JP2010224719A - Information processing system and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing system and an information processor handling one transaction as a processing unit based on an EPC (electronic product code) global standard. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing system includes a reading means for reading merchandise information on merchandise from an RFID tag attached to the merchandise; a receiving means for receiving instruction input; a list generating means for generating list data associating a list of the merchandise information read by the reading means before the input of determination instructions, with time information indicating the input time of the determination instructions when the input of the determination instructions for instructing the completion of one transaction is received by the receiving means; and a report generating means for collecting predetermined data items from each of the merchandise information included in the list data, to generate report data associated with the time information included in the list data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing apparatus for managing EPC held in an RFID tag.

  Conventionally, in stores, RFID tags (also referred to as wireless tags, IC tags, etc.) are added to products, and products are managed based on product information (EPC: Electronic Product Code) held by the wireless tags. Yes. Regarding RFID tags, standardization of technology is performed by EPCglobal, and detailed specifications are defined in Non-Patent Document 1.

  By the way, when “ALE (Application Layer Event)” and “EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services)” standardized by EPCglobal are used for checking out an RFID tag at a POS (Point Of Service) terminal, the following It becomes the operation like this.

  First, EPCs read by the POS terminal are collected at regular intervals and output as a report. In this report, a list of EPCs read by the POS terminal and a time when the report is issued are recorded. The ALE adds a status unique to the EPC (here, “POS settlement”) to the output report and accumulates it in the EPCIS. The POS terminal receives the report output from the ALE, or refers to the data accumulated in the EPCIS based on the specific status “POS settlement” and time, so that the EPC read from the RFID tag is displayed on the screen. To display.

  However, in the above configuration, once read EPC cannot be canceled, erroneous data may be output as a report. For example, in the case of POS checkout, data that does not actually need to be included, such as when an RFID tag of a product that exists in the vicinity of a POS terminal is accidentally read, or when a partial product is canceled at the request of a customer Will be output as a report. In this case, it is necessary to delete the data accumulated in the EPCIS or restore the status (for example, return the data whose status has been changed to “POS settlement” due to misreading to “store inventory”). However, the operation is complicated and lacks convenience.

  Further, depending on the report generation timing from ALE, there is a possibility that data for one transaction is generated in a state of being divided into a plurality of reports. For example, when one customer purchases four products A, B, C, and D, the EPC is first read from the RFID tags of the products A and B, and the EPC for the products A and B is read at time T1. Is generated, and then an EPC is read from the RFID tags of the products C and D, and a report is generated that indicates that the EPC for the products C and D is read at time T2. In this case, the application on the POS terminal side manages from the transition from the time T1 when the reading is started to the EPC read up to the present as one transaction, whereas the report accumulated on the EPCIC shows the transactions at different times. Managed as a record. Therefore, there is a problem that the transaction unit at the POS terminal cannot be grasped only by the information stored in the EPCIC, and the data analysis based on the transaction cannot be accurately performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing system and an information processing apparatus that comply with the EPCglobal standard and can handle one transaction as a processing unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a reading unit that reads product information related to a product from an RFID tag attached to the product, a receiving unit that receives an instruction input, and the receiving unit. When the input of the confirmation instruction instructing the completion of the transaction is accepted, the list of the product information read by the reading unit until the input of the confirmation instruction is associated with the time information indicating the input time of the confirmation instruction List generating means for generating the list data, and report generating means for collecting predetermined data items from each of the product information included in the list data and generating report data associated with the time information included in the list data The list generation means instructs the reception means to delete specific product information before inputting the confirmation instruction. That the input of the deletion instruction is accepted, characterized in that it excludes the product information deleted by the deletion instruction is instructed from the list.

