JP2024053565A - Management device, management system, management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To easily grasp items stored in a storage location. [Solution] A management device comprising: a location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a user; an inventory information acquisition unit that acquires inventory information of target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's location from a storage device that associates inventory numbers of items and location information of the items with the items and stores them as inventory information; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display a list of target items in which target item information including the names of the target items is arranged in order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items, based on the inventory information. [Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

Application for application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act has been filed. https://support.zaico.co.jp/hc/ja/articles/6944899782809 (Date of website publication: May 30, 2022) https://www.zaico.co.jp/engineer/fedex-location-search/ (Date of website publication: May 30, 2022) https://apps.apple. com/jp/app/zaico-%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A6%E3%83%89%E5%9C%A8%E5%BA%AB%E7%AE%A1%E7%90%86%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88/id588938108 (Delivery date of version 1.35.14 with the invention function: June 6, 2022)

The present invention relates to a management device, a management system, a management method, and a program.

Inventory management of items such as products, parts, and materials is largely a manual process, and a system that can simplify the work has been desired. For example, a method is known in which the actual inventory is ascertained by measuring the total weight of the items and calculating the number of items from the total weight (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-20462 A

This type of manual work involves identifying the items to be managed in the storage area where the items are kept, checking stock levels, storing items, taking items out of stock, or taking an inventory. However, when the types and number of items to be managed increase, or when the same items are stored in different locations, it can become difficult even for an experienced worker to identify the items that are being stored, making it difficult to carry out the work quickly.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of these points, and aims to make it possible to easily grasp the items stored in a storage area.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a management device for managing the number of items in stock is provided, the management device comprising: a location information acquisition unit for acquiring user location information; an inventory information acquisition unit for acquiring inventory information of target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's location from a storage device in which the number of items in stock and the location information of the items are stored as inventory information in association with the items; and a display control unit for displaying, on a display unit, a list of target items in which target item information including the names of the target items is arranged in an order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items based on the inventory information acquired by the inventory information acquisition unit, the target item information. The display control unit updates the order of the target item information in the list of target items based on a predetermined condition.

The display control unit may cause the display unit to display the target object list in which the target object information is arranged in order of proximity between the user and the target object.
The display control unit may cause the display unit to display the target object list in which the target object information is arranged in ascending order of the position of the target object or in descending order of the position of the target object.

The display control unit may cause the display unit to display the target item list in which the target item information is arranged in order of proximity to a predetermined deadline.
The display control unit may update the order of the target item information in the target item list only when the position information of the user has changed by a predetermined threshold or more.

The target item information may further include the number of items in stock of the target items, and the management device may further include a reception unit that receives input of the number of items in stock for updating the stock information or the number of items in stock for checking the stock information.

The device may further include an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of a stock-entry instruction indicating that the target items are to be stocked and the number of the target items, adds the number of the target items received by the reception unit to the stock quantity of the corresponding stock information, and generates an update signal to update the stock information in the storage device.

The system may further include an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of a shipping instruction indicating that the target items are to be shipped and the number of the target items, subtracts the number of the target items received by the reception unit from the stock quantity of the corresponding stock information, and generates an update signal to update the stock information in the storage device.

The system may further include an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventory-taken and the number of the target items, generates an update signal for updating the inventory quantity of the corresponding inventory information to the number of the target items received by the reception unit, while leaving the inventory information before the input is received as a referenceable history.

When the reception unit receives an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventoryed and an input of the number of the target items, the display control unit may cause the display unit to display comparison information indicating a result of comparing the total number of the target items received by the reception unit with the inventory quantity of the corresponding inventory information.

The device may further include an update control unit that generates an update signal to update the inventory information in the storage device by adding information indicating that the inventory of the target items has been completed when the total number of the target items accepted by the accepting unit matches the inventory quantity in the corresponding inventory information.

The storage device stores the inventory quantity of the item and location information of the item for each specified area, the display control unit causes the display unit to display the comparison information indicating the result of comparing the total number of the target items for each specified area with the inventory quantity in the corresponding inventory information, and the update control unit may generate an update signal indicating that the inventory has been completed for each specified area when the total number of the target items received by the reception unit matches the inventory quantity in the corresponding inventory information.

The display control unit may further cause the display unit to display an item layout diagram that maps the user's position and the target item's position, and may cause the target item at the top of the target item list to be displayed in a display format different from that of the other items in the item layout diagram.

The reception unit may receive an input of the number of the target items selected by the user in the target item list or the item layout diagram, and the display control unit may display the target items selected by the user in the item layout diagram in a display format different from that of the other items.

The reception unit may receive input of multiple target items by the user in the target item list, and the display control unit may display a result of mapping the positions of the multiple target items selected by the user to the user's position as an item layout diagram on the display unit.

