JP2020125167A - Physical distribution management system, physical distribution management device, and program of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a physical distribution management system capable of tracing articles without being aware of the association of identification information.SOLUTION: The physical distribution management system includes a plurality of information collection devices for collecting information on a state of an article at every physical distribution step of the article, and a server for acquiring information on every physical distribution step collected respectively by the plurality of information collection devices; the server generates block data from information of a physical distribution step unit acquired from one information collection device; the server calculates a hash value of the block data; the server holds the calculated hash value in association with first identification information of the physical distribution step corresponding to the block data which is an origin of the hash value; the server connects the block data by adding a hash value held in association with second identification information of a physical distribution step immediately before the physical distribution step corresponding to the block data to the generated block data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The embodiment of the present invention relates to a physical distribution management system, a physical distribution management apparatus used in this system, and a program for causing a computer to function as the physical distribution management apparatus.

There is a technology that enables the tracking of the distribution process for each product by recording and storing the distribution history of the product, such as food and home appliances, from production to sales. This type of technology is commonly referred to as traceability. In order to enable the traceability, it is necessary to add unique identification information to the article, read the identification information each time the customer enters and leaves the physical distribution base, and register it in the management server.

However, at the stage of physical distribution, many items are packed together with other items in a box and transferred between bases. Therefore, since the identification information read when entering and exiting between bases becomes the identification information of the box, it is necessary to manage the identification information of the box and the identification information of each article packed in the box in association with each other. Further, when one individual is processed into a plurality of articles at the stage of distribution, the identification information attached to the individual before the processing is different from the identification information attached to each article after the processing. Even in such a case, it is necessary to manage the identification information of the individual and the identification information of each article in association with each other.

JP, 2007-022782, A

The problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a physical distribution management system that enables traceability of articles without being aware of association of identification information, a physical distribution management device used in this system, and a computer as the physical distribution management device. It is intended to provide a program for doing this.

In one embodiment, a physical distribution management system includes a plurality of information collecting devices that collect information related to the state of an item for each physical distribution process of an item, and a server that acquires information for each physical distribution process collected by each of the plurality of information collecting devices. Including and
The server includes a generation unit, a calculation unit, a holding unit, and a connection unit. The generating unit generates block data from the information on the physical distribution process unit acquired from one information collecting device. The calculation means calculates a hash value of the block data. The holding unit holds the hash value calculated by the calculating unit in association with the first identification information of the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data that is the source of the hash value. The linking unit adds the hash value held in association with the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately preceding the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data to the block data generated by the generating unit, thereby adding block data to the block data. To connect.

The figure used for the outline description of one embodiment. Conceptual diagram of logistics management system. The schematic diagram which shows the main structures of an information collection device. The block diagram which shows the principal part circuit structure of a center server. The flowchart which shows the principal part procedure of the information processing which the processor of a center server performs according to a physical distribution management program. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of a hash value memory. The schematic diagram which shows a part of block chain data. The schematic diagram which shows a part of block chain data. The schematic diagram which shows a part of block chain data.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a physical distribution management system that enables traceability of articles without being aware of association of identification information will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, there are a first base P1, a second base P2, and a third base P3 as physical distribution bases. The article A is obtained at the first base P1. Then, the article A is transported from the first base P1 to the second base P2 using the transporting body T1 such as a vehicle. At the second base P2, the article A1 and the article A2 are derived from the article A. Then, the articles A1 and A2 are transported from the second base P2 to the third base P3 by using transporters T2 and T3 such as vehicles. The article A1 and the article A2 may be transported using the same transport body or may be transported using different transport bodies. At the third base P3, the articles A11, A12, and A13 are derived from the articles A1, and the articles A21, A22, and A23 are derived from the articles A2.

The third base P3 is a sales base that sells the goods A11, the goods A12, the goods A13, the goods A21, the goods A22, and the goods A23, for example. When the third base P3 is a sales base, the products A11, A12, A13, A21, A22, and A23 are products. The sales base may be a physical store or a virtual store on the Internet.

