JP2005038301A - Article monitoring system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article monitoring system for reducing costs to be spent on the management of an article using a non-contact IC tag, and for preventing the damage on the article due to the IC tag. <P>SOLUTION: An IC tag 3 is arranged at a position where the output of a response request signal from a reader 4 for burglar monitor and the output of a reflected signal reflected by a metallic member 2 mounted on an article 1 to be monitored are offset or a position where the IC tag is adhered to the metallic member. Therefore, it is impossible to normally detect the IC tag, however when the article 1 to be monitored moves from its set position, any reflected wave is not detected, and the adhesive status of the metallic member and the IC tag is eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to detect the movement of the article from the set position by making the IC tag 3 receive a response request signal, and output a response signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an article monitoring system and an article monitoring method for monitoring exhibits displayed in an exhibition hall such as an art museum or a museum, and articles stored in a warehouse or the like.

  In recent years, a non-contact IC tag called RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) that holds information that can identify an individual and can read the information without contact has been widely used for product management and the like.

  A technique for managing inventory of articles in a warehouse or the like using a non-contact IC tag is disclosed in Patent Document 1 shown below. In Patent Document 1, it is assumed that management of entry / exit of an article can be easily realized by attaching a slip with an ID tag to the article and reading and managing information from the ID tag by a reader provided in a warehouse or the like.

  Further, a technique for easily finding a desired article by a search even if the arrangement of articles to be managed is changed is disclosed in Patent Document 2 shown below. In Patent Document 2, a tag in which article data is written is pasted on an article, and tag information of the article is read by a reader / writer arranged in each area of the management place to recognize the management place.

JP-A-7-81725 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-167011

  As described above, in the conventional article management method using the non-contact IC tag, the non-contact IC tag is attached to each article and the article is managed. Therefore, as many non-contact IC tags as the number of articles to be managed are required. It becomes. Therefore, the cost for article management increases. In the conventional article management using the non-contact IC tag, the IC tag is attached to all the articles to be monitored, and the articles being displayed and the articles to be monitored stored in the warehouse are monitored by a large-scale system. Realization of a system for monitoring an object to be monitored with a simpler configuration is desired, for example, when it is desired to manage only the exhibits on display.

  In addition, since non-contact IC tags are directly attached to the articles to be managed, management using non-contact IC tags is allowed for items that should not be soiled, such as art and exhibits displayed in museums and exhibition halls. Could not do.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an article monitoring system and an article monitoring method that reduce the cost of managing an article using a non-contact IC tag and eliminate the contamination of the article by the non-contact IC tag. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve this object, the invention described in claim 1 comprises a detection device that outputs a detection signal for detecting an IC tag, and a part or all of the monitored item that is attached to the monitored item. A metal member that reflects the detection signal output from the detection device, and a position where the output of the detection signal from the detection device and the output of the reflection signal reflected by the metal member cancel each other or the metal member And an IC tag disposed at a position in close contact with each other.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an IC tag is arranged at a position where the output of the detection signal from the detection device and the output of the reflected signal reflected by the metal member cancel each other, or a position where the IC tag is in close contact with the metal member. ing. Therefore, normally, the IC tag cannot be detected by the detection signal, but when the article to be monitored moves from the installation location, the reflected wave disappears and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. Therefore, the movement of the article from the installation location can be detected by the IC tag receiving the detection signal and outputting the response signal. Therefore, the IC tag is attached to the monitored item, and it is not necessary to monitor all the items being displayed or the items to be monitored stored in the warehouse by a large-scale system. The monitoring target article can be monitored with a simple configuration.

  Using this principle, a metal member is attached to a plurality of articles to be monitored, and an IC tag is arranged at a position where the output of the reflected signal from the metal member and the output of the detection signal cancel each other or in close contact with the metal member Thus, it is possible to monitor a plurality of articles with one IC tag and one detection device. Also, if some or all of the monitored items are made of metal, there is no need to attach a metal member to the monitored item, so that the monitored item, especially art, etc., will not be contaminated. Can be monitored.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output of a detection signal for detecting an IC tag, which is output from the detection device, and a part or all of the article to be monitored or attached to the article to be monitored. An IC tag installation step of installing the IC tag at a position where the output of the detection signal reflected by the member cancels or a position in close contact with the metal member; and the IC tag receives the detection signal, and the IC tag And a movement detection step of detecting movement of the article to be monitored from the installation location when a response signal is returned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the IC tag is disposed at a position where the output of the detection signal from the detection device and the output of the reflected signal reflected by the metal member cancel each other or in close contact with the metal member. ing. Therefore, normally, the IC tag cannot be detected by the detection signal, but when the article to be monitored moves from the installation location, the reflected wave disappears and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. Therefore, the movement of the article from the installation location can be detected by the IC tag receiving the detection signal and outputting the response signal. Therefore, the IC tag is attached to the monitored item, and it is not necessary to monitor all the items being displayed or the items to be monitored stored in the warehouse by a large-scale system. The monitoring target article can be monitored with a simple configuration.

