JP2021060670A - Management system for devices - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a management system for devices in which even devices that are relocated over areas distanced from each other can be reliably managed.SOLUTION: A management system 1 for devices makes a zone terminal 3, arranged for each shop S where devices are placed, collect a device identification code transmitted by an RFID tag 2 mounted on each of the devices. The zone terminal 3 adds a zone identification code of the zone to the collected device identification codes, and performs a short-range communication with a mobile terminal 4 carried by a patrol person patrolling the shop S or a person assigned with location confirmation work. The mobile terminal 4 transmits a device identification code and a zone identification code to a location management device 6 through a communication network 5. The location management device 6 manages the locations of the devices mounted with the RFID tags 2, by associating the transmitted device identification code with the transmitted zone identification code to store them in a storage device 62.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a device management system, and more particularly to a device management system scattered in each section separated by a distance.

A business operator uses a large number of devices to promote a business. In order to efficiently utilize these devices, which are the assets of businesses, it is important to properly manage their locations.

Therefore, a technique for identifying the position of an article indoors by using radio waves received by communication devices such as wireless tags attached to the article has been conventionally known. However, if the equipment is relocated and used, the radio waves will not reach the relocation destination and it will be out of control.

In order to deal with this, when the wireless tag attached to the article receives the radio wave from the wireless communication device, the intensity information of the radio wave is transmitted to the conversion device, and the conversion device converts it into position information and transmits it to the management device. Therefore, a configuration that makes it possible to monitor an article is known (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, when an RFID tag with an identification number stored is attached to the equipment and the RFID reader receives the RFID tag identification number, the WEB server saves information such as identification information of medical equipment, date / time / place, and maintenance history. There is also known a configuration in which the devices can be monitored by collating the data stored in the database with the data received by the RFID reader and displaying the location of the devices on the browsing terminal (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-212048 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-254273

By the way, in the distribution industry, for example, in convenience stores and food supermarkets, it is common practice to relocate various showcases, beverage dispensers, walk-in refrigerators and freezers, and other equipment between affiliated stores. If the record of the relocation is ambiguous and the location is unknown, there will be a problem in asset management.

However, since all of the above-mentioned conventional techniques manage the location of equipment indoors or in a limited area, they cannot be managed when the equipment is relocated across areas.

From the above points, the present invention provides a device management system that can be reliably managed even if the devices are relocated across areas that are distant from each other.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a device management system for managing devices installed in a plurality of sections, which is attached to the devices and transmits a device identification code for each device. And a compartment terminal that is arranged in each compartment where the devices are installed, stores the compartment identification code of the compartment, and collects the equipment identification code from the transmitter by wireless communication. , The mobile terminal that wirelessly communicates with the compartment terminal to acquire the compartment identification code and the equipment identification code, and the compartment identification code and the equipment sent from the mobile terminal through the communication network. It includes a location management device that manages the location of the devices to which the transmitter is attached by storing the identification code in association with the storage device.

In this case, when the division identification code and the equipment identification code are transmitted from the mobile terminal, the location management device stores the division identification code in the storage device corresponding to the transmitted division identification code. If the device identification code and the transmitted device identification code do not match, the transmitted partition identification code and the device identification code are newly associated with each other and updated in the storage device. By memorizing it, it is possible to deal with fluctuations in equipment.

Then, the location management device detects that the device identification code stored in the storage unit corresponding to the transmitted section identification code does not match the transmitted device identification code. By storing in the storage device that the devices of the device identification code that have not been moved are relocated, the traceability of the relocated devices can be ensured.

In certain embodiments, the compartmentalized terminal has a function of periodically transmitting the compartmentalized identification code and the device identification code via the communication network, and the location management device is the compartmentalized terminal. Even when the partition identification code and the device identification code are sent from the device, the device identification code stored in the storage device corresponding to the partition identification code and the device identification transmitted are transmitted. If the codes do not match, the transmitted partition identification code and the device identification code are newly associated with each other and updated and stored in the storage device, and the devices of the device identification code that are not detected are stored. Is stored in the storage device. As a result, the location management device can acquire the latest installation information of the equipment even if the equipment is relocated immediately after the patrol.