When the third base P3 is a sales base, the first base P1 is, for example, a production base for the goods A, and the second base P2 is, for example, goods A to goods (goods A11, goods A12, goods A13, goods A21, It is a processing base for processing the articles A22 and A23). When the second site P2 is the processing site, the article A1 is a box in which the articles (article A11, article A12, article A13) are packed. The item A2 is a box in which items (item A21, item A22, item A23) are packed.

Now, in the physical distribution management system of the present embodiment, time-series information at the first base P1 necessary for traceability of the article A is stored as block data B1. The time-series information on the transporter T1 necessary for the traceability of the article A is stored as block data B2. Time-series information at the second site P2 necessary for traceability of the article A1 is stored as block data B3. Time-series information at the second base P2 necessary for traceability of the article A2 is stored as block data B4. The time-series information on the transporter T2 necessary for the traceability of the article A1 is stored as block data B5. The time-series information on the transporter T3 necessary for the traceability of the article A2 is stored as block data B6. Time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for traceability of the article A11 is stored as block data B7. Time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for traceability of the article A12 is stored as block data B8. Time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for traceability of the article A13 is stored as block data B9. The time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for the traceability of the article A21 is stored as the block data B10. Time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for traceability of the article A22 is stored as block data B11. Time-series information at the third base P3 necessary for traceability of the article A23 is stored as block data B12.

Then, the block data B1 is connected to the block data B2. The block data B2 is connected to the block data B3 and the block data B4. The block data B3 is concatenated with the block data B5. The block data B4 is concatenated with the block data B6. The block data B5 is linked with the block data B7, the block data B8, and the block data B9. The block data B6 is linked with the block data B10, the block data B11, and the block data B12.

Thus, for example, time-series information in the physical distribution process for the article A11, so-called physical distribution history, can be grasped by tracing back in the order of the block data B7, the block data B5, the block data B3, the block data B2, and the block data B1. .. That is, the traceability of the article A11 becomes possible. Similarly, for example, the distribution history of the article A23 can be grasped by tracing back in the order of the block data B12, the block data B6, the block data B4, the block data B2, and the block data B1. That is, the traceability of the article A23 becomes possible. The same applies to the other articles A12, A13, A21, A22.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the physical distribution management system 100 that enables the traceability as described above. The physical distribution management system 100 includes a center server 1 as a physical distribution management device and a plurality (12 in FIG. 2) of information collection devices 2 (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L) and a network 3 connecting them. The network 3 is typically the Internet. The network 3 may include a mobile communication network.

The information collecting device 2 collects information necessary for traceability of an article. Specifically, the information collecting apparatus 2A collects information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A at the first base P1 in time series. The information collecting device 2B collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A during transportation by the transporter T1. The information collecting device 2C collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A1 at the second base P2. The information collecting device 2D collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A2 at the second base P2. The information collecting device 2E collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A1 during transportation by the transporter T2. The information collecting device 2F collects, in time series, information about disturbances that affect the quality of the article A2 during transportation by the transporter T3. The information collecting device 2G collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A11 at the third base P3. The information collecting device 2H collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A12 at the third base P3. The information collecting device 2I collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A13 at the third base P3. The information collecting device 2J collects, in a time series, information about disturbances that affect the quality of the article A21 at the third base P3. The information collecting device 2K collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A22 at the third base P3. The information collecting device 2L collects, in time series, information on disturbances that affect the quality of the article A23 at the third base P3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the main configuration of the information collecting device 2. The information collecting device 2 includes a reader such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader/writer 21 and a scanner 22, a detecting device such as a position sensor 23, a temperature sensor 24, a humidity sensor 25, and an acceleration sensor 26, and an own process ID memory. 27 and a storage device of the previous process ID memory 28.

The RFID reader/writer 21 is a device that reads information recorded in the IC memory of the RFID tag and writes information to the IC memory by wireless communication with the RFID tag. The RFID tags are attached to, for example, the item A, the item A1, and the item A2, and identification information for individually identifying each item is recorded in the IC memory.

