JP2001092888A - Rental article management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a chain store of a vide rental system to return a video tape to stores other than the renting store and, at the same time, to read personal information described on a membership card and a type of the video tape by means of one reader/writer. SOLUTION: The membership cards and rental articles are respectively provided with ID tags. A video rental store is provided with a controller which communicates with the ID tags. When the video rental store rents the video tape to a member, the information written on the rented video tape is written on the ID tag of the membership card of the member and, at the same time, the information on the member is written on the ID tag of the video tape (Fig. 1). When the member returns the video tape to the rental store, the information on the member written on the ID tag of the rented article is collated with the information on the member written on the ID tag of the membership card and, at the same time, the information on the rented article written on the ID tag of the membership card is collated with the information on the rented article written on the ID tag of the rented article. When the information are coincident with each other, it is considered that the rented video tape is returned.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a video tape or a CD.
And a rental item management system in which an ID tag is provided for the rental item to manage the rental item.

[0002]

Conventionally, for example, in a rental store for video tapes and CDs, barcodes are attached to video tapes and CDs as commodities so that lending management and location management are performed. On the other hand, the customer enters into a membership contract with the rental shop, the rental shop registers the information of the customer who has become a member in the management computer, and passes the magnetic card recording the customer information to the customer as a membership card.

[0003] Rental stores provide members with videotapes or CDs.
When lending, first ask the member to present a membership card, read the personal information recorded on the membership card with a magnetic card reader, check it against the member information registered in the management computer, and confirm that it is a regular member. Confirm. The bar code reader reads out type information from a bar code attached to a video tape or CD desired to be rented out, and records the type information in the rented item list of the management computer in a form linked to the member's personal information. And
When a member returns a videotape or CD, the rental store reads the type information from the returned videotape or CD barcode, and deletes the rental item indicated by the type information from the rental item list on the management computer. I do.

In such a conventional rental item management system, since member information and rental information are managed for each rental store, even if it is a chain store, the rental item is stored in a store different from the borrowed store. Could not be returned. In addition, since it is necessary for the store to separately read out the personal information of the member and the type information of the rental item using two devices, a magnetic card reader and a barcode reader, the operation is troublesome, and as a reader, There is a problem in that equipment costs are increased because two types are required, one for a magnetic card and one for a barcode.

In a rental store, it is necessary to search for a video tape or a CD stored in the store and quickly provide a customer's requested product. It was difficult to respond.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a reader / writer only for an ID tag, which simplifies operations for transmitting and receiving information. A chain store is to provide a rental item management system that allows rental items to be returned to stores other than the rented store. The second purpose is to quickly search for stored rental items. An object of the present invention is to provide a rental product management system that can do the same.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an ID tag is provided for each of a membership card and a rental item, and the ID tag of the membership card and the rental item are provided. A reader / writer for communicating with the ID tags and reading / writing data from / to the ID tags is provided.

[0008] According to this configuration, data can be exchanged with both the ID tag of the membership card and the ID tag of the rental item by one reader / writer. When renting a rental item, if a predetermined item is written on the ID tag of the rental item to be lent or the ID tag of the membership card, if it is a chain store, the rental item can be returned to a store other than the borrowed store. Is also possible.

In this case, when the rental item is lent, the type information of the rented item is written into the ID tag of the membership card and the personal information of the lent member is written into the ID tag of the rental item. You can do so. As a result, when returning the rental product ID
The personal information of the member written on the tag and the personal information of the ID tag of the membership card are collated, and the type information of the rental product written on the ID tag of the membership card and the type information of the ID tag of the rental product are collated. If they match, it can be assured that the rental goods lent to the member are returned properly.

In order to achieve the second object, a third aspect of the present invention is to provide a shelf antenna of a lead means on a shelf of a storage unit for storing a rental item, and sequentially activate the shelf antennas to enable the rental of the rental antenna. The data is read from the ID tag of the rental product.

