JP2008282211A - Information management system, information management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information management system capable of displaying a screen for displaying related information of an information device together with a screen for specifying a group where the information device belongs. <P>SOLUTION: A device information acquisition section 11 acquires device information received from an IC tag 30 by a radio signal receiving device 20 at designated timing. Database 15 includes a group management table 15A in which a tag ID of the IC tag 30 and one or a plurality of groups where the IC tag 30 belongs to are registered, and a tag information management table 15C in which a name of a person who carries and holds the tag ID for every IC tag 30 is managed. A display control section 13 displays the related information of the IC tag 30 belonging to the designated group together with a screen for specifying a group by referring to the database 15. The related information of the IC tag 30 includes the tag ID, a status, and circumstances acquired from the device information, and the name registered in the tag information management table 15C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information management system for effectively managing and displaying device information transmitted from an information device such as an IC tag via wireless communication.

  In recent years, portable information media capable of transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication, such as IC (Integrated Circuit) tags and IC cards in which identification information is embedded, have been rapidly spreading. Accordingly, IC tags Many various information systems using the above have been provided.

  For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a trigger management system that allows a mobile person to carry an IC tag and determines that the mobile person is present when a signal from the IC tag can be received.

JP 2006-54787 A

  Patent Document 2 discloses an information presentation that displays an image or personal information previously associated with a moving object when the position of the moving object is detected using an active IC tag and the moving object enters a predetermined area. A system has been proposed.

JP 2006-270456 A

  However, in the conventional techniques including the above-mentioned patent documents, the screen that designates the group to which the IC tag belongs and the screen that displays the IC tag related information including the identification information are displayed at the same time. No good system is provided.

  In addition, a system that can search and display IC tag information for each group in a situation where one IC tag can be registered in a plurality of groups has not been realized so far. Furthermore, when a new IC tag is discovered, the search timeout period can be automatically adjusted according to a system that can automatically register the IC tag and the number of IC tag searches. There is a need for a system, but no system having such a configuration has been proposed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information management system, an information management method, and a program capable of displaying a screen for displaying related information of an information device such as an IC tag together with a screen for designating a group to which the information device belongs. Is to provide.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide an information management system, an information management method, and a program capable of searching and displaying information on information devices for each group in a situation where one information device can be registered in a plurality of groups. It is to provide.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information management system, an information management method, and a program capable of automatically registering an information device having new identification information when the information device is discovered. There is.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information management system, an information management method, and a program capable of automatically adjusting the search time-out time according to the number of information devices searched.

  According to a first embodiment of the present invention, device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication, and the identification information of the information device include information on the information device. Device related information display screen for displaying information related to information devices belonging to the group designated on the group display screen, together with storage means registered in association with one or more groups to which it belongs and a group display screen for designating the group Is an information management system having display control means for controlling to display the message.

  With this configuration of the present invention, information on information devices such as IC tags can be searched and managed for each group. In addition, since the group designation and the information related to the information device are displayed at the same time, a listability is realized for information presentation.

  According to a second embodiment of the present invention, in the system according to the first embodiment, the display control unit obtains device information by the device information obtaining unit for each of the information devices belonging to the group designated on the group display screen. It is configured to determine success or failure, determine a display target of the device information on the device related information display screen according to the success or failure, or display the success or failure information on the device related information display screen.

  With this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to identify information devices that could not acquire device information by wireless communication, that is, information devices that are outside a certain geographical range, and information devices are managed objects such as specific people, animals, and objects. It is possible to easily confirm the existence of the management target by carrying it with the computer.

  According to the third embodiment of the present invention, in the information management system according to the second embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the device information has been successfully acquired is based on whether or not the device information has been acquired from the information device within a predetermined period. The predetermined period is determined according to at least one of the number of information devices belonging to the group specified on the group display screen and the ratio of information devices determined to have failed to acquire device information. Composed.

  With such a configuration of the present invention, it is controlled not to acquire the device information beyond a certain time.

  According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the system of the first embodiment, the device information further includes state information indicating the state of the information device, and the display control unit displays the state of the information device based on the state information. It is comprised so that it may display on a related information display screen.

  With this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to acquire information representing a state related to the information device from the information device having a detecting unit such as an active tag and display the information. This makes it possible to grasp the operation on the information device, the removal state of the information device, the environment around the information device, and the like.

  According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication, and storage in which the identification information of the information device is registered And an information management system for registering input information other than the device information in association with the identification information registered in the storage device, wherein the device information update unit receives the device information received by the receiving unit. If the identification information included in the is not registered in the storage means, the identification information is registered in the storage means.

  With this configuration of the present invention, a tag ID or the like, which is identification information of an information device, is automatically registered as the device information is acquired, and the user can subsequently manage information other than the device information that the user wants to manage in association with the information device. (For example, the name of the person carrying or holding the information device) is registered.

  According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device information acquisition step for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication, and the identification information of the information device includes: Device related to display information related to information devices belonging to the group specified on the group display screen together with the group display screen to specify the group when registered in the storage means in association with one or more groups to which it belongs An information management method comprising: a display control step for controlling to display an information display screen.

  A seventh embodiment of the present invention relates to a device information acquisition step for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication, and a method other than device information in association with the identification information. A device information update step for registering input information in the storage means, and the device information update step is performed when the identification information included in the device information received in the reception step is not registered in the storage means. The identification information is registered in the storage means.

  According to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device information acquisition means for acquiring, from a information device via wireless communication, device information including identification information for identifying the information device, and the information device identification information includes: Displays information related to information devices belonging to the group specified on the group display screen together with the group display screen for specifying the group when the information device is registered in the storage means in association with one or more groups to which the information device belongs. It is a program for functioning as a display control means for controlling to display a device related information display screen.

  The information management system according to the present invention simultaneously displays a display screen for designating a group of information devices such as an IC tag and a display screen for displaying information related to the information device. As a result, an information management screen having high listability is provided, and management of information devices by the user and individual identification by using the information devices are further facilitated. In addition, in a situation where one information device can be registered in a plurality of groups, information on the information device can be searched and displayed for each group, so that the status management of the information device and the object carrying the information device can be managed. It becomes easier.

