JP2010130242A - Communication device and method, computer program, and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system that a high-speed data communication antenna is integrated into the inside of an NFC antenna, which performs high-speed data communications according to the NFCIP-1 specification. <P>SOLUTION: The system uses existing NFC methods for all processing other than Data Exchange commands (DEP_REQ and DEP_RES) in NFCIP-1 protocols even if high-speed communications are performed using a small antenna. The system performs high-speed communications using the small antenna immediately after transmitting each DEP_REQ/DEP_RES command in the case of passive-type mutual communication, or in the period immediately after transmitting each DEP_REQ/DEP_RES command until stopping NFC carriers in the case of active-type mutual communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact communication apparatus and communication method, a computer program, and a communication system that perform a communication operation between an initiator that transmits a request command and a target that returns a response command, and more particularly, NFC (Near Field). The present invention relates to a contactless communication apparatus and communication method, a computer program, and a communication system based on (Communication) standards.

  2. Description of the Related Art A non-contact communication system called RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) is known as a communication system in which a communication terminal that does not itself generate radio waves transmits data to a device that is a communication partner wirelessly. As other names for RFID, there are an ID system, a data carrier system, etc., but the RFID system, or RFID for short, is common worldwide. Translated into Japanese, it becomes “a recognition system using high frequency (wireless)”.

  The RFID system is applied to many contactless IC cards. The IC card system includes an IC (Integrated Circuit) card as a transponder and a device (hereinafter referred to as “reader / writer”) that reads information from the IC card or writes information to the IC card. Such an IC card system is highly convenient because information is read and written between the IC card and the reader / writer without contact.

 The reader / writer is a device that first outputs an electromagnetic wave and starts mutual communication (that is, takes the initiative of communication), and is also called an “initiator”. A transponder such as an IC card is a “target” that returns a response (mutual communication start response) to a command (mutual communication start request) from an initiator. In the passive mode, the direction of the carrier signal is always from the initiator to the target, and in the active mode, the direction of the carrier signal is alternately switched. Hereinafter, communication from the reader / writer to the transponder is referred to as “downlink”, and communication from the transponder to the reader / writer is referred to as “uplink”.

  Non-contact communication methods applicable to RFID include an electrostatic coupling method, an electromagnetic induction method, a radio wave communication method, and the like. Among these, the electromagnetic induction method is composed of a primary coil on the reader / writer side and a secondary coil on the card (or transponder) side, and data communication is performed via the coil by magnetic coupling of these two coils. Specifically, the reader / writer transmits data by amplitude-modulating the magnetic field generated by the primary coil, and this is detected on the transponder side. The transponder can transmit data to the reader / writer by performing modulation processing such as amplitude modulation by load switching (LS) of the secondary coil. Each coil of the transponder and the reader / writer operates as an LC resonance circuit. In general, by adjusting the resonance frequency of these coils to the frequency of the carrier used for communication and making them resonate, an appropriate connection between the transponder and the reader / writer is obtained. Communication distance can be set. Hereinafter, the coils of the transponder and the reader / writer are also referred to as “antennas”.

  The RFID system is classified into three types according to the transmission distance: a contact type (0 to 2 mm or less: Close coupled), a proximity type (0 to 10 cm or less: Proximity), and a proximity type (0 to 70 cm or less: Vicinity). And are defined by international standards such as ISO / IEC 15693, ISO / IEC 14443, ISO / IEC 15693, etc., respectively. Among these, Type A, Type B, and Felica (registered trademark) can be cited as non-contact / proximity type IC card standards that conform to ISO / IEC14443. Note that Type A corresponds to Mifare (registered trademark) of Philips. A card and a reader / writer as SmartCard are standardized as ISO7816.

  Furthermore, NFC (Near Field Communication) developed by Sony and Philips is an RFID standard that mainly defines the specifications of NFC communication devices (reader / writers) that can communicate with each of the Type A, Type B, and Felica IC cards. , Became an international standard as ISO / IEC IS 18092 in December 2003. The NFC communication system inherits Sony's "FeliCa" and Philips' "Mifare", which are widely used as contactless IC cards. Using the 13.56 MHz band, it is possible to perform proximity-type non-contact bidirectional communication of about 10 cm by electromagnetic induction (NFC is not only for communication between a card and a reader / writer, but also between reader / writers). Stipulates passive communication).

  At present, NFC is actively used for personal authentication and electronic money settlement. For example, an NFC communication apparatus having an active mode in addition to the passive mode has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The transfer direction in the NFC IP-1 (Interface and Protocol-1) standard, the communication speed for each communication mode, the modulation method, and the encoding method are shown in Table 1 below.

  As shown in Table 1 above, the communication speed defined by the NFC IP-1 standard is at most 424 kbps, which is very low compared to other general-purpose wireless communications (such as WiFi and Bluetooth). . For this reason, it is difficult to apply NFC to large-capacity data communication such as images, sounds, and moving images. In addition, due to physical restrictions such as carrier frequency, the maximum communication speed that can be realized is up to 848 kbps, and it is not possible to expect a dramatic increase in the future.

  For this reason, the actual use of NFC communication is limited to electronic money, personal authentication (such as ID cards and tickets), general wireless communication connection establishment assistance (handover), or very small capacity using inexpensive tags. Limited to data transmission (smart poster, etc.) only.

JP 2005-168069 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent non-contact communication apparatus and communication method, computer program, and communication system capable of realizing high-speed data transfer between an initiator that transmits a request command and a target that returns a response command. Is to provide.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide an excellent communication apparatus and communication method, a computer program, and a communication system capable of realizing high-speed communication while having full upward compatibility with an NFC communication system that has already been established. It is to provide.

The present application has been made in consideration of the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1
Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A first communication processing unit for performing
A second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in the second frequency band using the second antenna;
A control unit for controlling operations of the first and second communication processing units;
Comprising
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
In the data exchange phase, the control unit controls the first communication processing unit to perform the data exchange request and response command exchange procedure, and performs data transfer in the second communication processing unit. Control,
It is a communication apparatus characterized by this.

  Specifically, the first communication protocol corresponds to the NFC (Near Field Communication) IP-1 specification defined in ISO / IEC IS 18092 as described in claim 2 of the present application. And according to invention of Claim 9 of this application, the said control part performs all processes other than a DEP phase by NFC IP-1 communication using the said 1st communication processing part, In a DEP phase, While performing the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command sequence using the first communication processing unit, control is performed so as to transfer data between the second communication processing units.

  In the first communication protocol of the NFC IP-1 specification, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the time from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target to the initiator The time until the start of the next data exchange response command transmission is not clearly defined.

  On the other hand, according to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, the control unit operates the first communication processing unit as an initiator in the passive mutual communication, and exchanges data of the first communication protocol. In the phase, immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command, data transfer by the second communication processing unit is started.

  According to the invention described in claim 4 of the present application, the control unit operates the first communication processing unit as a target in passive mutual communication, and in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, Immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange response command, data transfer by the second communication processing unit is started.

  In the first communication protocol of the NFC IP-1 specification, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the time from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target to the above The time from the start of transmission of the next data exchange response command by the initiator and the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission are not clearly defined.

  On the other hand, according to the invention described in claim 5 of the present application, the control unit operates the first communication processing unit as an initiator in active mutual communication, and exchanges data of the first communication protocol. In the phase, data transfer by the second communication processing unit is executed in a period from when the first communication processing unit transmits a data exchange request command to when transmission of a radio signal is stopped. .

  According to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application, the control unit operates the first communication processing unit as a target in active mutual communication, and in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, Data transfer by the second communication processing unit is executed during a period from when the first communication processing unit transmits a data exchange response command to when transmission of a radio signal is stopped.

  Also, according to the invention described in claim 7 of the present application, the first communication processing unit describes a communication mode by the second communication processing unit started immediately after the transmission in the data exchange request command. It has become.

  According to the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, the first communication processing unit describes in the data exchange response command the form of communication by the second communication processing unit that starts immediately after the transmission. It is like that.

  In the first communication protocol of the NFC IP-1 specification, a time-out period from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target is defined.

  On the other hand, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the control unit operates the first communication processing unit as an initiator, and the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command. In the case where data transfer by the second communication processing unit is continued and executed immediately after the data exchange response command is received and data transfer by the second communication processing unit is further continued, A fake data exchange response command is transmitted from one communication processing unit.

  According to the invention of claim 10 of the present application, the control unit operates with the first communication processing unit as a target, and while the second communication processing unit continues data transfer, A fake data exchange response command is transmitted from the first communication processing unit before the timeout period expires after receiving the data exchange request command.

Further, the invention according to claim 11 of the present application provides a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function. A first communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using an antenna, and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna A communication device control method comprising:
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol,
Sending a data exchange request command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange request command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
It is a communication method characterized by having.

Further, the invention according to claim 12 of the present application provides a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target, and a radio signal collision avoidance function. A first communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using an antenna, and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna A computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute processing for controlling a communication device on a computer,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
Sending a data exchange request command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange request command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
It is a computer program for executing.

The invention according to claim 13 of the present application provides a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target, and a first communication protocol that defines a radio signal collision avoidance function. A first communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using an antenna, and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna A computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute processing for controlling a communication device on a computer,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as a target in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
Sending a data exchange response command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange response command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
It is a computer program for executing.

