JP2012058831A - Lent article management system, lent article management device, and lent article management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lent article management system and a lent article management device for informing a manager of disagreement between a container and an article in the container when there is the disagreement.SOLUTION: A lent article management device includes an article RFID tag 121 which is stuck on an article and stores identification data of the article, a container RFID tag 111 which is stuck on a container for containing the article and stores identification data of the container, and a radio wave transmission antenna 101. The lent article management device includes electric power supply means which transmits a radio wave to the container RFID tag 111 to supply electric power, and disagreement informing means 116 which informs of disagreement when communication between the container RFID tag 111 and the article RFID tag 121 is performed, the identification data 114, 123 of the container RFID tag 111 and the article RFID tag 121 are compared with each other, and there is disagreement between the respective identification data.

Description

The present invention relates to a rental article management method and system using an RFID tag. In particular, the present invention relates to a rental article management system, a rental article management apparatus, and a rental article management system in a rental service business performed in a rental video store or a library.

In recent years, with the development of RFID tag technology, in the rental service industry performed in rental video stores and libraries, etc., as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the management of goods, the automation of rental / return processing, theft prevention, etc. For the purpose, a rental article management system using an RFID tag has been proposed and is actually used.

In these lending service industries, there is a lending service industry in which articles placed in containers are displayed on shelves, and users take out articles from the containers and the user borrows only the articles while the containers are placed on the display shelves. For example, when renting a DVD or the like at a rental video store, the user puts the DVD into a rental container as in Patent Document 3, and puts the rental container into a display container, so that the user shelves the display container. Lending is done by carrying a rental container containing DVDs to the counter and renting them.

There is also a rental article management method that prevents theft by attaching a magnetic tape or IC tag to the rental container, detecting the magnetic tape or IC chip with a sensor installed at the entrance of the store, and notifying the store clerk. Has been done.

In the lending service business as described above, when a container for display and a container for lending are provided separately, goods are brought to the counter while being put in the display container that was generated when there was only a display container. Eliminates the task of returning the display containers to the shelves. Therefore, the clerk can use the time spent for returning the display container to the shelf to another work, and the work efficiency of the clerk is improved.

Patent Document 4 proposes a rental article management device that manages the presence or absence of articles in a container by attaching IC tags to both the container and a plurality of articles contained in the container.

  In libraries and the like, a method of managing lending by attaching an RFID tag to a book has begun to be proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-307871 JP 2003-85329 A Japanese Patent No. 3459997 JP 2009-23792 A

However, the prior art is a technique for managing the presence / absence of an article, and the relation between the container and the article in the container is not considered with respect to the article in which the article is accommodated. Therefore, when an article is stored in another container different from the correct container, the stored person is left as it is unless he or she notices it. Therefore, in order to maintain the state in which the article is stored in the correct container, it is necessary to check whether the article stored in the container is the correct article at regular intervals. Furthermore, in the conventional method, this confirmation operation must be confirmed by taking out the articles from the container one by one in order to confirm whether the articles contained in the container are correct articles. The burden on the clerk for the work is large.

Therefore, the present invention provides a rental article management system, a rental article management apparatus, and a rental article management method for performing identification determination between an RFID tag affixed to a container and an article and notifying an administrator when there is a mismatch. .

