EP3205411A1 - Method for sorting items of luggage and luggage sorting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sorting pieces of luggage (16), each comprising an identification element (18) with an information record (22) in the form of plain text. For the efficient sorting of pieces of luggage (16), it is proposed that at least part of the information set (22) of the identification element (18) be automatically detected and automatically recognized, and automatically checked during a check as to whether the recognized part of the information set (22) has at least a record stored in a database (10).

Description

The invention relates to a method for sorting pieces of luggage, each comprising an identification element with an information record in the form of plain text.

In the case of air travel, the checked baggage is usually provided with a baggage tag in order to be able to sort the baggage item during transport or to assign it (eg to a destination, a passenger name and / or other information). As a rule, this bar code label contains a barcode and other transport-relevant information such as the baggage number, the flight number, the destination airport and, if applicable, the name of the passenger. Usually, the barcode is read during the transport in order to be able to carry out a sorting / assignment. With the barcode the baggage number is coded, for which in turn the flight number and further transport-relevant information are stored.

Often, a baggage tag is damaged during transport of the baggage item (for example, during transport via baggage belts or conveyor belts, during loading of the aircraft and / or during unloading of the aircraft). In particular, the baggage tag may be kinked and / or twisted, the baggage tag may become dirty, parts of the baggage tag may be torn and / or scraped off and / or the like. In the event of a damaged baggage tag, the barcode can no longer be recognized so that the baggage label must be read out by hand. This results in an increased personnel expenses. Furthermore, there are delays in the sorting / assignment. In some cases it can even happen that a connecting flight can not be reached due to the delays.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method by which the sorting of luggage can be performed more efficiently.

This object is achieved by a method for sorting luggage, in which the pieces of luggage each comprise an identification element with an information set in the form of plain text and in which at least a portion of the information set of the identification element is automatically detected and automatically detected and automatically checked during a test whether the recognized part of the information record matches at least one record stored in a database.

The invention is based on the consideration that automatic detection of the identification element, in particular its plain text, enables efficient, in particular rapid, and labor-saving processing. Furthermore, the automatic check enables an efficient, in particular a quick and personnel-saving, check.

By means of the automatic check, various text versions can be run through quickly and with less effort and / or the probabilities of the individual text versions can be taken into account. Furthermore, the automatic check can include further data sources, for example a flight plan, in order to check whether the collected information set is plausible. For example, it can be checked whether a recorded flight number exists in the current flight plan and is so plausible - otherwise this text version can be excluded.

Preferably, the sorting takes place in an airport. "Sort luggage" can be understood as "Assign luggage". In particular, when sorting a piece of luggage can be assigned to which destination the bag is to be transported. In this case, the destination may, for example, a specific gate, a specific loading zone, a be a specific aircraft, a particular baggage transport (in particular a specific baggage band), a destination airport or the like.

A piece of luggage may be, for example, a suitcase, a travel bag, a bulky item of luggage, a sports equipment or any other piece of luggage. Furthermore, the identification element can be a baggage tag, also called banderole or baggage label.

As a "capture" of the part of the information set, the optical detection can be construed. For example, the detection can take place by means of a reading device, in particular a scanner and / or a camera.

As "automatic detection" an at least semi-automatic detection can be understood. That is, the capture may involve an actor. For example, the detection by means of a handheld reader, in particular a handheld scanner and / or a handheld camera, take place. Furthermore, the detection of the information set can be fully automatic.

As a "recognition" of the part of the information set can be understood a read, in particular a readout by means of software. For example, the recognition / readout can be performed by means of a text recognition software. Further, upon detection, the recognized portion of the information set may be brought into a form readable by a computer / software.

The information set is in the form of plain text. That is, the information set preferably comprises a human-readable text, in particular a plurality of letters and / or numbers.

Advantageously, it is possible to read from the information record in the form of plain text how the luggage is to be sorted.

In particular, a person skilled in the art can read directly from the information set without aids, how the item of luggage is to be sorted. Furthermore, it is advantageous if it is possible to read from the information record to which destination the item of luggage is to be transported.

For example, the information set may include a destination airport code. The destination airport code can be used to identify the destination airport to which the item of luggage is to be transported. Typically, these airport codes are shown larger than other information, making their automatic capture easier.

Furthermore, the information set may include a barcode. A barcode can be understood as a coded form of information (s). Preferably, the information set can be derived from the barcode. Furthermore, the barcode can be derived from the information record.