The invention according to claim 14 of the present application provides a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target, and a first communication protocol that defines a radio signal collision avoidance function. A first communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using an antenna, and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna A computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute processing for controlling a communication device on a computer,
In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in active mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
The first communication processing unit sending a data exchange request command;
Executing data transfer by the second communication processing unit in a period from sending a data exchange request command to stopping sending a radio signal;
It is a computer program for executing.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the first communication protocol according to the first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from the initiator and receiving a response command from the target and a radio signal collision avoidance function is provided. A first communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using an antenna, and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna A computer program written in a computer-readable format so as to execute processing for controlling a communication device on a computer,
In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
When the first communication processing unit operates as a target in active mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
The first communication processing unit sending a data exchange response command;
Executing data transfer by the second communication processing unit in a period from when a data exchange response command is sent to when transmission of a radio signal is stopped;
It is a computer program for executing.

  The computer program according to claims 12 to 15 of the present application defines a computer program described in a computer-readable format so as to realize predetermined processing on a computer. In other words, by installing the computer program according to claims 12 to 15 of the present application on a computer, a cooperative operation is exhibited on the computer, and the same effect as the communication device according to claim 1 of the present application is obtained. Obtainable.

The invention according to claim 16 of the present application is
Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A first communication processing unit and a second communication processing unit each including a second communication processing unit that performs a wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
The first communication device operates as the initiator and the second communication device operates as the target. In the data exchange phase, the data exchange request is made using each of the first communication processing units. And a response command exchange procedure, and data transfer between each of the second communication processing units,
This is a communication system characterized by the above.

  However, “system” here refers to a logical collection of a plurality of devices (or functional modules that realize specific functions), and each device or functional module is in a single housing. It does not matter whether or not.

  Further, the first communication protocol specifically corresponds to the NFC (Near Field Communication) IP-1 specification defined by ISO / IEC IS 18092. The communication method applied by the second communication processing unit is not directly described in the scope of claims. For example, reflected wave communication (Reflex), weak UWB communication (Transfer JET) (described later), and NFC communication In addition, it is possible to use a proximity communication method capable of high-speed data communication using a high frequency band. In this case, the first communication device operates as the initiator and the second communication device operates as the target, and all the processes other than the DEP (Data Exchange Protocol) phase are performed in the first communication. NFC IP-1 communication is performed using a processing unit, and in the DEP phase, each of the second communication processing units is performed while executing a DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command sequence using each of the first communication processing units. Data transfer between the two.

  Here, it is assumed that passive mutual communication and active mutual communication can be performed between the first communication processing units of the first and second communication apparatuses. In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of the data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of the data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next time from the completion of the data exchange response command transmission by the target to the next by the initiator Assume that the time until the start of data exchange response command transmission is not clearly defined.

  In such a case, in the data exchange phase, the first communication device receives data from the second communication processing unit immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command as the initiator. The transfer can be started. Further, the second communication device can start data transfer by the second communication processing unit immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange response command as the target.

  Further, in the data exchange phase, the first communication device is configured such that the first communication processing unit transmits a data exchange request command as the initiator and stops sending a radio signal. Data transfer by the second communication processing unit can be executed. In addition, the second communication device is configured such that the first communication processing unit transmits data exchange response commands as the target and stops transmission of a radio signal from the hand. A transfer can be performed.

  Further, the communication mode using the second communication processing unit between the first and second communication devices is changed to the data exchange request using the first communication processing unit before the communication is started. You may make it comprise so that it may determine through a response command exchange procedure.

  In addition, the first communication device describes a form of communication by the second communication processing unit that starts immediately after the transmission in a data exchange request command transmitted by the first communication processing unit as the initiator. In addition, the second communication device has a communication mode by the second communication processing unit that starts immediately after the transmission in the data exchange response command transmitted as the target by the first communication processing unit. You may make it describe.

  Further, the first communication device continuously executes data transfer by the second communication processing unit immediately after the first communication processing unit transmits a data exchange request command as the initiator. It may be configured. Here, while the second communication processing unit of the first communication device continues the data transfer, the second communication device eliminates the timeout time defined by the first communication protocol. Before doing so, a fake data exchange response command is transmitted from the first communication processing unit. When the first communication device continues the data transfer by the second communication processing unit after receiving the fake data exchange response command, the first communication processing unit makes a fake Send data exchange response command.

  According to the present invention, there are provided an excellent communication apparatus and communication method, a computer program, and a communication system capable of realizing high-speed communication while having complete upward compatibility with an NFC communication system that has been established. can do.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a small antenna for high-speed communication is installed inside a large antenna for NFC communication, and high-speed communication can be realized while having full compatibility with the conventional NFC standard. A communication apparatus, a communication method, a computer program, and a communication system can be provided.

  According to the invention described in claims 1 and 16 of the present application, the first communication protocol is used between the first and second communication devices on the communication path using the first antenna (or the first frequency band). Since a request and response command exchange procedure that fully satisfies the above is performed, another communication system that similarly uses the second antenna (or the second frequency band) in the communicable range of the first antenna, Even if another communication system conforming to the first communication protocol exists, the first communication protocol can operate without any problem. Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, a command sequence that completely satisfies the NFC IP-1 specification is executed on the NFC communication path between the first and second communication systems. Similarly, the second antenna (or the second frequency band) is used for the communication range of the first antenna, but the NFC even if there are other communication systems having different communication methods or a plurality of conventional NFC communication devices. With respect to IP-1 communication, it can operate without problems.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, all processes other than the DEP phase are performed by NFC IP-1 communication. Therefore, when realizing high-speed communication by the second communication processing unit, other than Data Exchange There is no need to build a new protocol system for this part.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, in a program (firmware) implemented as the immediate upper layer of the first and second communication processing units in each communication device, portions other than Data Exchange are existing. The module for NFC IP-1 communication can be used as it is. For example, there is almost no need to change the program of the application installed in the host device connected to the first and second communication devices in accordance with the physical method of high-speed communication. Conversely, if it is mentioned from the viewpoint of the application layer, it can be constructed without being aware of the physical characteristics of the lower-level communication path, and the existing NFC communication application can be used almost as it is. . Differences in lower-level communication paths do not affect the application layer and appear as performance such as communication speed.

  According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, when high-speed data transfer is performed using the second communication processing unit of each communication device, the specifications of the existing NFC IP-1 communication contradict each other. And continuity with the existing NFC IP-1 communication can be maintained.

  According to the invention described in claims 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 to 16 of the present application, the first communication protocol is completely set on the communication path using the first antenna (or the first frequency band). The data exchange request and the response command complying with each other, and the actual transfer data is synchronized with the transmission / reception timing of the data exchange request and the response command on the communication path using the second antenna (or the second frequency band). Can be transmitted. In addition, immediately after transmitting the data exchange request or response command, by performing communication on the communication path using the second antenna (or the second frequency band), the initiator at the time of starting the high-speed communication One-to-one correspondence of the target can be guaranteed. In addition, on the communication path using the first antenna (or the first frequency band), a command sequence that is completely compliant with the first communication protocol is executed, so that the communication range of the first antenna is maintained. Similarly, even if there are other communication systems that use the second antenna (or the second frequency band) but have different communication methods, and there are a plurality of conventional NFC communication devices, NFC IP-1 communication operates without any problem. can do.

  Further, according to the inventions according to claims 7 and 8 of the present application, the form of communication using the second communication processing unit is determined and changed every time between communication apparatuses that have become communication partners. can do.

  Further, according to the inventions according to claims 9 and 10 of the present application, a fake data exchange request and response command sequence can be transmitted between the communication apparatuses as communication partners using the respective first communication processing units. By repeating, data communication over a long period of time such as streaming can be performed using each of the second communication processing units while avoiding a timeout defined by the first communication protocol.

  Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from more detailed description based on embodiments of the present invention described later and the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an overview of NFC R / W (Reader / Writer) intercommunication (Data Exchange) in the existing NFC IP-1 specification will be described (for details, see ISO / IEC IS 18092).

  The NFC communication device (R / W) has two communication modes, a passive mode and an active mode. In the passive mode, data is transmitted by applying load modulation to the electromagnetic wave (to the carrier) generated by the communication partner. In one active mode, data is transmitted by modulating the electromagnetic wave generated by itself (with respect to the carrier). The device that first outputs an electromagnetic wave and starts mutual communication (that is, takes the initiative in communication) is called an “initiator”, and responds to a command (intercommunication start request) from the initiator ( A communication partner that returns a mutual communication start response) is called a “target”. In the passive mode, the direction of the carrier signal is always from the initiator to the target, and in the active mode, the direction of the carrier signal is alternately switched.

  FIG. 12 schematically shows a configuration example of a passive mutual communication system compliant with NFC IP-1.

  The initiator is an NFC communication device that operates in a reader / writer mode. This NFC communication apparatus is connected to a host device via a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter) or other host interface. The host device corresponds to a personal computer (PC) or an embedded CPU (Central Processing Unit) inside the R / W.

  The target is an NFC communication device that operates in a card mode, and is connected to a host device via a UART or other host interface. The host device corresponds to a built-in CPU in a PC or R / W (the target may be a transponder such as an NFC-compatible card, but is not assumed in this embodiment).

  In passive intercommunication, an initiator superimposes transmission data by performing ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation on a 13.56 MHz carrier signal generated by the initiator, and transmits it to a target. On the other hand, the target transmits the transmission data to the initiator by applying load modulation to the modulated carrier of 13.56 MHz transmitted from the initiator. In active intercommunication, both the initiator and the target perform ASK modulation on a 13.56 MHz carrier signal generated by the initiator and the target so that transmission data is superimposed and transmitted to the communication partner.

  When the initiator receives a communication start command from the host device ((1) in FIG. 12), it first transmits a carrier wave. Thereafter, the initiator transmits a response request signal by a method (carrier frequency, data modulation speed, data content) defined in the standard in order to confirm whether the target exists in the communicable space (in FIG. 12). (2)).