The receiving unit may receive the number of the target items by voice from the user in the order in which the target items are arranged in the list of target items.
The receiving unit may receive the number of the target items by voice from the user when the user's position comes within a predetermined distance from the position of the item.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management system for managing the inventory number of the item, the management system comprising: a storage device that associates the inventory number of the item and location information of the item with the item and stores them as inventory information; the management device of the first aspect that acquires the inventory information from the storage device and displays on a display unit a list of target items arranged in order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items; and a management server that communicates with the management device and, in response to a control signal received from the management device, supplies the inventory information to the management device or updates the inventory information in the storage device.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management method for managing the number of items in stock, executed by a computer, comprising the steps of acquiring user location information, acquiring the inventory information of target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's location from a storage device in which the number of items in stock and the location information of the items are stored as inventory information in association with the items, displaying on a display unit a list of target items in which target item information including the names of the target items is arranged in an order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items based on the inventory information, and updating the order of the target item information in the list of target items based on predetermined conditions.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program is provided that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to function as the management device of the first aspect.

The present invention has the effect of allowing you to easily identify the items stored in a storage area.

1 shows an example of the configuration of a management system S according to the present embodiment. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a management device 100 according to the present embodiment. 1 shows a first example of an operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment. 13 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to the present embodiment causes the display unit 130 to display a menu screen. 13 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to the present embodiment causes the display unit 130 to display a target item list 132. 11 shows a second example of the operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment. 11 shows a third example of the operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment. An example will be shown in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays a screen on the display unit 130 for inputting the number of target items when the target items are stored. 13 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays on the display unit 130 a quantity input screen 135 for inputting the number of target items when the target items are released from the warehouse. 13 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays on the display unit 130 a quantity input screen 135 for inputting the number of target items when taking an inventory of the target items. 8 shows a modified example of the third example of the operation flow of the system S according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

<Configuration example of management system S>
1 shows an example of the configuration of a management system S according to this embodiment. The management system S is a system that manages the inventory of items, and allows a user, who is an operator, to understand the positional relationship between the items and the user. Items include merchandise, parts, materials, etc. The management system S is a system that can be used by any company, store, organization, etc. that manages such items. The management system S includes a storage device 10, a management server 20, and a management device 100.

The storage device 10 associates the number of items in stock with the location information of the items and stores the information as inventory information. It is preferable that the storage device 10 stores the items using identification information (ID), the name of the item, etc. The location information of the item is, for example, information indicating the location of the item in the storage location where the item is kept. The location information of the item may be information of the item specified by latitude and longitude. The location information of the item may include information indicating the height position of the item.

The storage device 10 may store location information input by a user. In this case, the management server 20, the management device 100, other devices operated by workers, etc. may accept the input of location information. It is preferable that the location information is input when an item is stored. For example, when a user stores an item in a storage location and operates the management device 100 within a specified range from the storage location of the item to perform a storage operation, the management device 100 stores the location information received from the user or its own location information in the storage device 10 as the location information of the item.

The storage device 10 is a storage device connected to the management server 20. The storage device 10 may also be a database connected to a network. The storage device 10 may also be a storage unit provided in the management device 100.

The management server 20 communicates with the management device 100 and manages the inventory information stored in the storage device 10 in response to a control signal received from the management device 100. For example, the management server 20 provides the inventory information stored in the storage device 10 to the management device 100. The management server 20 also updates the inventory information in the storage device 10.

The management device 100 is a device, such as a smartphone or tablet, that receives user operations and manages the inventory of items in response to the user operations. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a user operates such a management device 100 to manage multiple items 30 in a storage location where multiple items 30 are stored.

The management device 100 first obtains location information indicating the user's location ((1) in FIG. 1). The management device 100 then transmits a control signal to the management server 20 requesting inventory information for target items among the multiple items 30 that are located within a predetermined range based on the user's location ((2) in FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the items among the multiple items 30 that are within a predetermined range of the user's location are designated as target items 40.

In response to the control signal, the management server 20 supplies the inventory information of the target item 40 stored in the storage device 10 ((3) in FIG. 1). Then, based on the inventory information of the target item 40, the management device 100 displays on the display unit a list of the target items in which the information of the target item 40 is arranged in order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target item ((4) in FIG. 1).

In this way, the management device 100 displays a list of the names and stock quantities of the target items 40 stored within a predetermined range based on the user, so the user can easily grasp, for example, the information of the target item 40 in front of him/her. In addition, the management device 100 may update the displayed list of target items as appropriate. In this case, the user can easily grasp the information of the item 30 at the destination even if the user moves within the storage location, for example.

It is desirable that the management device 100 is configured to receive operational inputs for storing, retrieving, and taking inventory of the target items 40. This allows the user to quickly store, retrieve, and take inventory of the target items 40 based on the information of the target items 40 that is easily understood. Such a management device 100 will be described next.

<Configuration example of management device 100>
2 shows an example of the configuration of the management device 100 according to the present embodiment. The management device 100 is, for example, a mobile terminal, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearable terminal, a mobile PC, or the like, on which an application for managing the inventory quantity of items is installed. The management device 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, a display unit 130, and a control unit 140.

The communication unit 110 communicates with the management server 20 via a communication network or the like. The communication unit 110 may also communicate with the storage device 10 via a communication network or the like. The communication unit 110 is an interface for connecting to a communication network such as an Internet line, a wireless LAN, or a mobile phone network.

The storage unit 120 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 120 may also include a large-capacity storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and/or a SSD (Solid State Drive). For example, when a computer functions as the management device 100, the storage unit 120 may store information such as an OS (Operating System) that causes the computer to function, and programs. The storage unit 120 may also store various information including a database that is referenced when a program is executed.

