JP2006219262A - Article prober and article probing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article prober capable of easily and surely probing a specific article from the many and unspecified number of articles. <P>SOLUTION: This article prober has a poling transmission means for transmitting a command signal to an FR tag for confirming a location of a specific probing object article on the basis of tag ID recorded on respective RF tags 200a, 200b to 200n installed on the probing object article, a response signal detecting means for detecting a response signal to the command signal transmitted by the poling transmission means, an ID setting means for setting the specific tag ID for the RF tags attached to the specific probing object article, a comparing means for comparing the specific tag ID set by the ID setting means with the tag ID recorded on the respective RF tags respectively installed on the many and unspecified number of probing object articles, a notifying means for notifying a result compared by this comparing means, and a control means for controlling the respective means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an article searcher and an article search system, and more particularly to an article searcher and an article search system for checking the tag ID recorded on an RF tag attached to an article and confirming the location of the article. It is.

In recent years, new information recording media called IC cards are widely available on the market. The IC card is a generic name for an IC card having a card-like or sheet-like shape such as a credit card, a bank card, or a point card, in which an IC is incorporated in the card. As an application of the IC card, an RF tag (Radio Frequency) is used by being attached to a package that is collected and delivered in mail, transportation, or the like. For example, by recording data and ID information related to delivery destinations, package contents, etc. on the RF tag, it contributes to efficient package classification management and collection / delivery work. That is, in order to improve the work efficiency for classifying and managing a large amount of luggage, a fixed reader / writer is installed in the vicinity of the belt conveyor, and the record information of the RF tag attached to the luggage moving on the belt conveyor is recorded. Management is done by reading and writing. However, after completing the classification management and collection / delivery work, if there is a situation in which it is necessary to search for a specific package among many packages for some reason, conventionally, the tag of each package has been manually removed. It was necessary to carry out a visual confirmation work, which required a lot of labor and time.
In addition, in an inventory management system that stores and manages articles in a predetermined storage location in the warehouse, information on the entry and exit of the articles is managed, but it is managed where each article is stored in the warehouse. In many cases, even if a rough location is specified, the task of finally searching for a specific item is a manual operation, and it is necessary to visually check the tag of each item. And took time.
Further, in places where equipment such as a belt conveyor is not provided, tag information is read and managed by a portable handy reader in proximity to the RF tag attached to the article. Even in this case, when it is necessary to search for a specific item from among the items, the search for the item is performed manually, and the tag of each item must be visually checked. It couldn't be used effectively, and it took a lot of time and effort.
Further, as a conventional technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a barcode reader that reads a barcode indicating an article code attached to an article, an RF tag writer that writes one or more barcodes read by the barcode reader to an RF tag, and an article Disclosed is an article management system comprising a pallet that transports and manages, an RF tag reader that reads an RF tag attached to the pallet, and a host computer that is connected to the reader via a communication line and stores a position for managing articles and articles Has been.
JP 2002-240913 A

As described above, in the conventional article management by the RF tag, the reader / writer manages the article by reading and writing information recorded on the RF tag, and the reader / writer side specifies from an unspecified number of articles. The use of RF tags to find other items was not made. For this reason, after completing the classification management and collection / delivery work of goods, in order to newly select only specific goods from those many goods, it is necessary to visually check the tags etc. Not only does it take time and effort, but it cannot be said that the advantages of the RF tag (communication by radio waves) are utilized to the maximum.
In addition, in an inventory management system for storing and managing luggage in a predetermined warehouse, the area is generally large, the lighting is relatively dark, or the location is easily confirmed in a warehouse where a large number of unspecified items are mixed. Apart from articles, it is difficult to visually identify small articles, which not only requires a lot of labor and time, but also has the risk of selecting the wrong article.
The prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 attaches one RF tag to a pallet, writes bar code information of an article received in the RF tag, confirms whether the article should be received, This is an article management system using a bar code and an RF tag that can also check the location to be managed. However, it is possible to confirm the location to be managed on a pallet basis. However, it is necessary to always record the barcode information on the pallet, which is troublesome, and if you fail to record the barcode information on the pallet, There is a problem that the information on the article and the RF tag do not match.
In view of such a problem, the present invention searches for an article having the same ID as that set from an unspecified number of articles by providing the article searcher with means for setting the ID of the article to be searched and means for notifying the search result. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article searcher that can confirm the result by a notification means and can easily and reliably search for a specific article from an unspecified number of articles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an article search system that includes readers at an entrance and a storage shelf of an article storage location, and can specify the presence / absence of an article in the article storage location and the storage location of the article.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention confirms the location of a specific surveyed article based on tag IDs recorded on each RF tag attached to an unspecified number of surveyed articles. An article exploration device, comprising: a polling transmission means for transmitting a command signal to the RF tag; a response signal detection means for detecting a response signal to the command signal transmitted by the polling transmission means; ID setting means for setting a specific tag ID for the RF tag that has been recorded, a specific tag ID set by the ID setting means, and an RF tag attached to each unspecified number of the articles to be searched A comparison means for comparing the tag IDs, a notification means for notifying the result of comparison by the comparison means, and a control means for controlling the means. That.
An article searcher for searching for a specific article from a plurality of articles attached with an RF tag, wherein the article searcher includes a polling transmission means for transmitting a command signal to the RF tag, and a response in response to the command Response signal detecting means for detecting the ID, ID setting means for setting the ID of the article to be searched, which is the most characteristic feature of the present invention, the ID set by the ID setting means, and the ID recorded in the RF tag Comparison means, a notification means for notifying the result of the comparison, and a control means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a searcher tag that records a searcher ID assigned to the article searcher is provided separately from the article searcher, and is recorded in the searcher tag when the article searcher is in a lost state. The location of the article searcher is searched by causing the lost article searcher to read the detected searcher ID.
If an article searcher is lost, in order to search for the article searcher, some means capable of communicating with the article searcher is required. Therefore, the present invention further includes a searcher tag that records an ID for identifying the article searcher, and when the article searcher is lost, the article searcher moves to a predetermined location while holding the searcher tag. The probe searches for the location by causing the probe tag to receive the polling signal transmitted by the. Note that the article searcher is configured so that all functions operate when searching for an article to be searched. If the search operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed, only the polling signal for searching the searcher tag is used. Make sure to send.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means alternately transmits a command signal for reading a specific tag ID of the search target article and a command signal for reading the searcher ID when searching for the specific search target article. The polling transmission means is controlled as described above.
As a result of searching for the search target article, the search target article cannot always be searched. If the article explorer in the power-on state is lost in such a state, there is a possibility that the article explorer cannot be searched if only the command signal for reading the tag ID of the article to be searched is transmitted. is there. Therefore, according to the present invention, when searching for a search target article, a command signal for reading the tag ID of the search target article and a command signal for reading the searcher ID are alternately transmitted.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control means determines that it is not necessary to search for the next specific search target article after searching for the specific search target article, only the command signal for reading the searcher ID is transmitted. The polling transmission means is controlled as described above.
When the exploration of the exploration item is completed and there is no next exploration item, the exploration is terminated at that point and the polling transmission to the exploration item is stopped. The polling transmission means is controlled so as to transmit only the command signal for reading the probe ID in order to continue the communication between the article probe and the probe tag in case the article probe is lost.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the control means determines that it is not necessary to search for the next specific search target article after searching for the specific search target article, and transmits only a command for reading the probe ID The polling transmission means is controlled to transmit the command continuously or intermittently.
In order to continue the communication between the article probe and the probe tag in case the article probe is lost, when transmitting only the command signal for reading the probe ID, the command signal is sent continuously, Transmit intermittently to reduce power consumption.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the article searcher is portable.