  The present invention also provides a reading means for reading product information relating to the product from an RFID tag attached to the product, a receiving means for receiving an instruction input, and a confirmation instruction for instructing completion of one transaction by the receiving means. When received, a list generation unit that generates list data in which the list of the product information read by the reading unit until the input of the confirmation instruction and the time information indicating the input time of the confirmation instruction are associated with each other, And the list generation means receives the product information instructed to be deleted by the deletion instruction when the reception means accepts the input of the deletion instruction to instruct the deletion of specific product information before the input of the confirmation instruction. It is excluded from the list.

  In addition, the present invention provides storage means for storing list data for one transaction in which a list of product information relating to one or a plurality of products and time information are associated with each other, and each of the product information included in the list data Report generating means for collecting predetermined data items and generating report data associated with time information included in the list data is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing system and an information processing apparatus that comply with the EPCglobal standard and can handle one transaction as a processing unit.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an EPC management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the POS terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system of the POS terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a module configuration of the computer. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating each functional unit included in the POS terminal, the ALE server, and the EPCIS server illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operations of the POS terminal, ALE server, and EPCIS server shown in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus and a program according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by embodiment described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of an EPC management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The EPC management system of the present embodiment adds an RFID tag holding product information (EPC) related to a product to each product sold in the store, and manages inventory and sales of the product based on this EPC. It is used in a store that performs.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the EPC management system includes a plurality of POS terminals 10, an ALE server 20, and an EPCIS server 30, and each device is connected to be communicable via a network N such as a LAN. ing.

  The POS terminal 10 is a terminal that is disposed at a checkout location and is used by the cashier for sales processing, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the POS terminal 10. The POS terminal 10 is provided with a keyboard 12 (accepting means) on the upper surface side of the main body 11, a drawer 13 is provided on the lower side of the main body 11 so that it can be pulled out, and a display 14 is provided on the back side of the main body 11. Is provided.

  Further, the POS terminal 10 is connected to an RFID reader 15 that reads an RFID tag attached to a product, and the EPC read from the RFID tag by the RFID reader is input to the POS terminal 10. ing.

  Such an electrical system of the POS terminal 10 is configured as shown in FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system of the POS terminal 10. The POS terminal 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs for realizing each function unit described later in cooperation with the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. And a communication control unit 17 that controls communication between the ALE server 20 and the EPCIS server 30 via the network N, and the keyboard 12, display unit 14, and RFID reader 15 described above. Each part is connected via a bus 18.

  The ALE server 20 is a server device that generates a report in which the EPC read from the RFID tag by the POS terminal 10 is associated with the time when the reading is performed. The EPCIS server 30 is a server device that stores and manages reports generated by the ALE server 20.

  By the way, the ALE server 20 and the EPCIS server 30 described above are general computers. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a module configuration of the computer. The computer that is the ALE server 20 and the EPCIS server 30 includes a control unit 21 having a computer configuration including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying processing progress and results. Such as a display unit 22, an input unit 23 such as a keyboard and a mouse for an operator to input commands and information to the control unit 21, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that functions as a database and stores various programs. The storage unit 24 includes a communication control unit 25 for communicating information with other devices via the network N, and these units are connected by a bus 26.

  In such a computer, when an operator turns on the power, the CPU activates a program called a loader in the ROM, loads a program for managing the hardware and software of the computer called OS (Operating System) from the storage unit 24 into the RAM, This OS is started. Such an OS activates a program, reads information, and stores information in response to an operator's operation. As a representative OS, Windows (registered trademark) and the like are known. These operation programs running on the OS are called application programs. The application program is not limited to one that runs on a predetermined OS, and may be one that causes the OS to execute some of the various processes described below, or constitutes predetermined application software, an OS, or the like. It may be included as part of a group of program files.

  In the personal computer, when an application program operating on the OS is started, the control unit 21 executes various arithmetic processes according to the application program, and controls each unit in an integrated manner. In other words, the computer functions as the ALE server 20 and the EPCIS server 30 depending on the difference of application programs stored in the storage unit 24.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the functional units of the respective devices constituting the EPC system will be described. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing functional units included in the POS terminal 10, the ALE server 20, and the EPCIS server 30.

