JP2007256998A - Article transaction system and server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve such processing as the lending of an article without making a user consider it. <P>SOLUTION: When a user reads a book 10 about a table 7, serial NO. is read from the RFID tag of the book 10 by an antenna 21 mounted on the table 7, and transmitted to a PC 3. The PC 3 transmits the serial NO. and its own IP address to a server 5. The server 5 converts the serial NO. and the IP address into the book data and user data, and associates and stores them with the current date in a management table, and performs the lending processing of the book 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article transaction system and a server for lending or transferring an article to a user.

  Conventionally, articles to be rented and articles to be sold are attached with a barcode, and a salesperson or the like reads the barcode using a barcode scanner or the like to perform a lending process or a selling process.

For example, when the rented article is a library book, the renting process is as follows.
First, an ID card (rental card) on which a barcode for identifying a user is printed is distributed to users of the library, and a barcode label for identifying the book is attached to the book. When a user borrows a book, the book is taken to the rental counter, the rental card and the book are sent out to the library staff, and the staff reads the barcode using a barcode scanner, etc. Done.

  Therefore, in such a lending process method, when there are a plurality of users who borrow books, or when there are a plurality of books to lend, not only the waiting time for the users is increased, but also the staff is burdensome. Becomes larger.

  On the other hand, in order to reduce the processing waiting time of the user and increase the efficiency of the lending process, there are some that automate the lending process of goods, such as the automatic article lending management system described in Patent Document 1. Hereinafter, the reference numerals in parentheses are those described in Patent Document 1.

According to this automatic article lending management system, an information carrier (11) is attached to a book (10) which is a rented article, a plurality of article lending devices (1) are arranged near the boundary, and a customer makes this article lending device ( When the book (10) and the customer's ID card (40) are inserted into the insertion slot (2) of 1), the information carrier (11) and the ID card (40) are read and the lending process is performed.
Certainly, if this article lending apparatus (1) is used, a clerk who lends is not necessary, and lending work can be automated.

  However, also in this automatic article lending management system, the user must bring the book that he wants to borrow to the article lending apparatus (1), and the user must consciously carry out the lending procedure. From the user's point of view, what is simply a loan processing procedure has changed from a human to a machine, and the user's lending behavior has hardly changed, and only the lending side has been automated. It was.

  In addition, there are lending systems or methods described in Patent Documents 2 to 4, but in any case, the user must consciously perform the lending procedure.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-212564

JP 2005-139789 A

JP 05-324937 A

JP-A-10-261199

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article transaction system capable of lending or transferring an article without making the user aware of it. To provide a server.

  In order to achieve the above object, the commodity transaction system of the present invention is installed at a user detection means for detecting a user based on user identification data given in advance, and at the user's traffic point or stop point. A reading means capable of reading the article identification data preliminarily given to the article to be lent or transferred to the user without contacting the article, and an article whose article identification data is read by the reading means. Transaction detecting means for detecting movement by a user detected by the user detecting means, and transaction for lending or transferring this article triggered by detection of movement by the movement detecting means And a processing means.

  When lending or transferring an article (hereinafter referred to as “lending etc.”), it is first important to detect “who” and “what” the lending, and in the present invention, The user detecting means is used to detect “who” is lent out, and the reading means is used to detect “what” is lent out.

  For example, as user detection means, personal information such as a user's name, address, and telephone number and a user's own ID are associated with each other in advance and registered in a database or the like. If it is configured to be able to search, the corresponding user can be detected.

  Further, the reading means is composed of, for example, a reader / writer. If the RFID tag storing the article identification data is attached to the article, the reading means is non-contact with the article, and the article identification data is read from the RFID tag. Can be read.

  This reading means is installed at the user's traffic point or stop point. “Traffic point” means a place where users come and go, such as entrances and corridors, and means a place where users move, while “stop point” means a place where users hardly move. For example, it means a place to read a book or a place to play a musical instrument.

  Further, the reading means is installed at a distance at which the article identification data can be read from the article when the user carrying the article to be rented is located at the traffic point or stop point.

  By configuring the reading means in this way, the user does not need to consciously read the article identification data by the reading means.

  For example, assume that a user borrows a book from a library and takes it home. Conventionally, a borrower user takes out a desired book from a bookshelf, takes the book to a rental counter, etc., and a clerk reads the barcode attached to the book by a reading means such as a reader / writer and lends it. Had gone. That is, in the past, in order to have a barcode attached to a book read, the user had to take the book to the rental counter.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, the reading means is installed at the user's traffic point or stop point, and the article identification code can be read without contacting the article. Therefore, when a user borrows a book as described above, for example, the user passes in front of a door on which a reader / writer is installed, or simply reads a book on a table on which a reader / writer is installed. The article identification code can be read from the book, and the user does not need to consciously read the article identification code.

  In the present invention, the movement detecting means detects that the article has been moved by the user, and the transaction processing means performs processing such as lending using this detection as a trigger. "" Means not only that the user walked with the article but also that the article was widely moved by human hands, such as by placing the article on a desk or the like.

  For example, when a user borrows a book from a library and reads a table, the user needs to take the book from the bookshelf and move the book to the table, and such movement is also included.