In addition, the mobile terminal further includes a maintenance management device, and the portable terminal transmits the maintenance inspection information generated for each of the equipment identification codes acquired from the compartment terminal and the compartment identification code to the maintenance management device. By storing the device identification code and the maintenance / inspection information transmitted by the maintenance management device in the maintenance history storage unit, the system can manage the location of the devices as well as the maintenance information.

Then, it is preferable to use an RFID tag for the transmitter, which transmits the device identification code in response to the RF band radio wave output from the compartmentalized terminal. As a result, the device identification code can be reliably collected even in a wide area.

According to the device management system according to the present invention, the location information of the devices installed in the section is collected by the mobile terminal possessed by the person in charge of visiting the section or the person entrusted with the location confirmation and used as the location management device. Since it is transmitted, the location of the devices can be reliably managed.

The block diagram of the equipment management system which concerns on this invention is shown. The equipment management system of FIG. 1 is shown in a block diagram. An explanatory diagram of a data structure stored in the first storage unit of the storage device in the location management device of the equipment management system is shown. An explanatory diagram of a data structure stored in the second storage unit of the storage device in the location management device of the equipment management system is shown. The change in the stored data of the first storage unit when the equipment is relocated is schematically shown. An explanatory diagram of the data configuration stored in the storage device in the maintenance management device of the equipment management system is shown. The flowchart of the operation of the equipment management system which concerns on this invention is shown.

Hereinafter, a preferred mode of equipment management system for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an embodiment in which the equipment management system according to the present invention is applied to each store of a convenience store. Each store S belonging to the same convenience store has a walk-in refrigerated showcase, an ice cream frozen showcase, a chilled case for displaying lunch boxes and delicatessen, a coffee vendor, a product display shelf, etc. Equipment such as equipment and fixtures are installed. The equipment management system 1 in the present embodiment enables the location of the equipment to be accurately tracked when the equipment is relocated between the stores S. Therefore, in this embodiment, the store S means the "section in which the equipment is installed" of the present invention.

A beacon or RFID tag transmitter 2 that communicates using a wireless LAN or Bluetooh (registered trademark) that emits unique radio waves is attached to the devices to be managed installed in each store S. ing. Since the equipment management system 1 in the present embodiment performs maintenance management as well as location management of the equipment, the equipment to which the transmitter 2 is attached is described as a freezing / refrigerating equipment or a coffee vendor that requires maintenance and inspection. However, shelves and fixtures may be included in the management target as long as they are limited to location management.

The equipment management system 1 uses an RFID tag in the UHF band of 900 MHz for the transmitter 2 (hereinafter, referred to as RFID tag 2), and by using this band, the convenience store store S can use the RFID tag. If so, the communication range covering the inside of the store S is secured. The signal transmitted by the RFID tag 2 includes a tag ID that identifies the RFID tag 2. Further, the devices to which the RFID tag 2 is attached are given a machine number code, and these control tables are prepared in advance. The tag ID and the machine number code are information that can identify the corresponding device, and both correspond to the "device identification code" of the present invention. Therefore, the RFID tag 2 may memorize and transmit the machine number code of the attached device.

In each store S, a compartmentalized terminal 3 for receiving a signal from the RFID tag 2 is arranged. In response to the command from the mobile terminal 4, the compartmentalized terminal 3 communicates with the RFID tag 2 in the store S and collects the tag ID. Then, each compartment terminal 3 stores a pre-assigned compartment terminal ID, and when the collected tag ID is transmitted to the mobile terminal 4, the compartment terminal ID is added and transmitted.

The division terminal ID corresponds to the store number code of the store S in which the division terminal 3 is installed, and a comparison table between the division terminal ID and the store number code is prepared in advance. The division terminal ID and the store number code are information that can identify the corresponding store, and both correspond to the "division identification code" of the present invention. Therefore, the compartmentalized terminal 3 may memorize and transmit the store number code of the store S to be installed. Since the compartmentalized terminal 3 and the RFID tag 2 communicate with each other in a short distance, a plurality of compartmentalized terminals 3 may be provided when the store S has a wide area.

