EP1924956A2

EP1924956A2 - System for recognizing and tracing objects, in particular paper documents

Info

Publication number: EP1924956A2
Application number: EP06795450A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Zeppegno
Original assignee: Fondazione Torino Wireless
Current assignee: Fondazione Torino Wireless
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-09-08
Publication date: 2008-05-28
Also published as: WO2007029108A2; WO2007029108A3; ITTO20050613A1

Abstract

Described herein is a system (1) for recognizing and tracing objects, which comprises: a central processing unit (5) ; first radiofrequency identification tags (3) , set on respective objects (2) and containing identification codes of the objects (2) ; second radiofrequency identification tags (4), set on a surface of a respective environment and each containing an identification code of a respective environment; and a mobile unit (8) , configured for containing and for carrying the objects (2), for receiving the identification codes of the objects carried and the identification code of the environment in which it is located (4), and for transmitting the identification codes of the objects and the identification code of the environment in which it is located to the central processing unit (5) .

Description

SYSTEM FOR RECOGNIZING AND TRACING OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR

PAPER DOCUMENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system for recognizing and tracing objects and, in particular, paper documents and multimedia objects.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, notwithstanding the diffusion of computer technology, documentation of a paper type, constituted principally by sheets, folders, files and books, continues to be indispensable and widespread in the majority of companies and of public and private bodies and, in particular, in companies providing services, such as insurance companies, banks, estate agents, etc.

It is also known how, with the passage of time, the accumulation of large amounts of paper documents and multimedia objects, such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, diskettes, etc., can create for companies problems of management of the documentation itself and, in particular, problems linked to the difficulty of filing, distributing, and tracing the company documentation in an\ efficient and above all fast way. A proper management of the company documentation is in fact of vital importance for effective functioning of the company processes and of the organizational and logistic systems of a company.

Currently, in the majority of companies, management of the documentation is based upon technologies that are by now consolidated, such as, for example, the use of bar codes for tracing documents and the use of special papers and holograms to prevent forgery of documents. However, in the majority of cases, companies rely upon a prevalently manual management of the documents both as regards their issuing and distribution and as regards their filing.

In particular, the filing of documents, above all that of documents of a paper type, is frequently carried out using folders of various sizes that do not enable a safe filing of the documents and that, consequently, can be the cause of errors and imprecisions that lengthen enormously the times for tracing the documents themselves .

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a system for recognizing and tracing objects and, in particular, paper documents and multimedia objects such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and/or diskettes, based upon the use of technologies of radiofrequency identification (RFId technologies), which will enable location of objects and documents and will improve the efficiency and quality of the processes of management of documents .

According to the present invention, a system is provided for recognizing and tracing objects, as defined in Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of non- limiting example and with reference to the attached plate of drawings, wherein: • Figure 1 shows a system for recognizing and tracing objects obtained according to the present invention;

• Figures 2 and 3 show devices forming part of the system for recognizing and tracing objects according to the present invention; and • Figure 4 shows an example of application of the system for recognizing and tracing objects according to the present _ O _

invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Designated as a whole by 1 in Figure 1 is a system for recognizing and tracing objects and documents, which comprises :

• a plurality of objects and documents 2 and, in particular, documents of a paper type provided with radiofrequency identification tags 3 (RFId tags) of a known type; • a plurality of radiofrequency identification tags 4 set along the floor of one or more environments;

• an electronic processing unit 5, configured for controlling the system for recognizing and tracing objects 1;

• a plurality of processing stations 6, such as, for example, computers (as illustrated in Figure 1), cellphones, palm-tops, etc., connected to the electronic processing unit 5, and configured for communicating with the electronic processing unit 5 and for configuring, querying, and managing the system

1; • a plurality of read stations 7, connected to the electronic processing unit 5 and configured for identifying the objects and/or the documents 2 that are located within a given environment and for communicating the position of the objects 2 to the electronic processing unit 5; • a trolley 8, configured for carrying objects and/or documents and, in particular, objects and/or documents 2 provided with radiofrequency identification tags 3 (RFId tags), for identifying the objects and/or the documents 2 that it carries, for detecting their displacements from one environment to another, and for communicating the aforesaid displacements to the electronic processing unit 5;

• a portable read device 9 for reading radiofrequency identification tags 3; and

• a plurality of desktop devices 10, for reading and writing radiofrequency identification tags, each connected to a local processing station 11, which, preferably but not necessarily, as indicated by the dashed line of Figure 1, could be connected to the central electronic processing unit 5.

