JP7263042B2 - Inventory control device and program - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an inventory management device and program.

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 information stored in the wireless tag (individual item) can be read from a distance of, for example, 30 cm to 10 m by a reader with a built-in antenna during inventory. A product code, EPC (Electronic Product Code) is acquired (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in the field of inventory management, there are cases where groups of articles managed separately are stored in close locations (for example, adjacent shelves). The product group includes, for example, products handled in actual stores and products handled in electronic commerce (EC: electronic commerce, online shopping, etc.). However, with the conventional method, it is difficult to properly manage inventory when products handled in physical stores and products handled in EC are stored in such close proximity that they are read by a reading device at the same time.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make it possible to correctly manage articles even if the wireless tags attached to the articles to be separately managed are stored in a place where there is a possibility that they can be read simultaneously by a reader. is.

The inventory management device of the embodiment provides group information for associating storage locations where there is a possibility that the wireless tags will be read at the same time, among a plurality of storage locations that store articles attached with wireless tags that store individual item codes. a reading control unit for receiving information including the individual product code as a result of reading the wireless tag by a reading device; and reading the wireless tag at different storage locations belonging to the same group information. and an adjustment unit that performs overlap adjustment for deleting information having a smaller radio wave intensity among the overlapped information when the information of the wireless tag overlaps as a result.

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 tags attached to articles stored in a storage location. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an inventory management system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the RFID reader. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server. 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 by the reading control unit on the display unit during reading by the reading device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a list (redundant buffer) of results of reading by the reading device of areas belonging to the same group. FIG. 10 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the flow of inventory processing executed by control unit 110 .

(First embodiment)
Embodiments 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.

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

Here, the areas 510 and 520, which are storage locations in this embodiment, are, for example, a group of adjacent shelves, and there are shelves included in another area between the shelves included in one area. never. It should be noted that the same is true even if what is described as a shelf here is, for example, a box or a space. In other words, in this embodiment, the multiple areas 510 and 520 may be adjacent to each other, but they should not be mixed together.

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

A reader 700 for reading the tag 600 is composed of an antenna 200 and an RFID reader 300, for example. Further, the reading device 700 is, for example, a handy type that is held in a hand and used with the antenna 200 directed toward an object to be read.

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

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

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

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

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

The thermistor 309 detects the temperature inside the device itself. The power amplifier 306 amplifies the signal received from the tag 600 via the antenna 200, the detection signal of the thermistor 309, and the like. An 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 with a small noise figure applied to the first stage of its 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 from the thermistor 309, and the like into digital signals. A digital modem 307 modulates and demodulates the signal converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 311 . The communication control unit 310 manages communication with the server 100 according to RS232C.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 100. As shown in FIG. Server 100 is an example of an inventory management device. The server 100 includes a display unit 101 , an operation unit 102 , an interface (I/F) 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. Note that 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 task from an operator. 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 communicably connects external devices to the server 100 via a network or the like.

The control unit 110 has a computer configuration and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM is a storage medium that stores 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 operations 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 executable by the control unit 110 (CPU), setting information, and the like. For example, the storage unit 120 stores group information 121 , theoretical inventory information 122 and read inventory information 123 .

The group information 121 associates the areas 510 and 520 that are likely to be read simultaneously by the reader 700 based on the arrangement of the areas 510 and 520 . As a specific example, the group information 121 of this embodiment associates information identifying a group (name, number, symbol, etc.) with information identifying the areas 510 and 520 belonging to the group. The above-mentioned "possibility of reading at the same time" means that the radio wave emitted by the antenna 200 arrives and the radio wave returned by the tag 600 that received the radio wave is likely to be received.

For example, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, if the reading radio wave indicated by the dashed line reaches too far in the depth direction (upward direction in the figure), the reading result intended to read the area 510 may show a part of the area 520. may be mixed. Therefore, in the case of such an arrangement, the storage unit 120 is caused to store group information 121 defining that the areas 510 and 520 are treated as the same group.

The read inventory information 123 is the reading result (actual measurement value) by the reading device 700, and includes information specifying the area 510 (or 520) that is the target of inventory at the time of reading and the number of tags 600 acquired by the reading. It associates the product code with the .

The theoretical inventory information 122 is a theoretical value used for matching the read inventory information 123 obtained by inventory. and the individual product code stored in the tag 600 attached to the product that should be there.

The control unit 110 implements various functional units by reading programs stored in the storage unit 120 or ROM and executing them by the CPU. The control unit 110 has a reading 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 a grouping screen 800 displayed on the display unit 101 by the group setting unit 113. As shown in FIG. The grouping screen 800 includes display fields 811 and 821 for displaying a plurality of areas 510 and 520 to be grouped, checkboxes 812 and 822 for accepting selection, and execution of grouping of the 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.

