ITVE20130031A1 - ELECTRONIC LABEL APPLICABLE ON METALLIC SURFACES - Google Patents

Description

TITLE:

ELECTRONIC LABEL APPLICABLE ON METALLIC SURFACES

DESCRIPTION

The main field of application of the present invention relates to the application of labeling devices for sorting units in the context of logistic centers such as, for example, port terminals, or interports, or logistic sorting centers of other nature. .

The transport of goods on a global level is one of the most important activities in the development of the contemporary economy which is characterized by the so-called globalization of production and consumption.

A large part of the goods that must be transported from the place where they are produced or processed to the places where they are used, or where they undergo subsequent processing, or where they are collected for their further distribution, or where they arrive for other reasons, are contained in so-called containers.

These containers therefore constitute the most common type of sorting unit, but it is possible to imagine that the sorting units handled in the logistics centers may be different from containers. An entire means of transport (such as a truck), or just a semi-trailer, could be considered as a sorting unit, or even sorting units smaller than a container can be sorted individually.

Containers have standard sizes and characteristics that allow them to be sorted on different means and fairly efficient storage: the containers appear externally as large metal parallelepipeds.

For the purposes of this description, reference will be made to a concept of sorting unit (hereinafter also UdS) understood as the object that must be sorted within a logistic center to which said UdS are conferred. The requirement that the UdS is required, in order to be treated according to the teachings of the invention described below, consists in the fact that they have a metal surface on which a magnet can be adhered.

The data on the circulation of goods, and in particular on the transport that takes place by packing the goods themselves in containers, unequivocally show that the handling of such containers constitutes a very expensive activity that requires continuous optimization.

Among the activities that must be carried out in the container sorting centers there are not only those related to the correct and efficient addressing of goods, but also numerous bureaucratic and administrative obligations. Consider, for example, the management of customs procedures, tax obligations, or health checks, and all administrative matters in general.

It is important that no mistakes are made in the sorting centers, and that all handling does not allow for illegal practices, such as tax evasion, smuggling or illegal trade in certain goods. In any case, even in the face of errors or irregularities, it is important to have information that can allow the reconstruction of the evolution of the process that led to the error or irregularity.

Given the importance of these activities of sorting and handling of containers, and of the UDs in general, numerous procedures have been developed over time to manage the problems associated with this activity.

Many of these practices benefit from the help of automation and specific management programs. However, there are still numerous steps that are carried out through direct controls by operators, and there is still considerable scope for increasing the level of process automation.

In particular, the labeling of the individual SOs is of fundamental importance for their rapid and efficient recognition. In fact, it is useful to be able to recognize a specific UdS without necessarily having to open it to check its content, or without having to read any labels that cannot be easily automated.

It is clear that through various seals and the application of various types of labels, it is possible to mark each single sorting unit with adequate levels of security.

However, given the large number of UDs that are managed in some sorting nodes, the labeling or marking operations, if you prefer, as well as being safe and reliable (foolproof or tamper-proof) must be simple and fast.

Furthermore, even the operations of reading, checking and searching the labels must be as simple and fast as possible.

All the requirements briefly summarized above indicate that it would be very useful to have electronic labels, easily applicable on containers, and readable automatically with electronic devices too.

A family of technologies that serves this purpose well is the family of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) technologies.

These technologies are characterized by providing a device that acts as a label, called â € œTAGâ €, and a reading device, called â € œREADERâ €.

TAGs are generally very simple and low-cost devices, they can be passive or they can include a power supply; but in any case the TAGs are low consumption devices (a normal battery can power them for extremely long periods, even of the order of years). TAGs are in fact memories that may contain some data, generally a few data, including identification data. Furthermore, TAGs are also devices on which it is possible to write and store some other data.

READERS, on the other hand, are more complex devices, they are always active devices, and can perform readings of the data stored on the TAGs.

It is clear that RFID TAGs are candidates to be the labels of the future, as they are cheap and can be read remotely by READERS automatically.