  Furthermore, when a new information device is discovered by the information management system according to the present invention, registration processing is automatically performed. This eliminates the need for a user to perform manual input or registration using a file when introducing a system or adding an information device (management target). In addition, since the timeout time can be automatically adjusted according to the number of information devices searched, a certain standard is set for the search time, and the search can be completed at a reasonable level.

  First, the system configuration of the information management system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1A. The information management system 1 includes a personal computer (PC) 10, a wireless signal receiving device 20, and an IC tag 30.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the IC tag 30 is composed of a plurality of IC tags such as an IC tag 30A, an IC tag 30B, and an IC tag 30C. Tag). The radio signal receiving device 20 receives radio signals transmitted from the IC tag 30. Further, in the device information (wireless transmission information) provided from the IC tag 30 by the wireless signal, each IC tag 30 can be uniquely identified within a certain range (for example, within one category). Such identification information is included.

  The PC 10 manages the status of the IC tag 30 based on the content (device information) of the radio signal received by the radio signal receiving device 20 and whether or not the radio signal has been received, and is associated with the IC tag 30. The information to be displayed is displayed on the display device of the PC 10 in a manner that is easy for the management user to grasp. In this example, the PC 10 is preferably a notebook type personal computer, but may be another type of computer.

  When the IC tag 30 is an active tag, the wireless signal receiving device 20 can receive a wireless signal from the IC tag 30 that is separated from several meters to several tens of meters, for example. Furthermore, the IC tag 30 can be configured to transmit a signal in accordance with the detection result of these detection means by incorporating detection means such as buttons, switches, motion sensors, temperature sensors and the like. Therefore, it is possible to receive these detection results and grasp the operation performed on the IC tag 30, the removal state, the movement, the surrounding environment, and the like.

  Therefore, if such an IC tag 30 is carried by a person or attached to an object carried or held by a person, the information, from the IC tag 30 is managed indirectly by the PC 10, and the position, operation, The situation such as the surrounding environment can be grasped in a remote place. In addition, if the IC tag 30 is attached to an animal, the behavior of the animal can be grasped, and if attached to an object such as an asset (regardless of whether the object moves), the position and surroundings of the object It is possible to grasp the environment.

  In the present embodiment, the management of the IC tag 30 that is an active tag is taken as an example, but the management target is not limited to such an active tag, but a passive tag that is another type of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) or other information. Equipment is also included. Any communication means and information device may be used as long as the information device can be identified from the information obtained via the wireless network. For example, information related to a management target can be effectively managed and displayed by using an information device such as a mobile device or a mobile phone via a wireless local area network (LAN) or a global positioning system (GPS). it can.

  The present embodiment is a system for confirming a situation such as whether or not a person has been found in a predetermined area by carrying the IC tag 30 by a person or attaching the IC tag 30 to an object carried by the person. For example, the present invention can be applied to a system in which a call is made at a kindergarten or elementary school excursion, a sightseeing tour break, or a sightseeing spot.

  However, the information management system 1 according to the present invention can be applied to various uses other than such a system related to human discovery. For example, check whether all equipment brought into an exhibition or event venue is available at the time of unloading, check whether all rental products have been returned by a rental company, or have packages shipped at a truck shipping site. It can be used to check if it is loaded on the correct truck.

  Further, for example, it is possible to construct a system that includes a plurality of antennas 21 and manages each position of the IC tag 30 and manages in which region the object to which the IC tag 30 is attached exists.

  Furthermore, in many cases, such information media such as the IC tag 30 are carried, held, or attached to a moving body such as a person or an animal, but are basically attached to an asset that does not move and moved by moving the PC 10. It can also be configured to perform management or the like. For example, it works effectively in the inventory / asset management site where it is checked whether expensive assets such as furniture, factory equipment, and hospital equipment are properly managed.

  Next, with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 1B, functional outlines of the PC 10 and the wireless signal receiving device 20 in the information management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The radio signal receiving device 20 is a so-called IC tag reader, and includes an antenna 21 and a signal receiving unit 22. The antenna 21 is an antenna that receives radio signals transmitted from the plurality of IC tags 30, and the signal receiving unit 22 decodes the signal received by the antenna 21 and decodes it to a predetermined position in the memory of the PC 10. Write the converted code (device information).

  Here, each IC tag 30 is an active tag that transmits a radio signal including device information every few seconds, and each IC tag 30 has a transmission interval slightly different from other IC tags 30. Is set to The signal receiving unit 22 sequentially receives signals from the IC tag 30, but reception of signals that could not be received due to the occurrence of collision or the like is attempted at the next reception timing.

  The PC 10 includes a device information acquisition unit 11, a device information management unit 12, a display control unit 13, a display device 14, and a database 15. When there is an instruction from the display control unit 13 based on a search instruction or the like by the user, the device information acquisition unit 11 stores the contents of the memory of the PC 10 written by the signal reception unit 22 of the wireless signal reception device 20 for each IC tag 30. If there is a change in the contents of the memory, the related database 15 is updated to reflect at least the changed part.

  The device information management unit 12 manages identification information and the like included in device information transmitted from the IC tag 30 in accordance with user settings / instructions, and updates the contents of the database 15 as necessary. The display control unit 13 updates the contents of the database 15 in accordance with user settings / instructions, and edits the display screen that displays the status of each IC tag 30 in an easy-to-understand manner.

  The display device 14 is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), for example, and displays a display screen edited by the display control unit 13.

  The database 15 stores the contents of the device information transmitted from each IC tag 30 and the contents set by the user. As will be described later in detail, the database 15 includes a group management table 15A, a display item management table 15B, and a tag information management table 15C. In this embodiment, information such as device information and user settings from the IC tag 30 is stored and used in the form of a database, but a similar system can be constructed using various known methods other than the database. Various other methods can be considered for the data format, the record format, the association between records and the items, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the radio signal receiving apparatus 20 is provided in the form of a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card, and data transmission / reception with the PC 10 is also performed via the PCMCIA interface. Can be used. Further, the information management system of the present invention can be configured by integrating the function of the wireless signal receiving device 20 integrally in the PC 10.