  The POS terminal 10 includes an RFID reader control unit 101 and an EPC list generation unit 102 as functional units realized by cooperation of the above-described control unit 16 and a program stored in advance in a ROM or the like.

  The RFID reader control unit 101 is realized by middleware for controlling the operation of the RFID reader 15. By controlling the RFID reader 15, the EPC is read from the RFID tag and displayed on the display 14. As middleware for realizing the RFID reader control unit 101, for example, RFID middleware standardized by OPOS (distribution industry standard) can be used.

  The EPC list generation unit 102 temporarily stores the EPC read by the RFID reader control unit 101 in the RAM, and deletes the EPC or generates finalized EPC list data, which will be described later, according to an instruction input via the keyboard 12. Do.

  Specifically, when the EPC list generation unit 102 receives an input of a key instructing deletion of a specific EPC from the keyboard 12 in a state where the EPC is temporarily stored in the RAM, the EPC list generation unit 102 temporarily stores the specified specific EPC in the RAM. Remove from pair.

  For example, assume that EPC1, EPC2, EPC3, and EPC4 are read from four RFID tags by the RFID reader control unit 101, respectively. If the EPC4 is misread among these, the cashier instructs the EPC4 to be deleted via the keyboard 12, and the EPC list generation unit 102 deletes the EPC4 from the temporary storage target. At this time, the display 14 may be controlled to erase the display of the EPC 4.

  Further, the EPC list generation unit 102 completes one transaction from the keyboard 12, and inputs a confirmation instruction for confirming transaction data such as a transaction amount (hereinafter referred to as a current key (transaction confirmation instruction)). When the input is accepted, data in which the temporarily stored EPC list is associated with the date and time information indicating the current date and time (hereinafter referred to as confirmed EPC list data) is generated, and the RAM is cleared. Here, the EPC list generation unit 102 sets the file name of the confirmed EPC list data to be generated as “POS registration_YYMMDDhhmmss.rep (YYMMDDhhmmss represents the current year / month / day / hour / minute / second)”, and the current EPC list and current Assume that date and time are related. Note that “POS registration” is an identifier for identifying a registration operation, and in the case of other operations, an identifier indicating the operation content is given.

  For example, if the date and time when the input of the current key is received is 2008/1/1, 9:00:00, the confirmed EPC list data with the file name of POS registration_20080101090000.rep is the EPC list generation unit 102. Will be generated. The method of associating the current date and time with the EPC list is not limited to this example. For example, the current date and time may be recorded in the confirmed EPC list data. In addition, the date / time information is acquired from time measuring means (not shown) such as RTC (Real Time Clock).

  Further, the EPC list generation unit 102 stores the generated determined EPC list data in the determined EPC list data storage folder F of the ALE server 20 via the network N. Here, the “determined EPC list data storage folder F” is a folder for storing determined EPC list data provided in the storage unit 24 of the ALE server 20 and is provided in advance. Note that the method for storing the confirmed EPC list data is not particularly limited, and may be a form using the folder sharing function of the OS executed by the ALE server 20 or may be transferred using socket communication, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or the like. It is good also as a form.

  As described above, since the EPC list generation unit 102 generates finalized EPC list data in units of one transaction corresponding to the input of the current total key, the RFID tag is erroneously read before the current total key is input. Even if it is a case where the product is canceled or a part of the product is canceled by a request from the customer, it is possible to generate confirmed EPC list data from which these EPCs are deleted.

  Next, the functional configuration of the ALE server 20 will be described. The ALE server 20 includes an ALE processing unit 201 as a functional unit realized by the cooperation of the control unit 21 included in its own computer and the program stored in the storage unit 24.

  The ALE processing unit 201 is a functional unit realized by middleware that generates a report according to ECSpec and transmits it to the EPCIS server 30.

  Here, “ECSpec” defines how each data included in the EPC is collected. The ALE processing unit 201 collects data from the EPC included in the confirmed EPC list data in accordance with the data collection rule defined in this ECSpec, and generates a report describing the collected data in the ECReport format defined in EPCglobal. .