RFID technology is a fairly mature technology and numerous systems and standards have already been developed over time, however the concept that can be summarized in the use of TAG and READER devices can be generalized, and can ignore the RFID technologies that are widespread today.

In general, it can be said that it is possible to conceive an electronic label consisting of an apparatus that stores identification data in an appropriate format, and that can also contain rewritable data. In the following, the term TAG will therefore mean a label of this type, which, according to the known art, can be made with RFID technology, but which in general can also be made with other technologies that can be more conveniently applied in the future.

To date, RFID technology, and in particular methods based on the application of TAG on containers, are not widely used in applications for the management of containers that are located inside a sorting center. Nonetheless, labels such as the TAGs described above are considered by many to be extremely useful for identifying containers.

As has been argued above, there are numerous activities associated with the management of containers and their handling that would benefit from the ability to quickly and automatically recognize each container.

If there was a global agreement in standardizing an RFID container tagging format, many management activities could benefit tremendously.

Unfortunately, the containers managed in each sorting center are of various origins, and it is not foreseeable that, within a reasonable time, the entire world container fleet will adapt to a labeling standard. Furthermore, it would be very useful if all the containers managed in a given sorting center were labeled in a homogeneous way, that is, that all the containers could be identified through the same procedure of reading their label. This last fact has the consequence that a gradual introduction of electronically labeled containers would not be an interesting way to go.

In addition to this, as mentioned, there are not only containers to be sorted, but other types of UdS sorting units must also be labeled.

It is therefore very important that these labels can be applied easily and quickly, so that all the UDs managed in a particular sorting center can be labeled homogeneously. It is also important that these quickly applied labels cannot be tampered with. In particular, it must be absolutely avoided that it is possible to move a label from one UdS to another.

To prevent a label from being moved from one UdS to another, various types of fixing methods can be used, for example by applying seals that must be broken to detach the label; this operation is effective against tampering, but requires a relatively long and complex operation for the application of the label itself, since, in addition to the label, it is also necessary to apply the seal.

The main purpose of the present invention is the realization of an electronic label, incorporating a TAG, which is very easy to apply and which is robust with respect to tampering attempts.

A further purpose of the present invention is the realization of an electronic label, incorporating a TAG, which can carry information automatically generated over time according to the events that occur to the labeled object, and not only identifying information defined at the moment. of labeling.

These and other purposes are achieved through the use of electronic labels which, in addition to a TAG, incorporate a magnet that can keep them attached to a metal surface and characterized by the fact of integrating sensors that detect tampering attempts and the fact of integrating writing means on said TAG which, on the occasion of said possible tampering attempts, record the event in the memory of the TAG itself, so that the fact is notified during the subsequent reading phases. The main advantage of the present invention is given by the fact that an electronic label made according to the teachings described below satisfies all the purposes for which it was conceived.

This invention also has further advantages which will be made more evident by the following description, by the attached claims which form an integral part of the description itself and by the illustration of some examples of practical embodiment described, by way of non-limitative, in the following and in the attached drawings in which:

figure 1 shows a block diagram showing the main functional blocks of the electronic label;

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a possible realization of a magnet that can be used to make the electronic label;

figure 3 shows a diametrical section of the magnet represented in figure 2;

figure 4 shows a detail of the section represented in figure 3 and a possible electro-mechanical sensor in the position of normal application of the electronic label;

figure 5a shows the same elements represented in figure 4, but in the position in which the sensor is located in the event of an attempt to tamper with the electronic label due to detachment;

figure 5b shows the same elements represented in figures 4 and 5a, but in the position in which the sensor is located in the case of another attempt to tamper with the electronic label.

Figure 1 highlights the essential elements of the electronic label according to the invention which is indicated as a whole with the number 100. The number 200 indicates instead the metal surface to which the electronic labels 100 can be applied . The number 101 indicates the magnetic subsystem integrated in the electronic label 100 and which allows it to remain attached to a metal surface 200. In turn, the magnetic subsystem 101 consists of two fundamental parts: with the number 110 Ã The magnet is indicated while with the number 120 the sensor subsystem capable of detecting the attempted tampering of the electronic label 100.

