] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The IC tag issuing system 100 of this embodiment is shown in Figure 1, but the inspection device 6 may be omitted.

[0128] In one embodiment, the TID map and the print data allocation map generated based on the TID map include paper data (an example of media information) indicating at least one of the type and thickness of the continuous paper 10. The paper data of the continuous paper 10 is referenced in the printing device 4 when setting the transfer bias, which will be described later.

[0129] Next, the configuration of the printing device 4 will be described with reference to Figure 19. Figure 19 is a side view showing the configuration of the printing unit 47 in the printing device 4 of Figure 6.

[0130] The following describes an example of the configuration of the printing unit 47 of the printing device 4 of this embodiment with reference to Figure 19. As shown in Figure 19, the printing unit 47 includes an OPC drum 471, a transfer roller 472, a charging roller 476, a light irradiation unit 477, a fixing unit 475, a developer unit 48, and a toner bottle 49. In Figure 19, the direction of rotation of the rotating members is indicated by arrows. The OPC drum 471 is an image carrier. The transfer roller 472 is a transfer device provided below the OPC drum 471. The charging roller 476 is a charging device that uniformly and evenly charges the surface of the OPC drum 471 with negative polarity charges. The light irradiation unit 477 is an exposure device having, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Device), which irradiates the surface of the OPC drum 471 with light corresponding to the printing pattern and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the OPC drum 471. The fixing unit 475 is provided downstream of the OPC drum 471. The developer unit 48 develops the toner (an example of printing material) supplied from the toner bottle 49 by adhering it to the electrostatic latent image formed on the OPC drum 471, thereby forming a toner image as a visible image. The transfer roller 472 transfers the toner image formed on the OPC drum 471 to the continuous paper 10. The toner bottle 49 is an example of a storage unit for storing toner and is connected to the developer unit 48. The toner stored in the toner bottle 49 is supplied to the developer unit 48 as needed. The toner bottle 49 is replaceable and attached to the main body of the printing device 4.

[0131] The developing unit 48 has a developer storage chamber 480, which includes a developing blade 481, a developing roller 482, and a developer supply roller 483. The developer storage chamber 480 stores a two-component developer consisting of toner and a carrier (magnetic particles). In one embodiment, a one-component developer consisting only of non-magnetic toner that does not contain a carrier may be used. Although not shown, a stirring member for stirring the developer in the developer storage chamber 480 may be placed inside the developer storage chamber 480. The developing blade 481 is provided in contact with the developing roller 482, and through contact and friction with the developing roller 482, it charges the toner to a negative polarity, forming a thin layer of toner on the surface of the developing roller 482. The developing roller 482 is a developing member that is positioned in contact with the OPC drum 471. The developer supply roller 483 rotates in contact with the developing roller 482 and supplies the developer. By applying a development bias to the development roller 482, toner supplied by the developer supply roller 483 is electrostatically deposited onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the OPC drum 471, thereby forming a toner image. A higher development bias results in a higher print density. The development bias applied to the development roller 482 is set by the control device 70 of the printing device 4, as will be described later.

[0132] As shown in Figure 19, the developer unit 48 is equipped with a toner concentration sensor 484 that detects the toner concentration of the developer contained in the developer storage chamber 480. The toner concentration is obtained, for example, by measuring the magnetic permeability of the developer. When the toner concentration decreases, the system is controlled to supply toner from the toner bottle 49.

[0133] The transfer roller 472 applies a high voltage (transfer bias) of positive polarity to the continuous paper 10 from the back side, attracting the negatively charged toner on the OPC drum 471 and adhering it to the continuous paper 10. In order to stably adhere the toner to the continuous paper 10, it is preferable to increase the transfer bias as the thickness of the continuous paper 10 increases. The transfer bias is set by the control device 70 of the printing device 4, as will be described later. The fuser unit 475 includes a heating roller that holds the continuous paper 10 on which the toner image has been transferred, and a pressure roller that is biased toward the heating roller. The fuser unit 475 melts the toner transferred to the continuous paper 10 and presses it against the continuous paper 10. As a result, the toner transferred to the continuous paper 10 is fixed to the continuous paper 10. The fuser unit 475 is controlled by the control device 70 of the printing device 4, which will be described later.

[0134] As shown in Figure 19, the toner bottle 49 is equipped with a toner level sensor 491 (an example of a level detection unit) that detects the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle 49. For example, the toner level sensor 491 detects the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle 49 by irradiating light onto the outer surface of the bottle body of the toner bottle 49 and detecting the reflected light from inside the bottle body.

[0135] Next, the configuration of the control system for the printing device 4 will be described with reference to Figure 20. Figure 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system for the printing device 4 in the IC tag issuing system 100.

[0136] As shown in Figure 20, 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 printing control unit 71 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and performs printing-related control by executing one or more programs. These one or more programs include a control program that controls the operation of the printing unit 47. By executing the control program, the printing control unit 71 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires a print data allocation map from the server 2, and a printing unit that prints print data (an example of print information) on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map.

[0137] The print control unit 71 adjusts the development bias applied to the developer unit 48. In one embodiment, the print control unit 71 functions as an adjustment unit that adjusts the printing conditions (e.g., development bias) when printing on continuous paper 10 in accordance with the user's request for print density. The print control unit 71 adjusts the transfer bias applied to the transfer roller 472. In one embodiment, the print data allocation map includes paper data indicating at least one of the type and thickness of the continuous paper 10. The print control unit 71 functions as an adjustment unit that adjusts the printing conditions (e.g., transfer bias) when printing on continuous paper 10 based on the print data included in the print data allocation map. The print control unit 71 sequentially acquires the toner level value of the toner bottle 49 detected by the toner level sensor 491. The toner level in the toner bottle 49 is acquired to determine whether the print job can be completed without replacing the toner bottle 49, as will be described later. The print control unit 71 sequentially acquires the toner density value in the developer unit 48 detected by the toner density sensor 484. The print control unit 71 controls the printer to forcibly replenish toner from the toner bottle 49 if the toner concentration in the developer unit 48 is low.

[0138] 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 calculated based on signals sent sequentially from the rotary encoder 43. The paper information acquisition unit 73 acquires the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 from the reading result of the scanner 46 on the code information 13 of the continuous paper 10 and sends it to the print control unit 71. The print control unit 71 acquires a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 73 from the server 2. Alternatively, instead of the server 2 generating the print data allocation map, the printing device 4 may acquire a TID map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2, and based on instructions from the information processing terminal 3, etc., assign print data of a print job to each TID in the TID map acquired from the server 2, for example, to generate the print data allocation 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. The storage 75 stores the print data allocation map acquired from the server 2. The communication unit 76 is a communication interface with the server 2 via the network NW.

[0139] When the print control unit 71 obtains a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 from the server 2, it functions as a printing unit that refers to the obtained print data allocation map and prints print data on the surface of each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 using the printing unit 47 (Figure 6).

[0140] Next, the operation of the IC tag issuance system 100 of this embodiment will be described. Similar to the first embodiment, the 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. For example, the information processing terminal 3 instructs the server 2 to assign print data to each TID in the TID map corresponding to the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 supplied to the printing device 4, and the server 2 generates a print data assignment map by assigning print data according to the instruction. This instruction is made, for example, by sending a print job to the server 2, as will be described later. Based on the generated print data assignment map, the information processing terminal 3 instructs the server 2 to assign EPC data to each IC tag of the supplied continuous paper 10, and the server 2 generates an EPC data assignment map according to the instruction.

[0141] 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.

[0142] The processes performed in the printing device 4 will be explained below with reference to Figures 21 to 23. Figure 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of processes from when the printing device 4 receives a print job from the server 2 until it starts printing. Figure 22 is a flowchart showing the printing process in the printing device 4. The flowchart in Figure 22 shows the printing process for one page of continuous paper 10, but the same process is performed for each page. Figure 23 is a flowchart showing the process of setting the printing conditions in the printing device 4.

[0143] Although not shown in Figure 21, when printing on the continuous paper 10 is to begin, the information processing terminal 3 issues a print job. The server 2 generates a print data allocation map based on, for example, the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 and the print job. The print job includes print data to be printed on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. If the print data to be printed on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 is already stored in the server 2, the print job may include information indicating the storage location of the print data in the server 2 instead of the print data. In addition to the print data, the print job may include, for example, the paper ID corresponding to the continuous paper 10 on which the print data should be printed. Next, the server 2 sends the print job to the printing device 4. Referring to Figure 21, when the printing device 4 receives the print job from the server 2 (step S2: YES), it executes the processing from step S4 onwards. When the printing device 4 acquires a print job, it obtains, for example, a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2 (step S4), and saves it in the storage 75.

[0144] Next, the printing device 4 determines whether the toner concentration obtained from the toner concentration sensor 484 is higher than the forced replenishment threshold (step S6). The forced replenishment threshold is the toner concentration threshold that serves as the criterion for whether or not to forcibly replenish toner from the toner bottle 49 to the developer storage chamber 480. If the toner concentration is lower than the forced replenishment threshold, good print quality cannot be obtained, so the printing device 4 forcibly replenishes toner from the toner bottle 49 to the developer storage chamber 480 (step S8). If the toner concentration becomes higher than the forced replenishment threshold after the forced replenishment (step S10: YES), the device proceeds to step S14. If the toner concentration does not become higher than the forced replenishment threshold even after the forced replenishment (step S10: NO), the printing device 4 notifies the user to replace the toner bottle 49 (step S12). This notification is given, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 77 of the printing device 4.

[0145] If the toner concentration is higher than the forced replenishment threshold, the printing device 4 determines whether it is possible to print the requested number of IC tags for the print job using the toner currently available in the printing device 4. Specifically, the printing device 4 calculates the required amount of toner (the amount of toner needed to print the requested number of IC tags; an example of the amount of printing material used) based on the print data allocation map acquired in step S4 (step S14). Next, the printing device 4 determines whether the remaining toner amount obtained from the toner level sensor 491 (the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle 49) is greater than the required amount of toner (step S15). Here, the print control unit 71 of the printing device 4 functions as a determination unit that determines whether it is possible to complete printing on the requested number of IC tags using the remaining toner amount and the print data allocation map.