Appropriately, a different information than the barcode itself is detected and recognized, which detected and recognized information is preferably located directly on the identification element.

The fact that preferably one or more arbitrary information is recognized in plain text, it may be possible to match different and / or more information with the database.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the detected part of the information set of the identification element differs from a plain text representation of the barcode. The clear text representation of the bar code can be, for example, a luggage number. That is, the information set comprises at least one piece of information that does not correspond to the plain text representation of the barcode.

Furthermore, the information set may comprise plain text, which differ from the plain text representation of a barcode. In particular, if the detected part of the plaintext differs from a plaintext representation of the barcode, preferably a cleartext representation of the barcode can be dispensed with. Furthermore, an automatic detection of at least a part of the information set may make it possible to completely dispense with the barcode.

It is advantageous if, during the check, it is checked which data record of the database has the greatest agreement with the detected part of the information record. For example, the captured part of the information set can be compared in character with the at least one record of the database.

Expediently, the check, in particular using the recognized part of the information record, automatically determines to which destination the item of luggage is to be transported. In particular, it can be automatically determined during the check with which of several available luggage transport means the piece of luggage is to be transported. A luggage transport may z. B. a luggage belt and / or a luggage cover. Preferably, a sorting of the baggage is carried out automatically according to the determination.

Preferably, the part of the information set is detected by an information acquisition device, in particular by a reader. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the part of the information record is recognized by means of an optical text recognition, in particular by means of OCR (optical character recognition). The optical text recognition can be carried out by means of a text recognition software. The optical text recognition can, for. B. recognize the part of the information set in the form of plain text character by character. You may not be able to capture another part of the information set and / or not recognized, for example because this other part has been damaged.

It is advantageous if by means of the optical text recognition, in particular by means of a text recognition software, hypotheses are set up, which text could stand on the identification element. For example, several text versions can be created by means of optical text recognition. Furthermore, optical text recognition may indicate a likelihood and / or credibility for each text version. Next z. For example, the most likely and / or credible version of the text will be considered the recognized part of the information set. If the recognized part of the information set does not match any of the records, the recognized part of the information set may be replaced by another of the text versions, which is then preferably compared to the database.

The created text versions are expediently compared to the data records of the database for the purpose of checking. Furthermore, it is determined between which of the text versions the best match with one of the records exists.

If the recognized part of the information record matches a data record of the database, then it can preferably be recognized how the bag is to be sorted.

Advantageously, the information set comprises a plurality of information. Furthermore, it is expedient if at least one of the information is at least partially recognized. It is preferred if at least one of the information is fully recognized. Furthermore, at least two of the information can be at least partially recognized.

The information set may include a baggage number as information. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the information set comprises a bording number, a passenger name, a flight number, a departure airport code Interstate airport code and / or a destination airport code as information. The information set may include other information, such as a flight date. The flight date may include the day, month and / or time of the flight. Conveniently, the part of the information set that is automatically detected and recognized is at least part of that information. The departure airport, the intermediate airport or the destination airport may be the respective airports of the baggage.

It is also expedient if the data record comprises a baggage number, a bording number, a passenger name, a flight number, a departure airport code, an inter-airport code and / or a destination airport code. In addition, the record may include other information, such as a flight date.

Characterized in that preferably one or more arbitrary information of the information set are at least partially detected, it may be possible to match different information with the database.

Preferably, several of the information of the information set are recognized. Furthermore, it is advantageous if it is checked during the check whether the plurality of information matches at least one data record of the database.

Furthermore, a part of the information set can be at least partially recognized and compared with several data records of the database. Further, if the portion of the information set does not match any of the records, the record of information may be replaced by the record that is most consistent with the information set.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the database is a dynamic database. It makes sense to automatically create the datasets of the dynamic database.

Furthermore, the data records of the dynamic database can be generated independently. Conveniently, the dynamic database is constantly updated, in particular in the second-second. Preferably, a data record contains the information to which destination a piece of luggage is to be transported.

Advantageously, the information set is transmitted to the database when the identification element is created. Furthermore, the identification record transmitted to the database is stored in the database as a data record.

The piece of luggage may be a piece of luggage. Further, the baggage can be sorted at an airport.

In particular, the record can be stored in the database or generated when the bag is delivered at the airport, z. B. at a check-in. For example, the generation of the data record can be simultaneous with the creation of the identification element or time-delayed.

