JP2001229263A - Article managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make easily manageable the lending of articles. SOLUTION: A reader/writer 105 is arranged in the exit gate of a library. Readers/writers 101 are installed for every block in a bookshelf 100. RFID 111 having writing areas are loaded in books 110 in each block. When a user 107 having RFID 106 approaches the bookshelf 100, reader/writer 101 obtains the ID number of the user 107 from RFID 106 and writes it in RFID 111 of the book 110 in the bookshelf 100. When the user 107 passes through the exit gate by holding a book 110, the reader/writer 105 detects RFID 106 and 111 of the user and the book. Even if the plural users simultaneously pass through the exit gate, the ID numbers of the users taking out the books from placed positions are written in RFID 111 of the individual books. Thus, a person borrowing the book can be identified by reading the number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system for managing the removal of articles from a certain area, such as managing the lending of books in a library.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a user takes out a book, takes it to a specific place, reads a barcode or a magnetic stripe attached to the book, and performs a settlement or lending process. Further, the book information can only be obtained by taking the book in hand or by inputting the ID of the book and extracting the information from the database.

In recent years, RFID has been used for various purposes. An RFID is a module including a storage chip storing ID information and other information and an antenna for communication. The RFID communicates with another antenna called a reader / writer based on the principle of electromagnetic induction to exchange information. Can be. As the RFID, a card-size RFID and a smaller RFID are often used.

[0004] Such an RFID and reader / writer are of a close contact type (without batteries,
Communication distance of several millimeters, proximity type (no battery, communication distance 20)
-30cm), proximity type (no battery, communication distance 70-1)
(About 00 cm) and microwave type (with battery, communication distance about several meters). In these systems, a multi-read function, that is, a function of simultaneously reading a plurality of RFIDs, has been put to practical use.

[0005] Several systems for managing the lending and borrowing of books and articles using this RFID have been proposed. RFID
Is applied to the existing book lending system.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 307871. In this system, a user goes to a counter and brings his / her ID card and book close to a reading unit of a terminal provided there, thereby performing a lending / returning process. In this case, processing such as lending can be performed only by one person per terminal.

On the other hand, the present applicant has filed a Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 345334 proposes a technique for performing loan processing for a plurality of persons simultaneously and in parallel. In this technology, RFID
-Provide a distance recognition function in the reader / writer system,
When the RFID of the book and the RFID of the user are simultaneously recognized within the same distance range, it is determined that the rental or the return has been performed. However, in this technique, it is necessary to incorporate a plurality of antennas having different communication ranges into the RFID, which increases the cost.

In addition, a wireless antenna is placed near a product,
Recently, a system has been developed in which the written contents can be read by a small portable terminal. However, this requires setting in advance the item information emitted from each antenna. A system using magnetism is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-3, which is capable of displaying related articles of a loan to a user.
20638.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of simultaneously lending a plurality of persons. Another object of the present invention is to enable a user to acquire information on an article without directly picking up the article or modifying the contents.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a system according to the present invention is an article management system for managing the removal of articles from a management area. An RFID that stores a unique ID of an article and has a readable and writable write area, and an RFID that is carried by a user and stores the unique ID of the user
And a first reader / writer for storing the storage section of the article in the management area in the communication area, and reading a unique ID from the RFID of the user in the communication area, A first reader / writer for writing a unique ID to an RFID writing area of the article in the communication area, and an RFID of a user and an article passing through the communication area, including an exit of the management area in the communication area;
, A second reader / writer for reading information of each unique ID and the writing area of the RFID of the article, and a unique ID of the user and the article read by the second reader / writer.
A determination unit that determines a user who has taken out the article from D and information on the RFID writing area of the article.

In this system, the unique ID of the user approaching the storage section of the article is written from the first reader / writer to the RFID of the article. When the article goes out of the communication area of the first reader / writer, the writing is not performed. Therefore, when the user takes out the article from the storage section, the unique ID is finally written in the writing area of the article. It can be assumed that the user has removed the article from the storage compartment. Therefore, even when a plurality of users pass through the exit gate at the same time, by reading the information in the RFID writing area of the article, it is possible to specify a person who intends to carry the article among the plurality of users. .

