JP2007084172A - Logistics management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system capable of acquiring the latest data of an object fitted with a plurality of radio tags even if only part thereof can be read. <P>SOLUTION: In case only the data Dn-1 of a radio tag 110a was read, a control device 12B for a check point 10B acquires the latest data (here, Dn-1) of the applicable object 100 is acquired from a management server 20 using the tag ID in the data Dn-1, performs processing for passing the check point 10B using the data Dn-1, writes the data Dn produced by this processing into a radio tag 110a, and registers into the management server 20. In case only the data Dm of an older radio tag 110b than the latest data Dn can be read, the control device 12C for the next check point 10C performs processing by acquiring the latest data Dn from the management server using the tag ID in the data Dm, writes the data Dn+1 produced by the processing into the radio tag 110b, and registers into the management server 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for physical distribution management using a wireless tag.

  In recent years, wireless tags (also referred to as RFID: Radio Frequency Identification) have been widely used, and systems that perform management using wireless tags are also used in the physical distribution field.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, an aircraft and a passenger, luggage, and cargo carried by the aircraft are each provided with a wireless tag, which is read at the time of boarding or loading, and recorded in a database. It is disclosed that it manages whether luggage or cargo is on board.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a method in which two wireless tags that record their own ID number, the ID number of a counterpart wireless tag, and a registered code are attached to a registered mail. In this method, when two wireless tags of a registered mail in a mail bag are read by a reader / writer, if only one of the two is read, it is automatically determined that the wireless tag has failed, and if both cannot be read, registered mail Automatically determines that an item has been lost.

  In this way, wireless tags are being used because they can read and write data without contact, but if an object that does not transmit radio waves is interposed between the reader / writer and the wireless tag, reading and writing cannot be performed, and the communication distance is limited. There is a problem that there is. That is, when a wireless tag is affixed to a large package, for example, even if an attempt is made to automatically read / write data from / to the wireless tag using a reader / writer fixedly placed near the conveyor, the wireless tag is positioned on the far side from the reader / writer depending on the direction of the package. If you do, you may not be able to read and write due to the baggage shielding and distance.

  In the logistics field, packages are often sent from a delivery source through several checkpoints such as warehouses and distribution centers to a delivery destination, and each checkpoint reads a wireless tag attached to the package. It is being understood and managed where the inside baggage is currently located. In order to handle a large amount of baggage at checkpoints, it is important to enable automatic reading and writing to the wireless tag with a reader / writer that is fixedly placed on the conveyor line, etc. As described above, reading / writing with respect to the wireless tag may not be possible depending on the direction of the luggage with respect to the reader / writer.

  Patent Document 1 does not provide a solution to such a problem.

  Further, if a plurality of wireless tags are attached to a package by applying the method of Patent Document 2, there is a high possibility that any one wireless tag can be read / written by the reader / writer. However, if only a part of the plurality of wireless tags on one package can be read and written, the data held by the plurality of wireless tags is inconsistent, which causes a problem. In other words, a wireless tag read and written at a certain checkpoint will have the latest data on the package, but if the reader / writer at the next checkpoint cannot communicate with the wireless tag, the latest data on the package will be stored. There is a possibility that it cannot be obtained and correct checkpoint passing processing cannot be performed.

JP-A-11-041135 JP-A-2005-001816

  The present invention provides a system that can acquire the latest data that a wireless tag for a package should have even if only a part of a plurality of wireless tags attached to the package can be read.

