JP2012197136A - Physical distribution quality inspection system and component device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a physical distribution quality inspection system capable of specifying a cause for a transport object breakage accident by grasping its circumstances to improve physical distribution quality.SOLUTION: When a data recorder 10 attached to a transport object detects the fact that the transport object concerned is placed under a specific situation, for example, the fact that the shock is added, the position data indicating the current position of transport object concerned is transmitted to a server computer 30. The server computer 30 specifies a camera which can photograph the situation of the transport object based on the received position data from among a plurality of cameras installed in predetermined positions on the conveyance route of each transport object and executes control for fetching the shot image data of the camera.

Description

  For example, when an abnormal situation such as a large impact applied to a package is detected, the present invention identifies the cause of the situation by recording the surrounding environment transportation environment where the package is placed, and improves the quality of logistics. The present invention relates to a method and system for inspection.

In the transportation industry, there is a desire to improve the quality of logistics by preventing damage accidents such as “striking”, “breaking and rubbing”, etc. that occur due to the rough handling of transported goods and the application of strong impacts. is doing. In particular, it is required to grasp the situation in which a damage accident has occurred, identify the cause, and use it to improve the quality of logistics. There is also a desire to identify the party in the event of a damage accident.
Conventionally, an impact detection device having an impact sensor is attached to a package, and the impact value is recorded, and an alarm is issued when the impact value exceeds a predetermined magnitude. There has been known a system that guarantees no impact (see Patent Document 1). In such a system, although it is possible to identify the occurrence of an impact value of a predetermined magnitude or more, it is impossible to grasp the situation in which the occurrence of the impact value occurred, and it is not possible to identify the cause could not.
Further, a system has been known in which a waveform collection sensor, a GPS system, and a CCD camera are installed in a transportation vehicle, and by these, the soundness of the package is always confirmed in both directions in real time (see Patent Document 2). ). However, this system is not intended to specify the cause of the impact or the like of the package, but merely monitors the package in the transport vehicle.

JP2002-243755 JP2003-232888

  In view of the above problems, the present invention identifies the cause of an abnormal situation such as a large impact on a package, identifies the cause, and improves the quality of logistics. The main issue is to provide logistics quality inspection technology that can be used in the future.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a physical distribution quality inspection system and its constituent devices.
The physical distribution quality inspection system according to the present invention performs a non-contact communication with a data recorder attached to a package, and controls a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the transport path of the package. A logistics quality inspection system having a data processing device capable of detecting a fact that the package is in a specific situation and a current position at that time, and a sensor unit for detecting the fact Transmitting means for transmitting position data representing the current position to the data processing device when a fact is detected, the data processing device holding installation position data representing the installation positions of the plurality of cameras The holding means, and the position data received from the data recorder and the installation position data held in the holding means Ri to identify the situation can image camera transport of when receiving the location data, configured to include a control means for acquiring imaging data taken the situation by controlling the identified camera. The sensor unit includes an instrument that detects any one of acceleration acting on the package, temperature or humidity around the package, and the transmission means includes the acceleration, temperature, or humidity, The position data may be transmitted to the data processing device when a preset threshold value is exceeded. The physical distribution quality inspection system of the present invention specifies a camera capable of photographing the status of a shipment based on the received position data from a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the conveyance route of the shipment. In order to perform control to capture the imaging data of the camera, by verifying the imaging data, it is possible to grasp under what circumstances an abnormal situation such as a big impact on the package has occurred, The cause can be specified more specifically. The transportation route includes sales offices / warehouses, vehicle loading platforms, and the like.

  In one embodiment, some of the plurality of cameras may be installed in a vehicle on which the transportation object is loaded. The plurality of cameras may be installed in a facility where the transported goods are transported. In the case of a configuration installed in a vehicle, the road surface condition can also be visually recognized by imaging data, so if a road surface condition such as a step or a sharp curve causes an abnormal situation, the cause can be identified. Become.