  On the other hand, the target is first activated by receiving power by the induced electromotive force of the carrier sent by the initiator and becomes in a receivable state, and then receives a response request signal sent from the initiator. Then, if the received response request signal is a signal that matches the type of the target, the target outputs a response signal including its identification information by a method (data modulation speed, reply timing, data content) defined in the standard, It responds by applying load modulation to the unmodulated carrier from the initiator ((3) in FIG. 12).

  When the initiator receives the response signal from the target, it transmits the information to the host device ((4) in FIG. 12). When the host device recognizes the number of targets existing in the communicable space and each identification information, the host device shifts to a communication phase with a specific target according to an operation program (firmware). This establishes passive mutual communication. After communication is established, the initiator always emits a carrier wave until necessary communication is completed, and sends necessary power to the target.

  Similar to the response request operation described above, during data communication, data transmission is performed from the initiator to the target by intensity modulation of the carrier wave, and from the target to the initiator by load modulation of the unmodulated carrier. However, since the encoding method differs depending on the communication mode, see Table 1 described above.

  Table 2 below shows the command set in the NFC IP-1 protocol. The NFCIP-1 command is common to the passive type and the active type mutual communication, and the content is also the same.

  Each command listed in Table 2 is always issued from the initiator (*** _ REQ), the target performs appropriate processing corresponding to the command, returns a response with appropriate data content (*** _ RES) ). However, “***” indicates an eardrum stoppage difference. Commands cannot be issued from the target side. LEN (1 byte) indicating the packet length is defined by the physical specifications below the NFCIP-1 protocol, and the length of the NFCIP-1 packet is limited to 1 to 255 bytes.

  FIG. 13 shows a command state transition diagram of passive type mutual communication.

  First, the NFC communication apparatus performs collision avoidance (CA: Collision Avidance) of an initial radio signal (RF) (step S1).

  Next, when the NFC communication apparatus is switched to an initiator for passive communication (step S2), initialization and an SDD (Single Device Detection) loop process for specifying a communication partner are executed (step S3).

  Next, the initiator determines whether or not the specified communication partner is a target that similarly operates in the passive NFC communication apparatus and requests an attribute (Attribute) (step S4). Here, when the attribute is not requested to the target (No in step S4), communication is performed with a proprietary protocol (Proprietary protocol) (step S6). When this is completed, the process returns to step S3 to perform the SDD loop again, and a new Search for the right communication partner.

  On the other hand, when requesting an attribute to the target, the initiator transmits an attribute request (ATR_REQ) command to the target (step S6), sets a timeout time, and receives an attribute response (ATR_RES) command from the target. (Step S7) to confirm the maximum communication speed. When the communication parameter is changed (Yes in step S8), the initiator transmits a parameter selection request (PSL_REQ) command to the communication partner (step S9) and receives a parameter selection response (PSL_RES) command from the target. (Step S10), the communication parameter is changed (Step S11).

  In this way, the initiator shifts to a state called DEP (Data Exchange Protocol) with the target, and data exchange is performed by passive mutual communication (step S12).

  Thereafter, when the initiator wants to switch the communication partner, the initiator transmits a selection cancellation request (DSL_REQ) command to the target (step S13), and receives a selection cancellation response (DSL_RES) command from the target (step S14). The selection is canceled. Thereafter, returning to step S3, the SDD loop is performed again to search for a new communication partner.

  Further, when the initiator wants to cancel the wireless communication operation itself as the initiator of the passive mutual communication, the initiator transmits a release request (RLS_REQ) command to the target (step S15), and sends a release response (RLS_RES) command from the target. When received (step S16), the communication state is canceled. Thereafter, the NFC communication apparatus returns to step S1 and performs initial radio signal collision avoidance (RFCA).

  FIG. 14A to FIG. 14B illustrate a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the passive NFC mutual communication system.

  First, the initiator transmits an NFC carrier (see FIG. 14A), and after a predetermined guard time has elapsed, transmits an DEP_REQ command with an ASK modulation signal (see FIG. 14B).

  On the other hand, after confirming normal reception of the DEP_REQ command from the initiator, the target performs load modulation on the unmodulated NFC carrier transmitted from the initiator and transmits the DEP_RES command (see FIG. 14C). Thereafter, the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 14A.

  FIG. 15 shows a command state transition diagram of active type mutual communication.

  First, the NFC communication apparatus performs initial radio signal collision avoidance (RFCA) (step S21).

  Next, when the NFC communication apparatus switches to the active communication initiator (step S22), the NFC communication apparatus transmits an attribute request (ATR_REQ) command to the target (step S23), sets the timeout time, and sets the attribute from the target. A response (ATR_RES) command is received (step S24), and the maximum communication speed is confirmed.

  When the initiator changes the communication parameter (Yes in step S25), the initiator transmits a parameter selection request (PSL_REQ) command to the communication partner (step S26), and the parameter selection response (PSL_RES) command from the target. Is received (step S27), and the communication parameters are changed (step S28).

  In this way, the initiator shifts to a state called DEP (Data Exchange Protocol) with the target, and data exchange is performed by passive mutual communication (step S29).

  Thereafter, when the initiator wants to switch the communication partner, the initiator transmits a selection cancellation request (DSL_REQ) command to the target (step S30), and receives a selection cancellation response (DSL_RES) command from the target (step S31). The selection is canceled. Next, the initiator transmits a startup request (WUP_REQ) to the target as a new communication partner (step S32), and receives a startup response (WUP_RES) command from the target (step S33). Further, when changing communication parameters with a new communication partner (Yes in step S25), steps S26 to S28 are executed in the same manner.

  In addition, when the initiator wants to cancel the wireless communication operation itself as an initiator of active mutual communication, it sends a release request (RLS_REQ) command to the target (step S34), and sends a release response (RLS_RES) command from the target. When received (step S35), the communication state is canceled. Thereafter, the NFC communication apparatus returns to step S21 to perform initial radio signal collision avoidance (RFCA).

  16A to 16G illustrate a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system.

  First, the initiator transmits an NFC carrier (see FIG. 16A), and after a predetermined guard time has elapsed, transmits an DEP_REQ command with an ASK modulation signal (see FIG. 16B). Then, after completing the transmission of the DEP_REQ command, the initiator stops outputting the NFC carrier (see FIG. 16C).

  Subsequently, in accordance with the specifications of active mutual communication defined by NFC IP-1, this time, the target side sends an NFC carrier to the initiator (see FIG. 16D).

  After confirming the normal reception of the DEP_REQ command from the initiator, the target transmits the DEP_REQ command to the initiator using the ASK modulation signal (see FIG. 16E). Then, after completing the transmission of the DEP_REQ command, the target stops outputting the NFC carrier (see FIG. 16F).

  Subsequently, the initiator sends out an NFC carrier (see FIG. 16G) in accordance with the specification of active intercommunication defined by NFC IP-1, and the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 16A.

  In both passive and active NFC IP-1 intercommunication, data exchange between the initiator and the target is started by sending an ATR_REQ command from the initiator, and in a state described as Data Exchange Protocol (DEP). Done.

  The DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command in the command set is used for data exchange, and the DEP_REQ command can transmit initiator-to-target transfer data (Transport Data), and the DEP_RES command can transmit target-to-initiator transfer data. .

  In addition, when there are a plurality of targets, a DSL_REQ / DSL_RES command is used to select a specific target, and a PSL_REQ / PSL_RES command is used to change the communication speed.

  FIG. 17 shows a packet structure of a DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command used for data exchange.

  Both DEP_REQ / DEP_RES have a symmetric packet structure. CMD0 (1 byte) and CMD1 (1 byte) indicating a command code are followed by a PFB byte indicating the data transfer contents, and then DID as an optional function. (1 byte), NAD (1 byte), and finally data to be actually transferred (Transport Data Bytes) follow.

  Note that the presence of the DID byte, the NAD byte, and the Transport Data Bytes is optional (not necessary). The length of Transport Data Bytes is arbitrary as long as the command packet length does not exceed 255 bytes.

  Next, the one-to-one correspondence between the initiator and the target in NFC IP-1 mutual communication will be described.

  In passive intercommunication, the initiator basically does not turn off the transmission carrier. When there is a 13.56 MHz carrier externally, other NFC communication devices (initiators) cannot send their own carriers, so there may be cases where there are multiple NFC communication devices (initiators). Other initiators cannot interrupt during initiator communication.

On the other hand, in active intercommunication, the initiator and target alternately turn on / off the carrier. However, as in the case of passive intercommunication, in addition to being unable to send out its own carrier when there is an external carrier, The carrier on / off timing is also defined in detail on the order of microseconds. FIG. 18 shows a collision avoidance sequence in the activation (Protocol Activation and Parameter Selection) period. In the figure, T _ADT is an active delay time between the RF off between initiator / target and target / initiator, a detection time (however, .f _c to _{768 / f c ≦ T ADT ≦} 2559f c Is the carrier frequency). T _RFW is a wireless standby time (512 / f _c ). N is the number of time intervals randomly generated as T _RFW (where 0 ≦ n ≦ 3). Further, T _ARFG is an active guard time the RF field from the switch-on until the start of transmission command (provided, however, that _{T ARFG> 1024 / f c)} . However, while the length of T _ADT + n × T _RFW + T _ARFG is specified, the time from the end of data modulation to the transmission carrier off is not specified. From the figure, it can be understood that even when there are a plurality of NFC communication devices (initiators), other initiators cannot interrupt during communication of a certain initiator.

  In addition, in the case where there are a plurality of NFC communication devices (targets) in both of the passive type mutual communication and the active type mutual communication, the initiator selects and communicates with a specific target by the control command described above. Can do.

  As described above, even when there are a plurality of NFC communication apparatuses, as long as the NFC IP-1 mutual communication procedure shown in FIGS. 13 and 15 is normally performed, the one-to-one correspondence between the initiator and the target is guaranteed. You can understand that.

