LOGISTICS STATION VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT METHOD

AND ON-SITE WEIGHING APPARATUS

[0001] The present application claims the priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211482835.6, titled "LOGISTICS STATION VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION

MANAGEMENT METHOD AND ON-SITE WEIGHING APPARATUS", filed with the

China National Intellectual Property Administration on November 24, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of logistics informationization, and in particular to a vehicle transportation management method and an on-site weighing apparatus for a logistics station.

[0003] With the development of modern logistics systems, the digitalization level of informationization management and the efficiency of logistics stations are expected to be improved.

[0004] For example, in a logistics station for a construction project, the logistics system involves multiple participants, such as a cargo owner, a carrier, a driver, a station manager, a project manager and the like. In a conventional logistics station, a lot of manual operations are involved in processes of cargo entering, weighing and account reconciliation, and therefore transportation vehicles tend to queue up during the peak period of material consumption. It is difficult to form a closed loop for the monitoring of material circulation, and business data cannot be intercommunicated and shared in real time.

[0005] In recent years, some logistics systems with digital management have emerged, which mainly focus on the digital management of a single process, such as an access control system and a weighing system, thereby improving operation efficiency of the single process. It is found that, data of various systems of the conventional logistics station is not intercommunicated, the systems lack a data sharing mechanism, and no effective linkage is formed among the systems, so it is difficult to achieve overall efficiency of the logistics station. The efficiency of entry and exit management of the logistics station is expected to be improved, and the data chain of logistics fulfillment is expected to be improved.

[0006] A vehicle transportation management method and an on-site weighing apparatus for a logistics station are provided according to the present application, which integrates access control management, weighing management, data interconnection and other functions, and solves problems of monotonous digitalization management, low overall operation efficiency and imperfect data chain of logistics fulfillment in the conventional technology.

[0007] To realize the above object, the following technical solutions are provided according to the present application.

[0008] In a first aspect, a vehicle transportation management method for a logistics station is provided, which is applied to a driver self-service terminal. The driver self-service terminal is arranged near a weighbridge of a logistics station, and the driver self-service terminal is communicatively connected with a cloud service platform, an access control system, and a weighbridge system. The method comprises the following steps 1) to 7): step 1): receiving license plate information sent by a license plate recognition camera in response to a vehicle being close to an access control entrance of an entering weighbridge; step 2): searching for corresponding logistics information in a logistics system of the cloud service platform through the Internet according to the license plate information; and sending a first prompt message to indicate that the logistics information is required to be manually input in a case that no matching information is found in the logistics system, and searching for the logistics information again after a predetermined time, such that the driver self-service terminal finds the matching information in the logistics system after a driver fills in the logistics information and uploads the logistics information to the logistics system of the cloud service platform through a smart mobile terminal, step 3): sending a command for admission to the access control system after acquiring the matching logistics information, such that the access control system opens a barrier gate and waits for the vehicle to enter; step 4): receiving position information of the vehicle on the weighbridge acquired by a vehicle position detection device, and determining whether the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge; proceeding to the next step in response to the vehicle being in place on the weighbridge; and sending a second prompt message to remind the driver to adjust a position of the vehicle until the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge in response to the vehicle not being in place on the weighbridge; step 5): scanning and recognizing an electronic QR code by the driver self-service terminal in response to the driver presenting the electronic QR code associated with the logistics information through the smart mobile terminal; acquiring and recording current weighing data through the weighbridge system after receiving a confirmation message of the driver; and then sending a third prompt message, which comprises information for presenting the weighing data and reminding the driver to leave the weighbridge; step 6): executing the steps 1) to 5) again in response to the vehicle being close to an entrance of an exiting weighbridge; and step 7): generating a complete weight slip based on the license plate information, the weighing data of the two times, and the logistics information acquired from the logistics system, printing and outputting the complete weight slip, and uploading weight slip information (an electronic weight slip) to the cloud service platform.

[0009] Optionally, the weighing data includes a weight and a weighing time.

[0010] Optionally, the logistics information includes vehicle information, personnel information, and cargo information.

[0011] Optionally, after the step 5), the method further includes: receiving position information of the vehicle on the weighbridge acquired by the vehicle position detection device, and determining whether the weighed vehicle leaves the weighbridge; and suspending a response to other license plate information sent by the license plate recognition camera in a case that the weighed vehicle does not leave the weighbridge.

