JP2010091433A - Apparatus, system and method for specifying current position and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To specify the only partition area where one transmitter exists, even in the case that a plurality of receivers receive a signal from the one transmitter. <P>SOLUTION: A current position specifying system is provided, which includes: the plurality of receivers 9a-f for receiving signals from transmitters 7a-h disposed at an object; and a current position specifying apparatus 3 which is connected to the plurality of receivers so as to be communicatable, and specifies a partition area being previously assigned to a receiver receiving a signal from the transmitters, as the current position of the object. The current position specifying apparatus 3 stores an ID of the transmitter receiving the signal into a reception information DB, and specifies one of the partition areas assigned respectively to two or more transmitters, as the current position of the object, in accordance with one or more requirements, when the signal is received by two or more receivers. The one or more requirements include a first requirement of specifying the partition area assigned to the receiver whose reception information DB stores most IDs in a prescribed period, as the current position of the object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for specifying a current location of an object such as a person or an object. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique in which a person or an object is provided with a transmitter such as an IC tag (RFID tag or the like), a signal from the transmitter is detected by a receiver, and a current location of a target is specified based on a detection situation.

  Conventionally, there are various ways to grasp the current location and flow lines of employees in factories and offices, manage the location of goods placed in warehouses and offices, and grasp the flow lines of customers in stores and museums It is done in the way.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, as a technique for grasping the present location and flow line of visitors in the event venue, name tags incorporating IC tags are distributed to the visitors, Based on the signal from the IC tag received by the receiver installed in each area, a technique for identifying the current location and flow line (position information for each time) of the visitor having the IC tag is known.

  Here, when using a transmitter and a receiver to identify the current location or flow line of a person or thing, each receiver has a part of the communicable range of adjacent receivers so that an undetectable area does not occur. Generally, they are arranged so as to overlap each other.

When the communicable ranges of the respective receivers overlap with each other as described above, a state in which signals from one transmitter are simultaneously received by a plurality of receivers may occur. In this case, in the example of Patent Document 2 below, the transmitter (or a person or object having the transmitter) receives the signal from the transmitter from the overlapping portion of the communicable range of each receiver. It is estimated that it exists in the range except the communicable range of the receiver which did not receive the signal from the machine.
JP 2001-317958 A Japanese Patent No. 4061945

  In recent years, people who want to know the current location or flow line of a target such as a person or an object, for example, it is required to predefine a room or a predetermined range as a section and specify in which section the target exists May be.

  However, since the technology described in the patent document does not assume that the current location of the transmitter is specified in units of sections when signals from one transmitter are received by a plurality of receivers, such a request is required. Can not respond to.

  Based on the above problems, the present invention is a current location specifying device capable of specifying a single section where the transmitter exists, even when a signal from one transmitter is received by a plurality of receivers, An object of the present invention is to provide a current location specifying system, a current location specifying method, and a computer program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present location specifying device of the present invention is communicably connected to a plurality of receivers that receive signals from a transmitter provided for the object, and is assigned in advance to the receivers that have received the signals. A receiving information management means for storing identification information of a receiver that has received the signal in a reception information DB, and two or more of the receivers that receive the signal. When received, according to one or more conditions, comprising: a current location specifying means for specifying one of the sections respectively assigned to the two or more receivers as the current location of the target, wherein the one or more conditions are , Including a first condition that a section allocated to a receiver whose identification information is recorded most in the reception information DB within a predetermined period is specified as the current location of the target. .

  In an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more conditions further includes a receiver in which identification information is recorded most frequently in the reception information DB within the period when a single partition cannot be specified according to the first condition. If one of the receivers matches the receiver assigned to the partition identified immediately before as the current location of the target, the partition assigned to the matched receiver is specified as the current location of the target. The second condition can be included.

  In another embodiment, when the receiver receives the signal, the reception information management means stores the strength of the signal in the reception information DB in association with the identification information of the receiver, The one or more conditions further indicate that, in the case where a single partition cannot be specified according to the second condition, among the receivers whose identification information is recorded most in the reception information DB, the reception information DB A third condition may be included in which a receiver corresponding to the highest signal strength stored in is determined and a partition assigned to the receiver is identified as the current location of the target.

  In another embodiment, the one or more conditions further correspond to the highest signal strength recorded in the reception information DB within the period when a unique partition cannot be identified according to the third condition. Including a fourth condition in which, among two or more receivers, a section assigned to the receiver whose identification information was last recorded in the reception information DB within the period is specified as the current location of the target. Can do.

  In still another embodiment, the identification result management means for storing information related to the section identified as the current location of the object in the identification result DB, and the flow line and section of the object based on the recorded contents of the identification result DB The information processing apparatus may further include means for outputting information related to the target residence time or both the flow line and the residence time.

