JP2020132370A - Stock management device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To properly manage articles to be sorted and managed even when wireless tags adhered to the articles are stored in a place that may be simultaneously read out by a read-out device.SOLUTION: A stock management device includes: a storage part storing group information associated with a storage place storing articles to which wireless tag are adhered; a read-out control part which accepts the read-out result of the wireless tag by a read-out device; and an adjustment part which performs overlapping adjustment of deleting information with a smaller radio field intensity among the overlapped information when the information of the same wireless tag is overlapped in the read-out result in the different storage places belonging to the same group information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to inventory management devices and programs.

Inventory management using wireless tags (for example, RFID tags) has become widespread. In such inventory management, a wireless tag is attached to each item, and at the time of inventory, information (individuals) stored by the wireless tag in a non-contact manner from a position of, for example, about 30 cm to 10 m by a reader with a built-in antenna. Acquire a product code (EPC: Electronic Product Code) (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in the field of inventory management, a group of articles managed separately may be stored in a close place (for example, adjacent shelves). The group of goods includes, for example, products handled in physical stores and products handled in electronic commerce (EC: electronic commerce, online shopping, etc.). However, in the conventional method, if the products handled in the actual store and the products handled by the EC are stored in a place close enough to be read by the reading device at the same time, it becomes difficult to manage the inventory correctly.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable the articles to be managed correctly even if the wireless tags attached to the articles managed separately are stored in a place where they may be read simultaneously by the reading device. Is.

The inventory management device of the embodiment has the same group information as a storage unit that stores group information associated with a storage location for storing an article with a wireless tag, a reading control unit that receives a reading result of the wireless tag by the reading device, and the same group information. When the information of the same wireless tag is duplicated in the reading results of the different storage locations belonging to the above, the adjustment unit for performing the duplication adjustment for deleting the information having the smaller radio field strength among the duplicated information is provided.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a storage location for articles that are subject to inventory management in the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of how to read a tag attached to an article stored in the storage location. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an inventory management system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an RFID reader. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a server configuration. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a grouping screen displayed on the display unit by the group setting unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an inventory location selection screen displayed on the display unit by the inventory target selection unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an inventory screen displayed on the display unit by the reading control unit during reading by the reading device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a list (overlapping buffer) of reading results by a reading device in an area belonging to the same group. FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the flow of inventory processing executed by the control unit 110.

(First Embodiment)
The embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a storage location for articles that are subject to inventory management in the embodiment. The storage locations are, for example, a plurality of areas 510 and 520 included in one floor 500 of the warehouse.

Area 510 is an inventory area for stores and stores products handled in actual stores. Area 510 includes shelves 511 and 512 for storing goods. Area 520 is an EC inventory area and stores products handled by EC. Area 520 includes shelves 521 and shelves 522 for storing goods.

Here, as shown in the figure, the areas 510 and 520, which are the storage locations of the present embodiment, are, for example, a group of adjacent shelves, and there are shelves included in another area between the shelves included in one area. There is no such thing. It should be noted that the same applies even if the shelf described here is, for example, a box or a space. That is, in the present embodiment, the plurality of areas 510 and 520 may be adjacent to each other, but they are not mixed and exist.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of how to read the tag 600 attached to the articles stored in the storage locations (areas 510 and 520). A tag 600 is attached to each product stored in each shelf 511, 512, 521, 522. The tag 600 is a wireless tag such as an RFID tag, and stores, for example, an individual product code (EPC: Electronic Product Code). The individual code stored in the tag 600 is different.

The reading device 700 for reading the tag 600 is composed of, for example, an antenna 200 and an RFID reader 300. Further, the reading device 700 is, for example, a handy type that is held in a hand and used by pointing the antenna 200 at the reading target.

