JP2006103885A - On-vehicle device, and center device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle device, and a center device, enabling a worker on site to correctly grasp carrying in/out situations of cargoes for checking if the numbers of the cargoes is correct or not, and immediately cope with abnormality in the cargoes when any is generated. <P>SOLUTION: This on-vehicle device 2 is provided with a tag communication means 21, a control means 22, a radio communication means 23 a position obtaining means 24, and an alarm generating means 25. The carrying in/out situations of cargoes obtained by communication of the tag communication means 21 with radio tags 11 are determined to be transmitted by the radio communication means 23 to the center device 3. The control means 22 collates a current position obtained by the position obtaining means 24 with position information of delivery destinations, and generates an alarm from the alarm generating means 25 in a case where both positions are not within a preliminarily set range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device and a center device for managing cargo to be delivered and cargo information.

  Conventionally, for cargo to be delivered, cargo is managed by reading a bar code attached to the cargo with a handy terminal to prevent misdelivery. In order to prevent theft of cargo, precautions are taken, such as locking the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle when the driver leaves the delivery vehicle during delivery.

  In addition, a logistics unit that provides a GPS receiver on a mobile unit that delivers packages and a tag for packages and sends the obtained package location information to a server system installed in the logistics management center to determine the current location of the package. A system is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-308371 A

  Since conventional cargo management operations are structured as described above, it is necessary to read the barcode with a handy mill after manual operation. If you forget to read the barcode, the actual status and information on the cargo There was a problem that a discrepancy occurred. In addition, there is a problem in which theft occurs such that an operator forgets to lock the cargo compartment, or the key is broken by someone and the cargo is taken away.

  In addition, the physical distribution management system disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have a means for accurately grasping the state of loading / unloading of cargo, and it is only the logistics management center where the server system is installed that can grasp the current position of the cargo. However, there was a problem that there was no way to deal with the situation if an abnormality occurred in the cargo.

  This invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and accurately grasps the cargo loading / unloading status, can check cargo excess and deficiency at any time, and when an abnormality occurs in the cargo, It is an object of the present invention to obtain an in-vehicle device and a center device that can be dealt with immediately by workers on site.

  The in-vehicle apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a delivery vehicle and includes tag communication means, control means, wireless communication means, position acquisition means, and alarm generation means. The tag communication means transmits a calling signal to the wireless tag attached to the cargo. In response to the call signal, the wireless tag transmits a response signal including the cargo identification ID. When the response signal is received by the tag communication means, the control means determines that the cargo is carried into the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle. On the other hand, if there is no response signal after carrying in, it is determined that the cargo is carried out. When the cargo is unloaded, the control means collates the current position obtained from the position obtaining means with the position information of the delivery destination, and if both positions are not within a predetermined range, an alarm is issued. An alarm is issued from the generating means. The control means transmits the cargo loading / unloading status to the center apparatus via the wireless communication means. Further, the communicable range between the wireless tag and the in-vehicle device is set to the inside of the cargo compartment.

  According to the present invention, communication is performed between the wireless tag attached to the cargo and the in-vehicle device, and the loading / unloading status of the obtained cargo is transmitted to the center device. Therefore, the center device can obtain an effect that it is possible to check the excess / deficiency of all cargoes of each delivery vehicle at any time. In addition, by setting a communicable range between the wireless tag and the in-vehicle device, it can be clarified whether or not cargo is present in the cargo compartment. As a result, since the presence of cargo in the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle is transmitted to the center device without error, there is an effect that the cargo excess / deficiency check can be performed accurately. Furthermore, it is effective in preventing misdelivery and theft during the transportation of the cargo to be delivered.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the entire cargo management system according to the first embodiment. In the cargo management system of FIG. 1, a radio tag 11 is attached to the cargo 1. A vehicle in general (hereinafter referred to as a delivery vehicle) including a truck for carrying cargo 1 is provided with an in-vehicle device 2, which includes tag communication means 21, control means 22, wireless communication means 23, position acquisition means 24, alarm. The generating means 25 is included. A center device 3 is installed in the distribution center, and includes a control unit 31, a wireless communication unit 32, a monitor 33, and a storage unit 34 that stores cargo information such as delivery destination information. A plurality of wireless tags 11 and wireless communication means 23 may be installed from the viewpoint of obtaining processing capability and processing accuracy.

  In the center apparatus 3, the cargo information required for each delivery vehicle prepared in the center apparatus 3 via the control means 31 and the wireless communication means 32 is extracted from the storage means 34, and the cargo is loaded. Before the start of the transmission, it is transmitted to the in-vehicle device 2 of each delivery vehicle.