The mobile terminal 4 is carried by a patrolman who patrols each store S or a person who is entrusted with the location confirmation work, for example, a maintenance and inspector of equipment. The following describes the case where it is carried by a maintenance inspector. The mobile terminal 4 is a general smartphone, tablet terminal, notebook-type personal computer, or the like that can be connected to the communication network 5, and is used by installing a predetermined application program. Further, it is assumed that the communication network 5 here includes various communication paths such as the Internet, a mobile communication network, a public line network, and a dedicated line.

The location management device 6 manages the location of the devices installed in each store S. The location management device 6 is composed of a computer server and communicates with the mobile terminal 4 through the communication network 5.

The maintenance management device 7 manages the maintenance status of devices that require regular maintenance and inspection, such as refrigerating / refrigerating devices and coffee vendors, which are installed in each store S, and is composed of a computer server for communication. Communicates with the mobile terminal 4 through the network 5. The maintenance management device 7 is used by a maintenance and inspection company for equipment.

A schematic configuration example of each of the compartmentalized terminal 3, the mobile terminal 4, the location management device 6, and the maintenance management device 7 in the above-mentioned equipment management system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

(Configuration of compartmentalized terminal 3)
The partition terminal 3 has a control unit 31, an RF transmission / reception unit 32, a storage unit 33, and a short-range communication unit 34.

The control unit 31 is a CPU that performs overall control of the partition terminal 3, and realizes various functions related to control by reading and executing a program stored in advance in the storage unit 33.

The RF transmission / reception unit 32 is controlled by the control unit 31 to perform short-range communication with the RFID tag 2 attached to the devices arranged in the store S to collect the tag ID. Specifically, by outputting radio waves in the RF band from an antenna (not shown), in response to this, radio waves including the respective tag IDs transmitted by each RFID tag 2 in the store S are received. Therefore, a battery-less passive type is used for the RFID tag 2.

The storage unit 33 stores programs and various data executed by the control unit 31, and includes a unique partition terminal ID of the partition terminal 3. Further, the storage unit 33 stores the tag ID collected by the control unit 31 through the RF transmission / reception unit 32.

The short-range communication unit 34 communicates with the mobile terminal 4 using the 2.4 GHz frequency band (Bluetooh). At this time, the short-range communication unit 34 is controlled by the control unit 31 and transmits the tag ID and the partition terminal ID stored in the storage unit 33.

(Configuration of mobile terminal 4)
As the mobile terminal 4, a general smartphone including a control unit 41, a short-range communication unit 42, a storage unit 43, an input unit 44, a display unit 45, and a communication unit 46 is used. In this case, the function of the device management system 1 as the mobile terminal 1 is realized by driving a predetermined application program in which the smartphone is pre-installed in the background of the mobile OS.

The control unit 41 executes the mobile OS and the application program stored in the storage unit 43 to perform overall control of the mobile terminal 4.

The short-range communication unit 42 is controlled by the control unit 41 to communicate with the communication unit 31 of the division terminal 3, and receives the tag ID and the division terminal ID collected by the division terminal 3. In this case, the short-range communication unit 42 transmits the transmission request signals of these IDs, and in response to the request signals, receives the tag ID and the compartment terminal ID sent from the compartment terminal 3.

The storage unit 43 stores the mobile OS and the application program. Further, the storage unit 43 is controlled by the control unit 41 and stores the tag ID acquired through the short-range communication unit 42 in association with the partition terminal ID.

The communication unit 46 is controlled by the control unit 41 to communicate with the location management device 6 and the maintenance management device 7 via the communication network 5, and transmits the tag ID and the partition terminal ID collected from the partition terminal 3. To do.

(Configuration of location management device 6)
The location management device 6 includes a control unit 61, a storage device 62, and a communication unit 63.

The control unit 61 is composed of a CPU, a RAM that is a work memory area during operation, a program that realizes a function peculiar to the present invention, and a ROM that stores various data, and the location management is performed by the CPU executing this program. The overall control of the device 6 is performed.

