TW201314590A - Reminder system with reminding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a reminder system including a reminding apparatus and a tag for attaching on an article. The reminding apparatus includes a reading device and a management device. The reading device is configured to read an ID of the tag. The management device is configured to receive the ID of the tag from the reading device and then display a recording image for guiding a user to setup a reminding record. The reminding record includes a reminding deadline and the ID. The management device can further actively find the reminding record meeting a reminding condition and then output a reminding message for reminding the user. The user can find the article which needs to handling currently according to the reminding message.

Description

Reminder system and its equipment

The invention relates to an application product of radio frequency identification (RFID) and optical reading technology, and more particularly to a reminding system for using the foregoing technology to achieve the purpose of reminding a user of what items need to be processed immediately.

Taiwan Patent No. M362974 discloses a refrigerator with a foodstuff monitoring function, which comprises an accommodation space and a monitoring unit. The accommodating space is used for storing a plurality of food materials. Each of the ingredients is packaged with a radio frequency identification (RFID) wafer that records the shelf life of the ingredients. The monitoring unit can sense the radio frequency chip to record the shelf life of the food materials, and generate a warning signal to the user when the materials are expired. However, the patent case is equivalent to each manufacturer that requires the sale of various ingredients, and it is necessary to provide a radio frequency identification chip in which the shelf life of the food material is pre-programmed on the packaging of the food material, and it is foreseen that the patent provides The aforementioned schemes are obviously difficult to generalize.

Taiwan Publication No. TW201033768 discloses an apparatus and method for managing a shelf life of a food, comprising an electronic recorder and a plurality of labels for attaching to the outer packaging of the food. Each tag has a code. The code for these tags must be pre-established inside the electronic recorder for a user to tick. After the user selects a label to be attached to an item, it is necessary to correspondingly select a code in the electronic recorder, the checked code being the same code on the selected label. The problem is that the user not only needs to input the code on each label into the electronic recorder one by one, but also selects the corresponding code in the electronic recorder when each label is used on an item. Obviously, the aforementioned solution provided by the patent has the problem of inconvenient use.

The invention discloses a reminder system comprising a reminder device and a label. The tag is attached to an item. The reminder device includes a reading device and a management device. The reading device is for reading the identification code of the tag. The management device includes a processing unit, an input unit, a storage unit and an output unit. The processing unit is coupled to the reading device. The input unit, the output unit, and the storage unit are each connected to the processing unit.

The processing unit is configured to receive the identification code of the tag transmitted by the reading device, and drive the output unit to display a reminder record establishing screen for guiding a user to use the input unit to establish a reminder record to be stored in the The storage unit, the reminder record includes at least a reminder period and the identification code. Preferably, the reminder record may further include a class name corresponding to one or an item. The reminder period may be one of "expiring", "expired" and "expired" or any combination thereof. In addition, the processing unit can also actively find a reminder record that meets a reminder condition, and drive the output unit to output a reminder message, the content of the reminder message including at least the identifier in the found reminder record. In this way, the user can find the item that needs to be processed according to the reminder message.

Preferably, the present invention also discloses another reminder system, including the above-mentioned reading device and a computer. The computer is coupled to the reading device and has a management program that enables the computer to perform all of the functions of the management device described above.

Preferably, the present invention also discloses a third reminder system, including the above reminding device and a background computer. The management device of the reminder device further has a transmission interface for connecting to the background computer, and the processing unit of the management device is further configured to transmit the reminder record in the management device to the background computer via the transmission interface, and maintain the The reminder record of the management device is synchronized with the background computer.

Compared with the prior art, the reminder system provided by the present invention can be used not only to remind the user to process the above items, but also does not require the user to input any code in advance in the reminder device, nor does it require manufacturers who manufacture or sell the above items. The radio frequency identification chip is additionally provided on the package of the article, and therefore, the reminder system of the present invention has the advantages of being convenient to use and easy to generalize.

The first and second figures show a first preferred example of the reminder system of the present invention, which is applied to a refrigerator, but is not limited thereto. The refrigerator stores a plurality of articles 5, such as meat, beverages, milk, vegetables, and eggs. The reminder system includes a plurality of tags 1 and a reminder device 2. The reminder device 2 is disposed outside the door of the refrigerator.

The labels 1 can be attached to the items 5, and the additional methods are pasting, clamping, tying, placing, hanging, etc. depending on the type of the label 1 itself, for example, some labels 1 It can be designed as a clip or attached to a clip. Some labels 1 can be designed as re-stickable stickers, or they can be designed as one-time stickers that are damaged after being affixed and then detached. The outer surfaces of the labels 1 each have a mark for human eye recognition. The mark generally refers to numbers, national characters, punctuation marks, patterns or a mixture thereof, but is not limited thereto. More specifically, each tag 1 also has an identification unit that can be read by the machine.

