JPWO2018174080A1 - Article management system and article management method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an article management system and an article management method for accurately specifying an article arranged in a storage space and managing the arrangement of the article. An article management system (1) manages the arrangement of articles in a storage space (10) for storing articles, and detects pressure two-dimensionally and outputs pressure information indicating the detected pressure. The management apparatus includes a device (100) and a management device (200) that stores article information (231) that is information on an article. The management device acquires pressure information from the sensor device in a time series, and acquires the acquired pressure information. The article arranged in the storage space is specified with reference to the time change of the article and the article information.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an article management system and an article management method for managing the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles.

  Conventional systems for managing articles stored in a storage space are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example. Patent Literature 1 discloses a food management system in which a food storage is provided with a camera and a sensor (for example, a gravity sensor). The food management system acquires image data in a food storage from a camera, for example, and displays, as freshness information, an image of a storage day and an image of the current day side by side. Patent Literature 2 discloses a tag input unit (RFID) that reads a non-contact tag that stores information on food, a pressure-sensitive detection sensor that detects a position where the food is stored, and a weight detection sensor that detects the weight of the food. Disclosed is a food storage provided with the food storage. In Patent Literature 2, a tag input unit reads information of tags of all foods in a food storage, compares the read information with stored inventory information, and specifies a newly added food. ing.

JP-A-2006-57022 Japanese Patent No. 3881884

  The present disclosure provides an article management system and an article management method for accurately specifying an article stored in a storage space and managing the arrangement of the article.

  An article management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an article management system that manages the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles, detects pressure two-dimensionally, and outputs pressure information indicating the detected pressure. And a management device that stores article information that is information about the article. The management apparatus acquires pressure information from the sensor device in a time-series manner, and changes the acquired pressure information with time, With reference to the information, the article arranged in the storage space is specified.

  These general and specific aspects may be implemented by systems, methods, and computer programs, and combinations thereof.

  According to the article management system and the article management method of the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately specify an article stored in the storage space and manage the arrangement of the article.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the article management system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pressure-sensitive sensors according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the article DB according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the stored product DB according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the article management method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of an arrangement in a hangar according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example in which an article has been added from the state shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing sensor outputs corresponding to the arrangements of FIGS. 5A and 5B and their differences. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating another example of the arrangement in the hangar according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example in which the position of an article has been changed from the state shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing sensor outputs corresponding to the arrangements of FIGS. 7A and 7B and differences between the sensor outputs. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of display by the display device. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an article management system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of the article DB according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an article management method according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating another example of changing the arrangement of articles in the hangar. FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an article management system according to another embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hangar according to another embodiment.

(Knowledge underlying the present disclosure)
In the food management system of Patent Literature 1, when an article in a warehouse is specified from image data of a camera and an article is hidden by another article and cannot be imaged, the hidden article is specified. Can not. In the food storage of Patent Literature 2, since only an article provided with an RFID tag can be specified, an article not provided with an RFID tag cannot be specified. As described above, in the conventional systems described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, there are cases where the articles stored in the hangar cannot be specified.

  The present disclosure provides an article management system that accurately specifies an arbitrary article including an article not having an RFID tag stored in a storage space and manages the arrangement of the article. The article management system of the present disclosure uses pressure-sensitive sensors arranged in a matrix in a storage space to identify and manage any article, and stores the storage space based on a pressing force on the pressure-sensitive sensor. Identify the items placed in the

  As used herein, the term “article” includes not only individual items but also a container containing a plurality of items. “Stored item” means an article stored in the storage space. Hereinafter, an example in which the “storage space” is a hangar for storing articles will be described. The hangar is, for example, a warehouse or a storage for distribution.

(1st Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

1.1 Configuration of Article Management System FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an article management system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The article management system 1 includes a matrix sensor device 100 and a communication device 150 arranged in the hangar 10, and a management server 200 that manages articles stored in the hangar 10.

