SYSTEM FOR PAIRING AN ITEM OF DATA OF A UWB TRANSMITTER DEVICE AND A TAG COMPRISING A GRAPHIC CODE

Abstract

A system intended to perform a pairing of at least one first tag including a graphic code and a UWB radio transmitter device including a UWB radio transmission module and a UHF radio reception module to collect signals in order to electrically power the UWB transmission module, the transmitter device including a support including a zone delimiting a geometric contour making it possible to visually read the graphic code of the first tag when the transmitter device is superimposed on the first label, the system including a pairing device including a reader of the first graphic code and a UWB receiver to receive the UWB signal transmitted by the transmitter device, the pairing device including a memory.

Claims

1. A system intended to perform a pairing of at least one first comprising a graphic code and an ultra wide band (UWB) radio transmitter device comprising a UWB radio transmission module and an ultra high frequency (UHF) radio reception module to collect signals in order to electrically power the UWB radio transmission module, said UWB radio transmitter device comprising a support comprising a zone delimiting a geometric contour making it possible to visually read the graphic code of the first tag when the UWB radio transmitter device is superimposed on the first tag, said system comprising a pairing device comprising a reader of said first graphic code of said first tag and a UWB receiver to receive a UWB signal transmitted by the UWB radio transmitter device, said pairing device comprising a memory to save a pair of values comprising a data specific to the graphic code and a data specific to at least one UWB signal received.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pairing device comprises a radio interface for receiving a radio signal from an RFID chip and a calculator for decoding the data of said radio signal, the pairing device generating a second data pair comprising a data specific to the RFID radio signal and a data specific to the UWB signal received.

3. System The system according to claim 1, wherein the pairing device comprises: an optical reader making it possible to decode a 1D or 2D graphic code and; means to attach said UWB radio transmitter device on a support of the first tag.

4. The system according to claim 1, comprising the pairing device and the UWB radio transmitter device, the pairing device comprising a first communication interface to transmit a data message to a remote server, said remote server comprising a memory to save said pair of values.

5. The system according to claim 1, comprising the pairing device and the UWB radio transmitter device, the pairing device comprising a second communication interface to send a data message in which an encoded data is encoded in the graphic code to said UWB radio transmitter device, said UWB radio transmitter device comprising an interface for receiving said data transmitted by the pairing device and a memory for saving the data specific to the graphic code, the UWB radio transmitter device transmitting the pair of values in a UWB signal to a reception beacon.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the zone delimiting a geometric contour of the support of the transmitter device comprises a surface of a transparent material.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises the first tag, said first tag comprising a graphic code of the QRcode, Flashcode, barcode, data matrix type.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pairing device forms a gun comprising a reading head for scanning the graphic code and a support for holding the pairing device to make it integral with said support of the first tag.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first tag is a self-adhesive tag or an electronic paper and wherein the attaching support of the first tag is a self-adhesive tag or an electronic paper. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, wherein the pairing device comprises a directive UHF energy source in order to generate sufficient energy to the transmitter device such that it automatically transmits a UWB data message.

Description

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer on reading the following detailed description, with reference to the appended figures, that illustrate:

[0023] FIG. 1: an example embodiment of the invention comprising a first tag, a UWB transmitter device and a pairing device;

[0024] FIG. 2: an example embodiment of the invention comprising a first tag physically associated with a transmitter device thanks to the pairing device.

[0025] The notation “UWB” refers to the “Ultra Wide Band” frequency band. The notation “UHF” refers to the “Ultra High Frequency” band.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a first tag ET.sub.1 comprising a graphic code CG.sub.1 which may be, for example, a data matrix or a QR code or a flash code. This first tag ET.sub.1, according to a use case, is already affixed to an object transiting from one location to another.

[0027] FIG. 1 also shows a UWB transmitted device noted as EM.sub.1. The notation “UWB” stands for the “Ultra Wide Band” frequency band. The transmitter device EM.sub.1 comprises a UWB radio transmission module comprising an antenna ANT.sub.1 and a UHF radio reception module comprising an antenna ANT.sub.0 to collect signals to electrically supply the UWB transmission module. Thus, the invention has every interest in ad hoc pairing of two pieces of equipment not previously configured to communicate with each other. The transmitter device EM.sub.1 comprises a support SUP.sub.1 perforated to leave the graphic code CG.sub.1 visible when superimposed on the first tag.

[0028] The pairing device D.sub.A is shown in FIG. 1 with a handle for easier handling. In addition, the pairing device D.sub.A has a zone to keep the transmitter device EM.sub.1 superimposed on the first tag ET.sub.1. According to one embodiment, the pairing equipment DA comprises a means for attaching the transmitter device EM.sub.1 to the object to which the tag ET.sub.1 is already attached. Attaching can be achieved using a glue, adhesive, clip, staple or any other means.