The antenna 200 transmits and receives radio waves of a predetermined frequency under the control of the RFID reader 300. The tag 600 transmits the individual code stored by itself by receiving the radio wave emitted by the antenna 200. The RFID reader 300 A / D-converts the radio wave received by the antenna 200 to acquire the individual code transmitted by the tag 600.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the inventory management system according to the present embodiment. The inventory management system includes a server 100, a plurality of RFID readers 300, and an antenna 200. Each RFID reader 300 is communicably connected to the server 100. This connection can be wireless or wired. Each RFID reader 300 sends a reading result (that is, an individual code received from the tag 600) to the server 100.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the RFID reader 300. The RFID reader 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, an output DA converter 304, a PLL 305, a power amplifier 306, a digital modulator / demodulator 307, an LNA 308, a thermistor 309, a communication control unit 310, an AD converter 311 and the like.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301 is a main part of the RFID reader 300 and centrally controls each part. The ROM (Read Only Memory) 302 is a read-only memory that stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System). The RAM (Random Access Memory) 303 stores various data in a rewritable manner.

The output DA converter 304 converts a digital signal output to the server 100 or the like into an analog signal. The PLL (Phase Locked Loop) 305 is an electronic circuit that matches the reference frequency of the signal input into the own device with the frequency of the signal output from the own device.

The thermistor 309 detects the temperature inside the own device. The power amplifier 306 amplifies the signal received from the tag 600 and the detection signal of the thermistor 309 via the antenna 200. The LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) 308 amplifies the signal received from the tag 600 via the antenna 200 and the detection signal of the thermistor 309, and is an amplifier having a small noise figure applied to the first stage of the own device.

The AD converter 311 converts an analog signal input from the server 100, a signal received from the tag 600 via the antenna 200, a detection signal of the thermistor 309, and the like into a digital signal. The digital modulator / demodulator 307 modulates / demodulates the signal converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 311. The communication control unit 310 controls communication with the server 100 according to RS232C.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 100. The server 100 is an example of an inventory management device. The server 100 includes a display unit 101, an operation unit 102, an I / F (Interface, interface) 103, a communication unit 104, a control unit 110, and a storage unit 120.

The display unit 101 is an example of an output unit that notifies the operator of information, and is a display device such as a liquid crystal display. The output unit may be another information output device such as a printer or a speaker. The operation unit 102 is an example of an input unit that receives an operation for designating a work from an operator, and is provided on, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a display unit 101 and receives an operation according to the display content of the display unit 101. Such as a touch panel.

The I / F 103 connects the RFID reader 300 to the server 100, and transmits the output of the RFID reader 300 to the control unit 110. The communication unit 104 connects an external device to the server 100 via a network or the like so as to be communicable.

The control unit 110 has a computer configuration, and is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM is a storage medium for storing various programs and data. RAM is a storage medium that temporarily stores various programs and various data. The CPU functions by executing a program stored in a ROM or the like, and controls the operation of the server 100 in an integrated manner.

The storage unit 120 is, for example, a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 120 stores various programs that can be executed by the control unit 110 (CPU), setting information, and the like. For example, the storage unit 120 stores the group information 121, the theoretical inventory information 122, and the read inventory information 123.

The group information 121 associates areas 510,520 that the reader 700 may simultaneously read, based on the arrangement of areas 510,520. As a specific example, the group information 121 of the present embodiment is associated with information for identifying a group (name, number, symbol, etc.) and information for identifying areas 510 and 520 belonging to the group. The above-mentioned "possible to read at the same time" means that the radio wave radiated by the antenna 200 may reach and receive the radio wave returned by the tag 600 that has received the radio wave.

For example, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, if the read radio wave indicated by the broken line reaches too much in the depth direction (upper direction in the figure), a part of the area 520 is added to the reading result as if the area 510 was read. May be mixed. Therefore, in the case of such an arrangement, the storage unit 120 stores the group information 121 that defines the area 510 and the area 520 to be treated as the same group.

The reading inventory information 123 is a reading result (actual measurement value) by the reading device 700, and is information that identifies the area 510 (or 520) to be inventoried at the time of the reading, and the number of tags 600 acquired by the reading. It is an association with the product code.

The theoretical inventory information 122 is a theoretical value used for comparing the read inventory information 123 obtained by inventory, and is specifically stored in the area 510 (or 520) and the area 510 (or 520). It is associated with the individual item code stored in the tag 600 attached to the item that should be present.