In order to search the article searcher so as to be close to the article to be searched, a handy type that is small, portable and portable is preferable.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the notification means includes a display means for displaying the result by lighting a lamp or LED or a liquid crystal, or a sound generation means for notifying the result by sound.
When the tag ID recorded on the RF tag attached to the article to be searched matches the tag ID set by the article searcher, a notification means is required to notify the operator of the result. As a notification means, there are a method of visually informing a lamp or LED by blinking, and a method of displaying characters by liquid crystal in order to display the contents. In addition, there is a method for informing the visually impaired by sound. These methods may be used in combination.
In the eighth aspect of the invention, when the specific exploration item is searched, the control unit changes transmission power of a command signal for reading the specific tag ID of the search target item and a command signal for reading the probe ID. The polling transmission means is controlled as described above.
When exploring the exploration article, it is unknown where the exploration article is. That is, it may be near the article searcher or far away. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to know the approximate distance of the article to be searched by changing the communication distance by increasing or decreasing the power of the polling signal transmitted from the article searcher.

Claim 9 is installed at the entrance of the article storage location and reads the tag ID stored in the RF tag attached to the article passing through the entrance, and installed at the exit of the article storage location. An exit reader that reads a tag ID stored in an RF tag attached to an article that passes through and an entry / exit of the tag ID read by each reader and records the storage state of the article stored in the article storage location And a management means for managing.
Incoming / outgoing management of a warehouse or the like for storing articles has conventionally been managed by recording incoming / outgoing records using a ledger. In recent years, data is often managed by a computer by inputting data using a keyboard. When an RF tag is attached to an article, information recorded on the RF tag is read with a reader or the like instead of being input with a keyboard, and is automated. In the present invention, in order to further automate, readers are respectively provided at the entrance and the exit of the warehouse, and articles passing through the entrance are registered as warehousing articles, and articles passing through the outlet are registered as warehousing articles. Thereby, it is managed as goods receipt by passing through the entrance, and is managed as goods delivery by passing through the exit.
A tenth aspect of the present invention further includes the article searcher according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.
In claim 9, it is possible to determine for the time being whether or not there is an article to be explored in the warehouse by a management means such as a PC provided at the entrance. When it is found that the object is in the warehouse, an article searcher is further provided to identify the location of the article, and the article searcher searches for the location in the warehouse.
The eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a shelf for storing an article stored in the article storage place further includes a shelf reader for reading a tag ID stored in an RF tag attached to the article.
In the warehouse, a shelf for storing articles is generally prepared. When it is found that the article to be searched exists in the warehouse, the location can be further narrowed down if it is known which shelf in the warehouse. In addition, after the location of the shelf can be specified, the article searcher can further narrow down where the shelf is.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the polling transmission means for the article searcher to send a command signal to the RF tag, the response signal detection means for detecting the response in response to the command, and the ID of the article to be searched are set. An ID setting means, a comparison means for comparing the set ID and the ID recorded on the RF tag, an informing means for informing the result of the comparison, and a control means. It is possible to specify, and it is possible to easily recognize whether or not the specified search target article exists.
Further, in claim 2, a probe tag that records an ID for identifying the article searcher is further provided, and even if the article searcher is lost, the lost article searcher is moved to the place where the searcher tag is searched for. The location can be easily explored.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when searching for an article to be searched, a command signal for reading the tag ID of the article to be searched and a command signal for reading the probe ID are alternately transmitted. Even if the article searcher is lost, it can be searched for by the searcher tag.
Further, in claim 4, in order to continue the communication between the article explorer and the probe tag, only the command signal for reading the probe ID is transmitted. It is also possible to leave a means for searching for an article searcher by a searcher tag.
Further, in claim 5, when only the command for reading the searcher ID is transmitted, the command is transmitted continuously or intermittently, so that the probability of searching for the item searcher by the searcher tag is increased, and The time for transmitting the command signal can be extended by suppressing the power consumption.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the article searcher has a portable configuration, the operability is improved and the article searcher can be as close as possible to the article to be searched.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the notification means includes a display means or a sound generation means, the convenience for the operator can be improved.