As means for solving the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention accommodates an article, an article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article attached to the article, and the article. A rental article management system comprising at least a container and a container RFID tag for storing identification data of the container attached to the container, wherein the container RFID tag includes the container identification data and the identification of the article. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rental article management system having an identification data comparison operation unit that compares data with each other.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2, the container RFID tag notifies when the identification data of the container and the identification data of the article do not match and when there is no communicable RFID tag. The rental article management system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article, an article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article to be affixed to the article, a container for storing the article, and a container to be affixed to the container. A lending article management apparatus including a container RFID tag for storing identification data and a radio wave transmission antenna, wherein the radio wave transmission antenna transmits a radio wave to the container RFID tag and supplies power, and the radio wave transmission When there is no RFID tag capable of data communication with the RFID tag presence confirmation means for confirming whether or not the RFID tag capable of data communication exists in the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted from the antenna and supplied with power The absence notification means for notifying the container, and the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted and supplied with power from the radio wave transmitting antenna are connected to the container RF. An identification data comparison unit that compares identification data of each of the D tag and the item RFID tag, and a notification when the identification data comparison unit does not match the identification data of the container RFID tag and the item RFID tag An in-container rental article management apparatus characterized by comprising a mismatch notification means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article, an article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article to be affixed to the article, a container for storing the article, and a container to be affixed to the container. A rented article management method including a container RFID tag for storing identification data and a radio wave transmission antenna, wherein the radio wave transmission antenna transmits a radio wave to the container RFID tag to supply power, and the radio wave transmission When there is no RFID tag capable of data communication and an RFID tag existence confirmation step for confirming whether an RFID tag capable of data communication exists or not, the container RFID tag supplied with electric power from an antenna is supplied with power The absence notification step for notifying to, and the container RFID tag to which electric waves are sent from the radio wave transmitting antenna and supplied with power, An identification data comparison step for comparing the identification data of each of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag, and when the identification data of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag are inconsistent by the identification data comparison means The present invention provides an in-container rented article management method characterized by comprising a discrepancy notifying step for notifying.

According to the present invention, the correctness / incorrectness determination is performed using the identification data stored in the container RFID tag and the identification data stored in the article RFID tag.

  In addition, since the rental article management system of the present invention automatically determines whether the container and the article are correct or not and notifies the administrator or the user, the RFID tag is noticed by the administrator or the user that the container and the article do not match. The light emitting device provided on the container RFID tag shines when there is a mismatch between the container and the article, so that the administrator or user does not need to take out the article from the container and the light is visible. There was an effect that it was found that the container and the article were inconsistent if the distance was within the range.

Further, if an LED is used for the light emitting device, light can be emitted with low power, so that light can be emitted only by electric power transmitted from the radio wave transmitting antenna, and no other power supply device is required.

  Further, by providing an acoustic device, it is possible to notify the mismatch or absence of the RFID tag by sound.

Further, when an identification number is used as identification data, the comparison operation can be performed by exclusive OR, so that the comparison operation is further simplified.

In addition, since the absence is also confirmed, it can be confirmed when there is no article in the container, so it is also possible to confirm whether or not the commodity is on loan.

It is a block diagram of the RFID tag affixed on the article | item concerning this invention, and the RFID tag affixed on a container. It is one block diagram of the RFID tag at the time of accommodating a several article | item in the container concerning this invention. It is one block diagram of the RFID tag at the time of accommodating a several article | item in the container concerning this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the identification determination process of the goods in a container by the RFID tag concerning this invention. It is a conceptual diagram in the case of notifying an administrator of the result of identification determination of an in-container article using an LED according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram in the case of notifying a user of the result of identifying and identifying an in-container article using a buzzer in a lending service according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram in the case of notifying a user of the result of the identification determination in the library concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram at the time of using an identification number as identification data in connection with one Embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram of presence confirmation of the electric equipment and charger in the luggage compartment in connection with one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to this form.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using figures.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an RFID tag for managing rental items according to the present invention. The RFID tag 111 receives the radio wave emitted from the radio wave transmitting antenna 101 by the radio wave receiving device 112. The received radio wave is sent to the communication device 113 and the arithmetic device 115 as power for moving the device. The communication device 113 communicates with the RFID tag 121 capable of data communication with the RFID tag 111 and receives the identification data 123 of the RFID tag 121. The arithmetic device 115 confirms the identification data 114 and performs a comparison operation process on the received identification data 123 of the RFID tag 121 and the identification data 114. When the comparison calculation results do not match, the notification device 116 notifies that the articles contained in the container are different. When the RFID tag 121 capable of data communication does not exist, the notification device 116 notifies that no article is contained in the container.