The storage device 62 stores the location management information of the devices installed in all the affiliated stores S. The location management information includes device installation information indicating the machine number code of the devices installed in each store S and location history information indicating the location history of each device. The storage device 62 stores the equipment installation information in the first storage unit 62a, and stores the location history information in the second storage unit 62b.

FIG. 3 shows a data structure of device installation information stored in the first storage unit 62a, and the devices installed in each store S of each store number code are stored in the machine number code. ..

FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the location history information stored in the second storage unit 62b, and stores the location history information for each machine number. Explaining the illustrated location history information, the equipment of "machine number 1" is initially carried into the store S of "store number 1" (date data), and then the staff member is the same "store number 1". When the store S was visited (date data), the location was not confirmed and it was "unknown". Then, the same or another clerk was found at the time of visiting the store S of "store number 2", and then the location was confirmed at each of the two visits of the store S of "store number 2" in chronological order. It is indicated by. Therefore, the relocation of the devices can be seen from the location history information stored in the second storage unit 62b.

The equipment of "machine number 2" in the shown location history information is initially brought into the store S of "store number 1" (date data), and after that, every time the store S of "store number 1" is visited. , It is shown in chronological order that the existence of the equipment of "machine number 2" has been confirmed. Furthermore, the equipment of "machine number 3" was initially brought into the store S of "store number 1" (date data), but even if it is visited twice in a row after that, the equipment of "machine number 2" The existence of the kind has not been confirmed, and it is shown in chronological order that the location was confirmed at the time of visiting the store S of "store number 3".

Further, the storage device 62 is provided with a table storage unit 62c, and is assigned a tag ID set on an RFID tag attached to a device installed in each store S and the device. In the table for contrasting the machine number code and the first storage unit 62a, each division terminal ID set in the division terminal 3 arranged in each store S, and the store number code of the store S are displayed. The table to be compared with is stored in advance.

The communication unit 63 receives the tag ID and the partition terminal ID transmitted from the mobile terminal 4. The control unit 61 refers to the table from the tag ID and the division terminal ID received by the communication unit 63 to acquire the store number code and the machine number code. Then, it is determined whether or not the acquired machine number code matches all the machine number codes stored in the storage unit 62a in association with the store number code, and if they do not match, the machine number code is associated with the store number code in the storage unit 62a. Erase the stored machine number code and rewrite all with the machine number code acquired at this time.

That is, the data structure of the acquired store number code and the machine number code is shown in FIG. 5 (b), and the data structure of the equipment installation information stored in the storage unit 62a corresponding to the “store number 1” is shown in FIG. 5 (b). If it is a), "machine number 1" is missing, and in the store S of "store number 1", the equipment installation information of the equipment has changed. Therefore, regarding the “store number 1” of the storage unit 62a, the data structure of the equipment installation information is rewritten to the data structure of FIG. 5 (b).

Then, the control unit 61 additionally writes the store number code and the date data of the current day in association with the machine number code for the location history information stored in the storage unit 62b. For example, when the acquired store number code and the data structure of the machine number code are shown in FIG. 5 (b), it is assumed that the locations of "machine number 2" to "machine number 5" at this point are confirmed. Write "Store number 1" and date data. However, in the control unit 61, the acquired machine number code does not match the machine number code stored in the storage unit 62a in association with the store number code. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, "machine number 1" is displayed. If it is missing, the location "unknown" and the date data at that time are written for "machine number 1".

Therefore, when the control unit 61 acquires the tag ID and the division terminal ID from the mobile terminal 4 by the communication unit 63, the control unit 61 acquires the machine number code of the equipment from the tag ID and the store number code from the division terminal ID. , Equipment installation information and location history information are generated and stored in the first storage unit 62a and the second storage unit 62b, respectively.

In this way, the person in charge of confirming the location using the mobile terminal 4 is optimally a maintenance inspector who regularly patrols each store S and regularly performs maintenance and inspection of the equipment, and the maintenance inspector is the equipment. When each store S is visited for maintenance and inspection of the same type, the tag ID and the division terminal ID of the devices installed at that time can be obtained by communicating with the division terminal 3 by the portable mobile terminal 4 to be carried. It collects and transmits it from the mobile terminal 4 to the location management device 6.