Further, in claim 8, since the communication distance is changed by increasing or decreasing the power of the polling signal transmitted from the article searcher, it is possible to know the approximate distance of the article to be searched.
Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since readers are respectively provided at the entrance and the exit of the warehouse, articles passing through the entrance are registered as warehousing articles, and articles passing through the exit are registered as exiting articles, so that the articles pass through the entrance and exit. This makes it possible to manage the goods in the warehouse, omitting troublesome data entry, and greatly automating inventory management.
Further, in the tenth aspect, the system of the ninth aspect is further provided with the article searcher according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, so that the location of the searched articles in the warehouse can be further narrowed down.
Further, in claim 11, since the system of claim 9 further comprises a shelf reader for reading the tag ID stored in the RF tag attached to the article in the shelf for storing the article stored in the article storage place. After it is determined which shelf in the warehouse is located and the location of the shelf can be specified, the article searcher can further narrow down where the shelf is.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like described in this embodiment are merely illustrative examples and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only unless otherwise specified. .
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general RF tag reader / writer. This RF tag reader / writer (hereinafter simply referred to as a reader / writer) 100 is controlled by a PC 50 that exchanges data with the reader / writer 100 and controls the entire system. (When functioning as a handy reader, the reader / writer 100 can be operated by setting a command with the input device 5 without being connected to the external PC 50.) The reader / writer 100 is a data communication protocol with the external PC 50. Transmitting and receiving device 1 that controls the operation of the reader / writer 100, a firmware that records the procedure for operating the control device 2, a memory device 3 that stores the read data, and data from the control device 2 A modulator 4 that carries a signal on a carrier wave, an input device 5 that inputs an operation command, a display device 6 that displays information controlled by the control device 2, and a power supply that is an AC signal from the control device 2. A power amplifier 7 for amplifying the signal and a write command from the modulator 4, and binarized data from the carrier wave received from the loop antenna 9 A detection demodulator 8 for converting is configured by a loop antenna 9 for transmission and reception of electric power carrier wave and data with the RF tag (not shown).
The polling transmission means for transmitting the command signal to the RF tag 200 includes the control device 2, the modulator 4, and the power amplifier 7. The response signal detection means for detecting a response signal for the command transmitted by the polling transmission means is controlled. The ID setting means that is configured by the device 2 and the detection demodulator 8 and sets the tag ID of the surveyed article is configured by the control apparatus 2 and the input device 5, and is attached to the tag ID and the surveyed article set by the ID setting means. Comparing means for comparing the tag ID recorded in the RF tag is configured by the control device 2, and notification means for notifying the result of comparison by the comparing means is configured by the control device 2 and the display device 6. Control means for controlling the means is constituted by the control device 2.
Next, before describing the operation of the reader / writer 100 according to this configuration, the configuration of the RF tag will be described first. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general RF tag. The RF tag 200 of the present embodiment receives a loop antenna 20 that transmits and receives data using a power carrier wave from the reader / writer 100, a transmission / reception circuit 21 that generates a write command read command, and a power carrier wave from the loop antenna 20. A power generation circuit 22 that rectifies and converts it into DC power, a memory device 23 that manages storage of control firmware and data, a modulator 24 that modulates a transmission command from the control circuit 26 with a carrier wave, The detector 25 is configured to convert the carrier wave data from the transmission / reception circuit 21 into binarized data, and the control circuit 26 controls the overall operation of the RF tag 200.

Next, each operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together. When a power supply (not shown) is turned on, the reader / writer 100 starts an operation according to a program stored in the memory device 3 after the initial operation of the control device 2. First, initialization is performed. Next, the control device 2 alternately transmits a power supply signal supplied to the RF tag 200 and a polling signal from the power amplifier 7. The signal is radiated to the outside from the loop antenna 9 as an electromagnetic wave. Next, when the RF tag 200 is close to the reader / writer 100, the loop antenna 20 receives the power supply signal, and the power generation circuit 22 rectifies the carrier wave to convert it into DC power, so that all the RF tag 200 Supply to the circuit. When power is supplied and the control circuit 26 is driven, control is started in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 23.