The system configuration according to the implementation of the present invention is not limited to FIG. 1, but a configuration in which a plurality of RFID tags communicate in series as shown in FIG. 2, or a configuration in which a plurality of RFID tags communicate in parallel as shown in FIG. Including.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the container / article identification determination process using the RFID tag.
[Step 1] A radio wave is transmitted from a radio wave transmitting antenna and received by a radio wave receiver. In addition to a radio wave for supplying power, a radio wave for performing absence notification described later can be transmitted simultaneously.
[Step 2] Upon receiving the radio wave, the radio wave receiving device supplies power to the communication device. The communication device to which power is supplied checks whether there is an RFID tag capable of data communication.
[Step 3] When there is no communicable RFID tag, it is confirmed whether or not it is necessary to notify the absence, and when there is no need to notify, the process is terminated.
[Step 4] When it is necessary to make an absence notification, the notification device issues an absence notification.
[Step 5] If there is a communicable RFID tag, communication is performed and identification data of the RFID tag of the communication partner is received.
[Step 6] The identification data held by the user is confirmed.
[Step 7] Both identification data are compared, and if they match, the processing is terminated.
[Step 8] If the two identification data do not match, the notification device issues a mismatch notification.

The notification device 116 preferably uses a light emitting device or an acoustic device, but is not limited to this, and any device that can notify an administrator or a user may be used. When the light emitting device is used, the notification can be recognized if the light is at a visible distance, and when the sound device is used, the notification can be confirmed if the sound is at a distance where the sound can be heard.

When data communication between the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag is performed by wired connection, a contact terminal (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag. When the article is accommodated in the container, data communication can be performed by wired communication by providing the contact terminal of the article RFID tag and the contact terminal of the container RFID tag.

In the case where data communication between the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag is performed by wireless connection, a communication antenna may be provided in the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag. By using the communication antenna, data communication can be performed by wireless communication.

  When data communication is performed by wired communication, since the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag are physically connected, high-speed data communication is possible. In addition, when the data communication is performed wirelessly, the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag do not need to be physically connected. Therefore, if the shielding object does not affect radio waves, the article RFID tag Even if it is between the container RFID tag, communication can be performed. The communication method can be appropriately selected in the situation.

The embodiment of the present invention can be effectively used not only for lending but also for lending article management.

The embodiment of the present invention is used not only in a situation where an article is stored in a container, such as a container and an article, but also in a situation where at least two pairs of articles are in contact or short-range wireless communication is possible. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment in which a light emitting diode (LED) is used in the notification device. The administrator 501 carries the radio wave transmission antenna 502. The article display shelf 511 includes a plurality of containers 521 and accommodates articles 522. However, in the case of rented items, only containers are displayed on the shelves. An RFID tag 523 with an LED 524 is attached to the container, and an RFID tag is also attached to the article.

When the administrator 501 approaches the product display shelf 511 and reaches a distance where the radio wave of the radio wave transmitting antenna 502 reaches the container RFID tag 523, the container RFID tag 523 receives the radio wave and starts the identification determination. In the container 541 in which the container and the contained article are different, a mismatch notification is made, and the LED attached to the RFID tag emits light. When the LED emits light, the administrator can determine that the article stored in the container 541 is another article.

If there is no communicable RFID tag as in the case where no article is contained in the container, the absence notification is made and the LED emits light. At this time, if the LED is emitted by the mismatch notification and the LED is emitted by the absence notification, by setting different emission conditions, the administrator can determine whether the LED is emitted by the mismatch notification, It can be determined whether the LED emits light based on the absence notification.

For example, by setting the red LED to emit light in the case of a mismatch notification and to emit the blue LED in the absence notification, the administrator can easily distinguish the difference between the mismatch notification and the absence notification. I was able to determine.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which a buzzer is used for the notification device. The article display shelf 611 includes a radio wave transmission antenna 612 and a plurality of containers 621, in which articles 622 are accommodated. However, in the case of rented items, only containers are displayed on the shelves. An RFID tag 623 with a buzzer 624 is attached to the container, and an RFID tag 643 is also attached to the article.

