JP2004323199A - Automobile transportation management method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for managing transportation of an automobile, reducing costs by ensuring transportation of an automobile and improving transportation efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: A tag device 11, in which individual identification information of each automobile is written and which is mounted to each automobile, outputs its individual identification information as radio waves. Reader devices 16-19 installed at least one part from a starting point to a reaching point fetch the individual identification information outputted from the tag device 11 as the radio waves, and notifies transportation progress information showing passage of the automobile mounted to the tag device 11 outputting the individual identification information to a center device 20 through a communication network 50. The center device 20 receives the transportation progress information from each of the reader devices 16-19, and records it in a database. External devices 12-14 connected with the center device 50 via the communication network 50 retrieve, read or process the transportation progress information of the database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to transport management of automobiles manufactured in factories.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Automobiles manufactured at the manufacturer's factory are transported overland or by sea by land transport or transport ship, and finally delivered to the sales office of the dealer via various locations. The transportation of such vehicles may be outsourced to a carrier.
[0003]
There are various modes of transporting cars, such as when domestic cars are sold in Japan, when domestic cars are exported overseas, and when cars manufactured overseas are imported into Japan.
[0004]
An outline of an example of transportation when a domestic car is sold in Japan will be described. Here, factory-manufactured cars are transported by land to the port of departure, then transported by sea to the port of arrival, and then transported by land to the sales office of the dealer through the base that manages the dispatch. Here is an example.
[0005]
Automobiles manufactured at the factory are first stored temporarily in a motor pool in or near the factory, from where they are loaded on land vehicles and transported to the port of departure. In land transportation from the motor pool of the factory to the port of departure, it is decided which vehicles are to be delivered, to which ports, to which ports, and when. Accordingly, it is necessary to deliver the specified number of vehicles to the port loading dock at the specified time. And the number can reach tens of thousands.
[0006]
Cars transported to the port of departure are loaded onto transport vessels, often with delays. In that case, it is necessary to wait for loading into the loading dock until loading is possible, and when loading is possible, it is necessary to carry in a predetermined number of vehicles in a short time.
[0007]
Therefore, in general, the transport company secures a huge temporary parking lot at the port of departure and temporarily stores the vehicle before loading on the transport ship. Then, by moving a desired number of vehicles from the temporary parking lot to the loading dock, the required number of vehicles can be arranged at the loading dock in a short time.
[0008]
At the loading dock, a desired number of vehicles are loaded on a transport ship, and transported by sea to a desired port by the transport ship. When the transport ship arrives at the desired destination port, the vehicle is dropped off at the landing. The car dropped off at the landing is moved to a temporary parking lot at the arrival port. Then, in the temporary parking lot at the arrival port, the cargo is sequentially loaded on land transportation vehicles and transported to a delivery maintenance base (hereinafter referred to as a delivery center) or a dispatch base (hereinafter referred to as a dispatch center). Delivered to sales office.
[0009]
Then, at the arranging center or the dispatch center, the car is equipped with maintenance and dealer options as required, and is moved to desired offices.
[0010]
In this way, the route from the factory of the manufacturer to the sales office of the distributor passes through a motor pool such as a factory, a departure port, an arrival port, a delivery center, and a dispatch center.
[0011]
There are various types of cars to be sold, and even the same model has various differences such as grades, body colors, manufacturer options, and dealer options. Manufacturer options are attached to individual cars at the factory. Dealer options are available at deli centers and distributors. Then, the destination and the number of transported vehicles are different for each of them. In each motor pool, entry / exit management is performed according to the difference in the destination of each vehicle.
[0012]
Cars are individually managed, for example, by writing destinations with chalk on the windshield.However, total management of transport from the factory of the manufacturer to the sales office of the dealer is performed. Absent. Therefore, such management is wasteful and a lot of labor is spent.
