JP2006318144A - Product tracing system, product tracing server and control method for product tracing server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To collect trace forward information of each product 30 in a multistage production system 10. <P>SOLUTION: In a trace forward information collection device 50, a difference means 51 generates difference information Df for trace forward related to combination of an identifier IDo of a parent product and an identifier IDo of a child product. A reception means 52 receives trace forward information TFc from a product tracing server 32 related to a downstream side production stage 23 using the product related to IDo as a component or a raw material of its own product through a communication path 43. An update means 53 generates an initial value of trace forward information TFb on the basis of Df, and updates TFb on the basis of the trace forward information TFc. A transmission means 54 transmits TFb to the product tracing server 32 related to an upstream side product stage 21 for producing the product related to an identifier IDi through the communication path 43 as TFc of the product tracing server 32 related to the upstream side production stage 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to product traceability, and more particularly to a product tracking system, a product tracking server, and a control method for a product tracking server in a multi-stage production system in which an ID of a product is changed during a production process. It is.

  In Patent Document 1, a non-contact single chip is attached to the packaging of an article, the ID of the article is written on the non-contact single chip, the article is placed in the distribution process, and the ID of the non-contact single chip is managed in each distribution process. It is disclosed that it is read wirelessly at a point and sent to a distribution management center host computer, thereby grasping the location of each article in the distribution process.

  Non-Patent Document 1 attaches an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) to a product such as a cola can, for example, and an EPC (Electronic Product Code) is written on the RFID. In the process of being sent from the retailer to the retailer through the distributor, and then being picked up by the consumer from the display shelf of the retailer, the readers located at each location read the RFID data, so that the location and sales of the product Disclosure of grasping.

Non-Patent Document 2 introduces the information sharing service “TWX-21” of Hitachi, Ltd. In this service, member wholesalers and retailers notify transaction information to the production distribution history database managed and operated by Hitachi, Ltd., and manufacturers who ship products to the wholesalers also have their own parts. Product-part relation information is flowed from the factory or assembly factory to the production distribution history database, so that consumers and manufacturers can obtain traceability information from the production distribution history database.
JP 2000-233808 A EPCglobal, “Auto-ID Center: About The Technology [online], [October 1, 2004 search], Internet <” http: //archive.epcglobalinc .org / aboutthetech_idiotsguide.asp → http://archive.epcglobalinc.org/aboutthetech_idiotsguide2.asp → http://archive.epcglobalinc.org/aboutthetech_idiotsguide3.asp → ・ ・ ・ >> Nikkei September 29, 2004 (Wednesday) morning edition, 15th page, top left corner, "Production history, tracking industrial products. Hitachi develops system"

  The product a1 produced by the company A1 is used as a part of the product a2 of the next company A2, and the product a2 produced by the company A2 is used as a part of the product a3 of the next company A3. There is a multi-stage production system.

  In such a multi-stage production system, if a company finds a problem after shipping a specific part of its specific product, it directly or indirectly incorporates its product. Quickly identify all companies that manufacture products and all companies that manufacture products that are directly or indirectly incorporated into the specific location, and promptly identify problems with those companies. Need to be notified.

  In such a multi-stage production system, the child product is incorporated into the parent product of the next production stage at the next production stage, so that the ID of the product advances the production stage in the downstream direction of the multi-stage production system. As a result, it will be replaced one after another. Therefore, it is difficult to provide an ID reader at each production stage of the production process of the multi-stage production system and track (trace) a product with a predetermined ID throughout the production process.

  The traceability information processing apparatus of Patent Literature 1 and Non-Patent Literature 1 is for tracking a product with a predetermined ID in a distribution process, and for a predetermined product in a multi-stage production system in which ID replacement is performed. Application to tracking is difficult.

  In the traceability information processing service of Non-Patent Document 2, tracking of IDs at wholesalers and retailers is related to the same ID, and even after an ID is replaced with another ID, it is not possible to track the ID before replacement. Can not. Further, in the traceability information processing service, although producers are included together with wholesalers and retailers, the producers are limited to producers of final products, and traceability information that consumers can obtain is not available. It is limited to the product-part relation information in the final producer as one producer. When the process in which the product is taken into the next manufacturer's product is continuous, the product in the initial production stage or the intermediate production stage is taken into any production stage one after another in each production stage that is successively connected downstream. Process information (trace forward information) and process information (trace) of what products are taken in each upstream production stage for the products in the final production stage and intermediate production stage Back information) is not tracked.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a product tracking system, a product tracking server, and a product tracking server that enable a producer at each production stage to collect trace forward information and / or trace forward information about his / her product in a multi-stage production system. And a control method for a product tracking server.

  The product tracking system of the present invention includes each product tracking device for each producer involved in a multi-stage production system of the product, and a parent product when the parent product is produced using a child product as a part or raw material. A communication path established between the parent product tracking device for the parent producer that produces the product and the child product tracking device for the child producer that produces the child product. Each product tracking device is a first difference means for generating trace forward difference information Df related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product, and the product related to the identifier IDo is produced by itself. The first receiving means for receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking apparatus related to the downstream producer as the part or raw material of the product via the communication path, the initial of the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward difference information Df The trace forward information TFb is generated to a product tracking apparatus related to an upstream producer that generates a value and updates the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc and an upstream producer that produces the product related to the identifier IDi. Is transmitted as a TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer via the communication channel. It has transmission means.