In particular, once again with reference to Figure 1, the radiofrequency identification tags 3 are basically constituted by an electronic circuit 12 (of a known type) provided, among other things, with a memory in which an object code is stored containing the information regarding the object or the document in which they are installed, for example an identification code of the document 2 and/or the type of document, and a miniaturized transceiving antenna 13.

When the radiofrequency identification tags pass though the magnetic field generated by the read and write devices located in their vicinity, for example by the read stations 7 or by the trolley 8, they are prompted to transmit the information stored therein or to receive information from outside.

In particular, with reference to Figures 1 and 4, the radiofrequency identification tags 4 can be fixed with an adhesive strip on the floor of one or more environments, for example along the corridors through which access is gained to the individual offices of a company, or at the entrance to an office, or an archive, or a warehouse or storeroom, and each contain an environment code designed to identify the environment in which the tags 4 are set.

Said tags 4 are "read" by the trolley 8 when this passes in the vicinity of the tags themselves.

The electronic processing unit 5, which, as has been said, has the task of controlling the system 1 for recognizing and tracing objects, and in particular of communicating with all the read devices, and of recording the information regarding the displacements of the objects 2, can, for example, be constituted by a server connected to a LAN and/or Wireless-LAN ~" O ""^*

network, in which purposely provided software for the control of the system 1 is installed and configured.

In particular, once again with reference to Figure 1, the electronic processing unit 5 could be connected to the read stations 7 and to the processing stations 6 through a telecommunications network of a wired type (for example of a

LAN type) and communicate with the trolley 8 through a network of a wireless type. Alternatively, the electronic processing unit 5 could be configured for making a communication of a wireless type with the trolley 8, with the read stations 7, and with the processing stations 6.

In particular, in the electronic processing unit 5 software programs are installed that are managed by operators through the processing stations 6 and/or 11 and that enable for example:

• recognizing, resetting, programming, and automatically restarting remotely the read stations 7 and the trolley 8; * providing an encrypted communication with the read stations 7, the trolley 8, and the processing stations 6 and 11/

• managing and monitoring the system 1 remotely, for example through a cellphone or the Internet;

• filing individual events recorded by the read stations 7, by the trolley 8, and by the read and write device 10, such as, for example, on what date and at what time and from which read device a certain tag associated to an object and/or to a document 2 has been read;

• filtering in an intelligent and parameterizable way the data acquired by the read stations 7 and by the trolley 8 so as to prevent duplications of information and/or non-coherent or erroneous information;

• implementing all the applicational functions necessary for the management of documents; and • integrating the system 1 with possible external systems. The read stations 7, as illustrated in Figure 2, comprise:

• a container 14 (for example of a parallelepipedal type) made of material that does not interfere with the frequencies of the radio signals with which the radiofrequency identification tags 3 operate/

• a transceiving antenna 15, set for example on the top surface of the read station 7; in particular, the antenna 15 is of a planar type, in the example represented, and is positioned in such a way as to be able to receive in an optimal way the radio signals coming from the identification tags 3 of the objects and of the documents 2 that are rested on the antenna 15 of a planar type/

• a device for reading identification tags (RFId tags) , which is set within the container 14 and is not illustrated in Figure 2, receives at input the radio signals coming from the antenna 15 following upon reading of the data contained in the identification tag 3 (RFId tag) and is designed to detect and store the object codes for the objects and/or documents resting on the antenna 15; • a programmable electronic control device, set within the container 14 and not illustrated in Figure 2, equipped with a memory and a display 16 and configured for controlling and programming the read station 7;

• an electronic device for transmitting and receiving data through a telecommunications network of a LAN type, set within the container 14 and not illustrated in Figure 2;

• a plurality of indicators of operation 17, configured for warning of possible faults on the read station 7/ and a connector (not illustrated) for connecting the read station 7 to the electric power supply line.

The read stations 7 could moreover be configured for communicating with the electronic processing unit 5 through a wireless-LAN telecommunications network of a known type. For this purpose, they would be equipped with an electronic device for the transmission and reception of data capable of transmitting and receiving information through reliable wireless-LAN channels (for example, SSL or VPN) , of storing the information in a backup memory in the case where the wireless connection were to be interrupted, and of retransmitting the information as soon as the connection is restored.