According to this, the stored rental items can be automatically and quickly searched, and various data such as the popularity of the rental items can be obtained by processing the search results.

In this case, a plurality of storage sections are provided, a plurality of lead means are provided corresponding to each storage section, and a plurality of shelf antennas of each lead means are respectively stored in the corresponding storage sections. It may be configured to be provided on a plurality of stages of shelves. Further, as in the invention of claim 5, a plurality of storage sections are provided, a plurality of lead means are provided corresponding to each shelf of each storage section, and a plurality of shelf antennas of each lead means are provided in each storage section. Out of the plurality of shelves, a corresponding one of the shelves may be provided. According to the fourth and fifth aspects, the search for the rental items placed on the plurality of shelves can proceed simultaneously, so that the search can be completed in a shorter time.

According to the invention of claim 6, the operation of reading data from the ID tag of the rental item on the shelf is continuously executed, and the previous data read by the reading means and the current data are lost. It is good also as composition which detects rental goods. According to this configuration, a notification or the like is performed based on the fact that the rental item has disappeared from the shelf,
This makes it possible to prevent theft of rental items and the like.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to renting a video tape will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a video tape 1 as a rental product has a video tape main body 2 housed in an outer case 3 so as to be able to be taken in and out, and an ID tag 4 is attached to the outer case 3. FIG. 3 shows a membership card 5 of a videotape rental shop (hereinafter referred to as a video rental shop). An ID tag 6 is also attached to the membership card 5.

FIG. 4 shows a counter 7 of a video rental store.
A controller 9 as read / write means and a host computer 10 as management means are provided. The controller 9 reads / writes from / to the ID tag in response to a command from the host computer 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, this host computer 10 is connected to a main computer 11 installed at the head office of the chain store together with a host computer 10 of another video rental store constituting the chain store by a communication network such as a public network. Connected via telephone line.

The ID tags 4 and 6 and the controller 9 perform communication by radio waves, and the electrical configuration of both will be described here. First, FIG. 6 shows an electrical configuration of the ID tags 4 and 6. In FIG.
Is an antenna coil 12 for transmitting and receiving radio signals.
, A resonance capacitor 13, a control IC 14, and a smoothing unit 15. The control IC 14 includes an MPU (microprocessor unit) 16 as control means,
The semiconductor elements constituting the rectifier 17, the modulator / demodulator 18, the memory 19 and the like are integrated into one chip. In this case, the memory unit 19 is a ROM storing an operation program.
And an erasable non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM for temporary storage.

The antenna coil 12 is connected in parallel with the resonance capacitor 13 to form a resonance circuit, and when a high-frequency power radio signal is transmitted from the tabletop antenna 8 of the controller 9, it is received. Rectifier 17
To supply. The rectifying unit 17 constitutes an operation power supply circuit together with the smoothing unit 15. The rectifying unit 17 rectifies the power radio wave signal transmitted from the resonance circuit, smoothes the power radio wave signal using the smoothing unit 15, and has a constant DC power (operating power). And supply it to the MPU 16 and the like.

The signal transmitted from the desktop antenna 8 is transmitted by being superimposed on a power radio signal, and the signal is demodulated by the modulation / demodulation unit 18 and transmitted to the MPU.
16. The MPU 16 controls the RO of the memory unit 19
M operates in accordance with the operation program stored in the M, executes processing corresponding to a signal input from the modulation / demodulation unit 18, writes received data to an erasable non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM of the memory unit 19, Data is read from the unit 19, modulated by the modem unit 18, and transmitted as a radio signal from the antenna coil 12.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 9 includes an MPU 20 as control means, a transmitting unit 22 connected to a transmitting antenna 21, a receiving unit 24 connected to a receiving antenna 23, a ROM 25 storing programs and the like. A RAM 26 for temporarily storing data and the like is provided.
Then, the transmission antenna 21 and the reception antenna 2
Reference numeral 3 is provided in the desktop antenna 8.