  Next, an example of the database 15 used in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

  FIG. 2A shows an example of the group management table 15A. The contents of this table indicate to which group the IC tag 30 belongs, that is, to which group identification information (tag ID) included in device information transmitted from the IC tag 30 belongs. This is set by the user using the group management screen 220 (FIG. 9) and the group setting screen 240 (FIG. 10). In this example, a total of 20 IDs of tag IDs “00000001” to “00000003” and “00000006” to “00000002” belong to group A, and tag IDs “00000001”, “00000002”, and “00000023” to “000023” 10 IDs of “00000030” belong to group B, and a total of 5 IDs of tag IDs “00000001” and “00000029” to “00000002” belong to group C.

  FIG. 2B shows an example of the display item management table 15B. The contents of this table are set by the user using the display item setting screen 100 (FIG. 5) in order to designate items to be displayed on the tag information display screen 300 (FIGS. 11 and 12). In this example, “situation”, “name”, and “last search date / time” items are displayed in this order for each tag ID, and “tag ID” and “state” items are not displayed.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the tag information management table 15C. The contents of this table store, for each identification information (tag ID) included in the device information transmitted from the IC tag 30, other information (“category” and “state” items) included in the device information. Furthermore, information (item of “name”) set by the user for the tag ID is also included. The item “tag ID” is a code for identifying each IC tag 30 within at least one category. The item “Category” is a common code incorporated in a set of IC tags 30 used in the information management system 1 of the present invention. For example, a set of a plurality of IC tags 30 and tag readers (wireless signal receivers 20) is set. Can be used to control so that no confusion occurs even if the same tag ID is used between this product and another same set.

  The item “name” is a name set by the user on the name registration screen 180 (FIG. 8). With this setting, it is possible to easily determine which person each IC tag 30 corresponds to (which person carries and owns it). The item “status” is set based on whether or not the device information has been successfully received from the IC tag 30 of the tag ID. When device information is transmitted from the IC tag 30 at a predetermined time point or within a predetermined period, “discovery” is set, and “not found” is set when there is no device information. In this example, basically, it is “not found” when it does not exist within a predetermined area centered on the tag reader. When “not found”, the contents of “state” and “last search date” described later are cleared. In addition, “unregistered” is set for items that have not been registered on the name registration screen 180.

  The item “state” indicates the operation state of the IC tag 30. When the IC tag 30 has a motion sensor (a sensor that includes a three-dimensional acceleration sensor and can detect the movement of the IC tag), the IC tag 30 is configured to detect the movement and transmit device information. In addition, information on movement is encoded and incorporated into device information. On the receiving side, this encoded information is decoded as necessary, and is recorded as an item of “state”. In this example, when the IC tag 30 is detected to be in an operation state, the content is “operation”, and otherwise it is “still”. Further, when the IC tag 30 includes other detection means such as a button, a switch, and a temperature sensor, the state is set according to the detection results of these detection means.

  In addition, the item “last search date and time” is the date and time when a search request was last made on the tag information display screen 300 for the IC tag 30 corresponding to the tag ID. In addition, the date and time when the device information was last transmitted may be recorded. Further, it is possible to record the date and time information transmitted from the IC tag 30 as a part of the device information.

  In this example, for convenience of explanation, the tag information management table 15C is configured so that it can also be used for search processing in the tag information display screen 300. However, when the display control unit 13 edits the tag information display screen 300, If the tag information management table 15C is not used, it is sufficient for the tag information management table 15C to have at least the “tag ID” obtained from the device information and the “name” item obtained by user input or the like.

  FIG. 4 shows a screen mainly used for realizing the functions in the information management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Each screen will be described in detail later, including the layout.

  The tag information display management function is realized mainly by the display control unit 13 shown in FIG. 1B. The display item setting screen 100 (FIG. 5) is a screen for designating items to be displayed on the tag information display screen 300 (FIGS. 11 and 12) as described above. The tag information display screen 300 displays the status of the IC tag 30 corresponding to each tag ID. The property screen 320 (FIG. 15) can be called from the tag information display screen 300, and the tag information of the specified tag ID and the information of the participating group are displayed.

  The tag information management function is realized mainly by the device information management unit 12 shown in FIG. 1B. The group management screen 220 (FIG. 9) shows the number of tags registered for each group, and is a screen for performing management such as new registration and deletion of groups. The group setting screen 240 (FIG. 10) sets registration (participation) to a tag to a group and cancellation of registration from a group (non-participation). Usually, a tag is specified by a name registered in advance. The tag management screen 120 (FIGS. 6A and 7A) displays the names and tag IDs of registered tags and unregistered tags. From this screen, an export specification screen 140 (FIG. 6B) for specifying tag information export, a tag ID registration screen 160 (FIG. 7B) for specifying tag ID registration, and an import specification screen 200 for specifying tag information import (FIG. 6B). 8B) is called.

  FIG. 5 shows a display example of the display item setting screen 100. The display item setting screen 100 is a screen for designating items to be displayed on the tag information display screen 300. At the same time, the display order of each item can be designated. On the display item setting screen 100, a guide message 101, a display item setting field 102, a setting instruction button 104, an OK button 105, a cancel button 106, and a reset button 107 are arranged.

  For the item to be displayed on the tag information display screen 300, the user checks the check box of the corresponding designated row 103 with a mouse or the like (or after selecting the designated row with the mouse or the like, the “display” of the setting instruction button 104 is displayed. Button). In the example of FIG. 5, “status (discovered / not found)”, “name”, and “last search date” are checked, and these items are displayed. Also, by pressing the “Up” button or the “Down” button of the setting instruction button 104, the designated line of the checked item moves up or down, and the display order changes according to the upper and lower relations. Is done.