  Next, a data exchange procedure between the initiator and the target under the control of the upper application will be described. FIG. 19 schematically shows an operation sequence of the initiator and the target in the active type mutual communication.

(S1) The initiator first performs an initial RF collision avoidance operation over time T _IDT .
(S2) Then, the initiator turns on the wireless communication operation, further transmits a request command after the RF standby time T _RFW elapses, and then turns off the wireless communication operation.
(S3) When the target detects a radio signal coming from the initiator, the target performs reception processing of the request command.
(S4) Then, the target performs an RF collision avoidance operation over the active delay time _TADT .
(S5) The target returns a response to the request command after the active guard time T _ARFG has elapsed, and then turns off the wireless communication operation.
(S6) When the initiator detects a radio signal coming from the target, the initiator performs a response reception process.
(S7) Then, the target performs an RF collision avoidance operation over the active delay time T _ADT , and further transmits a command after the active guard time T _ARFG has elapsed, and then turns off the wireless communication operation.
(S8) The target performs processing for receiving a command from the initiator.

  The following transfer operation is performed by the host application that controls the initiator and the target.

(T1) Initiator => If you want to transmit data to the target:
A DEP_REQ command to which Transport Data Bytes is added is transmitted from the initiator to the target, and a DEP_RES command without Transport Data Bytes is returned from the target to the initiator.
(T2) If you want to transmit data from the target to the initiator:
A DEP_REQ command without Transport Data Bytes is transmitted from the initiator to the target, and a DEP_RES command with Transport Data Bytes added is returned from the target to the initiator.
(T3) If you want to transfer data to both sides of the initiator and target:
A DEP_REQ command to which Transport Data Bytes is added is transmitted from the initiator to the target, and a DEP_RES command to which Transport Data Bytes is added is returned from the target to the initiator.

  The determination of the direction of data transmission is left to the host application, and the NFC IP-1 specification is not concerned. Note that there is also a “tuning” function in which the above (T1) and (T2) are continuously performed a plurality of times in order to transmit a series of data exceeding 255 bytes.

  As described above, the maximum communication speed defined by the NFC IP-1 standard is 424 kbps at the maximum (see Table 1), and other general-purpose wireless communication (WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered)). (Trademark) communication etc.) is very slow. For this reason, it is difficult to apply NFC to large-capacity data communication such as images, sounds, and moving images. Also, due to physical restrictions such as the carrier frequency (13.56 MHz), the maximum communication speed that can be realized is up to 848 kbps, and it is not possible to expect a drastic increase in the future.

  Therefore, the actual use of NFC communication so far uses electronic money, personal authentication (ID card, ticket, etc.), general wireless communication connection establishment assistance (handover), or cheap tags. Limited to very small data transmission (such as smart posters).

  On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-319567 already assigned to the present application includes a large antenna corresponding to an NFC-compatible reader / writer or transponder and a first wireless processing means, as well as a conventional large-sized antenna. A communication device including one or more small antennas and second wireless processing means inside the antenna is disclosed. This communication apparatus can perform high-speed communication by a pair of individual small antennas, and can improve the communication speed of the entire system. The large antenna is completely compatible with the conventional NFC standard, and has the ability to perform conventional NFC communication when communication between small antennas (hereinafter referred to as multi-communication) is not used. On the other hand, the small antenna is in charge of only data communication. Therefore, the large antenna also supplies power from the reader / writer to the card.

  As a short-distance high-speed wireless communication technology applicable to high-speed communication using the above-mentioned small antenna, a reflected wave communication method (Reflex) called “back scatter” (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4020096) , UWB (Ultra Wide Band) low band (4 GHz band) weak UWB method (Transfer Jet) (see, for example, JP 2008-99236 A, www.transferjet.org/en/index.html) Can be mentioned. The following table shows a comparison of NFC, backscatter method, and weak UWB method.

  Both the backscatter method and the weak UWB method, which can be applied to high-speed communication using a small antenna, have difficulty in versatility because the protocol system is an original standard. On the other hand, in the NFC IP-1 standard, physical specifications such as communication speed, encoding method, and upper limit of transfer packet length, and protocol format are defined in detail (see Table 1). For this reason, it is difficult to apply the NFC IP-1 standard as it is to the backscatter method and the weak UWB method, which have greatly different physical specifications.

  Therefore, it is considered that a communication system including a communication device equipped with a small antenna for high speed communication inside a large antenna for NFC communication has the following problems.

(K1) It is difficult to maintain the continuity of the communication operation when the operation mode is changed between the existing NFC method and the high-speed communication method.
(K2) It is necessary to construct a new protocol system dedicated to each high-speed communication.
(K3) In addition to the existing NFC method, it is necessary to newly implement a unique protocol system dedicated to high-speed communication in the control program (firmware) that manages the protocol layer.
(K4) In addition to using the existing NFC method, it is necessary to create a new application dedicated to each high-speed communication.

  In addition, in order to standardize a short-distance high-speed wireless communication technology such as the backscatter method or the weak UWB method in the form of being incorporated into the NFC IP-1 standard, a lot of use results and a long specification formulation period are required.

  Here, problems when the protocol system based on the NFC IP-1 standard described above is applied to high-speed communication with a small antenna as it is are listed below.

(P1) The maximum packet length of each DEP_REQ / DEP_RES is limited to 255 bytes according to the NFC IP-1 specification, which is inefficient in performing high-speed data communication (data rate does not increase).
(P2) Although the transfer data rate can be changed in the NFC IP-1 control command (PSL_REQ / PSL_RES), the number of bits specifying the data rate is finite, and the data rate corresponding to the specified bit is NFC IP-1 specification. Therefore, it cannot cope with various communication methods and high-speed communication at a data rate.
(P3) When the NFC IP-1 protocol system is applied across a plurality of independent communication paths of a large antenna and a small antenna, a state mismatch is likely to occur when switching from the NFC system to the high-speed communication system or vice versa (continuous). It ’s hard to keep sex.)
(P4) Even if high-speed communication is adapted using an unused (RFU) bit in the NFC IP-1 protocol command or a new command, it eventually becomes a unique specification, and further restrictions on the high-speed communication method and existing NFC Adverse effects on communications are likely to occur.

  Therefore, in the following, in a communication system that includes an NFC communication apparatus equipped with a small antenna for high-speed communication inside a large antenna for NFC communication and conforms to the existing NFC IP-1 standard, the above (P1) to (P4) This paper proposes a method for realizing high-speed communication using small antennas while resolving various problems.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes an NFC communication device equipped with a small antenna for high-speed communication inside a large antenna for NFC communication. One NFC communication apparatus 100A operates as an initiator, and the other NFC communication apparatus 100B operates as a target.

  Each NFC communication apparatus 100 includes an R / W control unit 110, an NFC communication processing unit 120 that connects a large antenna 121, and a small-capacity buffer for NFC communication that is connected to the NFC communication processing unit 120 via a memory interface 122. 130, a high-speed communication processing unit 140 that connects the small antenna 141, and a high-speed communication large-capacity buffer 150 that is connected to the high-speed communication processing unit 140 via the high-speed memory interface 142, and the host interface 161 It is connected to the host device 160. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

  The large antenna 121 is connected to the NFC communication processing unit 120 via an NFC communication analog interface (not shown), and transmits an NFC communication carrier and transmits / receives NFC communication.

  The NFC communication processing unit 120 performs processing of the physical layer and the data link layer in NFC communication. Specifically, passive mutual communication can be performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 13, and active mutual communication can be performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. The NFC communication processing unit 120 is connected to the R / W control unit 110 via the internal bus 111, and is connected to the NFC communication small capacity buffer 130 via the memory interface 121.

  The NFC communication small-capacity buffer 130 is literally a small-capacity buffer for NFC communication, and includes, for example, an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or a register. The small-capacity buffer for NFC communication 130 is connected to the R / W control unit 110 via the internal bus 111 and also connected to the NFC communication processing unit 120 via the memory interface 122. At the time of transmission, the NFC communication small-capacity buffer 130 sends the NFC communication transmission packet data (up to 255 bytes) written by the R / W control unit 110 to the NFC communication processing unit 120 in response to a request from the NFC communication processing unit 120. Forward. At the time of reception, the NFC communication small-capacity buffer 130 stores the NFC communication reception packet data (up to 255 bytes) sent from the NFC communication processing unit 120, and R according to a request from the R / W control unit 110. Transfer to the / W control unit 110.

  The small antenna 141 is connected to the high-speed communication processing unit 140 via a high-speed communication analog interface (not shown), and transmits a high-speed communication carrier and transmits and receives high-speed communication.

  The high-speed communication processing unit 140 performs physical layer and data link layer processing in high-speed communication at the Mbps level. The high-speed communication processing unit 140 is connected to the R / W control unit 110 via the internal bus 111 and is connected to the high-speed communication small capacity buffer 150 via the high-speed memory interface 141.

  The high-speed communication processing unit 140 applies a communication method (see Table 3) such as a reflected wave communication method (Reflex) or a weak UWB method (Transfer Jet). According to the reflected wave communication method, the directions of carrier transmission and transfer data are reversed. On the other hand, according to the weak UWB system, the direction of carrier transmission and transfer data is the same, that is, active high-speed communication. However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to the above two methods as high-speed communication using the small antenna 141.