That is, an airport at which the item of luggage is sorted may have created the record itself, particularly if the airport is the departure airport.

It is advantageous if a data set generated from the information set is transmitted to all airports involved in the transport of a piece of luggage, for example to a departure airport, to a destination airport, and / or to an intermediate airport.

That is, an airport at which the item of luggage is sorted may have received the record from another airport, particularly when the airport at which the item of luggage is sorted is an intermediate airport or a destination airport of the item of luggage. In this way, it can be ensured that each of the participating airports can access the complete data record. If the identification element is read in one of the participating airports, so the detected part of the information set can be compared directly with the at least one record, regardless of which of the participating airports the bag is currently. As a rule, the identification element is only damaged on the transport of the item of luggage, so that it is precisely at the intermediate airport or at the destination airport that there is a need to compare the identification element with the at least one item of data.

Furthermore, the database can record when the piece of luggage arrives at its destination for baggage. The luggage destination can z. For example, there may be a specific baggage-carrying belt at the destination airport. The data record relating to this item of luggage is preferably deleted after a predetermined period of time, in particular after 24 hours after the arrival of the item of luggage at the destination of the baggage.

It is advantageous if the database at least partially includes information of a flight plan. The flight plan may include flight numbers of incoming aircraft and / or departing aircraft, their departure airport, their landing airport, their departure time and / or their landing time. Further, it is preferable if the check is made to see if the recognized part of the information set agrees with at least one of the flight plan information stored in the database. In particular, it can be checked during the check whether the recognized part of the information record is plausible.

For example, it can be checked during the check as to whether the recognized flight number exists at all, whether the flight with the recognized flight number has ever landed, whether the flight has landed at all from the detected airport and / or the like. If recognized information is not plausible, a different version of the information set may become more likely.

Preferably, the flight plan is the current flight plan, i. H. for example, the flight plan of the last 48 hours and the next 96 hours, preferably the schedule of the last 24 hours and the next 48 hours.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a baggage sorting system. The baggage sorting system according to the invention comprises an information acquisition device for automatic acquisition of the information record in the form of plain text and a test unit which is set up to automatically check during a check whether a recognized part of the information record matches at least one data record stored in a database.

The baggage sorting system according to the invention may be the baggage sorting system previously mentioned in connection with the method. Consequently, the following elements of the baggage sorting system may be the elements previously mentioned in connection with the method.

Preferably, the information acquisition device is a reader. Further, the reader can capture at least a portion of the information set. In addition, the reader may direct the captured portion of the information set to a text recognition software. Preferably, an optical text recognition can be carried out by means of the text recognition software. For example, the test unit may include the text recognition software.

Furthermore, the test unit may include the database. Furthermore, the checking unit can have access to the database, in particular access to a storage medium on which the database is stored.

Expediently, the information acquisition device and the test unit are connected to one another by a cable, in particular by a data transfer cable.

The previously given description of advantageous embodiments of the invention contains numerous features, which are given in the individual subclaims partially summarized in several. However, these features may conveniently be considered individually and combined into meaningful further combinations. In particular, these features can be combined individually and in any suitable combination with the method according to the invention and the baggage sorting system according to the invention. Thus, process features are also formulated objectively as a property of the corresponding baggage sorting system and vice versa.

Although some terms are used in the specification or claims in the singular or in conjunction with a number word, the scope of the invention for these terms should not be limited to the singular or the respective number word.

The above-described characteristics, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they will be achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. The embodiments serve to illustrate the invention and do not limit the invention to the combination of features specified therein, not even with respect to functional features. In addition, suitable features of each embodiment may also be explicitly considered isolated, removed from one embodiment, incorporated into another embodiment to supplement it, and combined with any of the claims.

FIG 1

ein Gepäcksortiersystem mit Informationserfassungssystem und Prüfeinheit;

FIG 2

ein intaktes Identifikationselement; und

FIG 3

ein beschädigtes Identifikationselement.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a baggage sorting system with information capture system and inspection unit;

FIG. 2

an intact identification element; and

FIG. 3

a damaged identification element.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a baggage sorting system 2 with an information detection device 4. The information detection device 4 is designed as a reading device, in particular as a camera. Furthermore, the baggage sorting system 2 comprises a test unit 6. In addition, the test unit 6 and the information acquisition device 4 are interconnected by a cable 7, in particular by a data transfer cable. The test unit 6 comprises a text recognition software 8 for optical text recognition. Furthermore, the test unit 6 comprises a database 10. Furthermore, the database 10 comprises a plurality of data records. The database 10 is a dynamic database in which the data records are automatically generated or stored. In particular, an information record 22 is transmitted to the database 10 when an identification element 18 is created and stored in the database 10 as a data record. The identification element 22 is created at a check-in of a piece of luggage 16, for example, in a departure airport.

