JP2008040920A - Inventory management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inventry management system capable of sending an exact instruction for replenishment delivery before inventories run short by enablingg a center to comprehend inventory quantity existing in automatic DVD rental machines installed in respective places in real time. <P>SOLUTION: This system manages article inventories for every automatic DVD rental machine in real time by connecting the respective automatic DVD rental machines on-line. The system for linking the automatic DVD rental machines so as to be able to comprehend the existence/absence of inventories and automatically instruct to inventories to a delivering person before inventories are lent out (inventories run out) performs linkage among center equipment, each automatic DVD rental machine and a handy terminal carried by the delivering person about specifications that can not be provided by the existing system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inventory management system.

  In the current rental video market, sales and distribution volumes have increased with the opening of large-scale complex stores in the suburbs. However, since 1994, the number of stores has drastically decreased at an annual rate of about 20%, and the rental video market has already become an oligopoly. It has been shrinking due to the decline in sales in the rental video division of the top companies since the turn of the era.

  One of the reasons for the sharp decline in small and medium-sized business stores is that the rise of DVD media has made VHS video package assets so far no longer worth their assets, and additional investment in DVD packages is required. Therefore, it seems that one of the backgrounds is that many companies that withdrew. Small and medium-sized businesses that are not competitive have withdrawn, and a large number of large companies have changed to a market in which they compete for share, and the entire market is approaching a decline.

  However, due to the effects of DVD media that emerged in the mid-1990s, the efficiency of delivery and transportation (very small compared to VHS) was realized, and a rental video delivery service by ordering from the Internet appeared. Also, due to changes in distribution and retail due to the small space, equipment manufacturers have developed automatic DVD rental machines in the United States, and are being deployed throughout the United States in stores such as McDonald's, Seven-Eleven, Walmart, etc. by lease sales etc. .

  In this way, a new business format has been created with the advent of DVD media, but the inventory management system used for store-type rental video services or automatic DVD rental machines in the United States, etc., has become stand-alone for each store. The efficiency of inventory management using the system has not been realized yet. Because the conventional system is a store-type service system, management costs such as labor costs and land rents have not been realized due to an increase in management costs such as labor costs and land rents, so operating inventory efficiently has further profitability It can be said that it is a model.

  As a commercialization that makes the best use of the system, the present applicant uses a DVD automatic rental machine currently deployed in the United States to sublimate and develop into a business model for Japan. In addition, starting from the Tokyo metropolitan area, it is installed on the daily life such as inside the station (including the so-called “Station Naka”) and convenience stores, etc., and comprehensively manages the inventory of each DVD automatic rental machine at the center, By organizing delivery operations about three times during the day, it is possible to minimize the opportunity loss due to lending while minimizing inventory. To that end, the company aims to develop its own “inventory management system” and quickly commercialize it as a new service.

  The inventory management system of the present invention is a system for managing the inventory of goods for each automatic DVD rental machine in real time by connecting the respective automatic DVD rental machines online. It is a system that is linked so that the presence or absence of inventory can be checked and instructions can be automatically given to the deliverer before it is rented (out of stock). Link with the machine, link with the handy terminal of the delivery person.

  By eliminating the chance loss during lending and keeping the minimum required inventory and purchase quantity, the inventory turnover rate has an effect of 37 times the average of existing rental stores. In addition, by installing it at a high location on the life lead, the new rotation rate can be 2.1 times that of the existing work, and the average usage of members can be 2.3 times. In addition, the rental method using the automatic DVD rental machine that takes advantage of the small space of the DVD does not require a large store space like an existing store. For this reason, it is possible to solve the problem that until now it was not possible to operate in a high rent space where the sales per tsubo did not match the property rent. Compared with the existing rental stores in unit price sales, it is a service that can increase profitability by 8.6 times.

  In order to establish the profitability and business model as described above, the most important point for business success is how to minimize the inventory loss while eliminating opportunity loss during lending. The inventory turnover rate can be increased by keeping the inventory quantity to a minimum, but in order to eliminate the lending, the inventory quantity in the DVD automatic rental machine installed at each location is real-time at the center. It is necessary to grasp and send instructions for accurate replenishment delivery before the stock runs out.