  The data processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus capable of controlling a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on a transport path of a transport object, and when the transport object is in a specific situation, Receiving means for receiving the position data from a data recorder for transmitting the position data representing the current position of the transported goods at the time, installation data holding means for holding the installation position data representing the installation positions of the plurality of cameras, By identifying the position data received from the data recorder and the installation position data held in the installation data holding means, a camera capable of photographing the status of the package when the position data is received is identified. And control means for controlling the specified camera and acquiring imaging data obtained by photographing the situation. In this data processing device, a camera capable of photographing the situation of the transported object is specified, and the specified camera is controlled, so that it is possible to receive imaging data that specifically captures the situation when an abnormal situation occurs in the transported object. become. This eliminates the need to extract imaging data that captures the situation when an abnormal situation occurs from a large amount of imaging data, greatly reducing the workload.

  The data recorder of the present invention comprises a portable housing that can be attached to a package, a sensor unit that detects the fact that the package is in a specific situation and a current position at that time, and the fact that When the data is detected, recording means for recording the data representing the fact and the position data representing the current position on a predetermined recording medium, and non-contact communication for transmitting the position data to an external communication device by non-contact communication And means. The data recorder of the present invention can transmit position data at the time of occurrence of a fact under a specific situation.

The above problem can also be solved by the following computer program.
A computer device capable of controlling a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the transportation route of each package, and when the package is in a specific situation, a position representing the current position of the package at that time Receiving means for receiving the position data from a data recorder for transmitting data, installation data holding means for holding installation position data representing the installation positions of the plurality of cameras in a predetermined memory, and the position data received from the data recorder And the installation position data held in the installation data holding means to identify a camera capable of photographing the status of the package when receiving the position data, and control the identified camera to A computer program for physical distribution quality inspection, which functions as a control means for acquiring imaging data obtained by photographing a situation.

  The present invention specifies a camera capable of capturing the status of a package based on the received position data from among a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the transport route of the package, and captures the image data of the camera. In order to perform control to capture, by referring to the imaging data, it is possible to grasp under what circumstances an abnormal situation such as a large impact was applied to the package, and the cause is more specific Can be identified. This can be used to improve the quality of logistics.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a physical distribution quality inspection system to which the present invention is applied. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of a data recorder, (b) is a figure which shows a data recorder use state. It is a functional block diagram of a data recorder. It is a functional block diagram of a server computer. It is a processing procedure figure in a data recorder. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an output result. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an output result.

Embodiments of a physical distribution quality inspection system to which the present invention is applied will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the physical distribution quality inspection system. This physical distribution quality inspection system 1 includes a data recorder 10 attached to a transported object, a plurality of cameras 20 attached to a business office / warehouse, a vehicle, etc., and a server computer 30, and includes a mobile phone network, PHS (Personal Handy -phone System) and the network 40 such as the Internet are communicably connected.

[Data recorder]
The data recorder 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, a configuration example of the data recorder 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the configuration of the data recorder 10. The data recorder 10 is configured by housing a sensor 12, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 13, a recording medium 14, and a communication device 15 in a housing 11, and is a portable device.
The sensor 12 includes an accelerometer and a temperature / humidity meter, and has a wireless communication function, a data processing function, and a timekeeping function. The recording medium 14 is connected to the sensor 12 so that measurement data of the sensor 12 can be recorded. The communication device 15 is connected to a mobile phone network, a PHS network, or the Internet, and can transmit measurement data of the sensor 12 to the outside by wireless communication.
In this configuration example, only the GPS receiver 13 is cited as the means for capturing the position information. However, depending on the package, reception of GPS data may be interrupted or interfere, and may not function sufficiently. Therefore, it may be configured to use this together with the GPS receiver 13 using the position detection function of the PHS. In this case, for example, even when GPS data is obstructed and interfered by an obstacle and cannot be acquired, the position information can be received by the position detection function of the PHS, so that the position information can be acquired more reliably.
Next, a method for using the data recorder 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The data recorder 10 is usually installed in the package of the dummy package 70. Since it is installed in the package, it is possible to inspect the quality of the logistics without being known to those involved in transportation. In addition, since the data recorder 10 is portable, it can be re-installed in the package of another package immediately after being used once, and can be easily reused.