[0146] In one embodiment, the printing device 4 identifies the cumulative number of dots required to print the requested number of IC tags based on the print data assigned to each TID included in the print data assignment map, and estimates the required amount of toner. In this case, it is assumed that the amount of toner consumed per dot is known at the print density setting value that serves as the basis for estimating the amount of toner (for example, level 5 out of 10 setting values ​​from level 1 to 10). In one embodiment, the printing device 4 calculates the required amount of toner based on actual measured values ​​of past toner consumption. For example, it calculates and stores the amount of toner consumed per IC tag based on the difference in remaining toner amounts obtained at a first time point and a second time point in the past, and the number of IC tags printed between the first and second time points. The printing device 4 estimates the required amount of toner by multiplying the amount of toner consumed per IC tag by the number of print data corresponding to the print job (i.e., the number of IC tags to be printed).

[0147] If the remaining toner is greater than the required amount (Step S15: YES), the printing device 4 executes the printing process (Step S18). In this case, the printing device 4 may notify the user of the time remaining until the printing job is completed before executing the printing process. The time remaining until the printing job is completed is indicated, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 77 of the printing device 4. For example, if the number of print data corresponding to the printing job (i.e., the number of IC tags to be printed) is Na, and the number of IC tags printed per unit time, which is determined according to the transport speed of the continuous paper 10, is Nt, then the time remaining until the printing job is completed can be calculated as Na / Nt. If the remaining toner is not greater than the required amount (i.e., there is insufficient toner) (Step S15: NO), the printing device 4 displays a screen for changing the print density setting (Step S16). If there is insufficient toner, the number of printable pages can be increased by, for example, lowering the print density according to user operation (for example, lowering the print density setting value below level 5). In one embodiment, in step S16, if the print density setting value is one of 10 levels from 1 to 10, the user can be allowed to select from, for example, levels 1 to 5, which represent low density. For example, when the user selects a print density setting value, the printer 4 notifies the user of the remaining printable time, which is the time until the toner runs out, and the number of printable pages based on the selected print density setting value (step S17), and then executes the printing process (step S18). The notification of the time until the toner runs out and the number of printable pages is done, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 77 of the printer 4. By displaying this message, the user can recognize the time to replace the toner bottle 49, which is changed according to the selected print density setting value, and the number of printable pages based on the print density setting value that the user selected. In one embodiment, the printer 4 stores data on the amount of toner consumed per dot for each print density setting value (for each level). Based on this data, it estimates the required amount of toner and the number of printable pages for the print job. In one embodiment, the printing device 4 may notify the printer of a print density setting value for printing all the print data corresponding to the print job.

[0148] In step S17, the printing device 4 estimates the time until toner runs out based on the amount of toner consumed per dot, or the amount of toner consumed per IC tag, and the transport speed of the continuous paper 10 in the printing device 4. For example, if the remaining toner is Tr, the amount of toner consumed per IC tag is Tc, and the number of IC tags printed per unit time, which is determined according to the transport speed of the continuous paper 10, is Nt, then the time until toner runs out can be calculated as Tr / (Nt×Tc). In one embodiment, the printing device 4 may be controlled to display a message on the display unit 77 that includes the number (quantity) of printable IC tags instead of, or along with, the time until toner runs out. As described above, the number of printable IC tags (Tr / Tc) can be estimated based on the current toner amount, using the amount of toner consumed per IC tag Tc calculated based on past measured toner consumption values ​​and the current remaining toner amount Tr.

[0149] The printing process shown in Figure 22 is a detailed representation of step S18 in Figure 21. In Figure 22, the printing device 4 reads the code information 13 of the continuous paper 10 being transported and obtains the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 (step S20). Note that if the paper ID included in the print job obtained in step S2 (Figure 21) does not match the paper ID obtained in step S20 of Figure 22, the printing device 4 may output an error message because the continuous paper set in the printing device 4 is not suitable.

[0150] Next, the printing device 4 reads the reference mark 12 and generates a reference timing signal (step S22). 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 43, the printing device 4 controls the transport of the continuous paper 10. While transporting the continuous paper 10, the printing device 4 starts printing one page for the page number to be processed (the page number obtained in step S20) from the print data allocation map acquired in step S4 (step S24). The printing device 4 has pre-registered paper data corresponding to the paper ID, such as the type of continuous paper 10 and the size and layout information of each 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 tags, etc., information to identify the position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10). Therefore, by obtaining the paper ID, the printer can print on each IC tag based on information such as the size and layout of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 and the print data allocation map. The printer 4 may also identify the location of unreadable tags on the continuous paper 10 from the print data allocation map and print an error mark on the surface of the unreadable tags. The printer 4 terminates the printing process when the printing job is complete (i.e., when all the print data corresponding to the printing job has been printed; step S26: YES). If the printing job is not complete (step S26: NO), the printer 4 transports the continuous paper 10 to the next page (step S28) and returns to step S20.

[0151] Furthermore, the forced toner replenishment mentioned in Figure 21 may be performed during printing if the toner density falls below the forced replenishment threshold during printing.

[0152] Next, with reference to Figure 23, the process of setting the printing conditions in the printing device 4 will be described. In the printing condition setting process, appropriate printing conditions are set (adjusted) according to the user's request for print density and the paper type of continuous paper 10. The printing condition setting process may be performed before the start of the printing process or during the execution of the printing process. In Figure 23, for example, in response to the density setting by the user's operation on the printing device 4 (step S30), the printing device 4 sets the development bias to be applied to the developer 48 (step S32). Specifically, if the print density setting value is in 10 levels from level 1 to 10, the printing device 4 displays a screen for selecting the print density setting value according to the user's operation. Once a print density setting value is selected, the printing device 4 sets the development bias according to the selected print density setting value. The higher the level of the print density setting value, the higher the development bias is set (adjusted). Note that if the print density setting has been completed before the start of the printing process (step S16 in Figure 21), it is not necessary to repeat the process in step S30. Next, the printing device 4 acquires paper data corresponding to the paper ID of the print data allocation map acquired in step S4 (step S36). The paper data includes information such as the type of continuous paper 10, the size and layout information of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper, and the thickness of the continuous paper 10, as described above. The printing device 4 sets the transfer bias based on the paper data (step S38). For example, the printing device 4 sets a higher transfer bias the thicker the continuous paper 10 is. The printing device 4 also sets the transfer bias according to the type of continuous paper 10 (the type of paper used for the base paper 10a of the continuous paper 10 and the plain paper 16). Since the resistance value of the paper differs depending on the type of paper, the printing device 4 is configured to set the optimal transfer bias according to the type of paper.

[0153] In one embodiment, if the print density setting is changed to a lower value during printing, even if it was determined before printing that the print job could be completed without replacing the toner bottle 49, the change in density setting may prevent the print job from being completed without replacing the toner bottle 49. Therefore, if the print density setting is changed during printing, the amount of toner required for the unprinted IC tags (required toner amount) may be recalculated, and it may be determined whether the current toner level is greater than the required toner amount. If the toner level is less than the required toner amount, a notification is issued. In this case, the printing device 4 stores the value of the amount of toner consumed per dot for each different print density setting, and uses this to calculate the required toner amount according to the print density setting.

[0154] The printed continuous paper 10 is sent to the encoding device 5. The encoding device 5 refers to the EPC data assignment map corresponding to the paper ID and encodes each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10. The encoded continuous paper 10 is sent to the inspection device. The inspection device checks whether the EPC data has been correctly written to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. The inspection device may also check whether the information printed by the printing device 4 is correct. For example, the inspection device marks IC tags on which the EPC data could not be correctly written or on IC tags on which the print data could not be correctly printed. In one embodiment, the continuous paper 10 that has passed through the inspection device 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.

[0155] As explained above, in the IC tag issuing system 100 described above, the server 2 stores a TID map indicating the placement position of IC tags on the continuous paper 10, associated with the paper ID of the continuous paper 10, and a print data assignment map in which print data is assigned 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 is generated by assigning print data to be printed on the IC tag to each TID on the TID map. The printing device 4 acquires the print data assignment map corresponding to the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to be processed from the server 2. The printing device 4 further prints print data on each IC tag based on the print data assignment map acquired before printing. This IC tag issuing system 100 has the advantage that the server 2 and / or the printing device 4 can manage print data using the print data assignment map. The printing device 4 can estimate the required amount of toner based on a print data allocation map, for example. Furthermore, by not assigning print data to unreadable tags when generating the print data allocation map, the printing device 4 can avoid unnecessarily printing on unreadable tags.

[0156] In electrophotographic printing devices, multiple processes such as multi-color printing (in the case of color printing), fixing, and drying are performed sequentially. If printing stops midway due to insufficient toner, each process is interrupted, potentially requiring the discarding of partially processed paper and reprinting. Therefore, it is desirable to print all the print data corresponding to the print job without interruption once printing has started. To achieve this, it is necessary to prevent toner depletion before printing all the print data corresponding to the print job. Conventional printing devices have limited buffer capacity for print data, so they do not load all the print data corresponding to the print job as image data into the buffer before printing. Instead, to prevent interruption during printing, they load, for example, several pages' worth of print data sequentially while printing. Therefore, if a conventional printing device needs to determine whether the toner level is insufficient before starting printing, it is necessary to load all the print data corresponding to the print job into the buffer beforehand to determine the required amount of toner, which requires a large amount of buffer capacity and time. In contrast, in the IC tag issuing system 100 described above, the printing device 4 acquires a print data allocation map, which assigns print data to each TID in the TID map, before printing begins. Therefore, even without expanding all the print data into a buffer as image data, the printing device 4 can determine, based on the print data allocation map, which IC tags (labels) on the continuous paper 10 to be printed have print data assigned to them, and thus recognize the number of sheets to be printed. Furthermore, because the print data allocation map allows the printing device 4 to determine which IC tags (labels) on the continuous paper 10 to be printed have print data assigned to them, it can recognize the number of sheets to be printed and quickly determine the required amount of toner. Consequently, the printing device 4 can determine, before printing begins, which of the assigned print data can be printed, given the current toner level and the currently set print density.Furthermore, the printing device 4 can prevent toner depletion during printing by notifying the user to replenish toner before starting printing if the remaining toner amount is less than the required amount, or by prompting the user to gradually lower the print density setting before starting printing.

[0157] In one embodiment, the printing device 4 refers to a print data allocation map to determine whether the remaining toner level is higher than the required amount before starting printing, and notifies the user if the remaining toner level is low. Therefore, the user of the printing device 4 can take measures such as replacing the toner bottle 49 before starting the printing process as needed to prevent the printing process from stopping due to insufficient toner. As a result, downtime due to replacing the toner bottle 49 during printing is avoided, and the printing process on IC tags can be performed efficiently.