The storage unit 120 may also store intermediate data, calculation results, thresholds, reference values, parameters, etc. that are generated (or used) by the management device 100 during its operation. The storage unit 120 may also supply the stored data to the requester in response to a request from each unit in the management device 100.

The display unit 130 displays information about items, etc. The display unit 130 may display the arrangement of items in a storage location, captured images of the storage location, etc. It is desirable that the display unit 130 also functions as a display for displaying the communication status of the management device 100, the OS, the execution status of applications, etc.

The display unit 130 may have a touch panel function and operate as the input unit 131. The input unit 131 receives operations, instructions, and the like from a user of the management device 100. The input unit 131 may also be an input device separate from the display unit 130.

The control unit 140 controls each unit of the management device 100. For example, the control unit 140 transmits and receives various information via the communication unit 110. The control unit 140 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 140 has a location information acquisition unit 141, an inventory information acquisition unit 142, a display control unit 143, a reception unit 144, and an update control unit 145. In other words, the CPU executes a program stored in the storage unit 120 to function as the control unit 140 having the location information acquisition unit 141, the inventory information acquisition unit 142, the display control unit 143, the reception unit 144, and the update control unit 145.

The location information acquisition unit 141 acquires the user's location information. For example, the location information acquisition unit 141 communicates with a GPS satellite or the like via the communication unit 110, calculates the current location of the management device 100, and sets it as the user's location information. In addition, if a transmitter that transmits a beacon signal or the like is provided at the storage location of the item, the location information acquisition unit 141 may calculate the current location of the management device 100 based on the beacon signal received by the communication unit 110, and set it as the user's location information.

The inventory information acquisition unit 142 acquires inventory information of target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's position from the storage device 10. The inventory information acquisition unit 142 generates a control signal that includes, for example, the user's position information and requests inventory information. The inventory information acquisition unit 142 transmits the generated control signal to the management server 20 via the communication unit 110. As a result, the inventory information acquisition unit 142 acquires the inventory information of the target items returned from the management server 20.

The display control unit 143 controls the display unit 130 to display information, etc., on the display unit 130. For example, the display control unit 143 displays a menu screen for the user to input the work to be performed. In addition, the display control unit 143 displays target item information, including the name of the target item, on the display unit 130 based on the inventory information acquired by the inventory information acquisition unit 142.

The target item information includes the names of the target items. This allows the user to know the names of the target items in a specified range. The target item information may also be information that includes a pair of the name of the target item and the number of items in stock. This allows the user to know the names of the target items in a specified range together with the number of items in stock.

It is desirable that the display control unit 143 display on the display unit 130 a list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in an order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items. For example, the display control unit 143 displays on the display unit 130 a list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in order of the distance between the user and the target items. This allows the user to easily grasp the location of the target items that are actually stored in the storage location from the information of the target items displayed on the display unit 130. The display control unit 143 may also display on the display unit 130 a list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in order of the highest position of the target items or the lowest position of the target items.

Some items have expiration dates, use by dates, best before dates, etc. If the storage device 10 further associates such expiration date information with items and stores it as inventory information, the display control unit 143 may cause the display unit 130 to display a list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in order of proximity to such predetermined expiration dates. This allows the user to easily grasp the target items, for example, in order of the items closest to their expiration dates, and therefore makes it easy to take out the target items in order of their expiration dates and manage the items in stock so as to maintain their expiration dates.

The display control unit 143 also updates the order of the target item information in the target item list based on predetermined conditions. For example, the display control unit 143 updates the target item list periodically at a predetermined time interval. This allows the user to check the latest target item list at every predetermined time.

The display control unit 143 may update the target item list in response to the movement of the user. For example, the display control unit 143 updates the order of the target item information in the target item list only when the user's location information has changed by a predetermined threshold or more. This allows the management device 100 to reduce the amount of communication with the management server 20, for example, in cases where the user is standing still and there is no change in the target items.

The reception unit 144 receives user input input by the user operating the input unit 131. For example, the reception unit 144 receives input of the number of target items for which the user wants to update the inventory information. The reception unit 144 may also receive input of the number of target items for which the user wants to check inventory information.

The update control unit 145 generates an update signal for updating the inventory information based on the user input received by the reception unit 144. The update control unit 145 transmits the generated update signal to the management server 20 via the communication unit 110. The specific operation of the update control unit 145 will be described later.

<First example of operation flow of management system S>
Fig. 3 shows a first example of an operation flow of the management system S according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 shows an example of an operation performed by the management system S to allow a user to confirm the location of a target item. It is assumed that a user manages items by executing application software installed in the management device 100. It is also assumed that the storage device 10 stores inventory information.

Here, the inventory information is information that associates the number of items in stock and the location information of the items with the name of the items. The location information of the items may be information indicating the absolute coordinates of the items, or alternatively, may be information indicating relative coordinates specific to the storage location, such as "third shelf, fourth shelf from the top, 30 cm from the right." In this case, it is preferable that the management server 20 and/or the management device 100 store the correspondence between the location coordinates of the items and the relative coordinates, and be able to convert between them.