Each read station 7 is provided with a station code that identifies uniquely the station and from which it is possible to trace the place where the station is located and consequently the place where a document 2 is located. For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment, the electronic processing unit 5 can be provided with one or more conversion tables designed to receive at input the station code coming from the read station 7 in order to supply at output the information regarding the physical place where the station 7 is located. Alternatively, the station code could also comprise data that identify directly the place where the station is located.

To identify the objects and documents 2 that are located within the premises in which the read station 7 is located, it is sufficient to rest the objects and documents 2 on, or bring them closer to, the planar antenna 15 so that the radiofrequency identification tags 3 (RFId tags) of the documents 2 can come into contact with the magnetic field generated by the read station 7 and be prompted to transmit to the read station 7 the object code associated to the object or document 2 that is rested on the station 7.

The read station 7 then sends the object code and its station code to the electronic processing unit 5, which is thus updated on the current position of the document 2.

The read stations 7 are basically conceived for being installed within premises, for example offices, stores, warehouses, or archives, can be positioned on or under the desks or other office furniture, can be equipped with a base so that they can be positioned in any place where there is the need to locate objects and documents, are basically of small dimensions, and are quick to install.

In particular, the read stations 7 are conceived for being used in companies with a large number of offices, where tracing of documents 2 could require long times and where it is particularly advantageous to centralize management of the company documentation.

The main function of the trolley 8, instead, is that of detecting the displacements of the objects and/or documents 2, for example when these are carried from one office to another, and of transmitting to the electronic processing unit 5 the information regarding the displacements of the objects and/or documents 2.

For this purpose, as illustrated in Figure 3, the trolley 8 is basically constituted by a trolley made of a material that does not interfere with the frequencies of the radio signals, and comprises:

• a transceiving antenna 18, set, for example, under the central shelf of the trolley 8 on which the objects and/or the documents 2 are rested; in particular, the antenna 18 is positioned in such a way as to be able to receive in an optimal way the radio signals coming from the identification tags of the objects and/or documents 2 that are rested on the trolley to be carried from one office to the other;

• a transceiving antenna 19 set, in the example illustrated, under the bottom shelf of the trolley 2 and facing the floor in such a way as to be able to receive in an optimal way the radio signals coming from the identification tags 4 distributed on the floor; a read device 20 for reading identification tags (RFId tags) , illustrated schematically for simplicity of description, which receives at input the signals coming from the antennas 18 and 19 and is configured for reading and storing the object codes coming from the identification tags 3 of the objects and documents 2 that are rested on the trolley 8 and the environment codes coming from the identification tags 4 set on the floor;

• an electronic device 21 of a known type for wireless-LAN communications configured for transmitting, to the electronic processing unit 5 through a wireless network, radio signals containing the object codes and the environment codes; also in this case, the electronic device for wireless communications transmits the aforesaid information through a reliable wireless channel (for example, SSL or VPN) and, in the case where the wireless connection were to be interrupted, the information would be recorded in a backup memory and transmitted as soon as the connection is restored;

• an electric power supply device 22, for example a rechargeable battery, for the supply of all the electronic devices installed on board the trolley 8; and

• a plurality of operation indicators (not illustrated in the figures), configured for warning of possible faults on the electronic devices installed on board the trolley 8.

The trolley 8 could moreover comprise a programmable electronic control device (not illustrated in Figure 3) , equipped with a memory and a display, for example a personal computer or a palm-top, configured for communicating with the read device 20 and the electronic device for wireless communications 21.

In particular, the read device 20, the electronic device for wireless communications 21, and the rechargeable battery 22 can be housed within a single container (not illustrated) protected, aerated, and equipped with a power-supply collector

(not illustrated in the figure) , through which it is possible to recharge the battery 22 and supply the devices 20, 21 and 22 from outside.

Operation of the trolley 8 is described in what follows.

Whenever objects or documents 2 provided with radiofrequency identification tags 3 are rested on the central shelf of the trolley 8, the magnetic field generated by the read device 20 of the trolley 8 affects the electronic circuit of the identification tags 3 of the objects and/or documents 2, which are thus prompted to transmit their object codes.

The read device 20 processes the object codes received, identifies on the basis thereof the documents 2 that have been rested on the trolley and that will be presumably carried into another office, and sends the object codes to the electronic wireless communication device 21, which transmits the object codes of the objects 2 to the central electronic processing unit 5.