The control unit 110 realizes various functional units by reading a program stored in the storage unit 120 or the ROM and executing the program by the CPU. The control unit 110 has a read control unit 111, an adjustment unit 112, a group setting unit 113, and an inventory target selection unit 114 as functional units.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the grouping screen 800 that the group setting unit 113 displays on the display unit 101. The grouping screen 800 executes grouping of display fields 811 and 821 for displaying a plurality of areas 510 and 520 to be grouped, check boxes 812 and 822 for accepting selections, and selected areas 510 and 520. It includes a grouping button 801 for accepting, a group name input button 802 for accepting input of a group name, and the like.

The plurality of areas 510 and 520 that are selectively displayed on the grouping screen 800 are, for example, close to each other and may be read by the reading device 700 at the same time. The group setting unit 113 generates the group information 121 based on the operation received by the grouping screen 800, and stores the group information 121 in the storage unit 120.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the inventory location selection screen 900 displayed on the display unit 101 by the inventory target selection unit 114. The inventory target selection unit 114 accepts the selection of one area 510 (or 520) to be inventoryed (that is, read by the reading device 700) from the inventory location selection screen 900.

The inventory location selection screen 900 displays the display fields 911, 921 that display the areas 510 and 520 as options for the inventory location, the check boxes 912 and 922 that accept the selection, and the theoretical inventory of the selected area 510 (or 520). Includes a theoretical inventory load button 901 to read. In addition, the inventory location selection screen 900 includes status columns 913 and 923 indicating the status of inventory (completed / not executed) and all inventory completion buttons 902 for the user to declare that all inventory has been completed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an inventory screen 400 that the reading control unit 111 displays on the display unit 101 during reading by the reading device 700. On the inventory screen 400, in addition to a list 410 of the total number of products corresponding to the read individual product code classified by SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) 411, a reading start button 401, a pause button 402, and a completion button 403 are displayed. Will be done. In this inventory screen 400, the total number in SKU is shown by the theoretical value in the denominator 412 and the fraction of the measured value in the numerator 413.

The reading control unit 111 designates one by one from a plurality of areas 510 and 520 belonging to one group information 121, and receives the reading result by the reading device 700.

When the reading results of the different areas 510 and 520 belonging to the same group information 121 include the information of the same tag 600 in duplicate, the adjusting unit 112 has a lower radio field strength at the time of reading among the duplicated information. Delete the one. As the radio wave strength, for example, an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value is used.

The intention of adjusting the duplicate information by the adjusting unit 112 can be easily understood by assuming a state as shown in FIG. 2, for example. When performing inventory, the user (operator) of the reading device 700 points the antenna 200 at the target to be read (the shelf 511 including the area 510 in the illustrated state) and reads. Further, if the shelves 511 and 512 of the target area 510 are arranged as shown in FIG. 2, it is considered that the user moves the antenna 200 from the state of facing the shelf 511 in the lateral direction (right direction in the figure). Be done.

In the above case, even if the tag 600 attached to the product in the area 510 is intended to be read, the radio wave of the antenna 200 may reach the area 520 in the back and the tag 600 of the product in the area 520 may be included in the reading result. There is sex. An example is the product of SKU49 on the inventory screen 400 shown in FIG. 8, and the number of the products (measured value) exceeds the theoretical value. This indicates that the reading device 700 has also read the tag 600 attached to the product of SKU49 included in the area 520 other than the area 510 designated as the target of the lower inventory. However, in that case, the radio field strength of the signal returned by the tag 600 in the area 520 is considered to be clearly smaller than that in the area 510.

Then, when taking an inventory of the area 520, the user reads the reading device 700 toward the shelves 521 and 522 included in the area 520. The reading result should include a reading result having a radio field intensity stronger than that of the tag 600 of the area 520 mixed in the reading result of the area 510.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a list (overlapping buffer) of reading results by the reading device 700 in areas 510 and 520 belonging to the same group. In this example, the tags 9 and 10 are included in both the reading result of the area 510 and the reading result of the area 520, and are duplicated. In such a case, the adjusting unit 112 collates the reading results of the areas 510 and 520 belonging to the same group, and if there is an individual code of the same tag 600 (tag 9 and tag 10 overlap in this example), the radio wave Delete the weaker one and leave the stronger one. Thereby, it is possible to clarify which area 510 or 520 the tag 600 of the duplicated individual product code belongs to.

