JP2005067782A - Logistic management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a logistic management system using a wireless tag equipped with a still more improved security. <P>SOLUTION: The logistics system is structured so that access right can be set for each field of each record in a database 106 in which the wireless tag No. of the object 101 to be put in management and the object information are accommodated. When writing or reading the object information to/from the database, each enterprise extends access to an access right processing server 501 connected with a network 100, and the accesses of only those who have duly access right are admitted. This secures the security even in case the database is used commonly by a plurality of enterprises, because the object data is stored in secret. In another logistic management system as the second example of embodiment, an integrating database 1002 is installed in which the objects to be put in management are integrated for each object attribute. By using this information database, the trading flow condition of the object having a specific attribute can be grasped even in case one does not know the wireless tag No. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a logistics management system using RFID (wireless tag), and more particularly to a shared logistics management system that prevents business information from leaking to rival companies.

  With the recent development of wireless technology and the like, there is a movement to attach a device called RFID (wireless tag) to various products to achieve labor saving in logistics management. Regarding RFID, refer to “Klaus Finkenzeller RFID Handbook, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, 2001” and the like. Auto-ID centers and ubiquitous ID centers exist as industry standard bodies for physical distribution management systems using wireless tags, and are planning experiments in Japan. Since the concepts of both organizations are similar, the concept of the Auto-ID center will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the Auto-ID center concept, the RFID function is limited to significantly reduce the cost of the tag (target is 5 cents), and the RFID 102 is attached to every product 101. The RFID itself is read-only and stores only a 96-bit ID (Electronic Product Code: ePC) including a serial number that enables individual identification. Since the ePC has a serial number area for identifying each individual in addition to the area corresponding to the manufacturer, product, version, etc., the individual management is possible unlike the barcode. RFID is assigned to each individual product at the stage of shipment from the manufacturer. At the time of shipment, the RFID 102 is read by the reader 103 and necessary data such as a product name, a shipping date and a shipping factory name, etc. related to the individual product are input from the application PC 104, and these data are stored on the network 100. Set in the database 106. An example of this article information is shown in FIG. The database 106 that stores data relating to each individual is targeted by a resolver 105 that performs address resolution in common by searching a table in which an ID (identification number) called an ePC and a pair of addresses in the database 106 are recorded. Identify the database. The procedure is shown in FIG.

  Next, for example, the wireless tag number, that is, the ID (ePC) is read from the RFID 102 attached to each individual through the reader 108 installed at the product delivery destination. A target database is specified by the resolver 105. The product delivery destination application PC 107 obtains data about each individual product with the read ID from the database 106 or writes new data about the individual with the read ID into the database ( For example, delivery date and delivery location) are performed (FIGS. 3 and 4). This not only makes shipping / delivery management efficient, but also makes it possible to take actions such as notifying a delivery destination immediately if there is a defect in a product at a specific shipping date and time in a specific factory. Further, the RFID assigned for distribution management can be used thereafter. For example, if a reader is installed in a merchandise shelf or the like at a delivery store, it can be detected that there are no merchandise in the merchandise shelf or that the merchandise is displayed on the wrong shelf. Needless to say, the point of sale of the product can be managed by the customer reading the product with a cashier reader when purchasing the product.

  The fact that the resolver specifies the database based on the ID read from the RFID substantially means that only one database can be assigned to one ID (one product). For this reason, there is a possibility that data regarding the product can be seen from other companies. In other words, in a physical distribution management system that uses wireless tags, a plurality of data fields are defined for each wireless tag identification number, so that other business operators who do not have write authority for specific data fields write or write article data. You will have the opportunity to modify the data that is included. However, if there is an opportunity to alter the information stored in each data field, a problem arises in the security of the physical distribution management system. On the other hand, it is conceivable to set read / write authority for each field of each product record in the database, but this cannot be easily realized because different companies are involved in each product.