[0013]
In addition, in order to ensure that there is no shortage of transportation in the next stage, a considerable number of cars are always stored in each motor pool, and securing and maintaining the site and facilities is a huge cost.
[0014]
In addition, the motor pool is often open and rainy, and if stored for a long period of time, the body of the car may be damaged. Also, overproduction can lead to unsold cars and long standing in motor pools.
[0015]
As described above, it is problematic that a considerable cost and period are required from the time a car is manufactured at a factory to the time it is delivered to the buyer.
[0016]
Here, the case where domestic automobiles are sold in Japan has been exemplified, but the transportation of imported cars and export cars is also the same as the desired automobiles by storage in the motor pool and transportation by land or sea. It has been delivered to the destination and has similar problems.
[0017]
As a countermeasure against these problems, a means for appropriately managing vehicles transported from factories to sales offices is desired.
[0018]
As a method of managing individual automobiles, RFID tags are fixed at the time of manufacture, and manufacturers and distributors read and write information, so that automobile individuals are managed consistently from the manufacturing process to disposal. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0019]
According to the system described in Patent Literature 1, information in an RFID tag is read and written at a maker, a dealer, a repair shop, a used car dealer, and a dismantling facility. According to this system, information on a vehicle once manufactured is managed consistently until the vehicle is discarded.
[0020]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-169858
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the system described in Patent Literature 1, individual management from manufacturing to disposal is performed consistently by the RFID tag fixed to the automobile, so that inventory management, shipping management, distribution management, maintenance management, and customer management can be performed individually. It can be done consistently on a base.
[0022]
However, this system does not take into account the transportation process from the time a vehicle is manufactured by a manufacturer to the time it passes to a distributor, and does not manage the transportation of the vehicle from the manufacturer to the distributor. Further, in this system, all the manufactured automobiles are managed so as to be identifiable unless they are discarded, and the number of automobiles becomes enormous. As a result, storage locations of individual vehicles frequently change, which makes them unsuitable for managing vehicles in a transportation process that requires tracing in real time.
[0023]
Therefore, even with this system, it has not been possible to reliably transport vehicles, improve transportation efficiency, and reduce costs involved in the transportation process. It has been desired to realize a system that solves such a problem, improves the transportation efficiency of automobiles, and reduces costs.
[0024]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle transportation management method and system that ensures transportation of vehicles, improves transportation efficiency, and reduces costs involved in the transportation process.
[0025]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a vehicle transportation management system of the present invention is a vehicle transportation management system for managing transportation of at least one vehicle from a starting point to an arrival point,
At least one tag device in which individual identification information for identifying each vehicle is written, attached to each of the vehicles to be transported, and emits the individual identification information by radio waves;
The transportation process that indicates that a vehicle equipped with a tag device that has been installed at at least one place from the departure point to the arrival point and that emits the individual identification information emitted from the tag device by radio waves has passed. At least one reader device for notifying information to the management center via a communication network;
A center device that is installed in the management center and receives transport progress information from each reader device and records the information in a database.
[0026]
Therefore, according to the present invention, while each vehicle equipped with the tag device is transported, when passing through the installation location of each reader device, the progress information is notified from the reader device to the center device, and the database of the center device is stored in the database of the center device. Since they are recorded, the individual transportation status of each vehicle can be traced in real time.
[0027]
The leader device may be installed in at least one of a factory, a temporary parking lot, a loading place, a landing place, and a sales office.
[0028]
As a result, it is possible to easily know the stock status of each point along the transportation route such as a factory, a temporary parking lot, a loading place, a landing place, a sales office, and to manage the transportation of vehicles to the destination. At the same time, it is also possible to change the transportation destination of the vehicle according to various factors such as the state of arrival and departure of the shipping service, thereby improving the transportation efficiency.
[0029]
Further, the center device may record the transportation progress information in a database so that at least one of search, browsing, and processing can be performed by an external device connected through a communication network.