(Configuration of maintenance management device 7)
The equipment managed by the location management device 6 includes equipment and fixtures that do not require regular maintenance and inspection, but the equipment whose maintenance management history is stored by the maintenance management device 7 is subject to regular maintenance and inspection. Necessary equipment is targeted. The maintenance management device 7 includes a control unit 71, a storage device 72 for storing maintenance history, and a communication unit 73.

The control unit 71 is composed of a CPU, a RAM which is a work memory area during operation, a program that realizes a function peculiar to the present invention, and a ROM that stores various data, and the CPU executes this program for maintenance management. The overall control of the device 7 is performed.

The communication unit 73 receives the maintenance / inspection information transmitted from the mobile terminal 4 in association with the tag ID. The maintenance / inspection information shows the maintenance / inspection results of the equipment installed in the store S, and the maintenance / inspector encodes and inputs the inspection results of the maintenance management items carried out at the site from the input unit 44 of the mobile terminal 4. It is generated by doing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the storage device 72 stores the tag ID and maintenance / inspection information in association with the inspection execution date data sent at the same time. As the maintenance and inspection information, the inspection results of the maintenance management items encoded as the maintenance history are stored in chronological order in the order of date data. Further, the storage device 72 stores device information such as a machine number code corresponding to each tag ID and a device model / specification of the machine number code. Therefore, when the maintenance inspector inquires about the device information by the machine number code by the mobile terminal 4, the control unit 71 transmits the corresponding information from the communication unit 73 to the mobile terminal 4 via the communication network 5.

(Processing operation of equipment management system 1)
FIG. 7 shows the operation flow of the equipment management system 1. In the figure, when the maintenance inspector arrives at the store S at the site, he / she first operates the mobile terminal 4 to transmit a tag ID acquisition request from the short-range communication unit 42 to the compartmentalized terminal 3 (step S1).

Upon receiving this request, the compartmentalized terminal 3 collects a tag ID from each RFID tag 2 attached to each device installed in the store S from the RF transmission unit 32 (step S2). Then, the compartmentalized terminal 3 adds the compartmentalized terminal ID set in the compartmentalized terminal to the collected tag ID and transmits it to the mobile terminal 4 (step S3).

The mobile terminal 4 temporarily stores the compartment terminal ID and the tag ID acquired from the compartment terminal 3 in the storage unit 43, and transmits the compartment terminal ID and the tag ID from the communication unit 46 to the location management device 6 via the communication network 5 (step S4). ).

When the location management device 6 receives the partition terminal ID and the tag ID in the communication unit 63, the control unit 61 refers to the table and acquires the store number code and the machine number code (step S5). Then, by confirming whether or not the machine number code stored in the first storage unit 62a in association with the store number code matches the machine number code acquired from the tag ID received this time, the store S is reached. The fluctuation of the installed equipment is determined (step S6).

When the control unit 61 determines that the installed devices have changed, the control unit 61 rewrites all the machine number codes stored in the first storage unit 62a with the machine number code acquired this time to the machine number code. The store S is updated with new equipment installation information (step S7). Therefore, when new equipment is added, the machine number code of this equipment is newly stored in the first storage unit 62a, and the equipment that existed in the store S last time disappears and the corresponding machine number code is missing. This machine number code will be erased when you are doing so.

Next, the control unit 61 adds and stores the confirmation history of the location at the store S in the second storage unit 62b in association with the machine number code (step S8). Therefore, the devices having the machine number code whose location has not been confirmed are additionally stored in the second storage unit 62b in the confirmation history of "unknown".

When the control unit 61 determines in step S6 that there is no change in the equipment in the store S, the control unit 61 directly performs the process in step S8, and the second storage unit records the confirmation history of the equipment of the machine number code whose location has been confirmed this time as well. It is added to 62b and stored.

Then, when the maintenance inspector who visited the store S carries out the prescribed maintenance and inspection of each device by the tag ID received from the compartment terminal 3, and inputs the result to the input unit 44 of the mobile terminal 4, the mobile terminal The control unit 41 of the machine 4 generates maintenance / inspection information for each tag ID (step S9), and transmits the maintenance / inspection information together with the date data of the current day to the maintenance management device 7.

