JP2007153511A - Baggage tag recognizing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a baggage tag recognizing system applicable to an airline baggage management system using an RFID having a high recognition rate for a baggage tag of an airline baggage, only by adding without changing an existing airline baggage management system using a bar code. <P>SOLUTION: A bar code recognizing system is used for the airline baggage management system mounted in a freight room of an airplane for boarding a passenger of an owner, by automatically sorting and carrying the airline baggage, by reading and recognizing the bar code of the baggage tag installed on the airline baggage. This baggage tag recognizing system is constituted so that the baggage tag is attached with the RFID for writing information on boarding of the passenger, and an RFID reader for reading and recognizing the RFID is arranged in the vicinity of a bar code reader, and information on the RFID read and recognized by the RFID reader is transmitted to a receiving part of the information read and recognized by the bar code reader. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a baggage tag recognition system, and more particularly to a baggage tag recognition system that can be applied to an air baggage management system using RFID simply by being added to an existing system using a barcode reader.

  Air baggage loaded in the cargo compartment instead of being brought into the cabin of the aircraft is attached to the handle, etc., with a baggage tag issued along with the boarding pass when boarding procedures are carried out at the boarding location (check-in counter). And sent to the transport line.

  The baggage tag is printed with information relating to boarding such as identification information and serial number of the airline of the airplane on which the owner passenger is boarded, converted into a bar code by a bar code printer. Airplanes on which passengers who are owners get on are automatically sorted and transported by reading the barcode printed on the baggage tag with a barcode reader installed on the transportation line or in the luggage loading work place (make-up area) Will be installed in the cargo compartment.

  A bar code reader is appropriately installed at an arbitrary position on the transport line or the baggage loading work place, and the bar code of the baggage tag attached to the handle of the air baggage is read. Based on the read bar code information, a management computer (a system for managing passenger information and air baggage) manages and controls the transport of air baggage on the transport line.

  In addition to the barcode, the baggage tag is also printed with character information such as the airline name, boarding flight number, departure date / time, and destination. Such character information is used when visual sorting or manual sorting is performed when there is an obstacle to automatic sorting and conveyance based on barcode reading by a barcode reader.

  Air baggage management (carrying, sorting, and loading) by reading barcodes printed on baggage tags dramatically improves efficiency compared to sorting operations by visual and human power using color-coded baggage tags prior to barcode introduction. is doing.

  However, the recognition rate of barcodes printed on baggage tags is about 85%, which is significantly lower than general barcodes used for industrial products and various products, etc., which has a recognition rate close to 100%. , Misdelivery and loss (according to IATA [International Air Transport Association] statistics, 1.7 billion air baggage is handled annually worldwide, of which approximately 1% are lost or temporarily missing) Absent.

  The reason for the low recognition rate of the barcode of the baggage tag is that reading is performed under bad conditions, not under uniform and favorable conditions such as industrial products and general products. In other words, in the case of air baggage that is transported on the transport line, the bar code printed part of the baggage tag is shielded from the bar code reader behind the air baggage itself and the handle, or the bar code part is not covered by bending of the baggage tag. Often exposed. Furthermore, due to the technical characteristics of barcodes, the limit of reading distance is about 1m, but in the case of air baggage, which is generally a large suitcase, barcode reading is a condition close to this limit point. Often done below.

  Therefore, various technologies related to an air baggage management system using an RFID capable of reading and writing information wirelessly have been recently proposed in light of the problems of automatic air baggage sorting using a bar code as described above ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 5).

JP 2002-366984 A JP2002-362730 JP 2001-306659 A JP 2001-243502 JP-A-6-318277

  The technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 5 are all related to a new system using RFID instead of the air baggage management system using the current barcode.

  These technologies are new systems that replace the current bar code system. In introducing the new system, both hardware (facility and equipment) and software (computer programs, staff training, etc.) In addition to the high cost of introduction due to the large-scale system changes, it is difficult to make a transition to a new system step by step. There are many problems.

  In addition, the air baggage management system is a system for managing air baggage for long-distance travel that is installed in the cargo compartment rather than a light and small carry-on baggage, that is, a system used for international flights. There is also a problem that international cooperation and cooperation with many international airports including it is necessary.

