JP2003141650A - Article identification label with anti-theft function, article control system using the article identification label - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article identification label with an anti-theft function, and an article control system using the label. SOLUTION: This article identification label attached to an article 13 and containing information about the article comprises an anti-theft tag portion 11 for monitoring the article, and an RF tag portion 12 for reading and writing the information by radio communication to identify the article individually.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention prevents an item from being stolen in a store by detecting the movement of an item such as an item, and is attached to an item to enable individual identification of the item. Also, the present invention relates to an article management system that individually manages articles at the stages of production, distribution, retail, etc. using the article identification mark.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an article monitoring system as a system for detecting the movement of articles such as articles and preventing the articles from being stolen in a store. As the article monitoring system, for example, a radio frequency (RF) method that uses resonance of radio waves, an acoustic magnet method that uses electromagnetic waves (ultrasonic waves), and a magnetism that uses changes in magnetic field are used depending on the detection method. There are methods, etc. The structure of the identification mark or tag attached to the article and the method of detecting the tag differ depending on which method is used, but in either method, the detection device receives a signal from a transmitting antenna that transmits a signal. You are using a receiving antenna.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a magnetic detection device. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection device has a transmission antenna 1 that generates a predetermined signal and a reception antenna 2 that detects a magnetic field. These antennas 1, 2 are
They are built in the transmitting antenna housing 3 and the receiving antenna housing 4, respectively. The transmitting antenna housing 3 and the receiving antenna housing 4 are provided so as to face each other so as to have an inspection region 5 therebetween, and form a gate 6. In this detection device, when the tag 7 having a magnetic material moves in the inspection area 5, the magnetic flux density of the magnetic material is changed by the signal generated from the transmitting antenna 1, and a signal (( (On / off information) is detected by the receiving antenna 2 and the detected signal is compared with a predetermined value to determine that the tag 7 has moved, that is, the product 8 to which the tag 7 has been attached, and the product in the store. Theft is being prevented.

The gate 6 is generally provided at the entrance of a store and detects movement of the tag 7 when a customer carries a product and passes through the gate. The tag 7 holds on / off information, which is turned off when passing through the cash register.
Therefore, if the product is not a product that has been properly paid at the cash register, the gate detects the ON information of the tag 7,
Generate a warning.

On the other hand, in the conventional merchandise management system, a bar code is generally used to individually identify the merchandise, but in recent years, a non-contact wireless IC chip embedded in the merchandise has also been developed. Has been done. The wireless IC chip is capable of holding a large amount of data as compared with a bar code, and is capable of additionally writing information, and has advantages such as easiness of reading and accuracy, and its standardization is It is expected that it will change to a bar code if advanced. Although this wireless IC chip is becoming smaller,
It is expected that its applications will be expanded with this miniaturization.

[0006]

As described above, according to the prior art, the article monitoring system and the article management system are provided for the same products, but
It is provided separately, and there is no integrated one. However, the tag used in the article monitoring system and the wireless IC chip used in the article management system are
Since all of them are identification marks attached to products, it is desirable to attach them all at the same point in time in each stage of production, distribution or retail, thereby improving work efficiency. Since the wireless IC chip used in the article management system can be attached as an identification mark to all products as the size of the article becomes smaller, it is often used in stores handling small articles. It is required to develop an antitheft article identification sign that can be used.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel article identification mark with an anti-theft function that can be attached to any article, and an article management system using such an article identification mark. Is to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an anti-theft tag portion for monitoring movement of an article in an article identification mark attached to the article and including information about the article, and an article identification mark. There is provided an article identification mark comprising an RF tag portion capable of reading and writing information in a contactless manner by wireless communication for individual identification.

The anti-theft tag portion and the RF tag portion may be spatially separated from each other. The anti-theft tag portion may be a magnetic body capable of magnetically writing on / off information. Further, the RF tag portion is a contactless I in which individual identification information of an article can be electrically written without contact.
It may be a C chip.

The anti-theft tag portion may constitute an antenna of the RF tag portion. Also, the antenna may be flexible. Further, the article may be a disc capable of reading and writing information by rotational movement, and the antenna may be attached in an arc shape around its rotation axis. Examples of this rotating disk include a CD, a DVD, and the like, and by mounting the antenna in an arc shape around its rotation axis, it is possible to eliminate imbalance in rotation, that is, uneven rotation.

Also, the present invention provides an article management system comprising an article identification mark attached to an article and including information about the article, and a read / write means for reading and writing information on the article identification mark. An article management system, wherein the sign comprises an anti-theft tag portion for monitoring movement of the article, and an RF tag portion capable of reading and writing information by wireless communication for individual identification of the article. I will provide a.