  The matrix sensor device 100 includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) arranged in a matrix and a signal indicating a pressing force output from each of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). And a signal processing unit 120 that processes The matrix sensor device 100 is an example of a sensor device that detects pressure two-dimensionally and outputs pressure information indicating the detected pressure. The pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) include, for example, a first conductive member having elasticity, a second conductive member disposed close to the first conductive member, and a first or second conductive member. A dielectric covering at least partially the surface of the member. The pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) further include, for example, an integrated circuit or a circuit electrically connected to a wiring drawn from the first conductive member and a wiring drawn from the second conductive member. It has a control circuit. Each of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) is based on a change in capacitance between the first conductive member and the second conductive member. N), and outputs a signal indicating the detected pressing force. The signal processing unit 120 responds to the positions of the pressure sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) based on the signals output from the pressure sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). And output as pressure data (pressure information). The pressure data corresponds to, for example, the position (coordinate) of each of the pressure sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) and the pressing force detected from each of the pressure sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). And numerical values. The signal processing unit 120 is, for example, an integrated circuit. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the matrix sensor device 100 includes one signal processing unit 120 for the plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). The number is arbitrary. The matrix sensor device 100 may include a plurality of signal processing units 120. For example, one signal processing unit 120 may be provided for a predetermined number (for example, 100 units) of pressure-sensitive sensors. Further, for example, each of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) may be directly connected to the communication device 150 without providing the signal processing unit 120.

  The communication device 150 is connected to the management server 200 via a network 400 such as the Internet. The communication device 150 outputs the pressure data output from the signal processing unit 120 to the management server 200. The communication device 150 includes a wireless communication interface that conforms to communication standards such as IEEE 802.11, 3G, LTE, and WiFi.

  The management server 200 includes a communication unit 210, a control unit 220, a storage unit 230, and an input unit 240. The management server 200 is an example of a management device that specifies an article in the hangar 10 and manages the arrangement of the article.

  The communication unit 210 includes a wireless communication interface that conforms to communication standards such as IEEE 802.11, 3G, LTE, and WiFi.

  The control unit 220 receives the pressure data transmitted from the communication device 150 in the storage 10 via the communication unit 210. The control unit 220 updates the stored product database (stored product DB, management information) 232 using the received pressure data and the product database (product DB, product information) 231 stored in the storage unit 230. Further, control unit 220 stores the received pressure data in storage unit 230 as sensor output information 233. The control unit 220 can be realized by a semiconductor element or the like. The control unit 220 can be composed of, for example, a microcomputer, a CPU, an MPU, a DSP, an FPGA, and an ASIC. The function of the control unit 220 may be configured only by hardware, or may be realized by combining hardware and software.

  The storage unit 230 stores an article database (article DB) 231, a stored article database (stored article DB) 232, and sensor output information 233. The article DB 231 includes information on articles that can be stored in the storage 10 (see FIG. 3A). The stored article DB 232 includes information on articles actually stored in the storage 10 (see FIG. 3B). In addition, the stored item DB 232 may include information on articles actually stored in the storage 10. The storage unit 230 can be realized by, for example, a hard disk (HDD), SSD, RAM, DRAM, ferroelectric memory, flash memory, magnetic disk, or ROM, or a combination thereof.

  The input unit 240 includes a keyboard, a touch panel, buttons, and the like.

  The article management system 1 further includes a display device 300 connected to the network 400. The display device 300 is an example of an output device that outputs information on articles stored in the storage 10. The display device 300 is a device including a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The display device 300 displays information on articles in the storage 10 based on the stored item DB 232 of the management server 200.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). The N (m rows × n columns) pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) are arranged in a matrix on the floor of the hangar 10, as shown in FIG. Each size of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) is, for example, 1 cm × 1 cm. Note that the size of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) may be determined according to the size of an article stored in the storage 10 or the size of the bottom surface of the storage 10.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of the data structure of the article DB 231. The article DB 231 includes, for example, an article name, an article shape, an article weight, and a weight distribution on the bottom surface of the article. The article DB 231 may include an article identification number (ID) instead of or in addition to the article name. The shape of the article includes the size of the article (eg, length, width, diameter, height) in addition to the bottom shape of the article.