The product tracking apparatus of the present invention has the following means.
First, a parent product is produced using at least one child product as a part or material, and generates trace forward difference information Df related to a combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product. Difference means,
First receiving means for receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer who uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of its own product;
The first update means for generating the initial value of the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward difference information Df, and updating the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc, and the upstream for producing the product related to the identifier IDi First transmission means for transmitting the trace forward information TFb as a TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer to the product tracking device related to the side producer.

The control method for a product tracking device of the present invention includes the following steps.
A step in which a parent product is produced using at least one child product as a part or material, and generates trace forward difference information Df related to a combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product;
Receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer who uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of the self-produced product;
A step of generating an initial value of the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward difference information Df, updating the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc, and an upstream producer producing the product related to the identifier IDi. Transmitting the trace forward information TFb to the product tracking device as the TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer.

  According to the present invention, each product tracking device in the multi-stage production system system generates an initial value of the trace forward information based on the difference information relating to the product in the corresponding production stage, and for the production stage It exchanges the trace forward information with the product tracking device in the upstream and downstream production stages, and updates its own trace forward information. Thus, the product tracking apparatus at each production stage can collect trace forward information related to the corresponding product, regardless of the replacement of the product ID in the multi-stage production system system.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-stage production system 10 that produces a predetermined type of final product (eg, a predetermined home appliance, personal computer, and automobile). The multi-stage production system 10 includes at least one intermediate production stage 11, one downstream end production stage 12, and at least one upstream end production stage 13. Each of the production stages 11, 12, and 13 corresponds to each producer and produces a predetermined product. The products in the production stages 11 and 13 are sent to the next production stage (downstream production stage) in the downstream direction and become parts or raw materials in the downstream production stage. In the production stages 11 and 12, the product in the upstream production stage is supplied from the next production stage (upstream production stage) in the upstream direction, and the product is produced using the product as a part or raw material. The product in the production stage 12 is sent to consumers through a wholesaler and a retailer in the distribution process.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram in which three consecutive production stages in FIG. 1 are extracted. The production stages 21 and 23 are upstream and downstream production stages with respect to the production stage 22, respectively. In the production stage 22, the product 30 in the production stage 22 is produced using the product 30 in the production stage 21 as raw materials or parts, and each product 30 in the production stage 22 is supplied to the production stage 23 as raw materials or parts. Is done. The product tracking servers 32 of the production stages 21, 22, and 23 are associated with different producers 31. The product tracking server 32 is sometimes called a “peer server”.

  The product 30 includes not only industrial products but also agricultural, forestry and fishery products, food products, software, and assorted gift sets. Producers 31 include not only manufacturers but also software production companies and retailers such as department stores. In the computer software industry, a software company may produce and sell its software by incorporating software produced by one or more other software companies into its software as a component. A department store or the like sometimes puts together products produced by a plurality of companies, makes them gift products, and sells them to consumers under their own brand.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the product tracking system 40. The product tracking system 40 can communicate with the product tracking server 32 associated with each production stage 11, 12, 13 and the product tracking servers 32 that are adjacent to each other in the flow of products in the multi-stage production system. And a communication path 43 connected to the. The communication path 43 is, for example, the Internet 45 (FIG. 4) described later. The product tracking server 32 associated with each production stage 11, 12, 13 is not limited to being present at the production location of the producer 31 in the production stage 11 or owned by the producer 31. . Each product tracking server 32 need only be associated with each producer at each production stage 11, 12, 13.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a communication method between the product tracking servers 32. In the product tracking system 40, for example, all the product tracking servers 32 are connected to the Internet 45, and traceability information (for example, TFb, TFc, TBa, and TBb described later) can be sent and received via the Internet 45. Yes. In the product tracking system 40, adjacent product tracking servers 32 must send and receive traceability information to each other in the flow of the product 30 in the multi-stage manufacturing system 10. Secured by the Internet 45 as an external communication path.

  The product tracking server 32 is an example of a product tracking device, but the product tracking device is not limited to those connected to each other via the Internet 45 as shown in FIG. It is assumed that a plurality of product tracking devices of the product tracking system 40 may be mounted in one server. Such server management may be performed by cooperation of a plurality of companies, a predetermined association, or a predetermined company entrusted with processing by each producer. When the parent product is produced using the child product as a part or raw material, the producers that produce the parent product and the child product are referred to as a parent producer and a child producer, respectively. When the product tracking device related to the parent producer and the product tracking device related to the child producer are mounted in the same server, the communication path between the product tracking devices is the Internet 45 or the like. It is established within the server, not outside the server.

  The product tracking server 32 includes a trace forward information collecting device 50 (FIG. 5) and / or a trace back information collecting device 70 (FIG. 9).

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the trace forward information collection device 50. The trace forward information collection device 50 includes first difference means 51, first reception means 52, first update means 53, and first transmission means 54. The first difference means 51 generates trace forward difference information Df related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product. The first receiving unit 52 receives the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking server 32 related to the downstream producer (production stage 23) that uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of the product itself. The first updating means 53 generates an initial value of the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward difference information Df and updates the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc. The first transmission means 54 sends the trace forward information TFb to the product tracking server 32 related to the upstream producer (production stage 21) that produces the product related to the identifier IDi, and the product tracking server 32 related to the upstream producer. As TFc.

  Although the trace forward information collection device 50 and the trace forward information processing method portion 100 (FIG. 13) described later have different categories but have the same technical idea, the trace forward information collection device 50 and the trace forward information processing method portion are the same. 100 will be explained together.