  Using this principle, a metal member is attached to a plurality of articles to be monitored, and an IC tag is arranged at a position where the output of the reflected signal from the metal member and the output of the detection signal cancel each other or in close contact with the metal member Thus, it is possible to monitor a plurality of articles with one IC tag and one detection device. Also, if some or all of the monitored items are made of metal, there is no need to attach a metal member to the monitored item, so that the monitored item, especially art, etc., will not be contaminated. Can be monitored.

  In the present invention, the IC tag is arranged at a position where the output of the detection signal from the detection device and the output of the reflected signal reflected by the metal member cancel each other or in close contact with the metal member. Therefore, normally, the IC tag cannot be detected by the detection signal, but when the article to be monitored moves from the installation location, the reflected wave disappears and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. Therefore, the movement of the article from the installation location can be detected by the IC tag receiving the detection signal and outputting the response signal. Also, if some or all of the monitored items are made of metal, there is no need to attach a metal member to the monitored item, so that the monitored item, especially art, etc., will not be contaminated. Can be monitored.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a metal member 2 attached to each monitored object 1 to be monitored, an IC tag 3 for detecting movement of the monitored object 1 from the installation location, and a theft monitoring device. It has a reader 4 and a theft management device 5 that manages a plurality of theft monitoring readers 4 that monitor the article 1 to be monitored.

  The metal member 2 attached to the monitoring target article 1 may be a conductive substance that reflects radio waves output from the theft monitoring reader 4, and the shape is appropriately changed according to the monitoring target article 1 for monitoring the theft. Is possible. For example, if the monitored object 1 is a large electrical appliance as shown in FIG. 2, a metal plate may be attached to the bottom surface of the monitored object 1. At this time, the IC tag 3 and the theft monitoring reader 4 can be stored in a pedestal on which the electric appliance is placed. Moreover, when the monitoring object 1 is a picture as shown in FIG. 3, the metal foil shown in FIG. 3 may be attached to the back of the picture or the forehead. At this time, the IC tag 3 and the theft monitoring reader 4 can be embedded, for example, in a wall on which a picture is placed. Since the ability to reflect radio waves from the theft monitoring reader 4 does not differ depending on the thickness of the metal member 2, the metal member 2 can be selected according to the monitoring target article 1 to be attached. Further, if the monitored object 1 itself is made of a substance such as a metal that reflects radio waves, the metal member 2 is not necessary.

Next, the IC tag 3 will be described.
The IC tag 3 is not affixed to the monitored object 1 that performs theft monitoring, but is disposed at the installation location of the monitored object 1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft monitoring reader 4 are provided for each monitored object 1.

Here, the configuration of the IC tag 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the IC tag 3 is mounted with an IC chip 31 for storing data on a circuit board, and an antenna 32 for transmitting and receiving the data in a contactless manner is patterned by a printed wiring technique. Further, although different depending on the application, a film for protecting the circuit board from water, dust and the like usually seals the circuit board. The IC tag 3 communicates with the transmission / reception circuit of the IC chip 31 when the radio wave from the theft monitoring reader 4 is irradiated inside the antenna 32, and supplies power and requests a response for monitoring from the theft monitoring reader 4. Receive a signal. Identification information for identifying the IC tag is recorded in the IC chip 31. The IC chip 31 is activated by receiving power from the theft monitoring reader 4 and outputs the identification information stored in the IC chip 31 to the theft monitoring reader 4 as a response signal to the received response request signal.