When the user 601 takes out the k article 642 from the k container 641 and returns it to the container again, when the k article is returned to the next j container instead of the k container 641, the user 601 is affixed to the j container. The existing RFID tag recognizes the presence of a communicable RFID tag, and compares the identification number of the k article with the identification number of the j container. At this time, since the obtained results are inconsistent, a mismatch notification is performed. Since the buzzer sounds by the inconsistency notification, the user can notice that the container for returning the article is wrong.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system rack device used in a library. The system rack device 666 is a rack in which an RFID tag is incorporated in a normal bookcase. A container RFID tag 623 is attached to the system rack device 666. The container RFID tag 623 stores identification data corresponding to a book to be accommodated in the system rack device 666. Books are accommodated in the system rack, and RFID tags storing corresponding identification data are attached to the books. When the administrator 501 approaches the system rack device and the distance from the radio wave transmitting antenna 502 reaches the container RFID tag 623, the RFID tag 523 receives the radio wave and starts the identification determination. When a book different from the book that should originally be housed is housed, a notice of mismatch is sent, and when there is no book housed, a notice of absence is sent. When the mismatch notification or the absence notification is performed, the LED of the corresponding portion is turned on.

One to several RFID tags attached to the system rack apparatus can be incorporated in each bookcase depending on the communication distance. Each of these RFID tags is connected to the host computer of the library via the master unit, and by sequentially sending a call signal from the host computer, it is possible to search in which bookshelf the target book is placed even in a large hall. can do. That is, if the identification data of the bookshelf arranged in each book is recorded, the identification data is displayed on the display of the host computer or the handy terminal. Alternatively, the LED may be lit on the bookshelf from which the corresponding book is detected. As a result, the staff can easily know the location of the book.

  In addition, when the staff member returns the book to the bookshelf, the LED of the corresponding part is lit, so that the staff member can easily store the storage area.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the identification data stored in the article RFID tag and the container RFID tag is an identification number. In rental video stores and the like, there may be a plurality of one work. Here, an article refers to one of the same works.

The identification number includes a one-digit number 701 indicating whether the RFID tag is attached to a container or an article, a three-digit number 702 indicating the genre of the article or container, a seven-digit number 703 indicating an article or container work, Consists of a three-digit identification number 704 attached to the same piece of container. Of these, 11 digits of 702, 703, and 704 are used, and 8 digits of 702 and 703 are used. However, the items constituting the identification number and the number of digits are not limited to the above example and can be adjusted.

For example, if it is the same work, there may be no problem even if it is housed in a container different from the original container. In this case, it is possible to shorten the time required for the comparison by removing the individual number assigned in the same work from the comparison target.

The identification determination using the identification number is determined from a 1-bit result obtained by performing an exclusive OR on the identification numbers of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag and performing a logical OR on the resulting bit string. I do. If the result is 0, the container and the in-container article match, and if it is 1, the container and the in-container article do not match.

In the identification determination using the identification number, when there is no article in the container, that is, when there is no RFID tag capable of data communication, a 2-bit numerical value is output as a determination result to indicate that there is no article. .

Below, the Example of this invention in rental service industries, such as a household appliance, is described.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of confirmation of the presence of an electric device and a charger for the electric device in the luggage compartment. A radio wave transmitting antenna 802 is attached to the luggage compartment 801, and an RFID tag with a buzzer is attached to the charger 812 corresponding to the electric device 811. When the baggage compartment is closed and the radio wave transmission antenna 802 is turned on, the RFID tag attached with the luggage compartment receives radio waves. If the RFID tag attached to the electric device 811 and the RFID tag attached to the charger 812 do not exist within a communicable distance, a buzzer is sounded to inform the owner that the electric device 811 and the charger 812 are not in the luggage compartment. At this time, when there is no electrical device only, when there is no charger only, and when there is no charger, by setting the buzzer sound separately, there are no electrical device only and no charger only The case where both are not present can be determined.