[0158] In one embodiment, the printing device 4 can refer to a print data allocation map and, before starting printing, compare the current toner level with the required toner level to display the time until the toner runs out and / or the number of IC tags that can be printed with the current toner level. This allows the user to recognize the number of IC tags that can be printed and the remaining printing time based on the current toner level. For example, if one operator is operating multiple printing devices 4, they can recognize in real time which printing device 4 is running low on toner bottles 49, allowing them to take necessary action for a specific printing device 4 among the multiple printing devices 4, thus improving convenience.

[0159] In addition, there may be cases where printing errors by the printing device 4 necessitate additional printing on IC tags. In such cases, the required amount of toner increases. Therefore, if a printing error occurs, the required amount of toner, which reflects the amount of toner needed for the unprinted IC tags and the additional amount of toner needed due to the printing error, may be estimated again during printing, and it may be determined whether the remaining amount of toner in the printing device 4 at that time is greater than the required amount of toner. In one embodiment, the printing device 4 has an inspection unit that checks whether the printing result for each IC tag of the printing device 4 matches the printing data assigned to each IC tag. The inspection unit is, for example, located downstream of the printing unit 47 in the transport direction in Figure 6. The printing control unit 71 of the printing device 4 determines whether it can complete printing on additional IC tags corresponding to IC tags that the inspection unit has determined do not match. This allows the user to recognize whether the printing on additional IC tags can be completed based on the remaining amount of toner in the printing device 4 in the event of a printing error.

[0160] If the encoding device 5 makes a writing error to an IC tag, the printing already done to that IC tag will be wasted, so additional printing may be required on the IC tag. For example, if the inspection device finds that EPC data has not been correctly written to one or more IC tags, the continuous paper containing those one or more IC tags (the tags with writing errors) will be reloaded into the printer 4, and printing will need to be done again on the tags with writing errors, thus increasing the amount of toner required. Therefore, the server 2 and the printer 4 may, when a writing error occurs, estimate the required amount of toner that reflects the additional toner required due to the writing error, and determine whether the remaining toner in the printer 4 is greater than the required amount.

[0161] As described above, the server 2 and the printing device 4 can generate a print data allocation map by assigning print data to each TID in the TID map based on the print job received from the information processing terminal 3. At this time, the server 2 and the printing device 4 may refer to the print data allocation map and, if the number of IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 to be printed is less than the number of print data corresponding to the print job (i.e., the number of IC tags to be printed), display a message on the information processing terminal 3 or the printing device 4 to notify the user that there are not enough IC tags on the continuous paper 10. Upon receiving this notification, the user can recognize that the continuous paper 10 set in the printing device 4 should be changed to a different continuous paper 10, and can change the continuous paper 10 so as not to interrupt the printing process. In one embodiment, if the number of IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 to be printed is less than the number of print data corresponding to the print job (i.e., the number of IC tags to be printed), the server 2 may notify the user of the time when a new continuous paper 10 should be set in the printing device 4. This allows the user to set a new continuous paper 10 in the printing device 4 in a timely manner, thereby minimizing the time that the printing process for a print job is interrupted.

[0162] One embodiment is an information processing method for a printing device 4 that can communicate with a server 2 and prints on continuous paper 10 on which IC tags are placed. This information processing method includes the following steps: (i) obtaining a print data allocation map from the server 2 that shows the placement position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 to be printed on; (ii) printing on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data assigned to the IC tags according to the obtained print data allocation map.

[0163] One embodiment is a program for causing a computer to execute (i) and (ii) above in a printing device 4 that can communicate with a server 2 and prints on continuous paper 10 on which IC tags are placed.

[0164] If a single-component developer consisting only of non-magnetic toner without a carrier is used as the developer for the printing device 4 described above, the developer may be equipped with a toner level sensor instead of a toner density sensor. In that case, the printing device 4 determines whether or not to forcibly replenish toner from the toner bottle 49 according to the remaining amount of toner in the developer. In the embodiment described above, the case in which the printing device 4 employs an electrophotographic method has been explained, but it is not limited to this, and thermal transfer, thermal, or inkjet methods may also be used. When an inkjet printing device is used, ink is used as the printing material. In that case, an ink level sensor is provided in the ink tank of the printing device to detect the remaining amount of printing material.

[0165] 3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. Conventionally, after printing or writing data to each IC tag on a continuous sheet of paper, the IC tags are attached to objects such as articles using an attachment device. In this case, there were cases where the attachment device could not efficiently attach the IC tags to the objects. Therefore, the purpose of this embodiment is to enable the attachment device to efficiently attach IC tags to objects.

[0166] A first aspect of one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device comprising: a storage unit for storing IC tag location information including tag identification information that identifies each of a plurality of IC tags arranged on a printing medium and information indicating the placement position of each of the plurality of IC tags on the printing medium; and an assignment unit that, when there are a plurality of attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object, uses the IC tag location information to assign the tag identification information to each attachment device to which the IC tags are supplied.

[0167] According to a first aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the attachment device can efficiently attach IC tags to an object.

[0168] A second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, which has a write data allocation unit that allocates write data to each of the plurality of IC tags in accordance with the attachment device to which each IC tag is supplied.

[0169] According to a second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, before supplying each IC tag to a corresponding attachment device, writing data corresponding to the items to be handled by the attachment device can be written to each IC tag.

[0170] A third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, wherein the plurality of IC tags in the printing medium are arranged in a matrix consisting of a first direction corresponding to the transport direction of the printing medium and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the write data allocation unit allocates the write data such that two or more IC tags are supplied together to each attachment device in the first direction or the second direction.

[0171] According to a third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when supplying IC tags to each attachment device, the printing medium can be cut along the first or second direction, making the work easier.

[0172] A fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device according to any of the first to third embodiments, which has a print information allocation unit that allocates print information to be printed on each of the plurality of IC tags in accordance with the attachment device to which each IC tag is supplied.

[0173] According to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, before supplying each IC tag to a corresponding attachment device, printing information corresponding to the articles or other items handled by the attachment device to which the IC tag is supplied can be printed on each IC tag.

[0174] A fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device according to the fourth embodiment, wherein the plurality of IC tags in the printing medium are arranged in a matrix consisting of a first direction corresponding to the transport direction of the printing medium and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the printing information allocation unit allocates the printing information such that two or more IC tags are supplied together to each attachment device in the first direction or the second direction.

[0175] According to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when supplying IC tags to each attachment device, the printing medium can be cut along the first or second direction, making the work easier.

[0176] A sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing device according to any of the first to fifth embodiments, which has an output unit that outputs the tag identification information assigned to each adhesive device by the assignment unit to the corresponding adhesive device.

[0177] According to a sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, tag identification information corresponding to the IC tag to be attached by each of a plurality of attachment devices can be provided.

[0178] A seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system comprising an information processing device described in any one of the first to fifth embodiments, and a writing device that can communicate with the information processing device and writes write data assigned to each of the plurality of IC tags.

[0179] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when there are multiple attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object, before supplying each IC tag to the corresponding attachment device, writing data corresponding to the item or the like handled by the receiving attachment device can be written to each IC tag, and each attachment device can efficiently attach the IC tags.

[0180] An eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system comprising an information processing device described in any one of the first to seventh embodiments, and a printing device that can communicate with the information processing device and prints print information assigned to each of the plurality of IC tags.

[0181] According to an eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when there are multiple attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object, printing information corresponding to the articles etc. handled by the receiving attachment device can be printed on the surface of each IC tag before supplying each IC tag to the corresponding attachment device, and each attachment device can efficiently attach the IC tags.

[0182] A ninth aspect of a certain aspect of the present invention is an information processing system comprising the information processing device described in the first aspect and a plurality of attachment devices, wherein the assignment unit assigns device identification information to the tag identification information to identify the attachment device to which the IC tag is supplied, and each of the plurality of attachment devices peels off the IC tag from the printing medium, based on the IC tag position information, the IC tag corresponding to the tag identification information assigned to the device identification information of its own device, and attaches it to an article.

[0183] According to a ninth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, each adhesive device is capable of peeling an IC tag corresponding to its own device from the printing medium and attaching it to an article, thus eliminating the need to divide the printing medium and supply it to each adhesive device.

[0184] A tenth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method which acquires IC tag position information including tag identification information that identifies each of a plurality of IC tags arranged on a printing medium and information indicating the position of each of the plurality of IC tags on the printing medium, and when there are a plurality of attachment devices that attach IC tags to an object, the tag identification information is assigned to each attachment device to which the IC tags are supplied using the IC tag position information.

[0185] According to a tenth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when there are multiple attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object, each attachment device can efficiently attach the IC tags.

[0186] An eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to perform the following steps: a procedure for acquiring IC tag location information, which includes tag identification information that identifies each of a plurality of IC tags arranged on a printing medium, and information indicating the placement position of each of the plurality of IC tags on the printing medium; and a procedure for assigning the tag identification information to each of the attachment devices to which the IC tags are supplied, using the IC tag location information, when there are a plurality of attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object.

[0187] According to an eleventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, when there are multiple attachment devices for attaching IC tags to an object, each attachment device can efficiently attach the IC tags.

[0188] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 24, one embodiment of the IC tag issuing system 100 includes, for example, a continuous paper production system 1, a server 2, an information processing terminal 3, a printing device 4, an encoding device 5, and a plurality of automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5 (an example of adhesive devices), each of which is connected to a network NW. Although not shown in Figure 24, an inspection device may be provided to check whether EPC data has been correctly written to each IC tag on the continuous paper.

[0189] Multiple automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5 are each installed in factories P1 to P5, for example, where post-processing steps are performed. In the following, when referring to matters common to multiple automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5, the term "automatic adhesive device 7" may be used. Each factory is supplied with continuous paper that has been printed and encoded, for example, continuous paper containing IC tags assigned to each factory, which has been cut. In each factory, the automatic adhesive device 7 attaches the supplied IC tags to the target items. For convenience, the following explanation describes the case where IC tags are supplied to multiple factories, but this is not limited to this case. For example, if one factory includes multiple adhesive processes, IC tags assigned to each of the multiple adhesive processes are supplied.