Said electronic label 100 then incorporates other functional blocks.

The number 140 indicates the functional block represented by the TAG, that is the element that contains the identification data of the electronic label100. The number 130 indicates the functional block which, depending on the status of the sensors 120, updates the data stored on the TAG 140 and writes the information relating to tampering attempts: the functional block 130, in one of its minimal implementation, therefore represents the writing means suitable for storing said information on the TAG 140. Normally, however, said writing means 130 are constituted by an electronic circuit suitable for carrying out even more complex operations, and which will hereinafter be called â € œprocessing unitâ € 130. In figure 1 two other functional blocks are then highlighted: with the number 150 The power supply block is indicated, and with the number 160 a functional block representing the input / output communication functions. In fact, it may be useful for the electronic label 100 to be managed by accessing the processing unit 130 through other communication interfaces 160: for example, Wi-Fi or bluetooth communication interfaces, or even non-wireless interfaces such as an interface USB. The communication interfaces 160 can, as mentioned, be bidirectional.

Functional block 120 can be built in many different ways and can exploit different physical principles to detect a tampering attempt.

In fact, the relative displacement of a magnet (such as the magnetic element 110 for example) with respect to a ferromagnetic material (such as the metal surface 200) determines variations in the magnetic field inside the magnet itself and in its vicinity, and such magnetic field variations are detectable through magnetic sensors constituted by electric circuits sensitive to said magnetic field variations.

A similar principle is used, for example, in the construction of sensors for burglar alarms, in which the detachment of a magnet from a ferromagnetic material (for example when opening a door) is detected and processed by a system which, depending on this event, it triggers an alarm.

Without going into the details of the realization of said circuits, it can however be stated that methods are known for detecting the detachment of a magnet from a ferromagnetic material, and said detection can be electronically processed to activate an automatic procedure (for example to sound an alarm , or store an event on an RFID TAG).

In addition to methods based on the variation of the magnetic field, electromechanical methods are also possible that allow the practical implementation of the functional block of sensors 120.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5a and 5b illustrate a practical example of embodiment of a magnetic subsystem 101 that can be integrated into the electronic label 100.

Figure 2 shows a possible realistic form of the magnet 110. This form represented in figure 2 is functional to the realization of a magnetic subsystem 101 based on electromechanical sensors. The shape of the magnet 110 represented in figure 2 is contained in a cylinder in which some particular processes are highlighted: the cavity indicated with the number 111 made on one of the two flat surfaces of the cylinder, and the hole made along the axis of the cylinder, indicated by the number 112. Both the cavity 111 and the hole 112 are more clearly highlighted in figure 3, where a section of the magnet 110 is shown along a diametrical plane of the cylinder. In particular, the hole 112 and the cavity 111 are also shown in section. Furthermore, the end of the hole 112 on the side of the cavity 111 is indicated with the number 115; this end 115 is highlighted because it constitutes an important contact point in the realization of the sensor subsystem 120. Near the other end of hole 112, with the number 113, it is highlighted (by the symbol of a dark circle) a joint element; also the joint 113, like the contact 115, is highlighted because it is used for the realization of the sensor subsystem 120. In the section of figure 3 there is also a further cavity made inside the magnet 110 and indicated with the number 116. The number 114 indicates a particular area of the walls of the cavity 116 which is highlighted because it constitutes an important contact point in the realization of the sensor subsystem 120.

Figure 4 shows, as a whole, a practical implementation of the magnetic subsystem 101, including the sensor subsystem 120.

In the implementation of figure 4, the number 121 indicates an additional internal magnet which is housed inside the cavity 111. For a good functioning of the whole electronic label 100 it is preferable that the magnet 121 is stronger (ie it is subjected to a greater magnetic attraction pressure) than magnet 110. The internal magnet 121 is connected to a rod 122 which is inserted inside the hole 112. The other the end of the rod 122, the one opposite to the internal magnet 121, ends with a joint indicated with the number 123.