  By pressing the OK button 105, the specified content is confirmed, and the content of the display item management table 15B is updated according to the specified content. When the cancel button 106 is pressed, the screen display ends without updating the contents of the display item management table 15B, and when the reset button 107 titled “Return to initial state” is pressed, the designation up to that point is made. The operation is discarded and the contents registered in the display item management table 15B are displayed.

  FIG. 6A shows a display example of the tag management screen 120. The tag management screen 120 displays registered tags, names of unregistered tags, and tag IDs. The tag management screen 120 includes a registered tab 121 indicating the name and tag ID of a registered tag, an unregistered tab 122 indicating the name and tag ID of an unregistered tag, a registered tag number display field 123, an instruction button 125, an OK button. A button 126 and a cancel button 127 are arranged.

  FIG. 6A shows a state in which the registration tab 121 is selected and registered tags (tag IDs = 00000001 to 00000003 and 00000006 to 00000002) are shown. At this time, the instruction button 125 is controlled so that only a delete button, a rename button, a property button, and an export button that can be specified for the registration tag can be pressed.

  When the delete button is pressed, the designated tag (in this example, tag ID = 00000001 selected by reference numeral 124 of the tag management screen 120) is deleted, and an unregistered state is entered. As a result of this operation, the “status” item corresponding to the tag ID = 00000001 in the tag information management table 15C is updated from “registered” to “unregistered”, and then the unregistered tab 122 is displayed. When is pressed, a tag with tag ID = 00000001 is displayed there.

  When the name change button is pressed, a screen (not shown) for specifying a new name of the specified tag is displayed, and the name is changed by pressing an OK button or the like on the screen. The new name is registered in the tag information management table 15 </ b> C and is reflected in the display content of the registration tab 121.

  When the property button is pressed, a screen including more detailed information about the specified tag is displayed. The property display screen shown in FIG. 15 is an example of a screen called from the tag information display screen 300 described later, but such a screen may be displayed. A case where the export button is pressed will be described later with reference to FIG. 6B.

  By pressing the OK button 126 on the tag management screen 120, the set content is confirmed, and the content of the tag information management table 15C is updated according to the set content. When the cancel button 127 is pressed, the screen display ends without updating the contents of the tag information management table 15C.

  FIG. 6B shows an export designation screen 140 that is displayed when the export button is pressed on the tag management screen 120 of FIG. 6A. In the export designation screen 140, information on the designated IC tag 30 is exported to an external file or the like.

  On the export designation screen 140, a guide message 141, a selection tag display field 142, a save destination file designation field 143, a reference button 144, an OK button 145, and a cancel button 146 are arranged. When a file is specified in the save destination file specification field 143 and the OK button 145 is pressed, information of the specified tag ID (for example, the content of the record of tag ID = 00000001 recorded in the tag information management table 15C). Is copied to the file in a predetermined format such as CSV format, and the screen returns to the tag management screen 120. When the cancel button 146 is pressed, the tag management screen 120 is returned to without performing the copy process.

  FIG. 7A shows a tag management screen 120 similar to FIG. 6A, but unlike FIG. 6A, an unregistered tab 122 is selected and unregistered tags (tag IDs = 00000004 and 00000005) are shown. It is in a state. At this time, the instruction button 125 is controlled so that only a search button, a registration button, and an import button that can be specified for the registration tag can be pressed. Further, in place of the registered tag number display field 123, an unregistered tag number display field 128 is displayed.

  Here, when the search button is pressed, tags that are not registered at this time are searched by referring to the tag information management table 15C and the like, and displayed in a list on the unregistered tab 122. The case where the registration button is pressed will be described with reference to FIGS. 7B and 8A, and the case where the import button has been pressed will be described with reference to FIG. 8B.

  FIG. 7B shows an example of the tag ID registration screen 160. The tag ID registration screen 160 is displayed when the registration button is pressed while the unregistered tab 122 is selected on the tag management screen 120, and instructs to register an unregistered IC tag 30. In this example, tag ID = 00000004 is selected on the unregistered tab 122 of the tag management screen 120 in FIG. 7A (reference numeral 129), and this IC tag 30 is a registration target.

  On the tag ID registration screen 160, a guide message 161, a YES button 162, and a NO button 163 are arranged. If the YES button 162 is pressed here, the name registration screen 180 of FIG. 8A is displayed. On the other hand, when the NO button 163 is pressed, the registration process is canceled and, for example, the tag management screen 120 is displayed again.

  FIG. 8A shows an example of the name registration screen 180. When the YES button 162 is pressed on the tag ID registration screen 160, this screen is displayed. Here, the name of the target tag ID (in this example, 00000004) is registered. On the name registration screen 180, a name input field 181, a YES button 182 and a NO button 183 are arranged. When a YES button 182 is pressed after entering a name in the name input field 181, the name is assigned to the target IC tag 30 and registration is completed.

  For example, if the employee carries the IC tag 30, the name of the employee carrying the IC tag is registered as the name. In this example, the “name” corresponding to the tag ID = 00000004 in the tag information management table 15C is updated to “Takagi”, and at the same time, the “status” is changed from “unregistered” to “registered”. When the registration of the tag ID is completed, the IC tag 30 is no longer displayed on the unregistered tab 122 of the tag management screen 120 and is displayed on the registered tab 121.

  When the NO button 183 is pressed, the registration process is canceled and, for example, the tag management screen 120 is displayed again.

  FIG. 8B shows an import designation screen 200 displayed when the import button is pressed on the tag management screen 120 of FIG. 7A. In the import designation screen 200, information of the IC tag 30 is imported from a designated external file or the like.