In the case where the trolley 8 also includes the aforesaid programmable electronic control device, for example a palmtop, the information acquired by the read device 20 could be sent by the latter to the programmable electronic control device, which, if equipped with a display, could display the information, for example to enable a possible operator responsible for carrying the objects and/or the documents 2 to verify whether the carried objects correspond effectively to the ones to be displaced.

Likewise, whenever the trolley 8 passes near to or over the identification tags 4 set on the floor, the magnetic field generated by the read device 20 affects the electronic circuit of the identification tags 4 set on the floor, which are thus prompted to transmit the environment code. - ii -

The read device 20 then sends the environment codes received to the electronic wireless communication device 21, which in turn transmits them to the electronic processing unit 5 and, on the basis of these, detects the position of the trolley 8 and automatically the position of the documents 2 that rest thereon.

In this way, the electronic processing unit 5 is at all times constantly updated on which documents 2 are located on the trolley 8 and in which office the trolley 8 is located, and always knows the displacements of the documents 2.

Furthermore, the system 1 enables assignment to each trolley 8 of a trolley code, which is stored in the remote electronic control unit 5. In particular, the trolley 8 can be configured for being deposited in purposely provided workstations, which are equipped with a blocking device with an electric lock openable with a personal badge, entrusted, for example, to an operator responsible for carrying the objects and configured for reading the trolley code 8. In this way, it is possible to keep trace of the operator who has picked up the trolley, prevent the theft and improper use of the trolley, and incorporate power supply in the blocking device so as to simplify the operations of recharging of the battery 22.

The portable read device 9 has, instead, the purpose of enabling an operator to trace objects and documents 2 that are difficult to trace, for example, documents that are located inside cabinets amongst other documents or that are within a pile of documents resting on a desk. For this purpose, the operator enters, in the portable read device 9, the object code of the object 2 to be found and brings the portable read device 9 up to the place where the object sought is presumably present. In the case where the object to be traced is actually in the place expected, the identification tag 3 of the object and/or document 2 sought is prompted by the magnetic field of the portable read device 9 and transmits to the latter the object code that will then be detected by the portable read device 9, which will notify the presence of the object sought.

The portable read device 9 basically comprises the following elements (not illustrated in Figure 1) :

• a device for entry of the identification codes of the objects and/or documents, for example a keyboard;

• an electronic device for reading radiofrequency identification tags;

• a programmable electronic control unit;

• a display;

' an antenna; and

• a power-supply battery.

The read and write devices 10 for reading and writing radiofrequency identification tags 3 are in themselves known and are conceived for carrying out the operations of reading and writing identification tags, such as, for example, recording the code in the RFId tag applied to an object or reading an identification tag for recording the displacement of an object in the case where the read station 7 and the trolley 8 are not available. Said operations can be carried out with the aid of the processing station 11, connected to the device 9, in which software for management of the aforesaid operations of reading and writing, as well as for management of the information (filing and displacements) regarding the objects 2, is installed.

Figure 4 shows an example of application of the system for recognizing and tracing objects 1. In particular, illustrated in the example of Figure 4 is a portion of a building made up of an office A, an office B, an archive C, and a corridor D, where there is the registered office of a company that uses the system for recognizing and tracing objects 1. In the example of Figure 4, the radiofrequency identification tags 4, used for identifying the offices A and B and the archive C, are set on the floor at the entrances, respectively, to the office A, to the office B, and to the archive C so that the system 1 can detect the passage of the trolley 8 from one environment to another, for example when the trolley carries documents from the archive C to the office A. In this case, the system 1 will detect first the passage of the trolley over the radiofrequency identification tags 4 set in the entrance to the archive and then the passage over the ones set at the entrance to the office A.

In the example of Figure 4, the office A, the office B, and the archive C moreover have at their disposal a read station 7 for identification and filing of the documents 2 that are located within them.

From an examination of the characteristics of the system for recognizing and tracing objects provided according to the present invention, the advantages that it makes available are evident .

In particular, the system of the present invention enables tracing in a fast and reliable way of objects and documents and, in particular, paper documents, multimedia objects such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, diskettes, or other types of objects, such as for example packages of medicines, taking into account their displacements. It moreover enables a proper and transparent filing of the objects and of the documents to be carried out and contributes, through the centralization of the flow of information, to improving sensibly the efficiency and quality of the processes for management of documents and to reducing the costs involved.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the system for recognizing and tracing objects 1 described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection of the present invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

The trolley 8 could, for example, be equipped with more than two antennas or just one antenna for receiving the radio signals coming from the identification tags, or else the system 1 could not include the read and write devices 10.