Next, the theft monitoring reader 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the theft monitoring reader 4 includes a transmission / reception device 41, a control device 42, a power amplifier 43, an antenna 44, a detector 45, and a memory 46. The transmission / reception device 41 receives the monitoring start control signal transmitted from the theft management device 5 and outputs it to the control device 42. Further, when an abnormality is detected, an abnormality detection signal output from the control device 42 is transmitted to the theft management device 5. The control device 42 outputs a power supply signal, which is a radio wave, and a monitoring response request signal to the IC tag 3 via the power amplifier 43 and the antenna 44 in accordance with the monitoring start control signal received by the transmission / reception device 41. . A signal from the control signal is amplified by the power amplifier 43 and output to the IC tag 3 via the antenna 44.

  The signal from the IC tag 3 is output to the detector 45 via the antenna 44. The detector 45 detects a response signal from the signal received by the antenna 44 and outputs the response signal to the control device 42. When the control device 42 receives the response signal from the detector 45, the control device 42 records this response signal as information in the memory 46 and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the theft management device 5 via the transmission / reception device 41.

  When receiving the monitoring start control signal from the theft management device 5, the theft monitoring reader 4 of this embodiment outputs a response request signal for theft monitoring at predetermined intervals. If no response can be obtained from the IC tag 3 in response to this response request signal, it is determined that there is no abnormality in the article 1 to be monitored, and there is no abnormality signal and the own apparatus in the theft management device 5. And an identification signal for output to the theft management device 5. Further, when a response signal (identification information stored in the IC chip) is received from the IC tag 3, it is assumed that there is an abnormality in the monitored article 1, and an abnormality detection signal and an identification signal for identifying the device itself are stolen. Output to the device 5.

Here, the positional relationship among the installed metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft monitoring reader 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In general, radio waves (microwaves) are reflected by a metal plate or the like. In this embodiment, by utilizing this characteristic, the output wave output from the theft monitoring reader 4 and the reflected wave reflected by the metal member 2 provided on the monitoring target article 1 interfere with each other, and the radio wave is IC. The metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft monitoring reader 4 are installed at a position where the tag 3 cannot be received. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the phase of the output wave from the theft monitoring reader 4 is different from the phase of the reflected wave reflected from the surface of the metal member 2 by 180 degrees or the metal member 2 and the IC tag 3 although not shown. The metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft management reader 4 are installed at positions where the two are in close contact with each other.

  Therefore, even if the monitoring radio wave is output from the theft monitoring reader 4 to the IC tag 3 and the monitoring target article 1, the output wave and the reflected wave are reflected by the reflected wave reflected by the metal member 2 attached to the monitoring target article 1. Cancel each other, and the metal member 2 and the IC tag 3 are in close contact with each other so that the IC tag 3 and the radio wave cannot be matched, so that the IC tag 3 responds to a response request signal from the theft monitoring reader 4. There is nothing. Further, when the monitored object 1 moves from a predetermined installation location due to theft or the like, the reflected wave from the metal member 2 attached to the monitored object 1 disappears, and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. Therefore, the radio wave from the theft monitoring reader 4 is received by the IC tag 3. When the IC tag 3 outputs a response signal to the response request signal from the theft monitoring reader 4, the theft monitoring reader 4 can detect an abnormality (the monitored object 1 has moved from the installation location).

  In this way, in this embodiment, the IC tag 3 is not directly attached to the monitoring target article 1, but the metal tag attached to the monitoring target article 1 by attaching the IC tag 3 to the installation place where the monitoring target article 1 is installed. 2 or when the monitoring target article 1 is in a proper installation location by the metal of the monitoring target article 1 itself, the response request signal from the theft monitoring reader 4 cannot be received by the IC tag 3. When the article 1 to be monitored moves from the installation location, the reflected wave from the metal member 2 disappears, and the contact state between the metal member 2 and the IC tag 3 is eliminated, so that the IC tag 3 sends a response request signal. The movement from the installation location of the article is detected by receiving and outputting a response signal. Therefore, the IC tag is attached to the monitored item, and it is not necessary to monitor all the items being displayed or the items to be monitored stored in the warehouse by a large-scale system. This is effective when monitoring articles to be monitored with a simple configuration.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the theft management device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the theft management device 5 is connected to a plurality of theft monitoring readers 4 via lines, and performs the theft monitoring of the monitored article 1 via these theft monitoring readers 4. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, the theft management device 5 includes a drive control unit 51, an article management table 52, an abnormality detection unit 53, a history recording unit 54, and an alarm device control unit 55.