Next is in FIG. 1 a luggage belt 12 is shown, which runs over rollers 14. The directions of movement of the rollers 14 and the luggage belt 12 are shown by arrows. In principle, the piece of luggage could also be transported, for example, via luggage trays and / or another baggage transport means.

On the luggage belt 12 is the baggage 16, in particular a piece of luggage. At the piece of luggage 16, the identification element 18, in particular a baggage tag, attached. The identification element 18 comprises the information sentence 22 in the form of plain text (cf. 2 and FIG. 3 ).

The information acquisition device 4 is set up to automatically acquire the information sentence 22 in the form of plain text. At least part of the information set 22 of the identification element 18 is detected automatically. Furthermore, at least part of the information set 22 is automatically recognized, in particular by means of the text recognition software 8. In addition, in a check, in particular by means of the check unit 6, automatically checks whether the recognized part of the information set 22 with at least one record, which is stored in the database 10 is, matches.

The information set 22 of the identification element 18 is in the form of plain text (cf. FIG. 2 ). Furthermore, the information set 22 comprises a plurality of information 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 (cf. FIG. 2 ).

FIG. 2 schematically shows an intact identification element 18. The identification element 18 includes a barcode 20, which is printed horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, the identification element 18 comprises an information record 22 in the form of plain text. The information set 22 in turn comprises a bording number 26, a passenger name 28, an inter-airport code 32 and the associated flight number 30 and a destination airport code 34 as well as the associated flight number 30 as information. Furthermore, the information set 22 comprises an issue date 36 and an air date 38. In addition, the information set 22 comprises a baggage number 24 which corresponds to the clear text representation of the barcode 20.

FIG. 3 shows by way of example the identification element 18 of FIG. 2 , which is now damaged, in particular twisted and glued. For example, a piece of luggage 16 having such a damaged identification element 18 arrives at an intermediate airport and has to be sorted.

In the case of the damaged identification element 18, the barcode 20 and the luggage number 24 are damaged in such a way that this information 20, 24 is now illegible. Using the in FIG. 1 Luggage sorting system 2 shown may be part of the Information set 22 is detected and recognized. The text recognition (ssoftware) 8 recognizes the part of the information set 22 character by character. Another, damaged part of the information set 22 can not be detected and / or not recognized. The optical text recognition 8 recognizes a plurality of information 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 of the information set 22 at least partially. For example, a part of the passenger name 28 can be recognized, for. As MUSTERMA, and another part of the passenger name 28 can not be recognized, because the characters of the other part, for. B. NN, damaged and thus illegible. Further, for example, the destination airport code 34 is completely recognized.

The text recognition (ssoftware) 8 off FIG. 1 makes hypotheses on which text could be on the identification element 18. For example, by means of the optical text recognition 8 several text versions can be created. Furthermore, the optical text recognition 8 indicates a probability for each text version. For example, the optical text recognition 8 for the flight number 30 to the destination airport creates the text versions LH 550, LH 650 and LH 850 with the probabilities 40%, 50%, 10%. Next z. For example, the text version with the highest probability (here LH 650) can be regarded as recognized information in the recognized part of the information set 22.

The database 10 of the intermediate airport at which the baggage item 16 is to be sorted has received the record from a departure airport of the baggage item 16. That is, at the departure airport, the data record was generated with respect to the item of luggage 16, which data record was then transmitted to all airports involved, ie to the intermediate airport and to the destination airports. Thus, the test unit 6 (the intermediate airport) can fall back on a complete record. The recognized portion of the information set 22 in this example does not match any of the records so that the recognized portion of the information set 22 is replaced by another of the text versions (eg, in the recognized Part of the information set 22, the recognized flight number 30 LH 650 be replaced by the other text version LH 550), which other text version is then preferably compared with the database 10.