[0030]
As a result, remote locations such as automakers, transporters, dealers, and other locations along the transportation route such as factories, temporary parking lots, loading docks, unloading spots, and dealer sales offices. The equipment can use the real-time transportation status.
[0031]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automobile transportation management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle transportation management system 10 includes a tag 11, terminals 12 to 14, a writer 15, readers 16 to 19, and a center device 20. The terminals 12 to 14, the writer 15, the readers 16 to 19, and the center device 20 are all connected to the communication network 50. The communication network 50 is a wired or wireless communication network such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, or a combination thereof.
[0033]
The tag 11 is attached to each automobile while the automobile managed by the present system is transported from the factory of the manufacturer to the sales office of the dealer, and transmits individual identification information of each automobile by radio waves.
[0034]
The writer 15 writes the individual identification information of each vehicle in the tag 11. In the present embodiment, in a manufacturer that manufactures automobiles, the tag 11 in which individual identification information of each automobile manufactured in the factory is written by the writer 15 is attached to the automobile. Alternatively, the individual identification information may be written by the writer 15 to the tag 11 attached to the car.
[0035]
The readers 16 to 19 are installed at each base for storing cars on a transportation route from a factory of a manufacturer to a sales office of a dealer, and detect one or both of arrival and departure of cars at the base. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the leader 16 is installed in the factory of the manufacturer, the readers 17 and 18 are installed in the temporary parking lot secured by the carrier, and the reader 19 is installed in the parking lot of the seller. In addition, at each point along the transportation route, such as loading docks where vehicles are loaded onto transport ships, unloading docks where vehicles are unloaded, arranging centers that perform vehicle inspection, maintenance, and dispatch (delivery) management, and dispatch centers that manage dispatching. A leader may be set up.
[0036]
The readers 16 to 19 receive the radio wave transmitted from each of the tags 11 to obtain the individual identification information of each vehicle, and transmit the individual identification information to the center device 20 via the communication network 50.
[0037]
The center device 20 is installed, for example, in a management center that centrally manages the transportation of automobiles, receives individual identification information from the readers 16 to 19, and performs search, browsing, processing, and the like in association with the individual identification information and the readers 16 to 19. Record as possible. From the data stored in the center device 20 in this manner, each location of the vehicle can be known.
[0038]
The terminals 12 to 14 are installed at respective bases of a manufacturer, a carrier, or a dealer, and acquire information on the location of each vehicle by accessing the center device 20. Manufacturers, transporters, and distributors can use them for their tasks.
[0039]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the tag shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the tag 11 has an RF unit 31, a demodulation circuit 32, a modulation circuit 33, a processing unit 34, a memory 35, a built-in battery 36, and an antenna 37.
[0040]
The RF unit 31 transmits / receives a signal of a predetermined radio frequency to / from a reader via the antenna 37. The RF unit 31 may include an amplifier circuit.
[0041]
The demodulation circuit 32 demodulates the signal received by the RF unit 31 using a predetermined modulation / demodulation method. The demodulated received signal is provided to the processing unit 34. Modulation / demodulation methods that can be used here include, for example, amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase modulation.
[0042]
The modulation circuit 33 modulates the transmission signal from the processing unit 34 by a predetermined modulation / demodulation method and sends the modulated signal to the RF unit 31.
[0043]
The memory 35 stores the individual identification information of the vehicle to which the tag 11 is attached.
[0044]
The processing unit 34 reads the individual identification information stored in the memory 35 in response to a request from the reader, and transmits the individual identification information to the reader.
[0045]
The built-in battery 36 supplies power to the RF unit 31, the demodulation circuit 32, the modulation circuit 33, the processing unit 34, and the memory 35. The built-in battery 36 enables the tag 11 to operate without power supply from outside.
[0046]
The tag 11 of the present embodiment can be screwed, for example, to a license plate mounting position on the entire surface of an automobile. The tag 11 is attached to an automobile at the end of a manufacturing process in a factory, for example.