Next, functions of the data recorder 10 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the data recorder 10. The data recorder 10 includes a sensor unit 16, a data processing unit 17, a data recording unit 18, and an input / output control unit 19. The sensor unit 16 includes an accelerometer 161 for detecting an impact applied to the package, a GPS receiver 162 that receives GPS data indicating the current position of the package, and a temperature / humidity for measuring the ambient temperature and humidity of the package. It has a hygrometer 163 and a timer 164 for measuring the elapsed time from the start of measurement. The input / output control unit 19 has a wireless communication function, and the data recorder 10 can exchange data with the server computer 30 through the network 40 by wireless communication.

The sensor unit 16 is for measuring transportation environment data indicating the environment around the package. Transport environment data includes the following:
(1) Acceleration data applied to the package (2) Location data of the package (3) Temperature data around the package (4) Humidity data around the package (5) Time (elapsed time from the start of measurement) data

The data processing unit 17 is realized by the CPU reading a predetermined program. The data processing unit 17 receives the transportation environment data measured by the sensor unit 16 and performs various data processing. For example, it is determined whether or not the measured transportation environment data matches a determination condition recorded in a predetermined recording area.
An example of the determination condition is a warning condition for determining an abnormal state of the package. This warning condition includes an acceleration (impact magnitude) threshold value, a temperature threshold value, a humidity threshold value, an address, a time zone, and the like, and is recorded in the data recording unit 18 in advance. This warning condition may be recorded in the database 34 in the server computer 30 directly via the network or by selection.
In addition, if the data processing unit 17 obtains a predetermined determination result, the input / output control unit 19 sends a predetermined warning signal to the server, assuming that an abnormal situation such as a large impact is applied to the package. Send to computer 30. At this time, the data processing unit 17 also transmits transport environment data together with the warning signal.
Further, the data processing unit 17 may transmit the transportation environment data to the server computer 30 constantly or intermittently in preparation for failure / damage of the data recorder 10.

  The data recording unit 18 has a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory. The data recording unit 18 records the transportation environment data transmitted from the sensor unit 16 directly or via the data processing unit 17. In addition, warning conditions used for determination in the data processing unit 17 are recorded in advance.

  The input / output control unit 19 transmits and receives data via the network 40. In this embodiment, the data recorder 10 is built in, but an external PHS transmitter or the like may be used.

[camera]
The camera 20 is for photographing the environment around the transported object, and has recording means for recording the photographed image data and communication means for transmitting the image data to the outside. The camera 20 is connected to the server computer 30 through a network 40 so as to be able to perform wireless communication via communication means. The camera 20 is installed in a transportation route (sales office, warehouse, vehicle, etc.) of a transportation object, and images the transportation environment when the transportation object passes. In addition, image data captured by the camera 20 is temporarily recorded in a recording unit and transmitted to the server computer 30 in response to a control signal from the server computer 30. The installation location of the camera 20 is a business office or a warehouse through which the transported goods are routed, and a vehicle or the like on which the transported items are placed. The installation position data indicating the installation location of the camera 20 is the data recording unit 18 of the server computer 30. Are recorded and managed.

[Server computer]
The server computer 30 is configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the server computer. The server computer 30 reads the computer program recorded on a predetermined recording medium by the CPU of the computer device and executes it together with the operating system (OS) of the computer device, whereby an input / output control unit 31, a data processing unit 32, A camera control unit 33 is formed. The server computer 30 further has a database 34.