When communicating with the ID tags 4 and 6, the controller 9 first modulates the carrier signal by the transmission unit 22 and transmits the modulated signal as a power radio signal from the transmission antenna 21. The signal is modulated by the transmission unit 22 so as to be superimposed on the radio signal for use, and transmitted from the transmission antenna 21. The radio signals transmitted from the ID tags 4 and 6 are received by the reception antenna 23, demodulated by the reception unit 24, and discriminated as data. And MPU20
Stores the data demodulated by the receiving unit 24 in the RAM 26.

The controller 9 has an input / output (I
/ O) unit 27 is connected to the host computer 10 via a unit 27, and is controlled by the host computer 10. And this host computer 10
Is connected to an operation unit 28, a display unit 29, a printer 30, and the like.

Here, the data contents of the ID tags 4 and 6 recorded in the EEPROM of the memory section 19 will be described. First, the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1
In the EEPROM, lending information as shown in FIG.
Recording areas such as return information, member information, return time limit information, return flag, popularity rank, and past rental degree are provided.

The name of the rented store and the date of rent are recorded in the rental information area, the name of the returned store and the date of return are recorded in the return information area, and the member information area is recorded. The number, name and address of the lent member are recorded. In the return time limit information, the return time limit is recorded by date. Then, when the return processing is performed, a flag is set in the return flag area. Weekly and monthly popularity ranks determined based on the number of rentals are recorded in the popularity rank area, and rentals for the past week, past month, and past year are recorded in the past rental degree area. The number of times is recorded.

The EEPRO of the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5
As shown in FIG. 9, M has a recording area for member's personal information, membership period information, loan information, type information of previously borrowed videos, and the like. In the member's personal information area,
Member number, name, address, age, gender, date of birth are recorded. In the member expiration date information area, the enrollment date and the expiration date are recorded by date. In the loan information area, the type of the borrowed video tape, the borrowed store, the borrowed date, the return period, the returned store, and the returned date are recorded. It should be noted that this loan information area is provided for 100 areas, and when it is recorded in all 100 areas, it returns to the first loan information area, erases the current record information in order, and records new loan information. It has become. The type information area of the video borrowed in the past records the type of the returned video tape, that is, the type of the video tape borrowed by the member in the past. The member's personal information is also stored in the storage device of the main computer 11 of the headquarters.

Next, in the above configuration, when a rental member rents a video tape, the rental member selects the video tape 1 desired to be lent, and presents the video tape 1 to the counter 7 together with the membership card 5. The clerk of the rental store places the video tape 1 and the membership card 5 on the desktop antenna 8 and operates the operation unit 28 so that the main computer 11 performs a process for lending.

Then, the main computer 11 outputs a lending process command to the controller 9, and the controller 9 performs an operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 in response to the command. That is, first, the controller 9 transmits a multi-read command from the transmission antenna 21 (step S1), and sends the video tape 1 and the I
It waits for a response from the D tags 4 and 6 (step S2).

When the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 and the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5 receive the multi-read command,
In response, a response signal is output. Then, the response signal is received by the receiving antenna 23. The controller 9 includes ID tags 4 and 6 placed on the desktop antenna 8.
Is received ("YE" in step S2).
S "), it is determined whether or not the received response signal is from the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5 (step S3).
If it is from the D tag 6 ("Y" in step S3)
ES "), and communicates with the ID tag 6 to read the member information from the ID tag 6 (step S4).

Thereafter, the controller 9 proceeds to step S1.
And again transmits the multi-read command, and waits for a response signal from the ID tag to be received in step S2.
Here, since the ID tag that has communicated with the controller 9 has received a signal to that effect from the controller 9, it does not respond again to the multi-read command.

When a response signal output from an uncommunicated ID tag, here, the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 is received,
The controller 9 determines “NO” in step S3 to determine whether or not the response signal is from the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5, and proceeds to step S5 to communicate with the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1. The type information is read.