[0047]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the reader shown in FIG. The readers 16 to 19 all have the same configuration, and each has an RF unit 41, a demodulation circuit 42, a modulation circuit 43, a control unit 44, a memory 45, a communication unit 46, and an antenna 47.
[0048]
The RF unit 41 transmits and receives a radio frequency signal to and from a reader via the antenna 47.
[0049]
The demodulation circuit 42 demodulates the signal received by the RF unit 41 by a predetermined modulation / demodulation method. The demodulated received signal is provided to the processing unit 44.
[0050]
The modulation circuit 43 modulates the transmission signal from the processing unit 44 by a predetermined modulation / demodulation method and sends the modulated signal to the RF unit 41.
[0051]
The control unit 44 controls transmission and reception of signals, acquires individual identification information from the tag 11, and sends the information to the center device 20 via the communication processing unit 46 and the communication network 50. Note that, for example, an external controller constituted by a computer may be connected to the control unit 44, and the control unit 44 may be operated by a command from the controller.
[0052]
In the memory 45, various information is written and read by the processing unit 44, and is used for processing.
[0053]
When the reader communicates with the center device 20, the communication unit 46 interfaces with the communication network 50 and performs communication processing according to a predetermined protocol.
[0054]
The leader of the present embodiment is installed as a gate at the entrance or exit of the motor pool at each base, and acquires individual identification information from a car entering or exiting the motor pool.
[0055]
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the system when the reader acquires the individual identification information from the tag and notifies the center device. Referring to FIG. 4, first, the reader sends the individual identification information request to the surrounding tags 11 by the control unit 44 (step 101). The individual identification information request is a message requesting transmission of individual identification information. The tag 11 that has received the individual identification information request reads the individual identification information from the memory 35 by the processing unit 34 and sends it to the reader (step 102). The reader that has received the individual identification information from the tag 11 sends it to the center device 20 (step 103). The center device 20 records the individual identification information received from the leader and the information indicating the leader that transmitted the individual identification information in association with each other.
[0056]
Here, for simplicity of description, an example in which only one tag 11 is provided is shown, but a plurality of tags 11 usually exist simultaneously in an actual motor pool of a factory or a temporary parking lot. A plurality of tags 11 enter the communication range of the reader 16 one after another, and the reader acquires the individual identification information of the plurality of tags 11 in a short time and sends it to the center device 20. In that case, the reader may combine the individual identification information of the plurality of tags 11 into one piece of data and send it to the center device 20.
[0057]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of a database recorded in the center device. Here, an example in which four vehicles are transported is shown for simplicity of explanation. In addition, the leader of each base is the leader No. Is given. Leader No. of the leader installed at the factory exit. Is “1”, the leader No. of the leader installed at the entrance and exit of the temporary parking lot. Are "2" and "3" respectively, and the leader No. of the leader installed in the sales office. Is "4".
[0058]
Whether or not the individual identification information of each vehicle is acquired by each leader is shown in the table of FIG. “O” is written on the leader who has obtained the individual identification information.
[0059]
Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the vehicle with the individual identification information CAR # 1 has already been delivered to the business office. In addition, it can be seen that the car of the individual identification information CAR # 2 has departed from the temporary parking lot but has not arrived at the sales office. It can be seen that the car with the individual identification information CAR # 3 is in the temporary parking lot. It can be seen that the car with the individual identification information CAR # 4 has not yet left the factory.
[0060]
The database of the center device 20 may record information such as the vehicle type, grade, body color, and options of each vehicle in association with the individual identification information. Such information may be registered, for example, directly in the center device 20 or from the terminal 12 of the manufacturer.
[0061]
The database of the center device 20 may record the time at which each car arrives at or departs from each base in association with the individual identification information. The time information may be reported to the center device 20 from the readers 16 to 19, or may be measured by the center device 20.