First, the display control unit 143 displays a menu screen (S70). FIG. 4 shows an example of a menu screen displayed on the display unit 130 by the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment. The example in FIG. 4 is a screen that allows the user to select the actions of "entering," "discharging," "inventory," and "item confirmation."

Here, an example will be described in which the reception unit 144 receives a selection input in which the user has selected "Check item." In the operations from S71 to S77, the display unit 130 may display a button or the like indicating a return to the menu. In this case, it is desirable for the control unit 140 to operate in such a way that the user returns to S70 when the user touches the button indicating a return to the menu.

Next, the location information acquisition unit 141 acquires the user's location information (S71). For example, the location information acquisition unit 141 acquires the current location of the management device 100 as the user's location information. Next, the inventory information acquisition unit 142 generates a control signal that includes the acquired user's location information and requests inventory information. Then, the inventory information acquisition unit 142 transmits the generated control signal to the management server 20 (S72).

In response to receiving the control signal transmitted from the communication unit 110, the management server 20 searches the storage device 10 and extracts items within a predetermined range from the position indicated by the position information as target items (S73). Here, the predetermined range is, for example, information that is registered in advance in the management server 20. Alternatively, the predetermined range may be registered in the management device 100. In this case, the inventory information acquisition unit 142 transmits a control signal including the user's position information and information on the predetermined range to the management server 20 in S72.

The management server 20 transmits information that associates the extracted stock quantity and location information of the target item with the name of the target item to the management device 100 as stock information of the target item (S74). As a result, the stock information acquisition unit 142 acquires stock information of the target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's position.

Next, the display control unit 143 causes the display unit 130 to display a list of target items in which the target item information, including the names of the target items, is arranged in an order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items based on the acquired inventory information (S75). When the user ends the operation of the application (S76: Yes), the control unit 140 of the management device 100 ends the item management operation.

The control unit 140 determines whether the user continues the operation of the application (S76: No) and whether the predetermined condition is satisfied (S77). For example, the control unit 140 returns to S71 in response to the passage of a predetermined time (S77: Yes). As a result, the management system S executes S71 to S75, and the inventory information acquisition unit 142 acquires the next inventory information.

Then, in S75, the display control unit 143 updates the target item list based on the next inventory information acquired by the inventory information acquisition unit 142. In this way, the display control unit 143 can periodically update the order of the target item information in the target item list based on predetermined conditions, and the user can check the latest target item list at predetermined time intervals.

In addition, in S77, the control unit 140 may determine whether the movement of the user's position has reached or exceeded a predetermined threshold. In this case, in S77, the position information acquisition unit 141 acquires the user's position information. Then, if the user's position information has changed to or exceeded the predetermined threshold (S77: Yes), the control unit 140 returns to S71. Note that since the position information acquisition unit 141 has already acquired the user's position information, the control unit 140 may return to S72. This allows the user to check the latest list of target items by moving a predetermined distance or more.

The management system S may continue the above operations until the management device 100 ends the management operation (S76: Yes). This allows the user to easily understand the items stored in the storage area.

<Example of target item list 132>
Fig. 5 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays a target item list 132 on the display unit 130. The example in Fig. 5 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 displays a target item list 132 on the display unit 130, in which target item information is arranged in order of the distance between the user and the target item. It is desirable that the target item list 132 displays the name of the item and the number of items in stock. Furthermore, the target item list 132 may display a photo, illustration, etc. of the item.

The display control unit 143 may display the selection item 133 selected by the user from the menu. The display control unit 143 may further cause the display unit 130 to display an item layout diagram 134 that maps the user's position and the position of the target item. Displaying the item layout diagram 134 makes it easier for the user to understand the layout of the target item. In the item layout diagram 134 shown in FIG. 5, the user's position is indicated by a triangle. Also, the position of the target item is indicated by a circle. The item layout diagram 134 may display a frame, image, etc. indicating the shelf of the storage location.

Here, the display control unit 143 may display the target item at the top of the target item list 132 in the item layout diagram 134 in a display format different from that of the other items. For example, the display control unit 143 displays the target item at the top of the target item list 132 using a different color, shape, blinking display, etc. from that of the other items. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the display control unit 143 displays the item "notebook PC", which is the target item at the top of the target item list 132, in a black circle in the item layout diagram 134, different from the white circles of the other items.

The display control unit 143 may display an item selected by the user in the target item list 132 in a shape different from other items in the item layout diagram 134. In this way, the display control unit 143 displays the target item list 132 and the item layout diagram 134 in association with each other, making it easier for the user to grasp the layout of the target items.

The reception unit 144 may also receive input of multiple target items by the user in the target item list 132. Then, the display control unit 143 causes the display unit 130 to display a result of mapping the positions of the multiple target items selected by the user and the user's position as an item layout diagram 134. This allows the user to grasp the positions of the multiple items.

Furthermore, when a user, for example, manages or checks multiple items, by knowing the positions of the multiple items in advance, the user can predict the flow of the work to be done and perform the work efficiently. The display control unit 143 may display a line connecting multiple target items in a single stroke on the item layout diagram 134 to allow the user to understand the flow of the work. The management system S may operate so that the user can easily manage the inventory associated with work such as receiving, shipping, and inventorying for the target items identified in the above manner. Such operation is described next.