  The drive control unit 51 controls the start and end of monitoring of the theft monitoring reader 4 that monitors the monitored article 1 according to the monitoring schedule recorded in the article management table 52. When the drive control unit 51 refers to the article management table 52 and detects the monitoring target article 1 that has reached the time for starting the theft monitoring, the drive control unit 51 starts monitoring the theft monitoring reader 4 set for the corresponding monitoring target article 1. Output a control signal. Further, when it is time to end the theft monitoring with reference to the article management table 52, a monitoring end control signal is output to the corresponding theft monitoring reader 4. Identification information of the theft monitoring reader 4 that has shifted to the theft monitoring operation is notified to the abnormality detection unit 53.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the article management table 52 includes identification information of the theft monitoring reader 4, a monitoring target article 1 monitored by the theft monitoring reader 4, and a building in which the monitoring target article 1 is installed. Installation location information and monitoring time settings are registered. The drive control unit 51 refers to the article management table 52 to monitor the article. In addition, the alarm device control unit 55 refers to the article management table 52 and performs control to display a place where an abnormality has occurred.

  The abnormality detection unit 53 determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the monitoring target article 1 based on a signal returned every predetermined time from the theft monitoring reader 4 that monitors the monitoring target article 1. When the abnormality detection unit 53 receives the identification signal and the no abnormality signal of the theft monitoring reader 4 from the theft monitoring reader 4, the abnormality detection unit 53 writes a record of no abnormality in the history recording unit 54. When the identification signal and the abnormality detection signal are received from the theft monitoring reader 4, the alarm device control unit 55 is notified of the abnormality occurrence notification signal and the identification signal of the theft monitoring reader 4 in which the abnormality has occurred. Also, a record with an abnormality is written in the history recording unit 54.

  History information of theft monitoring is written in the history recording unit 54 by the abnormality detection unit 53. As shown in FIG. 9, the history recording unit 54 is provided with a record column for theft monitoring by each of the theft monitoring readers 4 connected to the theft management device 5. The abnormality detection unit 53 determines whether or not there is an abnormality by a signal indicating whether or not an abnormality transmitted from the theft monitoring reader 4 has occurred at each preset time, and records whether there is an abnormality or none in the corresponding theft. Write in the record field of the monitoring reader 4. The history written in the history recording unit 54 is taken out by the administrator every predetermined date and time.

  When receiving the abnormality occurrence notification signal from the abnormality detection unit 53, the alarm device control unit 55 performs control for driving the alarm device 6. Examples of the alarm device 6 include a notification device for notifying an administrator who manages this system of an abnormality, a display device for displaying information on the monitored object 1 in which an abnormality (the monitored object may be stolen), and the like. It is done. When the alarm device control unit 55 receives the notification of the identification information of the theft monitoring reader from the abnormality detection unit 53, the alarm device control unit 55 relates to the article information that is abnormal due to the identification information and the installation location in the building where the article is installed. Information is detected with reference to the article management table 52. Then, information on the article in which an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display device of the alarm device 6, and the installation location of the article is displayed.

Next, the operation procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, as a preparation stage, the monitoring object 1 to which the metal member 2 is attached is installed at the installation location and aligned. That is, the monitored object 1 so that the phase of the output wave from the theft monitoring reader 4 and the phase of the reflected wave reflected from the surface of the metal member 2 are 180 degrees different from each other or the metal member 2 and the IC tag are in close contact with each other. Is installed. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one IC tag 3 and a theft monitoring reader 4 are set to monitor one monitoring target article 1.

  Next, the drive control unit 51 of the theft management apparatus 5 refers to the article management table 52 to detect the monitored object 1 that has reached the monitoring start time, and the theft assigned for monitoring this monitored object 1. A monitoring start control signal is output to the monitoring reader 4. The theft monitoring reader 4 that has received the monitoring start control signal outputs a response request signal to the IC tag 3 every predetermined time (step S1).

  In the normal case, the IC tag 3 receives the response request signal (output wave) from the theft monitoring reader 4 by the IC tag 3 because the radio waves cancel each other due to mutual interference with the reflected wave from the metal member 2. In addition, even when the metal member 2 and the IC tag 3 are in close contact with each other, the IC tag 3 and the radio wave cannot be matched and are not received (step S2 / NO). If there is no response even if the response request signal is output, the theft monitoring reader 4 writes a record of no abnormality in its own memory 46 and identifies the signal of no abnormality to the theft management device 5 itself. It returns with a signal (step S3). The theft monitoring reader 4 repeats the process until a monitoring time end control signal is sent from the theft management device 5 (step S4).