In the article management system, a plurality of the read / write means may be provided, and the plurality of read / write means may be networked. This networking may be adapted to support IPV6 (Internet Protocol version 6), ie IPV6. Furthermore, the networking may be achieved by a plurality of computers that manage the information obtained from the plurality of reading and writing means, and an internet system and information management software that connect the plurality of computers.

[0013]

2 and 3 show an article identification mark of the present invention. The article identification mark is formed in a label shape and includes an antitheft tag portion 11 and an RF tag portion 12. The anti-theft tag portion 11 is
The RF tag portion 12 is formed of an ultra-thin wire-like magnetic material or a magnetic foil, and the RF tag portion 12 is formed of a wireless IC chip. The internal structure of the wireless IC chip is shown in FIG. This wireless IC chip is about 0.6 mm square and has a thickness of
It is about 0.4 mm.

The antitheft tag portion 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 also serves as an antenna of the wireless IC chip. Figure 2
In the structure of (1), the antenna is attached to one side of the wireless IC chip, and in the structure of FIG. 3, it is attached to both sides of the wireless IC chip. The antennas shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are linear, but other antennas having other suitable shapes can be used, and in the case of a disc-shaped product as shown in FIG. Since information is read and written by the method, it is preferable to use an arc-shaped antenna in consideration of the balance during exercise. Further, in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the anti-theft tag portion also serves as the antenna of the wireless IC chip, but the antenna of the wireless IC chip may be separately provided. For example, a theft prevention tag portion formed of a wire-shaped magnetic material or a magnetic foil may be juxtaposed with a wireless IC chip with an antenna.

Next, an embodiment in which the article management system using the article identification mark of the present invention is applied to the bookstore industry and the drugstore industry will be described. For these examples,
The goods are goods such as books, cosmetics, and medicines.

According to the present invention, passage information can be handled in a publisher of a book, a manufacturer of products such as cosmetics and medicine, a retail store such as a bookstore or a drug store, or distribution of those products. That is, by writing and reading information to and from the product identification sign at each stage of product production, distribution, and retail,
Information on whether or not the product has passed the regular distribution route, that is, passage information can be included, and the passage information can be managed at each stage of production, distribution and retail of the product. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the illegal return of books and to take measures against pinpoint product recalls.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional book distribution channel and a book distribution channel when the article management system of the present invention is used.

[0018] The bookstore industry is a publisher /
Distribution of books is complicated between the agency and the bookstore (see the conventional distribution route in FIG. 6). For example, the return rate of books is 30 on average.
% To 40%. Therefore, it is difficult to manage the distribution of books, and it is difficult to grasp the quantity of books in the distribution process and whether the books are flowing according to the distribution route. In addition, it is difficult to confirm the actual stock of books at a bookstore.

When the article management system of the present invention is used in a bookstore, it is possible to manage books collectively without having to manage them one by one. It is possible to reduce inventory. In addition, unit price, arrival, and shipping can be managed separately. In addition, it will be possible to share information among publishers, agencies, and bookstores, and link it with the crime prevention system.

When the article management system of the present invention is used in an agency, it is possible to share information among publishers, agents, and bookstores, so that the return rate can be reduced. Since individual items can be managed, the agency can refurbish and store books.

When the article management system of the present invention is used in a publishing company, it is possible to manage illegal copyback by using a distribution log. That is, an unauthorized return can be checked by the publisher checking the passage information written at the distribution stage of the agency or the like. In addition, it becomes possible to grasp the quantity of books sold in real time. Further, in the past, it was possible to grasp the quantity of returned products by bookstore, as compared with the fact that only the quantity for each book could be grasped. Further, it becomes possible to grasp the marketing information, that is, it becomes possible to manage the shipment record and forecast the demand.

FIG. 7 shows distribution channels of products in the conventional drug store industry. The drug store industry has a wide variety of distribution routes from manufacturer shipments, and it is not possible to accurately know which product was delivered through which route at the store.

When the article management system of the present invention is used in a retail store in the drug store industry, it is possible to collectively check the products without the need to check them individually, that is, it is possible to carry out a batch check, and thus inventory confirmation is possible. It becomes easier and the inventory can be reduced. In addition, the unit price,
Incoming goods, shipping management, and expiration date management can be done individually. In addition, information can be shared among manufacturers, distribution and retail stores, and can be linked with crime prevention systems.

When the article management system of the present invention is used in distribution in the drug store industry, it is possible to manage individual articles, so that it is possible to easily inspect goods received and shipped.

When the article management system of the present invention is used by a maker in the drug store industry, it becomes possible to grasp marketing information, that is, it becomes possible to manage shipping results and forecast demand in real time, and how many products are sold at which store. It is possible to easily grasp the temperature. Further, it becomes possible to easily handle a recall, and the distribution log can be searched for a distribution route. That is, since the product is managed at each stage of production, distribution, and retail, it is possible to eliminate the illegal product at each base of the distribution route of the product. In other words, pinpoint recall measures can be taken.