  The present location identifying system according to the present invention includes a plurality of receivers that receive signals from a transmitter provided for a target, and a plurality of receivers that are communicably connected to the plurality of receivers, and are assigned to the receivers that have received the signals. A current location identifying device that identifies a current section as the current location of the target, wherein the current location identifying device stores identification information of a receiver that has received the signal in a reception information DB. When two or more receivers receive the received information management means and one or more sections allocated to the two or more receivers according to one or more conditions, the current location of the target Current location specifying means for specifying, as the one or more conditions, the section assigned to the receiver having the largest number of identification information recorded in the reception information DB within a predetermined period of time Including a first condition that is specified as the current position, characterized in that.

  In the present location specifying method of the present invention, among a plurality of receivers capable of receiving a signal from a transmitter provided for a target, a section that is assigned in advance to the receiver that has received the signal is set as the current location of the target. A method for identifying, wherein the identification information of a receiver that has received the signal is stored in a reception information DB; and when two or more of the receivers receive the signal, the two or more according to one or more conditions Identifying one of the sections allocated to each of the receivers as the current location of the target, wherein the one or more conditions are that the identification information is the most in the reception information DB within a predetermined period. It is characterized by including the 1st conditions of specifying the division allocated to the receiver recorded many as a present location of the object.

  The computer program of the present invention is a computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute the above method.

  According to the present invention, even when a plurality of receivers receive a signal from one transmitter, the only section where the transmitter is present is identified as the current location of the target equipped with the transmitter. Can do.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments relating to a current location specifying system 1, a current location specifying device 3, a current location specifying method, and a computer program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the current location specifying system 1.

  The current location identifying system 1 in the present embodiment is for identifying the current location, the flow line, and the residence time in each of the predefined sections (for example, rooms) X1 to X6 for employees who work in the product distribution center. Network system.

  Specifically, this system 1 includes a plurality of receivers (slave devices) assigned to each of the sections X1 to X6 in order to receive signals from the transmitters 7a to 7h provided to each target employee. ) 9a to f and a section that is communicably connected to the plurality of receivers 9a to 9f and that is assigned in advance to the receivers that have received signals from the transmitters 7a to h among these receivers 9a to 9f. And a current location specifying device 3 that specifies the current location of each employee.

  Further, in the present system 1, the receivers (slave units) 9a to 9f define receivers (master units) 11a and 11b capable of wireless communication with the slave units and the operation mode of the master unit. Are connected to the current location specifying device 3 via a relay terminal 13a, 13b for inputting / changing the set information and a network configured using a LAN cable and a LAN switch 15.

  The transmitters 7a to 7h include a memory that stores identification information (transmitter ID), and have a function of transmitting the identification information in response to a request from the receivers 9a to 9f or voluntarily. In this embodiment, it is conceivable to use an RFID tag incorporated in an employee ID card held by an employee as the transmitters 7a to 7h. Further, in consideration of the size of the sections X1 to X6 defined in advance within the product distribution center, it is conceivable to adopt a communication range with a diameter of several meters to several hundred meters, for example.

  For example, one receiver (master unit) 11a, 11b is installed on each floor of the product distribution center, and controls the operation of the slave units 9a-f installed on the same floor. For example, the slave units 9a to 9f are controlled so as to request the transmitters 7a to 7h to transmit signals and to relay the signals received from the transmitters 7a to 7h. In addition, the information received from each of the slave units 9 a to 9 f and the reception date and time are transmitted to the current location specifying device 3. In the present embodiment, the reception date and time is the date and time when the slave unit requests the transmitters 7a to 7h to send a signal, and is specifically determined based on setting information that defines the operation mode of the master unit. Shall.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, one receiver (slave unit) 9a to f is provided in each of the sections X1 to X6 (for example, installed on the ceiling or wall of the room), and from the transmitters 7a to h. Along with the transmitter ID included in the signal, information indicating the strength of the signal and identification information (receiver ID) of the receiver are transmitted to the parent devices 11a and 11b.

  In this embodiment, each room in the product distribution center is defined as sections X1 to X6. However, a predetermined range in a place different from a room such as a hallway or a staircase may be defined as the section. The partitions may not be physically separated by walls or partitions, but a plurality of ranges that do not overlap each other in a certain space may be defined, and each of these ranges may be defined as a partition. In FIG. 1, three sections are shown on the first floor and the second floor of the merchandise delivery center, but any number of sections of two or more can be defined.

  In this embodiment, the relay terminals 13a and 13b are installed one by one for each receiver (parent device) 11a and 11b. Further, based on information input by the system administrator, a function of inputting setting information to the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b and changing the input setting information, and from the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b A function of relaying the received information to the current location identifying device 3.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the current location specifying device 3.