[0190] Next, the factory allocation map, which is used in the IC tag issuing system 100, will be explained with reference to Figure 25. The factory allocation map is data that shows, for example, the position where each IC tag is placed on the continuous paper 10 and a value (one of P1 to P5) indicating the factory to which each IC tag is supplied, for each page. In the example shown in Figure 25, for example, in the factory allocation map for "page number: 1", the IC tags in the 1st to 2nd columns are supplied to factory P1, the IC tags in the 3rd to 4th columns are supplied to factory P2, the IC tags in the 5th to 6th columns are supplied to factory P3, the IC tags in the 7th to 8th columns are supplied to factory P4, and the IC tags in the 9th to 10th columns are supplied to factory P5. The factory allocation map shown in Figure 25 is just one example, and the factory to which each IC tag is supplied can be arbitrarily set for each IC tag. In one embodiment, during the tag issuance process, the tag issuance person operates, for example, the information processing terminal 3, which then generates a factory allocation map and saves it to the server 2. In one embodiment, the factory allocation map is generated for each page of the continuous paper 10, associated with the paper ID of the continuous paper 10, and stored in the server 2. The factory allocation map is referenced by the server 2 when, for example, assigning print data or EPC data to the TID map generated for each continuous paper, or when splitting and outputting the print data allocation map or EPC data allocation map.

[0191] In this embodiment, the server 2 may refer to the factory allocation map shown in Figure 25 and allocate print data so that IC tags can be supplied to each of the factories P1 to P5 (for example, each of the automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5), thereby generating a print data allocation map. Alternatively, in this embodiment, the server 2 can refer to the factory allocation map shown in Figure 25 and generate an EPC data allocation map so that IC tags can be supplied to each of the factories P1 to P5 (for example, each of the automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5).

[0192] After printing and encoding on the continuous paper 10 is completed, the multiple IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 are each supplied to each factory according to the factory allocation map (Figure 25). For example, the continuous paper 10 is cut, and each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 is supplied to the corresponding factory. Figure 26 shows, as an example, a case in which the continuous paper 10 is cut (divided) into parts G1 to G5 corresponding to factories P1 (automatic bonding device 7-1) to P5 (automatic bonding device 7-5) according to the factory allocation map shown in Figure 25. On the continuous paper 10, the multiple IC tags are arranged in a matrix consisting of a row direction (an example of a first direction) corresponding to the transport direction of the continuous paper 10 and a column direction (an example of a second direction) perpendicular to the row direction. Therefore, as shown in Figure 26, for example, by cutting the continuous paper 10, it becomes possible to supply two or more IC tags together in the row direction to each factory (i.e., each automatic bonding device 7), making the work associated with supplying IC tags easier. Furthermore, since the continuous paper 10 can be transported to multiple factories through a relatively simple cutting process, errors in supplying IC tags can be prevented.

[0193] Next, with reference to Figure 27, the configuration of the control systems for the server 2, the printing device 4, and the encoding device 5 will be described. Figure 27 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system for the server 2 in the IC tag issuing system 100 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 27, the server 2 comprises a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23. In addition to the processing described above, the control unit 21 performs processing such as acquiring a factory allocation map from an information processing terminal 3 or the like and storing it in the storage unit 22.

[0194] The control unit 21 functions as a write data allocation unit, a print information allocation unit, and an allocation unit, respectively. When generating an EPC data allocation map, the write data allocation unit refers to, for example, a factory allocation map and allocates EPC data (an example of write data) corresponding to the automatic adhesive device 7 to which each IC tag is supplied, for each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the continuous paper 10. In one embodiment, the write data allocation unit allocates the EPC data so that two or more IC tags are supplied to each automatic adhesive device 7 together in the row or column direction. When generating a print data allocation map, the print information allocation unit refers to, for example, a factory allocation map and allocates the print data corresponding to the automatic adhesive device 7 to which each IC tag is supplied, for each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the continuous paper 10. In one embodiment, the print information allocation unit allocates the print data so that two or more IC tags are supplied to each automatic adhesive device 7 together in the row or column direction. The allocation unit refers to the TID map and the factory allocation map and, for example, divides the EPC data allocation map, in which print data and EPC data are assigned to the TIDs of the IC tags on the continuous paper 10, for each automatic adhesive device 7, thereby assigning TIDs to each automatic adhesive device 7 to which the IC tags are supplied. The allocation unit also outputs data from the EPC data allocation map corresponding to the assigned TIDs to the automatic adhesive device 7.

[0195] Storage 22 stores the TID map, print data allocation map, and EPC data allocation map, as well as a factory allocation map associated with the paper ID.

[0196] Next, the operation of the IC tag issuance system 100 of this embodiment will be described. In the IC tag issuance system 100, for example, a tag issuance person operates an information processing terminal 3 or the like to generate a factory allocation map (Figure 25). The factory allocation map is sent to the server 2 and stored in the server 2.

[0197] As already explained, server 2 generates a print data allocation map and an EPC data allocation map based on the TID map. Printing device 4 prints on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map. Encoding device 5 encodes (writes EPC data to) each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data allocation map.

[0198] The encoded continuous paper 10 may be sent to an inspection device (not shown). For example, the inspection device checks whether the EPC data has been correctly written to each IC tag on the continuous paper 10. The inspection device may also check whether the information printed by the printing device 4 is correct. The inspection device marks, for example, IC tags on which the EPC data could not be correctly written or IC tags on which the print data could not be printed correctly. After passing through the inspection device, the continuous paper 10 is cut according to, for example, a factory layout map, and each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 is supplied to the corresponding factory.

[0199] In the IC tag issuance system 100, when each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 is supplied to the corresponding factory, for example, the data assigned to the IC tag supplied to the factory (EPC data and print data) is output to the automatic adhesive device 7 at the receiving factory. This process will be explained with reference to Figures 28 and 29. Figure 28 is a sequence chart showing a series of processes when the EPC data assignment map is divided in the IC tag issuance system 100. Figure 29 is a diagram showing an example of the division and output of the EPC data assignment map.

[0200] In Figure 28, in response to the operation of the IC tag issuing person, the information processing terminal 3, upon completion of inspection of the continuous paper 10, specifies the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 and sends a data output instruction to the server 2 (step S2). Upon receiving the data output instruction, the server 2 divides, for example, the EPC data allocation map corresponding to the specified paper ID by referring to the factory allocation map corresponding to the same paper ID (step S4). As mentioned above, the factory allocation map shows, page by page, the position where each IC tag is placed on the continuous paper 10 and a value indicating the factory to which each IC tag is supplied. Dividing the EPC data allocation map is equivalent to assigning a TID of the EPC data allocation map to each automatic adhesive device 7 to which the IC tags are supplied, using the TID map. Next, server 2 outputs the data corresponding to the EPC data allocation map for factory P1, EPC data allocation map for factory P2, ..., EPC data allocation map for factory P5 obtained by the division in step S4 to automatic pasting devices 7-1, 7-2, ..., and 7-5, respectively (step S6).

[0201] Figure 29 schematically shows an example of dividing and outputting the EPC data allocation map shown in Figure 6 according to the factory allocation map shown in Figure 25. The EPC data allocation map is data in which print data and EPC data are allocated to the positions and TIDs of IC tags placed on each page of the continuous paper 10. In the example above, the case where the IC tags are processed in the order of printing and encoding is shown, but this is not limited to this case; the IC tags may also be processed in the order of encoding and printing. Even when the IC tags are processed in the order of encoding and printing, an EPC data allocation map is generated and divided as shown in Figure 29. In this example, the data portion of the first to second columns of the EPC data allocation map is output to the automatic pasting device 7-1 as the EPC data allocation map for factory P1. The data portion of the third to fourth columns of the EPC data allocation map is output to the automatic pasting device 7-2 as the EPC data allocation map for factory P2. The data portion of the fifth to sixth columns of the EPC data allocation map is output to the automatic pasting device 7-3 as the EPC data allocation map for factory P3. The data portion of columns 7-8 of the EPC data allocation map is output to automatic pasting device 7-4 as the EPC data allocation map for factory P4. The data portion of columns 9-10 of the EPC data allocation map is output to automatic pasting device 7-5 as the EPC data map for factory P5. The EPC data allocation map for factory P1, the EPC data allocation map for factory P2, ..., the EPC data allocation map for factory P5 are each parts of the EPC data allocation map corresponding to sections G1, G2, ..., G5 (Figure 26) of the continuous paper 10. Sections G1 to G5 of the continuous paper 10 are supplied to and set in automatic pasting devices 7-1 to 7-5. Based on the EPC data allocation maps for factory P1 to factory P5 output from server 2, automatic pasting devices 7-1 to 7-5 peel off the IC tags placed on sections G1 to G5 of the set continuous paper 10 and attach them to the items. Each automatic adhesive device 7 can identify the IC tag at the position corresponding to the item to be attached, based on the TID of the IC tag placed at each position in the set continuous paper 10, using the corresponding factory-oriented EPC data allocation map, and peel it off from the continuous paper 10.

[0202] As explained above, in the IC tag issuing system 100 described above, the server 2 stores a TID map that shows 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 that assigns print data to each TID on the TID map, and an EPC data assignment map that assigns EPC data to each TID on the TID map. The server 2 also stores a factory assignment map that associates the placement position of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 with a value indicating the factory to which each IC tag is supplied.

[0203] Each factory where the automatic tagging device 7 is installed is supplied with portions of the continuous paper 10 that have been cut according to the factory allocation map. As a result, each factory is supplied with IC tags that are placed on portions of the continuous paper 10 according to the factory allocation map. Since the continuous paper 10 can contain IC tags that are supplied to multiple factories or multiple processes, a large number of IC tags can be efficiently issued using the continuous paper 10. Furthermore, the server 2 divides the EPC data allocation map according to the factory allocation map and outputs the resulting factory-oriented EPC data allocation map to the automatic tagging device 7 in each factory. Each automatic tagging device 7 acquires only the data (factory-oriented map) corresponding to the IC tags that it will attach to the items from the EPC data allocation map corresponding to the continuous paper 10, so it can efficiently attach IC tags to the items. For example, when the automatic tagging device 7 sequentially attaches IC tags to items, it checks the TID included in the acquired factory-oriented map while sequentially attaching the IC tags to the items. In this case, since the factory map does not contain data for other factories, the automatic tagging device 7 can efficiently attach IC tags by comparing the TID read from the IC tag with each TID included in the factory map.

[0204] In the embodiments described above, the case in which the EPC data allocation map is divided according to the factory allocation map and output to each automatic tagging device has been explained, but this is not the only case. The TID map or print data allocation map may also be divided according to the factory allocation map and output to each automatic tagging device. Since the data after dividing the TID map or print data allocation map includes the TID of the IC tags supplied to each factory, each automatic tagging device can efficiently attach the IC tags.