Finally, the number 124 indicates two bars. The bars 124 are constrained to the joint 123 of the rod 122, by means of one of their ends, and to the joints 113, applied on the body of the magnet 110, at an intermediate point thereof.

The normal application position of the electronic label 100 is that shown in figure 4; in said position of normal application both the magnet 110 and the internal magnet 121 adhere to the metal surface 200. In said position of normal application, the bars 124 have the free end inside a cavity 116, and said free ends of the bars 124 do not touch the walls 114 of the cavity 116.

Figures 5a and 5b show how magnetic subsystem 101 can be deformed when there is an attempt at tampering.

Figure 5a shows the deformation of the magnetic subsystem 101 which occurs when there is an attempt to detach the magnetic subsystem 101 (and therefore of the electronic label 100) from the surface 200. The arrow indicated with the number 310 indicates the direction of the movement of the magnet 110 with respect to the metal surface 200. Due to the effect of said movement indicated by the arrow 310, the joint 123 assumes a more internal position in the hole 112; this is because the internal magnet 121 continues to adhere to the metal surface 200. The relative displacement of the joint 123 with respect to the joints 113, which are integral with the hole 112, determines a rotation of the bars 124, with the effect that the free ends of said bars 124 touch the walls 114 of the cavities 116. The contact of the bars 124 with the walls 114 can be considered as a switch, which is therefore very easily detectable. Said contact can in fact generate a signal that can be easily handled by a processing unit 130.

Figure 5b shows a different deformation of the magnetic subsystem 101. In the case represented in figure 5b it is assumed that a thin metal sheet is inserted between the magnet 110 and the surface 200, in an attempt to limit the perturbation of the magnetic field caused by the detachment of the magnet. The number 320 indicates the thin sheet with which an attempt is made to control the detachment of the magnet 110. However, since the internal magnet 121 adheres well to the surface 200, the sheet 320, in an attempt to interfere between the magnet 110 and the surface 200 , exerts a pressure on the side of the magnet 121 moving it laterally. As shown in figure 5b, said lateral displacement of the internal magnet 121 determines a contact between the rod 122 and the extreme edge 115 of the hole 112. Also in this case, as in the previous one, the tampering attempt determines a contact that can generate a signal that can be easily handled by a processing unit 130. The above considerations demonstrate the feasibility of at least one effective practical implementation of a magnetic subsystem capable of guaranteeing a firm application to a metal surface and, at the same time, of providing signals , which can be processed by a processing unit 130, when a tampering attempt is made: tampering is intended as any attempt to remove the electronic label 100 from the surface to which it has been adhered to position it elsewhere.

It must be said that the mechanisms described represent only some of the ways in which the functional block of the magnetic subsystem 101 can be concretely realized, and the man skilled in the field can certainly conceive other alternative technical solutions to realize said magnetic subsystem 101.

However, the examples given are sufficient reasoning to demonstrate the technical feasibility of functional block 101.

The availability of a magnetic subsystem 101 therefore constitutes an important prerequisite for the realization of an electronic label 100 equipped with suitable countermeasures against tampering attempts.

An electronic label 100 according to the teaching of the present invention consists not only of a magnetic system capable of providing signals corresponding to tampering attempts, but also of other subsystems or parts.

An important feature is given by the fact that said electronic label 100 incorporates an element 130 called processing unit. The main functions of the processing unit 130 are to interpret the signals generated by the sensor subsystem 120 and to store the event on the element 140 called TAG which in turn will be automatically readable by a READER.

The processing unit 130 can, in many practical cases, be a small computational processor and can therefore process and enrich the information coming from the sensor subsystem 120. For example, if the processing unit 130 integrated or was connected to a calendar / clock, it could associate the data relating to the day and time of the attempt to the information on the pure tampering attempt. Or the electronic label 100 could also carry information not necessarily connected to an attempted tampering. For example, if the processing unit 130 integrated or was connected to a localization system (GPS, Galileo, or other localization systems), it could write on the TAG 140 the chrono-history of the movements of the tagged object. Furthermore, the electronic label 100 according to the invention is designed to support very important developments and evolutions. In fact the processing unit 130, being able to be a small computer, can support external communication interfaces 160 which allow the electronic label 100 to communicate in an evolved way throughout the sorting area and also in larger areas. For example, the electronic label 100 can integrate a GSM or UMTS modem and through said communication interface 160 can, in theory, be read and written from anywhere in the world.