Next, the control circuit 26 first demodulates the command from the transmission / reception circuit 21 by the detector 25 and converts it into a binary signal, and analyzes the command. As a result, when it is recognized that it is called, the response is modulated by the modulator 24 and transmitted from the loop antenna 20 via the transmission / reception circuit 21. The reader / writer 100 receives this response with the loop antenna 9, converts it into a binarized code with the detector demodulator 8, analyzes it with the control circuit 2, and recognizes that the RF tag 200 is a tag conforming to the standard. Accordingly, polling is performed between the reader / writer 100 and the RF tag 200 thereafter. In the following description, the reader / writer 100 is described as a read-only reader 100. Further, the reader 100 will be described as having the same internal configuration as the handy reader.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation concept of the article searcher according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described with the same reference numerals. The present invention relates to an article searcher that searches for a specific article from an unspecified number of articles. Then, it is a precondition that the probed article is attached with an RF tag in which ID information for specifying the article is recorded. In addition, a portable handy reader is used to search for articles. In the present embodiment, the RF tags attached to the surveyed articles are 200a, 200b,... 200n (same as the code of the article), and each RF tag has ID = 1, ID = 2,. ID information of ID = n is recorded. Further, ID information of ID = 0 is recorded in the probe tag 210 and installed at the tag installation location 30. A case where the handy reader 100 searches for an article 200a under such conditions will be described.
First, a difference between an RF tag (hereinafter referred to as a probed article tag) 200 and a probe tag 210 attached to the probed article will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining responses from the to-be-searched object tag 200 and the probe tag 210 to the command transmitted from the handy reader 100. For example, when a read command 40 for a probe tag is transmitted from the handy reader 100, the probe tag 210 receives the command, recognizes that the command is its own command, and sends a notification response 41 as a response to the handy reader. Return to 100. When the handy reader 100 transmits the write command 42, the probe tag 210 receives the command, recognizes that the command is its own command, and returns a notification response 43 to the handy reader 100 as a response. As described above, the probe tag 210 returns a notification response as a response whenever a command is received regardless of the read command or the write command from the handy reader 100.
Further, when the read command 44 is transmitted to the surveyed article tag 200, the surveyed article tag 200 receives the command, recognizes that it is its own command, and returns a read OK response 45. . When the light command 46 is transmitted, the to-be-searched object tag 200 receives the command, recognizes that it is its own command, and returns a light OK response 47. That is, the to-be-searched article tag 200 returns a read or write response based on the read command and write command from the handy reader 100.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for searching for an article to be searched by the handy reader of the present invention. First, before the search, ID = 1 of the article 200a is set in advance from the input device 5 of the handy reader 100. When the operation of the handy reader 100 is started, a read command is transmitted to the probe tag 210 (S1). Then, it is determined whether a notification response response informing whether the command has been correctly received from the probe tag 210 is returned (S2). If a notification response is not returned (NO route in S2), a message indicating no response is displayed on the display device 6 (S10). When the notification response is returned in step S2 (YES route in S2), the fact that there is a response is displayed on the display device 6 (S3). Next, a read processing command is transmitted to the surveyed article tag 200 (S4). Then, it is determined whether or not a read OK response notifying that the command has been correctly received from the to-be-searched object tag 200 is returned (S5). If the read OK response is not returned (NO route in S5), the fact that there is no response is displayed on the display device 6 (S11). When a read OK response is returned in step S5 (YES route in S5), a message indicating that there is a response is displayed on the display device 6 (S6). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next article to be searched (S7). If not (NO in S7), a read command is transmitted to the searcher tag 210 (S9). If there is a next exploration article in step S7 (YES route in S7), the tag ID of the next exploration article is set by the input device 5, and the process returns to step S1 and repeats (S8).