[0205] One embodiment is an information processing method that includes the following steps: (i) obtaining a TID map that includes a TID that identifies each of the multiple IC tags arranged on the continuous paper 10, and information indicating the placement position of each of the multiple IC tags on the continuous paper 10; and (ii) if there are multiple attachment devices that attach IC tags to an object, assigning a TID to each attachment device that supplies the IC tags using the TID map. In each step, the object to be processed may be a print data assignment map or an EPC data assignment map instead of a TID map.

[0206] One embodiment is a program that causes a computer to execute (i) to (ii) above.

[0207] Figure 30 shows an example of continuous paper 10 being cut in a different manner than in Figure 26. In Figure 30, the continuous paper 10 is cut (divided) into sections G11 and G12. By cutting the continuous paper 10 as shown in Figure 30, it becomes possible to supply two or more IC tags together in the column direction to each of the two factories, and in this case as well, the work associated with supplying the IC tags becomes easier. When the continuous paper 10 is cut as shown in Figure 30, a factory allocation map is generated according to this cutting method, and EPC data allocation maps for factories corresponding to sections G11 and G12 of the continuous paper 10 are output to the automatic labeling devices 7 of the two factories to which the IC tags are supplied.

[0208] The above-described embodiment shows the case where the continuous paper 10 is cut, but this is not the only case. In one embodiment, the continuous paper 10 is supplied to the factory where the automatic adhesive device is located without being cut. In this embodiment, the server 2 generates an equipment allocation map based on the EPC data allocation map. Figure 31 shows an example of the data structure of the equipment allocation map. As shown in Figure 31, the equipment allocation map is data in which the equipment ID of the automatic adhesive device to which the corresponding IC tag is supplied is assigned to each TID in the EPC data allocation map. In the example in Figure 31, "01" to "05" each represent an equipment ID (an example of equipment identification information) that identifies the automatic adhesive devices 7-1 to 7-5. The server 2 generates the equipment allocation map based on the EPC data allocation map, for example, by referring to the factory allocation map. In this case, the control unit 21 of the server 2 functions as an allocation unit that uses the EPC data allocation map, for example, by referring to the factory allocation map, and assigns a TID to each automatic adhesive device 7.

[0209] Server 2 outputs a device assignment map to each automatic adhesive device 7. Each automatic adhesive device 7 refers to the device ID in the device assignment map and, based on the TID assigned to each automatic adhesive device 7, peels off the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 and attaches them to the item. Since each automatic adhesive device 7 knows the TID of the IC tags placed at each position on the continuous paper 10 from the device assignment map, it can identify the IC tag at the position corresponding to the item to be attached based on the TID and peel it off from the continuous paper 10. Referring again to Figure 17, an application example when the continuous paper 10 is not cut is shown. In Figure 17, each of the automatic adhesive devices 7A to 7C may refer to the device assignment map corresponding to the device ID, identify the TID and position of the IC tag to be attached on the continuous paper 10, peel the IC tag off the continuous paper 10 and attach it to the item. In this case, each automatic adhesive device can peel off the IC tag corresponding to its device from the continuous paper 10 and attach it to the item, eliminating the need to divide the continuous paper 10 and supply it to each factory (each automatic adhesive device).

[0210] In the embodiments described above, the case in which both printing and encoding are performed for each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 has been explained, but this is not limited to this case, and at least one of printing and encoding may be performed. When only printing is performed on the IC tags, the TID map or print data allocation map may be split and output. When only encoding is performed on the IC tags, the TID map or EPC data allocation map may be split and output.

[0211] 4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In conventional manufacturing equipment, if data could not be written to the IC tag or if a defective tag occurred due to printing errors, etc., it was necessary to reissue the IC tag, which was time-consuming. The purpose of this embodiment is to eliminate the need to reissue IC tags.

[0212] A first aspect of one aspect of the present invention is a writing device comprising: a storage unit that stores write data allocation information which assigns write data to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies an IC tag placed on a printing medium and IC tag position information which indicates the placement position of the IC tag on the printing medium; an identification unit which identifies the tag identification information of an IC tag to which write data could not be written from the write data allocation information; and an update unit which assigns the data that could not be written to the IC tag corresponding to the tag identification information identified by the identification unit to the tag identification information of other IC tags included in the write data allocation information, and updates the write data allocation information.

[0213] According to a first aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the trouble of reissuing IC tags is eliminated.

[0214] A second aspect of one aspect of the present invention is an information processing system comprising: a writing unit that writes data to IC tags placed on a printing medium; a storage unit that stores writing data allocation information which assigns writing data to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies the IC tags placed on the printing medium and IC tag position information which indicates the placement position of the IC tags on the printing medium; an identification unit which identifies the tag identification information of IC tags on which the writing unit was unable to write writing data from among the writing data allocation information; and an update unit which assigns the data that could not be written to the IC tag corresponding to the tag identification information identified by the identification unit to the tag identification information of other IC tags included in the writing data allocation information, and updates the writing data allocation information.

[0215] According to a second aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the trouble of reissuing IC tags is eliminated.

[0216] A third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to the second embodiment, comprising a printing unit for printing on a printing medium, wherein the printing unit prints information indicating that writing was not possible for the IC tag that could not be written.

[0217] According to a third aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, since IC tags that the user was unable to write to can be recognized, for example, such IC tags can be avoided in post-processing steps.

[0218] A fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to the second embodiment, wherein the writing unit writes data to the other IC tag based on the writing data allocation information updated by the updating unit.

[0219] According to a fourth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the data that could not be written to an IC tag is written to another IC tag instead.

[0220] A fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system as described in the third embodiment, wherein the storage unit stores print information assignment information which assigns print information to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies an IC tag placed on the printing medium and IC tag location information, and the printing unit prints the print information assigned to the IC tag that could not be written to to the other IC tags based on the print information assignment information.

[0221] According to a fifth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the print information that was assigned to an IC tag that could not be written to is printed on another IC tag.

[0222] A sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing system according to the third embodiment, comprising: a second storage unit that stores print information assignment information which assigns print information to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies an IC tag arranged on the printing medium and IC tag location information; a second identification unit which identifies the tag identification information of an IC tag on which the printing unit was unable to print print information from among the print information assignment information; and a second update unit which assigns the print information which could not be printed on the IC tag corresponding to the tag identification information identified by the second identification unit to the tag identification information of other IC tags included in the print information assignment information, and updates the print information assignment information.

[0223] According to a sixth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, printing errors and the like can be dealt with, and the trouble of reissuing IC tags can be avoided.

[0224] A seventh aspect of one aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that can communicate with a writing device for writing data to IC tags arranged on a printing medium, the information processing device comprising: a storage unit that stores writing data allocation information which assigns writing data to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies the IC tag arranged on the printing medium and IC tag position information which indicates the position of the IC tag on the printing medium; an identification unit which identifies the tag identification information of an IC tag on which the writing device was unable to write writing data from among the writing data allocation information; and an update unit which assigns the data that could not be written to the IC tag corresponding to the tag identification information identified by the identification unit to the tag identification information of other IC tags included in the writing data allocation information and updates the writing data allocation information.

[0225] According to a seventh aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the trouble of reissuing IC tags is eliminated.

[0226] An eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention is an information processing method comprising: storing in a storage device write data allocation information which assigns write data to each IC tag according to tag identification information which identifies an IC tag placed on a printing medium and IC tag position information which indicates the position of the IC tag on the printing medium; a writing device writes data to the IC tags placed on the printing medium; the writing device identifies the tag identification information of an IC tag to which it was unable to write data from the write data allocation information; assigns the data that could not be written to the IC tag corresponding to the identified tag identification information to the tag identification information of another IC tag included in the write data allocation information; and updates the write data allocation information.

[0227] According to an eighth aspect of a certain embodiment of the present invention, the trouble of reissuing IC tags is eliminated.

[0228] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0229] Figure 32 shows the configuration of the inspection device 6 of this embodiment. The inspection device 6 shown in Figure 32 differs from that in Figure 9 in that a print inspection unit 68 has been added.

[0230] The print inspection unit 68 inspects the print data printed on each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10. The print inspection unit 68 may include an imaging unit that images the continuous paper 10 as it is being transported. The imaging unit sequentially images the transported continuous paper 10 and acquires image data including the print data printed on the surface of each IC tag. Based on the image data acquired by the imaging unit, the print inspection unit 68 determines whether the print data printed on each IC tag is correct, for example, using a print data assignment map or an EPC data assignment map. For example, the control unit of the print inspection unit 68 extracts character information and code information such as barcodes from the acquired image data and determines whether the extracted information matches the correct data (i.e., the print data assigned to the IC tag to be processed in the print data assignment map or EPC data assignment map, etc.) (i.e., whether it is a printing defect or not). For example, if printed characters or barcodes are missing, or if lines that should not be there are printed, it is determined to be a printing defect.

[0231] The configuration of the control system for server 2 is shown in Figure 10. In addition to the processing described above, the control unit 21 of server 2 in this embodiment performs processing to update the print data allocation map (an example of print information allocation information) and the EPC data allocation map (an example of write data allocation information) based on information from at least one of the printing device 4, encoding device 5, and inspection device 6.

[0232] The configuration of the control systems for the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5 is as shown in Figure 11, but the printing device 4 in this embodiment differs in the following respects. The printing control unit 71 functions as a second identification unit that identifies the TID of IC tags on which printing data could not be printed (for example, missing tags described later) from the printing data allocation map. The printing control unit 71 functions as a second update unit that assigns the printing data that could not be printed on the IC tag corresponding to the TID identified by the second identification unit to the TID of other IC tags included in the printing data allocation map, and updates the printing data allocation map. When the printing data allocation map is updated by the server 2, the control unit 21 of the server 2 can function as both the identification unit and the update unit.

[0233] The write control unit 81 functions as an identification unit that identifies the TID of an IC tag in the EPC data allocation map that the encoding device 5 was unable to write data to. The write control unit 81 functions as an update unit that updates the EPC data allocation map by assigning the data that could not be written to the IC tag corresponding to the TID identified by the identification unit to the TID of another IC tag included in the EPC data allocation map. As will be described later, if the EPC data allocation map is updated by the server 2, the control unit 21 of the server 2 may function as both the identification unit and the update unit.