  In addition, in both cases of borrowing or purchasing an article, since the movement of the article is usually accompanied by the user, in the present invention, the movement of the article is detected by the movement detecting means, and the transaction is triggered by the detection of the movement. The processing means is configured to perform processing such as rental of goods.

  For example, when a user borrows a book from a library and reads it at the table in his / her room, if the user takes the book out of the library, the user may normally judge that the book has been lent out. Therefore, when the user moves from the library to his / her room, the movement of the book is detected in the corridor or the door of his / her room, etc. If the transaction processing means calculates the lending date and the return date using the detection of movement as a trigger, the book can be lent to the user.

  In addition, the article transaction system of the present invention uses the user identification data given to the user in advance and the article identification data given to the article to be lent out to the user. And a server capable of receiving the user identification data and the article identification data read by the reading means, and a plurality of reading means installed at the user's traffic points, Each of the reading means is capable of transmitting location information for specifying its own position to the server in association with the user identification data and the article identification data. Detecting means for detecting the corresponding user from the user identification data received from the means, and detecting the corresponding article from the article identification data; and The position of the reading means is detected from at least two or more location information received from the picking means, and the movement detecting means for detecting the movement of the user and the article from the detected position of the reading means, and the movement detecting means And transaction processing means for renting or transferring the article, triggered by detection of movement of the person and the article.

  For example, RFID tags are attached to both users and articles, a plurality of reader / writers are used as reading means, and the plurality of reader / writers are installed on a predetermined floor surface. When the server receives user identification data and article identification data from the reading means, it means that at least the user and the article are located within the reading range of the reader / writer. Furthermore, if these identification data are transmitted from two or more reader / writers to the server, both the user and the article have changed positions, that is, moved, and it is possible to detect the movement of both the user and the article. Become.

  Further, the article transaction system of the present invention can read article identification data given to an article to be lent to a user in a non-contact manner, and corresponds to a place where the article is used by the user. A reading unit installed and attached, an information processing device capable of receiving the article identification data from the reading unit, and a server communicably connected to the information processing device. When the person moves the article to the place where the article is used, the article identification data is read from the article, and the information processing apparatus detects the article identification data read by the reading unit and the user. User identification data for the server, and the server transmits the article identification data and the user identification data transmitted from the information processing apparatus. And detecting means for detecting the corresponding article and user, and transaction processing means for performing the lending process of the article with the detection of the corresponding article and user by the detecting means as a trigger. And

  Here, the use place of the article means a place where the article is actually used, but various places are assumed depending on the type of the article. For example, when the article is a book and the book is read about a desk, it means the desk or chair, but when the book is read in a private room, the private room is also included.

  Further, the information processing apparatus detects the movement of the user by referring to the storage unit that stores the article identification data received from the reading unit and the article identification data stored by the storage unit, You may make it provide the movement report means which transmits this detection to the said server as a movement report.

  In addition, when the server receives a movement report from the movement notification unit, a rental management unit that manages a rental period for the item that has been lent out by the transaction unit, and when the movement report is received from the movement management unit, the server determines an item whose inquiry rental period has expired. An alarm that requests the information processing device to issue an alarm to the user who is the borrower of the article, triggered by the detection of the excess of the loan deadline detected by the loan deadline detection means and the loan deadline detection means Request means may be provided.

  Furthermore, the article transaction system of the present invention may include an alarm means for giving an alarm to a user who is the borrower of the article when the alarm request means receives the alarm request.

  This warning means informs the user that the rental period has expired, and the method is not limited as long as the user can be alerted. For example, various things such as a sound by sounding a buzzer, a visual appeal such as a display, and a bodily sensation such as a vibration can be applied.

  The server of the present invention is installed at a user detection means for detecting a user based on user identification data assigned in advance, and at the user's traffic point or stop point, and is lent to the user or The article identification data previously given to the article to be transferred is read from the reading means capable of reading the article in a non-contact manner, the receiving means capable of receiving the article identification data, and the article identification data is read by the reading means. The movement detection means for detecting that the received article has been moved by the user detected by the user detection means, and the rental or transfer of the article is triggered by the movement detected by the movement detection means. And transaction processing means for performing processing.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is detected that the article whose article identification data has been read is moved by the user by the reading means installed at the user's traffic point or stop point, and this movement is performed. This article is used as a trigger for processing such as lending of goods. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of staff required for processing such as lending for the lending side of goods, and the lending operation can be automated. On the other hand, troublesome procedures required for lending and the like are completely unnecessary for the user side, and it is possible to rent goods without being conscious of processing such as lending.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figure, the reader / writer is described as R / W.

  FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration when the article transaction system of the present invention is applied to a book lending system in a law firm.

Here, each of the law firm staff A, B, and C is assigned a private room,
Each private room is equipped with a reader / writer 2 having an antenna 21 and an information processing device (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 3. In FIG. 1, two patterns are shown as the equipment patterns of the reader / writer 2A provided with the antenna 21. In the room of Mr. A and Mr. C, the patterns are equipped on the table 7 (hereinafter referred to as this pattern). On the other hand, in the room of Mr. B, it is a pattern (hereinafter, this pattern is referred to as a “door pattern”) mounted on the door 8 of the entrance / exit. FIG. 2 schematically shows these specific structures, where (a) shows a table pattern and (b) shows a door pattern.

