JP2003155103A - Method and device for retrieving book - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for retrieving books capable of rapidly retrieving the borrowed documents or returned documents in a library. SOLUTION: Books 15 having small contactless radio transceiver labels (RFID labels) on the front covers thereof are stored in the book shelves 13a to 13n of the library. A retriever 12 moves along the book shelves 13a to 13n while transmitting radio wave of a specific document number to the documents 15 with RFID labels with a portable document retrieval terminal 11, and receives a radio response from the RFID label of the document 15 to retrieve a specified document.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a book retrieval method and apparatus, and more particularly to a book retrieval method and apparatus for retrieving books held in a library or returned books.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An extremely large number of books are stored in bookshelves and the like in libraries and lent out for a certain period of time according to the wishes of the reader. Therefore, since the book (collection) constantly changes, it is difficult to manage the latest book information stored in a bookshelf or the like. In particular, it is difficult to perform a search operation for searching (finding) a book that a viewer wants to rent or view from a large number of books. Also, it takes time to quickly search the returned books and update the lending ledger.

A book management system has been introduced to manage a large number of collections in libraries and the like. Prior art related to or related to such a technical field is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 1-199511, “Library collection management method and management device”, JP 2001-229263 A, “Goods management system”, JP 10-307871 A, “Goods lending and returning device, goods registration device and user”. "Registration device" and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-79328, "Lending storage management system".

In a general conventional book management system, a bar code, which is unique information, is added to each book and the bar code is read by a bar code reader provided. Further, for example, the above-mentioned first publicly known technique provides a library book management method and a management apparatus suitable for automation of library book management and prevention of illegal taking out. To this end, a tag (a wireless tag with a radio wave reception antenna) that stores the book-specific information inside is attached to each book, and there is no contact with the book when renting outside the library, returning it, or when the user leaves the library. This is a library collection management method in which data is read / written in the state. This makes it possible to automatically manage library collections without human intervention.

[0005]

However, in the management system using a bar code or the like, since it is necessary to bring each book to the place of the bar code reader and read it, it takes time and is stored in many bookcases such as libraries. It is difficult to quickly read and manage a large number of books or piles of returned books. Further, the book management in which a wireless tag is added to each book is mainly to detect or prevent illegal taking out, and not to search books to be borrowed or viewed or to search returned books.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and enables a searcher to quickly search for books to be browsed or borrowed or returned books from a large number of collections such as libraries. An object of the present invention is to provide a book search method and device for improving services.

[0007]

The book search method of the present invention is a search method in which a searcher who wants to borrow or browse from a large number of books stored in a bookshelf by a library or the like searches for a desired book. A wireless readable recording medium containing information such as a unique reference number for each book is added in advance, and the book search terminal borrowed by the searcher is brought to the vicinity of the bookshelf, and a radio wave is transmitted to respond from the recording medium. Is received and a book is searched. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, information such as a reference number of a desired book is pre-input to the book search terminal.

The book retrieval method of the present invention is a retrieval method for retrieving a book lent from a library or the like and returning it to a predetermined bookshelf, and includes information such as a serial number unique to each book. Add a wireless readable recording medium in advance,
Enter the information of the library book in loan to the return book search terminal, send radio waves of the information of the loan book to the return book in order from the return book search terminal, and receive and search the response from the recording medium of the return book It is characterized by According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the book search operation is performed every time the returned books are accumulated.

The book management device of the present invention is a device for a searcher who wants to browse or borrow from a large number of books stored in a bookshelf of a library or the like to search for a desired book, and is added to each book. Radio transmission / reception label (RFID label) in which information including a unique reference number can be written and read
And a portable book search terminal that sends a radio wave of information including a reference number. The book search terminal emits a radio wave to a book on a bookshelf and receives a response from the RFID label for searching.