<Second and third examples of the operation flow of the management system S>
Fig. 6 shows a second example of the operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment. Fig. 7 shows a third example of the operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment. The operation flows of the second and third examples explain an example in which, in S70 of the operation flow of the first example described in Fig. 3, in response to the user touching "Store in", "Take out", or "Inventory" on the menu screen, an operation corresponding to these tasks is executed.

Here, the management system S executes the operations from S71 to S76 in the first example of the operational flow, and then executes the operations from S81 to S95 shown in Figures 6 and 7. Note that in S76, the target item information is information including the stock quantity of the target item.

When the selection item selected by the user on the menu screen is a stocking instruction indicating that the target item is to be "stocked" (S81: Yes), the reception unit 144 receives the number of target items for updating the inventory information (S82). For example, the reception unit 144 receives an input of the number of target items selected by the user in the target item list 132 or item layout diagram 134. In this case, it is desirable for the display control unit 143 to display the target item selected by the user in the item layout diagram 134 in a display format different from that of other items. FIG. 8(a) shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays a quantity input screen 135 on the display unit 130 to allow the user to input the number of target items when stocking the target items.

Alternatively, the display control unit 143 may display a quantity input display in the target item list 132 to input the number of the top target item in the target item list 132. In this case, the reception unit 144 receives the number information input by the user in the quantity input display. The display control unit 143 may also display multiple quantity input displays in the target item list 132 to input the number of multiple target items in the target item list 132. The reception unit 144 may receive the number information input by the user in one or multiple quantity input displays. The example in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the target item list 132 has multiple such quantity input displays 136. This allows the display control unit 143 to omit the operation of displaying the quantity input screen 135 on the display unit 130.

When the reception unit 144 receives a stock-entry instruction and an input of the number of target items, the update control unit 145 generates an update signal to update the inventory information of the storage device 10 by adding the number of target items received by the reception unit 144 to the inventory quantity in the corresponding inventory information (S83). For example, when the reception unit 144 receives a stock-entry instruction and an input of the number of target items "notebook PCs" of "5 units", the update control unit 145 adds "5 units" to the inventory quantity of "1 unit" in the inventory information, and generates an update signal to update the inventory information to "6 units". The update control unit 145 transmits the generated update signal to the management server 20 (S84).

When the user stores the entered target item in a new location different from the location where the target item is stored, it is desirable to register the new storage location. In this case, for example, the reception unit 144 receives from the user the storage location of the target item and a registration input indicating that the storage location is to be registered. Then, in response to the reception unit 144 receiving the registration input, the update control unit 145 includes the registration input information in an update signal and transmits it to the management server 20. The update control unit 145 may cause the location information acquisition unit 141 to acquire the location of the management device 100, and may set the acquired location of the management device 100 as the location of the storage location.

The management server 20 updates the inventory information in the storage device 10 in response to the received update signal (S85). If the update signal includes location information, the management server 20 may add the location information of the received target item to the inventory information. As described above, the management system S allows even a user who does not know the location of items in the storage location or the number of items in stock to easily perform inventory work by operating the management device 100 while being aware of the location of the items.

When there are multiple target items to be stored, in S82, the reception unit 144 may receive the number of multiple target items all at once. Alternatively, the management system S may repeat the operations from S82 to S85 for each target item. In addition, each time the storage of a target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20, the display control unit 143 may add a display of "stored" to the target item in the target item list 132 for which storage has been completed.

The display control unit 143 may also update the order of the target item information in the target item list 132 each time the storage of one target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20. For example, the display control unit 143 moves the target item that has been stored to the end of the target item list 132, and displays the target item that is next closest to the user at the top of the target item list 132.

If the selection item selected by the user on the menu screen is an outgoing instruction indicating that the target item is to be "outgoing" (S81: No, S86: Yes), the reception unit 144 receives the number of target items for updating the inventory information (S87). The operation of the reception unit 144 in S87 is the same as in S82, and a duplicated explanation will be omitted. Note that FIG. 8(b) shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays a quantity input screen 135 on the display unit 130 to input the number of target items when the target items are outgoing.

When the reception unit 144 receives an input of an unloading instruction indicating that the target items are to be unloaded and the number of target items, the update control unit 145 subtracts the number of target items received by the reception unit 144 from the stock quantity in the corresponding stock information and generates an update signal for updating the stock information of the storage device 10 (S88). For example, when the reception unit 144 receives an unloading instruction and an input of the number of target items "notebook PCs" of "1", the update control unit 145 subtracts "1" from the stock quantity "1" in the stock information and generates an update signal for updating the stock information to "0". The update control unit 145 transmits the generated update signal to the management server 20 (S89).

The management server 20 updates the inventory information in the storage device 10 in response to the received update signal (S90). As described above, the management system S allows even a user who is not aware of the location of items in the storage area or the number of items in stock to easily perform retrieval work by operating the management device 100 while being aware of the location of items.

When there are multiple target items to be shipped, in S87, the reception unit 144 may receive the number of multiple target items all at once. Alternatively, the management system S may repeat the operations of S87 to S90 for each target item. In addition, each time the shipping of a target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20, the display control unit 143 may add a "shipped" display to the target item in the target item list 132 for which shipping has been completed.