  On the import designation screen 200, a guide message 201, a source file designation column 202, a reference button 203, an OK button 204, and a cancel button 205 are arranged. When a source file including tag information such as tag ID and name is designated in the source file designation column 202 and the OK button 204 is pressed, the information is copied to the tag information management table 15C. The source file is a file stored on a CD or the like in a predetermined format such as CSV format. For example, a file in which only the tag ID of the IC tag 30 is recorded is provided as a set with the IC tag 30 to be used. When the cancel button 205 is pressed, the tag management screen 120 is returned to without performing the copy process.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the group management screen 220. The group management screen 220 shows the number of IC tags 30 registered for each group. On the group management screen 220, a group information display field 221, an instruction button 223, a display order change button 224, an OK button 225, and a cancel button 226 are arranged. The group information display field 221 indicates that the number of registered tags belonging to group A is 20, the number of registered tags belonging to group B is 10, and the number of registered tags belonging to group C is 5. .

  As the instruction button 223, a new add button for adding a new group, a delete button for deleting an existing group, a rename button for changing the name of an existing group, and properties of the existing group are displayed. For example, and a participation setting button for setting tag participation / non-participation for an existing group. The designation of an existing group is performed, for example, by selecting one of the groups listed in the group information display field 221 with a mouse or the like. Reference numeral 222 in FIG. 9 indicates that the group A is selected.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the group setting screen 240. The user uses the group setting screen 240 to register the IC tag 30 in the existing group designated on the group management screen 220 (participation) or to cancel the registration of the IC tag 30 from the group (non-participation). Set up. Such designation of the IC tag 30 is usually performed by designating a name registered in advance.

  In the group setting screen 240, a participation tag display field 241, a participation button 242, a non-participation button 243, a non-participation tag display field 244, an OK button 246, and a cancel button 247 are arranged. In the participation tag display field 241, a list of names is displayed for the IC tags 30 belonging to the group specified in the group setting screen 240 (in this example, group A). On the other hand, the non-participating tag display field 244 displays a list of names and tag IDs of the IC tags 30 that do not belong to any group.

  Here, when one or a plurality of IC tags 30 in the non-participation tag display field 244 are selected and the participation button 242 is pressed, the selected IC tag 30 is registered in the group A and displayed in the participation tag display field 241. . In this example, the IC tag 30 having the name “Takagi” is selected (reference numeral 245). On the other hand, when one or more names of the IC tags 30 displayed in the participation tag display field 241 are selected and the non-participation button 243 is pressed, the selected tags are deregistered from the group A and are not yet registered. It is displayed in the participation tag display field 244.

  When the OK button 246 is pressed after specifying the movement of the IC tag 30, the group setting is confirmed, and the group management table 15A is updated accordingly. When the cancel button 247 is pressed, the group setting is canceled and the display returns to the group management screen shown in FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 10, the name of the IC tag 30 that does not belong to any group is displayed in the non-participating tag display field 244, and the IC tag 30 that can be newly registered in the group is such an IC tag 30 that has not participated. However, it is also possible to display all IC tags 30 other than the IC tag 30 displayed in the participation tag display field 241 and register these tags in a designated group. it can. With such a configuration, each IC tag 30 can be set to belong to several groups at the same time. Further, by registering the IC tags 30 registered in one group separately into a plurality of other groups, each tag can be managed by a hierarchically configured group.

  In the example of the group management table 15A shown in FIG. 2, the tag with tag ID = 00000001 belongs to three groups, group A, group B, and group C, and the tag with tag ID = 00000002 is group A and group B. Belong to two groups.

  Next, a tag information display / management method in the information management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the tag information display screen 300 of FIG. The tag information display screen 300 displays information related to the IC tags 30 belonging to all or a predetermined group. In the tag information display screen 300, a menu bar 301, a tool bar 302, a group display field 304, a tag information display field 305, a search number display field 306, a search status display field 307, and a display mode display field 308 are arranged.

  The menu bar 301 is provided with menus of “file (F)”, “display (F)”, “tool (T)”, and “help (H)”, and when each menu is selected, A drop-down list including a selection menu for displaying a predetermined screen is displayed. The toolbar 302 is provided with a search button, a stop button, and a print button. When the search button is pressed, related information of the IC tag 30 belonging to the group specified in the group display field 304 is searched, and the result is displayed. It is displayed in the tag information display field 305. When the stop button is pressed, the search process started by the search button is stopped. When the print button is pressed, the contents displayed in the group display field 304 and the tag information display field 305 are printed.

  In the group display column 304, the names of registered groups are displayed in a list under “all tags” according to their hierarchical relationship. In the example of FIG. 11, “all tags”, “group A”, “group B”, and “group C” are displayed. On the right side of each display, among the IC tags 30 belonging to the group, actual tags are displayed. The number of tags found in is shown in parentheses.

  When at least one group is designated by the user, information on the IC tags 30 belonging to the designated group is displayed in the tag information display field 305. In the example of FIG. 11, “all tags” is designated (selected) (reference numeral 303), and information about all IC tags 30 is displayed in the tag information display field 305. In this example, unregistered tags (tag IDs = 00000004, 00000005) are not displayed. In the tag information display field 305, information (status, name, tag ID, state, and last search date / time) related to the discovered IC tag 30 is displayed for each IC tag 30.

  The status is displayed in the form of a check box. If the IC tag 30 is found, that is, a tag that has received device information in the search process, a check mark is displayed, and if not found, a check mark is not displayed. . Here, whether or not a tag has been found is determined by referring to the item “status” of the tag information management table 15C. The name is the name of the IC tag 30 and is set on the name registration screen 180 of FIG. 8A and is obtained by referring to the item “name” of the tag information management table 15C.

  The tag ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the IC tag 30 within at least the category, and is normally embedded in a built-in ROM or the like at the time of manufacturing the IC tag 30. The tag ID is obtained by referring to the item “tag ID” in the tag information management table 15C.

  The state indicates the state of the IC tag 30, and for example, information indicating the movement and state of the tag such as “still”, “operation”, and “displacement” is indicated. In addition, other possible states that can be grasped are related to the surrounding environment such as whether the button has been pressed or the temperature. However, in order to obtain such information from the device information of the IC tag 30, the tag itself includes a motion sensor that detects movement, a button or switch that can be operated by a user, a sensor that detects removal, a temperature, and the like. The condition is that the detection means such as a temperature sensor to be detected is built in, the detection result is encoded, and the device information can be transmitted according to the detection of the sensor. If the IC tag 30 does not have such a structure, no information is displayed in this status column.