  According to the results of a questionnaire conducted by the present applicant, if “rental” occurs twice for the same movie, 85% of the respondents said they would give up the rental of that movie. The chance loss during renting is a point that improves the profitability of the rental video business, especially how to turn all the inventory high because it is required for new titles. "Is indispensable for the commercialization of our company that can generate the maximum profit with the minimum inventory by establishing a system that links the inventory quantity and the supplementary delivery directive.

<Requirements for inventory management system>
● Purpose of introducing the system By centrally managing the inventory of DVDs stored in the DVD automatic rental machine in real time, it is possible to reduce the inventory while minimizing the inventory while eliminating the need for rental. Improve turnover.
● The inventory management system planned for basic requirements / introduction consists of a business system and an information service system, and is connected to a management center to manage inventory in real time.
-The system configuration shall be a client / server system.
-Connect to a LAN and the Internet and be able to provide services on the network.
-The design should allow stable operation.

● Sales management system The sales management system is introduced for the purpose of performing the following operations. Therefore, at the very least, it should be judged that there is no problem in carrying out the following items.
1) Basic requirements ・ The screen response time for online work with 10 simultaneous connections is within 3 seconds on average.
-The operation screen of the management terminal must be able to open multiple windows on one screen and execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
-Operation can be set for each DVD rental machine, member ID, and member group.
-DVD-ID and member ID must be compatible with the current system and standards of DVD manufacturers.
-In a DVD / product management system, data input to DVD-IDs and barcodes printed in advance on materials can be performed.

● DVD (Selection / Ordering / Payment) Order Management System DVD (Selection / Ordering / Acceptance / Payment) Order management system must meet the following requirements.
1) It must be possible to download and create DVD agency data for selection and selection.
-Data can be input from text data.
-Ability to investigate the number of duplicates for orders and stock DVDs.
・ Be able to process orders from selection data.
・ The selected data can be aggregated.

2) When ordering / ordering data creation, it can be created in the local system by downloading the data, and after creation, transition to the ordering screen seamlessly.
-Data can be input from text data.
-Ability to investigate the number of duplicates for orders and stock DVDs.
-When creating order data, the budget item, category, supplier, and currency code can be set automatically by referring to the record entered immediately before.
・ When inputting the data required for ordering, select and import the contents of items with code tables. (Category, type, expense item, related product category, supplier, metadata, specifications, etc.)
-The code table can be maintained.
・ Ordering / acceptance processing of continuous purchase DVDs is possible, and data can be retained until complete delivery.
-The category can be specified regardless of the characters used.
・ Purchase amount can be automatically calculated by referring to discount rate / consumption tax rate entered in advance at the time of processing.
-The discount rate and consumption tax rate can be changed at any time.
-When purchasing overseas, the purchase amount can be automatically calculated by referring to the currency conversion rate and consumption tax rate entered in advance by entering foreign currency.
・ Change in currency conversion rate and consumption tax rate at any time.
・ If there is a change in the amount calculation method, modify the business system.
・ Payment hold / cancellation for each data.
・ The purchase price calculation value can be modified on the acceptance processing screen.
・ Purchase processing and batch automatic numbering / assignment of DVD-IDs can be made by blocking the ordered data by specifying the processing date (range specification), vendor, equipment consumables, etc.
・ Automatic numbering / assignment / reset of records related to the fiscal year. (Order number, billing and order number, DVD-ID number, etc.)

3) Able to hold payment / management / payment data for more than 2 years.
-Management and payment data that has been processed can be deleted by specifying the processing completion date range.
-Processing status inquiries can be made under the entered conditions.