  In addition, it is easy to obtain related information from the database based on the ID (referred to as “forwarding” in this specification), but it is attached to a product or a product based on information related to the product. It is difficult to specify the ID of a wireless tag that is used (referred to as “reverse lookup” in this specification) as the number of products increases. That is, when the product is distributed in the market, the business operator may desire to grasp the actual distribution state of the product. In this case, when the RFID tag identification number assigned to the product is known in advance, the distribution state of the product can be grasped by searching the database based on the identification number. However, if the information of the RFID tag number is not present at hand or if the RFID tag number cannot be obtained immediately, there is a possibility that the distribution state of the product cannot be grasped immediately. In particular, when managing a large number of products, since the number of databases is large, it is extremely difficult to grasp the distribution status of a specific product.

An object of the present invention is to construct a physical distribution management system using a wireless tag with further improved security.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to grasp the distribution state of the product by a relatively simple process without knowing the RFID tag identification number of the product when grasping the product distribution state by reverse lookup. The purpose is to build a logistics management system.

A physical distribution management system according to the present invention is a physical distribution management system for managing the distribution of an article with a wireless tag,
A database connected to the network and storing the identification number of the wireless tag and the article information regarding the article to which the wireless tag is attached as a pair;
A terminal device connected to the network and making a request for writing and / or reading the article information stored in the database; and an access authority processing server connected to the network and processing a write request and a read request from the terminal device to the database; With
The database has an area for storing identification cases of wireless tags attached to articles to be managed, and a plurality of data fields for storing article information on the articles for each article, and the authority to access the data fields is It is defined for each data field,
When each business operator reads article data in which article information is written or stored in the database, the access authority processing server is accessed via the network from the terminal device, and the access authority processing server receives the received write access. Or, it is determined whether or not the read access is valid, and when it is judged to be valid, the received data is written to or read from the designated data field of the tag number designated by the written or read access. And

  In the present invention, the identification number of the wireless tag attached to the article and the article information related to the article are stored as a pair in the database, a plurality of data fields are provided as a record of the article information, and data is written or written in each data field. An access authority for reading out the stored data is defined for each data field, and only a business operator having a legitimate access authority can access the data field. As a result, even if a plurality of business operators are involved in the goods or merchandise to be distributed, the article information is kept secret, so that high security can be ensured.

Another physical distribution management system according to the present invention is a physical distribution management system for managing the distribution of an article with a wireless tag,
A plurality of databases connected to the network and individually storing the identification number of the wireless tag and the individual article information regarding the article with the wireless tag as a pair relationship;
For each article group, the attributes of the articles connected to the network, the wireless tag identification numbers of the article groups classified based on the attributes of the articles, and the address information of the database storing the article information of the articles belonging to these article groups. A consolidated database stored in
A terminal device connected to the network for accessing the database and the aggregate database;
When obtaining logistics information of an article or group of articles having a specific attribute, access to the aggregate database via the terminal device, and the address of the database storing the article information of the group of articles having the particular attribute and RFID tag identification The number is searched, and a corresponding database is searched based on the obtained address and the RFID tag identification number to obtain physical distribution information of the article or group of articles having the specific attribute. As described above, by providing an aggregation database that holds the article information as information obtained by aggregating the article information based on the attribute of the article, the database storing the wireless tag number of the article and the article information related to the article from the attribute of the particular article. Therefore, even if the RFID tag identification number is not known, it is possible to quickly grasp the distribution state of a specific product as soon as possible. As a result, even when an undesired accident or an emergency occurs at the physical distribution stage, the best measure can be taken immediately.

  Hereinafter, forward and reverse embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this example, a forward example will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a physical distribution management system according to the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the component same as the component used in FIG. A PC for executing an application, that is, a terminal device 104 is connected to the network 100. The terminal device 104 is used for making an access request for reading data stored in or stored in the article database 106. Note that the terminal device 104 is held for each business operator, and a plurality of terminal devices are connected to the network 100. Each product 101 related to the business of each business operator is provided with a wireless tag (RFID) 102, and each product is managed by physical distribution using the wireless tag. Further, the identification number of the wireless tag 102 is read by the reader 103. Each reader 103 is assigned identification information, and the identification information is kept secret for each business operator. A resolver 105 that performs address resolution is connected to the network 100. In response to the access request from the terminal device 104, the resolver 105 returns the address of the corresponding access authority processing server 501. Further, the database 106 is connected to the network 100. This database stores the identification number of the wireless tag attached to each article and the article information related to the article in a paired relationship. As an example of the stored article data, it may be as shown in FIG. That is, the ID, which is the identification number of the wireless tag attached to each product, and the product information are stored in a paired relationship, and a plurality of data fields are provided for the product information record. As will be described later, the access authority to write and read data in each data field is defined for each data field. Here, the “article information” includes all information indicating the characteristics or attributes of the article or product. For example, the manufacturer, seller, shipment date, delivery date, Includes properties, properties, efficacy, uses, etc.