  FIG. 3B shows an example of the data structure of the stored product DB 232. The stored article DB 232 includes, for example, an article name or an identification number (ID) corresponding to the article name, a date and time of entry of the article into the hangar 10, an exit date and time from the hangar 10, an expiration date (for example, one week from the entry date and time), , The position of the article (x, y, z coordinates), the shape of the article, the weight of the article, and the weight distribution on the bottom surface of the article. The position of the article (x, y, z coordinates) is, for example, the position of the center of gravity of the article. The shape of the article includes the size of the article (eg, length, width, diameter, height) in addition to the bottom shape of the article.

1.2 Operation of Article Management System An update process of the stored item DB 232 by the article management system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating the stored item DB 232 by the control unit 220 of the management server 200 according to the first embodiment. The control unit 220 of the management server 200 starts updating the stored item DB 232 at a predetermined timing. For example, the control unit 220 of the management server 200 may start the process of updating the stored item DB 232 periodically (for example, at predetermined time intervals). Further, for example, a sensor for detecting the opening and closing of the door of the hangar 10 is provided in the hangar 10, and when the information that the door of the hangar 10 is opened is acquired from the sensor, the update process of the stored item DB 232 is started. You may. The control unit 220 repeats all the steps S101 to S106 shown in FIG. 4 every predetermined time (for example, every several milliseconds) while performing the update processing of the stored item DB 232. Thereby, the stored article DB 232 is updated. Then, the control unit 220 ends the update process of the stored item DB 232 at a predetermined timing. For example, the control unit 220 may end the update process of the stored item DB 232 when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the update process. Further, for example, a sensor for detecting opening / closing of the door of the hangar 10 may be provided in the hangar 10, and the update processing may be terminated when information indicating that the door of the hangar 10 is closed is obtained from the sensor.

  5A and 5B are examples of the state inside the storage 10, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the article 50 is newly added to the storage 10 from the storage state of the article shown in FIG. 5A. FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically show outputs of the matrix sensor device 100 corresponding to FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively. FIG. 6C schematically shows a difference between FIGS. 6A and 6B. In (a) to (c) of FIG. 6, portions where the sensor output value or the difference value is not 0 are indicated by hatching.

  7A and 7B show another example of the state inside the storage 10, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which the article 55 has been moved onto the article 53 from the article storage state shown in FIG. 7A. FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically show outputs of the matrix sensor device 100 corresponding to FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively. FIG. 8C schematically shows the difference between FIGS. 8A and 8B. In FIGS. 8A to 8C, portions where the sensor output value or the difference value is not 0 are indicated by hatching.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a process of updating the stored item DB 232 by the controller 220 of the management server 200 will be described.

  First, the control unit 220 of the management server 200 acquires, via the communication unit 210, pressure data indicating the pressing force output from the matrix sensor device 100 in the storage 10 (S101). The control unit 220 includes, for example, a CPU and a RAM, and stores the pressure data acquired in step S101 in the RAM. Then, when the update process of the stored item DB 232 is completed, the pressure data stored in the RAM is stored in the storage unit 230 as the sensor output information 233. The control unit 220 may store the acquired pressure data in the storage unit 230 as the sensor output information 233 every time the pressure data is acquired in step S101.