4) Form output process The following forms can be output. When a form is output, if a production output with data update and a preliminary output without data update can be selected, points are added.
・ Continuous order DVD not yet arrived / missed list (output delivered data)
・ Received DVD list (can be output by category, budget code, vendor)
・ List by processing stage (Unordered, ordering, delivered, paid DVD can be output by category, by budget code, by vendor)
・ Invoices and orders ・ Management notices (can be output with details)
・ Purchase orders (printed on a case-by-case basis)
・ DVD order list (A breakdown of order DVDs can be output for each supplier at the stage of outputting a purchase order.)
-Non-payment reminder list (The number of days elapsed from the order date can be specified and output by supplier)
・ DVD management standard DVD-ID label (number and number can be specified)
・ Budget usage status list (Payment amount can be output while ordering by budget code)
・ List by budget code (Being able to output ordered DVD and delivered DVD by budget code)
・ Duplicate investigation list (In the DVD ordering process, it is possible to output for each ordered DVD what was hit in the duplicate investigation for internal stock DVD and order DVD)
-Amount of money used by vendor (order amount and payment amount can be output for each vendor)
-To provide an environment where necessary data can be extracted under arbitrary conditions, output to a PC through a database access interface, and statistics can be created by a spreadsheet software on the PC.

● Product management system 1) Meet the following requirements regarding the function of the product management system.
-Data unique to each book in the stock record can be accurately reflected in the product file.
・ Add a point if you have a batch automatic registration and download function.
-It must also have the function to create data for sales survey analysis survey report and output to tape media.
-In addition, the following functions should be provided for interactive processing.
・ It must be possible to create products unique to the local system and modify / delete data.
-Input data check functions such as input grammar and code check are in place. If an error occurs, display a warning message.
・ Additional points are added when DVD metadata of product database and stock replacement function linked to it (integration processing) are provided as independent functions.

2) Form output processing, label printing, organized DVD delivery list output, and label output condition parameters specified by a combination of “product creation date / distinguishment / input person ID (when omitted)” Separately, a document ID can be specified by reading a plurality of DVD-ID labels.
-Confirmation data such as document ID can be output together with the label.
In addition, a DVD list (arranged DVD shipment list) that outputs labels is output.
-The list should be sortable by book title.
・ Proof list output of product data

・ Various statistics list ・ ・ The number of records by category and stock category can be output by year and cumulative total.
・ Record creation statistics By genre ・ By DVD, the number of stock records created and the number of system registration records can be output by month and year.
・ ・ Statistical comprehensive data by product system ・ Registration of local-only registration data should be made on the local product database. Able to create the number of DVDs and stocks by year and cumulatively by type.
・ ・ In addition, provide an environment where necessary data can be extracted under arbitrary conditions, output to a PC through a database access interface, and statistics etc. can be created using a PC spreadsheet software.

-To provide an environment in which stock data in a local product database can be extracted under arbitrary conditions and output to a PC through a database access interface, and a stock list with limited materials can be created using a PC spreadsheet software. (Example: Long-run DVD candidate list, children's DVD list, collection lists of serial dramas, etc.)
・ The table of contents data can be input.
・ If an automatic transfer (ftp) function to a DVD automatic rental machine is provided, points are added.

● Logistics management system Meet the following requirements regarding the functions of the logistics management system. Use a secure internet connection to connect to an automatic DVD rental machine.
・ Local processing linked to DVD automatic rental machine ・ ・ Data can be downloaded from DVD automatic rental machine and work forms can be output.
・ ・ Create, change, and delete files on the local system.
・ ・ For new creation, data can be downloaded from a DVD automatic rental machine.
・ ・ Receipt and request records other than DVD automatic rental machines can be kept.

・ Function of interactive processing In-house stock search and DVD automatic rental machine search. If this search can be performed in conjunction, a point is added.
-The following forms can be output.
..Reception list list, work form (work form, sending form)
・ ・ List of request list ・ ・ Payment table by payer ・ ・ Budget balance table by DVD automatic rental machine ・ ・ Total number of usage by title

・ Statistics ・ ・ By reception / request, by loan, by institution, by member category, by payment category, number of items, number of books (number of books)
・ ・ In addition, provide an environment where necessary data can be extracted under arbitrary conditions, output to a PC through a database access interface, and statistics etc. can be created using a PC spreadsheet software.

● Inventory management system The following requirements regarding the functions of the inventory management system must be satisfied. Maintenance of availability status and list output ・ Data management related to availability status of stock DVD (during repair, investigation, etc.) and list output must be possible.
・ Inspection process ・ ・ Read the DVD to be inspected with the handy terminal, collate it with the record, output a list of inconsistent data, and change the codes related to the available status.
・ ・ The inspection range can be set flexibly by location and classification unit.
・ ・ Check out the rented DVD.