As a result of searching for the search target article, the search target article cannot always be searched. If the handy reader 100 is lost in such a state, there is a possibility that the handy reader 100 cannot be searched if only the command signal for reading the ID information of the searched article tag is transmitted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when searching for the search target article, a command signal for reading the tag ID of the search target article and a command signal for reading the searcher ID are alternately transmitted. Further, when the tag ID recorded on the RF tag attached to the article to be searched matches the tag ID set by the article searcher, an informing means is required to notify the operator of the result. As a notification means, there are a method of visually informing a lamp or LED by blinking, and a method of displaying characters by liquid crystal in order to display the contents. In addition, there is a method for informing the visually impaired by sound. These methods may be used in combination.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation concept of the article searcher according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are described with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, a case where the lost handy reader 100 is searched will be described. In the present embodiment, the RF tags attached to the surveyed articles are 200a, 200b,... 200n (same as the code of the article), and each RF tag has ID = 1, ID = 2,. An ID of ID = n is recorded. In addition, an ID of ID = 0 is recorded in the probe tag 210 and installed at the tag installation location 30. A case where the handy reader 100 is probed by the probe tag 210 in such a state will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation for searching for a handy reader using the probe tag of the present invention. As a precondition, for example, the handy reader 100 is configured to operate all the functions when searching for an article to be searched, and if the search operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has passed, the probe tag It is configured to send only a polling signal for exploring. The operator takes out the probe tag 210 from the tag installation location 30, and moves the probe tag 210 to the place where he / she takes it with his / her hand (S15). Since the read command is transmitted from the handy reader 100, when the probe tag 210 enters the communication range, the probe tag 210 is activated. When the probe tag 210 recognizes that it is its own command, it transmits a notification response, and the handy reader 100 receives the notification response. As a result, the result is displayed on the display device 6 provided in the handy reader 100. If a sounding means such as a buzzer is provided in addition to the display means, the location can be found by sound (YES route in S16). The operator moves in the direction of the sound (S17) and can confirm the location of the handy reader 100 (YES route in S18).
Thus, when the handy reader 100 is lost, in order to search for the handy reader 100, some means capable of communicating with the handy reader 100 is required. Therefore, the present invention further includes a probe tag 210 in which an ID for identifying the handy reader 100 is recorded. When the handy reader 100 is lost, the probe is moved to a predetermined place while holding the probe tag 210, The location is searched by causing the probe tag 210 to receive a polling signal transmitted by the reader 100. In order to continue communication between the handy reader 100 and the probe tag 210 in case the handy reader 100 is lost, the command signal is continuously transmitted when only the command signal for reading the probe ID is transmitted. Or may be transmitted intermittently to reduce power consumption.
Fig.7 (a) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the 1st article search system of this invention. In this embodiment, an inlet reader 37 for reading a tag ID recorded on an RF tag attached to an article passing through the inlet 38 and installed at an inlet 38 of a warehouse (article storage place) 35, and an outlet 39 of the warehouse 35. The outlet reader 40 for reading the tag ID recorded on the RF tag attached to the article passing through the outlet 39 and the entry / exit of the tag ID read by each reader 37, 40 are recorded and stored in the warehouse 35. And a PC (management means) 36 for managing the storage state of the articles being stored. In addition, tag ID currently recorded on RF tag attached | subjected to each article | item and the code | symbol of an article | item are demonstrated as the same. In this example, it is assumed that articles A, B, C, D, a, b, c, and x are stored in advance in the warehouse 35.