  The control unit 220 calculates a difference between the pressure data acquired last time and the pressure data acquired this time (S102). For example, when the storage state of the article changes from the state illustrated in FIG. 5A to the state illustrated in FIG. 5B, the control unit 220 acquires pressure data as illustrated in FIG. In this step S101, pressure data as shown in FIG. 6B is obtained. In this case, a difference (numerical value) as shown in FIG. 6C is calculated. Similarly, for example, when the storage state of the article changes from the state illustrated in FIG. 7A to the state illustrated in FIG. 7B, the control unit 220 transmits the pressure data as illustrated in FIG. Acquired, pressure data as shown in FIG. 8B is acquired in the current step S101. In this case, a difference (numerical value) as shown in FIG. 8C is calculated.

  Thereafter, the control unit 220 determines whether or not there is a difference between the previously acquired pressure data and the currently acquired pressure data (S103). If there is a difference, the controller 220 refers to the article DB 231 and corresponds to the difference. The stored product is specified (S104). Specifically, for example, the control unit 220 specifies the shape of the stored item from the position (coordinate) where there is a difference, and determines whether or not the specified shape is included in the article DB 231. Further, for example, the control unit 220 specifies the average value of the entire difference (numerical value) as the weight of the stored item, and determines whether or not the specified weight is included in the article DB 231. Further, for example, the control unit 220 specifies the weight distribution of the stored item from the difference position and the value of each difference, and determines whether or not the specified weight distribution is included in the article DB 231. Accordingly, for example, if there is an article in the article DB 231 that has the same shape, weight, and weight distribution, the control unit 220 stores the article corresponding to the calculated difference. Product. It should be noted that “matching” of the shape, the weight, and the weight distribution in the present disclosure includes not only a case where they are completely the same but also a case where each difference is within a predetermined range.

  According to the above determination, for example, in FIG. 5B and FIG. 6C, the article 50 is specified as a stored item corresponding to the difference. Specifically, since the article 50 is not detected at the time of FIGS. 5A and 6A, the control unit 220 newly adds the article 50 at the time of FIGS. 5B and 6B. Judge that it was done. 7B and FIG. 8C, the control unit 220 specifies the article 55 as the storage item corresponding to the negative difference corresponding to the area 55a, and stores the article 55 corresponding to the positive difference corresponding to the area 55b. Is specified as the article 55. Further, since the size and shape of the area 55a and the area 55b are the same and the sign of the numerical value of the difference is opposite, the control unit 220 determines that the specified article 55 has moved from the area 55a to the area 55b.

  When specifying the storage item corresponding to the difference, the control unit 220 determines the position (x, y, z) of the storage item (S105). Specifically, the control unit 220 determines the position (x, y) on the plane of the storage item corresponding to the difference from the position (coordinate) where the difference exists. Further, the control unit 220 compares the previously acquired pressure data ((a) in FIG. 6 and (a) in FIG. 8) with the pressure data acquired this time ((b) in FIG. 6 and (b) in FIG. 8). With reference to these differences ((c) in FIG. 6 and (c) in FIG. 8), the position (z) in the height direction of the specified storage item is determined. For example, comparing FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, since the size (shape) of the region 50a and the region 50b match, the article 50 is arranged on the bottom surface of the storage 10. Judge that Further, for example, the control unit 220 compares the area 53b in FIG. 8B and the area 55b in FIG. 8C, and the sizes (shapes) of the area 53b and the area 55b do not match. Therefore, it is determined that the article 55 is not arranged on the bottom of the hangar 10. Further, since it is known that the article 53 is arranged on the bottom surface by the area 53a of FIG. 8A, the control unit 220 moves the article 55 on the article 53 in the state of FIG. It is determined that they have been placed.

  The control unit 220 updates the stored product DB 232 based on the specified stored product (S106). For example, in the case of FIGS. 5B and 6, information on the newly added article 50 is added to the stored article DB 232. In the case of FIG. 7B and FIG. 8, the position of the article 55 and the date of movement in the warehouse are updated.

  When determining that there is no difference between the previously acquired pressure data and the currently acquired pressure data (No in S103), control unit 220 does not execute steps S104 to S106. The control unit 220 returns to step S101 and repeats the updating process of the stored product DB 232 while the updating process of the stored product DB 232 is continued.