・ Processing related to in-service replacement, management replacement, and non-use determination ・ Able to read candidate DVD candidate materials at a handy terminal and create a candidate selling DVD list.
・ ・ Results processed by the inventory management system should be reflected in the center system.
-A work list for updating the data of the DVD automatic rental machine can be output to the printer from the data of management change, service change, and nonuse determination processing. In addition, when the function of automatically updating the data of the DVD automatic rental machine is provided, points are added.

Location change processing using the handy terminal Reading with the handy terminal, and the related data of the corresponding stock record can be changed.

● Customer management system Meet the following requirements concerning the function of customer management system. If user authentication is required, the member ID and password must be authenticated, and the password can be changed by the member.

Management center system 1) Basic functions
・ Can be operated for 24 hours.
-It can be used via an in-house LAN and the Internet.
2) Data update, character processing, and kana can be displayed in full-width.
-In principle, DVD automatic rental machine characters can be searched and displayed excluding phonetic symbols.

3) Prepare the WWW version, GUI version and telnet version as the customer / DVD search function / search interface. The following functions must be satisfied for the GUI version and WWW version. The telnet version must meet the following functions.
-Ability to search across DVD genres. In addition, it is possible to perform a search that limits these data categories.
-As for matching search, full-text type database can perform character string matching and index type database can perform forward matching search.
・ The search should be limited to specific items such as title and author name.
-Capable of performing flexible logical operations (AND and OR searches) between search terms.
・ Add points if you have search history and can perform operations between sets.
・ Has a function to prevent search leakage (corresponding to different notations such as uppercase / lowercase, full-width / half-width). Add points if synonym dictionaries are provided.
・ Has an effective filtering function when there are many search results.
・ Can search for genres by kanji and kana.
・ Addition is added when the anchor to source data can be attached to DVD stock information with URL.
・ Add new points if you can search for new DVDs.
・ The search results can be displayed in both list and detail. As for list display, in the case of series, it is possible to display not only the title but also the series name.
・ If the number of search results is 1, display details without displaying a list.
-In addition to displaying DVD stock, the following information must be displayed.
・ ・ Order status of materials ・ ・ Lending / Reservation status
..Reception status
・ Availability during repairs ・ Members themselves can make reservations and cancel reservations for DVDs that are currently available for general rental.
・ Perform user authentication.
・ Reservations can be made in units.

4) Able to accept applications and confirm information about the person from members who are limited by member category. At that time, perform user authentication.
5) Be able to apply for materials you wish to purchase.
6) The person's DVD rental reservation status can be confirmed.
7) You can apply for a reference.
8) Be able to automatically notify members by e-mail in conjunction with the logistics management system.
9) Notice of delinquency reminder 10) Reservation DVD storage notice

● Servers, uninterruptible power supply devices and data backup devices, failure detection and notification devices, terminal devices, printer devices, OCR / barcode hand readers, networks required for building hardware management systems or information management systems Including equipment. Operate without delay for 24 hours.

1) Server system <Business management server>
This apparatus is a central server of a management system having a plurality of CPUs and a large-capacity memory, and is installed in the IDC. Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
・ Has sufficient performance for smooth operation.
・ SPECrate_int95 must be 95 or higher.
-The main storage capacity is 2 GB or more.
・ Auxiliary storage capacity is 50TBGB or more. Program capacity, data required for system operation, data transferred from the current system, and data capacity that fully anticipates an increase in data volume over the next four years (see attached document) ) Must be sufficient. Also, it must be compatible with RAID5.
-Have a network connection interface of 1000Base-T and CDDI.
-Have a console device.
-Equipped with a basic OS, DBMS, various utilities and necessary application software.
-A backup device such as a tape library according to the capacity of the auxiliary storage device must be provided, and data can be backed up automatically without any problems in business operations.
・ Has an uninterruptible power supply that can supply power to the main unit for more than 60 minutes without interruption during a power outage and has a function of notifying that there is a power outage.
・ Has a fault detection system and can respond appropriately when a fault occurs. Also, failure records can be collected.