In addition, the system according to the present invention stores an RFID attached to an article to be managed and stores information including a unique ID of the article, and an RFID carried by a user to store the unique ID of the user. An RFID having a readable / writable write area, and a first reader / writer for storing a storage section of the article in the management area in a communication area, wherein the RFID of the user is detected in the communication area. A first reader / writer that reads stored information from an RFID of an article in the communication area and writes the stored information in an RFID writing area of the user;
Information presenting means for presenting information on articles in the storage section to the user based on the information written in the ID writing area.

According to this system, even if a user does not pick up an article, information about the article can be obtained.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, RFI
As the D / reader / writer, a microwave type or a near type is used. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a system according to this embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the article to be managed is a book, and the book 1 in the bookshelf 100 placed in the library is
Ten embodiments for lending management will be described.

The bookshelf 100 is provided with a first reader / writer 101 so that an area in the section and a front area of the section are simultaneously used as communication areas for each section.

Each of the books 110 arranged on the bookshelf 100 has an RFID 111 attached thereto. This RFID1
The storage chip 11 includes an area for fixedly storing a unique ID number, a write area for reading and writing various types of information, and further includes a circuit for reading and writing from and to these areas.

On the other hand, the user 107 carries an RFID 106 having a chip storing an ID number.

RFID 110 of book 110 and user 107
When the interrogators 11 and 106 receive the interrogation wave from the reader / writer, they return a response wave including information such as the ID number stored in the storage chip.

The first reader / writer 101 provided on the bookshelf 100 sends an interrogation wave at predetermined inspection intervals, and the first reader / writer 101 within the communication area of the reader / writer 101
7 and receives information on the ID number from the received response wave. When a question wave is issued, there is also a response wave from the RFID 111 of the book 110. For example, the ID number given to the user is a numerical value in a range different from the ID number given to the book (for example, distinguished by the highest digit). If so, only the user's thing can be extracted from the received RFID ID number. Alternatively, the first reader / writer 101 designates a numerical range of the user's ID number, and specifies the RFID range of the range.
An interrogation wave may be issued instructing only one to respond.

With this processing, at each inspection interval,
A user who is near the bookshelf 100 can be specified. Then, the RFID 107 of the user 107 is
Every time the detection of 06 is performed, the first reader / writer 10
1 writes the detected user ID number in the RFID 111 of all books 110 in the communication area.

FIG. 2 shows the RFID attached to the book 110.
111 shows a logical structure of data stored. RFID1
11 basically has a unique ID number 200 of the RFID 111 itself and a first reader / writer for the writing area.
The write ID number 201 written from the writer 101 is stored. Instead of directly writing the detected user ID number as the write ID number 201, a number obtained by adding a digit indicating the write ID number to the user ID number may be written. . This makes it possible to distinguish between the unique ID number read from the user's RFID 106 and the write ID number (corresponding to the user's ID number) read from the book's RFID 111.

The write ID number 201 held by the RFID 111 of the book 110 is updated by the first reader / writer 101 at each inspection interval. That is, every time the first reader / writer 101 receives the response wave from the user's RFID 106, the first reader / writer 101 writes the user's ID number read from the response wave into the RFID 11 of each book 110 in the communication area.
1 is overwritten on the write area. And the book 110
Is out of the communication area of the first reader / writer 101, the writing ID number 2 of the RFID 111
01 is not updated. Therefore, when a certain user 107 takes out the book 110 from the bookshelf 100 and moves away from the bookshelf 100, the ID number of the user 107 is written in the writing area of the RFID 111 of the book 110. When the RFID 111 of the book emits a response wave, the response wave includes not only the unique ID number 200 of the book but also the information of the write ID number 201.

At the exit of the library, a second reader / writer 105 is installed. The second reader / writer 105
Keep the whole area of the exit within your communication area. When there are a plurality of exits, the second reader / writer 10 is provided for each exit.
5 is installed. The second reader / writer 105 emits an inquiry wave at predetermined inspection intervals, and waits for a response wave from the user and the RFID of the book to the inquiry wave.

When the user 109 carries the book 110 and tries to leave the library, the user 109 passes through the communication area of the second reader / writer 105 provided at the exit. The second reader / writer 105 includes the RFID 108 of the user 109 passing through the communication area and the book 110 carried by the user.
Is read. At this time, the user's RF
The unique ID number of the user is read from the ID 108,
From the book's RFID 111, the unique ID number 2 of the book
00 and the write ID number 201 written in the write area
Is read.