  When the device information is transmitted from the IC tag 30 after the search button is pressed on the tag information display screen 300, the program displays the tag information on the tag information display screen 300. The date and time when the information was acquired.

  When the label display part (display part of "status", "name", "tag ID", "status", and "last search date") in the tag information display field 305 is clicked with a mouse or the like, the items are ascending or descending. The information of each tag is displayed in a list in the state of being sorted by.

  The search number display column 306 arranged in the status bar at the bottom of the tag information display screen 300 includes the number of registered tags and the registered tags for the group specified in the group display column 304 or the entire IC tag 30. The number of found tags, the number of undiscovered tags among registered tags, and the number of unregistered tags are displayed. The search status display field 307 indicates the status of the search. For example, if the search button is pressed and the search process is being performed, “searching” is displayed, and if the search is stopped, “stop” is displayed. The A display mode is displayed in the display mode display field 308. For example, “display all”, “display only founders”, and “display only undiscovered people” are displayed according to user settings.

  In the example of the tag information display screen 300 shown in FIG. 11, since the display mode is set to “display all”, the IC tag 30 (tag ID = 00000030) that has not been found is also displayed. Here, if the display mode is “display only founder”, the tag is not displayed.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, when a group is designated in the group display field 304, information on tags belonging to the group is displayed in the tag information display field 305, and the user can select a group in the group display field 304. And the tag information in the tag information display field 305 can be confirmed at the same time, and a high listability is provided. When the user switches the group designation in the group display column 304 to another group with a mouse or the like, the tag information display in the tag information display column 305 is switched in conjunction with this. Therefore, such a group designation change can be performed while maintaining the list property without transitioning to another screen.

  In this embodiment, the group display field 304 and the tag information display field 305 are arranged in one window. However, in conjunction with the designation of the group in the group display field 304, information on tags belonging to the group is displayed. As long as they are displayed in the tag information display field 305, the two display fields may be individually displayed in different windows or may be executed by different applications.

  FIG. 12A is another display example of the tag information display screen 300 described in FIG. The tag information display screen 300 in FIG. 11 shows the case where “all tags” is designated in the group display field 304, but in this example, “group A” is designated (reference numeral 311). In the tag information display field 305, 20 IC tags 30 (tag ID = 00000001-00000003, 00000006-00000002) belonging to group A are displayed. Since all the tags of group A have been found, “(20)” is displayed beside the display of “group A” in the group display field 304.

  FIG. 12B is a display example of the tag information display screen 300 in the same manner. In this example, “group B” is designated (reference numeral 301), and the tag information display field 305 includes 10 items belonging to group B. The IC tag 30 (tag ID = 00000001, 00000002, 00000023 to 00000030) is displayed. In this example, since nine of the tags of group B have been found, “(9)” is displayed beside the display of “group B” in the group display field 304. Tag ID = 00000030 is undiscovered, and the status check box is displayed without being checked.

  Next, a method in which the device information acquisition unit 11 in FIG. 1B acquires device information will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  When the signal receiving unit 22 of the wireless signal receiving device (tag reader) 20 shown in FIG. 1B receives wireless signals from a plurality of IC tags 30 via the antenna 21, the received contents are stored in the memory area of the PC 10. Is written as a record for each tag ID. The tag reception data record has, for example, tag ID, category, and status items. In step S10, the tag reception data is accessed, and the contents written by the signal receiving unit 22 are checked.

  Thereafter, in step S12, it is determined whether the tag reception data has changed since the previous access. If there is no change, the process returns to step S10 again and the same process is repeated. Alternatively, the process itself shown in FIG. 13 may be repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing, and the process may be terminated when it is determined in step S12 that there is no change.

  If it is determined in step S12 that there is a change, the process proceeds to step S14, where it is determined whether there is a record relating to the new tag ID. If no new tag ID is found, the process proceeds to step S16 to update the corresponding tag ID record in the tag information management table 15C. In this case, the content to be updated is, for example, a status item. On the other hand, if a new tag ID is found, the process proceeds to step S18, and a record with a new tag ID is added to the tag information management table 15C. In this case, the new record includes items of tag ID, category, and state.

  In this way, the latest information regarding the tag ID is written into the tag reception data of the PC 10 and is updated by the signal reception unit 22 at a predetermined timing. When a new tag ID is found, it is automatically added to the tag information management table 15C, and the user does not have to register the tag ID manually or from a file.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, a method for the display control unit 13 of FIG. 1B to edit and display the tag information display screen 300 will be described. This method is usually started when the search button on the tag information display screen 300 is pressed.

  First, in step S20, the group management table 15A is referred to, and the tag ID belonging to the specified group is acquired as the display target tag ID. Next, in step S22, the display item management table 15B is referred to, and items to be displayed on the tag information display screen 300 are determined.

  Next, in step S24, the tag information management table 15C is accessed, and the “status” item corresponding to the display target tag ID is set to “not found”. At this time, step S30 and step S32 described later may be executed to display the tag information display screen 300.

  After that, in step S26, the device information from the IC tag 30 stored in the memory area of the PC 10 is received and the tag reception data updated as needed is accessed. After the search button is pressed on the tag information display screen 300 Then, it is determined whether the device information is received from the display target tag ID.

  If there is a display target tag ID for which the device information has been received, the process proceeds to step S28, and the “status” item corresponding to the tag ID in the tag information management table 15C is updated to “discovery”. Next, in step S30, the tag information display screen 300 is edited based on the tag information related to the display target tag ID in the tag information management table 15C. At this time, it is also determined which tag ID of the tag information is to be displayed according to the designated display mode. For example, when the “display only founder” mode is designated, information on tags whose status remains “undiscovered” is not displayed.