  The control means 31 of the center apparatus 3 displays the cargo information (delivery destination information, etc.) extracted from the storage means 34 by the cargo identification ID on the monitor 33, and can input and correct the cargo information. In addition, the cargo information stored in the storage unit 34 may be input not only to the control unit 31 but also to another control unit 31 after being created by another computer or the like via the Internet or a LAN.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a time chart of the entire cargo management system according to the first embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 2, each horizontal axis represents time. The uppermost row in FIG. 2 represents a period during which the cargo 1 exists in the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle. More specifically, a period from when the cargo 1 is carried into the cargo compartment to when it is delivered at the time of delivery is represented as a cargo existence period A. The tag communication means 21 of the in-vehicle device 2 is arranged so as to be able to communicate with the wireless tags 11 attached to all cargoes in the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle, and transmits the calling signal B to the wireless tag 11 at regular intervals. .

  First, the case where the cargo 1 is carried into the cargo compartment will be described. When the cargo 1 shown in FIG. 2 is loaded F into the cargo compartment, the response signal C is similarly constant from the wireless tag 11 attached to the cargo 1 in response to the calling signal B transmitted from the tag communication means 21. Sent at intervals. The response signal C includes the identification ID of the cargo 1. At this time, the control means 22 performs the cargo detection D based on the response signal C received by the tag communication means 21 and confirms the carry-in F of the cargo 1. The cargo information is then transmitted to the center device 3 via the wireless communication means 23. The cargo information includes an identification ID of the cargo 1, carry-in information, and the like.

  The center device 3 outputs the cargo information received by the wireless communication unit 32 to the control unit 31. The control means 31 extracts cargo information including delivery destination information associated with the identification ID of the cargo 1 from the storage means 34 and displays it on the monitor 33. Then, by comparing the sent cargo information with the extracted cargo information, it is confirmed whether or not there is an error in loading the cargo into the delivery vehicle. Moreover, if the wireless tag 11 and the tag communication means 21 are communicable not only at the time of cargo delivery but also during the movement of the delivery vehicle, the cargo detection D can be performed on the cargo present in the cargo compartment.

  Next, the case where the cargo 1 is carried out from the cargo compartment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the cargo 1 is unloaded G from the cargo compartment for delivery, the wireless tag 11 is outside the communicable range with the tag communication means 21, so communication between the two is interrupted. . At this time, the control means 22 performs the cargo detection D, and confirms the carry-out G of the cargo 1. The cargo information is then transmitted to the center device 3 via the wireless communication means 23. The cargo information includes the identification ID of the cargo 1 and unloading information.

  When the delivery G of the cargo 1 is confirmed, the control means 31 extracts the location information of the delivery destination associated with the identification ID of the cargo 1 from the storage means 34, and is mounted on the vehicle via the wireless communication means 32 and 23. Transmit to device 2. The control means 22 compares the current position h output from the position acquisition means 24 with the position information of the delivery destination, and if both positions are not within a predetermined range, the alarm generation means 25 Control to issue an alarm by sound or display. Thereby, even when the cargo is carried out by mistake or when the cargo is stolen, an alarm is issued from the alarm generating means 25.

  Examples of the position acquisition unit 24 include GPS (Global Positioning System). When the predetermined range is set, it is preferable to give a width of about 50 to 100 meters from the delivery destination position in consideration of the GPS position accuracy obtained from the position acquisition means 24 and the like. In consideration of the case where the cargo is carried out from the delivery vehicle and carried by a carriage, a local parking lot may be registered in advance as location information of the delivery destination.

  Information included in the cargo information transmitted from the in-vehicle device 2 to the center device 3 includes the date and time when the cargo is carried in / out, the current position h (latitude, longitude, etc.), the type of carry-in / out, and the like. The center device 3 outputs the cargo information received by the wireless communication unit 32 to the control unit 31. The control means 31 extracts cargo information such as delivery destination information associated with the identification ID of the cargo 1 from the storage means 34 and displays it on the monitor 33. Then, by comparing the sent cargo information with the extracted cargo information, it is confirmed whether or not a delivery error or the like has occurred for the cargo 1.

  When the cargo is carried in / out, the control means 31 collates the cargo information for the corresponding cargo as described above, and displays the excess or deficiency of the cargo in the cargo compartment on the monitor 33. In addition, even if no cargo is carried in / out, any excess or deficiency is checked for all cargo in each delivery vehicle based on the cargo information extracted from the storage means 34 and displayed on the monitor 33 as needed. be able to.