It is clear that the applications that can be conceived by having an electronic label 100 connected to a telecommunications network are innumerable and vary from local applications, in which communications are limited to the narrow scope of a sorting center, to applications that involve remote management of tagged objects.

It is clear that all these application variants are made possible by having conceived an electronic label 100 equipped with an architecture such as that described in the context of the present invention. In fact, the presence in the electronic label 100 of: a magnetic system 101 capable of providing signals for detecting tampering attempts, a processing unit 130 capable of processing information from various sources, a TAG 140 which allows reading and proximity writing, communication interfaces 160 on various network technologies that allow interactions even very remote with the electronic labels 100 and an autonomous power supply system 150 (a battery), make the electronic label 100 a real autonomous system and absolutely versatile.

It is observed that, the more the management applications that can be implemented thanks to the use of electronic labels 100 lead to a pushed automation of the processes, the more important it is that safety and robustness can be guaranteed with respect to irregularities of various type that can be perpetrated voluntarily or involuntarily. The electronic labels 100 according to the teachings of the present invention offer suitable tools to guarantee excellent levels of security. In fact, in addition to the tamper-proof sensors 120 integrated in the magnetic subsystem 101, authentication procedures can be implemented which can exploit independent access modes to protected memory areas.

Electronic labels 100 made according to the teachings of the invention can also be applied to different contexts of logistics applied to container management, as it is clear that the architecture described and illustrated through figure 1 can be generalized to all cases where it is useful to foresee the rapid application of electronic labels, tamper-proof, to objects of any nature, and in particular to metal objects. In fact, for all objects provided with a metal surface on which to adhere a magnet, the electronic label described can be used without particular adaptations or modifications with respect to the characteristics described.

The invention just described also lends itself to numerous variants which can offer further advantages with respect to those previously mentioned. It is then clear that such further variants can be made by the man skilled in the art without thereby departing from the invention as it results from the present description and from the claims attached hereto. Therefore, the reciprocal position of the various elements described can be modified; moreover, each element can be developed in different materials, shapes or sizes; moreover, the invention itself can be partially realized as all the various details described can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (9)

TITLE: ELECTRONIC LABEL APPLICABLE ON METALLIC SURFACES CLAIMS 1. Electronic label (100) applicable on a metal surface (200) characterized in that it comprises at least the following parts: to. a TAG (140) suitable for storing information associated with said electronic tag (100); b. a magnet (110) which can adhere to said metal surface (200); c. at least one sensor (120) which detects attempts to tamper with or detach said electronic label (100) from said metal surface (200) d. writing means (130) suitable for storing on said TAG (140) information relating to possible tampering attempts, recording the event in the memory of the TAG itself. 2. Electronic tag (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said TAG (140) is a TAG belonging to the family of RFID technologies. 3. Electronic label (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said sensors (120) exploit the magnetic field variations to detect attempts to remove said electronic label (100) 4. Electronic label (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said sensors (120), in order to detect said removal attempts, exploit the change in the state of electrical contacts that occurs in an attempt to remove said electronic label (100). 5. Electronic label (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that said writing means (130) comprise an electronic processor capable of processing data in computer format. 6. Electronic label (100) according to claim 5 characterized in that said processor (130) can process information deducible from the state of said sensors (120). Electronic label (100) according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that said processor (130) can acquire data in computer format from sources external to said electronic label (100) by means of an interface (160). 8. Electronic label (100) according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that said processor (130) can export data in computer format to computer systems external to said electronic label (100) by means of an interface (160). 9. Electronic label (100) according to one or more claims from 5 to 8 and characterized in that said processor (130) can jointly process acquired computer data: through said interface (160), or through the analysis of the state of said sensors (120), or by reading the data stored on said TAG (140) or data generated inside said processor (130) itself.