  When a signal indicating no abnormality is returned from the theft monitoring reader 4, the abnormality detecting unit 53 writes a record indicating no abnormality in the corresponding recording field of the history recording unit 54.

  Further, when the monitored article 1 is moved from the installation location due to theft or the like, the reflected wave from the metal member 2 disappears, and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. The IC tag 3 receives the response request signal (output wave) from 4. The IC tag 3 that has received this response request signal outputs the identification information stored in the IC chip 31 to the theft monitoring reader 4 as a response signal.

  The theft monitoring reader 4 that has received the response signal from the IC tag 3 in response to the response request signal determines that there is an abnormality in the monitored article 1, and outputs an abnormality detection signal to the theft management device 5 together with its own identification signal. (Step S5). Also, the presence of abnormality is written in its own memory 46.

  The abnormality detection unit 53 of the theft management device 5 that has received the abnormality detection signal notifies the alarm device control unit 55 of the abnormality occurrence notification signal and the identification signal of the theft monitoring reader 4 in which an abnormality has occurred. Also, a record with an abnormality is written in the history recording unit 54.

  The alarm device control unit 55 that has received the abnormality occurrence notification signal refers to the article management table 52 based on the notified identification signal of the theft monitoring reader 4, and provides information on the article having the abnormality and the inside of the building where the article is installed. Detect information about the installation location at. Then, information on the article in which an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display device of the alarm device 6, and the installation location of the article is displayed. In addition, control is performed to notify the administrator of the system of the abnormality by the notification device (step S6).

  Thus, in this example, the position where the output of the response request signal from the theft monitoring reader 4 and the output of the reflected wave of the response request signal reflected by the metal member 2 attached to the article 1 to be monitored cancel each other. The IC tag 3 is disposed at a position that is in close contact with the metal member. Therefore, normally, the IC tag 3 cannot be detected, but when the article 1 to be monitored moves from the installation location, the reflected wave disappears and the contact state between the metal member and the IC tag is eliminated. When the IC tag 3 receives the response request signal and outputs the response signal, the movement of the article from the installation location can be detected. Using this principle, the metal member 2 is attached to the plurality of articles 1 to be monitored, and the IC is located at a position where the output of the reflected signal from the metal member 2 and the response request signal cancel each other or a position where the metal member 2 is in close contact with it. By arranging the tag 3, it is possible to monitor a plurality of articles 1 to be monitored by one IC tag 3 and one theft monitoring reader 4, and the cost for monitoring articles can be reduced. Also, if some or all of the monitored items are made of metal, there is no need to attach a metal member to the monitored item, so that the monitored item, especially art, etc., will not be contaminated. Can be monitored.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning with the metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft monitoring reader 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning with the metal member 2, the IC tag 3, and the theft monitoring reader 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an IC tag 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the reader 4 for theft monitoring. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the metal member 2, IC tag 3, and theft monitoring reader | leader 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a theft management device 5. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the article | item management table. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a history recording unit 54. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Monitoring object 2 Metal member 3 IC tag 4 Theft monitoring reader 5 Theft management device 6 Alarm device 51 Drive control part 52 Article management table 53 Abnormality detection part 54 History recording part 55 Alarm device control part

Claims (2)

A detection device that outputs a detection signal for detecting an IC tag;
A metal member that is attached to the article to be monitored or constitutes a part or all of the article to be monitored and reflects the detection signal output from the detection device;
An IC tag disposed at a position where the output of the detection signal from the detection device and the output of the reflected signal reflected by the metal member cancel each other or a position in close contact with the metal member;
An article monitoring system comprising: The detection signal output from the detection device for detecting the IC tag, and the detection signal attached to the monitoring target article or constituting a part or all of the monitoring target article and reflected by the metal member An IC tag installation step of installing the IC tag at a position where the output of each other cancels or a position in close contact with the metal member;
When the IC tag receives the detection signal and a response signal is returned from the IC tag, a movement detection step of detecting movement from the installation location of the article to be monitored;
An article monitoring method comprising:

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