  In the first embodiment, it is assumed that Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C borrow the book 10 from the library. RFID books 12 are individually attached to all books 10 held in the library. Therefore, when borrowing the book 10, the staff member does not have to carry out the lending procedure at the counter 9 as in the past. Each staff member picks up the desired book 10 from the bookshelf in the library room, enters the room with the book 10 held, and the lending process is completed without carrying out the lending procedure at the counter 9 as in the prior art. . That is, in the case of Mr. A and Mr. C, it is only necessary to place the book 10 on the table 7 or to read the book 10 on the table 7, while in the case of Mr. B, the book 10 is held. As long as it passes in front of the door 8, the lending process is completed.

  Next, the configuration of the book rental system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the book lending system 1 includes a reader / writer 2 </ b> A, a PC 3, and a server 5, and a return acceptance device 6 that is used when the book 10 is returned is connected to the server 5. Has been.

  The reader / writer 2A includes a loop-shaped antenna 21, and radio waves are constantly radiated from the antenna 21 under the control of the reader / writer 2A. On the other hand, RFID tags 12 are individually attached to the books 10 held in the bookshelves in the library. When the book 10 enters the reading range of the antenna 21, the reader / writer 2A reads the serial NO. (Book identification data) is read.

  In the table pattern shown in FIG. 2A, the antenna 21 is embedded in the table surface of the table 7. When the user reads the book 10 with respect to the table 7 or places the book 10 on the table 7, the reader / writer 2 </ b> A detects the RFID tag 12 of the book 10 and the serial number stored in the RFID tag 12. Read. On the other hand, in the door pattern shown in FIG. 2B, the antenna 21 is embedded on the surface of the door 8. When the user passes the book 10 in front of the door 8, the reader / writer 2 </ b> A The RFID tag 12 is detected, and the serial number stored in the RFID tag 12 is detected. Read.

  The PC 3 is connected to the reader / writer 2A and is connected to the serial number of the book 10. For example, a personal computer. In FIG. 1, the PC 3 is wired to the reader / writer 2A, but may be wirelessly connected. It is possible to apply various connection methods that can receive. In this book lending system 1, this PC 3 is individually assigned to each of the staff members Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C, and has a unique IP address, and this IP address (user identification) The borrower (user) of the book 10 can be detected from the data. Details will be described later. The data for identifying the user is not limited to this IP address. For example, in the book lending system 1, each writer is also assigned a reader / writer 2A. Therefore, each reader / writer 2A is provided with individual identification data that changes to this IP address, and this identification data is used by the user. In association with the IP address, the user can be identified in the same manner as the IP address.

  The server 5 is connected to the PC 3 via the LAN 4 and is configured to be able to transmit / receive data to / from the PC 3. The server 5 includes a database (not shown). The database includes a book data table 300 shown in FIG. 3A, a user data table 310 shown in FIG. 3B, and a lending management table shown in FIG. 320 are stored.

  The book data table 300 shows that the book data is the serial number of the book 10. The table is stored for each serial number of the book 10. And book data. Serial number of book 10 Is data for identifying the book 10. The book data includes a classification, a book name, an author name, a publisher name, a rank, and a period. This rank indicates, for example, whether or not the book 10 is secretly managed. In FIG. 3A, the secret is managed as “secret” on the book data table 300. It is described. “Period” indicates the maximum rentable period of the book 10, and for example, the serial number of FIG. If it is # 1 book 10, it must be returned within 3 days from the loan date.

  The user data table 310 is a table in which user data is stored for each IP address. The book data table 300 and the user data table 310 are stored in advance in the database of the server 5. As described above, the book data table 300 includes the serial number. Since the book data is stored every time, the reader / writer 2A uses the serial number. Can be detected by the server 5. Similarly, if the IP address is transmitted from the PC 3 to the server 5, the user can be detected by the server 5.

  The lending management table 320 is read from the serial number by the reader / writer 2A. Is a table for lending management of the book 10 that has been read. The lending date, the return date, and the return status are stored in association with each other. "Lending date" is the serial number. This rental date is calculated from the date and time information held by the server 5 itself. The “return date” is calculated by adding the “period” of the book data table 300 to the lending date. For example, serial no. If the book 10 is # 1, the “period” is 3 days when the book data table 300 is referenced, and the “lending date” is February 1, 2006 when the lending management table 320 is referenced. When “day” is added, the “return date” becomes February 4, 2006.

  “Return status” indicates whether the book 10 is being lent or returned. Whether the book is being lent or returned is calculated by comparing the “return date” with the current date and time information of the server 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the name is “Mr. A”, that is, the borrower is Mr. A, and the serial No. Referring to the book 10 with “# 1”, the “return date” is February 4, 2006, while the current date and time of the server 5 is March 15, 2006. The deadline is overdue. Accordingly, in this case, the “return status” is “not returned”. In addition, this “return status” is configured to set “unreturned” at the first time when it is determined that the time limit has been exceeded by comparing the date and time information of the server 5 with the return date. That is, in the above example, since the return date is February 4, 2006, “unreturned” is set when the current date and time of the server is February 5, 2006.