FIG. 8 is an operational flowchart for managing inventory by the entrance reader and the exit reader. (A) is the operation of the entrance reader, and (b) is the operation of the exit reader. First, a description will be given from FIG. It is assumed that the entrance reader 37 constantly transmits a read command signal (S21). From this state, for example, when the article E passes through the inlet reader 37 as shown in FIG. 7A, the RF tag attached to the article E operates to communicate with the inlet reader 37 (S22), and the inlet reader 37 is moved to the tag. ID = E is read and recorded in the ID map (details will be described later) of the PC 36 (S23). In FIG. 8B, it is assumed that the exit reader 40 is constantly transmitting a read command signal (S25). From this state, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the article D is taken out and passes through the outlet reader 40, the RF tag attached to the article D operates to communicate with the outlet reader 40 (S26), and the outlet reader 40 reads the tag ID = D and deletes it from the ID map of the PC 36 (S27).
Here, FIG. 9 will be referred to in order to explain the ID map in more detail. FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing an example of updating the ID map in the system of FIG. 7A. In this ID map (A), in FIG. 9A before update, the ID, the presence / absence of inventory, the date of data update, and the like are stored in association with each other in the form of a map. For example, in FIG. 9A, ID = A is inventory “present”, update date “1/30”, ID = B is inventory “present”, update date “2/15”, ID = C is inventory “ Yes, update date “2/20”, ID = D is inventory “Yes”, update date “2/20”, ID = E is stock “No”, update date “3/1” Yes. On the other hand, in FIG. 9B after the update, ID = D is updated as “None” for inventory, update date “5/2”, ID = E is updated as “Yes” for inventory, and update date “5/2”. ing.

FIG.7 (b) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the 2nd article search system of this invention. In this embodiment, in addition to FIG. 7A, the handy reader 41 sets the ID of the article to be searched in the warehouse 35 and further narrows down the location of the article. For example, when it is known by the PC 36 that the article B is present in the warehouse 35 and the location of the article B is further specified, the tag ID = B of the article B is set in the handy reader 41 and the handy reader 41 Search for the location of B.
FIG.7 (c) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the 3rd article search system of this invention. In the present embodiment, in addition to FIG. 1, 2, and 3 are provided to narrow down the positions of shelves in which articles to be searched in the warehouse 35 are stored. Here, the shelf reader 42 is a shelf NO. 1 can be collectively read. Further, the shelf reader 43 is a shelf NO. 2 can be collectively read. Further, the shelf reader 44 is a shelf NO. 3 can be collectively read.
Here, FIG. 9 will be referred to in order to explain the ID map in the present embodiment in more detail. FIGS. 9C and 9D are diagrams showing an example of updating the ID map in the system of FIG. 7C. In this ID map (B), an ID, stock availability, shelf NO, date of updating data, and the like are stored in association with the map. For example, in FIG. 9C before the update, ID = A is inventory “present”, shelf NO “1”, update date “1/30”, ID = B is inventory “present”, shelf NO “1”, Update date “2/15”, ID = C is inventory “present”, shelf NO “1”, update date “2/20”, ID = D is inventory “present”, shelf NO “1”, update month Date “2/20”, ID = E is inventory “none”, shelf NO “none”, and update date “3/1”. On the other hand, in FIG. 9D after the update, ID = D is inventory “none”, shelf NO “none”, update date “5/2”, ID = E is inventory “present”, shelf NO “2”. The update date is “5/2”.

FIG.7 (d) is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the 4th article search system of this invention. In this embodiment, in addition to FIG. 7C, the ID of the article to be searched in the warehouse 35 is set by the handy reader 41 to further narrow down the location of the article. For example, when it is known by the PC 36 that the item B is in the shelf NO “1” in the warehouse 35 and the location of the item B is further specified, the tag ID = B of the item B is set in the handy reader 41. The handy reader 41 identifies the location of the article B on the shelf NO “1”.
As described above, in the present system, in order to further promote automation, the readers 37 and 40 are respectively provided at the inlet 38 and the outlet 39 of the warehouse 35, and the article E that has passed through the inlet 38 is registered as a warehousing article. The article D that has passed through is registered as a delivery article. Thereby, the article E is managed as a receipt by passing through the entrance 38, and the article D is managed as a delivery by passing through the exit 39.