  The stored article DB 232 updated in this manner can be output at a predetermined timing. For example, the display device 300 may request the management server 200 to read the stored product DB 232 when an output instruction of the stored product DB 232 is input by the user or based on a preset condition. FIG. 9 shows an example of display output of the stored product DB 232 by the display device 300. As illustrated in FIG. 9, based on the stored product DB 232 that has been read, the display device 300 includes a part of information (for example, an article name, a storage date, and a position) included in the stored product DB 232, May be displayed.

1.3 Effects and Supplement The article management system 1 of the present disclosure includes a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) arranged in a matrix in the storage 10. Therefore, pressure data indicating the pressing force corresponding to the positions (coordinates) of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) is obtained in time series. Therefore, the article management system 1 of the present disclosure can specify the articles stored in the storage 10 by comparing the pressure data acquired in time series with the article DB 231. Thereby, it is possible to accurately specify and manage an arbitrary article including an article without an RFID tag.

  Furthermore, according to the article management system 1 of the present disclosure, the position (x, y, z) of an article in the hangar 10 can be specified based on the pressure data acquired in time series.

  In the case of an article having a fixed weight distribution, for example, an article with a built-in battery, the orientation of the article is specified by comparing the weight distribution obtained from the pressure data with the weight distribution in the article DB 231. It is also possible.

  According to the article management system 1 of the present disclosure, the user uses the display device 300 without actually seeing the inside of the hangar 10, and is arranged in the hangar 10 at an arbitrary timing and an arbitrary place. You can grasp the goods.

(2nd Embodiment)
The article management system 1 of the present embodiment specifies a stored item using an image of a camera when the stored item cannot be specified only by the output of the matrix sensor device 100.

2.1 Configuration of Article Management System FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of an article management system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The article management system 1 of the present embodiment includes at least one camera 180 in the storage 10 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. The camera 180 is an example of an imaging device capable of capturing a still image or a moving image, and is, for example, a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. One camera 180 may be arranged at a position where the whole inside of the hangar 10 can be imaged. Alternatively, a plurality of cameras 180 may be arranged at a plurality of locations in the hangar 10, and the entire inside of the hangar 10 may be imaged by the plurality of cameras 180. The camera 180 outputs imaging data (imaging information) obtained by imaging the inside of the storage 10.

  FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a data structure of the article DB 231 according to the present embodiment. The article DB 231 of the present embodiment further includes image data of articles in the article DB 231 shown in FIG. 3A. For example, the image data of the article is data of an image of the article captured from various angles. Instead of the image or in addition to the image, the item DB 231 may include data indicating a feature amount for specifying an item that can be extracted from the image captured by the camera 180.

2.2 Operation of Article Management System FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an update process of the stored item DB 232 by the control unit 220 of the management server 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is different from the flowchart of FIG. 4 of the first embodiment in that steps S205 to S207 are newly added. Steps S201 to S204, S208, and S209 in FIG. 12 are the same as steps S101 to S106 in FIG.

  After step S204, the control unit 220 of the management server 200 determines whether or not a storage item corresponding to the difference between the previously acquired pressure data and the currently acquired pressure data has been identified (S205). When the storage item corresponding to the difference cannot be specified (No in Step S205), the control unit 220 acquires the imaging data generated by the camera 180 in the storage 10 via the communication unit 210 (S206). .

  The control unit 220 refers to the article DB 231 and specifies a stored article based on the acquired imaging data (S207). Specifically, the control unit 220 compares the acquired imaging data with the image data in the article DB 231 and specifies the article that matches the most. The comparison of the images is performed based on the feature amounts of the objects included in the images. The control unit 220 may extract a feature amount from an image captured by the camera 180 and specify an article having a similar feature amount from the article DB 231 based on the extracted feature amount.