The display control unit 143 may also update the order of the target item information in the target item list 132 each time the release of one target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20. For example, the display control unit 143 moves the target item that has been released to the end of the target item list 132, and displays the target item that is next closest to the user at the top of the target item list 132.

If the selection item selected by the user on the menu screen is an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be "inventoried" (S81: No, S86: No, S91: Yes), the reception unit 144 receives the number of target items for checking the stock information (S92). The operation of the reception unit 144 in S92 is the same as that in S82, and a duplicated explanation will be omitted. Note that FIG. 8(c) shows an example in which the display control unit 143 according to this embodiment displays a quantity input screen 135 on the display unit 130 to input the number of target items when taking an inventory of the target items.

When the reception unit 144 receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventoryed and the number of target items, the update control unit 145 generates a first update signal to update the inventory information in the storage device 10 by adding information indicating that the inventory of the target items has been completed (S93). The update control unit 145 transmits the generated first update signal to the management server 20 (S94).

The management server 20 updates the inventory information in the storage device 10 in response to the received update signal (S95). The management server 20 updates the inventory information to add, for example, the date of the inventory and information indicating that the inventory has been completed.

Here, the management server 20 may keep a record of the stock quantity of the target item before the update as history. For example, when the reception unit 144 receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target item should be inventoryed and the number of target items, the update control unit 145 keeps the inventory information before the input is received as a referenceable history, while generating an update signal to update the stock quantity of the corresponding inventory information to the number of target items received by the reception unit 144. This allows users, administrators, etc. to check the history of the stock quantity of the target item by reading out the inventory information in the storage device 10.

The management server 20 or management device 100 may also generate a report recording the occurrence of a discrepancy between the actual inventory quantity and the inventory information in the storage device 10. The management server 20 or management device 100 may notify an administrator or the like of a message indicating the occurrence of a discrepancy. As described above, the management system S allows even a user who is not aware of the arrangement of items in a storage location or the inventory quantity to easily perform inventory work by operating the management device 100 while being aware of the arrangement of items.

When there are multiple target items to be inventoried, in S92, the reception unit 144 may accept the number of multiple target items all at once. Also, in S93, the display control unit 143 may cause the display unit 130 to display comparison information for the multiple target items. Alternatively, the management system S may repeat the operations of S92 to S95 for each target item. Each time the inventory of a target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20, the display control unit 143 may add a display of "Inventory Completed" to the target item in the target item list 132 for which inventory has been completed.

The display control unit 143 may also update the order of the target item information in the target item list 132 each time the inventory of one target item is completed and the update control unit 145 sends an update signal to the management server 20. For example, the display control unit 143 moves the target item whose inventory has been completed to the end of the target item list 132, and displays the target item next closest to the user at the top of the target item list 132. This allows the user to smoothly perform inventory of the target items in the order of the target item list 132.

In the above inventory operation of system S, an example has been described in which the update control unit 145 generates and transmits a first update signal to the management server 20 in response to the reception unit 144 receiving an inventory instruction indicating that an inventory is to be taken of the target items and the input of the number of target items, but this is not limited to this. The update control unit 145 may generate the first update signal after comparing the input number of target items with the stock quantity of the target items. Such an inventory operation of system S will be described next.

Figure 9 shows a modified example of the third example of the operation flow of the system S according to this embodiment shown in Figure 7. In the operation flow of the system S of this modified example, the operations of S91 and S92 are substantially the same as the operations of S91 and S92 in the operation flow of the system S of the third example shown in Figure 7, so duplicated explanations will be omitted.

When the reception unit 144 receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventoryed and the number of target items, the display control unit 143 causes the display unit 130 to display comparison information indicating the result of comparing the total number of target items received by the reception unit 144 with the stock quantity in the corresponding stock information (S901). This allows the user to know whether the number of target items stored in the storage location confirmed by the user matches the stock quantity in the stock information stored in the storage device 10.

If the total number of target items received by the reception unit 144 matches the stock quantity in the corresponding stock information (S902: Yes), the update control unit 145 generates a first update signal to update the stock information in the storage device 10 by adding information indicating that the inventory of the target items has been completed (S93). The update control unit 145 transmits the generated first update signal to the management server 20 (S94).

The management server 20 updates the inventory information in the storage device 10 in response to the received update signal (S95). The management server 20 updates the inventory information to add, for example, the date of the inventory and information indicating that the inventory has been completed.

If the total number of target items received by the reception unit 144 does not match the stock quantity in the corresponding inventory information (S902: No), the update control unit 145 generates a second update signal to update the inventory information in the storage device 10 by adding information indicating that the number of target items and the stock quantity do not match to the information indicating that the inventory of the target items has been completed (S903). The second update signal may include information on the number that does not match. The update control unit 145 transmits the generated second update signal to the management server 20 (S94).

The management server 20 updates the inventory information in the storage device 10 in response to the received update signal (S95). The management server 20 updates the inventory information to add, for example, the date of the inventory, the number of items that did not match, and information indicating that the inventory has been completed. The management server 20 may also update the inventory information by subtracting the number of items that did not match the inventory number to match the actual inventory number. Even in this modified system S, the user can easily perform inventory work while recognizing the location of items by operating the management device 100.