The second reader / writer 105, at each inspection timing, stores information on the ID number extracted from the response wave received corresponding to the interrogation wave at that time.
Send to 3. The management computer 103 performs a lending process based on the ID number group information received at this time.

At each test timing at a predetermined test interval, the management computer 103 executes
The ID number group received from the writer 105 includes the user's unique ID number, the book's unique ID number, and the book's RFID.
All of the write ID numbers (see FIG. 2) read from 111 may be included. Here, if the group of ID numbers received at a certain inspection timing is only the user's unique ID number, the book 110 is not taken out of the library, so the lending process is not performed.

If the group of ID numbers received at a certain inspection timing includes both the user's unique ID number and the book's unique ID number, if there is only one user ID number at that time, the use It can be determined that the person has borrowed those books (both can be specified by the unique ID number). In this case, the management computer 103 stores information that the user has borrowed the books in the lending management database 104.
Register with.

On the other hand, the second reader / writer 105
If it is detected that the above book and a plurality of users have passed through the exit at the same time, handling becomes somewhat complicated. The “simultaneity” of the exit passage is determined for each inspection interval (that is, interrogation wave transmission interval). Therefore, if the passage through the communication area of the second reader / writer 105 is separated by the inspection interval or more, those users are detected at different timings (that is, they are not "simultaneous"). In recent RFID systems, a large number of RFIDs can be read (multi-read) in 0.1 seconds or less, so that the inspection interval can be set to a short time of 0.1 seconds or less. Therefore, it is unlikely that a plurality of users are detected “simultaneously” at the exit.

When a book and a plurality of users pass through the exit "simultaneously" (accurately when it is recorded that they have passed at the same time), it is necessary to determine which of the users took the book. is there. Management computer 10
3, in such a case, the determination is made using the information of the write ID number 201 read from the RFID 111 of the book. The method of this determination will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents time, and the ID number group acquired at each inspection timing Ti (i is an integer) is listed above the timing.

For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 3, the unique ID numbers of the book and the user are written in the form of I * (* is a number),
The number is described in the form of W *. For example, "I1" and "W
“1” is related to the user with the ID number 1 in both cases, the former is the unique number read from the user RFID 108, and the latter is the write ID number read from the book RFID 111. The ID number “I *” is single, but the unique ID number “I *” of the book is
A D number “W *” is attached. Book RFID 111
This is because these unique ID numbers and write ID numbers are received at the same time.

At the inspection timing T1, since only one user with the unique ID "I1" is detected, the person carries two books with ID numbers "I2" and "I3". You can see that it is. This means that "I
Both the write ID numbers associated with “2” and “I3” are “W
1 "(corresponding to the first user).
In this case, the management computer 103 uses the ID number “I
It is determined that the user of ID number “I1” has borrowed the books of “2” and “I3”, and the necessary information is registered in the management database 104.

On the other hand, at the inspection timing T2, two users having ID numbers "I1" and "I4" are detected at the same time, and the book is also detected as three users having "I2", "I3" and "I5".
Books are detected at the same time. Management computer 103
Determines which of these three books has been borrowed by the above-mentioned two books, based on the write ID number “W *” attached to the unique ID number “I *” of those books. That is, since the book ID “I3” is accompanied by the write ID number “W1”, it can be determined that the book “I3” has been borrowed by the user “I1”. Similarly, it can be determined that the books “I2” and “I5” have been borrowed by the user “I4”. Management computer 103
In this way, even when a plurality of people pass through the exit at the same time, it is possible to specify which book each person brought out and perform a process for lending such as registration in the database 104.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a user can automatically receive a lending process simply by passing through an exit, without having to bring a book to a lending counter or the like. Further, in the present embodiment, even if a plurality of people pass through the exit at the same time, it is possible to discriminate which book each has brought out and perform the lending process. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to make the exit of the library room cramped so as to pass one by one.

[Second Embodiment] A microwave type or near type is used as an RFID / reader / writer system. The system configuration itself may be the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, for each section of the bookshelf 100, the first reader / writer 10 controls the inside of the section and the person standing in front of the section in the communication area.
1 is set. Each book 110 is equipped with an RFID 111 for fixedly storing a unique ID number and various book information such as bibliographic information and content introduction information of the book. On the other hand, the user 107 carries the RFID 106 which stores the unique ID number and holds a readable / writable write area.