  The present inventor has continued research on an air baggage management system using an RFID capable of reading and writing information wirelessly. As a result, the recognition rate of the RFID attached to the baggage tag has reached about 100%, and 85% It was clear that it has an advantage over current technology that printed barcodes with a degree of recognition rate.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention can be applied to an air baggage management system using an RFID having a high recognition rate on a baggage baggage tag simply by adding an existing air baggage management system using a barcode without any change. It is to provide a baggage tag recognition system.

  The present invention for solving the above problems has the following configuration.

1. A barcode reader is appropriately installed at any position on the airline baggage transport line or baggage loading work area, and the barcode on the baggage tag attached to the airline baggage is read and recognized, and the airline baggage is automatically sorted and transported. In the barcode recognition system used in the airline baggage management system installed in the cargo compartment of the airplane on which the passenger is boarding,
The baggage tag is attached with an RFID in which information related to passenger boarding is written,
An RFID reader that reads and recognizes the RFID is disposed in the vicinity of the barcode reader, and the RFID information read and recognized by the RFID reader is transmitted to the information receiving unit that the barcode reader has read and recognized. A baggage tag recognition system characterized by that.

2. 2. The baggage tag recognition system according to claim 1, wherein a read recognition range of the RFID reader is matched with a read recognition range of the barcode reader.

3. Detects the arrival of air baggage within the reading and recognition range of the transport line and the loading work place and starts the reading operation of the barcode reader and RFID reader, and detects the advance of air baggage outside the reading and recognition range. The baggage tag recognition system according to 1 or 2, wherein the reading operation of the barcode reader and the RFID reader is terminated.

4). 4. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of 1 to 3, wherein the RFID information is configured to match the barcode information.

5. 5. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of the above items 1 to 4, wherein the recognition is completed when one of the barcode and RFID information can be read and recognized.

6). The information read and recognized by the RFID reader is converted or adjusted to the same format as the information transmitted from the barcode reader to the receiving unit between the bar code reader and the information receiving and reading unit of the bar code reader. 6. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein an interface means for transmitting to the receiving unit is interposed.

7). 7. The baggage tag recognition system according to claim 6, wherein the interface means is configured to transmit information read and recognized by the barcode reader and / or RFID reader as one output information to the receiving unit in one system. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a bar code reader is appropriately installed at an arbitrary position on the airline baggage transport line or baggage loading work place, and the bar code on the baggage tag attached to the airline baggage is read and recognized. In a barcode recognition system used in an airline baggage management system that automatically loads and packages baggage and is installed in the cargo compartment of an airplane on which the passenger is a passenger,
The baggage tag is attached with an RFID in which information relating to passenger boarding is written, and an RFID reader that reads and recognizes the RFID is disposed in the vicinity of the barcode reader, and the RFID that is read and recognized by the RFID reader The information received by the bar code reader is transmitted to the information receiving unit, so that the existing air bag baggage tag can be added to the existing air bag baggage tag without any changes. It becomes possible to apply to an air baggage management system using an RFID having a rate.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the reading and recognition range of the RFID reader is matched with the reading and recognition range of the barcode reader, so that two types of reading and recognition of barcode and RFID can be performed for one air baggage. It can be performed simultaneously.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the reading operation of the bar code reader and the RFID reader is started by detecting the entry of the air baggage into the reading recognition range of the transport line or the loading work place, and the reading recognition By detecting the advance of the air baggage outside the range and ending the reading operation of the bar code reader and the RFID reader, the reading operation of the two systems of the bar code and the RFID can be made coincident.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information on the baggage tag can be recognized as long as one of the barcode and the RFID can be read by matching the information on the RFID with the information on the barcode.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the reading recognition time and to improve the efficiency of the reading recognition time by the configuration in which the recognition is completed when the information of either the barcode or the RFID is read and recognized.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the barcode reader transmits the information read and recognized by the RFID reader to the receiving unit between the barcode reader and the information receiving and reading unit of the barcode reader. The existing bar code reader, the existing receiving unit, and the existing system upstream from the receiving unit are completely changed by interposing an interface means for converting or adjusting to the same format as the information to be transmitted to the receiving unit. It is possible to install an RFID reader later.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the interface means transmits the information read and recognized by the bar code reader and / or the RFID reader to the receiving unit as one output information in one system. It is possible to make the format of the information transmitted to the section the same as in the conventional configuration in which only the conventional barcode information is transmitted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a baggage tag recognition system according to the present invention and an example of an existing baggage tag recognition system.