  The high-speed communication large-capacity buffer 150 is literally a large-capacity buffer for high-speed communication at the Mbps level, and is composed of, for example, a flash memory or a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) (however, in the case of reading only, a ROM (Read (Only Memory)). The high-speed communication large-capacity buffer 150 is connected to the R / W control unit 110 via the internal bus 111 and also connected to the high-speed communication processing unit 140 via the high-speed memory interface 142. At the time of transmission, the high-speed communication large-capacity buffer 150 burst-transfers the high-speed communication transmission burst data written by the R / W control unit 110 to the high-speed communication processing unit 140 in response to a request from the high-speed communication processing unit 140. At the time of reception, the high-speed communication large-capacity buffer 150 stores the high-speed communication reception burst data sent from the high-speed communication processing unit 140, and in response to a request from the R / W control unit 110, the R / W control unit 110. Forward to.

  The R / W control unit 110 is responsible for processing of upper layers from the network layer to the presentation layer in the communication system shown in FIG. 1, and cooperates with NFC communication and high-speed communication to realize high-speed data communication. The R / W control unit 110 is implemented, for example, in the form of a hardware / logic microprogram or an embedded CPU ROM program. However, depending on the system configuration, the R / W control unit 110 may be implemented in the embedded CPU including the application layer. is there. Each physical layer processing unit described above is connected to the R / W control unit 110 via the internal bus 111 and also connected to the host device 160 via the host interface 161.

  The host device 160 is responsible for application layer processing in the communication system shown in FIG. 1 and provides a function requested by the user using high-speed data communication. The host device 160 is composed of, for example, a PC or an embedded CPU.

When the host device 160 is a PC (Personal Computer), USB, UART or the like is used as the host interface 161. When the host device 160 is an embedded CPU, AMBA, AHB bus, I ² C serial interface or the like is used as the host interface 161. Is used.

  In the communication system shown in FIG. 1, NFC communication is performed using the large antenna 121 and high-speed communication is performed using the small antenna 141. As already described, there are two types of NFC communication using the large antenna 121: passive mutual communication and active mutual communication. In addition, the high-speed communication using the small antenna 121 can include two types, a reflected wave communication method (Reflex) and a weak UWB method (Transfer Jet). Therefore, the following four methods can be exemplified as the configuration method of the communication system (however, the gist of the present invention is not limited to the above two methods as high-speed communication using the small antenna 141).

(C1) Passive NFC mutual communication + active high-speed communication (Transfer Jet)
(C2) Active NFC communication + active high-speed communication (Transfer Jet)
(C3) Passive NFC mutual communication + reflective high-speed communication (C4) Active NFC mutual communication + reflective high-speed communication

  In the communication system according to the present embodiment, in any of the passive mutual communication shown in FIG. 13 and the active mutual communication shown in FIG. 15, even when performing high-speed communication using the small antenna 141, All processes other than the DEP phase (steps S12 and S29) in which data is actually exchanged are performed by NFC IP-1 communication. That is, in the NFC communication processing using the large antenna 121, either the passive mutual communication shown in FIG. 13 or the active mutual communication shown in FIG. 15 is performed, and the DEP state in the NFC communication while changing the command state. At the point of time, the data exchange is performed by high-speed and large-capacity communication using the small antenna 141 instead of NFC communication using the large antenna 121.

  As described above, since normal NFC communication operation is performed in the NFC communication processing unit 120 in parallel with performing high-speed data transmission using the high-speed communication unit 140, it is assumed that the conventional (high-speed) is within the communication range. Even if there is an NFC communication device that does not have a communication function, collision can be avoided by the RFCA function defined by NFC. In other words, compatibility with existing NFC communication systems can be guaranteed. The advantages of the communication system according to this embodiment are summarized below.

(M1) In high-speed communication using the small antenna 141, it is not necessary to newly construct a unique protocol system for portions other than Data Exchange.
(M2) In a program (firmware) installed in the R / W control unit 110, an existing NFC IP-1 communication module can be used as it is for portions other than Data Exchange.
(M3) Specification conflict with existing NFC IP-1 communication does not occur.
(M4) Continuity with existing NFC IP-1 communication can be maintained.

  In the DEP state in NFC communication, the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command is used in the command set shown in Table 2 above. In the DEP_REQ command, transfer data transmission from the initiator to the target is performed, and in the DEP_RES command, transfer data transmission from the target to the initiator is performed. Here, in the NFC IP-1 specification, a clear time is not defined for each section shown below.

(I1) DEP_REQ command transmission completion to DEP_RES command transmission start (I2) DEP_RES command transmission completion to next DEP_REQ command transmission start (I3) From transmission data modulation completion in DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command in active intercommunication to transmission RF off ( (From Send Response to RF Off in Fig. 18)

  Therefore, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, paying attention to the above sections (I1) to (I3), high-speed communication using the small antenna 121 is performed using the following sections in the DEP state. Yes.

(F1) At the time of passive mutual communication (above (C1) and (C3)), immediately after sending each DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command (F2) At the time of active mutual communication (above (C2) and (C4)) From immediately after sending each DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command to RF off

  In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the NFC communication path and the high-speed communication path have the following views in the DEP phase in which high-speed communication is performed.

(V1) In the conventional NFC communication path using the large antenna 121, short (about 10 bytes) DEP_REQ / DEP_RES commands that are completely compliant with the NFC IP-1 specification are transferred.
(V2) In the high-speed communication path using the small antenna 141, the actual transfer data is transmitted at high speed in synchronization with the transmission / reception timing of the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command in the NFC communication using the large antenna 121.

  In this way, by performing high-speed communication immediately after transmitting the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command conforming to the NFC IP-1 specification, one-to-one correspondence between the initiator and the target established through NFC communication at the time of starting high-speed communication. Can be guaranteed.

  In addition, since a command sequence that completely satisfies the NFC IP-1 specification is executed on the NFC communication path using the large antenna 121, a high-speed communication method using the small antenna 141 within the communicable range of the large antenna 121. Even if there are a plurality of other communication devices 100 having different numbers and conventional NFC communication devices (R / W, cards), the NFC IP-1 communication can be operated without any problem (see FIG. 10). .

  Here, in NFC communication, the communication mode such as the maximum communication speed can be confirmed with the communication partner using the ATR_REQ / ATR_RES command, and the communication parameter can be changed using the PSL_REQ / PSL_RES command (as described above and FIG. 13). , See FIG. On the other hand, the form (physical method, data rate, packet length, etc.) of high-speed communication using the small antenna 141 may be determined by any of the following methods.

(D1) In the communication system, a high-speed communication mode is determined (fixed) in advance.
(D2) Negotiation is performed by NFC IP-1 DEP communication by the large antenna 121, and the form is determined before the high-speed communication by the small antenna 141 is started.
(D3) The form is not determined before the high-speed communication by the small antenna 141 is started, or the form is changed at each high-speed communication.

  When the high-speed communication mode is determined by the above method (D3), the high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after the Transport Data Bytes (see FIG. 17) portion in the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command packet of NFC communication is used. Information to be specified may be described. On the other hand, when the high-speed communication mode is determined by the method (D1) or (D2), the Transport Data Bytes in the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command packet of NFC communication can be emptied.

  When the information for designating the high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after is described in the Transport Data Bytes part of the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command packet of NFC communication by the method (D3) above, the packet length of the DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command As long as it does not exceed 255 bytes, which is restricted by the NFC IP-1 standard, its description and use may be left to the communication system designer. As a result, a high-speed communication method using a small antenna 141 other than the backscatter method or the weak UWB method can be used, and various multi-communication systems can be realized in combination with NFC communication using the large antenna 121. .

  In the communication system according to the present embodiment, the difference in physical method applied in high-speed communication using the small antenna 141 can be absorbed up to the firmware layer of the R / W control unit 110. Therefore, there is almost no need to change the application program implemented by the host device 160 connected to the NFC communication apparatus in accordance with the physical method of high-speed communication. Conversely, if it is mentioned from the viewpoint of the application layer, it can be constructed without being aware of the physical characteristics of the lower-level communication path, and the existing NFC communication application can be used almost as it is. . Differences in lower-level communication paths do not affect the application layer and appear as performance such as communication speed.

  As described above, there are four methods (C1) to (C4) as the configuration method of the communication system. Hereinafter, the communication operation in the DEP phase in each system configuration will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 shows the transmission carrier strengths of the large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 of the initiator and target in the DEP phase in the communication system (C1) combining passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication (Transfer Jet). Show.

  On the initiator 100A side, first, NFC transmission is started after elapse of a predetermined guard time after transmitting an NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A, and then a DEP_REQ command is transmitted with an ASK modulation signal. At this time, information for designating a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after may be described in a Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_REQ command packet.

  The initiator 100A continues to transmit the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A until the transmission of the transport data is completed. As a result, other NFC communication apparatuses existing in the communicable range of the large antenna 121A do not start NFC communication over this period by the RFCA function.

  The initiator 100A starts high-speed data transmission toward the target 100B using the small antenna 141A immediately after sending the DEP_REQ command from the large antenna 121A.

  When the high-speed transmission operation is completed, the initiator 100A starts an NFC reception operation using the large antenna 121A. When the high-speed transmission data is completely received by the small antenna 121B on the target 100B side, the received data processing is performed. Here, it is assumed that the high-speed data transmission from the initiator 100A side and the high-speed received data processing on the target 100B side end within the timeout time of the initiator 100A (up to 302 seconds in the NFC IP-1 standard).

  Thereafter, the initiator 100A receives a DEP_RES command transmitted as a load modulation signal from the large antenna 121B of the target 100B. At this time, information specifying a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately afterward may be described in the Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_RES command packet.

  Immediately after sending the DEP_RES command from the large antenna 121B, the target 100B starts high-speed data transmission toward the target 100B using the small antenna 141B.

  When this high-speed transmission operation is completed, the target 100B starts an NFC reception operation using the large antenna 121B. Further, when reception of data transmitted at high speed by the small antenna 121A is completed on the initiator 100A side, the received data processing is performed.