  Thereafter, the control unit 220 determines the position (x, y, z) of the specified storage item (S208). At this time, if the stored item can be specified based on the pressure data of the matrix sensor device 100 (Yes in step S205), the position of the stored item is determined based on the pressure data of the matrix sensor device 100. When a stored item is specified based on the image data of the camera 180 (No in step S205), the position of the stored item is determined based on at least one of the image data of the camera 180 and the pressure data of the matrix sensor device 100. decide.

2.3 Effects and Supplement As described above, when a stored item cannot be specified only by the output of the matrix sensor device 100, the stored item is specified using the camera 180, so that the stored item can be more accurately managed. Can be.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the first and second embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like are made as appropriate. Also, a new embodiment can be obtained by combining the components described in the first and second embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

  FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which the article 50 is newly added to the hangar 10, and FIG. 7B illustrates an example in which the article 55 is moved in the hangar 10. According to the article management system 1 of the present disclosure, it is also possible to specify the three-dimensional position of an article according to a state change in the hangar 10 as shown in FIG. The example of FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which the article “B” is removed from the state in which the articles “C”, “B”, and “A” are stacked in this order from below. As shown in FIG. 13, when the article “A” is temporarily lifted, the article “B” is ejected from the storage 10, and then the article “A” is returned on the article “C”. The three-dimensional position of the article “A” can be specified by a change in pressure data acquired in a time series.

  In the first and second embodiments, the article is specified based on all of the shape of the article, the weight of the article, and the weight distribution on the bottom surface of the article. However, the article may be specified by at least one of the shape of the article, the weight of the article, and the weight distribution on the bottom surface of the article. Information for specifying an article is not limited to the shape of the article, the weight of the article, and the weight distribution on the bottom surface of the article. The information for specifying the article may be other information as long as the information can be specified from the pressure data obtained by the pressure sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N).

  In the first and second embodiments, there has been described an example in which there are a plurality of types of articles that can be stored in the hangar 10 and the article management system 1 specifies the articles stored in the hangar 10. However, the article management system 1 of the present disclosure can also be applied to a case in which the types of articles that can be stored in the storage 10 are determined in advance. In this case, the article management system 1 does not need to specify the articles stored in the storage 10. Based on the pressure data obtained from the plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N), the control unit 220 of the management server 200 determines the position of the predetermined article on the plane and the position in the height direction in the storage 10. And The management server 200 may store, in the storage unit 230, weight information including at least one of the weight and the weight distribution of the predetermined article stored in the storage 10 instead of the article DB 231. Then, the position in the height direction may be determined by comparing the obtained pressure data with the weight information. For example, if the weight indicated by the pressure data is twice the weight of the predetermined article, it is determined that the two predetermined articles are arranged in an overlapping manner, and the position in the height direction can be determined.

  In the first and second embodiments, the management server 200 is connected to the communication device 150 in the storage 10 via the network 400. However, the management server 200 may be provided in the storage 10. In the first and second embodiments, the display device 300 is connected to the management server 200 via the network 400. However, the function of the display device 300 and the function of the management server 200 may be integrated and realized by one device. Further, the display device 300 may be provided in the hangar 10 (for example, the door of the hangar 10). When the management server 200 and the display device 300 are provided in the storage 10, the communication device 150 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 14, the matrix sensor device 100, the management server 200, and the display device 300 may be configured to be connected without passing through the network 400. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the article management system 1 may not include the communication device 150 and the communication unit 210. All functions of the matrix sensor device 100, the management server 200, and the display device 300 may be integrated and realized by one device.