  FIG. 6 illustrates the trace forward difference information Df. In the product tracking system 40, information is described in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) in order to carry out information transmission between the product tracking servers 32 without any trouble. Assuming that the product 30 is a product in the production stage 22, the product 30 has a name (label) named by the producer 31 in the production stage 22 as Pba. A product 30 having names Paa and Pab is supplied from the two upstream first and second production stages 21, respectively, and is produced by using them as raw materials or parts. Each product 30 in the product tracking system 40 is given a unique ID. Here, the product 30 means an individual product produced by each producer, and when a certain producer produces 10,000 products, each product is divided into 10,000 products. ID will be given. In addition, when a certain producer produces N products, all of those products are not always incorporated into the final product of the same type, and there are N1 products among them. In some cases, the final product of one type is ultimately incorporated, and the other N2 products are ultimately incorporated into another type of final product. In such a case, even if the trace forward information is related to the same type of product, the movement route of the product in the downstream direction is different for each final product. A multi-stage production system 10 in FIG. 1 shows a multi-stage production system corresponding to one predetermined type of final product. For the first and second products 30 related to the trace forward difference information Df in FIG. 6, the IDs and the IDs of the raw materials or parts are as follows, for example.

[First product 30]
ID: Pba345
ID of the product 30 from the first production stage 21: Paa123
ID of product 30 from second production stage 21: Pab 3423

[Second product 30]
ID: Pba456
ID of the product 30 from the first production stage 21: Paa242
ID of product 30 from second production stage 21: Pab9843

  FIGS. 6A and 6B show the trace forward difference information Df related to the first product 30 (ID = Pba345), and FIGS. 6C and 6D show the second product 30 (ID = Pba456), the trace forward difference information Df. The trace forward difference information Df and the trace forward information are generated for each raw material or part ID. In the XML description of the trace forward difference information Df, IDo is a child node of IDi.

  The first and second products 30 are sent to the downstream production stage 23. The producer 31 in the production stage 23 produces his / her product 30 using the first and second products 30 as raw materials or parts. It is assumed that the name of the product 30 in the production stage 23 is Pca. In the production stage 23, the ID of Pca produced using the first product 30 (ID = Pba345) from the production stage 22 as a raw material or part is Pca4239. In the production stage 23, the second production is performed. It is assumed that an ID of Pca produced using the product 30 (ID = Pba456) as a raw material or a part is Pca8325.

  FIG. 7 shows the trace forward difference information Df in the production stage 23. FIG. 7A shows trace forward difference information Df relating to the product 30 (ID = Pca4329) in the production stage 23 in which the first product 30 (ID = Pba345) is a raw material or a part. b) is trace forward difference information Df related to the product 30 (ID = Pca8325) in the production stage 23 in which the second product 30 (ID = Pba456) is a raw material or a part. The trace forward difference information Df in each production stage is the initial trace forward information TFb in the production stage. The trace forward information TFb in the production stage 23 is sent to the production stage 22 related to the producer 31 that produced the product 30 of each IDi of the trace forward information TFb. In the production stage 22, the trace forward information of the production stage 23 is sent. Information TFb is received as its own trace forward information TFc.

  FIG. 8 shows the updated trace forward information TFb updated in the production stage 22 based on the trace forward information TFc from the production stage 23. The Pba345 of IDi in FIG. 7 (a) matches the Pba345 of IDo in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), and the Pba456 of IDi in FIG. 7 (b) is the IDo in FIGS. 6 (c) and 6 (d). Of Pba456. Therefore, the trace forward information TFb shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is updated based on the trace forward information TFc shown in FIG. 7A. After the update, the trace forward information TFb shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is updated. become. Further, the trace forward information TFb in FIGS. 6C and 6D is updated based on the trace forward information TFc in FIG. 7B, and after the update, the trace forward information TFb in FIGS. 8C and 8D is updated. become. That is, in the update processing of the trace forward information TFb, the trace forward information TFb whose IDo matches the IDi of the TFc is selected for the trace forward information TFc. In the selected trace forward information TFb, the level below the IDo level is selected. The trace forward information TFc is incorporated in the trace forward information TFb before update so that the nodes in the hierarchy are replaced with the trace forward information TFc as they are.

  The timing at which the first transmission means 54 transmits the trace forward information TFb to the upstream production stage 21 (the trace forward information TFb corresponds to the trace forward information TFc for the production stage 21) may be arbitrary. The producer 31 at each production stage needs the trace forward information about his / her product 30 when, for example, a problem is found after the shipment of his / her product 30, and the trace forward information is reached by that time. This is because TFb may be obtained.

  However, the producer 31 does not change his product 30 immediately after shipping, for example, before the product 30 reaches the production stage 12 (FIG. 1) at the downstream end of the multi-stage production system 10. Since 30 problems may be found, it is desirable that the transmission of the trace forward information TFb from the first transmission means 54 to the production stage 21 is performed promptly. For example, the first transmission unit 54 transmits the updated trace forward information TFb to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 every time the trace forward information TFb is updated.

  Thus, in the multistage production system 10, when the trace forward information of each production stage is transmitted to one or more upstream production stages, the process of updating the trace forward information in the upstream production stage is the multistage production. Propagating one after another in the upstream direction of the system 10, whereby the product tracking server 32 in each production stage has all the products 30 in which the products 30 related to the production stage are directly or indirectly incorporated. Trace-forward information is collected as the information.