The first reader / writer 101 sends an interrogation wave at a certain interval, and transmits the RFI of the user in the communication area.
D106 is detected. Each time the user's RFID 106 is detected, the first reader / writer 101 uses the unique ID from the RFIDs attached to all the books in the communication area.
The D number and the book information are read, and the information is transmitted to the RFID 106 of the detected user and written. The user's RFID 106 writes the received information in the write area.

The information stored in the user's RFID 106 can be read using another reader / writer. For example, if a user carries a small portable notebook computer having a small reader / writer built therein, the notebook computer can read and display book information stored in the RFID 106. Alternatively, the RFID of the user may conform to the standard of the type I card or type II card of the notebook computer, or may be connectable to the notebook computer via an adapter. FIG. 4 shows a type I or II card 400,
This figure shows a configuration in which an RFID antenna 401 is incorporated.

According to this embodiment, the information of the books is stored in the user's hand (ie, RFID) just by going to the vicinity of the bookshelf where the books are displayed. Information can be read from the RFID and displayed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a certain amount of information can be obtained without actually picking up the book. This is particularly useful when the book is out of reach.

Further, according to this embodiment, even after the user leaves the bookshelf, it is possible to reconfirm what was around him without relying on human memory. Just change the position of the antenna of the first reader / writer,
The reading range of the target book can be changed, and data registration only needs to be performed once.

In the above embodiment, the RFID of the book
Stored not only the unique ID number but also information such as bibliographic information.
Only the number may be stored. In this case, only the unique ID number of the book read by the first reader / writer 101 is written to the user's RFID. In the notebook computer carried by the user, the ID number is read from the RFID of the user, and the book information corresponding to the ID number is read from the management database 104 and displayed.

[Embodiment 3] It is often inconvenient to cut a ticket at several points in an amusement park or to use cash at a cafeteria or a souvenir shop. In particular, when the number of people is large, a waiting time is generated, which causes discomfort to the customer. On the other hand, it has been proposed to use a common RFID with electronic money. However, in the case of family members, giving each child some money in the form of e-money is not only a matter of loss if the child is small, but also causes headaches because the parent can no longer manage the child. is there.

Therefore, there is a need for a mechanism that can easily perform such management by using the characteristics of RFID while maintaining the traditional way of money management.

For example, in a typical family of four, one of the parents has an RFID card having a clearing function (called a parent card).
And the other three have an RFID card without a clearing function. However, the RFID card without a clearing function stores the ID number of the parent card. In addition, the usage amount can be added to any RFID card. Also, a column for the upper limit of usage may be provided to prevent overuse.

First, in addition to paying the entrance fee at the entrance of the amusement park, the user pays in advance for the price of tickets for vehicles and the amount to be used for shopping, and is requested to issue an RFID card with an electronic money function. One RFID card can be issued to each group such as a family, and in this embodiment, a parent card having a clearing function (that is, an electronic money function) among the plurality of cards is limited. can do.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the logical structure of data stored in the RFID card. In this example, the stored data structure of the RFID includes a unique ID column 500, a parent ID column 501, a member number column 502, a deposit amount column 503, and a usage amount column 50.
Including four of four. In the unique ID column 500, the RFI
A unique ID number unique to D is written. Parent ID column 5
When a plurality of RFID cards are issued to the group, the ID number of a representative card (parent card) having a clearing function is written in 01. In the parent card itself, the numbers in the unique ID column 500 and the parent ID column 501 match. If the actual name is written in addition to the ID number of the parent card, it becomes useful in the case of the following lost child guidance. In the member number column 502, the number of members of the group is written. In the deposit amount column 503, the amount paid in advance at the time of issuing the card is written, and this becomes electronic money. Only the parent card actually has a clearing function, so the child card (each group's own card other than the parent card)
It doesn't make much sense to write the deposit amount in the
In order to simplify the processing of the writer, the deposit amount may be written on all the cards. Further, in the case of a child card, a temporary maximum amount of money can be written to prevent overuse. In the used amount column 504, the amount of money used for purchasing a ticket of an event held by the user or an article at a store is written.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the RFID performed at the time of entrance.
This represents the processing algorithm of the initialization processing of the stored contents of the card.

