JP2009196805A - Article management system, virtual management server, radio communication terminal, article managing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article management system simply managing article information including image data of articles, a virtual management server, a radio communication terminal, an article managing method, program, and recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In the article management system, a managing terminal, a virtual space server, and the radio communication terminal are connected with each other through a network. The managing terminal includes a means for setting a virtual space image, and a means for setting a further fine position in the virtual space. The virtual space server includes a means for storing set virtual space image information and position area information, and a means for processing register information received through the network. The storing means also stores the register information. The radio communication terminal includes: a means for producing the register information including at least the image data of the stored articles, article names, and the position information distinguishing a storing place; and a means for transmitting the register information to the virtual space server through the network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article management system, a virtual management server, a wireless communication terminal, an article management method, a program, and a recording medium, and in particular, an article management system, a virtual management server, a wireless communication terminal, an article management method, which also manage image data of articles, The present invention relates to a program and a recording medium.

  Currently, when managing a large amount of articles, the location where the actual articles are stored (arranged) is managed manually or by constructing a dedicated system. A dedicated system is also used for managing merchandise display shelves in stores (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A dedicated system is also used for managing warehouses and grasping what items are owned in a house (for example, see Patent Document 2). In the article management method in the house described in Patent Document 2, the name of each area of the house, the code indicating the classification of the article, and the code indicating in which area in the house the article is arranged are stored and managed.

However, in the case of a dedicated system as described above, since the system construction is large and expensive, a simple ledger created with spreadsheet software as shown in FIG. 15 is used for SOHO and personal level management.
JP 2005-34358 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-60024

  The simple ledger used in the above-mentioned SOHO and personal level management is managed only by character information as shown in FIG. On the other hand, article information is difficult to grasp only by text information, and the dedicated system described above often manages image information such as photographs together with text.

  However, because the work of pasting photo information on a ledger managed by spreadsheet software etc. is cumbersome and cumbersome, it is shunned that image information such as photographs can be used in SOHO and personal level small-scale article management However, the article information is still managed only by the character information, and there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp. The dedicated system as described above is an expensive system that strictly monitors the presence or absence of a product, and does not attempt to easily manage product information itself.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to easily manage article information including article image data.

  In a first article management system according to the present invention, a management terminal, a virtual space server that controls a virtual space of a storage location, and a wireless communication terminal are connected via a network, and the management terminal A setting unit that sets a virtual space image of a storage location controlled by the virtual space server; and a position area setting unit that sets a finer position in the virtual space, wherein the virtual space server has a set virtual space Storage means for storing image information and position area information, and registration information processing means for processing registration information received via the network, wherein the storage means also stores the registration information, and the wireless communication The terminal includes registration information including at least image data of an article stored in the storage location, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying the stored location. And creation means for forming, characterized in that it comprises a communicating means for transmitting to said virtual space server via the network registration information created in the above.

  In the second article management system according to the present invention, a management terminal, a virtual space server that controls a virtual space of a storage location, and a wireless communication terminal are connected via a network, and the management terminal A setting unit that sets a virtual space image of a storage location controlled by the virtual space server, a position area setting unit that sets a finer position in the virtual space, and a storage location where an article is to be stored in the virtual space image The virtual space server specifies the location of the storage location designated by the storage means for storing the set virtual space image information and the location area information, and the designation means provided in the management terminal. A position specifying means for transmitting, a registration request transmitting means for transmitting the position information of the specified position to the wireless communication terminal, and received via the network Registration information processing means for processing record information, wherein the storage means also stores the registration information, and the wireless communication terminal stores image data of articles stored in the storage location, and an article name of the articles And creating means for creating registration information including at least, and communication means for transmitting the created registration information to the virtual space server via the network.

  The first virtual space server according to the present invention includes at least one virtual space image of a storage location for storing an article in real space, image data, an article name of the article, and a real space in which the article is stored. Communication means for receiving registration information including at least location information for identifying the location of the location via a network, registration information processing means for processing the received registration information, and data storage means for storing the registration information; It is characterized by providing.

  The first wireless communication terminal according to the present invention creates registration information including at least image data of an article in real space, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying a location where the article is stored. And a communication unit configured to transmit the generated registration information to an external device via the network.

  A first article management method according to the present invention includes a step of storing a virtual space image of a set article storage location and a position area when a finer position in the virtual space is set; Receiving registration information including at least image data of an article in space, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying a location of a real space storing the article via a network; and A step of processing registration information; and a step of storing the processed registration information.