  In the first and second embodiments, the “storage space” is the hangar 10 such as a warehouse or a storage, and the plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) are connected to the hangar 10 (of the storage space). An example) has been described. However, the plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) can be arranged at arbitrary locations. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the cargo storage unit 510 of the delivery truck 500 may be a storage space corresponding to the storage 10. The storage space may be a truck bed, a display shelf of a store, or a refrigerator. The following various effects can be obtained depending on the location of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N). For example, when a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) are arranged in a storage such as a physical distribution, according to the article management system 1 of the present disclosure, the article and the location of the article in the storage are specified. Becomes possible. Therefore, it is useful for preventing forgetting to ship an article. When a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) are arranged on a display shelf of a store or the like, it is possible to grasp the sales of articles (goods) by using the article management system 1 of the present disclosure. become. Therefore, it is useful for sales management of products in the store. When a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) are arranged in a refrigerator, it is possible to manage the inventory of articles (foods) by using the article management system 1 of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is useful for a user's shopping, and also useful for a system that provides menus according to stock.

  In the first and second embodiments, the control unit 220 of the management server 200 may have an automatic ordering function for automatically ordering articles. For example, the control unit 220 specifies a missing or missing item based on the stored item DB 232 and issues an instruction to order the missing or missing item via an external device (for example, (A personal computer in an article manufacturing factory).

  In the first and second embodiments, as an example of the sensor device, the matrix sensor device 100 including the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 2 is used. . However, the sensor device included in the article management system 1 is not limited to the matrix sensor device 100. That is, the arrangement of the pressure-sensitive sensors 110 (1) to 110 (N) does not have to be in a matrix. The sensor device included in the article management system 1 detects pressure applied to the bottom surface of the hangar 10 using one or more pressure-sensitive sensors, and pressure information indicating the detected pressure in association with the position of the detected pressure. Can be output as long as it can output.

  In the first and second embodiments, the display device 300 is used as an example of the output device. However, the output device included in the article management system 1 only needs to output information on the articles in the hangar 10 based on the stored item DB 232 of the management server 200. For example, a sound output device such as a speaker may be used as the output device.

(Overview of Embodiment)
(1) An article management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is an article management system that manages the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles, and detects pressure two-dimensionally and indicates the detected pressure. A sensor device (100) for outputting information; and a management device (200) for storing article information (231), which is information on the article. The management device acquires pressure information from the sensor device in a time-series manner. With reference to the temporal change of the acquired pressure information and the article information, the article arranged in the storage space is specified.

  Thereby, it is possible to accurately specify and manage an arbitrary article including an article without an RFID tag.

  (2) In the article management system of (1), the three-dimensional position of the specified article may be specified based on the temporal change of the pressure information.

  This makes it possible to grasp the position of the article.

  (3) In the article management system of (2), the management device further has management information for managing the arrangement of the individual articles stored in the storage space, and the management information is based on the specified article. May be updated.

  This makes it possible to read the management information at an arbitrary timing.

  (4) In the article management system of (1), the sensor device may include a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged in a matrix in the storage space.

  Thereby, the pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive sensor by the article stored in the storage space can be detected two-dimensionally.

  (5) In the article management system according to (1), the article information includes at least one of a shape, a weight, and a weight distribution of the article, and the management apparatus converts the pressure information into a difference from a difference due to a temporal change in the pressure information. At least one of the corresponding shape, weight, and weight distribution is specified, and at least one of the specified shape, weight, and weight distribution is changed to the shape, weight, and weight distribution included in the article information. The article corresponding to the difference may be specified by comparing with at least one of them.

  Accordingly, since at least one of the shape, weight, and weight distribution of the changed (added, deleted, or moved) article can be specified, the article can be accurately specified and managed.

  (6) The article management system according to (1) further includes an image pickup device that outputs image pickup information obtained by picking up an image of the inside of the storage space. If the item cannot be specified, the item arranged in the storage space may be specified based on the imaging information.

  As a result, the article can be specified and managed more accurately.

  (7) The article management system of (3) may further include an output device that outputs management information.

  Thereby, the user who owns the output device can grasp the articles in the storage space (hangar) at an arbitrary place.