When the communication with all the ID tags is completed as described above, a signal that responds to the multi-read command is not received. Therefore, the controller 9 returns “NO” in step S2, and proceeds to step S6. Then, a single write command is output to individually communicate with each ID tag, and the following information is written to the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5 and the ID tag 4 of the videotape 1 in the next step S7, and the process ends.

That is, for the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1, the controller 9 writes the name of the rented store and the lent date in the rented information area, and writes the member number, name, and address of the lent member in the member information area. writing,
Write the return time limit in the return time limit information area. For the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5, the controller 9 writes the type information obtained from the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1, the name of the borrowed store, the borrowed date, and the return deadline in the loan information area.

The controller 9 outputs the member information and the ID information of the video tape 1 obtained as described above to the host computer 10. The host computer 10 outputs the member information and the type information of the video tape 1 to the main computer 11 of the head office. Send to The host computer 10 and the main computer 11 link the member information and the type information of the rented video tape 1 and store them in the rented file. Then, the host computer 10 prints the member information, the rental video information, and the return date on a piece of paper using the printer 30. The clerk gives the paper piece to the member together with the membership card 5 and the video tape 1 to be lent. Also, when renting the video tape 1, the host computer 10 compares the number of rents with the number of other rents, calculates the popularity rank for this week and this month, and calculates the popularity rank for the past week and month. The number of rentals in the past year is calculated and stored in the storage means.

When the member returns the borrowed video tape 1, the returned video tape 1 is provided to the counter 7 together with the membership card 5. Rental store clerk has videotape 1
And the membership card 5 on the tabletop antenna 8 and the operation unit 28 to cause the host computer 10 to perform a process for return.
Operate.

Then, the host computer 10 outputs a return processing command to the controller 9, and the controller 9 performs the following operation in response to the command. First, the controller 9 transmits a multi-read command from the transmission antenna 21, and outputs the ID tag 4 and the membership card 5 of the video tape 1.
Wait for a response from the ID tag 6 of. Then, the type information is read from the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 and the I
The member information is read from D6. After this, the controller 9
Writes the returned store and the return date in the loan information area corresponding to the type information obtained from the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 among the loan information of the ID 6 of the membership card 5, and the video list information borrowed in the past. The type of the video tape 1 returned this time is written in the area, the name of the returned store and the return date are written in the return information area of the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1, and the individual written in the member information area. Delete the information and set the return flag.

The host computer 10 stores the returned videotape 1 in the current week stored in the storage means for one week this week. Past 1
The number of rentals in the past year for one month is output to the controller 9 and written to the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1.

The controller 9 outputs the member information and the type information of the video tape 1 to the host computer 10, and the host computer 10 transmits the member information and the type information of the video tape 1 to the main computer 11 of the head office. The host computer 10 and the main computer 11 delete the member information and the rental video information stored in the rental file.

As described above, in this embodiment, the personal information of the member to be lent is written to the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 at the time of lending, and the type information of the video tape 1 to be lent is written to the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5. Even if it is not the store where the video tape 1 was lent, it can be confirmed that the video tape 1 was borrowed by the member. For this reason, if it is a chain store, the video tape 1 can be returned to a store other than the rented store. In this case, the host computer 10 of the store that has received the video tape 1 rented out at another store is the host computer 1 of the rented store.
It is preferable to construct a system for accessing the video tape 1 via the main computer 11 and deleting the member information and the rented video information stored in the rented file for the returned video tape 1.

As described above, the host computer 10 of each store counts the frequency of lending the video tape 1 from the lending information, calculates the rank of popularity in the store, and stores it in the storage unit. . Then, for those having a high degree of popularity, the degree of popularity of the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 is written via the controller 9. Although not described above, the main computer 11 calculates the degree of popularity from all the rental information of the chain stores and stores it in the storage unit. The popularity of the chain stores can be searched by accessing the main computer 11 from the host computer 10 of each store. And such information,
Members can be notified through notices inside the store, etc., and rental can be recommended to increase rental efficiency.