  ECSpec includes information of a reader device to be read called a logical reader. In ALE standardized by EPCglobal, EPC is read from a reader (RFID middleware) defined as this logical reader, and a report is output. In this case, since a report is generated based on the EPC input from the reader within a certain time, depending on the report generation timing, data for one transaction is generated in a state of being divided into a plurality of reports. There is.

  Therefore, the ALE processing unit 201 of the present embodiment reads the EPC from the confirmed EPC list data stored in the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F when a specific value is set in the logical reader, as if from the reader device. The function is expanded so that it is virtualized as if it was read and a report is output to the EPCIS server 30. That is, since the confirmed EPC list data is generated for each transaction, it is possible to prevent the data for one transaction from being divided into a plurality of reports.

  Specifically, the ALE processing unit 201 generates a report for each confirmed EPC list data stored in the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F according to ECSpec, and transmits the report to the EPCIS server 30. In this embodiment, since the time when the EPC is read is recorded in the report, a report is generated with the date and time information (YYYYMMDDhhmmss) embedded in the file name of the confirmed EPC list data as the report name. Not only this but the form which embeds the identifier which can identify each POS terminal 10 in a file name is good, and it is good also as a form which describes date information in a report. Further, the confirmed EPC list data for which the report is generated is deleted from the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F or moved to another folder or the like under the control of the ALE processing unit 201.

  As described above, the ALE server 20 generates a report for each transaction in which unnecessary data such as misread data is removed while utilizing the ALE function of the EPCglobal standard.

  Next, a functional configuration of the EPCIS server 30 will be described. The EPCIS server 30 includes a storage control unit 301 as a functional unit realized by the cooperation of the control unit 21 included in its own computer and the program stored in the storage unit 24.

  The storage control unit 301 corresponds to EPCIS Capturing Application standardized by EPCglobal, and accumulates a report transmitted from the ALE server 20 in a predetermined area (EPSIS Repository) of the storage unit 24 provided in the EPCIS server 30.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the EPC system related to the EPC described above will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operations of the POS terminal 10, the ALE server 20, and the EPCIS server 30.

First, in the POS terminal 10, the EPC list generation unit 102 waits until the EPC is read from the RFID tag (Step S11; No → Step S13; No). here,
When the EPC read from the RFID tag is input under the control of the RFID reader control unit 101 (step S11; Yes), the EPC list generation unit 102 temporarily stores the EPC in the RAM (step S12).

  Next, the EPC list generation unit 102 determines whether or not an operation of the keyboard 12 is detected. If the key input cannot be detected (step S13; No), the process returns to step S11 again.

  When the EPC list generation unit 102 determines that deletion of a specific EPC is instructed via the keyboard 12 (step S13; Yes → Step S14; Yes), the deletion is instructed from the temporarily stored EPC. EPC is deleted (step S15), and the process returns to step S11.

  If the EPC list generation unit 102 determines that the current key has been input from the keyboard 12 (step S13; Yes → Step S14; No → Step S16; Yes), the EPC list temporarily stored and the current date and time are displayed. The associated fixed EPC list data is generated (step S17). Next, the EPC list generation unit 102 stores the determined EPC list data generated in step S17 in the determined EPC list data storage folder F of the ALE server 20 (step S18), and then clears the temporarily stored EPC (step S19). ). Thereby, finalized EPC list data for one transaction is generated. If a key other than EPC deletion or current key is input as a key operation on the keyboard 12 (step S13; Yes → Step S14; No → Step S16; No), the process returns to Step S11 again. To do.