  The carrier sending operation from each antenna of the initiator 100A and the target 100B in the DEP phase as shown in FIG. 2 can be realized by firmware control in each R / W control unit 110A / B. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3I illustrate a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication (Transfer Jet).

  First, an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A on the initiator 100A side (see FIG. 3A). Thereafter, the initiator 100A continues to transmit the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A over the entire period until transmission of all the transport data is completed.

  The initiator 100A transmits a DEP_REQ command as an ASK modulation signal from the large antenna 121A after a predetermined guard time has elapsed since the NFC carrier is transmitted (see FIG. 3B).

  When the initiator 100A does not perform high-speed communication toward the target 100B, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 3F (described later).

  On the other hand, when performing high-speed communication toward the target 100B, the initiator 100A confirms that there is no 4.48 GHz band high-speed communication carrier outside with the small antenna 141A immediately after transmitting the DEP_REQ command. Then, a 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier is sent to the target 100B (see FIG. 3C).

  Thereafter, the initiator 100A transmits high-speed transfer data from the small antenna 141A after waiting for the receiver in the high-speed communication processing unit 140B on the target 100B side to stabilize (see FIG. 3D). When all the high-speed transfer data transmissions are completed, the initiator 100A stops sending the 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier (see FIG. 3E).

  Next, after confirming the normal reception of the DEP_REQ command from the initiator 100A and all the transport data, the target 100B performs load modulation on the unmodulated NFC carrier transmitted from the large antenna 121A of the initiator 100A, and performs DEP_RES. Send a command (see FIG. 3F).

  When the target 100B does not perform high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 3A.

  On the other hand, when the target 100B performs high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, immediately after transmitting the DEP_RES command, the target 100B confirms that there is no high-speed communication carrier in the 4.48 GHz band with the small antenna 141A. After that, a 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier is sent to the initiator 100A (see FIG. 3G).

  Thereafter, the target 100B transmits high-speed transfer data from the small antenna 141A after waiting for the receiver in the high-speed communication processing unit 140A on the initiator 100A side to stabilize (see FIG. 3H).

  When the transmission of all transport data is completed, the target 100B stops sending the 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier (see FIG. 3I), and the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 3A.

  FIG. 4 also shows the transmission carrier strengths of the large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 of the initiator and target in the DEP phase in the communication system (C2) that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed (Transfer Jet). Is shown.

  On the initiator 100A side, first, an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A, NFC transmission is started after a predetermined guard time elapses, and a DEP_REQ command is transmitted with an ASK modulation signal. At this time, information for designating a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after may be described in a Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_REQ command packet.

  Then, the initiator 100A performs high-speed data transmission from the small antenna 141A to the target 100B by using a period from the completion of the transmission data modulation processing by the DEP_REQ command to the stop of NFC carrier transmission. Start. The period until the NFC carrier transmission is stopped is within the timeout period, and this timeout period is defined as 302 seconds at maximum in the NFC IP-1 standard. The initiator 100A continues to send the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A until the high-speed data transmission is completed. Therefore, other NFC communication apparatuses existing in the communicable range of the large antenna 121A do not start NFC communication over the period in which the initiator 100A performs high-speed data transmission by the RFCA function.

  When the high-speed data transmission from the small antenna 141A is completed, the initiator 100A stops both NFC carrier transmission from the large antenna 121A and high-speed communication carrier transmission from the small antenna 121A.

  When the target 101B detects that the NFC carrier transmission from the initiator 100A is stopped, the target 101B transmits an NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B, starts NFC transmission after a predetermined guard time elapses, and sends a DEP_RES command as an ASK modulation signal. Send. At this time, information specifying a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately afterward may be described in the Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_RES command packet.

  The target 100B starts high-speed data transmission from the small antenna 141B to the initiator 100A using a period from the completion of the transmission data modulation processing by the DEP_RES command to the stop of NFC carrier transmission. . The period until the NFC carrier transmission is stopped is within the timeout period, and this timeout period is defined as 302 seconds at maximum in the NFC IP-1 standard. The target 100B continues to transmit the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B until the high-speed data transmission is completed. Therefore, other NFC communication apparatuses existing in the communicable range of the large antenna 121B do not start NFC communication over the period in which the target 100B performs high-speed data transmission by the RFCA function.

  When the high-speed data transmission from the small antenna 141B is completed, the target 100B stops both NFC carrier transmission from the large antenna 121B and high-speed communication carrier transmission from the small antenna 121B.

  When the initiator 100A detects that the NFC carrier transmission from the target 101B is stopped, the initiator 100A transmits the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A, and thereafter the same operation as described above is repeated.

  The carrier transmission operation from each antenna of the initiator 100A and the target 100B in the DEP phase as shown in FIG. 4 can be realized by firmware control in each R / W control unit 110A / B. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5K illustrate a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system combining active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication (Transfer Jet).

  First, the initiator 100A transmits a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A (see FIG. 5A). The initiator 100A transmits a DEP_REQ command from the large antenna 121A as an ASK modulation signal after a predetermined guard time has elapsed after sending the NFC carrier (see FIG. 5B).

  When the initiator 100A does not perform high-speed communication toward the target 100B, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 5E (described later).

  On the other hand, when the initiator 100A performs high-speed communication toward the target 100B, after transmitting the DEP_REQ command, the initiator 100A confirms that there is no high-speed communication carrier in the 4.48 GHz band with the small antenna 141A. The 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier is transmitted to the target 100B (see FIG. 5C).

  Thereafter, the initiator 100A transmits high-speed transfer data from the small antenna 141A after waiting for the receiver in the high-speed communication processing unit 140B on the target 100B side to stabilize (see FIG. 5D). When the transmission of all the high-speed transfer data is completed, the initiator 100A stops both the 13.56 MHz NFC carrier and the 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier (see FIG. 5E).

  Next, the target 100B sends a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B to the initiator 100A in accordance with the active communication specification defined in the NFC IP-1 standard (see FIG. 5F).

  The target 100B confirms the normal reception of the DEP_REQ command from the initiator 100A and all the transport data, and then transmits the DEP_RES command from the large antenna 121B as an ASK modulated signal (see FIG. 5G).

  Here, when the target 100B does not perform high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 5J (described later).

  On the other hand, when performing high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, the target 100B confirms that there is no high-speed communication carrier in the 4.48 GHz band by using the small antenna 141A after transmitting the DEP_RES command. Then, a 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier is sent to the initiator 100A (see FIG. 5H).

  Thereafter, the target 100B transmits high-speed transfer data from the small antenna 141B after waiting for the receiver in the high-speed communication processing unit 140A on the initiator 100A side to stabilize (see FIG. 5I). When all the high-speed transfer data transmissions are completed, the target 100B stops both the 13.56 MHz NFC carrier and the 4.48 GHz high-speed communication carrier (see FIG. 5J).

  Next, in accordance with the active communication specification defined by the NFC IP-1 standard, the initiator 100A sends a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A to the target 100B (see FIG. 5K). Returns to the state shown in FIG. 5A.

  FIG. 6 shows the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in the communication system (C3) combining passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. Yes.

  On the initiator 100A side, first, NFC transmission is started after a predetermined guard time elapses after an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A, and a DEP_REQ command is transmitted as an ASK modulation signal. At this time, information for designating a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after may be described in a Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_REQ command packet.

  The initiator 100A continues to transmit the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A until the transmission of the transport data is completed. As a result, other NFC communication apparatuses existing in the communicable range of the large antenna 121A do not start NFC communication over this period by the RFCA function.

  When the target 100B receives the DEP_REQ command from the initiator 100A with the large antenna 121B and completes the received data processing, the target 100B starts sending a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141B, Prepare for high-speed data transmission.

  When the initiator 100A detects a high-speed communication carrier from the target 100B, the initiator 100A performs high-speed data transfer as a modulated reflected wave signal from the small antenna 141A.

  On the target 100B side, when the modulated reflected wave signal is completely received by the small antenna 141B and the reception data processing is completed, the transmission of the 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141B is stopped and the large antenna 121B is stopped. A DEP_RES command transmitted as a load modulation signal is transmitted.

  When the initiator 100A receives the DEP_RES command sent from the target 100B as a load modulation signal with the large antenna 121A and completes the received data processing, the initiator 100A starts sending a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141A. In preparation for high-speed data transmission from the target 100B.

  When the target 100B detects a high-speed communication carrier from the initiator 100A, the target 100B performs high-speed data transfer as a modulated reflected wave signal from the small antenna 141B.

  The initiator 100A completes reception of the modulated reflected wave signal by the small antenna 141A, and further stops the transmission of the 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141A when the reception data processing is completed. Further, when the target B completes the high-speed data transmission, it subsequently starts NFC reception with the large antenna 121B.

  The carrier transmission operation from each antenna of the initiator 100A and the target 100B in the DEP phase as shown in FIG. 6 can be realized by firmware control in each R / W control unit 110A / B. 7A to 7I illustrate firmware control procedures in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication.

  First, an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A on the initiator 100A side (see FIG. 7A). Thereafter, the initiator 100A continues to transmit the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A over the entire period until transmission of all the transport data is completed.

  The initiator 100A transmits a DEP_REQ command as an ASK modulated signal from the large antenna 121A after a predetermined guard time has elapsed since the NFC carrier is transmitted (see FIG. 7B).

  When the initiator 100A does not perform high-speed communication toward the target 100B, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 7F (described later).

  On the other hand, when performing high-speed communication from the initiator 100A to the target 100B, the target 100B confirms normal reception of the DEP_REQ command, and then there is no 2.4 GHz band high-speed communication carrier outside by the small antenna 141B. After confirming this, a 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier is transmitted (see FIG. 7C).