  The current location specifying device 3 is configured using a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, a hard disk drive (HDD) 204, an input unit 205, a communication unit 206, an output unit 207, and a bus that connects these components so as to communicate with each other. It is conceivable to use a general information processing apparatus.

  In addition to information such as a program that defines the operation mode of the current location specifying device 3 and information such as an OS necessary for the current location specifying device 3 to operate as a general information processing device, the HDD 204 stores each DB described below. Stores information such as software and data.

  The input unit 205 may be a keyboard or a mouse that receives a manual operation by a system administrator or the like.

  The communication unit 206 is a device (such as a LAN adapter or a wireless LAN card) for connecting the current location specifying device 3 to a network so that communication is possible.

  The output unit 207 may be a display or / and a speaker that outputs information on the current location of the employee, a flow line for each employee in the product distribution center, or both.

  The relay terminals 13a and 13b are also realized by a general information processing apparatus including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an HDD, an input unit, a communication unit, an output unit, and a BUS that connects these communicably. Here, illustration of the hardware configuration of the relay terminals 13a and 13b is omitted.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration of the current location specifying device 3.

  The current location specifying device 3 is an employee information DB, a partition information DB, a received information DB, and a specified result DB as DBs for storing various types of information necessary for specifying the current location of an employee having the receivers 9a to 9f. Is provided. The data structure of these DBs will be described later with reference to FIGS.

In addition, the current location specifying device 3 specifies the current location of the employee in cooperation with each DB.
Reception information management means 301 for storing the receiver IDs of the receivers 9a to 9f that have received signals from the transmitters 7a to h in the reception information DB;
When two or more receivers 9a to 9f receive signals from the transmitters 7a to 7h in a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds), the two or more receivers 9a to 9f are in accordance with one or more conditions. A current location identifying means 302 for repeatedly identifying each of the assigned sections as the current location of the employee for each period;
A specified result managing means 303 for storing information related to the section specified as the current location of the employee in the specified result DB;
In response to an instruction from the system administrator, information representing the current location of the employee is output in real time, or based on the recorded contents of the specific result DB, the past position, flow line, Specific result output means 304 is provided for outputting information regarding the residence time for each employee in the section, or both the flow line and the residence time.

  These means are realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in the storage means (for example, the HDD 204) of the current location specifying device 3.

  Since the contents of one or more conditions used to specify the only section as the current location of the employee are related to the content of each DB, the content of the processing for specifying the current location of the employee after explaining each DB 10 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the employee information DB.

  The employee information DB includes information (employee ID, name, etc.) relating to an employee whose current location within the product distribution center is specified, and transmission of transmitters 7a to 7f provided for each of these employees. The machine ID is stored in association with each other.

  FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the partition information DB.

  The section information DB includes information on sections (such as section ID names) defined in advance by the system administrator, such as a room in the product distribution center, and a receiver (slave unit) 9a assigned (provided) to each section. The receiver IDs of ~ f and the position information (coordinates, etc.) of each section on the floor plan (images, etc.) of the product distribution center are stored in association with each other. For example, when each section is a rectangle, it is conceivable to store the coordinates (for example, values in pixel units) of the upper left and lower right vertices of each section on the sketch.

  6A to 6E show a plurality of examples of the data configuration of the reception information DB related to one transmitter 7a (for example, transmitter ID = “tra001”).

  In the present embodiment, the reception information DB is created for each transmitter, and information received by the current location specifying device 3 from each receiver (parent device) 11a, 11b, that is, the reception date and time, and one target The IDs of the respective receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f that have received the signal from the transmitter 7a are stored in association with information indicating the intensity of the signal. As information representing the signal strength, a value defined in advance according to the value of the signal strength detected by the receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f (for example, a value normalized to a range of 0 to 100) is used.

  FIG. 7 shows a plurality of examples of the data structure of the identification result DB.

  In the identification result DB, the current location identifying unit 302 of the current location identifying device 3 identifies, for each transmitter 7a to h, the current location of the employee including the transmitter (the only segment identified from the segments X1 to X6). The date and time (specific date and time) and the section ID of the specified only section are stored in association with each other. As will be described later, the identification result output unit 304 of the current location identification device 3 is identified by referring to the employee information DB (FIG. 4) and the partition information DB (FIG. 5) in addition to the identification result DB. As the present location for each employee at the date and time, information regarding only one section can be acquired.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of rough processing from when the receiver requests the transmitter to transmit a signal until the current location specifying device 3 stores the information received from the transmitter in the reception information DB. is there. Hereinafter, the contents of such processing will be described with reference to this flowchart.