In the inventory management system having such a configuration, the control unit 110 of the server 100 operates as described below. FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the flow of inventory processing executed by the control unit 110. When the check box 912 or 922 is selected and the theoretical inventory load button 901 is operated on the inventory location selection screen 900 displayed on the display unit 101 as the inventory target selection unit 114, the control unit 110 receives an operation (Yes in step S1). The processing of steps S2 to S9 is performed. That is, the control unit 110 first reads the theoretical inventory information 122 of the storage unit 120 and loads the theoretical inventory of the area 510 (or 520) designated as the inventory target by the user (step S2). Subsequently, the control unit 110 displays the inventory screen 400 reflecting the theoretical inventory on the display unit 101, and waits for the operation of the reading start button 401 (No in step S3). When the reading start button 401 is operated (Yes in step S3), the control unit 110, as the reading control unit 111, radiates radio waves from the antenna 200 of the reading device 700 and starts reading the tag 600 by the RFID reader 300. (Step S4).

Next, the control unit 110 confirms whether or not the individual product code is duplicated each time the individual product code (EPC) of the tag 600 and the RSSI value at the time of reading are obtained (step S5). This is a duplicate adjustment in reading for one area 510 (or 520).

If the individual code of the latest read result overlaps with the saved individual code (Yes in step S5), the RSSI values at the time of each reading are compared, and the RSSI value of the latest one than the saved one is compared. If is larger (Yes in step S6), the saved read result duplicated with the latest one is updated with the latest one (Step S7).

In step S5, if the individual code of the latest read result does not overlap with the saved individual code (No in step S5), the control unit 110 puts the latest read result in the duplicate buffer (FIG. 9). It is saved and reflected in the numerator 413 of the total number included in the list 410 of the inventory screen 400 (step S8).

After that, the control unit 110 repeats steps S4 to S8 until the completion button 403 of the inventory screen 400 is operated by the user (No in step S9). Then, when the completion button 403 is operated, the control unit 110 returns the process to step S1 assuming that the inventory of the area 510 (or 520) is completed (Yes in step S9).

When the theoretical inventory load button 901 is not operated (No in step S1) on the inventory location selection screen 900 displayed on the display unit 101 as the inventory target selection unit 114, the control unit 110 operates the all inventory completion button 902. Wait (No in step S10). When the all inventory completion button 902 is operated (Yes in step S10), the control unit 110 performs the processes of steps S11 to S15. That is, the control unit 110 first checks for duplication within the group (step S11). In this check, the individual product codes (EPCs) are matched, and when the same individual product code is included in the reading results of the different areas 510 and 520, it is determined which RSSI value is larger (step S12).

In step S12, the duplicate buffer (FIG. 9) is read in order, for example, sorted by a tag code (individual item code), and when the individual item codes appear consecutively, the previously read one and RSSI. Compare the values. Then, the control unit 110 updates the duplicate buffer so that the smaller RSSI value is deleted and the larger RSSI value is left (step S13).

The control unit 110 repeats the processes of steps S11 to S13 until it is completed for all the data in the same group (No in step S14), and when it is completed (Yes in step S14), the actual shelf is confirmed (step S15). This process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, even if the in-stock products for stores and the in-stock products for EC are stored in an arrangement that may be read simultaneously by the reading device 700, the respective storage products are stored. Areas 510 and 520 are treated as a group, the reading results of areas 510 and 520 in the same group are compared, and if the individual code is duplicated, the smaller RSSI value is deleted and the larger one is left. Inventory management of 510 and 520 can be performed correctly. That is, even if the tag 600 attached to the separately managed articles is stored in a place (areas 510, 520) where the reading device 700 may simultaneously read the articles, the articles can be managed correctly.

In the above embodiment, the grouping is performed prior to the inventory using the reading device 700, but in the implementation, the areas 510 and 520 are grouped after the inventory by designating the areas 510 and 520. Even if the above is performed, the same result can be obtained if the grouping is performed before the adjustment of duplication.

Further, in the above embodiment, the server 100 is an example of the inventory management device, and is described as including all the functional units (reading control unit 111, adjustment unit 112, group setting unit 113, inventory target selection unit 114). However, in practice, the reading device 700 instead of the server 100 may be an inventory management device and may include a part or all of the above-mentioned functional units.