First, the R used for the user (group)
The user selects several FID cards and causes the reader / writer to read them (step 611). Then, a parent card having a clearing function is selected from those cards (step 612). The parent card may be automatically determined by the reader / writer, or may be selected by the user. As a simple method, a method of selecting the card with the smallest ID from the selected cards can be considered.

When a parent card is selected, the reader / writer sets the ID number of the card in the parent ID column 50 of all cards.
1 (step 613). In this case, the parent card itself has its own ID in the unique ID column 500 and the parent ID column 5
Since the parent ID written in 01 is the same, it is possible to recognize that the card is a parent card when the contents of the card are read later.

Next, since the number of cards read by the reader / writer is immediately known, this number is written in the member number column 502 of all the cards (step 614). The number of members is used only when processing the parent card. However, in this case, it is easier to write all the cards than to selectively write only the parent card. , Here we will write on all the cards. Finally, the user inputs the prepaid amount from a terminal or the like, and writes the numerical value into the deposit amount column 503 of the parent card (step 615). In order to simplify the writing process by the reader / writer, the deposit amount may be written to all the cards of the group (in this case, the clearing side system may ignore the value of the deposit amount column of the child card). Just fine).

Now, the settlement of the purchase of the family or the like in the amusement park is performed at the exit gate. In the system of the present embodiment, a reader / writer is provided at the exit gate. Then, when the group leaves the amusement park, at the exit gate where the reader / writer is installed, the usage amount column 504 of each card having the same value in the parent ID column 501 in the RFID card group.
Is the payment amount field 50 of the card having the parent card number.
Subtract from the value of 3. Here, the surplus or shortage of money shall be settled on the spot.

At the exit gate, when the parent card arrives, its ID number, deposit amount and number of members are read.
Store it in the computer. Settlement ends only after all cards in the group have been paid. Therefore, if a child comes off and goes in the same row but goes behind,
When entering another row, passing through a gate after a while, etc., processing is performed without any problem. In addition, if the child card carrier passes through the gate first, it is also remembered and the payment is made when the parent card carrier exits the exit gate, so in this case the settlement process can be performed without any problem. Is easily understood.

FIG. 7 shows the algorithm of this settlement method. In this process, it is first assumed that the balance and the number of unprocessed cards have been initialized to zero. The balance is the balance of electronic money, and the number of unprocessed cards is the RF of each group.
This is the number of ID cards that have not exited the exit (ie, have not been cleared). Note that these two data can also be negative. By considering a negative number, processing can be performed without causing a problem even if the child card passes first. In other words, when the child card passes first, the balance is set to a negative number (that is, overdraft), and when the parent card passes later, the balance is settled by subtracting it from the deposit 503. The unprocessed number and the balance are variables used in the processing in the computer, and are initialized when a card group of the group is first selected. It is assumed that these variables have arguments of the parent card. Therefore,
As many as the number of different groups, there are variables of the number of unprocessed items and the balance.

The reader / writer at the exit gate sends an interrogation wave at a certain interval and waits for a response wave from the card. If there is no response wave, the interrogator continues to transmit the interrogation wave (step 6).
21). When detecting that the card has passed through the gate (the result of step 621 is Y), the reader / writer reads out all the data of the card and first checks whether it is the parent card. This is, as explained during data entry,
When the value in the unique ID column 500 of the card matches the value of the write data (parent ID) in the parent ID column 501, it can be determined that the card is the parent card (step 622). If the read card is a parent card, the value of the deposit column 503 of the card is added to the "balance" and recorded (step 623), and then the number of members column 5 of the card is recorded.
02 is added to the “number of unprocessed cards” (step 6
24). Here, the reason why the number of unprocessed cards, such as the balance, is not written is that a non-parent card may pass over the gate first. Thereafter, the value in the usage amount column 504 of the parent card itself is subtracted from the balance (step 625), and the value of the number of unprocessed cards is reduced by 1 (step 626).

If it is determined in step 622 that the passed card is a child card, the process directly proceeds to steps 625 and 626, in which the value of the used amount column 504 of the card is subtracted from the balance, and the number of unprocessed cards is reduced to 1 cut back.

After reducing the number of unprocessed cards by one,
It is checked whether the number of unprocessed cards is 0 (step 627). If it is 0, it means that all cards in the group have been cleared, and the clearing process is terminated. Otherwise (N in step 627), the flow returns to step 621 to wait for the next card to pass.