  First, the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b determine whether or not a predetermined reception timing (reception date and time) has been reached (ST101). In the present embodiment, this reception date and time is determined based on setting information of the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b. For example, the setting information includes, as information related to the reception date and time setting method, a start time (for example, [09:00:00]), a time interval (for example, an interval of 10 seconds), and an end time (for example, [19:00 : 00]).

  When the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b determine that the predetermined reception date and time has been reached in ST101 (when the determination result is Yes), the receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f respond to the transmitters 7a to h. The receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f to be controlled are controlled so as to request signal transmission. With this control, the receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f request the transmitters 7a to 7h to transmit signals (ST102).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in ST101 that the predetermined reception date / time has not been reached (when the determination result is No), the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b stand by until the reception date / time is reached.

  When the transmitters 7a to 7h provided to the employees in the product distribution center receive a request from the receivers (slave units) 9a to 9f (ST103), the transmitters 7a to h transmit a transmitter signal including their own transmitter ID. (ST104).

  When the receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f receive the transmitter signals from the transmitters 7a to 7h (ST105), the transmitter ID, received signal strength, and own receiver ID included in the transmitter signals are received. The included slave unit signal is transmitted to the receivers (master units) 11a and 11b.

  In ST105, when one receiver (slave unit) 9a to f receives transmitter signals from a plurality of transmitters 7a to h, the receiver (slave unit) 9a to 9f receives, for example, a transmitter signal. Are transmitted to the receivers (master units) 11a and 11b in the order of reception of the slave unit signals including the transmitter ID in the transmitter signal.

  When receiving the slave unit signal, the receivers (master units) 11a and 11b receive the master unit signal including the reception date and time together with the transmitter ID, the signal strength, and the receiver ID included in the slave unit signal. (ST106).

  The reception information management means 301 of the current location specifying device 3 determines whether or not a parent device signal has been received from the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b (ST107).

  When it is determined in ST107 that the master unit signal has been received (when the determination result is Yes), the reception information management section 301 stores the information included in the received signal in the reception information DB (FIG. 6) ( ST108).

  In the present embodiment, based on the transmitter ID included in the parent device signal, the reception information DB in which the information included in the parent device signal is to be stored is specified, and in a predetermined field in the specified reception information DB, Information indicating reception date and time, receiver ID, and signal strength is stored.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in ST107 that the master unit signal is not received from the receivers (master units) 11a and 11b (when the determination result is No), the reception information management unit 301 receives the master unit signal. Wait until

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of processing in which the current position specifying unit 302 of the current position specifying device 3 specifies the current position of the employee. Hereinafter, the contents of such processing will be described with reference to this flowchart.

  The current location specifying means 302 determines whether or not a predetermined timing (specified date) for specifying the current location of the employee has been reached (ST201).

  The specific date and time is, for example, at regular intervals (for example, every 30 seconds) from a predetermined start time (for example, [09:00:00]) to a predetermined end time (for example, [19:00:00]). ), It is set repeatedly.

  If it is determined in ST201 that the specific date and time has been reached (if the determination result is Yes), the current location specifying means 302 is the only one in which the transmitter (for example, transmitter 7a) exists for one of the transmitters 7a to 7h. Is identified as the current location of the employee having the transmitter (ST202), and the result is stored in the identification result DB (ST203). The specific contents of the process of ST202 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  After ST203, whether or not the current location specifying means 302 has specified the current location of all employees at the specified date, that is, for all the transmitters 7a to 7h, has specified the section where the transmitters 7a to 7h are present. It is determined whether or not (ST204).

  If the current location specifying means 302 determines in ST204 that the sections have been specified for all the transmitters 7a to 7h (when the determination result is Yes), the current location specifying means 302 moves to ST201.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in ST204 that there is a transmitter that does not specify the section (when the determination result is No), the current location specifying means 302 moves to ST202. Thereby, the process of ST202-ST204 is repeated, the division about another transmitter (for example, transmitter 7b) is specified, and a specific result is stored in specific result DB.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of the process of specifying the current location of the employee (the process of ST202 in FIG. 9) by the current location specifying means 302 of the current location specifying device 3.

  First, the current specifying unit 302 refers to the reception information DB (FIG. 6) corresponding to one transmitter (for example, the transmitter 7a), and the transmitter is specified for a certain period in the past (for example, 30 seconds) from the specified date and time. It is determined whether or not two or more receivers 9a to 9f have received a signal from (ST301).

  Whether or not a signal from one transmitter has been received by a plurality of receivers 9a to 9f is determined within a predetermined period (for example, a certain period from the specific date and time (for example, It is possible to determine whether or not only one receiver ID is stored in all records by referring to the record of 30 seconds)).