Further, the book retrieval device of the present invention is a device for retrieving a book that has been lent from a library or the like and retrieved to return it to a predetermined bookshelf or the like. A wireless book label (RFID label) that allows you to write and read information that includes the added unique reference number, and information that includes the reference number for rented books, and a return book search terminal that can sequentially output radio waves of this information. And a radio wave from this return book search terminal is transmitted toward the return book, and a response from the RFID label is received and searched.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of a book search method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a book search apparatus according to the present invention. This book search device 10
Is composed of a book search terminal 11, a plurality of bookcases 13a to 13n, and a large number of small contactless wireless transmission / reception labels (hereinafter referred to as RFID labels) attached books 15 housed in the bookcases 13a to 13n.

Here, the RFID label is obtained by mounting a microminiature antenna and an IC (semiconductor integrated circuit) chip on a thin label-shaped object. This RFID label does not require a battery and can read and write to many RFID labels at the same time using radio waves (microwave radio) from a place several meters away.

This RFID label is attached to a part of each book in the library, for example, a spine cover, using an appropriate adhesive or the like. Then, the searcher 12 uses the book search terminal 11 to quickly search (find) a search book from the book shelves 13a to 13n, and constantly confirms and manages the books stored in the book shelves 13a to 13n. It is possible.
The book search terminal 11 includes an input device for displaying a reference number and the like, and a display device.

Next, the main function of each component of the book search device 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The book search terminal 11 has a function of inputting a management number of a book to be searched and a function of transmitting a radio wave for reading an RFID label attached to each book and displaying a response from the RFID label of the book. It is a terminal. The searcher 12 is a library administrator or a visitor (library user) who operates the book search terminal 11. The book shelves 13a to 13n are shelves for storing books in the library, and a searcher or user can go to the vicinity thereof and search for the RFID-labeled book 15. Each RFID label-attached book 15 is a book itself held by the library, and is a book in which an RFID label in which a unique management number or the like is stored is attached to the spine or the like of each book.

Next, the operation of the book voucher apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. A person (hereinafter referred to as a "searcher") 12 who wants to browse or rent a book comes to the library and makes a request to the lending staff to lend the book search terminal 11 (step A1). Next, the searcher 12 inputs the management number of the book to be borrowed into the book search terminal 11 according to the designated method (step A2). The searcher 12 holds the book search terminal 11 and uses a large number of bookcases 13a to 13n.
A search operation is performed by going to the vicinity of the bookshelf 13 of the genre in which the book is included. That is, the book search terminal 11 is directed to the nearby bookcase 13 and the radio wave of the search number is transmitted (step A3).

Next, it is judged whether or not there is a book 15 matching the management number being searched (step A4). If there is a corresponding book (step A4: Y), a response signal is returned from the RFID label attached to the corresponding book 15 (step A5). Therefore, the searcher 12
Takes out the corresponding book 15 from the bookshelf 13 (step A6). On the other hand, when the corresponding book is not found (step A4: N), it is determined whether or not the book should be moved to another bookshelf (step A7). When searching for another bookshelf (step A7: Y), move to another bookshelf (step A).
8). Then, the same operation is performed using the book search terminal 11 (step A3).

Further, after the above-mentioned step A6 or when another bookshelf is not searched (step A7: N), it is judged whether or not another book to be borrowed is searched (step A).
9). When searching for other books (Step A9:
Y), enter the management number of another book 15 to be borrowed into the book search terminal 11, and perform a search by the same operation (step A).
2). If you do not want to search for another book and you want to end the search (step A9: N), the book search terminal 1 at the lending section.
1 is returned (step A10), and if there is a book to be borrowed, the borrowing procedure is performed (step A11), and then the library is exited.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a configuration (conceptual) diagram of a second embodiment of the book search device according to the present invention. This book search device 20 is for returning a borrowed book. The book retrieval device 20 is composed of a returned book retrieval terminal 21 and a pile of returned books 15. As in the case of FIG. 1, an RFID label is affixed to the returned book 15 as in the case of FIG. 1, and is temporarily stacked on, for example, a return desk (table) as illustrated. The return book search terminal 21
It has a book ledger that is being rented out and has a radio wave transmitting function for reading the RFID label of the returned book 15.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the return book search operation of the book search device 20 shown in FIG. The search operation of the book search device 20 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Book 15 returned by the visitors is
It is temporarily placed on the desk of the lender (step B1). The lender must confirm this, fill in the history of the return in the lending ledger, and return the book to the original bookshelf. In order to make this work efficient, when the return books are accumulated to some extent, the data of the lending ledger is input to the return book search terminal 21 and the search operation is performed (steps B2 and B3).