Claims

1. A system (1) for recognizing and tracing objects, characterized in that it comprises: • a central processing unit (5) _/

• a first radiofrequency identification tag (3) , configured for being set on a respective object (2) and containing an object code for identification of said object;

• a second radiofrequency identification tag (4) provided with means for anchorage on a surface of a respective environment and containing an environment code for identification of a respective environment;

• at least one mobile unit (8), configured for containing and for carrying said object (2); said mobile unit (8) being provided with means for receiving said object code stored in said first identification tag (3) and said environment code stored in said second tag (4); said receiving means being activated in reception when said object (2) is set in the proximity of said mobile unit (8) and/or when said mobile unit (8) passes in a position corresponding to at least one of said second tags (4) ; said mobile unit (8) being configured for communicating with said central processing unit (5) for transmitting said object code and said environment code.

2. The system according to Claim 1, in which said mobile unit (8) comprises:

• at least one antenna (18) , configured for receiving radio signals coming from said first tag (3) ; said antenna cooperating with said means for receiving said codes.

3. The system according to Claim 2, in which said antenna (18) forms at least part of a resting portion on which said objects are set.

4. The system according to Claim 1, in which said mobile unit (8) comprises: • at least one antenna (19), configured for receiving radio signals coming from said second tag (4) ; said antenna cooperating with said means for receiving said codes.

5. The system according to Claim 1, in which said mobile unit (8) comprises:

• at least one antenna configured for receiving at least one of said radio signals coming from said first tag (3) and/or said second tag (4) ; said antenna co-operating with said means for receiving said codes.

6. The system according to Claim 1, in which said second tag (4) is set on the floor and/or on at least one wall of at least one environment.

7. The system according to Claim 1, in which associated to said mobile unit (8) is a code that identifies uniquely said mobile unit (8); said code being stored in said central processing unit (5) .

8. The system according to Claims 1 to 1, in which said mobile unit (8) comprises at least one device for blocking said mobile unit (8); said blocking device being at least activatable by means for reading said code that identifies uniquely said mobile unit (8) .

9. The system according to Claim 1, provided in which are an electronic device (7) for reading said first identification tag (3) , configured for being set stably in an environment; said electronic read device (7) being provided with means for receiving said object code stored in said first identification tag (3) ; said receiving means being activated in reception when said object (2) is set in the proximity of said device

(7); said device being configured for storing a station code for identification of said device (7) and for communicating with said central processing unit (5) for transmitting said object code stored in said first identification tag (3) and its own station code.

10. The system according to Claims 1 and 9, in which said central processing unit (5) is configured for determining the place where said device (7) is set on the basis of said station code.

11. The system according to Claims 1 and 9, in which said mobile unit (8) and said electronic read device (7) can be programmed remotely by said remote electronic control unit (5) .

12. The system according to Claim 1, in which there is provided at least one portable electronic read device (9) for reading said first tag (3) , which is designed to read said object codes in order to seek an object (2) associated to a target code .

13. The method (1) for recognizing and tracing objects, characterized in that it comprises:

• storing in first radiofrequency identification tags (3) object codes for identification of objects (2);

• setting said first radiofrequency identification tags (3) on respective objects (2) ; storing in second radiofrequency identification tags (4) environment codes for identification of environments;

• setting said second tags (4) in respective environments;

• containing and carrying at least one of said objects (2); • receiving said object codes of said carried objects (2) ;

• receiving said environment codes coming from said respective second tags (4) when said carried objects (2) pass in a position corresponding to at least one of said second tags

(4) ; and • transmitting said object codes of the objects carried and said detected environment codes to a central processing unit :5) .

14. The method (1) for recognizing and tracing objects according to Claim 13, which moreover comprises: • storing, in electronic read devices (7), station codes for identification of said electronic read devices (7);

• setting said objects (2) in a position corresponding to said electronic read devices (7);

• receiving on said electronic read devices (7) said object codes of said objects (2) set in a position corresponding to said electronic read devices (7); and

• transmitting said object codes received and said station codes to said central processing unit (5) .