  If the current location specifying means 302 determines in ST301 that a signal from one transmitter has not been received by two or more receivers 9a to 9f for a certain period in the past from the specified date and time (when the determination result is No). A section that is pre-assigned to the only receiver that has received the signal from the transmitter is identified as the current location of the employee having the transmitter (ST302).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in ST301 that the signal from one transmitter has been received by two or more receivers in a certain period in the past from ST in the ST301 (when the determination result is Yes), According to the above condition, one of the sections allocated to the two or more receivers is specified as the current location of the employee having the transmitter (ST303 to ST312). In the following, the only method for identifying a section in such a case will be described.

  First, the current location specifying unit 302 obtains the number of records in the received information DB for each receiver ID within a certain past period from the specified date and time (ST303), and determines whether or not there are a plurality of receiver IDs with the largest number of records. Judgment is made (ST304).

  If the current location identifying unit 302 determines in ST304 that there is one receiver ID with the largest number of records (when the determination is No), the current location specifying unit 302 selects a section assigned to the receiver corresponding to the receiver ID. In accordance with the first condition that the current location of the employee in the merchandise distribution center is specified, a unique section is specified (ST305).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in ST304 that there are a plurality of receiver IDs with the largest number of records (when the determination is Yes), the current location specifying unit 302 cannot specify a unique section under the first condition.

  In this case, the current location specifying means 302 is assigned to the section corresponding to the information (here, the section ID) stored immediately before in the specifying result DB (FIG. 7), that is, the section specified at the immediately preceding specific date and time. The receiver ID is obtained (ST306). Then, the number of each receiver ID recorded in the reception information DB within the past certain period from the specific date and time is obtained, and whether or not all the receiver IDs recorded the most are different from the receiver ID obtained in ST306. Judgment is made (ST307).

  If the current location specifying means 302 determines in ST307 that one of the receiver IDs recorded most frequently in the received information DB within the past certain period from the specified date and time matches the receiver ID determined in ST306 ( When the determination result is No), the second condition is that the section allocated to the receiver corresponding to the matched receiver ID, that is, the section where the receiver is provided is specified as the current location of the employee. Thus, a unique section is specified (ST308).

  On the other hand, in ST307, the current location specifying means 302 determines that one of the receiver IDs recorded most frequently in the reception information DB from the specified date and time is different from the receiver ID obtained in ST306. If this is the case (if the determination result is Yes), it is not possible to specify a single section under the second condition.

  In this case, the current location specifying means 302, among the receiver IDs obtained in ST303, the highest signal recorded in association with these receiver IDs in the reception information DB (FIG. 6) within a certain past period from the specific date and time. A receiver ID corresponding to the strength is obtained (ST309), and it is determined whether there are a plurality of the obtained receiver IDs (ST310).

  If the current location identifying means 302 determines in ST310 that there are not a plurality of receiver IDs corresponding to the highest signal strength recorded in the reception information DB within a certain past period from the specified date and time (determination is one) (determination) When the result is No), the only section is identified according to the third condition that the section assigned to the receiver corresponding to the receiver ID is identified as the current location of the employee (ST311).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in ST310 that there are a plurality of highest signal intensities recorded in the reception information DB within a certain past period from the specific date and time (when the determination result is Yes), the current location specifying unit 302 The condition cannot identify a single partition.

  In this case, the current location specifying means 302 is assigned to the receiver corresponding to the receiver ID last recorded in the reception information DB from the specific date and time within the past fixed period among the plurality of receiver IDs obtained in ST309. In accordance with the fourth condition that the current section is identified as the current location of the employee, the only section is identified (ST312).

  Next, a method for identifying the current location of the employee will be described for each specific case based on the contents recorded in the reception information DB. In the following cases, the IDs of the receivers 9a to 9c are [rec001] to [rec003], respectively.

[Case of FIG. 6A]
In the case of FIG. 6 (A), the specific date and time is [2008/09/09 12:13:00], and the past certain period from [2008/09/09 12:12:30] to [2008/09] / 09 12:13:00].

  In this case, only the ID (rec001) of one receiver is recorded in the record corresponding to the past fixed period from the specific date and time among the records of the reception information DB related to one transmitter 7a. As a result, it can be seen that the signal from the transmitter 7a was received by only one receiver 9d within the same period.

  In this case, the determination result in ST301 of FIG. 10 is No, and in ST302, the section information DB (FIG. 5) is referred to, and the section X1 corresponding to the receiver ID (rec001) is the transmitter 7a (ID is [tra001 ] Is specified as the current location of the employee (“Surou Suzuki”. Refer to the employee information DB (FIG. 4)).

[Case of FIG. 6B]
In the case of FIG. 6B, the specific date and time is [2008/09/10 13:13:00], and the past certain period from the specific date and time is [2008/09/10 13:12:30] to [2008/09]. / 10 13:13:00].