The scanner 22 is a device that reads a code symbol such as a barcode or a two-dimensional data code. The scanner 22 may be of a type that reads a code symbol by scanning laser light, or may be a type that reads a code symbol from an image captured by an imaging device. The code symbol is attached to, for example, the article A11, the article A12, the article A13, the article A21, the article A22, and the article A23, and the identification information for individually identifying each article is in the form of a bar code or a two-dimensional data code. Is represented.

The detection devices such as the position sensor 23, the temperature sensor 24, the humidity sensor 25, and the acceleration sensor 26 are devices for collecting information about disturbances that affect the quality of the article. The types of the detection device are not limited to the position sensor 23, the temperature sensor 24, the humidity sensor 25, and the acceleration sensor 26 described above. Other sensors such as an atmospheric pressure sensor may be incorporated as the detection device.

The position sensor 23 is a device that can acquire position information from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite, for example. The position information is information that can specify the position of the article, and includes, for example, latitude and longitude. That is, the position sensor 23 of the information collection device 2A acquires the position information of the article A placed at the first base P1. The position sensor 23 of the information collecting device 2B acquires the position information of the article A transported by the transport body T1. The position sensors 23 of the information collecting device 2C and the information collecting device 2D respectively acquire the position information of the articles A1 and A2 placed at the second base P2. The position sensors 23 of the information collecting device 2E and the information collecting device 2F acquire the position information of the articles A1 and A2 transported by the transporters T2 and T3, respectively. The position sensors 23 of the information collecting devices 2G to 2L respectively acquire the position information of the articles A11, A12, A13, A21, A22, A23 placed at the third base P3.

The temperature sensor 24 is a device capable of measuring the temperature of the place where the article is placed. The humidity sensor 25 is a device that can measure the humidity of a place where an article is placed. That is, the temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collection device 2A measure the temperature and humidity of the place where the article A of the first base P1 is placed. The temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collecting device 2B measure the temperature and humidity of the place where the article A being transported by the transporter T1 is placed. The temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collecting device 2C and the information collecting device 2D measure the temperature and humidity of the place where the article A1 and the article A2 are placed in the second base P2, respectively. The temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collecting device 2E measure the temperature and humidity of the place where the article A1 being transported by the transporter T2 is placed. The temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collecting device 2F measure the temperature and humidity of the place where the article A2 being transported by the transporter T3 is placed. The temperature sensor 24 and the humidity sensor 25 of the information collecting devices 2G to 2L measure the temperature and the humidity at the places where the articles A11, A12, A13, A21, A22, A23 are placed in the third base P3, respectively.

The acceleration sensor 26 is a device that can measure the acceleration applied to an article. That is, the acceleration sensor 26 of the information collection device 2A measures the acceleration applied to the article A placed at the first base P1. The acceleration sensor 26 of the information collecting device 2B measures the acceleration applied to the article A being transported by the transporter T1. The acceleration sensors 26 of the information collecting device 2C and the information collecting device 2D measure accelerations applied to the articles A1 and A2 placed at the second base P2. The acceleration sensor 26 of the information collecting device 2E measures the acceleration applied to the article A1 being transported by the transporter T2. The acceleration sensor 26 of the information collecting device 2F measures the acceleration applied to the article A2 being transported by the transporter T3. The position sensors 23 of the information collecting devices 2G to 2L each obtain the acceleration applied to the articles A11, A12, A13, A21, A22, A23 placed at the third base P3.

The own process ID memory 27 stores the process ID (identification) assigned to the process of the physical distribution corresponding to the information collecting apparatus 2. The previous process ID memory 28 stores the process ID assigned to the process immediately preceding the process of the physical distribution corresponding to the information collecting apparatus 2. The process ID is unique identification information assigned to each process to identify each process.