When the functional unit is divided into a server 100 and a reading device 700, an inventory management system composed of the server 100 and the reading device 700 is an example of the inventory management device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the server 100 stores all the information (group information 121, theoretical inventory information 122, read inventory information 123), but in the implementation, a part or all of the information is read. It may be stored in the device 700.

Further, in the implementation, the group information 121 and the theoretical inventory information 122 may be acquired from an external device or manually input to the server 100 (or the reading device 700).

The display of the duplicate buffer shown in FIG. 9 is an example, and in particular, the RSSI value is set to "weak" for the sake of clarity of the embodiment, but the relevant part may be an actual value.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 110 automatically adjusts the duplication in steps S11 to S13, but in the implementation, if the difference between the RSSI values exceeds a predetermined degree, it is automatically adjusted (the smaller one). If the difference between the RSSI values is not so large, the duplicated information may be presented to the user by the display unit 101 or the like to request the user's instruction.

The inventory management device (server 100) of the above embodiment includes a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD and a CD drive device, and a display device. It is equipped with a display device and input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, and has a hardware configuration using a normal computer.

The program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format on a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It is recorded and provided on a readable recording medium.

Further, the program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Further, the program of the above embodiment may be configured to be provided by incorporating it into a ROM or the like in advance. When the inventory management device is the reading device 700, the program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in a ROM or the like in advance.

The program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment has a modular configuration including each of the above-mentioned units (read control unit 111, adjustment unit 112, group setting unit 113, inventory target selection unit 114). The CPU (processor) reads each program from the storage device and executes it to load each part on the main storage device. As a result, the read control unit 111, the adjustment unit 112, the group setting unit 113, and the inventory target selection unit 114 are generated on the main storage device.

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 embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

100 ... Server (inventory management device), 101 ... Display unit, 102 ... Operation unit 110 ... Control unit, 111 ... Reading control unit, 112 ... Adjustment unit 113 ... Group setting unit, 114 ... Inventory target selection unit 120 ... Storage unit, 121 ... Group information, 122 ... Theoretical inventory information, 123 ... Reading inventory information 200 ... Antenna 300 ... RFID reader, 301 ... CPU, 302 ... ROM, 303 ... RAM
400 ... Inventory screen 401 ... Reading start button, 402 ... Pause button, 403 ... Done button 500 ... Floor,
510,520 ... Area (storage place), 511,512,521,522 ... Shelf 600 ... Tag (wireless tag, RFID tag)
700 ... Reader 800 ... Grouping screen, 801 ... Grouping button, 802 ... Group name input button 811 ... Display field, 812 ... Check box 900 ... Inventory location selection screen, 901 ... Theoretical inventory load button, 902 ... All inventory completed Button 911 ... Display column, 912 ... Check box, 913 ... Status column

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-089844

Claims (6)

A storage unit that stores group information that associates storage locations for storing items with wireless tags,
A reading control unit that receives the reading result of the wireless tag by the reading device, and
When the information of the same wireless tag is duplicated in the reading result of the different storage locations belonging to the same group information, the adjustment unit that performs the duplication adjustment that deletes the information having the smaller radio field strength among the duplicated information. ,
Inventory management device. The inventory management device according to claim 1, further comprising a group setting unit that generates the group information and stores the group information in the storage unit. The inventory management device according to claim 2, wherein the group setting unit stores the group information in the storage unit prior to the duplicate adjustment by the adjustment unit. The inventory management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information of the wireless tag received by the reading control unit as a reading result by the reading device is an individual code. The adjusting unit automatically performs the duplication adjustment when the difference in radio field intensity of the duplicated information exceeds a predetermined degree, and when the difference does not exceed the predetermined degree, the execution of the duplication adjustment is performed. The inventory management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which requests a user for instructions. A computer of an inventory management device equipped with a storage unit that stores group information that associates storage locations for storing items with wireless tags.
A reading control unit that receives the reading result of the wireless tag by the reading device, and
When the information of the same wireless tag is duplicated in the reading result of the different storage locations belonging to the same group information, the adjustment unit that performs the duplication adjustment that deletes the information having the smaller radio field strength among the duplicated information. ,
A program to function as.

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