[0012] Optionally, each of the first prompt message, the second prompt message, and the third prompt message is sent by a display module and/or an audio module.

[0013] Optionally, data items of the complete weight slip include a weight slip number, a weight slip type, a license plate number, a driver name, a cargo name, a cargo specification, a shipper, a recipient, a shipping place, a shipping time, an entering weight, an entering weighing time, an exiting weight, and an exiting weighing time.

[0014] Optionally, a QR code is provided on a page of the complete weight slip that is printed and output, and the weight slip information is viewable by scanning the QR code.

[0015] In a second aspect, a driver self-service terminal for performing the vehicle transportation management method for a logistics station is provided, including: an information processing module, a storage module, a communication module, a display module, an audio module, a printing module, and a QR-code scanning module; where the information processing module is configured to analyze and process data of the access control system and data of the weighbridge system; the storage module is configured to store an operation log of the driver self-service terminal and weight slip data; the communication module is configured to establish a data transmission link between the driver self-service terminal and each of the weighbridge system, the access control system and a cloud service platform; the display module is configured to display text and graphic information, and to prompt the driver to perform a relevant operation, the audio module is configured to play a prompt voice and call a manual service, and includes a speaker and a key device; the printing module is configured for printing a weight slip; and the QR-code scanning module is configured to scan and identify a QR code provided by the driver to realize a self-service information input.

[0016] In a third aspect, an on-site weighing apparatus for a logistics station is provided, including a weighbridge system, an access control system, and the driver self-service terminal described above. The driver self-service terminal is communicatively connected with the cloud service platform, the access control system and the weighbridge system.

[0017] Optionally, the driver self-service terminal is located on a side of a weighbridge and corresponds to a driving position of a vehicle that is in place on the weighbridge, so as to enable a driver at the driving position of the vehicle to observe a display module.

[0018] The present application has at least the following beneficial effects.

[0019] According to the present application, the driver self-service terminal is arranged near the weighbridge of the logistics station, and is in communication with the cloud service platform, the access control system and the weighbridge system. According to the license plate information identified by the access control system, the corresponding logistics information is searched in the logistics system of the cloud service platform through the

Internet. After the matching logistics information is acquired, the access control system opens the barrier gate. Whether the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge is determined by the vehicle position detection device. Then the driver presents the electronic QR code associated 5 with the logistics information by using the smart mobile terminal, and the driver self-service terminal scans and identifies the electronic QR code. After the confirmation message from the driver is received, the current weighing data is acquired and recorded through the weighbridge system. After the vehicle is weighed on the entering weighbridge and on the exiting weighbridge, the complete weight slip is generated, printed and output based on the license plate information, the weighing data of the two times, and the logistics information acquired from the logistics system, and the weight slip information is uploaded to the cloud service platform. According to the present application, an integrated architecture of the driver self- service terminal, the smart access control system, the weighing system and the cloud service platform is established, which integrates access control management, weighing management, data communication, and other functions, thereby increasing traffic efficiency and the management level of the logistics station, getting through data of various systems, and improving the data chain of logistics fulfillment.

[0020] According to the present application, details of access control management and weighing management are also optimized, which helps the driver to operate normatively and effectively, and reduces system failures.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an architecture of vehicle transportation management of a logistics station according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the data interaction principle of a driver self- service terminal according to an embodiment of the present application; and

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a driver self-service terminal according to an embodiment of the present application (a front view is on the left, a side view is in the middle, and a back view is on the right).

[0024] The present application is further described in detail as follows in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, so that the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application can be more clear and understandable. It should be understood that, the embodiments described herein are merely used to explain the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0025] In an embodiment, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and other technologies are used to improve data acquisition capability of management of a transportation station, establish a data sharing mechanism, and connect data islands, so that data is communicated and shared among various systems, thereby improving the digitalization of management of the logistics station.

[0026] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an architecture of vehicle transportation management of a logistics station mainly includes a driver self-service terminal, an access control system, a weighbridge system, and a cloud service platform. The driver self-service terminal, the access control system, and the weighbridge system are located at a weighing site, and the driver self-service terminal is communicatively connected with the cloud service platform, the access control system, and the weighbridge system. In order to facilitate observation and operation of a driver, the driver self-service terminal is arranged on a side of a weighbridge and corresponds to a driving position of a vehicle that is in place on the weighbridge, such that the driver at the driving position can observe a display screen of the driver self-service terminal, and can even get a paper weight slip without getting off the vehicle.