  The baggage tag recognition system 1B according to the present invention is similar to the existing baggage tag recognition system 1A shown in FIG. 1 (A), and as shown in FIG. 1 (B), information relating to passenger boarding in the vicinity of the existing barcode reader 12. In addition to the barcode format, an RFID reader 15 for reading and recognizing RFID (described later) attached to the baggage tag is provided, and the RFID information read and recognized by the RFID reader 15 is stored in the information read and recognized by the barcode reader 12. This is a configuration for transmitting to the receiving unit 13.

  An existing baggage tag recognition system 1A shown in FIG. 1 (A) is a system for recognizing a barcode of a baggage tag in an existing air baggage management system operating at a general airport. An existing barcode reader 12 that reads and recognizes the barcode printed on the baggage tag is disposed at an arbitrary position on an existing conveyance line 11 that conveys the barcode, and information that the barcode reader 12 reads and recognizes. It is configured to be connected to the airline baggage management computer 14 via a communication line via a receiving unit 13 that transmits (information on passenger boarding). The transport of air baggage is managed and controlled by a series of procedures such as reading recognition. The air baggage management computer 14 is connected to a management computer 2 for managing and controlling an airport (airline, each airplane, etc.) via a communication line.

  The barcode of the baggage tag that is read and recognized by the barcode reader 12 is an internationally standardized 10-digit IATA barcode. The IATA barcode is linked to the information about boarding, such as identification information and serial number of the airline on which the passenger carrying the air baggage who is recorded and managed by the management computer 2 etc. For baggage management, passengers who are owners are boarded by automatically sorting and transporting the barcode by reading it with a barcode reader 12 installed on the transport line 11 or in a luggage loading work place (make-up area). It is configured to be installed in the cargo compartment of an airplane. In addition to the bar code, character information such as an airline name, boarding flight number, departure date / time, and destination may be printed on the baggage tag in the same manner as the conventional baggage tag.

  In the baggage tag recognition system 1B according to the present invention, first, as described above, a baggage tag on which a barcode is printed is used that has an RFID that can read and write information wirelessly. As for the attachment position and attachment means of the RFID, the publicly known configurations described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 5 can be adopted.

  The RFID used in the present invention is called “RFID”, “wireless IC chip”, “wireless chip”, “contactless IC chip”, “IC tag”, “wireless tag”, “RFID tag”, There are various names such as “contactless IC card”. The present invention may be any one.

  RFID is an abbreviation for Radio Frequency-Identification (automatic recognition of mobile objects using wireless communication), which performs non-contact communication and performs article management and automatic identification through exchange of digital information of IC chips mounted inside. It is a communication method. The RFID system includes a “non-contact data carrier” that is a recording destination of information and a reader / writer (antenna + controller) that reads and writes information from the non-contact data carrier.

  Non-contact IC cards using RFID technology have been commercialized by many domestic and foreign manufacturers.

  In the present invention, not only a single-sided electrode but also a double-sided electrode structure may be used. Specifically, “Muchip” manufactured by Hitachi equipped with an IC, “T-junction” manufactured by Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., YRP -“Etron / 16-AE45X” jointly developed by the Ubiquitous Network Working Laboratory, Higashi-Osakamura Lab and Renaissance Technology.

  For example, the above-mentioned “mu chip” is a 0.4 mm square ROM chip, which integrates a high frequency analog circuit of 2.45 GHz and a 128 bit ROM, and has a thickness of only 0.06 mm. There is nothing.

  This mu-chip is limited in terms of function because it has been pursued to be smaller, and is a read-only ROM method, whereas a general wireless IC chip is a rewritable RAM method. In the present invention, either the ROM method or the RAM method can be adopted, but the RAM method is preferable. That is, in the case of a ROM type chip, it is necessary to add a ROM chip, but in the case of a RAM chip, only one is sufficient.