  Next, in step S <b> 32, the edited tag information display screen 300 is controlled to be output to the display device of the PC 10. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S34, where it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the IC tags 30 belonging to the designated group, and the processing from step S26 to step S32 is repeated until the processing is completed. If no new device information is received in step S26, the process directly proceeds to step S34.

  FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a method for editing / displaying the tag information display screen 300 shown in FIG. Compared with the flowchart of FIG. 14, steps S46 and S56 are added as new processes. Step S46 is a process for setting a timer at a predetermined time, and step S56 interrupts a loop for checking the reception status of device information for all tag IDs when the predetermined time set by the timer has elapsed. Then, the process is terminated. By such processing, the search timeout time is set, and it is possible to control so as not to execute the search processing for a predetermined time or longer.

  Here, the predetermined time set in step S46 is adjusted by the number of display target tag IDs, that is, the number of IC tags 30 to be searched. Note that the number of IC tags 30 to be searched can be grasped by the process of step S40.

  It is assumed that when the number of IC tags 30 to be searched is 100, all tags can be found in an average of about 10 seconds, and in the case of 200, tags can be found in an average of about 20 seconds. In such a case, for example, when the number of search targets is 100, the timeout time is set to 20 seconds, and when it is 200, the time is set to 40 seconds.

  The time-out period described above is set in proportion to the number of search targets, but the ratio of IC tags 30 that have not been discovered at the time of occurrence of the time-out (undiscovered ratio) is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. In this case, it is possible to control to provide a predetermined extension time in proportion to the number of remaining (or all) search target IC tags 30.

  In addition, the timeout time can be set dynamically according to the number or ratio of IC tags 30 that have not been discovered in a predetermined period in the past or a predetermined search opportunity. For example, when the ratio of undiscovered IC tags 30 in the past 24 hours (undiscovered ratio) is 50% or more, timeout time (seconds) = 0.5 × number of IC tags 30 to be searched, If it is less than 50%, a dynamic setting such as timeout time (seconds) = 0.2 × number of IC tags 30 to be searched is possible.

  When such a setting is made, if the number of IC tags 30 to be searched is 100, the undiscovered ratio is 50% or more and the timeout time is 50 seconds, the undiscovered ratio is less than 50% and the timeout time is 20 seconds. It becomes. Therefore, in this example, the timeout time is set longer as the past undiscovered rate is higher.

  Further, a finer timeout time can be set according to the combination of the undiscovered ratio and the number of IC tags 30 to be searched.

  Next, the property display screen 320 will be described with reference to FIG. The property display screen 320 selects one of the tag IDs displayed in the tag information display field 305 of the tag information display screen 300, clicks a predetermined operation (for example, clicks the right button of the mouse in the selected state, and displays it there). The selected predetermined menu area is further selected and the right button is clicked).

  The property display screen 320 shows detailed tag information related to the specified tag ID, and a tag information display area 321, a registration status display area 322, and a participation group display column 333 are arranged. The tag information display area 321 displays the tag ID, category, name, state, and last search date and time, and the registration status display area 322 displays a check box indicating whether or not the tag has been registered. In the example of FIG. 16, the IC tag 30 with the tag ID = 00000001 is displayed. Since this tag is already registered, the check box is displayed in a checked state.

  In the participation group display column 333, all the groups in which the IC tag 30 participates are displayed. In this example, it is represented that the tag with tag ID = 00000001 belongs to three groups, group A, group B, and group C.

  Next, the tag status history display screen 340 will be described with reference to FIG. The tag status history display screen 340 selects one of the tag IDs displayed in the tag information display field 305 of the tag information display screen 300, clicks a predetermined operation (for example, clicks the right button of the mouse in the selected state, The predetermined menu area displayed there is further selected and the right button is clicked) to display the menu area.

  The tag status history display screen 340 shows the history of the status related to the specified tag ID. In the example of FIG. 17, how the status of discovery and undiscovered transitions over time. It is shown. On the tag status history display screen 340, a tag information display area 341, a display period selection area 342, and a history information display field 343 are arranged. The tag information display area 341 displays the tag ID and the last search date and time, and the display period selection area 342 shows a list box for designating how long the history is displayed. In this example, it is assumed that a period of 1 hour is selected.

  In the history information display field 343, it is indicated in which period the IC tag 30 with the tag ID = 00000001 is in a discovery state and in which period the IC tag 30 is in an undiscovered state. For example, the status display line 344 is in an undiscovered status from 19:00 to 19:20, and thereafter, the status of the discovery continues, except that the status is temporarily undiscovered around 19:45. It shows that. Since the IC tag 30 transmits device information at an extremely short interval, for example, every 7 seconds, there is a possibility that the IC tag 30 may change to a different situation for a moment. In such a case, a predetermined reference period can be provided, and the transition of the situation within that period can be ignored and displayed.

  Further, in order to display the time series information as shown in FIG. 17, it is necessary to manage the time series data, for example, by recording the date and time when the situation transition occurs in the tag information management table 15C.

  Next, a hardware configuration of a computer on which the information management system 1 of the present invention operates will be described with reference to FIG. Such a computer is, for example, a computer such as the PC 10 shown in FIG. 1B. The computer 400 in FIG. 18 is merely exemplary of a typical configuration, and can have various other configurations. Each function of the information management system 1 of the present invention can be distributedly operated on a plurality of computers.

  The computer 400 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 401, a memory 402, an audio output device 403, a PC card interface 404, a display controller 405, a display 406, an input device interface 407, a keyboard 408, a mouse 409, an external storage device 410, and an external recording. A medium driving device 411 and a bus 413 connecting these components to each other are included.

  The CPU 401 controls the operation of each component of the computer 400, and controls the execution of a program that implements each function of the information management system 1 according to the present invention under the control of the OS.

  The memory 402 normally includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a nonvolatile memory and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a volatile memory. The ROM stores a program executed when the computer 400 is activated. The RAM temporarily stores a program for realizing each function of the information management system 1 executed by the CPU 401, data used during execution of the program, and the like.