  Furthermore, an access authority processing server 501 is connected to the network 100. This access authority processing server 501 determines whether or not the access request from the terminal device is a legitimate access request, and in the case of a legitimate access request, that is, an access by a person having an access authority defined for each data field. Only allow and deny access to others. Further, another terminal device 107 is also connected to the network 100.

  In this embodiment, since the database 106 is used in common by a plurality of business operators, the access authority processing server 501 improves that there is a possibility that other business information related to the products on the database may be read. To do. It is possible to prevent the writing of information related to a certain product by an operator or the like that should not be written by using an electronic signature or the like. The database 106 and the access authority processing server 501 can be operated by a third party who has no interest in the article distribution, for example, a public organization. The access authority processing server 501 includes (1) a correspondence table of business name and reader ID (FIG. 6), (2) access authority management table (FIG. 7) and (3) access to each field of each product data record. Holds the authority rule description. Then, when there is an access request from the business operator, it is determined whether or not the access is a legitimate access request based on the content of the message attached to the access request. For example, the operator identification information can be obtained from the reader identification information included in the message attached to the access request, and it can be determined whether or not the person has access authority for the data field.

  Next, the procedure for writing product data into the database 106 will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, this procedure is used to read the RFID with a reader, such as shipment by a manufacturer, delivery / shipment at a wholesale store, delivery at a retail store, or receipt / sorting / delivery of an intermediate carrier's package. This is executed each time the product information is updated and read. In the following, the flow of goods such as a primary wholesaler, a secondary wholesaler, and a retail store from a manufacturer will be referred to as a flow from upstream to downstream.

  For example, the ID of the RFID (product) is read by the reader 103 in the manufacturer's shipping port (801). For the same ID, the resolver 105 is accessed using the terminal device 104 in order to obtain the address of the corresponding access authority processing server (802). At the time of the access, the identification number of the wireless tag read by the reader is attached. The resolver 105 stores a table including a pair of an RFID ID and an access authority processing server address. The address of the access authority processing server 501 is read from the table and answered (803). The application execution PC 104 at the manufacturer's shipping port receives the response and accesses the access processing authority server 501 at the same address (804). Upon access, a message including “data item to be written and its value such as RFID (product) ID, reader ID, shipping date and time” and the value is created, and a request to write the data of the product is made (805). At this time, if necessary, it is possible to prove that the caller is a legitimate sender by attaching an electronic signature to the message. The access authority processing server 501 receives the message and identifies the business operator having the reader from the business operator / reader ID correspondence table shown in FIG. Next, using the table of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the same company has access authority for the field specified by the message in the storage area of the product information having the same ID (806). If there is access authority, the data item of the field is written (808).

  After the data writing is completed, the access authority processing server 501 executes an update process that defines a person who has access authority to the next data field, and updates the access authority table shown in FIG. The following method can be used for updating.

  The first method is as follows. In the access authority table, the field related to the downstream handling of the product (for example, the primary wholesaler for the manufacturer, the shipping date or the delivery date for the secondary wholesaler for the primary wholesaler, etc.) is determined as the person who writes or reads the data. The operator to be updated is acquired by acquiring the company name from the transaction information data (FIG. 9) in the individual database 502. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 9 (assuming a manufacturer), for example, “Y wholesaler”, which is downstream of the manufacturer, is set as the read authority for the product ID, manufacturer name, shipping date, etc. A “Y wholesaler” is set as a delivery authority writing authority of the delivery place, which is in a downstream position of the manufacturer and is actually delivered.