  When the initiator 100A confirms that a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier exists outside with the small antenna 141A, the initiator 100A modulates the reflected wave according to the transmission data and transmits the high-speed transfer data ( (See FIG. 7D). When all the high-speed transfer data transmission is completed on the initiator 100A side and the target 100B completes the reception of the high-speed transfer data, the transmission of the 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 100B is stopped (see FIG. 7E).

  Next, the target 100B performs load modulation on the unmodulated NFC carrier transmitted from the large antenna 121A of the initiator 100A, and transmits a DEP_RES command (see FIG. 7F).

  When the target 100B does not perform high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 7A.

  On the other hand, when the target 100B performs high-speed communication toward the initiator 100A, the initiator 100A confirms normal reception of the DEP_REQ command, and then uses the small antenna 141A to externally transmit a 2.4 GHz band high-speed communication carrier. After confirming that there is no data, a 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier is transmitted (see FIG. 7G).

  When the target 100B confirms that a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier exists outside with the small antenna 141B, the target 100B modulates the reflected wave according to the transmission data and transmits the high-speed transfer data (FIG. 7H).

  When transmission of all high-speed transfer data is completed on the target 100B side and the initiator 100A completes reception of high-speed transfer data, transmission of the 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 100A is stopped (see FIG. 7I), the communication system returns to the state shown in FIG. 7A.

  FIG. 8 shows the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in the communication system (C4) combining active NFC mutual communication and reflective high speed. .

  On the initiator 100A side, first, an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A, NFC transmission is started after a lapse of a predetermined guard time, and a DEP_REQ command is transmitted with an ASK modulation signal. At this time, information for designating a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after may be described in a Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_REQ command packet.

  When the target 100B receives the DEP_REQ command transmitted as a load modulation signal from the initiator 100A by the large antenna 121B and completes the reception data processing, the target 100B starts transmitting a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141B. In preparation for high-speed data transmission from the initiator 100A.

  When the initiator 100A detects the high-speed communication carrier from the target 100B, the initiator 100A modulates the reflected wave of the high-speed communication carrier received by the small antenna 141A according to the transmission data and performs high-speed data transmission.

  When the initiator 100A completes the high-speed data transmission, it subsequently starts NFC reception with the large antenna 121A. Further, when the target 100B completes the reception of the high-speed data from the initiator 100A, the target 100B stops the transmission of the 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141B and processes the high-speed reception data. When the initiator 100A detects that the transmission of the high-speed communication carrier has stopped on the target 100B side, the initiator 100A stops transmitting the NFC carrier.

  High-speed data transmission is performed using a period until the initiator 100A stops sending the NFC carrier. The period until the NFC carrier transmission is stopped is within the timeout period, and this timeout period is defined as 302 seconds at maximum in the NFC IP-1 standard. The initiator 100A will continue to send out the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A until the high-speed communication carrier from the target 100B stops. As a result, other NFC communication devices existing within the communicable range of the large antenna 121A do not start NFC communication during the period in which the initiator 100A performs high-speed data transmission by the RFCA function.

  Subsequently, when the target 100B detects that the NFC carrier transmission from the initiator 100A is stopped, the target 100B starts transmission of the NFC carrier from the large antenna 100B, starts NFC transmission after a predetermined guard time elapses, and receives the DEP_RES command. Is transmitted as an ASK modulated signal. At this time, information specifying a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately afterward may be described in the Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_RES command packet.

  When the initiator 100A receives the DEP_RES command sent from the target 100B as a load modulation signal with the large antenna 121A and completes the received data processing, the initiator 100A starts sending a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141A. In preparation for high-speed data transmission from the target 100B.

  When the target 100B detects the high-speed communication carrier from the initiator 100A, the target 100B modulates the reflected wave of the high-speed communication carrier received by the small antenna 141B according to the transmission data, and performs high-speed data communication.

  When the target 100B completes the high-speed data transmission, it subsequently starts NFC reception with the large antenna 121B. When the initiator 100A completes the reception of the high-speed data from the target 100B, the initiator 100A stops the transmission of the 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 141A and processes the high-speed reception data. When the target 100B detects that the transmission of the high-speed communication carrier is stopped on the initiator 100A side, the target 100B stops the transmission of the NFC carrier.

  High-speed data transmission is performed using a period until the target 100B stops sending the NFC carrier. The period until the NFC carrier transmission is stopped is within the timeout period, and this timeout period is defined as 302 seconds at maximum in the NFC IP-1 standard. The target 100B continues to send the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B until the high-speed communication carrier from the initiator 100A stops. As a result, other NFC communication apparatuses existing in the communicable range of the large antenna 121B do not start NFC communication over the period in which the initiator 100A performs high-speed data transmission by the RFCA function.

  When the initiator 100A detects that the NFC carrier transmission from the target 101B is stopped, the initiator 100A transmits the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A, and thereafter the same operation as described above is repeated.

  The carrier sending operation from each antenna of the initiator 100A and the target 100B in the DEP phase as shown in FIG. 8 can be realized by firmware control in each R / W control unit 110A / B. 9A to 9M illustrate firmware control procedures in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication.

  First, the initiator 100A transmits a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A (see FIG. 9A). The initiator 100A transmits a DEP_REQ command from the large antenna 121A as an ASK modulation signal after a predetermined guard time has elapsed after sending the NFC carrier (see FIG. 9B).

  When high-speed communication from the initiator 100A toward the target 100B is not performed, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 9F (described later).

  On the other hand, when performing high-speed communication from the initiator 100A to the target 100B, the target 100B confirms normal reception of the DEP_REQ command, and then there is no 2.4 GHz band carrier with the small antenna 141B. Then, a 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier is sent to the initiator 100A (see FIG. 9C).

  When the initiator 100A confirms that a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier exists outside with the small antenna 141A, the initiator 100A modulates the reflected wave according to the transmission data and transmits the high-speed transfer data ( (See FIG. 9D). When all the high-speed transfer data transmission is completed on the initiator 100A side and the target 100B completes the reception of the high-speed transfer data, the target 100B stops the transmission of the 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier (see FIG. 9E). In addition, when the initiator 100A confirms that the 2.4 GHz carrier does not exist outside with the small antenna 141A, the initiator 100A stops sending the 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A (see FIG. 9F).

  Next, the target 100B transmits a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B to the initiator 100A in accordance with the active communication specification defined in the NFC IP-1 standard (see FIG. 9G). Then, the target 100B transmits a DEP_RES command as an ASK modulated signal from the large antenna 121B (see FIG. 9H).

  Here, when high-speed communication from the target 100B to the initiator 100A is not performed, the communication system shifts to a state shown in FIG. 9L (described later).

  On the other hand, when performing high-speed communication from the target 100B to the initiator 100A, the initiator 100A confirms the normal reception of the DEP_REQ command, and then the 2.4 GHz band high-speed communication carrier is connected to the outside by the small antenna 141A. After confirming that it does not exist, a 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier is transmitted (see FIG. 9I).

  When the target 100B confirms that a 2.4 GHz high-speed communication carrier exists outside with the small antenna 141B, the target 100B modulates the reflected wave according to the transmission data and transmits the high-speed transfer data (FIG. 9J).

  When transmission of all transport data is completed on the target 100B side and the initiator 100A completes normal reception of transport data, transmission of a 2.4 GHz unmodulated high-speed communication carrier from the small antenna 100A is stopped (see FIG. See 9K).

  When the target 100B confirms that the 2.4 GHz carrier does not exist outside with the small antenna 141B, the target 100B stops sending the 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B (see FIG. 9L).

  Next, in accordance with the active communication specification defined in the NFC IP-1 standard, the initiator 100A sends a 13.56 MHz NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B to the target 100B (see FIG. 9M). Returns to the state shown in FIG. 9A.

  In any of the communication procedures shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 8, the main purpose is to completely satisfy the NFC IP-1 specification on the NFC communication path. In either case, the NFC carrier (which is not directly necessary for high-speed communication) needs to be continuously sent out during the period in which high-speed data transfer is performed using the high-speed communication path in the DEP phase. In this regard, there is a concern about unnecessary power consumption in the NFC communication processing unit 120 of the NFC communication apparatus 100.

  Here, the NFC carrier is continuously transmitted during the high-speed data transfer period in order to avoid a collision with another NFC communication system, in order to avoid a collision with another NFC communication system. This is because the other communication device 100 and the conventional NFC communication device (R / W, card) having different values are normally operated (refer to FIG. 10 described above). Therefore, when it is known in advance that there is no other communication device 100 or an old NFC communication device (R / W, card) having a different high-speed communication method within the communicable range of the large antenna 121, or In the case of a communication system that does not need to completely satisfy the NFC IP-1 specification, unnecessary NFC carrier transmission may be stopped during the high-speed data transfer period.

  Further, in the NFC IP-1 specification, a timer out time from when the initiator completes transmission of the DEP_REQ command to when reception of the DEP_RES command is started is defined. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 8, high-speed data transfer is performed using this timeout time.

  According to the NFC IP-1 specification, this timeout time (RWT: Response Waiting Time) is specified by the TO byte in the ATR_RES command packet transmitted by the target, and the target further processes the received data from the initiator. However, a time-out extension function is provided when a longer time than RWT is required. By using the time-out extension function for the specification by the TO byte, the time-out time, that is, the high-speed data transfer period can be widely changed in the range of 300 microseconds to 302 seconds.

  For normal high-speed communication, 302 seconds is considered to be a sufficiently long communication period, but in the case of communication for streaming from the initiator to the target, the time is still insufficient even for 302 seconds. Is also envisaged. If it is desired to continue high-speed data transfer even after the time-out period elapses, it is necessary to incorporate normal DER_REQ / DEP_RES command transmission / reception in order to avoid time-out and to show normal operation on the NFC communication path.