[0027] The logistics station is usually provided with weighbridges (an entering weighbridge and an exiting weighbridge respectively) corresponding to an entrance direction and an exit direction, respectively. Correspondingly, two driver self-service terminals are arranged near the entering weighbridge and the exiting weighbridge, respectively. The logistics station may be provided with only one weighbridge spatially. Passing through the weighbridge for a first time (equivalent to the entering weighbridge) and passing through the weighbridge for a second time (equivalent to the exiting weighbridge) correspond to entering weighing and exiting weighing, respectively.

[0028] In an embodiment, the driver self-service terminals at the entering weighbridge and the exiting weighbridge are regarded as a whole. From the perspective of the driver self-

service terminal, as shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle transportation management method for a logistics station includes the following steps 1) to 7).

[0029] In step 1), in a case that the vehicle is close to an access control entrance of the entering weighbridge, license plate information sent by a license plate recognition camera 1s received.

[0030] The license plate information may be an image, a license plate number, or the like.

That 1s, the license plate recognition camera may directly recognize the license plate number according to a captured image and send the license plate number to the driver self-service terminal. Alternatively, the camera may only have a capturing function, and may send the captured image to the driver self-service terminal, and then the license plate number is recognized by the driver self-service terminal.

[0031] In step 2), according to the license plate information, corresponding logistics information is searched in a logistics system of the cloud service platform through the Internet.

If no matching information is found in the logistics system, a first prompt message is sent to indicate that the logistics information is required to be manually input. The logistics information is searched again after a predetermined time. Thus, the driver self-service terminal can find the matching information in the logistics system after the driver fills in the logistics information and uploads the logistics information to the logistics system of the cloud service platform through a smart mobile terminal.

[0032] In the case that the logistics information is manually input, only basic logistics information may be input. After the basic logistics information is automatically uploaded to the cloud service platform, for vacant items in the complete weight slip except weighing data, the cloud service platform sends a prompt to a corresponding participant (especially a carrier, i.e, a logistics system) to remind the participant to correct or supplement the logistics information as soon as possible.

[0033] In step 3), after the matching logistics information is acquired, a command for allowing entry is sent to the access control system, such that the access control system opens a barrier gate and waits for the vehicle to enter.

[0034] Further, when the access control system opens the barrier gate, the driver self-service terminal may send an audio prompt (to remind the driver to drive onto the weighbridge).

[0035] In step 4), position information of the vehicle on the weighbridge acquired by a vehicle position detection device is received, and whether the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge 1s determined. If the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge, the next step 1s performed. If the vehicle is not in place on the weighbridge, a second prompt message is sent to remind the driver to adjust a vehicle position until the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge.

[0036] In step 5), in a case that the driver presents an electronic Quick Response (QR) code associated with the logistics information by using the smart mobile terminal, the driver self- service terminal scans and recognizes the electronic QR code. After a confirmation message of the driver is received, current weighing data is acquired and recorded through the weighbridge system. Then a third prompt message is sent, which includes information for presenting the weighing data and reminding the driver to leave the weighbridge. The weighing data includes a weight, a weighing time, and so on.

[0037] In step 6), after loading or unloading is completed, the vehicle is ready to leave the station. In a case that the vehicle is close to an entrance of the exiting weighbridge, the steps 1) to 5) are executed again to weigh the vehicle for a second time.

[0038] In step 7), based on the license plate information, the weighing data of the two times, and the logistics information acquired from the logistics system, a complete weight slip is generated, printed and output, and the weight slip information is uploaded to the cloud service platform.

[0039] After the step 5), the method further includes receiving position information of the vehicle on the weighbridge acquired by the vehicle position detection device, and determining whether the current weighed vehicle leaves the weighbridge. If the current weighed vehicle does not leave the weighbridge, a response to other license plate information sent by the license plate recognition camera is suspended. In this way, logical failures in information acquisition and command sending are prevented.

[0040] Each of the first prompt message, the second prompt message and the third prompt message may be in the form of text and graph displayed on the display screen, or an audio prompt sent by an audio module, or both of them.