Taking the physical distribution process shown in FIG. 1 as an example, there are the following steps (1) to (12).
(1) Process W1 in which the article A is obtained at the first base P1
(2) Process W2 in which the article A is transported from the first base P1 to the second base P2
(3) Process W3 in which the article A1 is derived from the article A at the second base P2
(4) Process W4 in which the article A2 is derived from the article A at the second base P2
(5) Process W5 in which the article A1 is transported from the second base P2 to the third base P3
(6) Process W6 in which the article A2 is transported from the second base P2 to the third base P3
(7) Process W7 in which the article A11 is derived from the article A1 at the third base P3
(8) Process W8 in which the article A12 is derived from the article A1 at the third base P3
(9) Process W9 in which the article A13 is derived from the article A1 at the third base P3
(10) Process W10 in which the article A21 is derived from the article A2 at the third base P3
(11) Process W11 in which the article A22 is derived from the article A2 at the third base P3
(12) Process W12 in which the article A23 is derived from the article A2 at the third base P3
Here, regarding the process W7, the process immediately before is the process W5. Regarding the process W8 and the process W9, the process immediately before is the process W5. On the other hand, regarding the process W10, the process immediately before is the process W6. Also with respect to the process W11 and the process W12, the process immediately before is the process W6. Further, the step immediately preceding the step W5 is the step W3. The process immediately before process W6 is process W4. The process immediately preceding the process W3 is the process W2. The process before the process W4 is also the process W2. The process immediately before process W2 is process W1.

Therefore, the process ID of the process W5 is stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of each of the information collecting devices 2G, 2H, and 2I related to the processes W7, W8, and W9. The process ID of the process W6 is stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of each of the information collecting devices 2J, 2K, and 2L related to the processes W10, W11, and W12. The process ID of the process W3 is stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of the information collecting apparatus 2E related to the process W5. The process ID of the process W4 is stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of the information collecting device 2F related to the process W6. The identification information of the process W2 is stored in both the pre-process ID memory 28 of the information collection device 2C related to the process W3 and the information collection device 2D related to the process W4. The process ID of the process W1 is stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of the information collecting apparatus 2B related to the process W2. The process ID is not stored in the previous process ID memory 28 of the information collecting apparatus 2A related to the process W1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main part of the center server 1. The center server 1 includes a processor 11, a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a clock 14, a communication interface 15, an I/O (Input/Output) device 16 and a system transmission line 17. The system transmission line 17 includes an address bus, a data bus, a control signal line, and the like. The center server 1 connects the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, the clock 14, the communication interface 15, and the I/O device 16 to the system transmission line 17. In the center server 1, a computer is configured by the processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, and the system transmission line 17 connecting these.

The processor 11 corresponds to the central part of the computer. The processor 11 controls each unit to realize various functions as the center server 1 according to the operating system or the application program. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

The main memory 12 corresponds to the main storage part of the computer. The main memory 12 includes a non-volatile memory area and a volatile memory area. The main memory 12 stores an operating system or application program in a non-volatile memory area. The application program includes a control program described later. The main memory 12 may store data necessary for the processor 11 to execute processing for controlling each unit in a non-volatile or volatile memory area. The main memory 12 uses a volatile memory area as a work area in which data is appropriately rewritten by the processor 11. The non-volatile memory area is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). The volatile memory area is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

The auxiliary storage device 13 corresponds to the auxiliary storage part of the computer. For example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like can be the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliary storage device 13 stores data used by the processor 11 for performing various kinds of processing, data created by the processing in the processor 11, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 13 may store an application program including a control program described later.

The clock 14 functions as a time information source of the center server 1. The processor 11 clocks the current date and time based on the time information clocked by the clock 14.

The communication interface 15 is connected to the network 3. Under the control of the processor 11, the communication interface 15 performs data communication with each information collecting device 2 connected via the network 3 according to a communication protocol.

The I/O device 16 functions as an input device and an output device of the center server 1. For example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a liquid crystal display, etc. are included in the I/O device 16.