  Note that when the user returns the book 10, it is rewritten to “returned”, and the rental management table 320 is stored as a rental history of the book 10 by the staff even after the book is returned. It is configured.

  The return acceptance device 6 is communicably connected to the server 5 and includes a reader / writer (not shown). The return acceptance device 6 reads the RFID tag 12 attached to the book 10 returned from the user and returns it to the server 5. It is configured to report data. Various methods of reading the RFID tag 12 by the return acceptance device 6 can be considered. For example, the RFID tag 12 is configured to be read by an attendant's hand using a handy type reader / writer. Or it is set as the structure provided with the return post and the reader / writer, and the RFID tag 12 is read when the loop antenna is mounted in the vicinity of the insertion port (return port) of the return post and the book 10 is inserted from the return port. It is also possible to do.

Next, an operation of the book lending system 1 will be described.
<Lending process>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the lending process, where (a) and (b) show the processing procedure at the PC 3 and (c) show the processing procedure at the server 5.

  In the process (a), the reader / writer 2A performs serial NO. Is read and the serial number is transferred to the next process (b). It is processing until it transmits. Specifically, the PC 2 receives the serial number of the book 10. Is read at any time (S400), and if the reader / writer 2A reads (Y in S400), the read serial number is read. For each detected serial number (S401). Is transmitted to the next process (b).

  The process of (b) starts from the process of (a) with the serial NO. Each serial No. that starts when is sent. It is an individual process for each, and is a process until the lending data is reported to the server 5. Specifically, the PC 3 performs serial NO. Is transmitted from the reader / writer 2A, this serial No. Is already registered in the loan accepted table 500 shown in FIG. 5 based on the presence or absence of a flag (S403). The lending received table 500 is stored in the PC 3, and a flag is set when the PC 3 receives a notification unnecessary signal from the server 5 as will be described later. In FIG. The books with # 1 and # 2 indicate the state “1” in which the flag is set. The book with # 3 indicates a state “0” in which the flag is not set. The flag is set in this manner in order to prevent the duplicate lending process from being performed, and the serial number of the book 10 that has already been lent out after performing the lending process. Is not transmitted to the server 5.

  More specifically, the presence / absence of a flag in the loaned table 500 is checked. If there is a flag (Y in S403), the serial No. Is already registered, that is, this serial No. It is determined that the book 10 is being rented out, and its serial No. Does not transmit to the server 5. On the other hand, if there is no flag (N in S403), the serial No. Is unregistered (S404). If unregistered (Y in S404), the serial No. Is stored (S405), and lending data is reported to the server 5 (S406). In particular, in the table pattern shown in FIG. 2A, as long as the book 10 is placed on the table 7, the reader / writer 2A always has the serial number. Will continue to be transmitted to PC3. Are not transmitted to the server 5 in duplicate.

  This rental data includes the serial number of the book 10. And the IP address of PC3. After reporting the lending data to the server 5, the presence or absence of a report unnecessary signal from the server 5 is checked (S407). When the report unnecessary signal is received from the server 5 (Y in S407), the lending received table 500 is displayed. The flag is set (S408), and the process returns to S403. On the other hand, if there is no report unnecessary signal (N in S407), the process is terminated (S409).

  Here, the reason why the notification unnecessary signal is transmitted from the server 5 to the PC 3 is to prevent unnecessary data from being transmitted from the PC 3 to the server 5. When the PC 3 receives this notification-unnecessary signal from the server 5, the corresponding serial number of the lending received table 500 is displayed. Is set to the serial No. from the reader / writer 2A. PC3 refers to this flag even if the serial No. is transmitted. If the flag is set, the serial No. Lending data for is not transmitted to the server 5.

  On the other hand, serial no. Is not registered, that is, it is not unregistered. Is already registered (S404), the lending data is reported to the server 5 (S406). Serial NO. Is registered in the lending received table 500, but the flag has not been set yet, and reporting of lending data to the server 5 is normally unnecessary. is there. However, since it is conceivable that the lending data is not transmitted to the server 5, in this case, the lending data is reported to the server 5 just in case.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the server 5 constantly monitors whether there is a report of rental data from the PC 3 (S410), and waits until there is a report of rental data from the PC 3 (S410). If the lending data is reported (Y in S410), the IP address in the lending data is converted into name data (S411). Is converted into book data (S412). Further, the server 5 acquires the current date / time information from the date / time information owned by itself (S413), and writes the initial rental data in the rental management table 320 (S414). Thereafter, a report unnecessary signal is transmitted to the PC 3 (S415), and the process returns to S410. This initial data writing includes the name, serial number, and so on. The lending date, the return date, and the return status are associated and stored in the lending management table 320, and the lending process for the book 10 is completed by this process. Note that when the initial data is written, the “return status” is set to “unreturned”.