  The audio output device 403 is, for example, a device such as a speaker, and receives audio data and outputs audio when outputting audio or reproducing a moving image.

  The PC card interface 404 is connected to, for example, a PCMCIA standard IC tag reader 430. The IC tag reader 430 corresponds to the wireless signal receiving device 20 of FIG. 1B, receives wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of IC tags 440, and provides device information obtained therefrom to the computer 400 via the PC card interface 404.

  The display controller 405 is a dedicated controller for actually processing a drawing command issued by the CPU 401. The drawing data processed by the display controller 405 is once written in the graphic memory and then output to the display 406. The display 406 is a monitor (display device) composed of, for example, an LCD or a CRT.

  The input device interface 407 receives a signal input from the keyboard 408 or the mouse 409 and transmits a predetermined command to the CPU 401 according to the signal pattern.

  The external storage device 410 is a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), for example, in which a program and data for realizing each function of the information management system 1 are recorded, and is necessary when executing the program. In response, it is loaded into the RAM of the memory 402 from there. The group management table 15A in FIG. 2, the display item management table 15B, and the tag information management table 15C in FIG. 3 are stored in this storage device.

  The external recording medium driving device 411 accesses a recording surface of a portable external recording medium 420 such as a CD (Compact Disc), an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), etc., and is recorded there. It is a device that reads data. The external recording medium 420 can also record a program for realizing the information management system 1 according to the present invention. The data recorded in the external recording medium 420 is stored in the external storage device 410 via the external recording medium driving device 411, and any program that realizes each function of the information management system 1 as described above can be used. It is loaded into the RAM of the memory 402 at the time of execution.

  The network interface 412 is connected to a network 450 such as a LAN or a WAN, and implements data transmission / reception with other computers connected to the network 450.

  As another distribution form of the program for realizing each function of the information management system 1 according to the present invention, it can be stored in the external storage device 410 via a network 450 and a network interface 412 from a predetermined server on the network. . The program stored in this manner is loaded into the RAM of the memory 402 at the time of execution and executed in the same manner as described above.

  Further, regarding the PC 10 of the information management system 1 according to the present invention, the above-described audio output device 403, external recording medium driving device 411, and network interface 412 are basically not essential components.

It is a basic diagram and a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of an information management system of the present invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the database utilized in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the database utilized in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the outline of the function of the information management system of this invention, and a screen. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the display item setting screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the tag management screen displayed in the information management system of this invention, and an export designation | designated screen. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the tag management screen displayed in the information management system of this invention, and a tag ID registration screen. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the name registration screen displayed in the information management system of this invention, and an import designation | designated screen. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the group management screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the group setting screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the tag information display screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the tag information display screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the apparatus information acquisition method in the information management system of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the tag information display screen edit / display method in the information management system of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the tag information display screen edit / display method in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the property display screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram showing the example of the tag status log | history display screen displayed in the information management system of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which implement | achieves the information management system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information management system, 10 ... PC, 11 ... Equipment information acquisition part, 12 ... Equipment information management part, 13 ... Display control part, 14 ... Display apparatus, 15 ... -Database, 15A ... Group management table, 15B ... Display item management table, 15C ... Tag information management table, 20 ... Radio signal receiver, 21 ... Antenna, 22 ... Signal reception 30 ... IC tag 400 ... Computer 401 ... CPU 402 ... Memory 402 ... Audio output device 404 ... PC card interface 405 ... Display controller 406 ... Display, 407 ... Input device interface, 408 ... Keyboard, 409 ... Mouse, 410 ... External storage device, 411 ... Outside Recording medium drive, 412 ... network interface, 413 ... Bus, 420 ... external recording medium, 430 ... IC tag reader, 440 ... IC tag, 450 ... network

Claims (8)

Device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication;
Storage means for registering the identification information of the information device in association with one or more groups to which the information device belongs;
And a display control means for controlling to display a device related information display screen for displaying information related to information devices belonging to the group specified by the group display screen together with a group display screen for specifying the group. Information management system. In the information management system according to claim 1,
The display control means includes
For each of the information devices belonging to the group specified on the group display screen, determine whether the device information acquisition unit succeeds in acquiring the device information,
An information management system that determines a display target of the device information on the device-related information display screen according to the success or failure, or displays the success / failure information on the device-related information display screen. In the information management system according to claim 2,
The determination as to whether or not the device information has been successfully acquired is made based on whether or not the device information has been acquired from the information device within a predetermined period.
The predetermined period is determined according to at least one of the number of information devices belonging to the group specified on the group display screen and the ratio of information devices determined to have failed to acquire the device information. A featured information management system. In the information management system according to claim 1,
The device information further includes state information indicating the state of the information device,
The display control means displays the state of the information device on the device related information display screen based on the state information. Device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication;
Storage means for registering the identification information of the information device;
Device information update means for registering input information other than the device information in association with the identification information registered in the storage means;
The device information updating unit registers the identification information in the storage unit when the identification information included in the device information received by the receiving unit is not registered in the storage unit. Management system. A device information acquisition step of acquiring device information including identification information for identifying the information device from the information device via wireless communication;
When the identification information of the information device is registered in the storage means in association with one or more groups to which the information device belongs, it is designated by the group display screen together with a group display screen for designating the group. A display control step of controlling to display a device related information display screen for displaying information related to information devices belonging to the group. A device information acquisition step of acquiring device information including identification information for identifying the information device from the information device via wireless communication;
A device information update step for registering input information other than the device information in a storage means in association with the identification information;
The device information updating step registers the identification information in the storage unit when the identification information included in the device information received in the reception step is not registered in the storage unit. Management method. Computer
Device information acquisition means for acquiring device information including identification information for identifying an information device from the information device via wireless communication;
When the identification information of the information device is registered in the storage means in association with one or more groups to which the information device belongs, it is designated by the group display screen together with a group display screen for designating the group. For functioning as a display control means for controlling to display a device related information display screen for displaying information related to information devices belonging to the selected group.