Device use restricting system

摘要

A device is provided with a reader/writer that wirelessly communicates with an RFID module in a con-contact manner that resides within a wireless communications area of the device, and an optical transmitter transmitting a signal receivable by the RFID module in an area in the vicinity of the device within the wireless communication area of the device, the signal receivable area being narrower than the wireless communication area. The device determines whether an ID of an RFID currently performing wireless-communication is stored in its storage as an authorized ID, or not. The optical transmitter initiates signal transmission on the condition of the determination that the corresponding ID is stored. Upon receipt of the signal from the optical transmitter by a photoreceptor, the RFID module wirelessly transmits an authentication request signal to the device. Having received the authentication request signal from the RFID module, the device authenticates the ID and authorizes the use of the device based on the establishment of the authentication. Thus, the use of the device by unspecified users can be excluded at a high ratio without impairing the convenience of users of the device.

主权项

1. A system for restricting use of a device to a user carrying an RFID module, said device comprising:
wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the RFID module in a non-contact manner when the RFID module is within a wireless communication area of the device, wherein the wireless communication means is attached to said device; a light emitter attached to an operation panel that faces an operator of the device, for emitting light to transmit a signal receivable by the RFID module which is within an optical communication area of the light emitter, the optical communication area of the light emitter being narrower than the wireless communication area, being included within the wireless communication area, and a size of the optical communication area being substantially the same as a size of an operation area of the device; authorization ID storage means for storing an ID of the RFID module; ID determining means for determining whether the ID of the RFID module within the wireless communication area has been stored by the authorization ID storage means; control means for controlling initiation of the signal transmission by the light emitter on the condition that the ID of the RFID module is determined by the ID determining means as having been stored; authentication means, when having received an authentication request signal containing the ID of the RFID module from the RFID module through the wireless communication means, for authenticating that the ID contained in the authentication request signal is the ID that is determined by the ID determining means as having been stored; and use authorization means for authorizing the use of the device on the condition that the ID contained in the authentication request signal is the ID that is determined by the ID determining means as having been stored and for keeping the state of the use authorization so long as the RFID module remains within the wireless communication area, wherein the RFID module comprises: a photoreceptor for receiving a signal from the light emitter when the RFID module is within the optical communication area of the light emitter; and authentication request means for wirelessly transmitting an RF signal containing the authentication request signal in response to the reception of the signal by the photoreceptor.