In the lending service industry, notification of mistakes in containers makes it possible to reduce human errors and reduce confirmation work caused by mistakes, thus increasing operational efficiency. In addition to the lending service business, it can be used when the contents cannot be confirmed at first glance, such as a forgotten item prevention service for luggage preparation during travel and business trips.

101 ... Radio wave transmitting antenna 111, 121 ... RFID tag 112 ... Radio wave receiving device 113,122 ... Communication device 114, 123 ... Identification number 115 ... Calculating device 116 ... Notification device 201 ... Radio wave transmitting antennas 211, 221, 231 ... RFID tag 212 ... Radio wave receiving devices 213, 222, 232 ... Communication devices 214, 223, 233 ... Identification number 215 ... Calculation device 216 ... Notification device 301 ... Radio wave transmission antennas 311, 321, 331, 341 ... RFID tag 312 ... Radio wave reception devices 313, 322, 332, 342 ... Communication devices 314, 323, 333, 343 ... Identification number 315 ... Arithmetic device 316 ... Notification device 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407 408 ... Step 501 ... manager 502 ... radio transmitting antennas 511 ... article display shelf 521 ... container 522 · article 523 · RFID tag 524 ... LED
541: Container misplaced article 601 ... User 611 ... Article display shelf 612 ... Radio wave transmitting antenna 621 ... Container 622 ... Article 623 ... Container RFID tag 624 ... Buzzer 641 ... Container (corresponding to 642)
642 ... Article (corresponding to 641)
643 ... Article RFID tag 651 ... Book 666 ... System rack device 701 ... Article / container identification number 702 ... Work genre 703 ... Work number 704 ... Inside work number 801 ..Packing compartment 802 ... Radio wave transmitting antenna 811 ... Electric device 812 ... Charger

Claims (4)

Goods,
An article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article to be affixed to the article;
A container for containing the article;
A container RFID tag for storing identification data of the container to be affixed to the container;
A rental article management system having at least
The rented RFID tag management system includes an identification data comparison operation unit that compares the identification data of the container and the identification data of the article. The container RFID tag, when the identification data of the container and the identification data of the article do not match,
If there is no communicable RFID tag,
The rental article management system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit for notifying. Goods,
An article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article to be affixed to the article;
A container for containing the article;
A container RFID tag for storing identification data of the container to be affixed to the container;
A rental article management apparatus equipped with a radio transmission antenna,
Power supply means for supplying a power by sending a radio wave from the radio wave transmitting antenna to the container RFID tag;
There is an RFID tag capable of data communication with an RFID tag presence confirmation means for confirming whether an RFID tag capable of data communication exists in the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted and supplied with power from the radio wave transmitting antenna. Absence notification means to notify if there is not,
Identification data comparison means for comparing the identification data of each of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag with the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted from the radio wave transmission antenna and supplied with power;
A mismatch notification means for notifying when the identification data of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag is mismatched in the identification data comparison means;
An in-container rental article management device comprising: Goods,
An article RFID tag for storing identification data of the article to be affixed to the article;
A container for containing the article;
A container RFID tag for storing identification data of the container to be affixed to the container;
A rental article management method including a radio transmission antenna,
A power supply step of sending a radio wave from the radio wave transmitting antenna to the container RFID tag and supplying power;
An RFID tag existence confirmation step for confirming whether or not there is an RFID tag capable of data communication with the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted and supplied with power from the radio wave transmission antenna, and an RFID tag capable of data communication exist. Out of office notification step to notify if not,
An identification data comparison step in which the container RFID tag to which electric waves are transmitted from the radio wave transmission antenna and supplied with power compares the identification data of each of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag;
A mismatch notification step for notifying when the identification data of the container RFID tag and the article RFID tag is mismatched by the identification data comparison means;
An in-container rented article management method comprising:

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