[0062]
This database can be accessed from terminals 12 to 14 installed in manufacturers, transporters, and distributors, and real-time information can be obtained. The terminals 12 to 14 can search the data stored in the center device 20 and display, for example, a list of the individual identification information of the cars in the temporary parking lot. In addition, a list of specific vehicle types can be displayed for viewing. Further, the data can be processed to determine the number of vehicles for each vehicle type in the temporary parking lot. In addition, it is possible to browse data as exemplified in FIG. It is also possible to know the residence time of the vehicle in each motor pool.
[0063]
Manufacturers, transporters, and distributors can use this for their tasks.
[0064]
For example, the manufacturer can use the real-time data recorded in the center device 20 to know the number of vehicles in the transportation stage for each vehicle type, body color, or option. It can be used for manufacturing management such as whether to manufacture.
[0065]
Further, the transporter can use the real-time data recorded in the center device 20 to grasp the stock status of each vehicle type, body color, and options in each motor pool.
[0066]
In addition, since the dealer can know the period required for transportation from the real-time data recorded in the center device 20, it can notify the buyer of the time when the vehicle can be delivered.
[0067]
As described above, according to the system of the present embodiment, the individual identification information is acquired from the tag 11 of the automobile being transported by the reader installed at each base of the transportation route, and the information is stored in the database of the center device 20. By collecting, the transportation status of each automobile can be traced in real time by the center device 20, so that it is possible to transport the vehicle to the destination reliably and to grasp the state in the middle stage.
[0068]
In addition, according to the system of the present embodiment, the inventory status of each motor pool can be easily known from the database, so that the destination of the automobile can be reliably managed, and according to various factors such as the arrival / departure status of the sea service. It is also possible to change the transportation destination of cars and improve the efficiency of transportation, reduce inventory, reduce parking space in the motor pool, and shorten the transportation period. Further, since the management of the stock status of each motor pool is facilitated by the database recorded in the present system, it is possible to reduce the number of personnel who perform stock management in each motor pool.
[0069]
Further, according to the system of the present embodiment, it is possible to know the transportation period from the transportation status of each vehicle, so that it is possible to improve services such as notifying the buyer of the exact time of delivery.
[0070]
In addition, terminals 12 to 12 which are remotely installed such as each base of a manufacturer, a transporter, and a distributor, and each point of a transportation route such as a factory, a temporary parking lot, a loading place, an unloading place, and a distributor office. Since the real-time transportation status of the center device 20 can be used from 14, work efficiency at each base and each point can be improved.
[0071]
In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the tag 11 is screwed to the number plate attachment position, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be mounted in a vehicle, such as in front of a driver's seat. In that case, power is supplied from the cigarette lighter socket, the built-in battery 36 can be omitted, and the waterproofing process can be simplified. Also, for example, it may be mounted inside the hood. In that case, power may be supplied from the battery wiring.
[0072]
Further, in the present embodiment, a read / write tag is used, and the individual identification information is written in the tag at the factory, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a tag is attached to a car at a factory using a read-only tag, individual identification information set in advance for the tag and information about the car (vehicle type, body color, grade, options, shipping destination) , Etc.) and register them in the database of the center device 20. In that case, the writer 15 is unnecessary.
[0073]
In addition, the transport management system of the present embodiment can be combined with existing systems of a manufacturer, a transporter, or a distributor that manage their operations, thereby expanding the functions of those operation management systems. For example, it may be linked with a manufacturer's production management system or a distributor's customer management system. In that case, for example, each existing system may be connected to the position where the terminals 12 to 14 were placed in FIG.
[0074]
Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a carrier contracts and transports an automobile, but the present invention is not limited to this. The manufacturer or distributor may transport the vehicle. In addition, the transportation route may be divided into a plurality of parts, and the manufacturer, the transportation company, or the sales agent may share the transportation of the vehicle of each part.