In the above management system S, an example has been described in which a user takes an inventory of all items stored in a storage location, but this is not limited to this. The management system S may also operate in a manner that corresponds to a case in which a user takes an inventory of a portion of the items stored in a storage location. In this case, the storage device 10 stores the number of items in stock and the location information of the items for each specified area.

Then, in S901, the display control unit 143 causes the display unit 130 to display comparison information indicating the result of comparing the total number of target items for each specified area with the stock quantity in the corresponding inventory information. Furthermore, if the total number of target items accepted by the acceptance unit 144 matches the stock quantity in the corresponding inventory information (S902: Yes), the update control unit 145 generates a first update signal indicating that inventory has been completed for each specified area (S903). In this way, the management system S makes it easy to perform inventory work for each specified area.

As shown in FIG. 4, the management device 100 according to the present embodiment displays a menu screen for allowing the user to select a work item such as "warehousing," "shipping," "inventory," etc., and executes an operation corresponding to the work item selected by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The management device 100 may operate to accept the input of the number of target items and then accept the selection of a work item.

As described above, an example has been described in which the reception unit 144 receives the number of target items for updating the inventory information, for example, in the operations of S82, S87, and S92 of the management device 100 according to this embodiment. In this case, the user may operate the input unit 131 to input the number of target items, and the reception unit 144 may receive the information input to the input unit 131.

Alternatively, the reception unit 144 may receive the number of target items based on the voice generated by the user. For example, the management device 100 includes an input device such as a microphone for inputting voice, and the reception unit 144 receives the number of target items from the user's voice in the order in which the target items are arranged in the target item list 132.

Here, the display control unit 143 may cause the display unit 130 to display a screen or display for inputting the number of target items in the order in which the target items are arranged in the target item list 132. For example, when the number of one target item is input by the user's voice, the display control unit 143 transitions to an input screen for the number of the next target item, and the reception unit 144 receives the user's voice input.

This allows the user to input the number of multiple target items into the management device 100 by voice in a hands-free manner, eliminating the need to operate the input unit 131. When a user receives, removes, and/or takes inventory of items, the user may, for example, perform the work while holding the items. In this way, the management device 100 has the function of inputting the number of target items without the user having to operate the device with their hands, allowing the user to efficiently proceed with the work while holding the items in their hands.

When the management device 100 is operating for voice input in a hands-free manner, the reception unit 144 may erroneously receive noise from the storage location of the items, conversations between workers, etc. Therefore, the reception unit 144 may receive the number of target items by the user's voice when the user's position is within a predetermined distance from the location of the items, and may not receive voice input when the user's position is more than the predetermined distance from the location of the items.

The distance between the user's location and the item's location is determined, for example, from the location of the management device 100 acquired by the location information acquisition unit 141 and the location information included in the inventory information. In addition, if a transmitter such as a beacon signal is present in the storage location, the distance between the user's location and the item's location may be determined based on the beacon signal.

In the above-described management system S according to this embodiment, an example has been described in which a menu is displayed on the display unit 130 and the user selects an operation to be performed, such as receiving, retrieving, inventorying, or checking items, but this is not limited to this. For example, the reception unit 144 may receive the operation to be performed as operation data.

In this case, it is desirable that the work data includes information indicating the work to be performed, such as warehousing, shipping, inventory, or item confirmation. Furthermore, if the work to be performed is warehousing or shipping, the work data may include information on the business partner, such as the source of the warehousing or the destination of the shipping.

When the management system S uses such work data, instead of the operation of S70 in the first example operation flow shown in FIG. 3, the reception unit 144 receives the work data. The reception unit 144 receives and accepts the work data from the management server 20, for example, via the communication unit 110.

Then, instead of the operation of S76, the display control unit 143 causes the display unit 130 to display a target item list 132 in which target item information, including the names of target items included in the work data, is arranged in an order according to the positional relationship between the user and the target items, based on the inventory information acquired by the inventory information acquisition unit 142. When displaying the item layout diagram 134, it is desirable to display the target items included in the work data, among the target items located within a predetermined range based on the user's position, in a display format different from that of the other items. This allows the user to grasp the position of the target items specified in the work data.

In addition, in the operations of S82, S87, and S92 in the operation flows of the second and third examples shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the target items included in the work data accepted by the acceptance unit 144 are used instead of the target items selected by the user. This enables the management system S to easily perform the work of receiving, retrieving, and/or inventorying the target items specified in the work data.

In addition, in S90 of the second example operation flow shown in FIG. 6, when all of the target items specified in the work data have been shipped, the management server 20 may generate work completion data that adds information that the items have been shipped to the work data. The management server 20 may include information on the date when the shipping was completed in the work completion data. In this way, the management server 20 can, for example, send the work data to the management device 100 in response to receiving work data from a business partner, to enable the user to easily perform the shipping work of the target items, and can send the work completion data to the business partner in response to completion of the shipping work of the user's target products, to promptly report the completion of the shipping.

Although the above description of the management system S according to the present embodiment has been given of an example in which the storage device 10 stores inventory information, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the storage unit 120 of the management device 100 may store inventory information. In other words, the management device 100 may include the storage device 10. In this case, the control unit 140 of the management device 100 may function as the management server 20. In other words, the management device 100 may function alone as the management system S.