  The input / output control unit 31 receives a warning signal from the data recorder 10, transport environment data, and imaging data from the camera 20 via the network 40, and transmits them to the data processing unit 32 and the camera control unit 33. The input / output control unit 31 also controls input from an external input device and output of data analysis processing results to an external output device.

  The data processing unit 32 receives transportation environment data and a warning signal from the data recorder 10 via the input / output control unit 31. The data processing unit 32 refers to the position data included in the transportation environment data, specifies the position of the transportation object to be warned, and further refers to the installation position data recorded in the database 34 to perform the transportation object to be warned. Identify cameras near the. Data specifying the camera is sent to the camera control unit 33. The data processing unit 32 also performs various data analysis processes based on the transportation environment data from the data recorder 10 and the imaging data from the camera 20.

  The camera control unit 33 refers to data specifying a camera in the vicinity of the warning object transported sent from the data processing unit 32, and captures an image of the surroundings of the warning target transportation object with respect to the specified camera. A control signal is transmitted so that data is returned.

  In the database 34, installation position data and map data indicating the installation location of the camera 20 are recorded in advance. Further, the transport environment data transmitted from the data recorder 10 and the imaging data returned from the camera 20 are recorded in the database 34. Map data is used in data analysis processing of inspection results. Furthermore, the database 34 is also used as a recording medium for backup when the data recorder 10 fails or is damaged.

[Operational form]
Next, an operation mode of the physical distribution quality inspection system configured as described above will be described.
1. Installation of Data Recorder In the data recorder 10, as an initial setting, a warning condition that triggers transmission of a warning signal and transportation environment data is set. The setting items include, for example, an acceleration (impact magnitude) threshold, a temperature threshold, an address, a time zone, and the like, and a plurality of these items may be combined. This setting item is recorded in the data recording unit 18 of the data recorder 10. Thereafter, the data recorder 10 is installed in the package of the package. Normally, a dummy package is prepared and installed inside the package so that it is not known to the persons involved in the transportation.

2. Transport environment data recording by data recorder The sensor unit 16 of the data recorder 10 measures transport environment data. The measured transportation environment data is sent to the data processing unit 17 for determination of the warning condition and also sent to the data recording unit 18 for recording. The data recording unit 18 of the data recorder 10 receives and records transportation environment data from the sensor unit 16. For example, transportation environment data may be recorded continuously when the power of the data recorder is on, or may be recorded intermittently, for example, every 5 minutes, and conforms to warning conditions. Then, it is good also as what records only for the predetermined period before and behind determined.

3. Determination of Warning Conditions by Data Recorder When the data processing unit 17 of the data recorder 10 accepts the transportation environment data, it determines whether or not the warning conditions recorded in the data recording unit 18 match the received transportation environment data. I do.
For example, when the warning condition is an acceleration (impact magnitude) threshold, a temperature threshold, or a humidity threshold, the data processing unit 17 uses the accelerometer 161 and the temperature / hygrometer 163 to measure acceleration data and temperature. It is determined whether the data and humidity data exceed a threshold set as a warning condition.
For example, when the warning condition is an address and a time zone, the data processing unit 17 indicates that the position data measured by the GPS receiver 162 and the clock timer 164 and the time (elapsed time from the start of measurement) data are warnings. It is determined whether or not the position and time (elapsed time from the start of measurement) set as conditions are met.
If the data processing unit 17 of the data recorder 10 determines that the transportation environment data meets the warning conditions as a result of the determination processing, the server computer 30 sends a warning signal and the corresponding transportation environment data to the server computer 30 that an abnormal situation has occurred in the package. Send to. The transportation environment data transmitted together with the warning signal includes at least position data and time (elapsed time from the start of measurement) data where the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured. In addition, the transportation environment data transmitted together with the warning signal includes data at the moment when data for which a predetermined determination result is obtained is measured. For example, it is assumed that the data for which a predetermined determination result is obtained is one minute before and after the measurement.