Preferably, the identification unit comprises a code pattern, such as a one-dimensional barcode pattern, a two-dimensional barcode pattern, a three-dimensional barcode pattern (such as QR Code) or other forms of barcode pattern. In either form, each barcode pattern corresponds to Represents an identification code. More preferably, the identification unit comprises an RFID chip, and the RFID chip stores an identification code. In this case, the tag 1 having the identification unit is equivalent to an RFID tag. In this embodiment, the radio frequency identification chip conforms to the provisions of ISO15693, ISO1443A, ISO1443B or ISO1443C, and has a UID area and a data area, the identification code is written and stored in the data area, and is usually a number. , a combination of words or symbols.

As can be seen from the above description, the identification units of the tags 1 have at least two forms, one is an identification unit having a bar code pattern, and the other is an identification unit having a radio frequency identification chip, and the identification unit of any form is substantially There is an identification code. It should be noted that the outer surface of any label 1 has a mark, and the mark has a corresponding relationship with the corresponding identification unit of the tag 1. The simplest correspondence is that the identification code stored by the identification unit is the same. For the flag, for example, the result of reading an identification unit by an RFID reader or a barcode reader is to obtain an identification code representing "001234", and the identification unit belongs to the label 1 The logo is also "001234".

As shown in the third figure, the reminder device 2 includes a reading device 20 and a management device 21 that can read the tag 1 described above. Preferably, the reading device 20 and the management device 21 may be integrated into one body, or may be two independent individuals connected in a wired or wireless manner. In any case, the reading device 20 is configured to read the identification units of the tags 1 and transmit the identification codes obtained by reading the identification units to the management device 21.

Preferably, the management device 21 includes a processing unit 210 connected to the reading device 20, and an input unit 211, a storage unit 212 and an output unit 213 respectively connected to the processing unit 210. The output unit 213 can be an LED device capable of blinking operation, a screen, or a sound broadcasting device, or even any combination of the foregoing devices. The screen can be selected from an LCD screen, an electronic paper or other type of screen, preferably a touch screen. The input unit 211 can be a keyboard or a plurality of buttons, and can also be a touch keyboard or a plurality of touch buttons displayed on the touch screen. The storage unit 212 is an accessible non-volatile memory such as a flash memory.

The processing unit 210 is configured to enable the output unit 213 to display a reminder record creation screen for guiding a user to use the input unit 211 each time the identification code transmitted by the reading device 20 is received. A reminder record is created and stored in the storage unit 212. The reminder record includes at least one reminder period and the identification code, and may further include an establishment time for recording when the reminder record is established. Among them, the process of creating a reminder record each time by the user is as follows:

a) The user selects a tag 1 for an item 5.

b) The user brings the tag 1 close to the reminder device 2 such that the reading device 20 of the reminder device 2 reads the identification code in the identification unit of the tag 1.

When the reading device 20 reads the identification code and transmits the identification code to the processing unit 210, the processing unit 210 drives the output unit 213 to display the reminder record establishing screen;

c) The user uses the input unit 211 to input a data for establishing a reminder period according to the request of the reminder record creation screen, for example, the number of days, the deadline, or a date selected from a calendar.

After the processing unit 210 receives the data input by the user via the input unit 211, a reminder record is created based on the data and the identification code in the storage unit 212. When the data input by the user is the number of days, the processing unit 210 can use the setup time described above to calculate the reminder period.

Preferably, the steps b and c above may also be reversed, that is, the user first presses the input unit 211 (for example, pressing a touch control screen or a button) to enable the processing unit 210 to drive the output. The unit 213 displays the reminder record creation screen so that the user first inputs the above-mentioned material for establishing a reminder period. Next, the step b is performed to cause the reading device 20 to read the identification code in the identification unit of the tag 1. When the reading device 20 reads the identification code and transmits the identification code to the processing unit 210, the processing unit 210 creates a reminder record based on the data and the identification code in the storage unit 212.

Preferably, the reminder record creation screen may be further configured to require the user to input or select a category name. Each category name corresponds to the name of an item or items, such as eggs, meat, vegetables, dairy products, fish, and the like. Thus, the content of the reminder record that is subsequently established will further include the category name.

Next, the user attaches the tag 1 to which the reminder record has been created to the item 5. This action can also be performed at the above step a.

Finally, the user places the item 5 with the label 1 in the above-mentioned refrigerator for storage.