  A first article management program according to the present invention includes a process for storing a virtual space image of a set article storage location, and a position area when a finer position in the virtual space is set; Processing for receiving registration information including at least image data of an article in space, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying a location of a real space storing the article via a network; A process for processing registration information; and a process for storing the processed registration information.

  The first recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium for recording the processing of the first article management program of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, article information including article image data can be easily managed.

  The present invention is an article management system and service that can easily manage article information including image data of articles (also referred to as merchandise) on a server connected to a network at low cost. Furthermore, it is possible to visually grasp the storage location of the article by generating a virtual space image.

  In addition, if an article placed on the actual shelf is photographed with a camera-equipped mobile phone or the like, and only an email with shelf identification information is sent, it is displayed visually in a virtual space created on the computer. Provide a system. As a result, the manager (user) can easily manage article information including image data without making a large investment even at the SOHO or individual level.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  A configuration of an article management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an article management system according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the article management system includes a virtual space server 10, a management terminal 20, and an information terminal 30 with a camera. The virtual space server 10, the management terminal 20, and the information terminal 30 with camera operate by program control and are connected to each other via a network 100 such as the Internet.

  The virtual space server 10 is an information processing apparatus such as a workstation server installed on the Internet. The registration processing unit 11, the mail transmission / reception unit 12, and the data storage unit 14 are configured. The virtual space server 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes the position specifying unit 13, but may not be the present embodiment.

  The management terminal 20 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC). The management terminal 20 creates a virtual space provided by the virtual space server 10 and displays an article management status via the network 100.

  The camera-equipped information terminal 30 is an example of a wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone having an imaging function. The camera-equipped information terminal 30 accesses the virtual space server 10 via the network 100 and registers article information. The information terminal 30 uses a camera function to create image data of an article to be stored. However, the information terminal 30 only needs to be able to acquire image data of an article even if the camera function is not provided.

  Next, the operation processing of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation process of the present embodiment. The user accesses the virtual space server 10 from the management terminal 20 and registers a virtual space image (FIG. 2, step A1). Here, the virtual space image may be an image like a shelf shown in FIG. 4 or a room image shown in FIG.

  The virtual space server 10 extracts characteristic area blocks from the registered virtual space image by a general-purpose image recognition technique, and generates position area information (step A2). For example, in the case of the virtual space image shown in FIG. 4, areas A1, A2,... D3, D4 of the shelf are extracted.

  The user confirms the extracted position area information, and corrects the position area information if there is a correction such as more detailed designation (step A3).

  The virtual space server 10 stores the determined virtual space image information and position area information (step A4).

  Next, the user takes an image of the article in order to register the article information from the camera-equipped portable information terminal 30 (step A5). A plurality of methods can be considered when registering article information using an image captured here. The virtual space server processes registration information such as image data and article names received by various registration methods in the registration processing unit 11 and stores each information in the data storage unit 14.

[First registration method]
In the first registration method, position area information to be registered every time can be input. The camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30 accesses the virtual space server 10 and sends data of the captured image, and selects an area to be registered (step A6). In response to this, the virtual space server 10 stores the image data together with the selected position area information in the data storage unit (step A7).

  The first registration method will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. 6 to 9 are diagrams illustrating examples of operation screens displayed on the display unit or the like of the portable information terminal 30 with a camera when registering article information. When the virtual space server 10 is accessed from the camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30, if the user has been registered in advance, the ID and PASS are entered on the authentication screen (FIG. 6).

  When authenticated, a screen for selecting location area information is displayed. In this embodiment, since the image like the shelf shown in FIG. 4 is registered as the virtual space image, the position area selection screen shown in FIG. 7 becomes the shelf selection screen, and the shelves 1 to 5 can be selected. When one of the shelves is selected, the image data to be registered is confirmed (FIG. 8), and the article name is input and registered (FIG. 9). When confirming the image data in FIG. 8, the image data may be selected from a storage unit such as an image data folder of the portable information terminal 30. In the present embodiment, for example, the image data captured in step A5 is first selected, the “Register to virtual space image” function is selected from the function menu, and the virtual space server 10 is controlled to be accessed. Also good.

[Second registration method]
The camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30 can also be registered in the virtual space server 10 by an email attached with image data (step A6 ′). At this time, the location area information is described in a mail and transmitted. In response to this, the virtual space server 10 acquires the image data and the position area information from the mail received by the mail transmission / reception unit, and stores it in the data storage unit (step A7).