Further, the database 10 includes a flight plan of the intermediate airport. The information set can be further compared to the flight plan. In this way, flight numbers 30 and airport codes 32, 34 can be compared with the flight plan and it can be determined whether the detected information is plausible. For example, the flight number 30 LH 650 to the destination airport of the baggage item 16 is not plausible if a flight with such a flight number 30 z. B. does not depart within the next 24 hours. Further, for example, the destination airport code 34 of the information set 22 may be compared to in-flight landing airports of departing aircraft, and if it matches, e.g. be deduced on possible flight numbers 30 to the destination airport.

Next, using the in FIG. 1 Checked baggage sorting system 2 checked in a test, which record of the database 10 has the greatest agreement with the detected part of the information set 22. In the test, it is checked whether the multiple recognized information or information parts of the information set 22 match at least one data record of the database 10. In this way, the item of luggage 16 can be assigned to a destination and / or other information, ie the item of luggage 16 can be sorted.

On the basis of the examination, in particular using the recognized part of the information set 22, it is automatically determined to which destination the item of luggage 16 should be transported. Preferably, a sorting of the item of luggage 16 is carried out automatically in accordance with the determination.

In principle, other than the information mentioned here of the identification element (for example, the issue date 36 and the flight date 38) can be detected and recognized and used in the comparison with the data sets of the database.

While the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Baggage sorting system

4

Information acquisition device

6

test unit

7

electric wire

8th

Character Recognition (ssoftware)

10

Database

12

baggage carousel

14

role

16

piece of baggage

18

identification element

20

barcode

22

information Record

24

Luggage number

26

Bording number

28

passenger name

30

flight number

32

Between airport code

34

Destination shortcuts

36

date of issue

38

flight date

Claims (15)

Method for sorting pieces of luggage (16), each comprising an identification element (18) with an information record (22) in the form of plain text,
in which - At least a portion of the information set (22) of the identification element (18) automatically detected and detected automatically and - Is automatically checked in a test, if the recognized part of the information set (22) with at least one record, which is stored in a database (10) matches. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that the identification element (18) comprises a bar code (20), wherein the detected part of the information set (22) of the identification element (18) differs from a plain text representation of the bar code (20). Method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that it is checked in the test, which record of the database (10) has the greatest agreement with the detected part of the information set (22). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that it is automatically determined based on the test, to which destination the bag (16) to be transported. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the part of the information set (22) is detected by an information acquisition device (4), in particular by a reading device, and recognized by means of an optical text recognition (8). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the information set (22) comprises a plurality of information (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) and at least one of the information (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 ) is at least partially recognized. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the information set (22) of the identification element (18) includes a luggage number (24), a bording number (26), a passenger name (28), a flight number (30), a departure airport code, an inter-airport code (32) and / or a destination airport code (34) as information
and that the part of the information set (22) that is automatically detected and recognized is at least part of that information (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34). Method according to claim 7,
characterized in that a plurality of the information (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) of the information set (22) are recognized and it is checked during the check whether the plurality of information items (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 ) match at least one record of the database (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that a part of the information set (22) is at least partially recognized and compared with a plurality of data records of the database (10) and, if the part of the information set (22) does not match any of the records, the information set (22) by that record is replaced, which has the highest agreement with the information set (22). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the database (10) is a dynamic database whose records are automatically generated. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the information set (22) in a creation of the identification element (18) is transmitted to the database (10) and stored in the database (10) as a record. Method according to claim 11,
characterized in that the item of baggage (16) is a piece of baggage which is sorted at an airport, and a record generated from the item of information (22) to all airports involved in the transport of a piece of luggage (16), for example to a departure airport, to a destination airport , and / or to an intermediate airport. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that in the database (10) is detected when the baggage (169 arrives at its luggage destination, and the record relating to this baggage item (16) after a predetermined period of time, in particular after 24 h after arrival of the baggage item (16) at the baggage destination , is deleted. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the database (10) comprises at least in part information of a flight plan which includes flight numbers of incoming aircraft and / or departing aircraft, their departure airport, their landing airport, their departure time and / or their landing time, and
checking in the check whether the recognized part of the information set (22) agrees with at least one of the flight plan information stored in the database (10), in particular whether the recognized part of the information set (22) is plausible. Luggage sorting system (2) with an information acquisition device (4) for automatic detection of the information record (22) in the form of plain text and a test unit (6),
which is set up to automatically check during a check as to whether a recognized part of the information record (22) matches at least one data record which is stored in a database (10).

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