  The present invention is provided at each checkpoint of a delivery route, connected to each checkpoint device via a data communication network, a checkpoint device that reads a tag ID or a package ID stored in a wireless tag attached to the package, And a management server for storing the latest data corresponding to the package in association with the tag ID or the package ID, and the checkpoint device manages the tag ID or the package ID read from the wireless tag attached to the package The management server sends back to the checkpoint device the latest package data corresponding to the tag ID or the package ID received from the checkpoint device, and the checkpoint device , Checkpoint of luggage using latest data received from management server The processing server transmits new data for the package generated according to the processing result to the management server, and the management server uses the package for the new data received from the checkpoint device. Provide a logistics management system that updates the latest data corresponding to packages.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this embodiment, checkpoints 10A, 10B, 10C,... (Collectively referred to as checkpoint 10) set on the delivery route of the package 100 are attached to the package 100. The antennas 14A, 14B, 14C,... (Generic name for the antenna 14) for communicating with the wireless tags 110a and 110b (generally referred to as the wireless tag 110) and the antenna 14 are controlled to read / write data from / to the wireless tag 110. Control devices 12A, 12B, 12C,... (Collectively referred to as control device 12) are provided. The control device 12 has a reader / writer function.

  The check point 10 is set at a place of a predetermined role on the delivery route, such as a factory, a warehouse, a delivery center, or a truck that carries the luggage 100 between them. In the illustrated example, checkpoints 10A, 10B, and 10C are (n−1) th, nth, and (n + 1) th (n is a natural number) checkpoints on the delivery route, respectively.

  The management server 20 is a server that holds and manages management data on delivery of each package 100. An example of the contents of the management data is shown in FIG.

  In this example, the management server 20 registers information on the number with tags, the tag ID list, and the latest checkpoint history in association with the package ID that is the identification information of each package 110. The number with tags is the number of wireless tags 110 attached to the package. The tag ID list is a list of identification information of each wireless tag 110 attached to the package. For example, four wireless tags with tag IDs “a”, “b”, “c”, and “d” are attached to the package with the package ID “00001”. It is assumed that the wireless tag 110 stores a tag ID unique to the tag in advance. The latest checkpoint history is information indicating the latest checkpoint that the package 100 has passed, and includes CPID that is the ID of the latest checkpoint and information on the passage date and time.

  At the starting point of the delivery route, a unique package ID is given to the package 100, and tag IDs of all the wireless tags 110 attached to the package 100 are read by the reader / writer, and these package ID and tag ID are read. Is sent to the management server 20 and registered. At this time, the management server 20 calculates the number with tags from the number of tag IDs sent and registers it as an item of management data. The package ID may be issued by the management server 20. At the starting point of the delivery route, it is necessary to read all the wireless tags 110 attached to the package 100. For example, an operator can operate the handy type reader / writer to perform reading or cover the entire circumference of the package 100. For example, the antenna may be arranged to perform reading.

  A processing procedure of the control device 12 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this procedure, when the baggage 100 rides on a conveyor line or is carried manually and passes through the communication range of the antenna 14 at the checkpoint 10, the control device 12 connects the radio tags 110 on the baggage 100 via the antenna 14. Communicate and read data (S1). Since the tag ID is stored in the wireless tag 110, the control device 12 can acquire the tag ID of the wireless tag 110 if it can read one of the plurality of wireless tags 110 on the luggage 100. it can. Therefore, the control device 12 sends at least one of the read tag IDs to the management server 20 via the communication network, and tries to acquire the latest data regarding the package 100 (S2). At this time, the management server 20 that has received the tag ID reads the package ID of the package including the tag ID in the “tag ID list” and the latest checkpoint history information, and returns these information to the control device 12. In this example, the latest checkpoint history is the latest data regarding the package 100. The control device 12 uses the latest data acquired from the management server 20 to perform a predetermined process when the package 100 passes the checkpoint (S3). In this process, for example, it is determined whether or not the latest checkpoint history of the package 100 received from the management server 20 is correct. Whether or not the latest checkpoint history is correct is, for example, whether or not the checkpoint ID (CPID) indicated in the history is one previous to a certain checkpoint of the control device 12 and the passage indicated in the history. It can be determined based on whether or not the difference between the date and time and the current date and time is within an appropriate range. If it is determined that the latest checkpoint history is correct, the control device 12 determines that the package 100 may pass through the checkpoint 10, and information on the passing history of the checkpoint 10, that is, the ID of the checkpoint. A set with the current date and time is created and transmitted to the management server 20 together with the package ID (S4). Receiving this, the management server 20 updates the value of the latest checkpoint history corresponding to the package ID with the checkpoint ID and the current date and time. The current date and time when the latest checkpoint history is updated may be obtained by the management server 20.