[0234] Although not shown in the diagram, the inspection device 6 has a CPU, ROM, and RAM, and a control unit that executes an inspection program. The control unit of the inspection device 6 transmits, for example, the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to the server 2, and obtains a print data allocation map and an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the server 2. The control unit of the inspection device 6 inspects the printing results on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data assigned to each IC tag according to the obtained print data allocation map. The control unit of the inspection device 6 inspects the writing results on the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data assigned to each IC tag according to the obtained EPC data allocation map. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may transmit, for example, the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to the printing device 4 and obtain a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the printing device 4. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may transmit, for example, the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 to the encoding device 5 and obtain an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID from the encoding device 5.

[0235] Next, the operation of the IC tag issuing system 100 of this embodiment will be described. As already explained, the server 2 generates a print data allocation map and an EPC data allocation map based on the TID map. The printing device 4 prints on the surface of each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map. The encoding device 5 encodes (writes EPC data to) each IC tag on the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data allocation map.

[0236] The continuous paper sheets 10, after printing and encoding are complete, are sent to the inspection device 6 (Figure 32). Similar to the encoding device 5, the inspection device 6 reads the code information 13 of the transported continuous paper sheets 10, obtains the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper sheets 10, and obtains the EPC data allocation map and print 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 of 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, for example, there is an IC tag on the page to be processed that does not match, the inspection device 6 prints an error mark on the surface of that IC tag. Based on the obtained print data allocation map, the inspection device 6 determines whether the print data printed on each IC tag of the transported continuous paper sheets 10 is correct or not (i.e., whether it is a print defect or not). In this case as well, an error mark may be printed on the surface of the defective IC tag (defective tag as described later).

[0237] 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 an item such as a product.

[0238] Next, the processing of the IC tag issuing system 100 when there is an IC tag that cannot have data written to it, for example, due to damage, will be explained with reference to Figures 33 to 36. In the following explanation, each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 may be represented by a symbol mn corresponding to the position of the IC tag (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, "1A" means the IC tag placed in the first column, row A, and in the following explanation, it may be written as "IC tag 1A". The encoding device 5 calls up the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10 one by one by specifying the TID and writes data to them, but if the IC tag is damaged, there is no response from the IC tag within a predetermined time and data cannot be written. In the following explanation, an IC tag to which data could not be written during the encoding process will be referred to as a "defective tag".

[0239] (I) When a defective tag occurs (Preceding process: Printing process, Subsequent process: Encoding process) Figure 33 illustrates the process when a defective tag occurs in the encoding process, where the preceding process is the printing process and the subsequent process is the encoding process. Figure 33 assumes a case where there is a tag issuance request to issue 20 IC tags (tags 1A to 10A, 1B to 10B) from tag 1A of continuous paper 10 (for example, a printing job to print 20 IC tags to the printing device 4 and an encoding job to write data to the 20 IC tags to the encoding device 5).

[0240] In Figure 33, first, in the preceding process (printing process), tags 1A to 10A and 1B to 10B are printed with a to j and k to t, respectively. Next, in the subsequent process (encoding process), encoding is performed sequentially on each of the 20 IC tags. At this time, it is assumed that data can be successfully written to each IC tag except for tag 7A, but tag 7A is a defective tag and data cannot be written to it. In this case, the encoding device 5 writes the data (data assigned to the TID corresponding to tag 7A) to tag 1C (an example of another IC tag) that follows the 20 IC tags that were targeted for writing, instead of the defective tag 7A that could not have data written to it. In Figure 33, IC tags with unwritten data and IC tags with written data are distinguished and displayed by different patterns.

[0241] In the following explanation, the process of writing the data to another tag in place of an IC tag that could not be written to is called "recovery encoding," and the tag to which the data is written through recovery encoding is called a "recovery tag." In this example, if there were no defective tags, the encoding process would end with tag 10B, but due to the occurrence of a defective tag, recovery encoding is performed on tag 1C (an example of another IC tag; a recovery tag) which is located next to tag 10B.

[0242] Since no printing is performed on the recovery-encoded tag 1C, the continuous paper 10 is returned to the printing process. In one embodiment, during the printing process, the printing device 4 prints information (e.g., mark mk) on the defective tag 7A indicating that data could not be written. This allows the operator to recognize that tag 7A is a defective tag and to avoid using tag 7A in the post-processing process. The printing device 4 prints the print data that was assigned to the defective tag 7A (in the example of Figure 33, "g") on the recovery-encoded tag 1C. In the following description, printing the print data assigned to the defective tag on the surface of the recovery-encoded IC tag is referred to as "recovery printing". Figure 33 illustrates the case where one defective tag occurs, but the same applies when two or more defective tags occur. The same number of recovery tags as the number of defective tags are generated.

[0243] Next, we will explain the process when a defective tag occurs in the encoding process, in the case where the preceding process is the printing process and the following process is the encoding process, referring to the sequence chart in Figure 34. In Figure 34, the continuous paper 10 is first sent to the preceding process, the printing process. In the printing process, the printing device 4 reads the code information 13 of the transported continuous paper 10 and transmits the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 obtained to the server 2 (step S2), and obtains a print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S4). Then, the printing device 4 reads the reference mark 12 and generates a reference timing signal, and while transporting the continuous paper 10, prints on each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 based on the print data allocation map obtained in step S4 (step S6). The reference timing signal is a reference signal when transporting the corresponding page of the continuous paper 10. The printing device 4 controls the transport 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.

[0244] In the printing device 4, paper data 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) is registered in advance and corresponds to the paper ID. Therefore, by obtaining the paper ID, printing can be performed on each IC tag based on the information such as the size and layout of each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10 contained in the paper data and the print data allocation map. When printing IC tags across multiple pages, steps S2 to S6 are repeated each time the page changes. The printing device 4 may also identify the position of unreadable tags on the continuous paper 10 from the print data allocation map and print an error mark on the surface of the unreadable tags.

[0245] The continuous paper 10, after the printing process is complete, is sent to the encoding process, which is the next step. In the encoding process, the encoding device 5 reads the code information 13 of the transported continuous paper 10 and transmits the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 obtained to the server 2 (step S8), and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S10). Next, the encoding device 5, similar to the processing by the printing device 4, reads the reference mark 12 and generates a reference timing signal, and while transporting the continuous paper 10, performs encoding processing on each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 based on the EPC data allocation map obtained in step S10 (step S12). In one embodiment, as the continuous paper 10 is transported, the encoding device 5 writes data at the timing when each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 enters the writing zone corresponding to each of the writing antennas Aw1 to Aw4 (Figure 8). The encoding device 5 writes data to multiple IC tags within each writing zone by calling them one by one by specifying the TID. Furthermore, if IC tags are encoded across multiple pages, steps S8 to S12 are repeated each time a page is switched.

[0246] If a defective tag (tag 7A in the example of Figure 33) is found in step S12, the encoding device 5 performs recovery encoding on the IC tag following the predetermined number of IC tags that were to be written (recovery tag 1C in the example of Figure 33). In this case, the encoding device 5 updates the EPC data allocation map based on the TID of the defective tag and the TID of the recovery tag (step S13).

[0247] Specifically, referring to Figure 35, the updating of the EPC data allocation map by the encoding device 5 is explained as follows. The encoding device 5 assigns the EPC data ("EPC_7a" in Figure 35) that is assigned to the TID of the defective tag 7A in the EPC data allocation map (before update) shown in Figure 35 to the TID of the recovery tag 1C. In other words, when the encoding device 5 identifies the tag (defective tag A7) to which data could not be written in step S12 of Figure 34 described above, it identifies another IC tag (in the example of Figure 35, tag 1C following tag 10B) in the EPC data allocation map to which no data to be written is associated with a TID as a target for writing (in the example of Figure 35, tag 1C following tag 10B) as a recovery tag. Next, in step S13 of Figure 34, the encoding device 5 assigns the EPC data "EPC 7a" that was assigned to the TID of the tag to which data could not be written (defective tag 7A) to the TID of the other IC tag (tag 1C) identified as a recovery tag in the EPC data allocation map. Next, the encoding device 5 refers to the EPC data assignment map and assigns the print data ("g") assigned to the TID of the tag that could not be written (defective tag 7A) to the TID of the recovery tag 1C. The encoding device 5 also assigns, for example, "×" as print data indicating that data could not be written to the TID of the tag that could not be written (defective tag 7A) in the EPC data assignment map. In this way, the encoding device 5 updates the EPC data assignment map (see the EPC data assignment map (after update) shown in Figure 35).

[0248] The encoding device 5 transmits, for example, the updated EPC data allocation map to the printing device 4 (step S15). The encoding device 5 may display a message on the display screen of the printing device 4 or the information processing terminal 3 indicating that a defective tag has occurred on the continuous paper 10 identified by the paper ID and page data, and that reprinting is necessary based on the updated EPC data allocation map, etc. (for example, including the paper ID and page data of the continuous paper 10, the location of the tag that needs to be printed, etc.).

[0249] Since no printing has been done on the recovery tag, the continuous paper 10 is returned to the printing process. In the printing process, the printing device 4 performs recovery printing (in the example of Figure 33, "g") on the recovery tag of the continuous paper 10 based on, for example, the updated EPC data assignment map acquired in step S15 (step S22). Since the EPC data assignment map acquired in step S15 has been updated in step S13, the printing device 4 can read the print data assigned to the TID of the recovery tag based on the updated EPC data assignment map and print based on, for example, the paper data of the paper ID of the continuous paper 10. In one embodiment, in step S22, the printing device 4 prints information indicating that data could not be written ("×"; mark mk shown in Figure 33) on the defective tag.

[0250] In one embodiment, the updated EPC data allocation map may be provided to the printing device 4 via the server 2. The sequence chart for this embodiment is shown in Figure 36. In Figure 36, steps S2 to S13 and S22 are the same as in Figure 34. After updating the EPC data allocation map, the encoding device 5 sends the updated EPC data allocation map to the server 2 (step S15). The server 2 updates the EPC data allocation map by overwriting it with the received EPC data allocation map (step S16A). The server 2 then sends the updated EPC data allocation map to the printing device 4 (step S20).