The maintenance management device 7 stores the maintenance / inspection information sent in association with the tag ID in the storage device 72 in chronological order in the order of date data (step S10).

As described above, the equipment management system 1 according to the present invention is relocated between stores S of the same convenience store series, and changes due to relocation of equipment installed in each of the carried-out store S and the carried-in store S, etc. Even if there is, the traceability of the equipment can be improved because the location status at the store S can be grasped by the maintenance inspector who visits regularly as an example, such as a patrol staff who patrols the store S or a person who is entrusted with the location confirmation work. It can be managed accurately.

However, when the equipment is relocated immediately after the visit of the maintenance inspector, the location management device 6 cannot grasp the latest installation information of the equipment for a long period of time. Therefore, in a certain embodiment, the location management device 6 makes it possible to acquire the tag ID and the division terminal ID from either the mobile terminal 4 or the division terminal 3. In this case, each partition terminal 3 is provided with a communication unit that communicates with the location management device 6 via the communication network 5, and each collects tag IDs periodically, for example, weekly, and collects tag IDs. And the partition terminal ID will be provided with a function of transmitting to the location management device 6 by itself. According to this embodiment, the location management device 6 can acquire the latest equipment installation status more quickly.

In the above-described embodiment, the division terminal ID and the store number code are set separately, but since both are "division identification codes" that identify the store S, the division terminal corresponding to the store number code as the division terminal ID is used as it is. It can also be set on the machine 3. Similarly, the tag ID and the machine number code are set separately, but since both are "device identification codes" that identify the devices, the machine number code should be set as the tag ID in the RFID tag 2. You can also.

Further, the location management device 6 is managed by the headquarters of the convenience store, whereas the maintenance management device 7 is generally managed by the maintenance manager, so that the examples are given in separate systems. The device may be operated in one system.

1 Equipment management system 2 Transmitter (RFID tag)
3 Sectional terminal 4 Mobile terminal 5 Communication network 6 Location management device 7 Maintenance management device 62 Storage device 72 Maintenance history storage device

Claims (6)

It is a device management system that manages devices installed in multiple sections.
A transmitter that is attached to the devices and transmits a device identification code for each device.
A compartment terminal that is arranged for each compartment in which the devices are installed, stores the compartment identification code of the compartment, and collects the equipment identification code from the transmitter by wireless communication.
A mobile terminal that wirelessly communicates with the compartmentalized terminal to acquire the compartmentalized identification code and the device identification code.
Location to manage the location of the equipment to which the transmitter is attached by associating the division identification code sent from the mobile terminal with the equipment identification code and storing it in the storage device through the communication network. Management device and
Equipment management system equipped with. When the division identification code and the equipment identification code are transmitted from the mobile terminal, the location management device stores the division identification code in the storage device in response to the transmitted division identification code. If the device identification code and the transmitted device identification code do not match, the transmitted partition identification code and the device identification code are newly associated with each other and updated and stored in the storage device. The equipment management system described in Item 1. The location management device is not detected unless the device identification code stored in the storage unit corresponding to the transmitted partition identification code and the transmitted device identification code match. The device management system according to claim 2, wherein the device of the device identification code is stored in the storage device. The compartmentalized terminal has a function of periodically transmitting the compartmentalized identification code and the equipment identification code via the communication network.
Even when the division identification code and the equipment identification code are sent from the division terminal, the location management device stores the equipment identification in the storage device corresponding to the division identification code. If the code and the transmitted device identification code do not match, the transmitted partition identification code and the device identification code are newly associated with each other, updated and stored in the storage device, and detected. The device management system according to claim 3, which stores in the storage device that the devices having the device identification code that did not exist have been relocated. The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitter is an RFID tag that transmits the device identification code in response to radio waves in the RF band output from the compartmentalized terminal. .. Equipped with maintenance equipment
The portable terminal transmits the maintenance and inspection information generated for each device identification code acquired from the compartment terminal and the compartment identification code to the maintenance management device, so that the maintenance management device transmits the maintenance and inspection information. The device management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which stores the device identification code and the maintenance / inspection information that have been received in the maintenance history storage device.

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