  In this case, the signal from the transmitter 7a is received by two or more receivers (three receivers whose IDs are [rec001], [rec002], and [rec0003]) in a certain period in the past from a specific date and time. . In this case, the determination in ST301 in FIG. 10 is Yes, and in ST303, the number of records (4 for rec001, 3 for rec002, and 2 for rec0003) in the reception information DB for each receiver ID within the same period is obtained. As a result, it is understood that the receiver ID having the largest number of records is only rec001.

  As a result, the determination in ST304 is No, and in ST305, in accordance with the first condition, the section X1 corresponding to the receiver ID (rec001) with the largest number of records is an employee having the transmitter 7a (Yoshio Suzuki) Is identified as the current location.

[Case of FIG. 6C]
In the case of FIG. 6C, the specific date and time is [2008/09/11 14:13:00], and the past certain period from [2008/09/11 14:12:30] to [2008/09] / 11 14:13:00].

  In this case, there are multiple receiver IDs with the largest number of records (three) from the specific date and time in the past certain period (there are two rec001 and rec003). Unable to determine your current location.

  In this case, first, in ST306, the specified result DB (FIG. 7A) is referred to, and the section (the section whose ID is X1) specified by the immediately preceding specific date and time (14:12:30) is obtained. The receiver ID (rec001) assigned to the section X1 is obtained by comparing the obtained section ID (X1) with the section information DB (FIG. 5).

  Then, in ST307, one of the receiver IDs (rec001, rec003) most frequently recorded in the reception information DB within the past certain period from the current specific date and time (rec001) is the receiver ID (required in ST306) rec001). As a result, in ST308, in accordance with the second condition, the section X1 assigned to the receiver 9a whose ID is rec001 is specified as the current location of the employee (Shiro Suzuki) who has the transmitter 7a at the specified date and time. Is done.

[Case of FIG. 6D]
In the case of FIG. 6D, the specific date and time is [2008/09/12 15:13:00], and the past certain period from the specific date and time is [2008/09/12 15:12:30] to [2008/09]. / 12 15:13:00].

  In this case, there are a plurality of receiver IDs with the largest number of records (three) from the specific date and time in the past certain period (two rec002 and rec003 exist), and the plurality of receiver IDs are all This is different from the ID (rec001, see FIG. 5) of the receiver 9a assigned to the section X1 (see FIG. 7B) identified at the immediately preceding specific date (15:12:30). In this case, the current location of the employee cannot be specified under the first and second conditions described above.

  In this case, in ST309, among the receiver IDs obtained in ST303, it corresponds to the highest signal strength (15.7) recorded in association with these receiver IDs in the reception information DB within a certain past period from the specific date and time. The receiver ID (rec002) is obtained, and it can be seen that the receiver ID corresponding to the highest signal strength is only related to one receiver (No in ST310). As a result, in ST311, according to the third condition, the section X2 assigned to the receiver 9b having the receiver ID (rec002) obtained in ST309 is the current location of the employee (Shiro Suzuki) who has the transmitter 7a. Identified as

[Case of FIG. 6E]
In the case of FIG. 6 (E), the specific date and time is [2008/09/13 16:13:00], and the past fixed period from [2008/09/13 16:12:30] to [2008/09] / 13 16:13:00].

  In the case of FIG. 6E, there are a plurality of receiver IDs with the largest number of records in a certain past period from a specific date and time (two receiver IDs [rec002] and [rec003] having three records are recorded). And the plurality of receiver IDs are all IDs of the receivers 9a assigned to the section X1 (see FIG. 7C) specified at the immediately preceding specific date (16:12:30). (Rec001; see FIG. 5), and among the plurality of receiver IDs, there are a plurality of receiver IDs corresponding to the highest signal strength (15.7) recorded in association with these receiver IDs. Exists (there are rec002 and rec003). In this case, the current location of the employee cannot be specified under the above first to third conditions.

  In this case, in ST312, according to the fourth condition, among the plurality of receiver IDs (rec002, rec003) obtained in ST309, the receiver ID (rec002) recorded last in the reception information DB within the period is obtained. Then, the section X2 assigned to the receiver 9b having the determined receiver ID is specified as the current location of the employee (Yoshiro Suzuki) having the transmitter 7a.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the employee's current location in the product distribution center is displayed in real time on a display connected to the current location specifying device 3.

  The identification result output unit 304 of the current location specifying device 3 refers to the identification result DB, and collates each segment ID identified by the current location identification unit 302 with the segment information DB. The current location of each employee is displayed by arranging an image with the name of each employee. When the current location of the employee is displayed in real time, the information specified by the current location specifying unit 302 may be used as it is as the target information (ID of the section where each employee is present).

  FIG. 12 shows a state in which the flow line of one employee in the merchandise distribution center and the time of arrival at each section are displayed on the display connected to the current location specifying device 3.