  Further, when the cargo 1 to which the wireless tag 11 is attached is in the cargo compartment, the communicable range between the wireless tag 11 and the tag communication means 21 is set to the cargo compartment. More specifically, the reaching distance of the response signal C from the wireless tag 11 may be limited to the inside of the cargo compartment. Therefore, when the cargo 1 attached with the wireless tag 11 is outside the cargo compartment, even if the wireless tag 11 receives the calling signal B from the tag communication means 21, the response signal C from the wireless tag 11 is the tag communication means. No longer reaches 21. Alternatively, communication between the wireless tag 11 and the tag communication unit 21 is completely interrupted. By setting the communicable range in this way, it can be clarified whether or not the cargo 1 exists in the cargo compartment.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect that the center device 3 can check the excess / deficiency of all cargoes of each delivery vehicle at any time. Moreover, by setting the communicable range between the wireless tag 11 and the tag communication means 21, it can be clarified whether or not the cargo 1 exists in the cargo compartment. As a result, the presence of cargo in the cargo compartment is transmitted to the center device 3 without error, so that it is possible to accurately check the excess / deficiency of cargo.
Furthermore, by issuing an alarm with the alarm generation means 25, there is an effect that not only the delivery center but also the workers on site can immediately cope with the freight delivery and theft of the cargo.
For example, the cargo detection D is determined to be present when the response signal C from the wireless tag 11 is detected from the tag communication means 21 for three or more consecutive times, and is determined to be absent when the response signal C is not detected three or more consecutive times. May be. This has the effect of more accurately confirming the presence or absence of cargo.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the entire cargo management system according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a door sensor 26 is added to the in-vehicle device 2 of the first embodiment. Therefore, since the parts other than the door sensor 26 have the same configuration and the same operation as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The door sensor 26 is installed in the vicinity of the door of the cargo compartment, and is connected to the in-vehicle device 2 by wire or wireless. When opening / closing of the door is detected, an opening / closing signal I is transmitted to the control means 22. In FIG. 3, the door sensor 26 is a part of the in-vehicle device 2, but may be provided outside the in-vehicle device 2.

  Next, the operation will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a time chart of the entire cargo management system according to the third embodiment. In the time chart of FIG. 4, each horizontal axis represents time. 4 denote the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. When loading / unloading of the cargo 1 into / from the cargo compartment occurs, the door of the cargo compartment is usually opened / closed.

  At the time of loading F of the cargo 1 into the cargo compartment shown in FIG. 4, the door of the cargo compartment is opened and closed, so that an opening / closing signal I is output from the door sensor 26. When the opening / closing signal I is input, the control means 22 transmits the calling signal B from the tag communication means 21 for a predetermined time. In response to the call signal B, a response signal C is similarly transmitted from the wireless tag 11 attached to the cargo 1 for a certain period of time. Thereafter, when the cargo is carried out and the door is opened and closed again, the opening / closing signal I is output again. When the cargo is unloaded G, the call signal B and the response signal C are transmitted for a certain period of time as in the case of the unloading F. Subsequent cargo detection D and information transmission E are the same as in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the wireless tag 11 and the tag communication unit 21 communicate with each other only for a predetermined time in conjunction with opening and closing of the cargo compartment door. There is an effect of saving power.
Furthermore, since the number of communications is reduced as compared with the first embodiment, there is an effect that the life of the wireless tag 11 is extended.
For example, the cargo detection D is determined to be present when the response signal C from the wireless tag 11 is detected from the tag communication means 21 for three or more consecutive times, and is determined to be absent when the response signal C is not detected three or more consecutive times. May be. This has the effect of more accurately confirming the presence or absence of cargo.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the entire cargo management system according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a storage unit 27 is added to the in-vehicle device 2 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, since the parts other than the storage means 27 have the same configuration and the same operation as those of the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. The storage means 27 may be integrated with the control means 22.

  In the first and second embodiments, when the cargo 1 is carried in / out, the cargo information is transmitted to the center device 3 in real time whenever the cargo 1 is carried in / out by the control means 22 and the tag communication means 21 of the in-vehicle device 2. (See FIG. 2). In this method, when cargo information is transmitted from a large number of delivery vehicles almost simultaneously, a load may be applied to the center device 3 and processing may be delayed.

  Next, the operation will be described with respect to differences from the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, new cargo information is input to the control means 22 when cargo is carried in / out. The control means 22 stores the cargo information in the storage means 27 (information holding E in FIG. 2). Thereafter, this process is repeated each time loading / unloading occurs, and cargo information is accumulated in the storage means 27. On the other hand, a transmission request is transmitted from the center apparatus 3 via the wireless communication means 32 at a predetermined time. When the wireless communication unit 23 receives the transmission request, the control unit 22 transmits the cargo information stored in the storage unit 27 to the center device 3. Thereafter, the above process is repeated again.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, since a large amount of data is not concentrated on the center device 3 at the same time, there is an effect that processing delay in the center device 3 can be prevented and a load can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the entire cargo management system according to the fourth embodiment. Since the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the third embodiment, only differences will be described. The purpose is also as described in the third embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a transmission request from the center device 3 is not transmitted to the in-vehicle device 2.