  In the second method, the access authority rule description is activated with the user's position such as “manufacturer” and “retail store” as parameters. Each data item of each product is data on the manufacturer, data on the delivery between the manufacturer and the primary wholesaler, data on the primary wholesaler, etc., so access authority can be determined by specifying your position with the parameters. Is decided. In addition, basically, products flow from upstream to downstream, so if you pass a certain stage, you can not read data back to the upstream, so you can read and write data that you do not have access authority based on the false declaration of the position. To prevent.

In both the first method and the second method, the product data record is specified based on the product ID and the reader ID, so that other business operators dealing with other products will not have access to the product data. In addition, the upstream operator who knows the downstream operator directly specifies the access authority (first method) or specifies the access authority according to a fixed role (second method). It is a mechanism that can not. Actually, there are various forms such as manufacturer direct sales, and the first and second methods may be mixed.
The same procedure as described above is repeated when the product is carried and read by the reader 108 at the delivery port of the consigner.

  When the business operator reads the product data stored in the database, the same procedure as the writing is performed. That is, the business operator creates a message including the product ID, the reader identification number, and the like and transmits the message to the access authority processing server. The access authority processing server determines whether or not the received access request is an access request of a person having a legitimate access authority, and if it is legitimate, reads the data in the data field designated by the received message and transmits it to the provider. .

In the second embodiment, a physical distribution management system capable of performing reverse lookup, that is, an article or group of articles or RFID tag identification information suitable for the article information is searched from article information relating to a particular article and actually distributed. The Example which can know the distribution | circulation state of articles | goods is shown. Although it can coexist with the first embodiment but can be discussed independently, a case where there is no access authority control as in the first embodiment will be described. Of course, it can be implemented together with access authority control.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a physical distribution management system according to the second embodiment. Since this example is based on the physical distribution management system shown in FIG. 1, the same components as those shown in FIG. In addition to the database 106 described above, a plurality of databases 1001 are connected to the network 100. Note that only one database is added to simplify the drawing, but of course, more than two databases can be added. In these databases, the identification number of the wireless tag and the article information are stored in a pair relationship, that is, the article information regarding each wireless tag and the article is individually stored. Furthermore, an aggregate database 1002 is also connected to the network 100. This aggregate database 1002 is aggregated or classified for each article group having specific characteristics or attributes, etc., and identification information or address information of a database storing the article group having the aggregated attribute and article information relating to the article group. Are stored in pairs.

  If a product (RFID) is attached with a wireless tag and the number of products to be managed in distribution becomes enormous, it cannot be stored in one database 106, and a plurality of databases must be used. At that time, since the resolver identifies the database corresponding to the ID of the RFID, the database is divided in units of products. For example, article information with IDs of 1001 to 9999 is stored in the first database 106, and articles with wireless tag numbers thereafter are called the second database 1001. On the other hand, there is a request to search for an article or group of articles satisfying a specific condition such as “a carbonated beverage whose shipping date is after xx days and whose expiration date is before yy days”. In response to this requirement, a small-scale case (for example, a case realized by a small single database) can be dealt with by scrutiny, but squeezing becomes difficult as the scale increases.

  In this embodiment, an aggregate database 1002 is prepared in advance in order to realize reverse lookup. In the aggregation database, information obtained by aggregating article information stored in the databases 106 and 1001 is held as data. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, numerical data, date / time, and time data are aggregated into a maximum and minimum for a certain ID range, and the name data is, for example, the first in kana notation. Holds in the form of the beginning and end of a two-letter lexicographic array. (This data will be referred to as an aggregated record for the ID group.) In this case, it is efficient to combine the same products produced at the same time as much as possible. In addition, the aggregation database can have a hierarchical structure. For example, the upper aggregation database aggregates in units of 100 product records, whereas the lower aggregation database aggregates data in units of 10,000 product records. It is a form. For example, in the hierarchical structure of the aggregate database, the article name can be defined as the highest class, the manufacturer name can be defined as the next class, and the shipping date can be defined as the lower class. Alternatively, a manufacturer name can be defined as the highest class, and a hierarchical structure can be formed in the order of the primary wholesaler and the retail store as the next class.