  For a given final product, one production stage 22 is associated with one or more upstream production stages 21. In a typical multi-stage production system 10, when there are a plurality of production stages 21 for one production stage 22, the product tracking server 32 of the production stage 22 performs the production of each upstream production stage 21. The trace forward information transmitted to the product tracking server 32 does not include information on the product 30 in the other upstream production stage 21. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the product 30 (named Pba) in the production stage 22 is produced using two raw materials or parts with names Paa and Pab, whereas production with the name Paa. The trace forward information TFb shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the first production stage 21 that produces the product 30, and the product 30 whose name is Pab. The trace forward information TFb shown in FIGS. 8B and 8D is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the first production stage 21 producing the product. Therefore, the producer related to each upstream product tracking server 32 obtains the trace forward information information about all the downstream products that are in the production stage downstream of the own production stage and include the own product. However, the downstream product is not informed of information about what product is used as a part or material other than its own product.

  The product tracking server 32 at the production stage 22 sends the trace forward information TFb including information on the product 30 related to the other upstream production stages 21 to the product tracking server 32 at each upstream production stage 21. You may make it notify. That is, the product tracking server 32 in the reference side production stage 22 uses the trace forward information TFb obtained by combining the trace forward information TFb in FIGS. 8A and 8B with the ID Pba345 as the first and second upstream sides. It may be transmitted to the product tracking server 32.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the traceback information collection device 70. The traceback information collection device 70 includes second difference means 71, second reception means 72, second update means 73, and second transmission means 74. The second difference means 71 generates traceback difference information Db related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product. The second receiving means 72 receives the traceback information TBa from the product tracking device related to the upstream producer via the communication path. The second updating means 73 generates an initial value of the traceback information TBb based on the traceback difference information Db and updates the traceback information TBb based on the traceback information TBa. The second transmission means 74 transmits the traceback information TBb to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer as the TBa of the product tracking device related to the downstream producer.

  Although the traceback information collection device 70 and the traceback information processing method portion 120 (FIG. 14), which will be described later, are different in category but have the same technical idea, the traceback information collection device 70 and the traceback information processing method portion are the same. 120 will be described together.

  FIG. 10 illustrates the traceback difference information Db in the production stage 22. The IDs and the like of the first and second products 30 in the production stage 22 are the same as those in the description of the trace forward information collection device 50. FIGS. 10A and 10B show the trace back difference information Db of the first product 30 (ID = Pba345), and FIGS. 10C and 10D show the second product 30 (ID = This is the traceback difference information Db of Pba456). The traceback difference information Db is the initial traceback information TBb. In the traceback difference information TBb described in XML, IDo is described as a parent node of IDi, contrary to the case of FIG.

  FIG. 11 illustrates the traceback information TBa received from the upstream production stage 21. In the first production stage 21 (the production stage 21 in which the product 30 having the name Paa is produced), the producer 31 in the first production stage starts from the upstream production stage with respect to the first production stage. Products 30 with names Pxa and Pxb are supplied, and their products 30 are produced using them as raw materials or parts. Further, in the second production stage 21 (production stage 21 in which the product 30 having the name Pab is produced), the producer 31 in the second production stage performs upstream production with respect to the second production stage. From stage 11, products 30 with names Pya and Pyb are supplied, and their products 30 are produced using them as raw materials or parts.

  The traceback information TBa in FIGS. 11A and 11C is the traceback information TBa from the first production stage 21, and the traceback information TBa in FIGS. 11B and 11D is the second production stage. 21 is traceback information TBa from 21. The traceback information TBa in FIGS. 11A and 11C is the traceback information TBa relating to the product name Paa and the IDs Paa123 and Paa242, respectively. The traceback information TBa in FIGS. 11B and 11D is traceback information TBa relating to the product name “Pab” and the IDs “Pab3423” and “Pab9843”, respectively.

  FIG. 12 illustrates the traceback information TFb updated based on the traceback information TBa from the upstream production stage 21. IDa Paa123 in FIG. 10A matches IDo Paa123 in FIG. 11A, IDi Pab123 in FIG. 10B matches IDo Pa3423 in FIG. The IDi Paa242 in FIG. 10C matches the IDo Paa242 in FIG.11C, and the IDiPab9843 in FIG.10D matches the IDoPab9843 in FIG.11D. For the traceback information TBb and the traceback information TBa thus associated, TBa is incorporated into the TBb so that the layer below the IDi of the traceback information TBb is directly replaced with the traceback information TBa. The traceback information TBb is updated traceback information TBb.

  The timing at which the second transmission means 74 transmits the traceback information TBb (the traceback information TBb corresponds to the traceback information TFa in the production stage 23) to the downstream production stage 23 is not particularly limited. The producer 31 in each production stage needs the traceback information about his / her product 30 when, for example, a problem is found with his / her product 30 and the traceback information TBb is collected by that time. It is because it only has to be done.

  However, the producer 31 in the downstream production stage 23 may find a problem immediately after producing his / her product 30 and may need to deal with it. It is desirable that the transmission of the traceback information TBb from the second transmission means 74 in step 22 is performed promptly. Preferably, the second transmission unit 74 transmits the updated traceback information TBb to the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage 23 every time the traceback information TBb is updated. As a result, the traceback information at each production stage is kept up-to-date at each time point.