  An example of the mail transmission screen of the portable information terminal 30 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, position area information (for example, shelf number) is described in the title, the address of the mail is an address accessible to the virtual space server 10 registered in advance, and the name of the article is described in the main part. Can be considered. Image data is an attached file. In the virtual space server 10 that has received the mail, the registration processing unit 11 processes the mail title as the position area information, the mail main item as the article name, and the attached file as the image data of the article, and stores it in the data storage unit. .

[Third registration method]
The first and second registration methods require input of location information every time registration is performed. If there are many warehouse shelves or article shelves that actually store (arrange) articles, it may be possible to mistakenly specify the location area. Therefore, a non-contact tag to which position area information has been assigned in advance is placed at a storage location such as a shelf where articles are actually stored (placed) (using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology), or a QR code is placed. (FIGS. 11 and 12). This allows you to quickly and accurately acquire location area information by holding the camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30 over a non-contact tag placed on the shelf you want to store or reading the QR code installed on the shelf you want to store (A6 "in FIG. 2) After the position area information is confirmed, the photograph photographing screen is confirmed as shown in FIG. 8, and the article name is inputted as shown in FIG. 10 to send.

  The virtual space server 10 stores the photo together with the designated position area information in the data storage unit (step A7). Here, a system that reflects the movement of an article can be constructed by attaching a non-contact IC tag to the article itself and cooperating with a system for registering article information.

  Next, browsing of the article management status will be described. The user can request browsing of the article management status from the management terminal 20 (step A8 in FIG. 3). In response to this, the virtual space server 10 maps and transmits the virtual space image, position area information, and image data (step A9). The management terminal 20 displays the received information on a display unit such as a monitor (step A10). FIG. 13 is an example of a browsing screen displayed on the display unit of the management terminal 20.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the registration processing unit 11 of the virtual space server 10 uses a standard mobile phone photography function, a mail transmission / reception function, a non-contact tag reading function, and the like, and an information terminal with a camera such as a mobile phone. Since registration can be performed from 30, image data of photographed articles can be easily associated with article information.

  Further, when browsing, the position information is automatically extracted from the virtual space image data, the image data of the article and the position area information indicating the storage location are linked and stored, and the information of the article is drawn to draw the information. The storage location can be displayed visually.

  Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation processing of the present embodiment. B1 to B4 in FIG. 3 are the same as A1 to A4 in FIG.

  The registration system according to the present embodiment has the configuration shown in FIG. Unlike the above embodiment, the virtual space server 10 has a position specifying unit 13.

  In the present embodiment, the article registration method is different from that shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, a registration area can be selected from the management terminal 20. In a real space, it may take time to search for a target place when a place where an article is arranged is large. Therefore, first, articles can be arranged at a storage location corresponding to position area information determined by specifying a registration area.

  After the creation of the virtual space or the like (B1 to B4) is completed, a registration area (also referred to as a registration position) is selected from the management terminal 20 (step B5). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the virtual space image can be displayed on the display unit or the like of the management terminal 20 and can be selected by clicking on the area to be registered.

  The virtual space server 10 determines registration area information by the position specifying unit 13 (step B6), and transmits a registration request mail with the registration area information to the information terminal 30 with camera (step B7).

  When the camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30 clicks on the URL described in the received registration request email, the photo shooting screen is activated to take a photo (step B8).

  The camera-equipped mobile information terminal 30 sends image data of the photographed photograph to the virtual space server and registers it. Specifically, the registration is executed by accessing the virtual space server 10 (step B9), or it is transmitted and registered by mail (step B9 ′).

  The virtual space server 10 stores the image data together with the determined position area information in the data storage unit (step B10). Steps B11 to B13 in FIG. 3 are the same processes as steps A8 to A10 in FIG.

  When a non-contact tag or the like as described above is arranged on a shelf in a real space where articles are stored, the position information is read from the non-contact tag or the like with the portable information terminal 30, and the virtual space is combined with image data or the like. Sending to the server 10 can also be considered. Thereby, the virtual space server compares the registered position information designated in advance by the management terminal 20 with the position information indicating the place where the article is actually stored, and whether or not the article is stored in the designated place. Can be confirmed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the position specifying unit 13 determines the registered position selected from the management terminal 20 and designates the registered position information. Therefore, the position where the article is registered can be accurately specified.