In FIG. 7A, it is possible to determine for the time being whether or not there is an article to be searched in the warehouse by the PC 36 provided at the entrance 38. When it is found that the product is in the warehouse, a handy reader 41 is further provided to specify the location of the article, and the handy reader 41 is used to search for the location in the warehouse.
In addition, shelves for storing articles are generally prepared in the warehouse. Therefore, when it is found that an article to be searched exists in the warehouse, the location can be further narrowed down if it is known which shelf in the warehouse is located. In this embodiment, a shelf can be specified by providing readers 42, 43, and 44 on each shelf. After the location of the shelf can be identified, the handy reader 41 can further narrow down where the shelf is located.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reader / writer for general RF tags. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a general RF tag. It is a schematic diagram explaining the operation | movement concept of the article | item explorer which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement for searching for a to-be-searched article by the handy reader of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the operation | movement concept of the article | item explorer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement for searching a handy reader with the probe tag of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the goods search system of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart which manages inventory by the entrance leader and exit leader in the goods search system of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the update of ID map in the system of Fig.7 (a). It is a sequence diagram explaining the response from the to-be-searched object tag and the probe tag with respect to the command transmitted from the handy reader.

Explanation of symbols

  30 Tag installation location, 36 PC, 37 Entrance reader, 40 Exit reader, 42, 43, 44 Shelf reader, 100 Handy reader, 200a, 200b, ... 200n RF tag, 210 Probe tag

Claims (11)

An article searcher for confirming the location of a specific search article based on tag IDs recorded on each RF tag attached to an unspecified number of search articles,
A polling transmission unit that transmits a command signal to the RF tag, a response signal detection unit that detects a response signal to the command signal transmitted by the polling transmission unit, and an RF tag attached to a specific article to be searched ID setting means for setting a specific tag ID, a specific tag ID set by the ID setting means, and a tag ID recorded on each RF tag attached to an unspecified number of the surveyed articles. An article exploration device comprising: comparison means for comparing; notification means for notifying a result of comparison by the comparison means; and control means for controlling the means.   A searcher tag that records a searcher ID assigned to the article searcher is provided separately from the article searcher, and when the article searcher is in a lost state, the searcher recorded in the searcher tag 2. The article searcher according to claim 1, wherein the location of the article searcher is searched by causing the article searcher in a lost state to read the ID.   When the specific search target article is searched, the control means transmits the command signal for reading the specific tag ID of the search target article and the command signal for reading the searcher ID alternately. 3. The article searcher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means is controlled.   If the control means determines that it is not necessary to search for the next specific search target item after searching for the specific search target item, the control means transmits only the command signal for reading the searcher ID. The article exploration device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission means is controlled.   When the control means determines that there is no need to search for the next specific search target article after searching for the specific search target article, and continuously transmits the command for reading the probe ID, The article searcher according to claim 4, wherein the polling transmission unit is controlled so as to transmit continuously or intermittently.   The article searcher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article searcher is portable.   2. The article exploration device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means includes a display means for displaying a result by lighting a lamp or an LED or a liquid crystal, or a sound generation means for notifying the result by sound.   The control means, when exploring a specific surveyed article, performs the polling transmission so as to change the transmission power of a command signal for reading a specific tag ID of the surveyed article and a command signal for reading the searcher ID. The article searcher according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the means is controlled.   An entrance reader that reads a tag ID recorded on an RF tag attached to an article that is installed at an entrance of the article storage location and that passes through the entrance; and an article that is installed at the exit of the article storage location and passes through the exit. An exit reader that reads the tag ID recorded on the attached RF tag, and a management unit that records the entry and exit of the tag ID read by each reader and manages the storage state of the article stored in the article storage location; An article exploration system comprising:   The article exploration system according to claim 9, further comprising the article exploration instrument according to claim 1.   The article according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising a shelf reader that reads a tag ID recorded on an RF tag attached to the article in a shelf for storing the article to be stored in the article storage place. Exploration system.

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