JP2008204419A - Id transmission system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmission system which has a function of relaying data to a specific communication module by communication between communication modules using communication functions on a plurality of faces and specifying positions at a low cost when large quantities of containers are managed. <P>SOLUTION: A device using infrared rays or laser for communication is attached to each container, and logical coordinates are specified through devices attached to a plurality of containers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to management of large quantities such as containers.

  At present, management of containers is mainly performed by manual management based on visual recognition by attaching a label to each container. In this case, if there are a large number of containers, it takes a lot of effort to know where and when the containers are arranged. In order to find the target container, it is necessary to look at each one manually. In addition, there are cases where containers that have expired are buried in a large number of containers. Efficient container management needs to be systematically performed according to the shipping time and the location to be managed. For this purpose, not only management of each container but also where the target container is located is very important.

  Conventionally, in order to manage a large amount of containers, there are management methods using barcodes or RFIDs. There is also a method of managing the wireless device attached to each container.

  In management using a barcode or RFID, management of the contents of the container is possible, but where the container is located is unknown only by barcode or RFID. Separately, it is necessary to link location information to a barcode or RFID.

  There are two management methods for attaching a wireless device to each container. One is a method in which a wireless device attached to each container communicates directly with a base station arranged in the vicinity to calculate a wireless device number and a location. The other is a method in which wireless devices attached to each container communicate with each other and transmit the wireless device number to the base station.

  In the method in which the wireless device communicates directly with the base station, a rough location can be calculated although there is an error in position measurement. However, in order to realize this, a large base station and a radio apparatus are required. At least three or more base stations are required to calculate the normal location. In addition, the wireless device needs a power source because it needs to periodically receive and transmit radio waves. Normally, the power source is a battery, but transmission / reception of radio waves requires considerable power and cannot withstand long-time use. In order to carry out the battery, it is necessary to replace only the wireless device. Furthermore, the wireless device attached to the container is expensive because it is complicated. Thus, this method requires considerable capital investment and has a short use time.

  The position cannot be specified by the method in which the wireless devices attached to the containers communicate with each other. Although wireless device numbers can be exchanged between wireless devices, it is the same as a barcode or RFID in the sense that an ID can be known. Although it is possible to know the ID dynamically, the location of the device is largely determined by visual recognition. In addition, such a wireless device has a small output and has a battery longer than the method of directly communicating with the base station, but is easily affected by the environment. In places where there are many iron blocks such as containers, the behavior becomes unstable.

  As described above, there is no effective method for efficiently managing a large number of containers up to the position without cost.

  The present invention specifies the position at a low cost when managing a large number of containers.

  The present invention attaches a device that performs infrared or laser communication to each container, relays the devices attached to a plurality of containers, and specifies logical coordinates.

  According to the present invention, in the management of containers and the like, which has been complicated in the past, the container identification and location management by hand etc. can be automatically performed for position management and container identification. Furthermore, the environment management where the container is placed can be performed at the same time by adding a sensor.

  The ID module attached to each container communicates with an adjacent ID module using infrared rays or a laser, and transmits data such as an ID. The ID module relays data and delivers information to the management terminal. At this time, a wireless device may be used. The management terminal displays the logical connection between the ID modules. The management terminal manages which ID module is adjacent to which ID module. The ID module has communication ports in six directions, and can manage which direction the ID module is in. The logical position can be calculated by following the logical connection of the ID modules. Usually, containers are aligned at equal intervals. If the logical position is known, mapping to the physical position is easy.

  It is also possible to send a command from a terminal to a specific ID module. Communication of the ID module is performed in both directions. By sending a light emission or buzzer command to a specific ID from the management terminal, it is possible to use it as an aid for finding a target container visually and audibly on site.

  The ID module can have not only an ID but also various sensors such as a temperature sensor and a vibration sensor, and it is also possible to monitor the temperature, vibration, and shock of the container with a management terminal.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the ID module, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram.

  A light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are provided on the six surfaces of the casing of the ID module, and the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit are arranged to face each other on the facing surface of the ID module. The number of light emitting units and light receiving units varies depending on the mounting.