  In the fourth embodiment, a determination condition “when to transmit cargo information” from the control unit 22 to the center device 3 is set in the control unit 22 in advance. Examples of the determination conditions include “fixed time”, “every fixed time”, “when the total amount of cargo information stored in the storage means 27 exceeds a fixed value”, and the like. The determination condition can be set by remote operation of the control means 22 by the center device 3 or by a method in which the operator directly sets the control means 22. Since other processes are the same as those in the third embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, since a large amount of data is not concentrated on the center device 3 at the same time, there is an effect that processing delay in the center device 3 can be prevented and a load can be reduced.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a cargo management system according to the fifth embodiment. The cargo management system according to the fifth embodiment is obtained by connecting the control means 31 of the center device 3 and the mail server 5. Further, the mail server 5 distributes mail to the worker's mobile phone 8 via the Internet network 6 and the mobile phone mail network 7. In FIG. 6, the mail server is provided outside the center device 3, but the same function may be provided inside the center device 3 or in the control means 31 itself.

  Next, the operation will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. When an excess or deficiency of the cargo or theft occurs during delivery of the cargo, an abnormality of the cargo is transmitted from the control device 22 to the control means 31 via the wireless communication means 23 and 32. The control means 31 sends a mail to the worker's mobile phone 8 via the mail server 5, the Internet network 6 and the mobile phone mail network 7 to notify the cargo abnormality. In the first embodiment, an alarm is issued from the alarm generation means 25 of the in-vehicle device 2, but in the fifth embodiment, an abnormality can be immediately notified by mail delivery to the operator's mobile phone.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, it is possible to immediately notify the operator of an abnormality that has occurred in the cargo inside the cargo compartment. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to quickly cope with the abnormality of the cargo even if the worker on the site is away from the delivery vehicle by a break or delivery while monitoring the status of the cargo at the delivery center.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, both the vehicle-mounted device 2 and the center device 3 can be provided with a storage medium read / write means. Carrying in / out information of cargo generated in the delivery vehicle can be stored in the storage medium at any time by the reading / writing means of the in-vehicle device, and the storage medium can be delivered to the center device 3 when the delivery vehicle returns to the delivery center. . By backing up cargo information using a storage medium, the reliability of the entire cargo management system is improved.

It is a block diagram of the whole cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a time chart of the whole freight management system concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the whole cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a time chart of the cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the whole cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 3, 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the whole cargo management system which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Cargo, 2 In-vehicle device, 3 Center device, 5 Mail server, 6 Internet network, 7 Mobile phone mail network, 8 Mobile phone, 11 Wireless tag, 21 Tag communication means, 22 Control means, 23 Wireless communication means, 24 Location acquisition Means, 25 alarm generation means, 26 door sensor, 27 storage means, 31 control means, 32 wireless communication means, 33 monitor, 34 storage means, A cargo existence period, B call signal, C response signal, D cargo detection, E Information transmission / information retention, F carry-in, G carry-out, h current position, I open / close signal.

Claims (5)

Tag communication means for transmitting a call signal to a wireless tag attached to a cargo in a cargo compartment, and receiving a response signal in which the transmittable range from the wireless tag is set to the cargo compartment;
When the tag communication means detects the status of loading of the cargo into the cargo compartment of the delivery vehicle by receiving a response signal including the identification ID of the cargo from the wireless tag, and when there is no response signal after delivery Control means for detecting the unloading status;
Wireless communication means for transmitting the cargo loading / unloading status detected by the control means to collate with cargo information such as delivery destination information;
Position acquisition means for outputting the current position;
An alarm generating means for issuing a warning when the cargo is unloaded, the current position is compared with the position information of the delivery destination by the control means, and the position of both is not within a preset range; A vehicle-mounted device comprising:   The door signal which detects opening and closing of the door of the cargo compartment and outputs an opening and closing signal is provided, and when the opening and closing signal is input to the control means, the call signal is transmitted for a predetermined time. In-vehicle device.   The storage device for storing the loading / unloading status is provided, and when a transmission request is received from the center device, the loading / unloading status stored in the storage device is transmitted to the center device. The vehicle-mounted device according to 1.   Storage means for storing the loading / unloading status is provided, and when a predetermined condition set in advance is satisfied, the loading / unloading status stored in the storage means is transmitted to a center device. The in-vehicle device according to Item 1. A wireless communication means for receiving the cargo loading / unloading status obtained by communication between the wireless tag attached to the cargo and the in-vehicle device;
Storage means for storing cargo information including delivery destination information, etc .;
Control means for extracting the relevant cargo information from the storage means using the cargo identification ID and collating with the loading / unloading status;
A monitor for displaying the result of the verification,
A center device that delivers an abnormality of a cargo carry-out state transmitted from an in-vehicle device to a worker's mobile phone via a mail server and the Internet.

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