In a video shop, if the returned video tape 1 is highly popular, the video tape 1 is immediately arranged on a display shelf. If the popularity flag of the video tape 1 is not set and the popularity of the video tape 1 is low at the store where the video tape 1 rented at another store is returned, the video tape 1 is returned. 1 may be returned to the rented store.

(Second Embodiment) By the way, in a video rental store, the video tapes 1 are stored in a storage case as a storage section, divided into genres. In order to manage a large number of video tapes stored in a storage case, the following storage management system has been constructed. Hereinafter, this storage management system will be described as a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity of description, it is assumed that three storage cases 31 to 33 are installed, and these storage cases 31 to 33 are divided into a Japanese film, a Western film, and a vest 10, Further, the upper two shelves of the storage cases 31 to 33 store the video tapes 1 by genre, such that the lower three shelves are for storing romance objects.

Each shelf of each of the storage cases 31 to 33 has:
Shelf antennas 34a to 34e are provided. The shelf antennas 34a to 34e are connected to separate controllers 35 (lead means) for each of the storage cases 31 to 33.
The controller 35 is a host computer 3 for storage management.
6 to control the shelf antennas 34a to 34e. Each of the shelf antennas 34a to 34e includes a transmission antenna and a reception antenna (both not shown) and a communication terminal having a network control function. The storage device of the host computer 36 (management means) stores a database in which the shelves of the storage cases 31 to 33 are associated with the contents of the video tape 1 stored in the respective shelves.

When it becomes necessary to search all the video tapes 1 stored in the storage cases 31 to 33, for example, by storing the video tapes 1 in a wrong place, the operation unit (not shown) is operated. , Host computer 36
Gives an operation command to all controllers 35. Then
Each controller 35 causes the shelf antennas 34a to 34e to transmit and receive, for example, in order from the top.
For this reason, the stored video tapes 1 are searched simultaneously from the upper shelf to the lower shelf for all the storage cases 31 to 33, and the search can be completed in a short time. Become like

If, for example, it is desired to search for only a movie action object from the stored video tape 1,
Based on the contents of the database, the host computer 36 instructs the controller 35 of the storage case 32 for foreign film to use the shelf antenna 3 corresponding to the shelf for storing the action object.
A search command is output for 4a and 34b. As a result, the controller 35 of the Western-style storage case 32 operates the shelf antennas 34a and 34b in order, and searches for an action object of the Western style. The search of the video tape 1 stored in this manner can be performed only for a desired range.

Now, as described above, the storage cases 31 to 33
By performing an operation of searching all the video tapes 1 stored in the video tape 1 at all times, theft of the video tape 1 can be prevented. An example of control for that is shown in FIG.
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

When the antitheft routine shown in FIG. 11 is entered, the host computer 36 searches the video tapes 1 in all the storage cases 31 to 33 (step SA1), and ends the search ("YES" in step SA2). ), It is determined whether or not the current search video tape number is smaller than the previous search video tape number (step S).
A3).

If the current search video tape number is greater than or equal to the previous search video tape number, the host computer 36 determines "YES" in step SA4, returns to step SA1, and returns to step SA1. Step SA1
Execute SA3 again. If the current number of searched video tapes is smaller than the previous number of searched video tapes, the host computer 36 determines "NO" in step SA3, and determines whether the lost video tape is currently being lent. It is determined whether or not it is (step SA4).