[0251] In one embodiment, the EPC data allocation map is updated by the server 2. The sequence chart for this embodiment is shown in Figure 37. In Figure 37, steps S2 to S12 are the same as in Figure 34. Next, the encoding device 5 transmits the TID of the defective tag and the TID of the recovery tag to the server 2 (step S14). The encoding device 5 may also transmit to the server 2 the paper ID of the continuous paper 10 that contains the TID of the defective tag and the TID of the recovery tag. When the server 2 receives the TID of the defective tag and the TID of the recovery tag, it identifies the EPC data allocation map and the print data allocation map to be updated and updates them (step S16). In step S14, when the server 2 obtains the TID of the defective tag from the encoding device 5, it may identify the recovery tag from the EPC data allocation map to be updated and update the EPC data allocation map as shown in Figure 35. Here, an example of updating the EPC data allocation map is shown in Figure 35, while an example of updating the print data allocation map is shown in Figure 38.

[0252] As shown in Figure 38, the server 2, in the print data allocation map identified by, for example, the paper ID of the continuous paper 10, assigns the print data ("g") assigned to the TID of the defective tag 7A to the TID of the recovery tag 1C, and assigns "×" as print data to the TID of the defective tag 7A. This allows the server 2 to update the corresponding print data allocation map. In the printing process, similar to steps S2 and S4, the printing device 4 transmits the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 to the server 2 (step S18), and obtains the updated print data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S20). The printing device 4 performs recovery printing based on the updated print data allocation map (step S22).

[0253] (II) When a defective tag occurs (Preceding process: Encoding process, Post-process: Printing process) Figure 39 illustrates the process when a defective tag occurs in the encoding process, where the preceding process is the encoding process and the post-process is the printing process. In Figure 39, as in case (I), it is assumed that there is a tag issuance request to issue 20 IC tags (tags 1A to 10A, 1B to 10B) from tag 1A of continuous paper 10.

[0254] In Figure 39, the first step (encoding step) involves sequentially encoding each of the 20 IC tags. At this time, it is assumed that data was successfully written to all IC tags except tag 7A, but tag 7A is a defective tag. In this case, the encoding device 5 performs recovery encoding on tag 1C instead of the defective tag 7A. Next, in the subsequent step (printing step), printing is performed on tags 1A to 10A and 1B to 10B. At this time, the printing device 4 prints the print data that was assigned to the defective tag 7A (in the example in Figure 39, "g") onto the recovery-encoded tag 1C, and also prints information indicating that data could not be written to the defective tag 7A (for example, the mark mk). Figure 39 illustrates the case where one defective tag occurs, but the process is similar when two or more defective tags occur. The same number of recovery tags as the number of defective tags are generated.

[0255] Next, we will explain the process when a defective tag occurs in the encoding process, in the case where the preceding process is the encoding process and the following process is the printing process, referring to the sequence chart in Figure 40. In Figure 40, the continuous paper 10 is first sent to the encoding process, which is the preceding process. In the encoding process, as in case (I), the encoding device 5 transmits the paper ID and page number of the continuous paper 10 to the server 2 (step S30), and obtains an EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number from the server 2 (step S32). Based on the EPC data allocation map obtained in step S32, the encoding device 5 performs encoding processing on each IC tag of the continuous paper 10 (step S34). If a defective tag (tag 7A in the example of Figure 35) is present in step S34, the encoding device 5 updates the EPC data allocation map (step S35). The method for updating the EPC data allocation map is the same as in case (I). The encoding device 5 transmits the updated EPC data allocation map to the printing device 4 (step S37).

[0256] The continuous paper 10, after the encoding process is complete, is sent to the printing process, which is the next step. In the printing process, the printing device 4 performs recovery printing (the "g" in the example in Figure 39) on the recovery tag of the continuous paper 10 based on, for example, the updated EPC data allocation map acquired in step S37 (step S44). In one embodiment, in step S44, the printing device 4 prints information indicating that data could not be written (the mark mk shown in Figure 39) on the defective tag.

[0257] In addition, as in case (I), the updated EPC data allocation map may be provided to the printing device 4 via the server 2. The EPC data allocation map may also be updated by the server 2. Furthermore, the printing device 4 may perform recovery printing on the recovery tags of the continuous paper 10 or print information indicating that data could not be written to the defective tags based on the print data allocation map updated by the server 2, etc.

[0258] (III) When a paper jam occurs Next, with reference to Figures 41 and 42, recovery printing and recovery encoding when a paper jam occurs in the printing process will be described. Figure 41 illustrates the processing when a paper jam occurs in the printing process, where the preceding process is the printing process and the following process is the encoding process. In Figure 41, it is assumed that there is a tag issuance request to issue 20 IC tags (tags 1A to 10A, 1B to 10B) for the first sheet of continuous paper 10.

[0259] First, in the preceding process (printing process), the printing device 4 attempts to print a to j and k to t on tags 1A to 10A and 1B to 10B, respectively. However, a paper jam occurs when "o" is printed on tag 5B, and it is assumed that subsequent IC tags are missing. Hereafter, IC tags that are missing due to a paper jam will be referred to as "missing tags" (an example of IC tags that could not be printed). In this example, tags 6B to 10B are missing tags, and the corresponding print data ("p", "q", "r", "s", "t") could not be printed on them. Once the paper jam is resolved by the operator, the printing device 4 identifies the missing tags as IC tags that could not have their print data printed, for example, by referring to a print data allocation map, and resumes printing the print data corresponding to the missing tags (print data that could not be printed: recovery print) starting from the first IC tag on the second sheet of continuous paper 10. In this way, the printing device 4, by referring to, for example, a print data allocation map, identifies the tags 1A to 5A (an example of other IC tags) on the second sheet of continuous paper 10 as the IC tags to be printed for recovery printing and performs recovery printing (printing "p", "q", "r", "s", and "t" respectively).

[0260] Next, in the subsequent process (encoding process), encoding is performed sequentially on each of the 20 IC tags. At this time, the encoding device 5 writes data to the first tag 1A to 10A and 1B to 5B, which was printed in the previous process. The encoding device 5 then performs recovery encoding on the second tag 1A to 5A, which has been printed with recovery data. The data that was assigned to the first missing tag 6B to 10B is written to this second tag 1A to 5A.

[0261] Next, the process for when a paper jam occurs in the preceding printing process will be explained with reference to the sequence chart in Figure 42. In the process shown in Figure 42, the same reference numerals are used for processes that are the same as those in Figure 34, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0262] Let's assume that a paper jam occurs on the first sheet of continuous paper 10 in step S6 of Figure 42. After the paper jam is resolved, the printing device 4 transports the continuous paper 10 to the beginning of the second sheet and resumes printing. The printing device 4, for example, refers to the print data allocation map to identify the missing tag corresponding to the print data that could not be printed, and sends the TID of the identified missing tag, along with the paper ID and page number of the second sheet of continuous paper 10, to the server 2 (step S50). The server 2 updates the print data allocation map and EPC data allocation map corresponding to the paper ID and page number (step S52), and sends the updated print data allocation map to the printing device 4 (step S54).

[0263] Specifically, referring to Figures 43 and 44, the update of the print data allocation map and EPC data allocation map by Server 2 is as follows: As shown in Figure 43, Server 2 allocates the print data ("p" to "t" in Figure 43) assigned to the TIDs of the recovery tags (the second set of tags 1A to 5A in the example of Figure 43) to the TIDs of the first set of missing tags 6B to 10B, and then updates the print data allocation map by deleting the print data assigned to the TIDs of the first set of missing tags 6B to 10B. As shown in Figure 44, when updating the EPC data allocation map, Server 2, in addition to updating the print data allocation map, assigns the EPC data assigned to the TIDs of missing tags 6B to 10B ("EPC_6b" to "EPC_10b" in Figure 44) to the TIDs of the recovery tags (the second set of tags 1A to 5A in the example in Figure 44), and then deletes the EPC data assigned to the TIDs of missing tags 6B to 10B. When Printing Device 4 receives the updated print data allocation map, it resumes recovery printing on the IC tags to be printed based on the updated print data allocation map (step S56). Subsequently, in the encoding process, Encoding Device 5 performs recovery encoding on the recovery tags, which are the IC tags to be written, based on the EPC data allocation map received in step S10 (the updated EPC data allocation map since it was updated in step S52). The same process is performed even if the printing process is a subsequent process.

[0264] In the example shown in Figure 42, the case where the print data allocation map and the EPC data allocation map are updated in Server 2 is shown, but this is not limited to that case. For example, in step S50, the printing device 4 identifies the missing tag and, by referring to the print data allocation map, etc., identifies other IC tags (in the example in Figure 41, the first IC tags of the second IC card, tags 1A to 5A) that do not have print data associated with their TID as print targets as recovery tags. In step S52, the printing device 4 may update the print data allocation map by, for example, assigning the print data assigned to the TID of the missing tag to the TID of the recovery tag and deleting the print data assigned to the missing tag. The printing device 4 may also transmit the updated print data allocation map to Server 2 or the encoding device 5. In addition to the TID of the missing tag, the printing device 4 may also transmit the TID of the recovery tag to Server 2 or the encoding device 5. In that case, as illustrated in Figure 44, server 2 and encoding device 5 update the EPC data allocation map by assigning the EPC data assigned to the TID of the missing tag to the TID of the recovery tag, and then perform recovery encoding based on the updated EPC data allocation map.

[0265] Next, the processing of the IC tag issuing system 100 when a printing defect is found during the inspection process will be explained with reference to Figures 45 and 46. As mentioned above, the inspection device 6 inspects the printed data printed on each IC tag placed on the continuous paper 10. For example, if printed characters or barcodes are missing, or if lines that should not be there are printed, it is determined to be a printing defect.

[0266] (IV) When a printing defect is found in the inspection process (Previous process: Printing process, Next process: Encoding process) Figure 45 illustrates the process when a printing defect is found in the inspection process, in a case where the previous process is the printing process and the next process is the encoding process. In Figure 45, a tag issuance request is made to issue 20 IC tags (tags 1A to 10A, 1B to 10B) from tag 1A of continuous paper 10, and a printing defect is found in tag 6B in the inspection process.

[0267] In this case, the continuous paper 10 is first returned to the previous process, the printing process. The printing device 4 prints a mark mk on tag 6B indicating a printing defect, and performs recovery printing on tag 1C, which follows tag 10B that was last printed. That is, tag 1C is printed with the printing data (in the example of Figure 45, "p") that was assigned to tag 6B where the printing defect was found. Furthermore, the continuous paper 10 is sent to the encoding process. In the encoding process, the encoding device 5 performs recovery encoding on tag 1C, which has been subjected to recovery printing. That is, tag 1C is written with the data that was assigned to tag 6B where the printing defect was found.