The management device 100 may also communicate with the storage device 10 to manage inventory information of the storage device 10. In this case, the management device 100 functions as the management server 20. In other words, in this case, the management system S is composed of the management device 100 and the storage device 10, and the management server 20 may not be required.

Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination also has the effect of the original embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Storage device 20 Management server 30 Item 40 Target item 100 Management device 110 Communication unit 120 Storage unit 130 Display unit 131 Input unit 132 Target item list 133 Selection items 134 Item layout diagram 135 Quantity input screen 136 Quantity input display 140 Control unit 141 Position information acquisition unit 142 Stock information acquisition unit 143 Display control unit 144 Reception unit 145 Update control unit

Claims (20)

A management device for managing inventory of items,
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a user;
an inventory information acquisition unit that acquires inventory information of a target item located within a predetermined range based on the user's location from a storage device that stores inventory information in association with the item and location information of the item;
a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, a list of target items in which target item information including names of the target items is arranged in an order according to a positional relationship between the user and the target items based on the inventory information acquired by the inventory information acquisition unit;
The display control unit updates an order of the target item information in the target item list based on a predetermined condition.
Management device. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in order of proximity between the user and the target item. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in ascending order of the position of the target item or in descending order of the position of the target item. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the list of target items in which the target item information is arranged in order of the closest specified deadline. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit updates the order of the target item information in the target item list only when the user's location information has changed by a predetermined threshold or more. The target item information further includes an inventory quantity of the target item,
The management device further includes a receiving unit that receives an input of the number of the target items for updating the inventory information or the number of the target items for confirming the inventory information.
The management device according to claim 1 . The management device according to claim 6, further comprising an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of a stock instruction indicating that the target item is to be stocked and the number of the target items, adds the number of the target items received by the reception unit to the stock quantity of the corresponding stock information, and generates an update signal for updating the stock information in the storage device. The management device according to claim 6, further comprising an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of a shipping instruction indicating that the target items are to be shipped and the number of the target items, subtracts the number of the target items received by the reception unit from the stock quantity of the corresponding stock information, and generates an update signal for updating the stock information in the storage device. The management device according to claim 6, further comprising an update control unit that, when the reception unit receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventoryed and the number of the target items, generates an update signal for updating the inventory quantity of the corresponding inventory information to the number of the target items received by the reception unit while leaving the inventory information before the input as a referenceable history. The management device according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit, when the reception unit receives an input of an inventory instruction indicating that the target items are to be inventoryed and the number of the target items, causes the display unit to display comparison information indicating a result of comparing the total number of the target items received by the reception unit with the inventory quantity of the corresponding inventory information. The management device according to claim 10, further comprising an update control unit that generates an update signal for updating the inventory information in the storage device by adding information indicating that the inventory of the target items has been completed when the total number of the target items accepted by the acceptance unit matches the inventory quantity in the corresponding inventory information. the storage device stores the inventory quantity of the item and location information of the item for each predetermined area;
the display control unit causes the display unit to display the comparison information indicating a result of comparing the total number of the target items for each of the predetermined areas with the inventory quantity of the corresponding inventory information;
the update control unit generates an update signal indicating that the inventory has been completed for each of the predetermined areas when the total number of the target items accepted by the accepting unit matches the stock quantity of the corresponding stock information.
The management device according to claim 11. The display control unit is
further displaying, on the display unit, an item layout diagram in which the location of the user and the location of the target item are mapped;
In the item layout diagram, the display of the target item at the top of the target item list is displayed in a display format different from that of the other items.
The management device according to claim 6. The receiving unit receives an input of the number of the target objects selected by the user in the target object list or the object layout diagram,
The display control unit displays the target item selected by the user in a display format different from that of other items in the item layout diagram.
The management device according to claim 13. The receiving unit receives an input of the plurality of target items by the user in the target item list,
the display control unit causes the display unit to display a result of mapping the positions of the plurality of target objects selected by the user and the position of the user as an object layout diagram;
The management device according to claim 6. The management device according to claim 6, wherein the reception unit receives the number of the target items by voice from the user in the order in which the target items are arranged in the list of target items. The management device according to claim 6, wherein the reception unit receives the number of the target items by the user's voice when the user's position is within a predetermined distance from the position of the item. A management system for managing the inventory quantity of the item,
the storage device storing the inventory quantity of the item and location information of the item as the inventory information in association with the item;
The management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a management unit configured to acquire the inventory information from the storage device, and display on the display unit the list of target items arranged in an order according to a positional relationship between the user and the target items;
a management server that communicates with the management device and provides the inventory information to the management device or updates the inventory information in the storage device in response to a control signal received from the management device. A computer-implemented method for managing inventory of items, comprising the steps of:
acquiring location information of a user;
acquiring inventory information of a target item located within a predetermined range based on the user's location from a storage device that stores inventory information in association with the inventory quantity of the item and location information of the item;
displaying, on a display unit, a list of target items in which target item information including the names of the target items is arranged in an order according to a positional relationship between the user and the target items based on the inventory information;
updating an order of the target item information in the target item list based on a predetermined condition. A program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to function as the management device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

Images