  The field of the lower aggregation database address in FIG. 11 indicates where the lower aggregation record is located with respect to the higher-level aggregated record group. Further, the aggregation database also has data relating to data aggregation rules for each field of the record (FIG. 12). In FIG. 12, the aggregation method (1) is an example of “first and last of the first two-letter lexicographic array after kana notation”, and the aggregation method (2) is an example of “maximum and minimum”. If the same aggregation method is used regardless of the ID range, the ID field is not necessary.

  The search procedure is as follows. From the application execution PCO 4, a search request for “a carbonated beverage whose shipping date is after xx days and whose expiration date is before yy days” as an attribute of an article to be searched is expressed by a data item value and has a known address. Send to top level aggregate database. In the same aggregate database, an aggregate record that matches the search condition is searched, and the lower level aggregate database address of the matched aggregate record group is specified. Then, the search condition, the search requester address, and the corresponding ID group are transferred to the lower-level aggregate database address based on the specified address. In the aggregation database to which the search request has been transferred, the same procedure as that of the higher-level aggregation database is repeated for the records corresponding to the range of the corresponding ID group. It is assumed that data aggregation is performed so that one aggregation record of the lowest aggregation database has a structure that does not cross the database, and the lower aggregation database address is an address of a database that holds actual data. Finally, the search condition, search requester address, and corresponding ID group are transferred to the database. In the database, a record that matches the search request is searched for the records in the range of the corresponding ID group, and if a match is found, it is returned to the requesting application execution PCO 4. In this way, an aggregate database storing aggregated article information that aggregates article information based on characteristics and conditions of articles to be managed and lower database address information that stores individual article information of the corresponding article is connected to the network. Therefore, it is possible to easily grasp the physical distribution state of a specific group of articles. In particular, at the merchandise distribution stage, even if the RFID tag identification number of the merchandise for which distribution information is desired to be searched is not known, the distribution status of the corresponding merchandise can be easily grasped.

It is a diagram which shows the physical distribution management system by the concept of Au-ID center. It is a diagram which shows an example of the article information stored in a database. It is a diagram which shows an example of the article information stored in a database. It is a diagram which shows an operation procedure. It is a diagram which shows an example of the physical distribution management system by 1st Example of this invention. It is a diagram which shows an example of the table | surface which an access authority processing server hold | maintains. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the radio | wireless tag identification number stored in a database, and article | item information. It is a diagram which shows an example of a process procedure. It is a diagram which shows an example of transaction information data. It is a diagram which shows an example of the physical distribution management system by 2nd Example of this invention. It is a diagram which shows an example of the information stored in an aggregation database. It is a diagram which shows the aggregation method described together.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network 101 Product 102 Wireless Tag 103, 108 Reader 104, 107 Terminal Device 501 Access Authority Processing Server 502 Individual Database 1001 Database 1002 Aggregation Database

Claims (16)