<Information management system server>
-This device is a server of the DVD inventory status analysis system, and establishes an information processing center server room and installs it in the IDC. The following requirements must be satisfied with respect to the basic performance of the device for collecting information from DVD automatic rental machines connected via the Internet.
・ Has sufficient performance to operate the analysis system smoothly.
-The processing speed must be 5 or higher for SPECint95.
-The main storage capacity is 2 GB or more.
Auxiliary storage capacity is 50TB or more, enough capacity to store programs, data necessary for system operation, data transferred from the current system, and data capacity that allows for an increase in data volume over the next 10 years Be. Also, it must be compatible with RAID5.
-Have an interface for network connection of 1000Base-T or AUI.
-Have a console device.
-Equipped with basic OS, DBMG, various utilities and necessary application software.
-A backup device such as a tape library according to the capacity of the auxiliary storage device must be provided, and data can be backed up automatically without any problems in business operations.
・ Has an uninterruptible power supply that can supply power to the main unit for more than 60 minutes without interruption during a power outage and has a function of notifying that there is a power outage.

<Printer server>
This apparatus is a server that outputs forms required for business, and one apparatus is installed in the IDC. It is mainly used from the management center. Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
-It has sufficient performance for smooth print output.
-The processing capacity should be 1 GHz or higher.
-The main storage capacity must be 2 GMB or more.
-The auxiliary storage capacity must be 1 TB or more.
-Have a 1000Mbps network connection interface.
-Have a console device.
-Equipped with a basic OS, various utilities and necessary application software.

<DVD automatic rental machine>
This system is installed as 10 DVD rental machines in Tokyo Metro and private railway stations. Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
・ Having sufficient functions and performance for smooth DVD rental business.
-The main storage capacity does not hinder the operation application, stock management application, network application, etc.
-The processing capacity must be 1 GHz or higher.
• The built-in auxiliary storage capacity is 5 TB or more.
-Have a USB and DVD-ROM drive of 8x speed or higher.
-Equipped with a color display that is 17 inches diagonal or larger and has a resolution of 1280 x 1024 dots or more at maximum display.
・ Equip a touch panel.
-It has a network connection interface of 100 Mbps.
-Equipped with a basic OS, various utilities and necessary application software.
-Input and display of ASCII characters including half-width kana, JIS Level 1 characters, and JIS Level 2 characters from the software keyboard.
-A DVD automatic rental machine should be equipped with a hand reader that can read various barcodes.
-The automatic DVD rental machine must have a DSL communication adapter that receives data from the handy terminal.

<Handy terminal>
Ten units of this device will be installed for stock DVD management. Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
・ OCR-B font with 15 or more digits can be read.
-The auxiliary storage device must be 1MB or more.
・ Has a display device that can display 15 digits of ANK characters.
・ Has an alphanumeric keyboard.
-The battery can be used continuously for 10 hours or more.
-It has RS232C and USB external output interface.
-It has an interface for connecting a DSL adapter that transfers the stored data to a DVD automatic rental machine or management center.

<Printer>
Business Printer This device is a printer that is connected to a network and outputs forms required in the company. Two printers are installed in the company. Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
・ Printing method shall be laser beam dry electrophotography, and printing speed shall be 50 sheets / minute (when using A4 paper) or more.
-The resolution must be 800 dpi or higher.
-The paper must be able to be set to 450 sheets or more at a time for B5 or larger paper sizes.
Four types of paper sizes can be set at the same time.
-The paper size should be equivalent to government-made postcards and B5, A4, B4, A3 cut sheets.
-Capable of handling paper with a maximum thickness of 130 kg.
-ASCII characters including half-width kana, JIS level 1 characters, JIS level 2 characters, and product extended characters can be printed.
・ Can print OCR-B font. If PostScript Level 2 is supported, points will be added. In addition, it is compatible with multi-protocols including TCP / IP (FTP, lpr) and AppleTalk, and can be used at the same time.

Printer in DVD automatic rental machine This device is a printer that connects to the network and prints the forms that describe the rental contents from the DVD automatic rental machine, and is installed in the DVD automatic rental machine as a partial function of the DVD automatic rental machine . Meet the following requirements for the basic performance of the equipment.
-The printing method shall be a laser beam dry electrophotographic method, and the printing speed shall be 6 sheets / minute or more.
-The resolution should be 400 dpi or higher.
-Support printing on rewritable PVC PVC resin instead of paper.
-ASCII characters including half-width kana, JIS level 1 characters, JIS level 2 characters, and product extended characters can be printed.