[0041] Data items of the complete weight slip include a weight slip number, a weight slip type, a license plate number, a driver name, a cargo name, a cargo specification, a shipper, a recipient, a shipping place, a shipping time, an entering weight, an entering weighing time, an exiting weight, and an exiting weighing time.

[0042] The weight slip type information (transportation task information: loading or unloading) may be pre-entered before weighing, and specifically, may be filled in by the driver, or may be searched and entered from the logistics system of the cloud service platform.

For a single freight task, the weighing slip type information may also be automatically determined and generated based on the weighing data of the two times.

[0043] In addition, a QR code may be generated on a page of the complete weighing slip that is printed and output, and the weight slip information may be viewable by scanning the QR code.

[0044] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the driver self-service terminal includes a housing, an information processing module, a storage module, a communication module, a display module, an audio prompt service module (an audio module), a printing module, and a

QR-code scanning module.

[0045] (1) The housing is provided with a rain shield 1, a display screen 2, a slip printing port 3, a QR-code scanning port 4, a device maintenance door 5, a light bar 6, a back heat dissipation hole 7, and a side heat dissipation hole 8.

[0046] (2) The information processing module is configured to analyze and process data of the access control system and data of the weighbridge system. For example, Intel(R)

Core(TM) 17-7600U CPU @ 2.80GHz, with a memory (RAM) of 4GB or greater, is used.

[0047] (3) The storage module is configured to store an operation log of the driver self- service terminal, the weight slip data and the like, and has a storage space of 256GB or greater.

[0048] (4) The communication module is configured for data transmission between the driver self-service terminal and each of the weighbridge system, the access control system, and the cloud service platform.

[0049] (5) The display module is configured to display text to show relevant information such as the license plate number, and to remind the driver to perform a relevant operation, for example, the display module may include an LED high-definition display screen with a size of 320mm*320mm.

[0050] (6) The audio module is configured to play a prompt voice and call a manual service, and may include a speaker and a key device.

[0051] (7) The QR-code scanning module is configured for inputting information by the driver in a self-service manner. The driver may input the QR code in an APP into the weighbridge system through the QR-code scanning module, so that vehicle information, driver information, and cargo information are shown in the weighing slip. The QR-code scanning module may include a QR-code recognition device.

[0052] (8) The printing module 1s configured for printing the weight slip. The data items of the weight slip and descriptions thereof are listed in Table 1.

[0053] Table 1. Data items of the weight slip and descriptions thereof

Weight slip mmber

Weight slip type Loading/Unloading

License plate number [4 | Divemme

PS | Cagomame [6 | Cargo speeifieation

Shipper I [8 | Respew oo Shipping place —

Shipping time —

Orginal actual weight

Weighbridge for gross weight

Weighing time of gross weight

Weighbridge for tare weight

Weighing time of areweight

Deduction weight

Actual weight

Printing ime of weight slip 29 OR code Scanning QR code by logistics APP to view weight slip information

[0054] The smart access control system includes a camera (including a license plate recognition camera), a photoelectric sensor, and a barrier gate.

[0055] (1) The camera is configured for recognizing the license plate and photographing a vehicle operation image. Specifically, one camera or different cameras may be provided. For example, the license plate recognition camera may be arranged above an exit of the weighbridge or on a side of the exit of the weighbridge, or may be arranged on a side of an entrance of the weighbridge. The camera for photographing the vehicle operation image covers at least one side of a position where a wheel of the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge.

[0056] (2) The photoelectric sensor (the vehicle position detection device) is configured to sense the position of the vehicle on the weighbridge, and to prevent cheating in the weighing process in combination with the vehicle operation image captured by the camera. The details are described as follows.

[0057] After the barrier gate is opened, an Opposite-type photoelectric sensor at the access control entrance of the weighbridge first senses that there is a shielding object, indicating that the vehicle is driving in. When the Opposite-type photoelectric sensor senses that it is in a stable unobstructed state again, it indicates that the vehicle is in place on the weighbridge. In order to strengthen the detection of cheating in the weighing process, the vehicle operation image captured by the camera may be combined for analysis to determine whether there is a wheel of the vehicle that is not completely supported on the weighbridge.