The software of the article management system of the present invention may be provided by an application service provider (ASP). Therefore, if the environment is such that it can be connected to the Internet, no special equipment is required. As a result, the required functions can be used at low cost, and initial investment, operation, and maintenance are unnecessary.

As typical examples of the article identification mark of the present invention, those having the structures of FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 are shown. In addition to these, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 12. The effect of the antenna can be enhanced by adopting another structure. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the magnetic antennas 11 attached to both ends of the IC chip 12 form a closed loop instead of the open loop as shown in FIG.
This closed loop antenna is arranged so as to draw a circle centering on the center portion 13a of the CD. The embodiment of FIG.
The IC chip 12 is placed inside the loop of the magnetic antenna 11.
Are spatially separated from each other. Then, a part of the loop of the magnetic antenna 11 is opened and the capacitor 14 is connected thereto. The embodiment of FIG.
The antenna terminal portion 15 of the IC chip 12 is composed of a conductor layer formed by etching, printing or the like, and linear magnetic bodies are connected to both ends of the antenna terminal portion 15. The embodiment of FIG. 11 is similar to that of FIG.
The IC chip 12 is placed inside the loop of the magnetic antenna 11.
Are spatially separated from each other, but unlike FIG. 9, the loop of the magnetic antenna 11 is not closed,
Slide the capacitor so that both ends are parallel and then the capacitor 16
(Stray capacitance) is formed. 12
In this embodiment, the magnetic antennas 11 attached to both ends of the IC chip 12 are arranged so as to draw an elliptical open loop.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the article identification mark with the anti-theft function can be easily attached, so that the individual article management and the theft prevention can be easily achieved. In particular, since the article identification mark of the present invention has the RF tag portion capable of reading and writing information by wireless communication, the article can be managed individually at each stage of production, distribution and retail, and the article can be easily stolen. It can be prevented. For example, it is possible to prevent unauthorized return by using the passage information regarding the distribution route of the product written in the product identification sign. Also,
Since it becomes easy to search for illegal products that require recall at each location along the distribution route, pinpoint recall measures can be taken. Furthermore, by using an ultra-fine wireless IC chip as the RF tag portion, it is possible to easily achieve single item management and theft prevention for all products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a gate in a conventional article monitoring system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a wireless IC chip of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a CD to which a third embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a distribution channel of books according to the related art and after the present invention is introduced.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing distribution channels in a drug store.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a fifth embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a sixth embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a seventh embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an eighth embodiment of the article identification mark of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 transmitting antenna 2 receiving antenna 3 Transmit antenna housing 4 receiving antenna housing 5 inspection area 6 gates 7 tags 8 products 11 Anti-theft tag part 12 RF tag part 13 CD 13a The center of the CD 14 Capacitor 15 Antenna terminal part 16 capacitors (stray capacitance)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masahide Hayama             3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             Nagakawa Science Park West 714A Stock Association             Company Telemidic (72) Inventor Takeo Hoshi             Unipulse, 1-3 Sengendai Nishi, Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture             Within the corporation F-term (reference) 5B035 BB02 BB09 BB11 BB12 BC00                       CA23                 5C084 AA03 AA09 AA14 BB11 BB40                       CC34 DD09 EE07 FF02 GG71

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An article identification sign attached to an article and including information about the article, the anti-theft tag portion for monitoring the movement of the article, and the non-contact readout of information by wireless communication for individual identification of the article. And a writable RF tag portion. 2. The article identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft tag portion and the RF tag portion are spatially separated from each other. 3. The article identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the anti-theft tag portion is a magnetic body capable of magnetically writing on / off information. 4. The article identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the RF tag portion is a non-contact IC chip on which individual identification information of an article can be electrically written in a non-contact manner. 5. The article identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the antitheft tag portion constitutes an antenna of an RF tag portion. 6. The antenna is flexible.
Item identification mark described in. 7. The article is a disc capable of reading and writing information by rotational movement, and the antenna is
The article identification mark according to claim 6, which is attached in an arc shape around the rotation axis. 8. An article management system, comprising: an article identification mark attached to an article and including information about the article; and a read / write means for reading and writing information to and from the article identification mark, wherein the article identification mark is the article. An article management system comprising: an anti-theft tag portion for monitoring the movement of an item and an RF tag portion capable of reading and writing information by wireless communication for individual identification of the article. 9. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the read / write means are provided, and the plurality of read / write means are networked. 10. The network according to claim 9, wherein the networking is achieved by a plurality of computers managing information obtained from the plurality of reading / writing means, an internet system connecting the plurality of computers, and information management software. Goods management system.