[0075]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, while each vehicle equipped with the tag device is transported, when passing through the installation location of each reader device, the progress information is notified from the reader device to the center device and recorded in the database of the center device. Therefore, it is possible to trace the individual transportation status of each vehicle in real time, and it is possible to reliably transport the vehicle to the destination and to grasp the state in the middle stage.
[0076]
In addition, since it is easy to know the inventory status of each point along the transport route such as factories, temporary parking lots, loading docks, unloading spots, sales offices, it is possible to manage the transportation of vehicles to the destination and It is also possible to change the transportation destination of cars according to various factors such as the arrival and departure status of shipping services, improve transportation efficiency, reduce inventory, reduce parking space at each point, and shorten the transportation period. . Further, the number of personnel who perform inventory management at each point can be reduced.
[0077]
External devices installed remotely such as at the bases of automobile manufacturers, transporters, and distributors, and at various points along the transportation route, such as factories, temporary parking lots, loading docks, unloading docks, and sales offices. The real-time transportation status can be used at the same time, so that the efficiency of operations at each base and each point can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an automobile transportation management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a tag shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reader shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of the system when a reader acquires individual identification information from a tag and notifies the center device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data configuration of a database recorded in a center device.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Car transport management system 11 Tag 12 to 14 Terminal 15 Writer 16 to 19 Reader 20 Center device 31, 41 RF unit 32, 42 Demodulation circuit 33, 43 Modulation circuit 34, 44 Processing unit 35, 45 Memory 36 Built-in batteries 37, 47 Antenna 45 Memory 46 Communication unit 50 Communication network 101 to 103 Step

Claims (10)

A vehicle transportation management method for managing transportation of at least one vehicle from a departure point to an arrival point using a tag device that emits information written therein by radio waves,
Using a reader device installed in at least one place from the departure point to the arrival point, obtains individual identification information for identifying each vehicle emitted by radio waves from a tag device attached to each of the vehicles. Steps and
From the reader device that has acquired the individual identification information, transport progress information indicating that the vehicle equipped with the tag device that emits the individual identification information has passed the place where the reader device is installed, through a communication network, Sending to the center device;
A vehicle transportation management method comprising a step of recording the transportation progress information received from each of the leader devices in the center device in a database. The vehicle transportation management method according to claim 1, wherein the installation location of the leader device is at least one of a factory, a temporary parking lot, a loading place, a landing place, and a sales office. The vehicle transportation according to claim 1, wherein the transportation progress information is recorded in the database so that at least one of search, browsing, and processing can be performed by an external device that communicates with the center device through the communication network. Management method. The method according to claim 3, wherein the external device is a terminal device. The vehicle transportation management method according to claim 3, wherein the external device is a computer included in a business management system of any one of a vehicle manufacturer, a vehicle carrier, and a vehicle dealer. A vehicle transportation management system for managing transportation of at least one vehicle from a departure point to an arrival point,
Individual identification information for identifying each of the vehicles is written, attached to each of the vehicles to be transported, at least one tag device that emits the individual identification information by radio waves,
It is installed in at least one place from the departure point to the arrival point, acquires the individual identification information emitted by the radio wave from the tag device, and passes the vehicle equipped with the tag device emitting the individual identification information. At least one reader device for notifying the management center via a communication network of transportation progress information indicating that
A center device installed at the management center, the center device receiving the transportation progress information from each of the reader devices and recording the information in a database. The vehicle transportation management system according to claim 6, wherein the leader device is installed in at least one of a factory, a temporary parking lot, a loading place, a landing place, and a sales office. 8. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the center device records the transportation progress information in the database so that at least one of search, browsing, and processing can be performed by an external device connected through the communication network. Transportation management system. The vehicle transportation management system according to claim 8, wherein the external device is a terminal device. The vehicle transport management system according to claim 8, wherein the external device is a computer included in a business management system of any of a vehicle manufacturer, a vehicle transporter, and a vehicle dealer.

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