  The ID module has a plurality of pairs of light receiving units and light emitting units and is connected to the CPU. The light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are connected to respective surfaces. The light receiving unit and the light emitting unit use infrared rays, laser, or ultrasonic waves. In the case of ultrasonic waves, the distance can also be measured. The light emitting unit is activated or deactivated by a selector signal. Each of the light receiving units is connected to the CPU, an interrupt is generated when a signal is received, and the CPU is activated from sleep. The received data is processed by the CPU, and the light emitting unit of the corresponding surface is activated toward the management terminal and data is transmitted. The light emitting surface is determined by a routing algorithm. In addition, sensors such as temperature and acceleration may be provided, and sensor data is returned periodically or in response to an instruction from the management terminal. There may be a speaker and a light emitting diode. The button is for registration. When a container or the like is installed, the position is automatically registered in the management terminal by pressing this button.

  The ID module operates on a battery. Communication is performed by optical communication. In optical communication, the light of the corresponding wavelength is turned on and off. The CPU need not always be activated, and is activated and processed only when a signal is received. The current consumed by the light receiving unit is several A or less, and the power consumption of the ID module is very small. For this reason, the ID module can be used for several to ten years by battery drive.

  In this system, data is autonomously relayed between ID modules, and data is transmitted to a management terminal. Data exchanged between the ID modules is in a frame format. FIG. 4 shows the frame format.

  The module ID is an ID of an ID module that transmits data. When data is thrown from the management terminal to the ID module, the ID of the target ID module is used. The frame number is a number assigned sequentially when the ID module sends a message. The type indicates the type of message and varies depending on the application. The notification is mainly a notification from the ID module, a command request from the management terminal to the ID module, and a response from the ID module to the command. XTTL, YTTL, and ZTTL indicate relative coordinates in the xyz direction. +1 if relayed in the positive direction of each direction, -1 if relayed in the negative direction. When a message is transmitted from the ID module with (xttl, yttl, zttl) = (0, 0, 0), the message that arrived at the management terminal contains the value in which each TTL was manipulated by relay, and the relative coordinates are obtained. be able to.

  An autonomous relay between ID modules will be described. The ID module has two tables inside, and uses this to create a route to the management terminal.

  Each ID module has a frame number management table and a routing table for autonomous relay.

  Table 1 shows the frame management table. This table is used to detect the loop ahead of the port. The table includes a module ID, a frame number, and a port that transmitted the previous frame. The table is a finite FIFO. When receiving the frame, the ID module refers to this table using the transmission source module ID and the frame number as a key to check whether or not the processing has already been performed. Add with send port when sending.

  Table 2 shows the routing table. This table manages which port is sent to reach the management terminal. 0 indicates not in that direction, and 1 indicates the possibility of a terminal. The initial values are all 1, indicating that they can be sent in all directions. By repeating the frame transfer, a loop is detected in the frame management table and the previously transmitted port is set to 0, so that only the port where the terminal is finally left remains. When all are 0, the initial value (all 1) is set.

  The autonomous relay algorithm is as shown in FIG.

  A schematic diagram of the present invention is shown in FIG.

  Overview of ID transmission device   ID module outline drawing   Module outline block diagram   Frame format   Autonomous relay algorithm

Table 1

  Frame number management table

Table 2

  Routing table

Explanation of symbols

a wireless device b infrared / laser communication c ID module d container e management terminal f wireless communication g light emitting part h light receiving part i X + surface ia X +
j X-plane ja X-
k Y + face ka Y +
l Y-plane la Y-
m Z + face ma Z +
n Z-plane na Z-
o button p light emitting diode q speaker r sensor s CPU
t selector u send v receive

Claims (7)

When a communication module that connects communication functions to multiple surfaces transmits data to a specific communication module, the communication modules communicate with each other using the communication functions on the multiple surfaces and relay the data to the specific communication module. Transmission device with function 2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coordinate system is used for a plurality of surfaces, and the coordinate value is changed by transmission to perform coordinate management. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the logical position of each communication module is managed by a management terminal and the logical position of a specific communication module is displayed. 4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a command for generating sound and light is transmitted from the management terminal to the specific communication module, and the corresponding communication module has a function of generating sound and light. 2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein infrared or laser is used for communication media. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the communication medium uses a medium capable of measuring a distance such as an ultrasonic wave, measures the communication and physical distance, and specifies the position of the communication module. 2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission apparatus includes a sensor such as temperature and acceleration, and has a function of transmitting sensor information periodically or by command.

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