The center server 1 having such a configuration has a function of generating the block data B1 to B12 by acquiring the information necessary for the traceability of the articles collected by each information collecting apparatus 2 via the network 3, and the generated function. The block data B1 to B12 are appropriately linked to form block chain data. These functions are realized by the processor 11 executing the physical distribution management program stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13.

Hereinafter, the operation of the center server 1 for generating the block data B1 to B12 and forming the block chain data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main procedure of information processing executed by the processor 11 of the center server 1 according to the physical distribution management program. Note that the content of the operation shown in FIG. 5 and described below is an example. The procedure and contents are not particularly limited as long as similar results can be obtained.

The processor 11 waits for information from any of the information collecting devices 2 as Act1. When the processor 11 detects that the information has been received from any one of the information collecting devices 2 via the communication interface 15, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 1, and proceeds to Act 2. The processor 11 acquires the information received from the information collection device 2 as Act 2, that is, the information necessary for the traceability of the articles collected by the information collection device 2. This information includes the identification information of the item read by the RFID reader/writer 21 or the scanner 22 of the information collecting device 2 and the detection devices such as the position sensor 23, the temperature sensor 24, the humidity sensor 25, and the acceleration sensor 26 periodically. The self-process ID stored in the self-process ID memory 27 is included. The sensor information also includes the time when the value was sampled. When the previous process ID is stored in the previous process ID memory 28, the previous process ID is also included.

The processor 11 that has acquired the information from the information collection device 2 generates block data using the identification information of the article, the sensor information, and the own process ID included in the information as Act3. Next, the processor 11 confirms whether or not the information acquired from the information collecting apparatus 2 as Act4 includes the previous process ID. If the previous process ID is not included, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 4, and proceeds to Act 7.

As Act7, the processor 11 uses the data included in the block data generated in the process of Act3 as input data for a predetermined hash function, and calculates a hash value by performing a hash function operation based on this input data. ..

When the calculation of the hash value is completed, the processor 11 writes the hash value as Act8 in the hash value memory 40 (see FIG. 6) in association with the own process ID included in the information acquired in the process of Act2.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the data structure of the hash value memory 40. As shown in FIG. 6, the hash value memory 40 has an area for describing the process ID and the hash value in association with each other. The hash value memory 40 is formed in, for example, a volatile memory area of the main memory 12.

When the process of Act8 is completed, the processor 11 saves the block data generated in the process of Act3 in the block chain file as Act9. The block chain file is an area for storing a plurality of block data. The block chain file is provided in the auxiliary storage device 13, for example.

Returning to the explanation of Act4.
When the information acquired from the information collecting device 2 includes the previous process ID, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 4, and proceeds to Act 5. The processor 11 acquires the hash value described in the hash value memory 40 as Act5 in association with the preceding process ID. Hereinafter, the hash value associated with the previous process ID will be referred to as the previous process hash value. As Act6, the processor 11 adds the pre-process hash value acquired in the process of Act5 to the block data generated in the process of Act3.

After that, the processor 11 calculates the hash value as Act7. That is, the processor 11 sets the data included in the block data to which the previous process ID hash value is added in the process of Act 6 as the input data for the predetermined hash function, and calculates the hash function based on this input data.

When the calculation of the hash value is completed by this operation, the processor 11 associates the hash value with the own process ID included in the information acquired in the process of Act2 and stores it in the hash value memory 40 (see FIG. 6) as Act8. Write. Further, the processor 11 saves, as Act 9, the block data to which the previous process hash value has been added in the process of Act 6 in the block chain file of the auxiliary storage device 13.

In this way, when the processing of Act9 is finished, the processor 11 finishes the information processing of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. After that, the processor 11 starts the information processing of FIG. 5 again when the information necessary for traceability of the articles collected by the information collecting device 2 is acquired from any of the information collecting devices 2 again. As described above, the processor 11 executes the processing of Act1 to Act9 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 every time the information is acquired from any one of the information collecting apparatuses 2.