  In response to an instruction from the system administrator, the identification result output means 304 of the current location identification device 3 is configured to display one employee (“Yo Tanaka” in the figure) on the floor plan of the product distribution center as shown in the figure. The flow line is shown by connecting the sections with arrows, and the time at which each section arrives is shown by displaying the time in each section.

  For example, the identification result output unit 304 acquires the ID of the transmitter included in the employee (here, “Taro Tanaka”) designated by the system administrator from the employee information DB (FIG. 4), and identifies the identification result from the identification result DB. By acquiring the section ID recorded corresponding to the acquired transmitter ID for each date and time, it is possible to output the flow line of the employee and the arrival time at each section.

  FIG. 13 shows a state where the residence time in each section is displayed for one employee in the merchandise distribution center on the display connected to the current location specifying device 3.

  The identification result output unit 304 of the current location identifying device 3 receives the ID of the transmitter included in the employee (here, “Yu Suzuki”) identified by the system administrator in response to an instruction from the system administrator. (Figure 4), the section ID recorded corresponding to the transmitter ID obtained for each specific date and time is acquired from the specific result DB, and the residence time in each section of the employee is obtained and output. be able to.

  FIG. 14 shows a flow line, a residence time in each section, and a time of arrival in each section for one employee in the product distribution center on a display connected to the current location specifying device 3. Indicates the state.

  As shown in the figure, the identification result output means 304 of the current location identification device 3 can output information combining the above-described flow line, residence time, and arrival time. The flow line, the residence time, and the arrival time can be output in combination of any two.

  In the foregoing, the embodiments relating to the current location specifying system 1, the current location specifying device 3, the current location specifying method, and the computer program have been described. However, the embodiment can be modified as follows.

[Modification]
The relay terminals 13a and 13b (FIG. 1) included in the current location specifying system 1 of the embodiment may be omitted. However, in this case, it is necessary that the receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b have a function of directly connecting to the network.

  The transmitters 7a to 7h can be provided for articles stored in a warehouse, or articles such as electronic devices and documents in an office. Information such as the current location of the article can be obtained by the same method as that described with respect to the current location of the employee in the embodiment.

  The receivers (parent devices) 11a and 11b can be omitted. In this case, setting information defining the operation mode is individually stored in each receiver (slave unit) 9a to 9f. For example, the configuration information may be configured to be input / changed from the relay terminals 13a and 13b or the current location specifying device 3. The receivers (slave devices) 9a to 9f may pass the information received from the transmitters 7a to 7h to the current location specifying device 3 via the relay terminals 13a and 13b or directly.

  About each DB (FIGS. 3-7) used by the present location identification system 1, you may combine mutually in the aspect which can implement | achieve the function, and may subdivide each further. Further, these DBs may be built in the external storage device of the current location specifying device 3, or may be built in any information processing device on the network that is communicably connected to the current location specifying device 3. . Furthermore, each DB may be constructed in a distributed manner in a plurality of apparatuses.

  In the above-described embodiment, each means (FIG. 3) included in the current location specifying device 3 may be configured as one or a plurality of means, or may be further subdivided. Furthermore, these means may be provided in a distributed manner in a plurality of apparatuses that are communicably connected.

  The current location specifying device 3 can also function as a web server. For example, by connecting a router to the LAN switch 15 and communicatively connecting to an external network such as the Internet via the router, the system administrator can use a web browser or a dedicated browser to connect to the product distribution center. Employee information such as the current location and information received from the current location identification system in another facility can be connected to an external network at a location different from the product distribution center, and can be grasped centrally. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the information related to the signal strength stored in the reception information DB (FIG. 6) uses a value defined in advance according to the signal strength (value normalized to a range of 0 to 100). The value of the signal strength can be used as it is.

  The timing (specific date and time) when the current location specifying means 302 of the current location specifying device 3 specifies the current location of the employee may be different from the reception date and time.

  In the above-described embodiment, one receiver (slave unit) 9a to 9f is provided in each of the sections X1 to X6, but a plurality of receivers may be provided in one section.

  In the above-described embodiment, the specific date and time is set with the same time period (30 seconds) as that of the predetermined period so as not to overlap the past fixed period (for example, 30 seconds) from the specific date and time determined for each specific date and time. The specific date and time may be set at an arbitrary time interval. Therefore, from a specific date and time determined for each specific date and time to a past certain period (for example, from a certain specific date and time to a past certain period [15:15:30] to [15:16:00] : 15: 40] to [15:16:10]) may be partially overlapped with each other (in this example, the period of [15:15:40] to [15:16:00]).