  Note that the program for the CPU to execute the processing shown in the flowcharts of the drawings constitutes a program according to the present invention. As a recording medium for recording the program, a semiconductor storage unit, an optical and / or magnetic storage unit, or the like can be used. By using such a program and a recording medium in a system having a configuration different from that of each of the above-described embodiments and causing the CPU to execute the program, substantially the same effect as the present invention can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described ones and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an article management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement process of the article | item management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the operation | movement process of the article | item management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the virtual space image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part etc. of the portable information terminal 30 with a camera, when registering the article information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part etc. of the portable information terminal 30 with a camera, when registering the article information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part etc. of the portable information terminal 30 with a camera, when registering the article information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part etc. of the portable information terminal 30 with a camera, when registering the article information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the mail transmission screen of the portable information terminal 30 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shelf by which the non-contact leader which provided the position area information which concerns on embodiment of this invention is arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows an example of the shelf in which the QR code which provided the position area information which concerns on embodiment of this invention was installed. It is a figure which shows an example of the browsing screen displayed on the display part of the management terminal 20 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of selecting a registration area on the virtual space image which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional simple ledger.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Virtual space server 11 Registration processing part 12 Mail transmission / reception part 13 Location specification part 14 Data storage part 20 Management terminal 30 Information terminal with a camera 100 Network

Claims (11)

A management terminal, a virtual space server that controls the virtual space of the storage location, and a wireless communication terminal are connected via a network,
The management terminal is:
Setting means for setting a virtual space image of a storage location controlled by the virtual space server;
A position area setting means for setting a finer position in the virtual space,
The virtual space server is
Storage means for storing the set virtual space image information and position area information;
Registration information processing means for processing registration information received via the network,
The storage means also stores the registration information,
The wireless communication terminal is
Creating means for creating registration information including at least image data of an article stored in the storage location, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying the stored location;
Communication means for transmitting the created registration information to the virtual space server via the network;
An article management system comprising: The wireless communication terminal includes a reader that reads identification information for identifying a position area from a tag installed at a storage location in real space,
The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the position information included in the registration information is identification information read by the reader. A management terminal, a virtual space server that controls the virtual space of the storage location, and a wireless communication terminal are connected via a network,
The management terminal is:
Setting means for setting a virtual space image of a storage location controlled by the virtual space server;
Position area setting means for setting a finer position in the virtual space;
Designating means for designating a storage location for storing articles in the virtual space image,
The virtual space server is
Storage means for storing the set virtual space image information and position area information;
Position specifying means for specifying the position of the storage location specified by the specifying means provided in the management terminal;
Registration request transmitting means for transmitting position information of the specified position to the wireless communication terminal;
Registration information processing means for processing registration information received via the network,
The storage means also stores the registration information,
The wireless communication terminal is
Creating means for creating registration information including at least the image data of the article stored in the storage location and the article name of the article;
Communication means for transmitting the created registration information to the virtual space server via the network;
An article management system comprising: The creation means is created using a mail creation function,
4. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the created mail. 5. The wireless communication terminal includes an imaging unit,
The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the image data is image data created by the imaging unit. The management terminal is:
Request means for requesting the article management status browsing to the virtual space server;
Based on the virtual space image, position information, and image data transmitted from the virtual space server in response to the request, a state in which the image data is arranged in the position indicated by the position information in the virtual space image is a CG image. Display means for depicting,
The virtual space server is
6. A management status transmission unit that extracts information stored in the data storage unit in accordance with the request unit and transmits a virtual space image, position information, and image data. Item management system according to item 1. At least one virtual space image of a storage location for storing articles in real space,
Communication means for receiving registration information including at least image data, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying a location of a real space storing the article via a network;
Registration information processing means for processing the received registration information;
Data storage means for storing the registration information;
A virtual space server comprising: Creating means for creating registration information including at least image data of an article in real space, an article name of the article, and position information for identifying a place where the article is stored;
Communication means for transmitting the created registration information to an external device via the network;
A wireless communication terminal comprising: Storing the set virtual space image of the article storage location and, if a finer position in the virtual space is set, the position area;
Receiving registration information including at least image data of an article in real space, an article name of the article, and location information identifying a location of the real space storing the article via a network;
Processing the received registration information;
Storing the processed registration information;
An article management method comprising: Processing for storing the virtual space image of the set article storage location, and the position area when a finer position in the virtual space is set;
Processing for receiving registration information including at least image data of an article in real space, an article name of the article, and position information identifying a location of the real space storing the article via a network;
A process for processing the received registration information;
Storing the processed registration information;
An article management program comprising:   A computer-readable recording medium for recording the processing of the article management program according to claim 10.

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