As a result, when the information collected by the information collecting device 2A is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 identifies the identification information of the article A and the own process ID of the process W1 as indicated by reference numeral B1 in FIG. The block data B1 including is generated. In the block data B1, the sensor information S1 which is the measured value of the disturbance that affects the quality of the article A at the first base P1 is described in time series. The previous process hash value is not included in the block data B1.

When the information collected by the information collecting apparatus 2B is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A and the own process ID of the process W2, as indicated by reference sign B2 in FIG. Data B2 is generated. In the block data B2, sensor information S2, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A being transported by the transporter T1, is described in time series. In the block data B2, the previous process hash value (H1) associated with the process ID of the process W1 which is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B2 is linked with the block data B1 having the same hash value as the previous process hash value (H1).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2C is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A1 and the own process ID of the process W3, as indicated by reference numeral B3 in FIG. Data B3 is generated. In the block data B3, sensor information S3, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A1 at the second base P2, is described in time series. In the block data B3, the previous process hash value (H2) associated with the process ID of the process W2 that is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B3 is linked to the block data B2 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H2).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2D is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A2 and the own process ID of the process W4, as indicated by reference sign B4 in FIG. Data B4 is generated. In the block data B4, sensor information S4, which is a measurement value of a disturbance that affects the quality of the article A2 at the second base P2, is described in time series. In the block data B4, the previous process hash value (H2) associated with the process ID of the process W2, which is the previous process ID, is described. Thus, the block data B4 is linked to the block data B2 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H2).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2E is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A1 and the own process ID of the process W5, as indicated by reference sign B5 in FIG. Data B5 is generated. In the block data B5, sensor information S5, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A1 being transported by the transporter T2, is described in time series. In the block data B5, the previous process hash value (H3) associated with the process ID of the process W3 that is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B5 is linked to the block data B3 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H3).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2F is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A2 and the own process ID of the process W6, as indicated by reference sign B6 in FIG. Data B6 is generated. In the block data B6, sensor information S6, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A2 being transported by the transporter T3, is described in time series. In the block data B6, the previous process hash value (H4) associated with the process ID of the process W4, which is the previous process ID, is described. Thus, the block data B6 is concatenated with the block data B4 having the same hash value as the previous process hash value (H4).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2G is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A11 and the own process ID of the process W7, as indicated by reference numeral B7 in FIG. Data B7 is generated. In the block data B7, sensor information S7, which is a measurement value of a disturbance that affects the quality of the article A11 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B7, the previous process hash value (H5) associated with the process ID of the process W5 that is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B7 is concatenated with the block data B5 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H5).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2H is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A12 and the own process ID of the process W8, as indicated by reference sign B8 in FIG. Data B8 is generated. In the block data B8, sensor information S8, which is a measurement value of a disturbance that affects the quality of the article A12 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B8, the previous process hash value (H5) associated with the process ID of the process W5 that is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B8 is linked with the block data B5 having the same hash value as the previous process hash value (H5).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2I is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A13 and the own process ID of the process W9, as indicated by reference sign B9 in FIG. Data B9 is generated. In the block data B9, sensor information S9, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A13 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B9, the previous process hash value (H5) associated with the process ID of the process W5 that is the previous process ID is described. Thus, the block data B9 is concatenated with the block data B5 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H5).

When the information collected by the information collecting apparatus 2J is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A21 and the own process ID of the process W10, as indicated by reference numeral B10 in FIG. Data B10 is generated. In the block data B10, sensor information S10, which is a measured value of a disturbance affecting the quality of the article A21 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B10, the previous process hash value (H6) associated with the process ID of the process W6, which is the previous process ID, is described. Thus, the block data B10 is linked to the block data B6 having the same hash value as the previous process hash value (H6).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2K is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A22 and the own process ID of the process W11, as indicated by reference numeral B11 in FIG. Data B11 is generated. In the block data B11, sensor information S11, which is a measured value of a disturbance that affects the quality of the article A22 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B11, the previous process hash value (H6) associated with the process ID of the process W6, which is the previous process ID, is described. Thus, the block data B11 is concatenated with the block data B6 whose hash value matches the previous process hash value (H6).