  In IATA, it is expected that the adopted frequency band will be the UHF band (860 to 960 MHz) and the communication protocol is ISO18000-6C (EPC Gen.2), and the RFID used in the present invention also complies with this standard. It is preferable to use one.

  The information written in the RFID attached to the baggage tag preferably matches the information printed in the barcode format. An example of a method for writing information to an RFID attached to a baggage tag is a baggage tag issue system described later.

  As described above, the RFID tag 15 recognizes the baggage tag using the RFID reader 15 that is retrofitted in the vicinity of the existing barcode reader 12. As the RFID reader 15, a publicly known RFID reader can be used.

  It is preferable that the RFID reader 15 reads and recognizes the RFID information of the baggage tag in accordance with the barcode reading and recognition by the barcode reader 12. The reason for reading and recognizing the barcode and the RFID is to read and recognize the information on the baggage tag of the same air baggage without being confused with the other air baggage on the transport line 11.

  In order to match the barcode and RFID reading recognition, the reading recognition range of the RFID reader 15 is matched with the reading recognition range of the barcode reader 12 by adjusting the equipment, installing a radio wave shield, or the like, The entry of the air baggage into the reading recognition range of the baggage loading work place is detected by a sensor or the like, and the reading operation of the bar code reader 12 and the RFID reader 15 is started, and the air baggage advances outside the reading recognition range. It is preferable to add a configuration in which the reading operation of the bar code reader and the RFID reader is terminated by detecting with a sensor or the like.

  By reading and recognizing the bar code by the bar code reader 12 and reading and recognizing the RFID by the RFID reader 15, one baggage tag of one air baggage can be double recognized. By adding an RFID with a very high recognition rate to a barcode with a recognition rate of about 85%, it is possible to read and recognize nearly 100%, but in terms of transport efficiency, either barcode or RFID It is preferable to complete the recognition when one of the information can be read and recognized.

  The RFID reader 15 is connected to the information receiving unit 13 that is read and recognized by the bar code reader 12 and transmits the read and recognized RFID information to the air baggage management computer 14 via the receiving unit 13. The information read and recognized by the RFID reader 15 is converted or adjusted to the same format as the information transmitted from the barcode reader 12 to the receiving unit 13 and transmitted to the receiving unit 13 between the RFID reader 15 and the RFID reader 15 and the receiving unit 13. By interposing the interface means 16, the existing system such as the receiving unit 13 and the air baggage management computer 14 is changed to a baggage tag recognition system 1B, which is a new system using RFID without modifying both hardware and software. can do.

  The interface means 16 not only converts or adjusts the information read and recognized by the RFID reader 15 into the same format as the information transmitted from the barcode reader 12 to the receiving unit 13, but also both the barcode reader 12 and the RFID reader 15 or It is preferable that either one of the information read and recognized is transmitted to the receiving unit 13 as one output information in one system. According to this configuration, the information received by the receiving unit 13 can be kept in the same format as the conventional information transmitted from the existing bar code reader 12.

  As described above, the baggage tag recognition system 1B according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 (B) is not changed to a completely different new system instead of the existing baggage tag recognition system 1A shown in FIG. 1 (A). By simply adding a retrofit configuration (baggage tag with RFID, RFID reader 15, etc.) to the baggage tag recognition system 1A, it is possible to change the system to a system using a high recognition rate RFID very easily.

  The baggage tag issuing system according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various other modes can be adopted within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the RFID reader 15 and the interface unit 16 may be integrated into a unit type.

  In addition, the barcode reader 12 and the RFID reader 15 may be configured as a single unit by a casing or mounting table that is formed as a unit with a single unit.

  A baggage tag issuing system, which is an example of a method for writing information to an RFID attached to a baggage tag used in the baggage tag recognition system according to the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  2 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a baggage tag issuing system applicable to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of an additional device of the baggage tag issuing system of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the baggage tag issuing system 1C is connected to an airline baggage management computer 14, a boarding pass issue system 17 connected to the airline baggage management computer 14 via a communication line, and the boarding pass issue system 17 The bar code printer 18 that prints and issues the baggage tag T is provided, and an additional device 3 having a bar code reader 31 and an RFID writer 32 is retrofitted downstream of the bar code printer 18. An installed configuration is preferable. The baggage tag issuing system 1C having such a configuration is connected to a management computer 2 that manages and controls an airport (airline, each airplane, and others) via a communication line.