[0058] After the vehicle is weighed, during the process of driving the vehicle away from the weighbridge, an Opposite-type photoelectric sensor at an access control exit of the weighbridge first senses a shielding object, and then senses that it is in a stable unobstructed state again, indicating that the vehicle has left the weighbridge.

[0059] (3) The barrier gate is configured to control the vehicle to enter the weighbridge.

[0060] In an embodiment, the workflow of weighing in the logistics station is briefly described as follows.

[0061] 1. Before the vehicle enters the weighbridge, the license plate recognition camera captures and recognizes the license plate, and transmits the license plate number to the driver self-service terminal. If the task of the vehicle belongs to a transportation task of a logistics platform, the access control system automatically lifts a barrier. The driver self-service terminal searches for the vehicle, the personnel, and cargo information of the logistics system in the cloud service platform, and after the association is successful, the vehicle information, the personnel information, and the cargo information in the weight slip are generated.

[0062] 2. If the license plate recognition fails, or the task of the vehicle does not belong to the transportation task of the logistics platform, the driver fills in the logistics information through the smart mobile terminal to generate an electronic QR code, and then the barrier is lifted.

[0063] 3. After the driver drives the vehicle to park in place on the weighbridge according to a prompt, the driver presents the QR code in the APP and performs scanning to confirm the information, and then the subsequent weighing operation is started.

[0064] 4. The audio prompt service module reminds the driver to weigh the vehicle on the weighbridge and perform other relevant operations.

[0065] 5. A first weighing operation is performed. The weight, the weighing time, and other information are recorded.

[0066] 6. After loading/unloading, the vehicle enters the weighbridge again (or enters another weighbridge), and a second weighing operation is performed. The weight, the weighing time, and other information are recorded.

[0067] 7. The complete weight slip is generated and printed, and the weight slip information is uploaded to the cloud service platform. The entire process does not require the driver to get off the vehicle for operation. If the task of the vehicle belongs to the transportation task of the logistics platform, the weight slip is uploaded to the logistics platform to be automatically associated with an order or a waybill. If the task of the vehicle does not belong to the transportation task of the logistics platform, the weight slip information is stored in the cloud for easy querying.

[0068] Compared with the conventional technology, the embodiment has the following advantages.

[0069] Firstly, according to the present application, the digitization level is improved, and the entry and exit efficiency of the logistics station is improved.

[0070] The driver self-service terminal is in communication with the access control system and the weighing system, simplifying processes of vehicles entering and exiting the logistics station. The driver can input the information only by using a pre-generated QR code, thereby reducing manual operations of the driver and the station manager. Compared with an access control system and a weighing system that are operated independently, the traffic efficiency of vehicles in the logistics station is significantly improved, and the labor cost is greatly reduced. Compared with a paper slip, the weight slip is generated automatically, thereby avoiding errors and cheating caused by manual operations. Moreover, the electronic weight slip is convenient to store and manage, thereby improving the reconciliation efficiency of and reducing business risks caused by loss of the paper slip.

[0071] Secondly, according to the present application, data interconnection and interoperability are realized, which improves the collaborative management level of logistics business.

[0072] The logistics business involves multiple participants such as a cargo owner, a carrier, a driver, a station manager, a project manager and the like. In a conventional management method for a logistics station, it is difficult for the station manager to obtain driver, vehicle, and cargo information in time, and it is also difficult for the cargo owner, a logistics company, and the project manager to obtain the status of materials in the station in time. The "cloud integration" architecture based on the driver self-service terminal of the logistics station and the cloud platform according to the present application can realize the communication with a logistics platform system, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and a financial system in the cloud (in addition to the driver filling in the information to generate the QR code, other participants can also enter corresponding information and view the information within the scope of their authority), which ensures data security, greatly improves the collaborative management level of logistics business, promotes the construction of business and finance integration of enterprises, and improves the data chain of a supply chain.

Therefore, the architecture has good prospects for expanding application in fields such as smart construction sites and smart logistics parks.

[0073] The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined in any ways. In order to make the descriptions concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features of the above embodiments are described. However, these combinations should be included in the specification, as long as there is no contradiction in the combinations of these technical features.

[0074] The above embodiments only illustrate several examples of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but the above embodiments cannot be construed as limitations to the protection scope of the claims of the present application. For those skilled in the art, many variations and improvements may be made based on the concept embodied in the solutions of the claims of the present application, and these variations and improvements shall fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present application when implemented.