When the information collected by the information collecting device 2L is output to the center server 1, the center server 1 includes a block including the identification information of the article A23 and the own process ID of the process W12, as indicated by reference numeral B12 in FIG. Data B12 is generated. In the block data B12, sensor information S12, which is a measured value of a disturbance that affects the quality of the article A23 at the third base P3, is described in time series. In the block data B12, the previous process hash value (H6) associated with the process ID of the process W6, which is the previous process ID, is described. Thus, the block data B12 is linked with the block data B6 having the same hash value as the previous process hash value (H6).

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the center server 1, block chain data in which the block data B1 to B12 are appropriately linked by gathering information from the information collecting devices 2A to 2L related to the respective processes W1 to W2. Is configured. By following this block chain data, it is possible to trace the physical distribution process of the articles A11 to A13 and the articles A21 to A23.

For example, in the case of the article A11, the sensor information S1, S2, S3, S5, S7 included in each block data is acquired in the order of the block data B1, the block data B2, the block data B3, the block data B5, and the block data B7. With this, it is possible to acquire the history of the disturbance affecting the quality in the distribution of the article A11.

Similarly, in the case of the article A23, for example, the block data B1, the block data B2, the block data B4, the block data B6, and the block data B12 are stored in this order in the order of the sensor information S1, S2, S4, S6, and S12. By acquiring it, it is possible to acquire the history of disturbances that affect the quality in the distribution of the article A23.

Here, the computer including the processor 11 of the center server 1 as a main component constitutes an acquisition unit by executing the processes of Act1 and Act2 of FIG. Further, the computer constitutes a generating means by executing the process of Act3 of FIG. Further, the computer constitutes a calculation means by executing the processing of Act7 in FIG. The computer also constitutes a holding unit by executing the process of Act8 of FIG. 5 in cooperation with the hash value memory 40. The computer also constitutes a connecting unit by executing the processing of Act5 and Act6 of FIG.

According to the physical distribution management system 100 including the center server 1 and the information collecting device 2 having such a configuration, the sensor information required for the traceability of the articles A11, A12, A13, A21, A22, A23 by using the block chain technology. Can be managed. Therefore, if the sensor information has been tampered with, the previous process cannot be followed, and thus fraud regarding traceability can be prevented in advance.

Moreover, it is not necessary to manage the identification information of the article A1 and the identification information of the articles A11, A12, A13 derived from the article A1 in association with each other. Similarly, it is not necessary to manage the identification information of the article A2 and the identification information of the articles A21, A22, and A23 derived from the article A2 in association with each other. Further, it is not necessary to manage the identification information of the article A and the identification information of the article A1 derived from the article A in association with each other. Similarly, it is not necessary to manage the identification information of the article A and the identification information of the article A2 derived from the article A in association with each other. Therefore, the traceability of the article becomes possible without paying attention to the association of the identification information, and the labor required for managing the identification information can be eliminated.

Further, in the present embodiment, each of the information collecting devices 2A to 2L uses the own process ID, which is the first identification information of the corresponding physical distribution process, and the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately before the physical distribution process. It stores a certain previous process ID. Then, in the store server 10, the block chain data is configured by using the own process ID and the previous process ID acquired from each of the information collecting devices 2A to 2L. Therefore, desired block chain data can be easily configured depending on how the own process ID and the previous process ID are set for each of the information collecting apparatuses 2A to 2L.

Further, with the center server 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a physical distribution management device that functions as a server of the physical distribution management system 100 that enables the traceability of articles without being aware of the association of identification information.