By the above steps, the user can create a reminder record for each item 5 in the reminder device 2, and each item 5 is thus assigned a label 1 accordingly. In other words, each item 5 corresponds to a reminder record in the reminder device 2 due to the above steps.

The processing unit 210 is further configured to actively drive the output unit 213 to output an alert message, the content of the alert message including at least one identifier in the alert record. Since the mark on the label 1 on the item 5 has a corresponding relationship or the same with the identification code, the user can compare the mark on the label 1 with the identification code in the at least one reminder record. Thereby, the item 5 corresponding to the at least one reminder record is found. In this way, the user can know which one or which of the pen reminder records corresponding to the item 5 need to be noticed or processed according to the identification code in the reminder message. Among them, the reminder records mentioned in the reminder message are all in accordance with the preset reminder condition, including the reminder period of "expiring", "expired" and "expired". One or any combination thereof depends on the specific content of the reminder condition.

The above-mentioned "expiring", "expired" and "expired" reminder records are all calculated by the processing unit 210 according to the reminder period of each reminder record. For example, a reminder period of a reminder record is subtracted from a current time to obtain a difference X (the current time is obtained by the processing unit 210 reading its own internal timer). If the difference X is a positive value, it means that the item 5 corresponding to the reminder record is currently X days away from the reminder period, and when the X value is less than a predetermined value, for example, less than 3 days, it indicates that the item 5 is " It is about to expire." And if the difference X is equal to 0, it means that the item 5 corresponding to the reminder record is "expired". As for when the difference X is a negative value, it means that the item 5 corresponding to the reminder record is "expired".

Preferably, the content of the reminder message includes at least one identifier in the reminder record, a reminder period, and a category name. For example, a reminder message like "No. 001234 beef expires on September 1, 2011." In this way, the user does not need to open the refrigerator to check that something is about to expire, has expired or has expired.

Preferably, the processing unit 210 is configured to find a reminder record that meets the above reminding condition at a preset time or at a preset time, and generate an alert message according to the found reminder record. Therefore, as long as there is a reminder record that meets the reminder condition, the processing unit 210 automatically generates the reminder message to remind the user.

Preferably, the reminder message may be a text message, a voice, or both displayed on the screen or the touch screen. However, the reminder message may also be just a flashing light, an alarm sound, or a combination of both.

Preferably, the management device 21 further includes a communication unit (not shown), and the communication unit is connected to the processing unit 210 for transmitting the reminder message to a communication device, such as a mobile phone held by the user. Or computer. Preferably, the reminder message is transmitted in a short message manner.

In summary, through the generation of the reminder message, the reminder device 2 can be alerted and urged to handle the item 5 in the refrigerator. The treatment referred to herein generally refers to actions such as inspection, consumption, use, disposal or destruction.

Preferably, the processing unit 210 is further configured to enable the output unit 213 to display a query screen for the user to query the reminder record stored in the storage unit 212 in various query conditions. The query screen is further configured to have a deletion tool (such as a delete button) for the user to delete the reminder record that he wants to delete, such as the reminder record corresponding to the item 5 that has been removed from the refrigerator. . In this way, the user can first query the reminder records that have expired or expired, and then use the delete tool to delete them. Of course, the items 5 corresponding to the deleted reminder records are also from the refrigerator. Removed.

Another deletion function is that the management device 21 is configured to be set to enter a delete mode. For example, after pressing a specific button, the processing unit 210 drives the output unit 213 to display a screen that has entered the delete mode. During this period, the processing unit 210 deletes the reminder record in the storage unit 212 that is the same as the identification code based on the identification code read from the reading device 20. In this way, the user only needs to delete the label 1 of the item 5 to be removed in the refrigerator close to the reading device 20, and the reminder record corresponding to the item 5 can be deleted. The above method of first querying and then deleting is also convenient.

It is worth mentioning that the reading device 20 in the above example is an image recognition device having a photosensitive element such as a CCD or a CMOS for taking in a mark on the label 1 (for example, a handwritten number or a printed number). And identifying, by means of image recognition, an identification code represented by the flag (ie, the aforementioned number), and transmitting the identification code to the processing unit 210 of the management device 21 for establishing a subsequent reminder record And the generation of the reminder message, but this part has been detailed above, and I will not repeat it. In this example, the label 1 may also have only the above-mentioned logo without the above-mentioned identification unit, for example, one or more digits (ie, the aforementioned logo) are handwritten on a sticker that is originally blank, and the sticker is a label. 1. If there is a write reminder period, the camera recognition device can also recognize the reminder period, so that the user does not need to input the data for establishing the reminder period as described above.