<Return processing>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the return process, in which (a) shows a processing procedure in the server 5 and (b) shows a processing procedure in the PC 3.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the server 5 constantly monitors whether there is a return data report from the return acceptance device 6 (S600), and waits for a return data report (N in S600). ). On the other hand, when there is a report of the return data (Y in S600), the serial number in the report data. Is detected (S601), the lending management table 320 is searched, and the corresponding serial number. “Return Status” of the book 10 of “No.” is set to “Returned” (S602). Every time, a request for resuming notification is transmitted to the PC 3 (S613).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the PC 3 constantly monitors whether or not the notification resumption request is received from the server 5 (S604), and waits until the notification resumption request is received (S604). S604). On the other hand, when this report resumption request is received from the server 5 (Y in S604), the corresponding serial No. in the lending received table 500 is displayed. (S605), and the corresponding serial No. detected by this search is searched. Is deleted (S606), and the flag of the lent / received table 500 is reset (S607).

  As described above, the lending process and the return process are performed. However, some staff members may have forgotten to return the book 10 even though the lending time limit has passed. In this case, in the book lending system 1, a staff member is warned and the book 10 is returned. Furthermore, in order to increase the effect of this warning, the movement of a staff member is detected and this warning is given. That is, the alarm has no meaning even in a place where the user does not exist, and the alarm can be surely given to the user by giving the alarm in the place where the user exists. In view of this, in the book lending system 1, the alarm is issued after the server 5 receives a user movement report from the PC 3. Hereinafter, the movement notification process and the alarm process method in the PC 3 will be described.

<Mobile report processing>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process for reporting the movement of a user from the PC 3 to the server 5, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a memory area 800 of the PC 3.

  First, the memory area 800 shown in FIG. 8 will be described. This memory area 800 has a serial No. read by the reader / writer 2A. Is a storage area of the PC 3 for saving in real time. In FIG. 8, A1 is the current memory, and A2 is the previous memory. By comparing A1 and A2, the movement of the user is detected. In particular, FIG. 8 shows the case of the table pattern shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 8A shows the case where the number of books 10 on the table 7 increases, and FIG. (C) shows a case where the number of books 10 on the table 7 is not changed and the contents of the books 10 placed on the table 7 are changed.

  FIG. 8 (a) shows that the serial NO. # 1 book 10 is placed, and serial NO. The book 10 of # 3 is increased, and the book 10 on the table 7 is changed to the books 10 of # 1 and # 3. That is, for example, Mr. A is assigned a serial number. When the # 1 book 10 is placed on the table 7, the reader / writer 2A reads the serial number of # 1. Read. If this book 10 is kept on the table 7 all the time, A1 is # 1 and A2 is also the same # 1 at a certain time. However, when the # 3 book 10 increases on the table 7, the serial No. 2 transmitted from the reader / writer 2A at that time is increased. Are # 1 and # 3. This state is the state of the memory area 800 shown in FIG. 8A, where the current memory A1 is # 1, # 3, and the previous memory A2 is # 1.

  The serial number read by the reader / writer 2A and transmitted to the PC 3 is displayed. If there is a change in the contents, that is, there is a difference between the contents of A1 and the contents of A2, this means that the object will not move without permission, so this state is regarded as a state in which the book has been moved by a person. ing. Then, when the book 10 is moved by a person, that is, when there is a change between A1 and A2, it is assumed that there is a user near the table 7, this is detected, and a movement report described later is sent. The data is transmitted to the server 5.

  Next, the movement notification process from the PC 3 to the server 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the movement notification process in the PC 3.

  This process is performed from the reader / writer 2A to the PC 3 with a serial number. Starts when is sent. PC3 receives the serial number from reader / writer 2A. Is sent to A1, the received data, that is, the serial No. already received. If there is received data (Y in S700), the received data stored in A1 is shifted to A2 (S702), and the data received this time is stored in A1. (S702). Thereafter, the data of A1 and A2 are compared (S703), and it is checked whether or not they match (S704). If they do not match (Y in S704), a movement report is transmitted to the server 5 (S705). ), If they match (Y in S704), it is determined that there is no movement, and the process returns to S700.

  In the process of S700, if there is no received data (N in S700), a movement report is transmitted to the server 5. Here, serial NO. Is transmitted to the PC 3, the case where there is no received data in A 1 indicates that no book 10 has been placed on the table 7 yet. Therefore, in this case, the serial number is read from the reader / writer 2A. Is transmitted from the state where the book 10 is not placed on the table 7 to the state where the book 10 is placed, that is, the book 10 is moved by the user's hand. The movement report is sent to 5.

<Alarm processing>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the alarm processing, where (a) shows the processing procedure at the server 5 and (b) shows the processing procedure at the PC 3.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the server 5 constantly monitors the presence / absence of a movement report from the PC 3 (S900), and continues to wait until there is a movement report (N in S900). If there is a movement report (Y in S900), the lending management table 320 is read (S901), and the presence / absence of the book 10 whose lending time limit has been exceeded is checked (S902). If there is a book 10 whose loan deadline has been exceeded (Y in S902), it is further checked whether or not the book 10 has not been returned (S903). If it has not been returned (Y in S903), it has been exceeded. The borrower's IP address of the book 10 is read from the lending management table 320 (S904), a warning message is transmitted to the read IP address (S905), and the process returns to S900. On the other hand, when there is no book 10 whose loan deadline has exceeded (N in S902), and there is no unreturned book 10 (N in S903), there is no need to alert the user. Return.