Although the embodiment of the physical distribution management system 100 has been described above, the physical distribution management system that enables traceability of articles without being aware of association of identification information is not limited to the physical distribution management system 100.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where there are the first base P1, the second base P2, and the third base P3 as the physical distribution bases is illustrated, but the number of bases is not limited to three. The number of bases may be only two, or may be four or more.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the article A is obtained at the first location P1 and the article A1 and the article A2 are derived from the article A at the second location P2 is illustrated, but this point is not particularly limited. Absent. For example, it may be a case where the articles C1, C2, C3 are obtained at the first site P1 and the article C4 is manufactured from the articles C1, C2, C3 at the second site P2. In this case, for example, the process of obtaining the goods C1C2, C3 is the first process, the process of transporting the goods C1, C2, C3 from the first base P1 to the second base P2 is the second process, and the second base P1. The step of manufacturing the article C4 in Step 3 is referred to as a third step. Then, by setting the process ID of the own process and the process ID of the previous process in the information collecting device 2 corresponding to each process, the same operational effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

For example, the processor 11 of the center server 1 may generate the block data after encrypting the sensor information when generating the block data as Act3 in FIG. By encrypting the sensor information, more reliable traceability can be realized.

In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the distribution management program is stored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 of the center server 1. With respect to this point, the center server 1 may be configured by writing a physical distribution management program transferred separately from the center server 1 into the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13 of the server computer by a user operation. .. In this case, the distribution management program or the like can be transferred by recording it on a removable recording medium or by communication via a network. The recording medium may have any form as long as it can store the program and can be read by the device, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card.

Besides, although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof.

P1, P2, P3... First, second and third bases, T1, T2, T3... Transporter, 1... Center server, 2(2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2I, 2J, 2K, 2L)... Information collecting device, 3... Network, 11... Processor, 12... Main memory, 13... Auxiliary storage device, 14... Clock, 15... Communication interface, 16... I/O device, 21... RFID reader Writer, 22... Scanner, 23... Position sensor, 24... Temperature sensor, 25... Humidity sensor, 26... Acceleration sensor, 27... Own process ID memory, 28... Previous process ID memory, 40... Hash value memory, 100... Logistics Management system.

Claims (5)

A plurality of information collecting devices for collecting information related to the state of the article for each physical distribution process of the article,
A server that acquires the information for each of the physical distribution processes collected by each of the plurality of information collecting devices;
Including,
The server is
Generating means for generating block data from the information for each physical distribution process unit acquired from one of the information collecting devices;
Calculation means for calculating a hash value of the block data,
Holding means for holding the hash value calculated by the computing means in association with the first identification information of the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data which is the basis of the hash value;
By adding to the block data generated by the generation means a hash value held in association with the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately preceding the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data, the block data is stored. Connecting means for connecting,
A logistics management system equipped with. Each of the plurality of information collecting devices stores the first identification information of the corresponding physical distribution process and the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately before the physical distribution process.
The server obtains the first identification information and the second identification information together with the information from the plurality of information collecting devices, the holding means uses the first identification information, and the connecting means uses the second identification information. The physical distribution management system according to claim 1, wherein a hash value held in association with is used. Acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the state of the article collected for each physical distribution process of the article,
Generating means for generating block data from the information of the physical distribution process unit acquired by the acquiring means;
Calculation means for calculating a hash value of the block data,
Holding means for holding the hash value calculated by the computing means in association with the first identification information of the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data which is the basis of the hash value;
By adding to the block data generated by the generation means a hash value held in association with the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately preceding the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data, the block data is stored. Connecting means for connecting,
A physical distribution management device. The acquisition unit acquires the first identification information of the physical distribution process and the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately before the physical distribution process together with the information,
The holding unit holds the hash value in association with the first identification information,
The distribution management device according to claim 3, wherein the connection unit adds a hash value held in association with the second identification information to the block data. Computer,
Acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the state of the article collected for each physical distribution process of the article,
Generating means for generating block data from the information of the physical distribution process unit acquired by the acquiring means,
Calculation means for calculating a hash value of the block data,
Holding means for holding the hash value calculated by the calculating means in association with the first identification information of the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data which is the basis of the hash value, and
By adding to the block data generated by the generation means a hash value held in association with the second identification information of the physical distribution process immediately preceding the physical distribution process corresponding to the block data, the block data is stored. Connecting means for connecting,
Logistics management program to function as.