If the lost video tape is currently being lent, the host computer 36 determines "YES" in step SA4 and returns. Also,
If the lost video tape is not currently in the lending process, the host computer 36 determines "N" in step SA4.
O "is determined and output to a display unit or the like so that the inside of the store being photographed by the television camera is monitored by a monitor.
Then, when a person who takes an abnormal action is found, the operator of the host computer 36 performs an operation to that effect. Notify the clerk via the machine and return. The notified clerk confirms the intention of the rental with the person who performs the abnormal behavior.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the storage cases 31 to 31
The same number of controllers 35 as the number of shelves of the 33 shelves are provided.
The second controller 35 is connected to the first shelf antenna 34a of each storage case 31-33, and the second controller 35 is connected to the second shelf antenna 34b of each storage case 31-33. As described above, each controller 35 is connected to the shelf antennas 34a to 34e of each stage of the three storage cases 31 to 33. With this configuration, the video tapes 1 on all the shelves can be searched simultaneously for each of the storage cases 31 to 33, and the search time can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This fourth embodiment is similar to the second embodiment.
The connection form between the controller and the shelf antenna shown in the third embodiment and the connection form between the controller and the shelf antenna shown in the third embodiment can be selected. This configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 13. Here, three storage cases having three-stage shelf antennas will be described.

That is, switching devices 41 to 43 as switching means are provided corresponding to the shelf antennas 40a to 40c of the storage cases 37 to 39, respectively. This switching device 41-
43, three changeover switches 44 to 46 corresponding to the number of the shelf antennas 40 a to 40 c are provided, and the movable contact c of the changeover switches 44 to 46 is
a to 40c. Then, a first fixed contact piece a and a second fixed contact piece b of the changeover switches 44 to 46.
Is as follows.

In the switching device 41 of the storage case 37,
The first fixed contact a of the first changeover switch 44 is connected to the first controller 47, and the second fixed contact b is a paused contact. The first fixed contact a of the second changeover switch 45 is connected to the second controller 48, and the second fixed contact b is connected to the first controller 47.
The first fixed contact piece 46a of the third changeover switch 46 is
Of the second fixed contact 46b
Are connected to a second controller 48.

In the switching device 42 of the storage case 38,
The first fixed contact a of the first switch 44 is connected to the second controller 48, and the second fixed contact b is connected to the first controller 47. The first fixed contact a of the second changeover switch 45 is connected to the second controller 48, and the second fixed contact b is a pause contact.
The first fixed contact piece 46a of the third changeover switch 46 is
Of the second fixed contact 46b
Are connected to a second controller 48.

In the switching device 43 of the storage case 39,
The first fixed contact a of the first changeover switch 44 is connected to the first controller 47, and the second fixed contact b is connected to the third controller 49. The first fixed contact piece a of the second changeover switch 45 is connected to the second controller 48, and the second fixed contact piece b is connected to the third controller 49.
It is connected to the. The first fixed contact 46a of the third changeover switch 46 is connected to the third controller 49, and the second fixed contact 46b is a resting contact.

Each of the switching devices 41 to 43 includes an MPU connected to the host computer 36, and is configured so that the connection state of the first to third changeover switches 44 to 46 can be switched by the MPU.

In the above configuration, as shown in Type 1 of FIG. 14, the changeover switches 44 to 43 of the changeover devices 41 to 43 are provided.
When the fixed contact to which the movable contact c of 46 is connected is selected,
The connection form between the controller and the shelf antenna can be selected as the connection form in the second embodiment shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in Type 2, when the fixed contact piece to which the movable contact piece c of the changeover switches 44 to 46 of each of the changeover devices 41 to 43 is connected is selected, the connection form between the controller and the shelf antenna is changed as shown in FIG. The connection mode in the third embodiment can be selected.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIGS. 15 and 16 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, for example, four shelf antennas 51 to 5 are provided to one controller 50.
4 shows a configuration for selecting and activating two shelf antennas at a time. That is, the controller 50
Is connected to a switching device 55 as switching means.
The switching device 55 has six open / close switches 56 to 61 controlled by an MPU (not shown). The first open / close switch 56 is connected to the controller 50 and the first
, The second open / close switch 57 is connected between the controller 50 and the second antenna 52, and the third open / close switch 58 is connected to the first antenna 5.
The fourth open / close switch 59 is connected between the first antenna 51 and the fourth antenna 5.
4, the fifth open / close switch 60 is connected between the second antenna 52 and the third antenna 53,
The sixth open / close switch 61 is connected between the second antenna 52 and the fourth antenna 54.