  The movement notification transmitted from the PC 3 merely informs that the user has moved, that is, exists at the place, and does not specify which book 10 has exceeded the lending time limit. Therefore, when this movement report is transmitted from the PC 3, the server 5 refers to the “return status” of all the books 10 registered in the lending management table 320, and the book 10 in which “unreturned” is set. If there is, a warning message is transmitted to the IP address of the borrower of the book 10. Further, referring to the lending management table 320, even if the lending deadline has exceeded, the book 10 already returned is recorded in the lending management table 320 as a history. If it is determined that it has not been returned, it will warn the user who has already returned it. Therefore, the “return status” is referred to as to whether or not it is actually returned, and a warning message is transmitted to the user who borrows the book in which “not returned” is set.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, the PC 3 constantly monitors whether or not a warning message is transmitted from the server 5 (S906), and waits until a warning message is transmitted from the server 5 ( If a warning message is transmitted (Y in S906), a warning is given to the user (S907). As the alarm means, for example, means such as emitting light, emitting sound, or notifying by vibration can be applied. After the PC 3 receives the warning message from the server 5, the alarm request signal is transmitted to various alarm means (not shown), and the various alarm means that have received the alarm message can be configured to issue alarms by respective methods. That's fine.

  As described above, in the book lending system 1, since the lending process is performed if the user uses the book 10 in his / her private room, the lending process can be performed without the user being aware of the lending process. In addition, the user is not particularly required to have a medium storing user identification information such as an ID card, which is convenient for the user.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the book lending system 1 of the present invention is applied to a law firm has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the RFID tag 12 is attached to an article shared by a plurality of persons and the reader / writer 2A is installed at a place where the article is used, the book lending system 1 of the present invention can be applied to various places. Is possible.

  For example, if a hospitalized patient in a hospital with a private room rents goods used in the hospital room such as books, videos, fruit knives, or a building where multiple private offices (for example, SOHO) are located, a chair for visitors It is also applicable when borrowing office supplies such as scissors, cutting machines, books, etc.

  Further, the table pattern is not limited to the table 7 placed in the private room. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a desk is rented for a period of one month or one year in a self-study room where a plurality of desks are arranged. In this case, each desk is configured as in the table 7 shown in FIG. 2A, and when the borrower borrows the desk for the first time, the IP address of the PC 3 is associated with the borrower and registered in the server 5. Keep it. From then on, the borrower does not need to go through the lending procedure each time the desk is used. With such a configuration, the book lending system 1 of the present invention can be applied to the case where “rental with a time limit for using the article” is given to the borrower.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram schematically showing the entire configuration of a rental video system in which the article transaction system of the present invention is applied to rental of video at a rental video store. .

  In the first embodiment, the lending process can be performed at the place of use and the user does not need to have an ID card or the like, which is very convenient for the user. However, since the information for identifying the user is obtained from the IP address of the PC 3, the rentable place is limited to the place where the article is used, and the convenience for the user is somewhat deteriorated. .

  Therefore, the second embodiment is characterized in that the lending process can be performed at any place without limiting the place where the lending process can be performed to the place where the article is used, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  In the second embodiment, as a premise, an RFID tag 12 having the same configuration as that of the book 10 of the first embodiment is attached to the video 100 to be lent, and on the other hand, an ID card is previously provided to the user. 101 is distributed. The ID card 101 includes a loop antenna that can receive a radio wave radiated from a reader / writer. In the ID card 101, data for identifying a user (user identification data) is stored. The reader / writer 2B can read the user identification data without contact with the ID card 101. For example, the ID card 101 is placed in a holder and is hung from the neck by the user. In addition to the method of storing the user identification data in the ID card 101, for example, an RFID tag is attached to an object that can be worn on the body such as a watch or a pendant, and a reader / writer such as an RFID chip is embedded in the body. However, it is sufficient that the user identification data can be read in a non-contact manner.

  First, the configuration of the rental video system of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the rental video system 100 includes a reader / writer 2B having a loop antenna 21, a relay device 11, and a server 5, and a user manually plays a desired video 13 from a video shelf (not shown). The lending process is completed when the user moves to a predetermined place with the video 13.

  The reader / writer 2B includes a loop-shaped antenna 21, and radio waves are constantly radiated from the antenna 21 under the control of the reader / writer 2B. A plurality of reader / writers 2B are embedded in the floor of the video store. When a user who holds the video 13 is located on the floor, the RFID tag 12 attached to the video 13, the ID card 14 of the user, Is configured to read. The reader / writer 2 </ b> B has a wireless communication function and is configured to be able to perform wireless communication with the server 5 via the relay device 11. Each reader / writer 2B has location information for specifying its own position, and the position coordinates of the reader / writer 2B can be detected by a method described later.

  The reader / writer 2B may be installed at a position where the video 13 borrowed by the user passes without fail, such as a floor surface of a rental video store. The installation position may not be on the floor surface, and may be installed on the ceiling, for example.