The returned book retrieval terminal 21 sequentially reads out the book management number of the lending ledger and sends a radio wave signal to the mountain 22 of the returned book (step B4). When the corresponding book exists in the mountain of the returned books, a response signal is issued from the RFID label attached to the corresponding book, and it is determined whether there is a response (step B5). When there is a response (step B5: Y), the lending ledger is updated (step B6). Next, it is judged whether or not the transmission of all the reading signals of the lending ledger is completed (step B).
7). If all the transmissions have not been completed (step B7: N), the process returns to step B4 and the above procedure is repeated. When all transmissions are completed (step B7:
Y), the confirmation and ledger update work is automatically completed, and the staff member returns the returned book 15 to the original bookshelf (step B).
8) The return book search process ends.

The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the book search method and apparatus according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, such an embodiment is merely an example of the present invention,
It does not limit the present invention in any way. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0023]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the book retrieval method and apparatus of the present invention, the following remarkable practical effects can be obtained. First, a reader (or a visitor) can quickly find a book aimed at from a huge amount of bookshelves by pasting a contactless read / write RFID label on a library lending book and reading the information by radio waves. It is searchable.

Secondly, the work of taking out the books one by one from the pile of returned books and updating the lending management ledger is RF.
It can be done automatically by the ID label and the radio wave reading function, and the work efficiency can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a book search device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a borrowed book search method by the book search device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a book search device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a return book search operation by the book search device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20 Book search device 11 Book search terminal 12 Searcher 13a to 13n bookcase 15 Books with RFID label 21 Return book search terminal 22 A pile of returned books

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06K 17/00 G06K 17/00 LF term (reference) 3F022 AA11 CC02 FF01 MM07 MM11 MM22 MM26 PP00 5B058 CA17 KA02 KA06 KA08 KA13 YA20 5B075 ND02 PP10 UU40

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A book search method for searching a desired book by a searcher who wishes to borrow or browse from a large number of books stored in a bookshelf by a library or the like, and includes information such as a serial number unique to each book. A wireless readable recording medium is added in advance, the book search terminal borrowed by the searcher is brought to the vicinity of the bookshelf to emit radio waves, and a response from the recording medium is received to search the book. A book search method characterized in that 2. The book search method according to claim 1, wherein information such as a reference number of the desired book is previously input to the book search terminal. [Claim 3] In a book retrieval method for retrieving a book lent from a library or the like and returning it to a predetermined bookshelf, a wireless readable recording medium including information such as a serial number unique to each book is added in advance. Then, enter the information of the lending book ledger into the return book search terminal, sequentially transmit the radio wave of the information of the loan book toward the return book from the return book search terminal, and from the recording medium of the return book A method for searching a book, characterized by receiving a response and searching. 4. The book searching method according to claim 3, wherein the book searching operation is performed every time the returned books are accumulated. [Claim 5] Information including a unique reference number added to each book in a book search device in which a searcher who wishes to browse or borrow from a large number of books stored in a bookshelf of a library or the like searches for a desired book A wireless transmission / reception label (RFID label) capable of writing and reading, and a portable book search terminal that emits radio waves of information including serial numbers unique to each book, and from the book search terminal to a book on the bookshelf Radio waves are emitted toward the RF
A book search device characterized by receiving and searching a response from an ID label. 6. A book retrieval device for retrieving books lent from a library or the like and returning the books to return them to a predetermined bookshelf or the like, wherein a unique reference number added to each book is used. The return book search is provided with a radio transmission / reception label (RFID label) capable of writing and reading information including the information, and a return book search terminal capable of inputting the information including the reference number of the rented book and sequentially outputting radio waves of the information. A book search device, characterized in that a radio wave from a terminal is transmitted to the returned book, and a response from the RFID label is received and searched.