A distribution management system for managing the distribution of articles with a wireless tag,
A database connected to the network and storing the identification number of the wireless tag and the article information regarding the article to which the wireless tag is attached as a pair;
A terminal device connected to the network and making a request for writing and / or reading the article information stored in the database; and an access authority processing server connected to the network and processing a write request and a read request from the terminal device to the database; With
The database has an area for storing an identification number of a wireless tag attached to an article to be managed, and a plurality of data fields for storing article information related to the article for each article, and authority to access the data field Is defined for each data field,
When each business operator reads article data in which article information is written or stored in the database, the access authority processing server is accessed via the network from the terminal device, and the access authority processing server receives the received write access. Or, it is determined whether or not the read access is valid, and when it is judged to be valid, the received data is written to or read from the designated data field of the tag number designated by the written or read access. Logistics management system.   In the physical distribution management system according to claim 1, each business operator transmits a message describing the access contents when accessing the access authority processing server, and the access authority processing server performs the access based on the received message. A logistics management system characterized by determining whether it is legitimate.   3. The physical distribution management system according to claim 2, wherein the message includes identification information of a reader held by a business entity that has transmitted the message, and the access authority processing server uses the identification information of the reader included in the received message. A logistics management system characterized by discriminating a business operator and determining whether or not the business operator has a legitimate access authority.   4. The physical distribution management system according to claim 2, wherein an electronic signature for certifying that the message is valid is attached to the message.   3. The physical distribution management system according to claim 2, wherein after the writing of the message by the access authority processing server is completed, an update process for setting a person having access authority to the next data field is executed. Management system.   6. The physical distribution management system according to claim 5, wherein, in the update process, a downstream business operator who distributes the article is designated as a person having access authority.   6. The physical distribution management system according to claim 5, wherein a business operator handling the article and the contents of the business are defined by parameters, and a person having access authority is set based on the parameters in the update process. Logistics management system. 8. The physical distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein a resolver having information defining a relationship between an identification number of a wireless tag and an access processing server that accommodates the identification number is included in the network. Connected,
When making a write request or a read request, the business operator reads the identification number of the wireless tag attached to the article using a reader, transmits the read identification number to the resolver, and stores the identification number. The distribution management system is characterized in that the address information of the access processing server being used is obtained and a write request is transmitted to the access processing server of the obtained address information via the terminal device. Used in a physical distribution management system for managing articles attached with wireless tags, and processes access to a database that stores a pair of identification numbers of wireless tags attached to articles to be managed and article information related to the articles. An access authority processing server for
When there is an access request from a business operator, it is determined whether or not the business operator has a legitimate access authority based on a message attached to the access request, and access from a person with a legitimate access authority is determined. An access authority processing server characterized by writing the content of a received message into a predetermined data field or reading out article data stored in a designated data field only in cases. 10. The access authority processing server according to claim 9, wherein the database is provided with a pair of a wireless tag identification number and a plurality of data fields for each wireless tag identification number, and for each data field of each wireless tag. Access rights are defined,
The access authority processing server also determines whether or not the received access request is an access from a person having access authority for each data field.   11. The access authority processing server according to claim 10, wherein for an article data write access, update processing for setting a person having authority to write article information in the next data field is executed after data writing is completed. An access authority processing server characterized by: In an article database that is used in a logistics system for managing articles with a wireless tag and stores an article to be managed as a pair of an identification number of the wireless tag attached to the article and article information about the article.
Each article has an area for storing the identification number of the wireless tag attached to the article to be managed and a plurality of data fields for storing article information relating to the article, and each data field is stored in the data field. An article database characterized in that access authority for writing data and reading written data is defined, and only a business operator having a legitimate access authority is allowed to access each data field. A distribution management system for managing the distribution of articles with a wireless tag,
A plurality of databases connected to the network and individually storing the identification number of the wireless tag and the individual article information regarding the article with the wireless tag as a pair relationship;
Connected to the network, the attributes of the articles, the RFID tag identification numbers of the articles classified based on the attributes of these articles, and the addresses of the databases storing the article information of these articles are stored for each article group. An aggregate database;
A terminal device connected to the network for accessing the database and the aggregate database;
When obtaining physical distribution information of an article or group of articles having a specific attribute, access to the aggregate database via the terminal device, and the address of the database storing the article information of the article group having the specific attribute and the wireless tag identification A logistics management system characterized by retrieving a number, retrieving a corresponding database based on the obtained address and the RFID tag identification number, and obtaining logistics information of an article or group of articles having the specific attribute.   14. The physical distribution management system according to claim 13, wherein the aggregate database has a hierarchical structure including an upper aggregate database and one or a plurality of lower aggregate databases, the upper aggregate database includes an article group, It has a record field that stores a pair of those attributes and addresses of a lower aggregation database that stores information about these article groups, the lower aggregation database includes an article group, article attributes, a wireless tag number group, A physical distribution management system comprising a record field storing a database address storing individual article information.   14. The physical distribution management system according to claim 13, wherein a record field of the aggregate database includes a field storing a wireless tag identification number and a plurality of fields storing article information, and each field storing article information includes A physical distribution management system storing article information described by an aggregation method and the aggregation method.   16. The physical distribution management system according to claim 13, wherein an access authority processing server is connected to the network, and only a person having a legitimate access authority can access the database. Logistics management system.

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