  The relay device 11 is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with both the reader / writer 2B and the server 5, and transmits data received from the reader / writer 2B to the server 5 and transmits data received from the server 5 to the reader / writer 2B. It is configured to be able to.

  The server 5 is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate data via the reader / writer 2B and the relay device 11, and includes a database (not shown). The R / W position table 30 shown in FIG. An R / W read management table 40 is stored. Further, although the lent object and the user are different from those described in the first embodiment, the configuration is the same as the user data table 310 and the rent management table 320 shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C. The table is also stored in advance in this database. The user identification data is not an IP address as in the first embodiment, but an ID stored in the user ID card 14.

  In the R / W position table 30, the serial number of each reader / writer 2B is stored. And the position coordinates of each reader / writer 2B are stored in association with each other.

  In the R / W reading management table 40, the serial number of the reader / writer 2B is stored. The coordinates of the reader / writer 2B, the user ID, the time when each reader / writer 2B read the user ID, and the serial number of the video 13. And the serial number of video 13. Is read by each reader / writer 2B.

In FIG. 12, the user whose ID is ID _A is the serial number. The case of moving on the floor shown in FIG. 10 with the video 13 of V1 is shown. Serial No. When this user moves with the video 13 on the reader / writer 2B of the RW1-1, the user ID and the serial number of the video 13 are transferred from the reader / writer 2B. Are transmitted to the server 5. Then, the server 5 sends these ID and serial number. Are derived from time information owned by themselves, and “R / W reading time (user)” and “R / W reading time (video)” in FIG. Serial number of reader / writer 2B. , User ID and serial number of video 13. Are stored in association with each other.

  The rental video system 100 is configured to perform the lending process by calculating the trajectory that the user has moved and the trajectory that the video 13 has moved from the R / W reading management table 40. The reason why the lending process is performed based on the trajectory that the user has moved and the trajectory that the video 13 has moved is to prevent the user from being aware of the lending process.

  Furthermore, since the user always moves with the borrowed item, such as taking back the borrowed item, the locus that the user moved and the locus that the video 13 moved are substantially the same. Thus, the lending process is automated by assuming that the user has moved with the video 13, that is, that the user has borrowed the video 13.

Next, the operation of this lending process will be described with reference to FIG.
<Lending process>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the lending process in the server 5.

  The server 5 receives the serial number of the video 13 from the reader / writer 2B within a predetermined time. Is received (S200) and waits for reception (N in S200). Serial No. of video 13 from reader / writer 2B. Is received (Y in S200), the serial No. of the video 13 is further transmitted from two or more reader / writers 2B. Is checked (S201). The data transmitted from the reader / writer 2B includes the user ID and the serial number of the video 13. And these ID and serial number. The serial number of the reader / writer 2B that read It is. The fact that the data is transmitted from the reader / writer 2B means that the user ID or the serial number of the video 13 is stored. 1 or both of them are transmitted, but the video 13 does not move without permission, and is always moved by a human hand. It is supposed to check whether or not is received.

  Further, here, the serial NO. Of the video 13 from one reader / writer 2B. Since the moving trajectory of the video 13 cannot be calculated only by transmitting the video 13, the serial number of the video 13 is read by the two or more reader / writers 2B. To see if is sent. Note that this number may be appropriately changed, for example, 3 or more or 4 or more.

  If the reception is 2 or more, the trajectory of the video 13 is recorded (Y in S201). On the other hand, if the reception is not 2 or more, the process returns to S200.

  Similarly, for the user ID, the same processing as in S201 is performed to check whether or not reception is 2 or more (S203). If it is not 2 or more, the processing returns to S200 (N in S203). In this case, the user's trajectory is stored (S204).

  Next, the trajectory of the video 13 and the user's trajectory are compared (S205), and it is further checked whether or not the trajectories match (S206). If they match (Y in S206), a lending process is performed (S207). On the other hand, if they do not match (N in S206), the process is terminated (S208).

These trajectories are calculated as follows. FIG. 14 is a model diagram of the movement trajectory. The t-axis is taken in the vertical direction, the x-axis and the y-axis are taken in the horizontal direction, and the movement trajectory of the user and the video 13 is represented as space-time coordinates. . In the figure, IP _A indicates the user's spatio-temporal coordinates, and V 1 indicates the spatio-temporal coordinates of the video 13. The t-axis is “R / W reading time (user)” and “R / W reading time (video)” in the R / W reading management table 40 shown in FIG. 12, and the x-axis and y-axis are This is the coordinates of the reader / writer 2B. From these, the spatio-temporal coordinates of the user and the video 13 are obtained, and those connecting the spatio-temporal coordinates respectively indicate the trajectories. Then, these loci are compared, and if they match, the lending process is performed assuming that they have moved together. On the other hand, if they do not match, the process ends. If the user moves with the video 13, the normal trajectory should match, but the user and the video 13 are physically separated, so there may be some deviation in the trajectory. Therefore, as a result of the comparison, if the deviation is within a certain range, it is preferable to provide a correction means so as to detect coincidence.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be considered.

