Apparatus for efficiently locating and communicating with a specific RFID tag among a plurality of groups of tags

An apparatus for communicating with a radio frequency identification tag comprising:

• a first communication antenna configured to conduct first radio communication with a single representative RFID tag associated so as to represent a plurality of individual RFID tags constituting a single tag group;
• a second communication antenna with characteristics different from said first antenna and configured to conduct second communication with said tag group, the second communication having characteristics different from said first communication;
• storage device configured to store and hold correlation information of said individual RFID tag and said representative RFID tag corresponding the individual RFID tag;
• a first information obtainment portion configured to obtain identification information of said representative RFID tag corresponding to said individual tag to be searched by using said correlation information stored and held in said storage device and to conduct said first communication for search of said representative RFID tag via said first communication antenna by specifying said identification information obtained, and therefore obtain information from said representative RFID tag having the identification information specified;
• a switching determination portion configured to determine if said first communication information obtainment by said first information obtainment portion satisfies a predetermined switching condition based on distance to said representative RFID tag;
• an antenna switching portion configured to switch, as an antenna to be used for communication, said first communication antenna into said second communication antenna if the determination by said switching determination portion is satisfied;
• and
• a second information obtainment portion configured to specify identification information of said individual RFID tag to be searched and to conduct said second communication for search of said individual RFID tag having said identification information specified via said second communication antenna switched by said antenna switching portion, and therefore to obtain information from said individual RFID tag.