  (8) An article management system according to another aspect of the present disclosure is an article management system that manages the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing predetermined articles, and detects pressure two-dimensionally and indicates the detected pressure. A sensor device that outputs pressure information; and a management device that has article information that is information including at least one of the weight and the weight distribution of the predetermined article. Then, referring to the temporal change of the acquired pressure information and the article information, the position on the plane and the position in the height direction of the predetermined article arranged in the storage space are specified.

  The shape, weight, and weight distribution of the article can be specified based on the two-dimensionally detected pressure. Therefore, the position on the plane and the position in the height direction can be specified by, for example, comparing numerical values corresponding to the previous and current pressures based on the pressure information acquired in a time series.

  (9) The article management method according to the present disclosure is an article management method for managing the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles, wherein the pressure is detected two-dimensionally by a sensor device and the detected pressure is indicated. A step of outputting pressure information, a step of acquiring pressure information in a time series by a management device that stores article information that is information on the article, and a time change of the acquired pressure information by the management device; And identifying an article disposed in the storage space with reference to the above.

  Thereby, it is possible to accurately specify and manage an arbitrary article including an article without an RFID tag.

  The article management system and the article management method described in all claims of the present disclosure are realized by hardware resources, for example, cooperation with a processor, a memory, and a program.

  The article management system of the present disclosure is useful, for example, as a system for managing articles stored in a warehouse, a truck bed, or a refrigerator.

Reference Signs List 1 article management system 10 hangar 100 matrix sensor apparatus 110 (1) to 110 (N) pressure sensor 120 signal processing section 150 communication apparatus 180 camera 200 management server 210 communication section 220 control section 230 storage section 231 article DB
232 Stored goods DB
233 Sensor output information 240 Input unit 300 Display device 400 Network

Claims (9)

An article management system for managing the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles,
A sensor device that detects pressure two-dimensionally and outputs pressure information indicating the detected pressure,
A management device that stores article information that is information about the article,
With
The management device acquires the pressure information in a time series from the sensor device, and refers to a temporal change of the acquired pressure information, and the article information, and refers to the article arranged in the storage space. Identify,
Article management system.   The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the management device specifies a three-dimensional position of the specified article based on a temporal change of the pressure information.   3. The management device according to claim 2, wherein the management device further has management information for managing the arrangement of individual articles stored in the storage space, and updates the management information based on the specified article. Article management system according to the description.   The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged in a matrix in the storage space. The article information includes at least one of the shape, weight, and weight distribution of the article,
The management device specifies at least one of the shape, weight, and weight distribution corresponding to the difference from the difference due to the temporal change of the pressure information, and specifies the specified shape, weight, and weight distribution. At least one of them is compared with at least one of the shape, weight, and weight distribution included in the article information, and an article corresponding to the difference is specified.
The article management system according to claim 1. An imaging device that outputs imaging information obtained by imaging the inside of the storage space is further provided,
2. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the management device identifies an article arranged in the storage space based on the imaging information when the article arranged in the storage space cannot be identified by the pressure information. 3. Article management system.   The article management system according to claim 3, further comprising an output device that outputs the management information. An article management system for managing the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing predetermined articles,
A sensor device that detects pressure two-dimensionally and outputs pressure information indicating the detected pressure,
A management device having article information that is information including at least one of the weight and the weight distribution of the predetermined article;
With
The management device acquires the pressure information in a time series from the sensor device, refers to a temporal change in the acquired pressure information, and refers to the article information, and the predetermined device disposed in the storage space. Identify the position of the article on the plane and the position in the height direction,
Article management system. An article management method for managing the arrangement of articles in a storage space for storing articles,
A step of detecting pressure two-dimensionally by the sensor device and outputting pressure information indicating the detected pressure;
A step of acquiring the pressure information in chronological order by a management device that stores article information that is information about the article;
By the management device, a temporal change of the acquired pressure information, and referring to the article information, to identify an article arranged in the storage space,
An article management method, including:

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