4). Transmission of Camera Control Signal by Server Computer The processing of camera control signal transmission by the server computer 30 will be described with reference to the processing procedure diagram of the server computer of FIG.
When receiving the warning signal and the transportation environment data from the data recorder 10, the input / output control unit 31 of the server computer 30 transmits the warning signal and the transportation environment data to the data processing unit 32 (step S100). The data processing unit 32 refers to the position data included in the transportation environment data corresponding to the warning signal, and performs a process of specifying the position of the package when the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured (step) S110). At the same time, a process for specifying the time when the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured is performed.
The data processing unit 32 of the server computer 30 refers to the installation position data recorded in the database 34, and selects the cameras 20 installed in the vicinity of the position of the package identified in the previous process from the plurality of cameras 20. A process for specifying is performed (step S120).
When the camera 20 is specified by the data processing unit 32, the camera control unit 33 of the server computer 30 transmits a control signal to the specified camera 20 (step S130). This control signal may include information specifying the time when the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured. Further, a plurality of cameras 20 to which the control signal is transmitted may be provided.

5. When the camera 20 receives a control signal from the server computer 30, the camera 20 measures the data determined to meet the warning condition from the recorded imaging data, selects the data, and creates a file. To the server computer 30. When the control signal includes information specifying time, data in the specified time zone is selected.

6). Data Analysis Processing by Server Computer The data processing unit 32 of the server computer 30 performs various analysis processes based on the transportation environment data received from the data recorder 10 and the imaging data received from the camera 20.

(Analysis processing example 1)
The data processing unit 32 of the server computer 30 performs an analysis process for issuing a form relating to the inspection result of physical distribution quality.
First, the data processing unit 32 analyzes the transportation environment data transmitted from the data recorder 10 and the data determined to meet the warning conditions is measured out of all the transportation processes. To identify. This analysis process is performed using, for example, acceleration data and position data in the transport environment data. For example, if the position data indicates that the package has stopped at a predetermined position, and the acceleration data indicates that the vertical acceleration has particularly increased sharply, it is a loading or unloading process at a sales office or the like. Can be identified.
Next, the data processing unit 32 selects a form template corresponding to the specified process from the form templates recorded in the database 34. Further, the data processing unit 32 attaches and outputs transportation environment data and imaging data to the selected form template as necessary.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a form output from the server computer 30.
In the form 80, an item 81 is a time series graph of acceleration data and temperature data in the transportation environment data. Item 82 indicates a transportation process. Item 83 is a comment field describing a recurrence prevention measure or the like. In this analysis processing example, acceleration data and temperature data are graphed, but humidity data or the like may be graphed according to the transportation environment data.

(Analysis processing example 2)
The data processing unit 32 of the server computer 30 performs processing for displaying and outputting on the map a place where an abnormal situation such as a large impact has been applied to the package.
First, the data processing unit 32 analyzes the transportation environment data transmitted from the data recorder 10 and specifies the position where the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured. Next, the data processing unit 32 performs a process for displaying an icon indicating that an abnormal situation has occurred at a corresponding portion of the map data recorded in the database 34 and outputs the icon. An aerial photograph or a ground photograph may be used instead of the map data. Further, image data or image data may be displayed in association with the map data.
FIG. 7 shows an example of an output in which a position where an abnormal situation has occurred is displayed on a map.
In the output screen 90, an item 91 is a map, an item 92 is an icon indicating a point where an abnormal situation has occurred, and an item 93 is a table indicating transportation environment data corresponding to the icon. Although not shown, when this icon is clicked, the corresponding video is played.

(Analysis processing example 3)
In the server computer 30, the data processing unit performs video analysis processing in order to identify a person shown in the video.
The data processing unit 32 performs face recognition processing on the imaging data transmitted from the camera 20 and identifies a party related to the occurrence of an abnormal situation. A known face recognition program can be used for this face recognition process.