A plurality of areas 510 and 520 selectably displayed on the grouping screen 800 are, for example, arranged close to each other and may be read simultaneously by the reading device 700 . The group setting unit 113 generates group information 121 based on the operation received through the grouping screen 800 and stores it in the storage unit 120 .

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

The stocktaking location selection screen 900 includes display columns 911 and 921 for displaying areas 510 and 520 as options for stocktaking locations, check boxes 912 and 922 for accepting selection, and theoretical stock for the selected area 510 (or 520). Includes load theoretical inventory button 901 to read. The inventory location selection screen 900 also includes status columns 913 and 923 indicating the inventory status (completed/unexecuted) and an inventory completion button 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 displayed on the display unit 101 by the reading control unit 111 while the reading device 700 is reading. The inventory screen 400 displays a list 410 of total number of products classified by SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) 411 corresponding to the read individual product code, as well as a reading start button 401, a pause button 402, and a completion button 403. be done. In this inventory screen 400, the total number of SKUs is indicated by the denominator 412 as the theoretical value and the numerator 413 as the fraction of the actually measured value.

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

If the read results of different areas 510 and 520 belonging to the same group information 121 include duplicate information of the same tag 600, the adjustment unit 112 determines which of the duplicate information has the lowest radio wave intensity at the time of reading. delete the other. For example, an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value is used as the radio wave intensity.

The intention of the adjustment of redundant information by the adjustment unit 112 can be easily understood by assuming a state as shown in FIG. 2, for example. A user (operator) of the reading device 700 points the antenna 200 at an object to be read (a shelf 511 included in the area 510 in the illustrated state) when performing an inventory. Also, if the shelves 511 and 512 of the target area 510 are arranged as shown in FIG. 2, the user may move the antenna 200 laterally (to the right in the drawing) from the state in which the antenna 200 is pointed at the shelf 511. be done.

In the above case, even if you intend to read the tag 600 attached to the product in the area 510, the radio wave from the antenna 200 reaches the area 520 further back, and the tag 600 of the product in the area 520 may be included in the reading result. have a nature. The product of SKU49 on the inventory screen 400 shown in FIG. 8 is an example, and the number of products (actual measurement) exceeds the theoretical value. This indicates that the reader 700 has also read the tag 600 attached to the product of SKU 49 included in the area 520 other than the area 510 designated as the target of the lower inventory. However, in that case, the radio wave intensity of the signal returned by the tag 600 in the area 520 is considered to be clearly smaller than that in the area 510 .

When performing an inventory of the area 520 , the user directs the reading device 700 toward the shelves 521 and 522 included in the area 520 to perform reading. The reading result should include the reading result of the radio field strength stronger than the tag 600 in the area 520 mixed in the reading result of the area 510 .

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

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 control unit 110 . When the control unit 110 selects the check box 912 or 922 and operates the theoretical inventory load button 901 on the inventory location selection screen 900 displayed on the display unit 101 as the inventory target selection unit 114 (Yes in step S1), Steps S2 to S9 are processed. That is, the control unit 110 first reads out the theoretical inventory information 122 of the storage unit 120 and loads the theoretical inventory of the area 510 (or 520) designated by the user as an inventory target (step S2). Subsequently, the control unit 110 causes the display unit 101 to display the inventory screen 400 reflecting the theoretical inventory, 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, causes the antenna 200 of the reading device 700 to emit radio waves, and the RFID reader 300 starts reading the tag 600. (Step S4).

Next, every time the controller 110 obtains the individual product code (EPC) of the tag 600 and the RSSI value at the time of reading, it checks whether the individual product code overlaps (step S5). This is an adjustment for overlap in reads targeted to one area 510 (or 520).

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

In step S5, if the individual product code of the latest read result does not overlap with the stored individual product code (No in step S5), the control unit 110 stores the latest read result in the overlap 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).

Thereafter, 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 assumes that the inventory of the area 510 (or 520) is completed (Yes in step S9), and returns the process to step S1.

In the inventory location selection screen 900 displayed on the display unit 101 as the inventory target selection unit 114, if the theoretical inventory load button 901 is not operated (No in step S1), the control unit 110 allows the operation of 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 section 110 performs the processing of steps S11 to S15. That is, the control unit 110 first checks duplication within the group (step S11). In this check, the individual product codes (EPC) are compared, and if the same individual product code is included in the read results of the separate areas 510 and 520, it is determined which RSSI value is larger (step S12).

