Label printer having an RFID communication function

Abstract

An electronic apparatus having a RF tag communication function is provided which includes a RF tag reader/writer and a main controller for controlling the RF tag reader/writer. The RF tag reader/writer includes a radio communication section for executing radio communication with a RF tag and a controller for controlling the radio communication section. The main controller is capable of communication with the controller. A command which requests a reply is transmitted from the main controller to the RF tag reader/writer, and the controller is diagnosed based on the reply from the RF tag reader/writer.

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a radio communication apparatus including a radio communication section for executing radio communication with a RF tag, and a controller for controlling the radio communication section; 
 a main controller which is capable of communication with the controller and which controls the radio communication apparatus; 
 first diagnostic means for executing a first diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus requesting a reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus, and then determining whether a radio communication status between the main controller and the radio communication apparatus is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives the reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus; and 
 second diagnostic means for executing a second diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a radio communication run command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus for communicating with the RF tag, and then determines whether a radio communication status between the radio communication apparatus and the RF tag is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives a reply from the RF tag a reply received from the controller of the radio communication apparatus about the RF tag. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operation section for inputting a diagnostic run command in accordance with an operation by an operator;
 wherein the first diagnostic means and the second diagnostic means operate in response to the diagnostic run command. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a data communication section for executing data communication with an external apparatus,
 wherein the first diagnostic means and the second diagnostic means operate in response to a diagnostic run command from the external apparatus. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display which displays diagnostic results obtained by the first and second diagnostic means. 
     
     
       5. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a radio communication apparatus including a radio communication section for executing radio communication with an RF tag, and a controller for controlling the radio communication section; and   a main controller which is capable of communication with the controller and which controls the radio communication apparatus, the main controller including a CPU that is programmed to carry out the steps of:   executing a first diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus requesting a reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus, and then determining whether a radio communication status between the main controller and the radio communication apparatus is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives the reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus; and   executing a second diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a radio communication run command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus for communicating with the RF tag, and then determines whether a radio communication status between the radio communication apparatus and the RF tag is abnormal depending on a reply received from the controller of the radio communication apparatus about the RF tag.   
     
     
       6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an operation section through which a diagnostic run command in accordance with an operation by an operator is input;
 wherein the CPU executes the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process in response to the diagnostic run command.   
     
     
       7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a data communication section for executing data communication with an external apparatus, wherein the CPU executes the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process in response to a diagnostic run command from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display which displays diagnostic results obtained as a result of executing the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process. 
     
     
       9. A method of diagnosing an electronic apparatus having a radio communication apparatus including a radio communication section for executing radio communication with an RF tag and a controller for controlling the radio communication section, and a main controller which is capable of communication with the controller and which controls the radio communication apparatus, said method comprising:
 executing a first diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus requesting a reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus, and then determining whether a radio communication status between the main controller and the radio communication apparatus is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives the reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus; and   executing a second diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a radio communication run command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus for communicating with the RF tag, and then determines whether a radio communication status between the radio communication apparatus and the RF tag is abnormal depending on a reply received from the controller of the radio communication apparatus about the RF tag.   
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
 receiving an input of a diagnostic run command in accordance with an operation by an operator;   wherein the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process are executed in response to the diagnostic run command.   
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
 executing data communication with an external apparatus, wherein the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process are executed in response to a diagnostic run command from the external apparatus.   
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:
 displaying diagnostic results obtained as a result of executing the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process.   
     
     
       13. A printer, comprising:
 a thermal head and a platen between which a recording medium is fed for printing; and   an electronic apparatus having a radio communication apparatus including a radio communication section for executing radio communication with an RF tag and a controller for controlling the radio communication section, and a main controller which is capable of communication with the controller and which controls the radio communication apparatus,   wherein the main controller includes a CPU that is programmed to carry out the steps of:   executing a first diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus requesting a reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus, and then determining whether a radio communication status between the main controller and the radio communication apparatus is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives the reply from the controller of the radio communication apparatus; and   executing a second diagnostic process in which the main controller transmits a radio communication run command to the controller of the radio communication apparatus for communicating with the RF tag, and then determines whether a radio communication status between the radio communication apparatus and the RF tag is abnormal depending on a reply received from the controller of the radio communication apparatus about the RF tag.   
     
     
       14. The printer according to claim 13, further comprising an operation section through which a diagnostic run command in accordance with an operation by an operator is input;
 wherein the CPU executes the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process in response to the diagnostic run command.   
     
     
       15. The printer according to claim 13, further comprising a data communication section for executing data communication with an external apparatus, wherein the CPU executes the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process in response to a diagnostic run command from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The printer according to claim 13, further comprising a display which displays diagnostic results obtained as a result of executing the first diagnostic process and the second diagnostic process. 
     
     
       17. A method of diagnosing a printer including a radio communication section for executing radio communication with an RF tag, a printing section, and a main controller that controls the radio communication section and the printing section, said method comprising:
 transmitting a first command from the main controller to the radio communication section;   determining whether a radio communication status between the main controller and the radio communication section is abnormal depending on whether the main controller receives a reply to the first command from the radio communication section;   transmitting a second command from the main controller to the radio communication section, the second command instructing the radio communication section to communicate with an RF tag; and   determining whether a radio communication status between the radio communication section and the RF tag is abnormal depending on whether the radio communication section receives a reply from the RF tag.