[0029] The pairing device D.sub.A comprises radio communication means not shown to receive a UWB signal transmitted by the transmitter device EM.sub.1. According to one example, the pairing device D.sub.A comprises a UHF transmitter to transmit a radio stream to the transmitter device EM.sub.1 in order to cause the emission of a UWB signal from the transmitter device EM.sub.1 when the latter is automatically triggered after receiving a sufficient level of UHF radio energy.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the first tag ET.sub.1 to which a transmitter device EM.sub.1 is attached in a superimposed manner.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the transmitter device EM.sub.1 comprises a probe to detect whether a tag is torn from the object to which the tag ET.sub.1 is attached. If it is detached, an alert is generated automatically.

[0032] According to an alternative, when the probe detects a tear, a change in the physical state of the UWB transmitter device automatically results in the unpairing or disassociating of the data produced when pairing the UWB tag with the graphic code. One advantage is that the UWB transmitter device and the pairing data can no longer be used. Unpairing may result in erasing the data stored in a memory of the UWB transmitter device.

[0033] According to an alternative, if a tear is automatically detected by a physical change of state of the UWB transmitter device, a digital data can be automatically integrated into the UWB message transmitted by the UWB transmitter device. This data, which is then decoded by the reception beacons, makes it possible to trigger a detachment alarm which will be processed by a data server.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the unpairing between the UWB transmitter device and the first tag ET.sub.1 can be performed from the pairing device D.sub.A. In a sequence identical to the transmission of a data message from the pairing device DA to the UWB transmitter device, the pairing device D1 transmits an erasing instruction in order to erase the content of the UWB chip.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the pairing device D.sub.A comprises a radio interface to receive a radio signal transmitted by an RFID or NFC chip and a calculator to decode the radio signal data transmitted by said RFID or NFC chip. This embodiment of the pairing device D.sub.A is particularly interesting for pairing an RFID tag with a UWB device.

[0036] When the pairing device D.sub.A receives data from the RFID or NFC chip and the data transmitted by the UWB transmitting device, it is able to generate a data pair comprising data specific to the RFID or NFC radio signal and data specific to the UWB signal received. This pair allows the two devices to be paired.

[0037] When the pairing data is retransmitted to the UWB transmitter device, identical to the case described previously, an unpairing procedure can be performed in order to erase the pairing data saved in the UWB transmitter device.

[0038] Example Embodiment of a UWB Radio Transmitter Device

[0039] A UWB radio transmitter device may comprise an electronic medium comprising a modulator and a UWB antenna. The radio transmitter device transmits messages in the form of ultra-wideband radio pulse sequences, known as “UWB messages”. Such UWB messages, formed by a sequence of radio pulses, are also referred to as “Ultra Wide Band-Impulse Radio” or UWB-IR. The transmitter device of the invention may be assimilated to a radio tag when it is intended to be affixed or attached to an object for localization.

[0040] The UWB transmitter device consists of a modulator and an antenna for transmitting a signal in the UWB band. The data is modulated by the modulator. According to one embodiment, a memory and a calculator may be integrated into the radio transmitter device to process, store, format the data to be transmitted in the UWB messages or signals.

[0041] According to an example embodiment, the UWB radio transmitter comprises a power supply in order to supply voltage to the different components. According to another embodiment, the power supply comes from a capacitor that is charged through the reception and collection of radio waves, for example in the UHF band.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the UWB radio transmitter device comprises a control module configured to control transmissions of UWB messages. According to one embodiment, the transmission period, transmission power, data coding, UWB modulation, etc. are configured in the control module to perform UWB message transmissions. According to one example, a stored energy threshold can trigger the transmission of a UWB message. According to one embodiment, the various functions listed may be supported by different components or be implemented by the same component.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the UWB radio transmitter device comprises a radio reception module to receive a radio wave stream. In this embodiment, a radio stream transmitting beacon allows the UWB radio transmitter device to collect radio frequency energy.

[0044] According to one embodiment, a radio stream transmitting beacon may be one or more wireless power supply stations distributed over the geographical zone covered by the UWB reception beacons. In this embodiment, the wireless power supply stations remotely supply the tags 20 with electrical energy. According to one embodiment, the transmitter beacons, also known as “wireless power supply stations” or UHF generator, are separate from the receiver beacons. However, there is nothing to exclude, according to other examples, having one or more said wireless power supply stations that are integrated into one or more UWB receiver beacons, such that at least one equipment of said position estimation system is both a wireless power supply station and a receiver beacon.