By such processing, the amount used by all the members of the group can be settled.

It is to be noted that the used card may be used up or may be collected, or the next time the card is used, a premium of the deposit amount may be added to save resources. . In addition, a reader / writer may be placed at each important point in the amusement park to calculate the total usage fee up to the present or to settle in the middle, so that you can know in advance that you are using too much money in advance. good. Also, if you get lost, you can search the registered name from the parent ID by reading the contents of this card,
As described above, the parent name itself may be written on the card so that the parent name can be read immediately.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when leaving a specific area, the RFID of a specific person is
It is possible to carry out RFID settlement processing of related members including themselves who leave at different times in time. By the settlement process, it is immediately known whether or not there is any stray object, and further, the parent name most necessary for the lost child process can be immediately found.

[Fourth Embodiment] First Reader / Writer 10
An infrared surveillance system is placed near where 1 is installed. One infrared monitoring system is provided for one reader / writer 101. Infrared monitoring system
By emitting infrared rays and detecting the reflection of the infrared rays, it is determined whether or not an object exists in the cover area.
The cover range of the infrared monitoring system is set to a range near one section of the bookcase (that is, the cover range of the reader / writer 101), and is set so that a person standing in front of the bookcase is not detected. This is to enable detection only when the user reaches for a book in the bookshelf.

In this embodiment, only when a user is detected by the infrared monitoring system, the reader / writer 101 corresponding to the system is operated. The subsequent operation of the reader / writer 101 is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the reader / writer 10 that consumes a large amount of power only when the user reaches the bookcase
Since 1 is activated, power can be saved. Further, since the writing of the writing ID number 201 (see FIG. 2) to the RFID of the book is performed only when the user reaches the bookshelf, the ID number of the user who picks up the book can be surely obtained. The probability that the ID number of another person is written in the book while being written in the RFID of the book is reduced.

Also, an infrared monitoring system for covering the exit is provided at the exit gate, and the second reader / writer 105 is operated only when the passage of the user is detected by this system. The power consumption of the reader / writer 105 can be reduced.

Although infrared rays are used in the above description, a method using other electromagnetic waves can be similarly considered.

[Fifth Embodiment] When constructing a system as in the first embodiment, usually, when there are a plurality of first reader / writers 101 installed on a bookshelf, they are arranged so that their communication areas do not overlap. In addition, it is considered to be installed so that all books in each section can be covered. The reason why the communication areas do not overlap is to prevent radio wave interference between the reader / writers 101. This installation state is schematically shown in FIG. In the figure, a rectangle 700 represents an antenna of a reader / writer, and a broken line ellipse 701 in contact with it represents a communication area of each antenna 700.

Now, in the case where the processing as in the first and second embodiments is performed by this antenna installation method, a problem occurs when the place where the user stands is at the end of the communication area of the reader / writer. . For example, the reader / writer 101
The left or right half of the user standing on the edge of the communication area,
The ID number of the expected book can be read, but the book ID of the other half cannot be read. In this case, in the system according to the second embodiment, the user can obtain only about half of the information of the book group arranged in the section. In the lending management as in the first embodiment, when a user reaches for a section next to the bookcase section in front of the user and takes out the book, the RFID number of the book includes the ID number of the user. There is a possibility that writing is not performed, and in such a case, the processing as in the first embodiment becomes impossible.

In this embodiment, in order to prevent such a problem, the reader / writers are not installed so that the communication areas do not overlap with each other, but the communication areas 701 of the adjacent reader / writers 700 are connected as shown in FIG. Install so that they overlap. However, if the communication areas overlap as described above, it is conceivable that the identification of the position of the detected RFID may be confused, or the communication may be difficult due to radio wave interference. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reader / writers arranged in a row are numbered consecutively while overlapping the communication area, and the even-numbered reader / writer group and the odd-numbered reader / writer group are assigned.
The writer group is operated alternately. That is,
While the even-numbered reader / writer group is operating (that is, transmitting the interrogation wave and receiving the response wave), the odd-numbered reader / writer group is not operated. By doing so, the adjacent reader / writers do not simultaneously emit an interrogation wave or receive a response wave, so that the above-described problems such as interference can be solved. In addition, since the "blind spot" of the reader / writer 101 group is reduced, when a user takes out a book, the ID number of the user can be almost certainly written in the RFID of the book. That is,
If the width of the communication area of each reader / writer 101 is set to be equal to or greater than the width of the spread of both hands, if the communication areas are overlapped as shown in FIG. Even if the book and the user's RFID are covered by the communication area of any one of the reader / writers, the user's ID number can be written in the book's RFID.