  According to the embodiment described above, if the control device 12 of the check point 10 can read at least one of the plurality of wireless tags 110 attached to the package 100, the latest check corresponding to the package 100 is performed. A point history can be acquired from the management server 20, and by using the history, processing necessary for the checkpoint 10 can be performed on the package 100.

  In addition to the latest checkpoint history, various information related to the package generated at the checkpoint 10 is registered in the management server 20 as items in the management data so that the control device 12 of the later checkpoint 10 can refer to it. Also good. For example, the result of the inspection of the luggage performed at the check point 10 is an example of such additional information.

  In addition, instead of the tag ID or in addition to the tag ID, the wireless tag 110 stores the package ID of the package to which the wireless tag 110 is attached. The latest data of the package 100 may be acquired by reading the ID and sending it to the management server 20.

  Next, a modification of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the above embodiment, the wireless tag 110 only has to store the tag ID, but in this modification, information equivalent to the management data held in the management server 20 is stored in each wireless tag 110. . That is, each wireless tag 110 stores at least the latest checkpoint history among the data items shown in FIG. In addition to the latest checkpoint history, various information about the package 100 generated at each checkpoint 10 may be stored in each wireless tag 110. Also, one of the number with tags or the tag ID list is stored in each wireless tag 110. In addition to these, the package ID may be stored in the wireless tag 110.

  In the procedure of FIG. 4, when the package 100 passes through the communication range of the antenna 14 at the checkpoint 10, the control device 12 communicates with each wireless tag 110 on the package 100 and reads data (S11). Next, it is determined whether data can be read from one or more tags among the plurality of wireless tags 110 of the package 100 (S12). Even though the package 100 is within the communication range of the antenna 14 (this can be determined by a conventionally known means such as detecting the package 100 by a separately provided sensor), data is also read from one wireless tag 110 If it is not possible, there is a possibility that some trouble has occurred, and the control device 12 performs error processing such as issuing a warning (S13).

  When one or more wireless tags 110 can be read, it is determined whether data has been read from all the wireless tags 110 provided in the package 100 (S14). This determination can be made by using the tagged number or tag ID list read from any one wireless tag 110. For example, this determination is affirmative (Y) if data is read from the same number of wireless tags 110 as the number with tags or if data is read from all wireless tags in the tag ID list.

  If the determination in step S14 is negative (N), the control device 12 sends at least one of the read tag IDs of the wireless tag 110 to the management server 20 via the communication network, and acquires the latest data regarding the package 100 (S15). ), Processing for passing the checkpoint is performed using the acquired latest data (S16). The processes in steps S15 and S16 may be the same as the processes in steps S2 and S3 in FIG. If it is determined that the package 100 may pass through the check point 10 as a result of these processes, the control device 12 records information on the passing history of the check point 10 (and various information generated at the check point 10). If so, the information is also written in each wireless tag 110 that could be read in step S11, and the same information is sent to the management server 20 (S17). Upon receiving this, the management server 20 updates the data such as the latest checkpoint history corresponding to the package with the data received from the control device 12.

  If the determination in step S14 is affirmative (Y), the control device 12 does not query the management server 20 for the latest data, and the date and time of passage of the latest checkpoint history among all the read data of the wireless tags 110 is displayed. The newest data is determined as the latest data for the package 100, and the checkpoint passing process equivalent to step S16 is executed using the latest data (S18), and the process of step S17 is executed.