The figure which shows the structural example of a present location specific system. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of a present location specific | specification apparatus. The figure which shows the structure of a present location identification apparatus. The figure which shows the data structure of employee information DB. The figure which shows the data structure of division information DB. The figure which shows the some example of a data structure of reception information DB regarding one transmitter. The figure which shows the some example of a data structure of specific result DB. The flowchart showing the content of a rough process after a receiver requests | requires transmission of a signal with respect to a transmitter until it stores the information which the present location specific apparatus received from the transmitter in received information DB. Flowchart showing a rough flow of processing in which the current position specifying means of the current position specifying device specifies the current position of the employee The flowchart showing the specific content of the process which specifies the present location of an employee by the present location identification means of a present location identification apparatus. The figure which shows the state which is displaying the present location of the employee in a goods delivery center in real time on the display connected to the present location identification apparatus. The figure which shows the state which is displaying on the display connected to the present location specific apparatus the flow line of one employee in goods distribution center, and the time of arrival at each division. The figure which shows the state which is displaying the residence time in each division about one employee in a goods delivery center on the display connected to the present location specific apparatus. The figure which shows the state which is displaying the flow line, the residence time in each division, and the time which arrived at each division about one employee in a goods distribution center on the display connected to the present location identification apparatus. .

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Present location identification system 3 Current location identification device 7a-h Transmitter 9a-f Receiver (child unit)
11a, 11b Receiver (master unit)
13a, 13b Relay terminal 15 LAN switch 201 Central processing unit (CPU)
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 Hard disk drive (HDD)
205 Input unit 206 Communication unit 207 Output unit X1 to X6

Claims (8)

A current location identifying device that is communicably connected to a plurality of receivers that receive signals from a transmitter provided in a target, and that identifies a section that is pre-assigned to the receiver that has received the signal as the current location of the target Because
Reception information management means for storing in the reception information DB identification information of the receiver that has received the signal;
When the signal is received by two or more receivers, current location specifying means for specifying one of sections allocated to the two or more receivers as the current location of the target according to one or more conditions And the one or more conditions specify a section assigned to a receiver whose identification information is most recorded in the reception information DB within a predetermined period as a current location of the target. A current location specifying device including a condition.   The one or more conditions may be that one of the receivers whose identification information is recorded most frequently in the reception information DB within the period when the unique section cannot be specified according to the first condition, Including a second condition that, when the current location of the target matches the receiver assigned to the section identified immediately before, the section assigned to the matched receiver is identified as the current location of the target The current location specifying device according to claim 1. When the receiver receives the signal, the reception information management means stores the strength of the signal in the reception information DB in association with the identification information of the receiver,
The one or more conditions further include the reception information within the period among the receivers in which the identification information is recorded most in the reception information DB when a single partition cannot be specified according to the second condition. 3. A third condition is included, wherein a receiver corresponding to the highest signal strength stored in the DB is obtained, and a section assigned to the receiver is specified as the current location of the target. The present location identifying device described in.   The one or more conditions further include two or more receivers corresponding to the highest signal strength recorded in the reception information DB within the period when a single partition cannot be specified according to the third condition. 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: a fourth condition in which a section assigned to a receiver whose identification information is last recorded in the reception information DB within the period is specified as the current location of the target. The present location identifying device described in. A specified result management means for storing information on a section specified as the current location of the target in a specified result DB;
The apparatus further comprises means for outputting information on the flow line of the object, the residence time of the object in the section, or both the flow line and the residence time based on the recorded contents of the identification result DB. Item 5. The present location specifying device according to any one of Items 1 to 4. A plurality of receivers that receive signals from a transmitter provided in the object, and a section that is communicably connected to the plurality of receivers and that is assigned in advance to the receiver that has received the signal, A current location identifying system configured to include a current location identifying device that identifies the current location,
The current location specifying device is:
Reception information management means for storing in the reception information DB identification information of the receiver that has received the signal;
When the signal is received by two or more receivers, current location specifying means for specifying one of sections allocated to the two or more receivers as the current location of the target according to one or more conditions And the one or more conditions specify a section assigned to a receiver whose identification information is most recorded in the reception information DB within a predetermined period as a current location of the target. Including conditions,
A current location system characterized by this. A current location specifying method for specifying, as a current location of the target, a section pre-assigned to a receiver that has received the signal among a plurality of receivers capable of receiving a signal from a transmitter provided for the target. ,
Storing the identification information of the receiver that has received the signal in the reception information DB;
When two or more of the receivers receive the signal, according to one or more conditions, specifying one of the sections respectively assigned to the two or more receivers as the current location of the target; And the one or more conditions include a first condition that a section allocated to a receiver whose identification information is most recorded in the reception information DB within a predetermined period is specified as the current location of the target. The present location identifying method characterized by including.   A computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute the method according to claim 7.

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