  In this way, in the multistage production system 10, the traceback information of each production stage is transmitted to the downstream production stage 23, and the process updated in the downstream production stage 23 is performed downstream in the multistage production system 10. As a result, in each production stage, traceback information is collected as information on all the production products 30 that are directly or indirectly incorporated as parts or materials in the production product 30 in the production stage. Is done.

  In the more specific multi-stage production system 10, subscribe and publish are used for information exchange between the parent product tracking server 32 and the child product tracking server 32. 5 and FIG. 9, in the more specific multi-stage production system 10, the second update means 73 has the final traceback information TBb () of the product 30 before the product 30 in the production stage 22 is shipped. Trace back information TBb) that is not updated any more is generated. The first transmission means 54 includes first subscribing means 58. The subscribing means 58 is the product of the production stage 21 when the trace forward difference information Df is generated and when the trace forward information is updated. While subscribing to the tracking server 32, the trace forward information at that time is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21. The second transmission means 74 includes the second publishing means 78, and the publishing means 78 receives the final traceback information TBb from the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 23 and tracks the product in the production stage 23. Publish to server 32.

  In the more specific multi-stage production system 10, the second update means 73 (FIG. 9) finishes generating the final traceback information TBb of the product 30 before shipping the product 30 in the production stage 22. . The second transmission unit 74 includes a second subscribing unit 80, and the second subscribing unit 80 subscribes to the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage 23 after the shipment of the product 30 in the production stage 22. At the same time as live, the final traceback information TBb is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 23 when subscribing. The first transmission means 54 (FIG. 5) includes the first publishing means 60, and the first publishing means 60 performs the trace forward at that time with respect to the subscription from the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21. The information is published to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 and thereafter the trace forward information TFb is published to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 every time the trace forward information TFb is updated.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the trace forward information processing method part 100 of the control method 99 of the product tracking server 32. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the traceback information processing method part 120. The control method 99 of the product tracking server 32 includes a trace forward information processing method part 100 (FIG. 13) for performing trace forward information processing and a traceback information processing method part 120 (FIG. 14) for performing traceback information processing. .

  In the trace forward information processing method part 100 (FIG. 13), in S101, the parent product is produced using at least one child product as a part or material, and the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product are obtained. The trace forward difference information Df related to the combination is generated. In S102, the trace forward information TFc is received from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer who uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of the product itself. In S103, the initial value of the trace forward information TFb is generated based on the trace forward difference information Df, and the trace forward information TFb is updated based on the trace forward information TFc. In S104, the trace forward information TFb is transmitted as the TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer that produces the product related to the identifier IDi.

  In the traceback information processing method part 120 (FIG. 14), in S121, traceback difference information related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product is generated. In S121, the traceback information TBa is received from the product tracking device related to the upstream producer. In S123, an initial value of the traceback information TBb is generated based on the traceback difference information, and the traceback information TBb is updated based on the traceback information TBa. In S124, the traceback information TBb is transmitted to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer as the TBa of the product tracking device related to the downstream producer.

  Preferably, in S104, every time the trace forward information TFb is updated, the updated trace forward information TFb is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the upstream production stage 21. Similarly, in S124, every time the traceback information TBb is updated, the updated traceback information TBb is preferably transmitted to the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage 23.

  In a more specific control method 99, in S123, the final traceback information TBb of the product is generated before the product is shipped, and in S104, the trace forward difference information Df is generated and the trace forward. When the information is updated, it subscribes to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer and transmits the trace forward information at that time to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer. In S124, the final traceback information TBb is published to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer in response to the subscription from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer.

  In another more specific control method 99, in S123, the final traceback information TBb of the product is generated before the product is shipped. In S124, after shipment of the product, the product is subscribed to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer, and the final traceback information TBb is transmitted to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer when subscribing. In S104, for the subscription from the product tracking device related to the upstream producer, the trace forward information at that time is published to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer, and the trace forward information is updated. Each time, the trace forward information is published to the product tracking apparatus related to the upstream producer.

  Preferably, in S103, the updated trace forward information TFb is associated with the IDo of the trace forward information TFb before the update and the trace forward information TFc corresponding to the IDo is associated with the trace forward information TFb before the update. The trace forward information TFc is incorporated. In S123, the updated traceback information TBb is associated with the IDi of the trace forward information TBb before the update and the traceback information TBa corresponding to the IDi is associated with the traceforward information TBb before the update. The information TBa is incorporated.

  Also in the control method 99, preferably, the difference information, the trace forward information, the trace back difference information, and the trace back information are described in XML (example: FIGS. 6 to 8 and FIGS. 10 to 12).

  FIG. 15 shows that the child product tracking server and the parent product tracking server (the parent product tracking server exists on the downstream side of the child product tracking server) in the multi-stage production system 10 are the publish side and the subscribe side, respectively. It is a timing chart about delivery of trace forward information and trace back information between product tracking servers in the case of becoming. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the production stages 21, 22, and 23 are arranged in that order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the multistage production system 10.

  In production stages 21, 22, and 23, as soon as the product 30 is produced, trace forward difference information and trace back difference information are generated (S151, S152, and S153), which are the initial values of the trace forward information and the trace back information. The basis of this, specifically the initial value itself. The product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 subscribes to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 (S155). At the time of this subscription, the trace forward information of the production stage 22 is transmitted to the product tracking server 32 of the production stage 21. The product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 receives the subscription from the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 and publishes the traceback information in the production stage 21 to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 (S156). ). Thereafter, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 updates its own trace forward information based on the trace forward information from the production stage 22 (S161), and the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 starts from the production stage 21. The own traceback information is updated based on the traceback information (S162). Next, the same process as that performed between the production stages 21 and 22 is performed between the production stages 22 and 23 (S164, S165, S168.S169). After the trace forward information is updated in S168, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 subscribes to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 for the second time (S172), and the updated trace forward information is displayed. Transmit to production stage 21. The product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 updates its own trace forward information based on the trace forward information in S172 (S175).