In the above connection configuration, when the on / off switches 56 to 61 are turned on and off as shown by the first pattern in FIG. 16, the first and second shelf antennas 51 and 52 are turned on.
Is activated, and in the second pattern, the first and third
Of the shelf antennas 51 and 53 are activated, and when the third pattern is set, the second and third shelf antennas 52 and 5
When the third pattern is activated and the fourth pattern is set, the second and fourth shelf antennas 52 and 54 are activated.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, but can be extended or modified as follows. In the first embodiment, at the time of lending, writing of the member information to the ID tag 4 of the video tape 1 and writing of the type information of the video tape 1 to the ID tag 6 of the membership card 5 may be only one of them. Rental products are not limited to video tapes, but include CDs, LDs (laser disks), DVDs (digital video disks), books, and various other types.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing control contents at the time of lending according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a video tape.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a membership card.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a counter of a video rental store.

FIG. 5 is a connection configuration diagram of a host computer and a main computer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ID tag.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a controller shown together with a host computer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing write information of an ID tag of a video tape.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing write information of an ID tag of a membership card.

FIG. 10 is an electrical configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing control contents of a video tape search.

FIG. 12 is an electrical configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an electrical configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a switching state of the switching device for each type.

FIG. 15 is an electrical configuration diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an open / closed state of an open / close switch for each pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the figure, 1 is a video tape (rental product), 4 is an ID tag, 5 is a membership card, 6 is an ID tag, 8 is a table antenna, 9
Is a controller (read / write means), 10 is a host computer (management means), 31 to 33 are storage cases (storage units), 34a to 34e are shelf antennas, 35 is a controller (read means), and 36 is a host computer (management means). ), 37-39 are storage cases (storage units), 40a-
40c may be a shelf antenna, 47 to 50 may be controllers (lead means), and 51 to 54 may be shelf antennas.

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E048 AA10 BA07 3F022 AA09 CC02 FF01 MM08 MM22 MM32 MM35 MM70 QQ01 5B049 AA06 BB60 CC01 CC28 DD05 EE05 EE21 FF09 GG02 GG03

Claims (6)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Rental goods are lent to rental members,
In a rental system for receiving a return, an ID tag provided on a membership card, an ID tag provided on the rental product, a read / write for reading / writing data from / to the ID tag of the membership card and the ID tag of the rental product. Means for managing rental items based on data read by the read / write means. 2. When renting out a rental item, the ID tag of the membership card writes type information of the rental item to be lent, and the ID tag of the rental item writes personal information of the lent member. The rental item management system according to claim 1, wherein 3. A rental system for renting out a rental item to a customer and receiving the rental item, comprising: an ID tag provided on the rental item; a storage section having a plurality of shelves for storing the rental item; A reading unit having a shelf antenna provided on the shelf of the storage unit, sequentially reading the data from the ID tag of the rental item on the shelf by sequentially validating the shelf antennas; and data read by the reading unit. A rental item management system comprising: a management unit for managing a rental item according to the invention. 4. A plurality of storage sections are provided, a plurality of lead means are provided corresponding to each of the storage sections, and a plurality of shelf antennas of each lead means are provided with a plurality of corresponding storage sections. 4. The rental item management system according to claim 3, wherein the rental item management system is provided on a shelf of a step. 5. A plurality of storage sections are provided, and a plurality of lead means are provided corresponding to shelves of each stage of the storage section, and a plurality of shelf antennas of each lead means are provided in each of the storage sections. 4. The rental item management system according to claim 3, wherein the rental item management system is provided on a corresponding one of the shelf units. 6. The reading means continuously executes an operation of reading data from the ID tag of the rental item on the shelf, and the management means reads the previous data and the current data read by the reading means. The rental article management system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the lost article is detected by comparing.