It should be noted that, according to the above description, the reading device 20 of the present invention may be an RFID reader, a code reader, an image recognition device, or a combination of the two. Even the combination of the foregoing three (so configured, the reading device 20 can read the two labels 1 mentioned above and the label 1 made of a blank sticker).

Compared with the prior art, the reminding system of the present invention can be used not only to remind a user to process the above-mentioned article 5, but also to require the user to input any code to the reminding device 2 in advance, and does not require the manufacturer of the above-mentioned article 5 to be manufactured or sold. The radio frequency identification chip is provided on the package of the article 5, and even a blank sticker is allowed to be used as the above-described tag 1. Therefore, the reminder system of the present invention has the advantages of being convenient to use and easy to generalize.

The fourth figure shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The reminder system includes a plurality of tags 1 and a reminder device 3, which are the same as the above embodiment, and the reminder device 3 includes a reading device 30 and a computer 31. The reading device 30 is connected to the computer 31, and can read the identification units of the tags 1 as in the above embodiment, and transmit the identification code obtained by reading the identification unit to the computer 31. The computer 31 is provided with a management program 310 which enables the computer 31 to perform all the functions of the management device 21 in the above embodiment. In this example, the user only needs to purchase the management program 310 and the reading device 30, and install the management program on the user's computer. Thus, the hardening of the management device 21 in the above embodiment can be saved. Body cost.

The fifth figure shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment has all of the components of the first embodiment described above, and further includes a background computer 4, which is preferably a server-class computer, and the management device 21 has a transmission interface (not shown) for connecting the The background computer 4, and the processing unit 210a of the management device 21 is further configured to transmit the reminder record in the management device 21 to the background computer 4 via the transmission interface, and maintain the management device 21 The reminder record is synchronized with the background computer 4 for performing a background management job. Such a system is suitable for being built in a hypermarket to manage items in each refrigerator in the hypermarket, so that the hypermarket manager can know which items in the refrigerator are about to expire. , expired or expired, and thus the corresponding treatment.

In any case, anyone can obtain sufficient teaching from the description of the above examples, and it is understood that the present invention is indeed industrially usable and progressive, and the present invention does not have the same or similar technology in the same field. The disclosure of the prior and full of novelty, the invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and applied in accordance with the law.

1. . . label

2. . . Reminder device

20. . . Reading device

twenty one. . . Management device

210, 210a. . . Processing unit

211. . . Input unit

212. . . Storage unit

213. . . Output unit

3. . . Reminder device

30. . . Reading unit

31. . . computer

4. . . Background computer

5. . . article

The first and second figures illustrate schematic diagrams of a reminder system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The third figure shows a functional block diagram of the reminder device of the reminder system.

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of a reminder device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the function of the reminder system of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2. . . Reminder device

Claims (10)

A reminding device comprising: a reading device for reading an identification code of a tag; and a management device comprising a processing unit connected to the reading device and an input unit respectively connected to the processing unit a storage unit and an output unit; wherein the processing unit can receive the identification code transmitted from the reading device, and can drive the output unit to display a reminder record creation screen for guiding a user to use the input unit Establishing a reminder record in the storage unit, the reminder record includes a reminder period and the identification code; the processing unit can also actively find a reminder record that meets a reminder condition, and drive the output unit to output a reminder message, the reminder The content of the message includes the identification code in the reminder record found. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the reminding period in the reminder record found by the processing unit according to the reminding condition may be “coming soon”, “expired” and “expired” One of them or any combination thereof. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the reminder record further includes a class name, and the content of the reminder message includes a name of the category in the found reminder record. The reminder device of claim 1 or 3, wherein the content of the reminder message includes a reminder period in the found reminder record. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to enable the output unit to display the reminder record creation screen each time the identification code transmitted by the reading device is received. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the management device further comprises a communication unit, the communication unit is connected to the processing unit for transmitting the reminder message to a communication device. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit can drive the output unit to display a screen that has entered a delete mode, and during the delete mode, the processing unit can be transmitted according to the reading device. The identification code deletes the reminder record in the storage unit that is the same as the identification code. The reminding device of claim 1, wherein the reading device is one of a radio frequency identification reading device, a code reader, and an image recognition device, or is selected from the group consisting of Any combination. A reading device comprising a reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a computer connected to the reading device and having a management program capable of executing the computer as an application All the functions of the management device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects of the invention. A reminder system, comprising: a background computer; and the reminding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the management device of the reminding device further has a transmission interface for connecting to the background computer, and the management device The processing unit is further configured to transmit the reminder record in the management device to the background computer via the transmission interface, and keep the reminder record of the management device synchronized with the background computer.