  If the reader / writer 2B is installed in a place where all publics such as general roads, stations, station platforms, and parks come and go, goods can be sold in stores. For example, a commodity to be sold is accommodated in a commodity shelf, the commodity shelf is installed on the platform of the station, and the reader / writer 2B is installed on the entire platform of the station. Then, the user whose ID is registered in the server takes out the desired product from the product shelf and gets on the train while holding the product. Then, the user ID and the serial number of the product are read by the plurality of reader / writers 2B. Are sent to the server 5. If the server 5 is configured to perform sales processing instead of lending processing, the user can purchase the product simply by picking up the product from the product shelf and getting on the train as it is. The normal purchase procedure and action by is unnecessary, so it is very convenient for users.

The whole block diagram of the book rental system of 1st Embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the table of Mr. A and Mr. C, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the door of Mr. B. (A) is a book data table, (b) is a user data table, (c) is a figure which shows a lending management table. It is a flowchart which shows a lending process, (a) And (b) is a lending process in PC, (c) is a figure which shows the lending process in a server. The figure which shows the borrowed received table. It is a flowchart which shows a return process, (a) is a process in a server, (b) is a figure which shows the process in PC. The flowchart which shows the movement notification process in PC. The figure which shows the memory area in PC. It is a flowchart which shows an alarm process, (a) Alarm process in a server, (b) is a figure which shows the alarm process in PC. The whole block diagram of a rental video system. The figure which shows a R / W position table. The figure which shows a R / W reading management table. The rental process flowchart in a rental video system. The model figure which showed the movement locus | trajectory of a user and a video using the spatio-temporal coordinate.

Explanation of symbols

1 Book rental system 2A, 2B R / W (Reader / Writer)
21 Antenna 3 PC (Information processing equipment)
4 LAN
5 server 6 return acceptance device 7 table 8 door 9 counter 10 book 11 relay device 12 RFID tag 13 video 14 ID card 30 R / W position table 40 R / W reading management table 100 rental video system 300 book data table 310 user data Table 320 Lending management table 500 Lending received table 800 Memory area

Claims (5)

A user detection means for detecting a user based on user identification data assigned in advance;
Reading means that is installed at the user's traffic point or stop point, and that can read the article identification data previously given to the article to be rented or transferred to the user without contact with the article,
A movement detecting means for detecting that the article whose article identification data has been read by the reading means has been moved by the user detected by the user detecting means;
Transaction processing means for lending or transferring the article triggered by the movement detected by the movement detection means,
An article transaction system comprising: The user identification data given to the user in advance and the article identification data given to the article to be lent out to the user can be read without contact with the user and the article, A plurality of reading means installed at the user's traffic points;
A server capable of receiving the user identification data and the article identification data read by the reading means;
Each of the reading means is
Location information for specifying its own position can be transmitted to the server in association with the user identification data and the article identification data,
The server
Detecting means for detecting a corresponding user from the user identification data received from the reading means, and detecting a corresponding article from the article identification data;
A movement detecting means for detecting the position of the reading means from at least two or more of the location information received from the reading means, and detecting the movement of the user and the article from the detected position of the reading means;
Transaction processing means for performing lending or transfer processing of this article, triggered by the movement of the user and the article detected by the movement detection means,
An article transaction system comprising: Reading means that is capable of reading the article identification data given to the article to be lent to the user in a non-contact manner, and is installed in association with the place of use of the article by the user;
An information processing apparatus capable of receiving the article identification data from the reading unit;
A server that is communicably connected to the information processing apparatus,
The reading means includes
When the user moves the article to the place where the article is used, the article identification data is read from the article,
The information processing apparatus
Transmitting the article identification data read by the reading means and user identification data for detecting the user to the server;
The server
Detecting means for detecting a corresponding article and user from the article identification data and the user identification data transmitted from the information processing apparatus;
Transaction processing means for performing lending processing of this article, triggered by detection of the corresponding article and user by the detection means,
An article transaction system comprising: The information processing apparatus
Storage means for storing the article identification data received from the reading means;
By referring to the article identification data stored by the storage means, the movement notification means for detecting the movement of the user and transmitting the detection as a movement report to the server,
The server
Lending management means for managing lending time limit for the articles lending processing by the transaction means,
Upon receipt of the movement notification from the movement notification means, the loan management means inquires the lending deadline detection means for detecting an article whose rental limit has been exceeded,
An alarm requesting means for requesting the information processing apparatus to issue an alarm to a user who is the borrower of the article, triggered by the fact that the rental deadline excess detection means has been detected by the loan expiration excess detection means,
The goods transaction system is
4. The article transaction system according to claim 3, further comprising alarm means for giving an alarm to a user who is a borrower of the article when the alarm request means receives the alarm request. A user detection means for detecting a user based on user identification data assigned in advance;
From the reading means that is installed at the user's traffic point or stop point and can read the article identification data previously given to the article to be lent or transferred to the user in a non-contact manner. A receiving means capable of receiving the article identification data;
A movement detecting means for detecting that the article whose article identification data has been read by the reading means has been moved by the user detected by the user detecting means;
Transaction processing means for lending or transferring the article triggered by the movement detected by the movement detection means;
The server characterized by having.

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