[0045] According to the embodiment, the UWB transmitter device comprises a rectifier to convert the spectral power received by the radio receiver module into an electrical voltage or current. The converted energy can then be stored in an electrical storage unit, such as a capacitor. The electric storage unit thus acts as a battery to supply the energy required to transmit UWB messages. According to one example, the capacitor can be controlled electrically from an electrical setpoint generated by component or directly by itself when a charge level is reached.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the transmitter device of the invention could also power a sensor and/or a calculator, for example a microprocessor, which interface with the UWB modulator.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the UWB radio transmitter device comprises a simplex communication module. “Simplex” means that the communication module is only suitable for transmitting UWB messages but does not allow receiving UWB messages from other third-party equipment.

[0048] According to one example, the simplex communication module is in the form for example of an electrical circuit comprising equipment such as an antenna, an amplifier, a local oscillator, a mixer, an analog filter and any other equipment that may contribute to the transmission of UWB signals.

[0049] According to one example, the simplex communication module is configured to transmit UWB messages in a frequency band centered on 4 gigahertz (GHz) and/or centered on 7.25 GHz. However, there is nothing to rule out the possibility of frequency bands being centered on other frequencies.

[0050] UWB messages, transmitted as radio signals, have at a given moment an instantaneous frequency spectrum of a predetermined width, for example between 500 megahertz (MHz) and 2.5 GHz, which corresponds to radio pulses of durations ranging respectively between a few nanoseconds and a few tenths of nanoseconds.

[0051] In one embodiment, the simplex communication module is configured to transmit UWB messages using on/off radio pulse modulation (“On Off Keying” or OOK) to encode bits to be transmitted. This means that the values of the bits to be transmitted are encoded by the presence or absence of a radio pulse. For example, if at a given moment the bit to be transmitted is “1”, then the simplex communication module transmits a radio pulse, whereas if the bit to be transmitted is “0”, said simplex communication module does not transmit a radio pulse. Such measures are advantageous in that they make it possible to reduce the power consumption required to transmit a UWB message, since the transmission of bits to be transmitted at “0” consumes almost no electrical energy.

[0052] According to another embodiment, a modulation in radio pulse position (“Pulse Position Modulation” or PPM) can be implemented in the to method according to the invention. For example, by considering that the bits to be transmitted in the form of radio pulses are pulsed at a predetermined period Tc, then at each period Tc, the pulses are transmitted with an offset in relation to the period Tc, the value of said offset depending on the value of the bit to be transmitted.

[0053] According to one embodiment, each ultra-wideband radio pulse can be formed by multiplying a sinusoidal signal by a pulse envelope. In this case, the local oscillator forming the sinusoidal signal corresponding to the carrier frequency of the radio pulses can remain activated continuously over the duration of the UWB message, and the amplitude of said sinusoidal signal is modulated by said pulse envelope. Apart from the radio pulse transmission moments, the amplitude of the sinusoidal signal is modulated by a zero value signal.

[0054] The modulated signal obtained after amplitude modulation of the sinusoidal signal is then supplied at the input of the amplifier, which can also remain activated for the entire duration of the UWB message to be transmitted. By modulating the sinusoidal signal by a pulse envelope before amplifying, the radio pulses are formed before the amplifier. Said amplifier therefore no longer forms the radio pulses, but merely amplifies said previously formed radio pulses. Note that it is still possible to deactivate the amplifier between radio pulses to reduce the power consumption of the amplifier.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the control module includes one or more processors and storage means (magnetic hard disk, electronic memory, optical disk, etc.) in which a computer program product is stored, in the form of a set of program code instructions to be executed.

[0056] Alternatively or in addition, the controller contains programmable logic circuit(s) (FPGA, PLD, etc.), and/or specialized integrated circuit(s) (ASIC).

[0057] According to one embodiment, the control module comprises a set of means configured in software (specific computer program product) and/or hardware (FPGA, PLD, ASIC, discrete electronic components, etc.).

[0058] In order to reconstruct the position of a transmitter device, the server comprises means for performing: [0059] A consistency check between each message received by a to plurality of reception beacons, the consistency corresponding to a difference in message arrival time less than a predefined threshold and; [0060] A construction of the position of a transmitter device by a trilateration algorithm between the arrival times of the different UWB messages.

[0061] Such a method relies on the use of the different flight times of UWB messages transmitted by a transmitter device and received by each reception beacon.

[0062] In order to perform such an algorithm, according to an example, the system comprises a device for transmitting a clock that broadcasts synchronization data to the different reception beacons. Each beacon B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3 receives a synchronization signal from, for example, another system or a “master” beacon. The synchronization signal is, for example, a signal comprising a time marker distributed to each beacon, said signal being generated from a remote clock.

[0063] According to one embodiment, each beacon comprises a calculator for: [0064] extracting at least one identification data from said radio tag; [0065] computing a time-stamped information for receiving a message transmitted by the transmitter device, said time marker being generated from a clock and a synchronization message. In the latter case, each beacon includes, for example, an interface to receive said synchronization signal.