[0268] In this case, the processing of the continuous paper production system 1 is as follows: If a printing defect is found in the inspection process, the inspection device 6 notifies the server 2 of the TID of the IC tag in which the printing defect was found (referred to as the "defective tag"). In the printing process after the continuous paper 10 has been returned, the printing device 4 obtains the TID of the defective tag from the server 2 and prints the printing data that was assigned to the defective tag (recovery printing) on ​​the tag 1C that follows the already printed tag 10B. When printing is completed, the printing device 4 notifies the server 2 of the TID of the tag on which recovery printing was performed, and the server 2 updates the printing data assignment map and the EPC data assignment map based on the TID of the tag on which recovery printing was performed. Next, in the encoding process, the encoding device 5 obtains the updated EPC data assignment map from the server 2 and performs recovery encoding on the tag on which recovery printing was performed.

[0269] The inspection device 6 may obtain the EPC data allocation map from the server 2 or encoding device 5 before performing the inspection. In that case, the inspection device 6 may update the EPC data allocation map based on the TID of the defective tag and provide the updated EPC data allocation map to the printing device 4 and encoding device 5. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may obtain the print data allocation map from the server 2 or printing device 4 before performing the inspection, update the print data allocation map based on the TID of the defective tag, and provide the updated print data allocation map to the server 2 or printing device 4. The inspection device 6 may also provide the updated print data allocation map to the server 2 or encoding device 5 to update the EPC data allocation map.

[0270] (V) When a printing defect is found in the inspection process (Preceding process: encoding process, Subsequent process: printing process) Figure 46 illustrates the process when a printing defect is found in the inspection process, where the preceding process is the encoding process and the subsequent process is the printing process. This is the same as (IV) above, except that the preceding and subsequent processes are swapped.

[0271] In this case, the continuous paper 10 is first returned to the encoding process, which is the previous process. The encoding device 5 performs recovery encoding on the tag 1C that follows the tag 10B that was last printed on. That is, the data that was assigned to the tag 6B where the printing defect was found is written to tag 1C. Furthermore, the continuous paper 10 is sent to the printing process. In the printing process, the printing device 4 prints a mark mk indicating a printing defect on tag 6B and performs recovery printing on tag 1C. That is, the printing data that was assigned to the tag 6B where the printing defect was found (in the example of Figure 46, "p") is printed on tag 1C.

[0272] In this case, the processing of the continuous paper production system 1 is as follows: If a printing defect is found in the inspection process, the inspection device 6 notifies the server 2 of the TID of the defective tag. In the encoding process after the continuous paper 10 is returned, the encoding device 5 obtains the TID of the defective tag from the server 2 and writes the data that was assigned to the defective tag to the tag 1C that follows the encoded tag 10B (recovery encoding). When encoding is complete, the encoding device 5 notifies the server 2 of the TID of the recovered-encoded tag, and the server 2 updates the print data assignment map and the EPC data assignment map based on the TID of the recovered-encoded tag. Next, in the printing process, the printing device 4 obtains the updated print data assignment map from the server 2 and performs recovery printing on the recovered-encoded tag.

[0273] Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may obtain the EPC data allocation map from the server 2 before performing the inspection. In that case, the inspection device 6 may update the EPC data allocation map based on the TID of the defective tag and provide the updated EPC data allocation map to the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may obtain the print data allocation map from the server 2 and the printing device 4 before performing the inspection, update the print data allocation map based on the TID of the defective tag, and provide the updated print data allocation map to the server 2 and the printing device 4. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may provide the updated print data allocation map to the server 2 and the encoding device 5 to update the EPC data allocation map.

[0274] As explained above, in the IC tag issuance system 100 described above, the server 2 stores a TID map indicating the placement position of IC tags on 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, all associated with the paper ID of the continuous paper 10. 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 acquires the paper ID from the continuous paper 10 to be processed and sends it to the server 2, and acquires the print data assignment 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.

[0275] In the IC tag issuance system 100 described above, since the encoding process and the printing process are provided separately, the transport speed of the continuous paper 10 can be optimized in each process, which has the advantage of improving the productivity of IC tags. Note that either the encoding process or the printing process may be performed first on the continuous paper 10. In one embodiment, the encoding device 5 identifies the TID of an IC tag that could not have data written to it (e.g., a defective tag) based on an EPC data assignment map or the like. The encoding device 5 also assigns the data that could not be written to the TID of another IC tag included in the EPC data assignment map and updates the EPC data assignment map. The printing device 4 prints based on the updated EPC data assignment map or the like. Therefore, even if a defective tag occurs, a new IC tag will be issued in place of the defective tag, eliminating the need to reissue IC tags.

[0276] In one embodiment, when a paper jam occurs, the printing device 4 identifies the TID of the IC tag that could not print data due to the paper jam (e.g., a missing tag) among the IC tags placed on the continuous paper 10, based on the print data allocation map, and notifies the server 2. The server 2 updates the EPC data allocation map and the print data allocation map based on the TID of the missing tag notified by the printing device 4. When the paper jam is resolved and printing resumes, the printing device 4 prints on a new IC tag in place of the missing tag based on the updated print data allocation map. In the encoding process, the encoding device 5 writes data to the newly printed IC tag based on the updated EPC data allocation map. Therefore, even if a paper jam occurs in the printing device 4, a new IC tag is issued in place of the missing tag caused by the paper jam, eliminating the need to reissue IC tags.

[0277] In one embodiment, if the inspection device 6 finds a printing defect by referring to the print data assignment map, etc., during the inspection process, the inspection device 6 notifies the server 2 of the TID of the defective tag. The printing device 4 obtains the TID of the defective tag from the server 2, prints the print data assigned to the defective tag onto a new IC tag, and notifies the server 2 of the TID of the newly printed IC tag. The server 2 updates the EPC data assignment map and the print data assignment map based on the TID of the defective tag and the TID of the newly printed IC tag. In the encoding process, the encoding device 5 writes data to the newly printed IC tag based on the updated EPC data assignment map. Therefore, even if a defective tag occurs, a new IC tag will be issued in its place, eliminating the need to reissue IC tags. Alternatively, the inspection device 6 may update the EPC data assignment map based on the TID of the defective tag and provide the updated EPC data assignment map to the printing device 4 and the encoding device 5.

[0278] 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.

[0279] 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. When 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 by making the print data for the defective tag blank or replacing it with data indicating an error mark. As a result, the printing device 4 either fails to print on defective tags or prints an error mark, making it easier to identify defective tags (tags that failed to encode). Furthermore, information about defective tags is reflected in each map to prevent them from being attached to items in subsequent processes.

[0280] 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. Note that using continuous paper has the advantage that pages do not get rearranged. In the embodiments described above, the case in which the printing device 4 employs an electrophotographic method has been 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-process has been explained, but it is not limited to this. A cutter stacker that cuts and stores the continuous paper 10 page by page may be provided as a post-process. In the embodiments described above, the case in which EPC data is written to the IC tag by the encoding device 5 has been explained, but it is not limited to this. The encoding device 5 may, for example, write arbitrary user data to the user memory of the IC tag. In that case, instead of an EPC data allocation map, a user data allocation map is generated in which user memory is allocated to each TID in the TID map.

[0281] In the IC tag issuance 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 paper 10a, but this is not the only way. The backing paper 10a does not need to be provided, nor does adhesive have 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. Each IC tag can be arranged on the continuous paper 10 according to its purpose and destination, and the continuous paper 10 can be separated as appropriate after printing or encoding. For example, in the continuous paper 10 shown in Figure 2, the IC tags in the first to second rows are for factory A, the IC tags in the third to fourth rows are for factory B, the IC tags in the fifth to sixth rows are for factory C, the IC tags in the seventh to eighth rows are for factory D, and the IC tags in the ninth to tenth rows are for factory E, and the IC tags are arranged in advance. In that case, after printing or encoding, the continuous paper 10 is cut and supplied to each factory responsible for the subsequent processes.

[0282] The processing between server 2 and printing device 4, and between server 2 and encoding device 5 described above, are merely examples. At least a portion of the processing of server 2 described above may be executed in printing device 4, or at least a portion of the processing of server 2 described above may be executed in encoding device 5. Here, the processing of server 2 includes the processing that server 2 performs with the information processing terminal 3. The functions between server 2 and printing device 4, and between server 2 and encoding device 5, may be distributed as appropriate. Printing device 4 and encoding device 5 may each directly acquire the TID map from the continuous paper production system 1 and store it in their own storage. In that case, the information processing terminal 3 may have applications installed to access printing device 4 and encoding device 5, respectively, and generate print data allocation maps and EPC data allocation maps based on the TID map.

[0283] The processing between server 2 and information processing terminal 3, and between server 2 and automatic pasting device 7 described above, are merely examples. At least a portion of the processing of server 2 described above may be executed at information processing terminal 3, or at least a portion of the processing of server 2 described above may be executed at automatic pasting device 7. The functions between server 2 and information processing terminal 3, and between server 2 and automatic pasting device 7, may be distributed as appropriate.

[0284] This invention relates to the patent application JP 2024-157287 filed with the Japan Patent Office on 11 September 2024, JP 2025-012220 and JP 2025-012230 filed with the Japan Patent Office on 28 January 2025, and JP 2025-014522 filed with the Japan Patent Office on 31 January 2025, all of which are incorporated by reference into the specification of this application.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising a writing device for writing data to IC tags 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 for storing, for each printing medium, 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, and the writing device has an acquisition unit for transmitting medium identification information for identifying the printing medium to the information processing device and acquiring IC tag location information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, and a writing unit for writing data to the IC tag according to the IC tag location information acquired by the acquisition unit.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the writing device has a transport unit having a transport surface for transporting a printing medium, the writing unit is equipped with a plurality of antennas, each antenna having a plurality of different regions on the transport surface as the communication range on the transport surface for each antenna, and when the transport unit transports the printing medium, the writing unit writes data to the IC tag using the antenna corresponding to the region where the IC tag is located among the plurality of regions.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of regions include regions spaced apart on the transport surface in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium.

4. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of regions include regions spaced apart in the transport direction of the printing medium on the transport surface.

5. The information processing system according to claim 2, 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.

6. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the writing unit does not write data to IC tags that have already had data written to them, among the one or more IC tags within the corresponding area, for each antenna.

7. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 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.

8. An information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a printing device that communicates with the information processing device, wherein the printing device 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.

9. The printing medium is provided with 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 location information corresponding to the medium identification information from the information processing device, the 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, wherein the information processing device stores tag identification information that identifies the IC tag and IC tag position information indicating 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

Images