In step S12, the overlapping buffer (FIG. 9) is read in order, for example, by sorting by tag code (individual product code). Compare values. Then, the control unit 110 updates the overlapping buffer so as to delete the one with the smaller RSSI value and leave the one with the larger RSSI value (step S13).

The control unit 110 repeats the processing of steps S11 to S13 until all the data in the same group are completed (No in step S14). End this process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, even if an inventory product for a store and an inventory product for an EC are stored in an arrangement that can be read by the reading device 700 at the same time, each storage Areas 510 and 520 are treated as a group, and the reading results of areas 510 and 520 in the same group are matched. 510, 520 can be managed correctly. In other words, even if the tags 600 attached to the articles to be managed separately are stored in places (areas 510 and 520) where there is a possibility that the reading device 700 will read them at the same time, 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 practice, the areas 510 and 520 are grouped after the inventory is specified by specifying the areas 510 and 520. can get similar results if the grouping is done before adjusting for overlaps.

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

Note that when the functional units are divided into the server 100 and the reading device 700, the inventory management system configured by the server 100 and the reading device 700 is an example of an inventory management device.

In the above embodiment, the server 100 stores all information (group information 121, theoretical inventory information 122, read inventory information 123). It may be stored in the device 700 .

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

It should be noted that the display of overlapping buffers shown in FIG. 9 is an example, and the RSSI value is set to "weak" for ease of understanding of the embodiment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the control unit 110 automatically adjusts the overlap in steps S11 to S13. deleted), and if the difference between the RSSI values is not so large, the redundant information may be presented to the user on the display unit 101 or the like, and the user's instruction may be requested.

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 a HDD and a CD drive device, and a display device. It has a display device and an input device such as a keyboard and mouse, and has a hardware configuration using a normal computer.

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

Further, the program executed by the inventory management apparatus of the above embodiment may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the program executed by the inventory management apparatus of the above embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Further, the program of the above-described embodiment may be configured so as to be pre-installed in a ROM or the like and provided. When the inventory management device is the reading device 700, the program executed by the inventory management device of the above embodiment is preinstalled in a ROM or the like and provided.

The program executed by the inventory management apparatus of the above embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units (read control unit 111, adjustment unit 112, group setting unit 113, and inventory target selection unit 114). A CPU (processor) reads out and executes a program from the storage device, thereby loading the above units onto the main storage device. As a result, a reading control unit 111, an adjustment unit 112, a group setting unit 113, and an inventory target selection unit 114 are generated on the main storage device.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example 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 modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100... Server (inventory management apparatus), 101... Display part, 102... Operation part 110... Control part, 111... Reading control part, 112... Adjustment part 113... Group setting part, 114... Inventory object selection part 120... Storage part, 121...Group information 122...Theoretical inventory information 123...Read inventory information 200...Antenna 300...RFID reader 301...CPU 302...ROM 303...RAM
400... Inventory screen 401... Read start button 402... Pause button 403... Complete button 500... Floor,
510, 520... area (storage place), 511, 512, 521, 522... shelf 600... tag (wireless tag, RFID tag)
700... Reading device 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... Complete inventory Button 911...Display column, 912...Check box, 913...Status column

JP 2010-089844 A

Claims (5)

a storage unit that stores group information that associates storage locations with a possibility that the wireless tags are read at the same time among a plurality of storage locations that store articles attached with wireless tags that store individual product codes;
a reading control unit that receives information including the individual product code as a result of reading the wireless tag by a reading device;
When the information of the wireless tags overlaps in the results of reading the wireless tags at the different storage locations belonging to the same group information, overlap adjustment is performed to delete the information with the smaller radio wave intensity among the overlapping information. a coordinator that performs
Inventory management device with 2. The inventory management device according to claim 1, further comprising a group setting unit that generates said group information and stores it in said storage unit. 3. The inventory management device according to claim 2, wherein said group setting section stores said group information in said storage section prior to overlapping adjustment by said adjustment section. The adjustment unit automatically performs the overlap adjustment when the difference in the radio field strength of the overlapped information exceeds a predetermined degree, and when the difference does not exceed the above degree, the execution of the overlap adjustment 4. The inventory management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein instructions are requested from the user. a storage unit that stores group information that associates storage locations with a possibility of simultaneous reading of the wireless tags among a plurality of storage locations that store articles attached with wireless tags that store individual product codes; The computer of the inventory management device equipped with
a reading control unit that receives information including the individual product code as a result of reading the wireless tag by a reading device;
Duplication adjustment for deleting information with a smaller radio wave intensity among duplicated information when the information of the wireless tag overlaps in the results of reading the wireless tags at the different storage locations belonging to the same group information. an adjustment unit that performs
A program to function as

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