As described above, in the physical distribution quality inspection system according to the present embodiment, the position of the package when the data determined to meet the warning condition is measured, and the periphery of the package is photographed from the identified position. In addition to specifying the fact, location, time, etc. of the occurrence of an abnormal situation such as a large impact on the transported object, the situation at that time was determined. It is possible to specifically visually recognize or record what it was like, and to more specifically identify the cause of the abnormal situation. In addition, by performing the video analysis process, it is possible to actually identify the party in the abnormal situation.
This can be used to improve the quality of logistics.

Although the present embodiment is as described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, the following implementation is also possible.
In the present embodiment, the camera 20 has been described as specifically photographing a transported object, but may further photograph a road surface on which the vehicle runs. According to this configuration, when a road condition such as a step or a sharp curve causes an abnormal situation, the cause can be specified.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Data recorder 11 Case 12 Sensor 13 GPS receiver 14 Recording medium 15 Communication device 16 Sensor part 17 Data processing part 18 Data recording part 19 Input / output control part 20 Camera 30 Server computer 31 Input / output control part 32 Data processing part 33 Camera Control unit 34 Database 40 Network 50 Vehicle 60 Sales office / warehouse 70 Shipment 80 Form 90 Output screen

Claims (7)

Logistics having a data recorder attached to a package, and a data processing device capable of performing non-contact communication with the data recorder and controlling a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the transport path of the package A quality inspection system,
The data recorder is
A sensor unit for detecting the fact that the package is in a specific situation and the current position at that time;
Transmission means for transmitting position data representing the current position to the data processing device when the fact is detected by the sensor unit;
The data processing device includes:
Holding means for holding installation position data representing installation positions of the plurality of cameras;
By identifying the position data received from the data recorder and the installation position data held in the holding means, a camera capable of photographing the status of the package when the position data is received is identified and specified. Control means for controlling the camera to acquire imaging data obtained by photographing the situation,
Logistics quality inspection system. The sensor unit includes an instrument that detects any one of acceleration acting on the package, temperature or humidity around the package,
The transmission means transmits the position data to the data processing device when the acceleration, the temperature or the humidity exceeds a preset threshold value.
The physical distribution quality inspection system according to claim 1. Some of the plurality of cameras are installed in a vehicle on which the transportation object is loaded.
The physical distribution quality inspection system according to claim 1. The plurality of cameras are installed in a facility where the transported goods are transported.
The physical distribution quality inspection system according to claim 1. A data processing device capable of controlling a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on a transport path of a transported object,
Receiving means for receiving the position data from a data recorder that transmits position data representing the current position of the package at the time when the package is in a specific situation;
Installation data holding means for holding installation position data representing installation positions of the plurality of cameras;
By identifying the position data received from the data recorder and the installation position data held in the installation data holding means, a camera capable of photographing the status of the package when the position data is received is identified. Control means for controlling the specified camera and acquiring imaging data obtained by photographing the situation,
Data processing device. In a portable housing that can be attached to a package,
A sensor unit for detecting the fact that the package is in a specific situation and the current position at that time;
Recording means for recording data representing the fact and position data representing the current position on a predetermined recording medium when the fact is detected by the sensor unit;
A non-contact communication means for transmitting the position data to the external communication device by non-contact communication; and
Data recorder for logistics quality inspection. A computer device capable of controlling a plurality of cameras installed at predetermined positions on the transport path of the transported goods,
Receiving means for receiving the position data from a data recorder that transmits position data indicating the current position of the package at the time when the package is in a specific situation;
Installation data holding means for holding installation position data representing installation positions of the plurality of cameras in a predetermined memory;
By identifying the position data received from the data recorder and the installation position data held in the installation data holding means, a camera capable of photographing the status of the package when the position data is received is identified. A control means for controlling the specified camera to acquire image data obtained by photographing the situation;
As a computer program for logistics quality inspection.

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