  When the product 30 in the production stage 23 is further supplied to the next downstream production stage and is incorporated as a raw material or a part in the product 30 in the next downstream production stage, the production product 30 starts from the next downstream production stage. Trace forward information of the next downstream production stage is transmitted to the production stage 23, which is propagated to the production stage 12 at the downstream end, and is sent to the product tracking server 32 of the production stages 21, 22, and 23. Each final trace forward information is collected.

  In the timing chart of FIG. 15, in the multi-stage production system 10, a subscription from the parent product tracking server 32 to the child product tracking server 32 (the child product tracking server is on the upstream side of the parent product tracking server). While live performance is performed multiple times, publishing from the child product tracking server 32 to the parent product tracking server 32 is performed only once. Trace forward information changes each time the product is moved to the downstream production stage, whereas when the product is shipped in each production stage, all production stages upstream from the production stage are determined. Therefore, the traceback information at each production stage is fixed. However, when the product is shipped in each production stage, the traceback information up to the production stage for the product is not yet determined and may be updated after that time. Each time the traceback information in the upstream production stage is updated, publishing is performed from the upstream product tracking server 32 to the downstream product tracking server 32.

  FIG. 16 shows the transfer of the trace forward information and the trace back information between the product tracking servers when the child product tracking server and the parent product tracking server are the subscribe side and the publish side, respectively, in the multi-stage production system 10. It is a timing chart. Components identical to those in FIG. 15 are designated by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only differences will be described. In S185, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 21 subscribes to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22, whereas, in S186, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 performs the production stage 21 production. Publish to the item tracking server 32. By this subscribing and publishing, the trace back information of the production stage 21 and the trace forward information of the production stage 22 are transmitted to the other party. In S190, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 22 subscribes to the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 23. On the other hand, in S191, the product tracking server 32 in the production stage 23 performs the production stage 22 production. Publish to the item tracking server 32. By this subscribing and publishing, the trace back information of the production stage 22 and the trace forward information of the production stage 23 are transmitted to the other party, respectively. In S194, the trace forward information updated in S168 is transmitted from the production stage 22 to the production stage 21.

  Also in the relationship between subscribing and publishing in FIG. 16, the product 30 in the production stage 23 is further supplied to the downstream production stage, and the raw product or part is supplied to the product 30 in the next downstream production stage. Once incorporated, trace forward information from the next downstream production stage to the next downstream production stage is transmitted to the production stage 23, which is propagated to the production stage 12 at the downstream end to produce the production stage 21. , 22, and 23, the final trace forward information of each is collected.

  In the timing chart of FIG. 16, in the multi-stage production system 10, the parent product tracking server 32 to the child product tracking server 32 (the child product tracking server 32 is upstream of the parent product tracking server 32). While publishing (publishing traceback information) is performed multiple times, subscribing from the child product tracking server 32 to the parent product tracking server 32 (subscribing to traceback information) is performed only once. ing. Trace forward information changes each time the product is moved to the downstream production stage, whereas when the product is shipped in each production stage, all production stages upstream from the production stage are determined. Therefore, the traceback information at each production stage is fixed. However, when the product is shipped at each production stage, the traceback information up to the production stage for the product is not yet determined and may be updated after the shipment. Each time the traceback information in the upstream production stage is updated, the sub-product tracking server 32 subscribes to the parent product tracking server 32.

  FIG. 17 is a specific configuration diagram of the product tracking server 32 provided in the product tracking system 40 that subscribes in the upstream direction in the multistage production system 10. The product tracking server 32 includes an application console 200, a subscription management server 201, a subscription client 202, a difference information DB (Database) 203, a trace forward information DB 204, and a trace back information DB 205. The difference information and the traceback difference information are sent from the application console 200 to the difference information DB 203 and stored therein. The subscription client 202 acquires the address of the product tracking server 32 at each upstream production stage based on the difference information, and reads the trace forward information from the trace forward information DB 204 to obtain each upstream production. Subscribe to the stage product tracking server 32 to send the trace forward information.

  The subscription client 202 further receives traceback information from the subscription management server 201 of the product tracking server 32 of each upstream production stage 21, and based on the traceback information, the traceback information in the traceback information DB 205 is received. Update information. On the other hand, in the product tracking server 32, when the subscription management server 201 receives a subscription from the subscription client 202 of the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage and receives the trace forward information, the trace forward information is received. The trace forward information in the trace forward information DB 204 is updated based on the trace back information, the trace back information is read out from the trace back information DB 205, and the read trace back information is published to the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage. Finally, the subscription management server 201 notifies the subscription client 202 that its own trace forward information has been updated. When the trace forward information of the subscription client 202 is updated, the subscription client 202 scribes to the product tracking server 32 at each upstream production stage and sends the updated trace forward information to each upstream production stage. Transmit to the product tracking server 32.