<Network connection>
• The server installed in the server room must be connected to an existing brouter in the IDC server room.
-Connect to an existing concentrator at the management center in the IDC. Also connect the 1000Base-T port to an existing repeater hub in the office.
・ Connect other devices with network interfaces to the existing repeater hub.
・ Provide all cables necessary for connection to the network. The University will provide a repeater hub for connection.

● Software <Server system software>
・ Has functions and performance equivalent to or better than the operating system.
・ User rights can be set and security is perfect.
-Support TCP / IP.
-System operational statistics can be collected.
・ Has software that can be linked to the uninterruptible power supply and can automatically control normal power shutdown when a power failure occurs.

<Database management system>
-Database management without stopping business and OPAC.
-The data can be updated immediately.
-Database management with simple language and utility.

<Languages and utilities>
-Software necessary for managing program creation, maintenance, connection, and execution is provided, and the program language includes at least C language and Peal.
・ Has a utility for defining and creating screens, forms, and files.
-Files and data can be output in a file format that can be used with spreadsheet software.

<Business terminal software>
1) Multiple operating systems, business, office and network applications can be operated simultaneously.
-Support TCP / IP.
2) Have software necessary for smooth execution of utilities and applications / businesses.
・ Has integrated Japanese business software.
-Have a WWW browser.
・ Has a Japanese e-mail.
-The automatic DVD rental machine must have software necessary for processing data transferred from the handy terminal.

<Software for DVD automatic rental machines>
1) Software required for operating system / rental operations must be running.
-Support TCP / IP.
2) Utility, application, and software necessary for operation of DVD automatic rental machine.
-There is no possibility that security will deteriorate due to damage to the DVD automatic rental machine, server, DVD automatic rental machine, data on the server, and network due to user's erroneous operation.
-A DVD automatic rental machine must have a WWW browser.

<Handy terminal software>
・ Has software necessary for reading fonts.
・ Has software to transfer data to business terminals.

Below, the outline | summary of the inventory control system by this embodiment is shown.
<System configuration overview>
This system is physically a system in which a DVD automatic rental machine (front) system is linked to a data center and control center (host) system (see FIG. 1). Further, it is possible to link each system (1. sales management, 2. merchandise management, 3. customer management, 4. logistics management) logically classified into four elements (see FIG. 2).
* Data linkage between each site is performed via the network.
Development of the network used for data linkage (carrier selection (Note)) requires repeated benchmarking, so the development base is assumed to be in the Tokyo area where the DVD automatic rental machine was originally installed.
(Note) It is also assumed that there are multiple types of networks that can be set up depending on the location of the automatic DVD rental machine.

<System function overview>
In the DVD automatic rental machine, customer registration, personal authentication at the time of rental, and settlement of rental fee are performed, but at the same time, inventory of products mounted on each device is also managed. This DVD automatic rental machine has no similar devices in the current country, and the development scale will occupy a considerable proportion of the whole system even in terms of system functions.

  In the data center, all information generated in the DVD automatic rental machine is centrally managed, and centralized management of terminal information installed remotely is performed. As a result, for example, the lending terminal and the returning terminal need not be devices installed in the same place (see FIG. 3).

  The control center monitors information collected in the data center, and outputs information for instructing a delivery operation from inventory information. The terminal status can be inquired via the data center, and field support instructions are output in an emergency. Since the above output requires timely personnel movements, the logistics management system including the system will be developed.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system which linked | linked the DVD automatic rental machine (front) system and the data center and control center (host) system. It is a figure which shows cooperation of each system classified into four elements logically. It is a figure which shows the structure of rental and return.

Claims (1)

A system that connects a plurality of automatic recording medium rental machines online and manages the inventory of goods for each automatic recording medium rental machine in real time,
An inventory management system configured to grasp the presence / absence of inventory of recording media in the plurality of recording media automatic rental machines and automatically instruct a delivery person before renting (out of stock) .