  According to this modification, in addition to the advantage that processing at the checkpoint 10 can be executed if even one wireless tag 110 on the package 100 can be read, the same data is held in both the wireless tag 110 and the management server 20. As a result, the reliability of data can be improved. That is, for example, even if one of the data of the wireless tag 110 and the management server 20 is destroyed, correct data can be restored from the other. Further, in this modified example, when all the wireless tags 110 provided in the package 100 can be read, it is not necessary to make an inquiry to the management server 20, so that the processing speed can be increased. Further, according to this modification, even if there is a checkpoint 10 that is not connected to the management server 20 on the delivery route, at the checkpoint 10, the worker can use the handy reader / writer to If the wireless tag 110 is read and written, the same processing as the checkpoint 10 connected to the management server 20 can be performed.

  A specific example of the process of this modification will be described with reference to FIG. Of the two wireless tags 110a and 110b of the package 100, it is assumed that only the wireless tag 110a can be read at the checkpoint 10A, and the data Dn-1 generated at the checkpoint 10A is written only to the wireless tag 110a. Then, it is assumed that only the data Dn-1 of the wireless tag 110a is read at the next check point 10B. At this time, the control device 12B acquires the latest data (Dn-1 in this case) of the package 100 from the management server 20 using the tag ID included in the data Dn-1, and compares it with the acquired data. The data read from the wireless tag 110a is recognized as the latest data. Then, processing for passing the checkpoint 10B is performed using the latest data Dn-1, and the data Dn generated at the checkpoint 10B is written in the wireless tag 110a and registered in the management server 20.

  Assume that at the next checkpoint 10C, only the data Dm of the wireless tag 110b can be read this time. The data Dm is older than the previous data Dn-1 than the latest data Dn at this time. In this case, the control device 12C obtains the latest data Dn from the management server 20 using the tag ID included in the data Dm, performs the passing process of the checkpoint 10C, and obtains new data Dn + 1 generated by this process. Write to the wireless tag 110 b and register with the management server 20.

  If the checkpoint 10 can read / write any one of the wireless tags 110 on the package 100 by the above-described mechanism, the process for the package 100 at the checkpoint 10 can be performed.

It is a figure for demonstrating the system configuration | structure of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the management data which a management server manages. It is a figure which shows the example of the process sequence of the control apparatus of a checkpoint. It is a figure which shows the example of the process sequence of the control apparatus of the checkpoint in a modification.

Explanation of symbols

  10A, 10B, 10C checkpoint, 12A, 12B, 12C control device, 14A, 14B, 14C antenna, 20 management server, 100 luggage, 110a, 110b wireless tag.

Claims (3)

A checkpoint device that is provided at each checkpoint of the delivery route and reads a tag ID or a package ID stored in a wireless tag attached to the package;
A management server connected to each checkpoint device via a data communication network and storing the latest data corresponding to the package in association with the tag ID or the package ID;
Including
The checkpoint device sends the tag ID or the package ID read from the wireless tag attached to the package to the management server, and queries the database for the latest data of the package,
The management server returns the latest data of the package corresponding to the tag ID or the package ID received from the checkpoint device and returns it to the checkpoint device,
The checkpoint device uses the latest data received from the management server to execute processing for passing the checkpoint of the package, and transmits new data for the package generated according to the processing result to the management server.
The management server updates the latest data corresponding to the package with the new data received from the checkpoint device,
Logistics management system. The logistics management system according to claim 1,
The checkpoint device writes the new data for the package generated according to the processing result for passing the package checkpoint to the tag ID or the wireless tag that can read the package ID.
A logistics management system characterized by this. The logistics management system according to claim 2,
Storage means for storing a list of the number of wireless tags attached to the package or a tag ID of each wireless tag;
Further comprising
The checkpoint device determines whether or not all the wireless tags attached to the luggage could be read based on the information acquired from the storage means, and if all the wireless tags can be read, Execute the process for passing the checkpoint of the package using the latest data read from the tag,
A logistics management system characterized by this.

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