  FIG. 18 is a specific configuration diagram of the product tracking server 32 provided in the product tracking system 40 that subscribes in the downstream direction in the multi-stage production system 10. The product tracking server 32 of FIG. 18 has the same components as the product tracking server 32 of FIG. 17, and the product tracking server 32 of FIG. 18 includes a subscription management server 201 and a subscription client 202. The processing that is shared is only partially different from the case of the product tracking server 32 of FIG. Only the differences will be described. The subscription client 202 acquires the address of the product tracking server 32 at the downstream production stage of the subscribe destination based on the traceback difference information, and reads the traceback information from the traceback information DB 205 to obtain the downstream product. Subscribe to the tracking server 32 and send the traceback information.

  The subscription client 202 further receives the trace forward information from the subscription management server 201 of the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage, and updates the trace forward information in the trace forward information DB 205 based on the trace forward information. To do. Each time the trace client information is updated, the subscription client 202 notifies the subscription management server 201 to that effect. When the subscription management server 201 receives a subscription from the subscription client 202 of the product tracking server 32 of each production stage 21 and receives the traceback information, the subscription management server 201 stores its own in the traceback information DB 205 based on the traceback information. The trace back information is updated, and the trace forward information is read from the trace forward information DB 205, and the read trace forward information is published to the product tracking server 32 in the downstream production stage. When notified by the subscription client 202 that the trace forward information has been updated, the subscription management server 201 publishes the updated trace forward information to the product tracking server 32 of each production stage 21.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, It can implement by various modifications in the range which does not deviate from description of a claim. Needless to say.

It is a block diagram of the multistage production system concerning the final product of a predetermined kind. It is the figure which extracted three continuous production stages in FIG. It is a block diagram of a product tracking system. It is a figure which shows the communication system between product tracking servers. It is a functional block diagram of a trace forward information collection device. It is a figure which illustrates difference information concerning a standard production stage. It is a figure which shows the difference information which concerns on a downstream production stage. It is a figure which shows the trace forward information after the update updated based on the trace forward information from a downstream production stage in the reference | standard production stage. It is a functional block diagram of a traceback information collection device. It is a figure which illustrates the difference information for traceback concerning the standard production stage.

It is a figure which illustrates the traceback information received from the producer of an upstream production stage. It is a figure which illustrates the traceback information updated based on the traceback information from the producer of an upstream production stage. It is a flowchart of the trace forward information processing method part of the control method of a product tracking server. It is a flowchart of the traceback information processing method part. FIG. 5 is a timing chart for the transfer of trace forward information and trace back information between product tracking servers when a child product tracking server and a parent product tracking server are on the publish side and the subscribe side in a multi-stage production system, respectively. . FIG. 6 is a timing chart for the transfer of trace forward information and trace back information between the product tracking servers when the child product tracking server and the parent product tracking server are the subscribe side and the publish side, respectively, in the multi-stage production system. . It is a specific block diagram of a product tracking server deployed in a product tracking system that subscribes upstream in a multi-stage production system. It is a specific block diagram of a product tracking server deployed in a product tracking system that subscribes downstream in a multi-stage production system.

Explanation of symbols

10: multistage production system, 11: production stage, 12: downstream end production stage, 13: upstream end production stage, 21: upstream production stage, 22: reference production stage, 23: downstream production stage, 30 : Product, 31: Producer, 32: Product tracking server, 40: Product tracking system, 43: Communication channel, 50: Trace forward information collection device, 51: First difference means, 52: First reception Means: 53: first updating means, 54: first transmitting means, 58: first subscribing means, 60: first publishing means, 70: traceback information collecting apparatus, 71: second difference means 72: second receiving means, 73: second updating means, 74: second transmitting means, 78: second publishing means, 80: second subscribing means.

Claims (20)