In the case of the system according to the present embodiment, the same book or user may be recognized by two adjacent readers / writers. In this case, a rule may be determined in advance such as that the communication is within the communication range of the recognized reader / writer.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the user ID number is written into the RFID of the book on the front more accurately at the position where the user stands, or the user stands at the position where the user stands. Can be written into the user RFID more accurately, and the effects of the first and second embodiments described above are enhanced.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the above description, book lending management has been mainly described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to books and can be applied to management of taking out various articles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an RFID system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a logical structure of data stored in an RFID.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining the occurrence of lending or the like from a read ID number group.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which an RFID antenna is incorporated in a type I or II card.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a logical structure of RFID data according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of an initialization process of an RFID card group according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of a settlement process according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of arranging a plurality of reader / writers side by side.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how to install a plurality of reader / writers in a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 bookshelf, 101 first reader / writer, 103
Management computer, 104 management database, 10
5 Second reader / writer, 106 (user's) RF
ID, 107 users, 110 books, 111 (book's) RFID.

Claims (7)

[Claims] An article management system for managing removal of an article from a management area, wherein the RFID is attached to an article to be managed, has a unique ID of the article, and has a readable / writable write area.
R that is carried by the user and stores the unique ID of the user
FID, and a first reader / writer that stores a storage section of the article in the management area in a communication area, and reads a unique ID from an RFID of the user in the communication area,
A first reader / writer for writing the read unique ID of the user in the RFID writing area of the article in the communication area, and a user passing the exit of the management area in the communication area and passing through the communication area And the RFID of the article, each unique I
D, a second reader / writer that reads information on the RFID writing area of the article, and a unique ID of the user and the article read by the second reader / writer, and information on the RFID writing area of the article. And a determination unit for determining a user who has taken out the article. 2. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the information of the RFID write area of the article read by the second reader / writer is one or more of the information read simultaneously. An article management system, characterized in that when corresponding to any one of the user's unique IDs, it is determined that the corresponding user has brought the article. 3. An article management system for managing removal of an article from a management area, wherein the RFID is attached to an article to be managed and stores an ID unique to the article, and is carried by a user and used. R that stores the unique ID of the person
The FID and the exit of the management area are stored in a communication area, and each unique ID is obtained from the RFID of the user and the article passing through the communication area.
An article management system comprising: a reader / writer that reads D; and a determination unit that, when the unique IDs of the user and the article are simultaneously read by the reader / writer, determines that the user has taken out the article. 4. An RFID which is attached to an article to be managed and stores information including a unique ID of the article, and a writing area which is carried by a user and stores the unique ID of the user and which is readable and writable. And a first reader / writer for storing a storage section of the article in the management area in the communication area, wherein when the RFID of the user is detected in the communication area, A first reader / writer that reads stored information from the RFID of the article and writes the information in the RFID writing area of the user; and, based on the information written in the RFID writing area of the user, An information management system comprising: an information presenting unit configured to present information regarding an article in a storage section. 5. An RFID which is carried by a user and has a unique ID and a readable / writable writing area, and a selection of a representative one of a plurality of RFIDs designated as a group is received, and a unique ID of the selected one is received. And a first reader / writer for writing a deposit amount in the writing area of the selected representative RFID at the same time as writing the representative area to the writing area of each RFID belonging to the group, and writing of each of the RFIDs. A second reader / writer capable of writing the usage amount in the area, a third reader / writer provided at the exit gate, and the same based on information of each RFID read by the third reader / writer. The usage amount read from the RFID having the representative ID of R
Means for paying off the deposit amount written in the FID. 6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first reader / writer for detecting proximity of a user to a storage section of the article. An article management system comprising: a user detecting means having a narrow range; and operating the first reader / writer only when a user is detected by the user detecting means. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of first reader / writers are arranged in a line while overlapping communication areas between adjacent ones. And an odd number, a reader / writer, and an even number reader / writer are alternately operated in the arrangement.