  The baggage tag T to which the RFID is attached is printed by the barcode printer 18 and then sent to the additional device 3 installed downstream of the barcode printer 18 manually or by automatic conveyance / take-in means. .

  The additional device 3 includes the barcode reader 31 and the RFID writer 32 as described above, and is configured separately from the barcode printer 18 downstream of the existing barcode printer 18 of the existing baggage tag issuing system 1C. Thus, it is preferable to have a configuration that can be retrofitted.

  The additional device 3 does not need to be electrically connected to the existing baggage tag issuing system 1C including the barcode printer 18, and is physically connected to a downstream position of the barcode printer 18, for example, a one-dot chain line in FIG. Installed at the position indicated by. In addition to the barcode reader 31 and the RFID writer 32, the additional device 3 is connected to the barcode reader 31 and the RFID 32 in a wired or wireless manner and sends the barcode information read, as shown in FIG. It is preferable that the unit type has an interface 33, a baggage tag T take-in means 34, and a baggage tag T discharge means 35.

  The baggage tag T printed / issued by the bar code printer 18 is sent to the additional device 3. First, the bar code of the baggage tag T is read by the bar code reader 31, and the read bar code information is read by the RFID writer 32. Written to T RFID.

  As the bar code reader 31 used in the present invention, a publicly known bar code reader can be used. As the RFID writer 32, a publicly known public RFID reader can be used.

  As mentioned above, although an example of the baggage tag issue system applicable to this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this, The means of various other aspects can be employ | adopted.

  For example, the bar code reader 31 and the RFID writer 32 are not limited to the above-described unit type, and may have separate structures.

  The additional device 3 is not limited to a configuration that is retrofitted downstream of the barcode printer 18, but may be configured to be connected or coupled so as to be integrated by connecting means or the like, or the barcode printer 18 and the additional device 3 may be integrated. It is good also as an aspect integrated with the housing | casing and mounting base which make a unit of a structure.

  By combining the baggage tag issuing system shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 described above with the baggage tag recognition system according to the present invention, the existing air baggage management system is replaced with a completely different new system without high replacement. It becomes possible to change very easily to a system using a rate RFID.

Schematic explanatory drawing showing an example of a baggage tag recognition system according to the present invention and an example of an existing baggage tag recognition system Schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of a baggage tag issue system applicable to the present invention Schematic explanatory drawing which shows an example of the addition apparatus of the baggage tag issue system of FIG.

Claims (7)

A barcode reader is appropriately installed at any position on the airline baggage transport line or baggage loading work area, and the barcode on the baggage tag attached to the airline baggage is read and recognized, and the airline baggage is automatically sorted and transported. In the barcode recognition system used in the airline baggage management system installed in the cargo compartment of the airplane on which the passenger is boarding,
The baggage tag is attached with an RFID in which information related to passenger boarding is written,
An RFID reader that reads and recognizes the RFID is disposed in the vicinity of the barcode reader, and the RFID information read and recognized by the RFID reader is transmitted to the information receiving unit that the barcode reader has read and recognized. A baggage tag recognition system characterized by that. The baggage tag recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the RFID reader has a read recognition range that matches a read recognition range of the barcode reader. Detects the arrival of air baggage within the reading and recognition range of the transport line and the loading work place and starts the reading operation of the barcode reader and RFID reader, and detects the advance of air baggage outside the reading and recognition range. The baggage tag recognition system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading operation of the barcode reader and the RFID reader is terminated. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the RFID information is configured to match the barcode information. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recognition is completed when the information of one of the barcode and RFID is read and recognized. The information read and recognized by the RFID reader is converted or adjusted to the same format as the information transmitted from the barcode reader to the receiving unit between the bar code reader and the information receiving and reading unit of the bar code reader. The baggage tag recognition system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an interface means for transmitting to the receiving unit is interposed. 7. The baggage tag recognition according to claim 6, wherein the interface means transmits information read and recognized by the barcode reader and / or RFID reader to the receiving unit as one output information in one system. system.

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