For each product tracking device for each producer involved in the multi-stage production system of the product, and for the parent producer who produces the parent product when the parent product is produced using the child product as a part or raw material A communication path established between the parent product tracking device and the child product tracking device related to the child producer producing the child product,
Each product tracking device
First difference means for generating trace forward difference information Df related to a combination of an identifier IDo of a parent product and an identifier IDo of a child product;
First receiving means for receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer using the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of its own product via the communication path;
The initial value of the trace forward information TFb is generated based on the trace forward difference information Df, and the first update means for updating the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc, and the product related to the identifier IDi are produced. First transmitting means for transmitting the trace forward information TFb as the upstream producer's TFc to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer via the communication path;
Have production tracking system. Each product tracking device
Second difference means for generating traceback difference information Db related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product;
Second receiving means for receiving traceback information TBa from the product tracking device relating to the upstream producer via the communication path;
Second update means for generating an initial value of the traceback information TBb based on the traceback difference information Db and updating the traceback information TBb based on the traceback information TBa, and a product related to the downstream producer Second transmission means for transmitting the traceback information TBb to the tracking device as the TBa of the product tracking device related to the downstream producer via the communication path;
The product tracking system according to claim 1, comprising:   3. The product tracking device according to claim 2, wherein each of the product tracking devices is mounted on a separate server, and the communication path is established between the servers outside the server. At least two product tracking devices that are mutually related to the parent product tracking device and the child product tracking device are mounted on the same server,
3. The product tracking device according to claim 2, wherein a communication path between the parent product tracking device and the product tracking device is established in the server.   3. The product tracking according to claim 2, wherein the product tracking device transmits trace forward information TFb or traceback information TBb to the other product tracking device when subscribing and publishing to the other product tracking device. system. First, a parent product is produced using at least one child product as a part or material, and generates trace forward difference information Df related to a combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product. Difference means,
First receiving means for receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer who uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of its own product;
The initial value of the trace forward information TFb is generated based on the trace forward difference information Df, and the first update means for updating the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc, and the product related to the identifier IDi are produced. First transmitting means for transmitting the trace forward information TFb as the TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer,
Have product tracking device. Second receiving means for receiving the traceback information TBa from the product tracking device relating to the upstream producer,
Second difference means for generating traceback difference information Db related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product;
Second update means for generating an initial value of the traceback information TBb based on the traceback difference information Db and updating the traceback information TBb based on the traceback information TBa, and a product related to the downstream producer Second transmission means for transmitting trace back information TBb to the tracking device as TBa of the product tracking device related to the downstream producer;
The product tracking device according to claim 6, comprising: The first transmission means for transmitting the updated trace forward information TFb to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer every time the trace forward information TFb is updated,
The product tracking device according to claim 6, comprising: The second transmission means for transmitting the updated traceback information TBb to the product tracking device relating to the downstream producer every time the traceback information TBb is updated,
The product tracking apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: The second update means for generating final traceback information TBb of the product before shipping the product,
Subscribing means included in the first transmission means, when the trace forward difference information Df is generated and when the trace forward information is updated, subscribes to the product tracking apparatus related to the upstream producer. And a first subscribing means for transmitting the trace forward information at that time to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer, and a publishing means included in the second transmitting means, the downstream production A second publishing means for publishing the final traceback information TBb to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer in response to the subscription from the product tracking device related to the producer;
The product tracking apparatus according to claim 7, comprising: The second update means for generating final traceback information TBb of the product before shipping the product,
Subscribing means included in the second transmission means, and after the shipment of the product, when subscribing and subscribing to the product tracking device relating to the downstream producer, the final traceback information TBb is A second subscribing means for transmitting to the product tracking device associated with the downstream producer; and a publishing means included in the first transmitting means, wherein the upstream producer subscribes from the product tracking device. On the other hand, the trace forward information at that time is published to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer, and each time the trace forward information is updated, the trace forward information is updated to the product related to the upstream producer. A first publishing means for publishing to the tracking device;
The product tracking apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:   The first update means trace forward so that the updated trace forward information TFb includes information in which the IDo of the trace forward information TFb before the update is associated with the trace forward information TFc corresponding to the IDo. The product tracking apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information TFb is updated.   The second updating means traces back so that the updated traceback information TBb includes information in which the IDi of the trace forward information TBb before the update is associated with the traceback information TBa corresponding to the IDi. The product tracking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information TBb is updated. A step in which a parent product is produced using at least one child product as a part or material, and generates trace forward difference information Df related to a combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product;
Receiving the trace forward information TFc from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer who uses the product related to the identifier IDo as a part or raw material of the self-produced product;
Generating an initial value of the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward difference information Df, updating the trace forward information TFb based on the trace forward information TFc, and upstream production for producing a product related to the identifier IDi Transmitting the trace forward information TFb as the TFc of the product tracking device related to the upstream producer to the product tracking device related to the producer,
A control method for a product tracking device. Generating traceback difference information Db related to the combination of the identifier IDo of the parent product and the identifier IDo of the child product;
Receiving traceback information TBa from the product tracking device pertaining to the upstream producer,
Generating an initial value of the traceback information TBb based on the traceback difference information Db, updating the traceback information TBb based on the traceback information TBa, and tracing to the product tracking apparatus related to the downstream producer Transmitting back information TBb as TBa of the product tracking device related to the downstream producer,
The control method for a product tracking device according to claim 14, comprising:   15. The product tracking according to claim 14, wherein in the step of transmitting the trace forward information, the updated trace forward information TFb is transmitted to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer every time the trace forward information TFb is updated. Device control method.   16. The product tracking according to claim 15, wherein in the step of transmitting the traceback information, the updated traceback information TBb is transmitted to the product tracking apparatus related to the downstream producer every time the traceback information TBb is updated. Device control method. In the step of updating the traceback information, the final traceback information TBb of the product is generated before the product is shipped,
In the step of transmitting the trace forward information, when the trace forward difference information Df is generated and when the trace forward information is updated, the product tracking apparatus related to the upstream producer is subscribed, and at that time The trace forward information is sent to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer,
In the step of transmitting the traceback information, the final traceback information TBb is published to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer in response to the subscription from the product tracking device related to the downstream producer. Item 15. A control method for a product tracking device according to Item 15. In the step of updating the traceback information, the final traceback information TBb of the product is generated before the product is shipped.
In the step of transmitting the traceback information, after the shipment of the product, it subscribes to the product tracking device related to the downstream producer, and the final traceback information TBb is sent to the downstream producer when subscribing. To the product tracking device
In the step of transmitting the trace forward information, for the subscription from the product tracking device of the upstream producer, the trace forward information at that time is published to the product tracking device related to the upstream producer. The method for controlling a product tracking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each time the trace forward information is updated, the trace forward information is published to the product tracking apparatus related to the upstream producer. In the step of updating the trace forward information, the updated trace forward information TFb includes information in which the IDo of the trace forward information TFb before the update is associated with the trace forward information TFc corresponding to the IDo, The trace forward information TFb is updated,
In the step of updating the traceback information TBb, the updated traceback information TBb includes information in which the IDi of the trace forward information TBb before the update is associated with the traceback information TBa corresponding to the IDi. The control method for a product tracking device according to claim 15, wherein the traceback information TBb is updated.

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