  On the other hand, in the ALE server 20, the ALE processing unit 201 monitors the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F constantly or every predetermined period (step S20; No). If the ALE processing unit 201 determines that the confirmed EPC list data is stored in the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F (step S20; Yes), the ALE processing unit 201 generates a report for each confirmed EPC list data in accordance with ECSpec ( In step S21), the data is transmitted to the EPCIS server 30 (step S22). Further, when the ALE processing unit 201 finishes generating the report, the ALE processing unit 201 deletes or moves the confirmed EPC list data stored in the confirmed EPC list data storage folder F (step S23), and ends the process.

  In the EPCIS server 30, when the report is received from the ALE server 20, the storage control unit 301 accumulates this report in a predetermined area (EPSIS Repository) of the storage unit 24 included in its own device (step S24) and ends the process. To do.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in accordance with the input of the current total key, fixed EPC list data in which EPCs for one transaction are listed is generated, and a report is generated based on the fixed EPC list data. A report for one transaction is stored in the EPCIS server 30. This makes it possible to efficiently generate a report that complies with the EPCglobal standard and can handle one transaction as a processing unit.

  In addition, even when a non-EPCGlobal standard RFID tag middleware such as OPOS is used as the RFID reader control unit 101, the ALE processing unit 201 can generate a report compliant with the ECReport format. It is possible to accumulate reports in EPCIS compliant.

  The embodiment of the invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, and the like can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the ALE server 20 includes the ALE processing unit 201. However, the POS terminal 10 may include the ALE processing unit 201 function. The confirmed EPC list data storage folder F may be provided in a storage device (such as an HDD) added to the POS terminal 10 or may be provided in a storage device provided in another device.

  Alternatively, a determined EPC list data storage folder F may be provided in the POS terminal 10 so that the ALE processing unit 201 of the ALE server 20 refers to the determined EPC list data storage folder F of each POS terminal 10.

  As described above, the information processing system and the information processing apparatus according to the present invention are useful for managing merchandise based on merchandise information (EPC) held in an RFID tag, and in particular, ALE conforming to the EPCglobal standard. It is suitable when using EPCIS.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 POS terminal 11 Main body 12 Keyboard 13 Drawer 14 Display 15 RFID reader 16 Control part 17 Communication control part 18 Bus 20 ALE server 30 EPIS server 21 Control part 22 Display part 23 Input part 24 Storage part 25 Communication control part 26 Bus 101 RFID Reader control unit 102 EPC list generation unit 201 ALE processing unit 301 Storage control unit

EPCglobal The Application Level Events (ALE) Specification Version 1.0 page.8

Claims (5)

Reading means for reading product information about the product from an RFID tag attached to the product;
A receiving means for receiving an instruction input;
When an input of a confirmation instruction for instructing completion of one transaction is received by the reception means, the list of the product information read by the reading means until the input of the confirmation instruction, and an input time of the confirmation instruction List generation means for generating list data associated with time information;
Report generation means for collecting predetermined data items from each of the product information included in the list data and generating report data associated with time information included in the list data;
With
When the input of a deletion instruction for instructing deletion of specific product information is received by the receiving unit before the input of the confirmation instruction, the list generation unit displays the product information for which deletion has been instructed by the deletion instruction. An information processing system characterized by being excluded from the above. Reading means for reading product information about the product from an RFID tag attached to the product;
A receiving means for receiving an instruction input;
When an input of a confirmation instruction for instructing completion of one transaction is received by the reception means, the list of the product information read by the reading means until the input of the confirmation instruction, and an input time of the confirmation instruction List generation means for generating list data associated with time information;
With
When the input of a deletion instruction for instructing deletion of specific product information is received by the receiving unit before the input of the confirmation instruction, the list generation unit displays the product information for which deletion has been instructed by the deletion instruction. Information processing apparatus characterized in that it is excluded from the above.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a storage unit that stores the list data in a predetermined area of a storage device included in the self apparatus or an external apparatus. Storage means for storing list data for one transaction in which a list of product information related to one or a plurality of products and time information are associated;
Report generation means for collecting predetermined data items from each of the product information included in the list data and generating report data associated with time information included in the list data;
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the report generation unit generates the report data for each list data stored in the storage unit.

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