  FIG. 11 shows streaming from the initiator 100A to the target 100B using the DEP phase (or high-speed data transfer exceeding the time-out time) in a communication system that combines active NFC intercommunication and active high-speed (Transfer Jet). The transmission carrier strengths of the large antenna 121 and the small antenna 141 of the initiator and the target when performing the above are shown.

  On the initiator 100A side, first, an NFC carrier is transmitted from the large antenna 121A, NFC transmission is started after a predetermined guard time elapses, and a DEP_REQ command is transmitted with an ASK modulation signal. At this time, information for designating a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after may be described in a Transport Data Bytes portion in the DEP_REQ command packet.

  When the initiator 100A completes the transmission data modulation process using the DEP_REQ command, the initiator 100A starts high-speed data transmission from the small antenna 141A to the target 100B. In the NFC IP-1 standard, the maximum timeout time is 302 seconds, but the initiator 100A continues high-speed data transfer even after the timeout time has elapsed.

  Further, the initiator 100A stops sending the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A within the timeout time. In contrast, when the target 100B detects that the NFC carrier transmission from the initiator 100A is stopped, the target 100B transmits an NFC carrier from the large antenna 121B, starts NFC transmission after a predetermined guard time elapses, and sends a DEP_RES command to the ASK. Transmit with modulated signal. However, since the DEP_RES command is an empty (fake) DEP_RES command for avoiding a timeout, the Transport Data Bytes portion in the command packet is empty (information specifying a high-speed communication mode to be performed immediately after, etc.) Is not required).

  Thereafter, the target 100B stops sending NFC carriers from the large antenna 121B. When the initiator 100A still needs to continue high-speed data transfer (streaming), the initiator 100A, when detecting that the NFC carrier transmission from the target 100B has stopped, transmits the NFC carrier from the large antenna 121A, and performs a predetermined guard. After the elapse of time, NFC transmission is started, and a DEP_REQ command is transmitted with an ASK modulation signal. However, since the DEP_REQ command transmitted here is an empty (fake) DEP_REQ command for continuing high-speed data transfer, the Transport Data Bytes portion in the command packet is empty (performed immediately after). It is not necessary to describe information specifying the high-speed communication mode).

  The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make modifications and substitutions of the embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In this specification, two examples of the reflected wave communication method (Reflex) and the weak UWB method (Transfer Jet) are given as high-speed communication using a small antenna, but the gist of the present invention is not limited to this. Any other communication method that realizes high-speed communication in the non-contact communication range similar to NFC communication can be applied.

  In short, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of exemplification, and the description of the present specification should not be interpreted in a limited manner. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims should be taken into consideration.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system including an NFC communication apparatus equipped with a small antenna for high-speed communication inside a large antenna for NFC communication. FIG. 2 is a chart showing the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3D is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3E is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3F is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3G is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3H is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 3I is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 4 is a chart showing the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in a communication system combining active NFC intercommunication and active high speed. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5D is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5E is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5F is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5G is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5H is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5I is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5J is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 5K is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and active high-speed communication. FIG. 6 is a chart showing the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7D is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7E is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7F is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7G is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7H is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 7I is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines passive NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in a DEP phase in a system. FIG. 8 is a chart showing the transmission carrier strengths of the initiator and target large antenna 121 and small antenna 141 in the DEP phase in a communication system combining active NFC intercommunication and reflective high speed. FIG. 9A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9D is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9E is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9F is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9G is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9H is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9I is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9J is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9K is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9L is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 9M is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in a communication system that combines active NFC mutual communication and reflective high-speed communication. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which another communication system operates normally within the communicable range of the large antenna of the NFC communication apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a large antenna 121 and a small antenna of an initiator and a target when performing high-speed data transfer exceeding the timeout time using the DEP phase in a communication system combining active NFC mutual communication and active high speed. 141 is a chart showing the transmission carrier strength of 141. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a passive mutual communication system compliant with NFC IP-1. FIG. 13 is a command state transition diagram of passive mutual communication. FIG. 14A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the passive NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 14B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the passive NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 14C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the passive NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 15 is a command state transition diagram of active mutual communication. FIG. 16A is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16B is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16C is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16D is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16E is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16F is a diagram for describing a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 16G is a diagram for explaining a firmware control procedure in the DEP phase in the active NFC mutual communication system. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a packet structure of a DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command used for data exchange. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a collision avoidance sequence in active mutual communication. FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically showing an operation sequence of an initiator and a target in active mutual communication.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... NFC communication apparatus 110 ... R / W control part 111 ... Internal bus 120 ... NFC communication processing part 121 ... Large antenna 122 ... Memory interface 130 ... Small capacity memory for NFC communication 140 ... High-speed communication processing part 141 ... Small antenna 142 ... High-speed memory interface 150 ... High-speed communication large-capacity buffer 160 ... Host equipment 161 ... Host interface

Claims (16)

Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A first communication processing unit for performing
A second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in the second frequency band using the second antenna;
A control unit for controlling operations of the first and second communication processing units;
Comprising
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
In the data exchange phase, the control unit controls the first communication processing unit to perform the data exchange request and response command exchange procedure, and performs data transfer in the second communication processing unit. Control,
A communication device. The first communication protocol conforms to the NFCIP-1 specification defined by ISO / IEC IS 18092.
The control unit performs all processes other than the DEP phase by NFC IP-1 communication using the first communication processing unit. In the DEP phase, the control unit uses the first communication processing unit to execute a DEP_REQ / DEP_RES command Controlling to perform data transfer between the second communication processing units while executing the sequence;
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target The time to start sending the response command is not clearly defined,
The controller is
Operating the first communication processing unit as an initiator in passive mutual communication;
In the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command, data transfer by the second communication processing unit is started.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target The time to start sending the response command is not clearly defined,
The controller is
Operating the first communication processing unit as a target in passive intercommunication,
In the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange response command, data transfer by the second communication processing unit is started.
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
The controller is
Operating the first communication processing unit as an initiator in active mutual communication;
In the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, the data from the second communication processing unit during the period from when the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command to when it stops sending radio signals. Perform the transfer,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
The controller is
Operating the first communication processing unit as a target in active mutual communication;
In the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, the data from the second communication processor during the period from when the first communication processor sends a data exchange response command to when it stops sending wireless signals Perform the transfer,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. The first communication processing unit describes a mode of communication by the second communication processing unit that starts immediately after the transmission in the data exchange request command.
The communication device according to any one of 3 and 5, wherein In the data exchange response command, the first communication processing unit describes the form of communication by the second communication processing unit that starts immediately after the transmission.
The communication device according to any one of 4 and 6, wherein In the first communication protocol, a timeout time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target is defined,
The control unit operates the first communication processing unit as an initiator, and continues data transfer by the second communication processing unit immediately after the first communication processing unit sends a data exchange request command. When performing the data transfer by the second communication processing unit after receiving the data exchange response command and transmitting a fake data exchange response command from the first communication processing unit,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. In the first communication protocol, a timeout time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target is defined,
The control unit operates with the first communication processing unit as a target, and the timeout period disappears after receiving a data exchange request command while the second communication processing unit continues data transfer. Before sending a fake data exchange response command from the first communication processing unit,
The communication apparatus according to claim 1. Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A communication device control method comprising: a first communication processing unit for performing a wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna;
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol,
Sending a data exchange request command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange request command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
A communication method characterized by comprising: Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A computer executes processing for controlling a communication apparatus including a first communication processing unit that performs communication and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna. A computer program written in a computer-readable format,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
Sending a data exchange request command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange request command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
A computer program for running Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A computer executes processing for controlling a communication apparatus including a first communication processing unit that performs communication and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna. A computer program written in a computer-readable format,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
When the first communication processing unit operates as a target in passive mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
Sending a data exchange response command from the first communication processing unit;
Immediately after sending a data exchange response command, starting data transfer by the second communication processing unit;
A computer program for running Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A computer executes processing for controlling a communication apparatus including a first communication processing unit that performs communication and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna. A computer program written in a computer-readable format,
In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
When the first communication processing unit operates as an initiator in active mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
The first communication processing unit sending a data exchange request command;
Executing data transfer by the second communication processing unit in a period from sending a data exchange request command to stopping sending a radio signal;
A computer program for running Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A computer executes processing for controlling a communication apparatus including a first communication processing unit that performs communication and a second communication processing unit that performs wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna. A computer program written in a computer-readable format,
In the first communication protocol, the time from the completion of data exchange request command transmission by the initiator to the start of data exchange response command transmission by the target, the next data exchange by the initiator from the completion of data exchange response command transmission by the target It does not clearly define the time from the start of response command transmission, the time from the completion of transmission data modulation in the data exchange request and response command in active intercommunication to the stop of radio signal transmission,
When the first communication processing unit operates as a target in active mutual communication, in the data exchange phase of the first communication protocol, to the computer,
The first communication processing unit sending a data exchange response command;
Executing data transfer by the second communication processing unit in a period from when a data exchange response command is sent to when transmission of a radio signal is stopped;
A computer program for running Wireless communication operation in a first frequency band using a first antenna in accordance with a first communication protocol that defines a communication procedure for transmitting a request command from an initiator and receiving a response command from a target and a radio signal collision avoidance function A first communication processing unit and a second communication processing unit each including a second communication processing unit that performs a wireless communication operation in a second frequency band using a second antenna,
The first communication protocol includes a data exchange start preparation phase for performing a request and response command exchange procedure for starting data exchange between the initiator and the target, and a data exchange request and response for exchanging data. Define the data exchange phase for command exchange procedures,
The first communication device operates as the initiator and the second communication device operates as the target. In the data exchange phase, the data exchange request is made using each of the first communication processing units. And a response command exchange procedure, and data transfer between each of the second communication processing units,
A communication system characterized by the above.