WO2007018337A1

WO2007018337A1 - Method for transporting baggage using subway

Info

Publication number: WO2007018337A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dong-Ho Yoo; Kab-Jin Roh; Jin-Young Kim
Original assignee: Dong-Ho Yoo; Kab-Jin Roh; Jin-Young Kim
Priority date: 2005-08-05
Filing date: 2005-11-30
Publication date: 2007-02-15
Also published as: KR100558829B1

Abstract

A method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: finding out code information of a next stop station of a subway train, through a movement branch system installed in a rolling stock of the subway train; scanning a delivery tag attached to baggage loaded in the subway train, in which the delivery tag includes a start station field, a transfer station field and an arrival station field; and comparing information of the scanned delivery tag with the code information of the stop station, and, based on the comparison, determining a transfer station or an arrival station at which the baggage is unloaded. Therefore, the method has advantages in that freight vehicles and logistic warehouses are not needed such that the baggage can be rapidly and precisely transported to a desired location.

Description

METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING BAGGAGE USING SUBWAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technology of transporting baggage, and more particularly to a method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway.

Description of the Related Art

Recently, as more consumers purchase goods through a telephone and on-line methods, such as, a TV home shopping, an electronic commerce, etc., the demand for express services for logistic delivery is increasing day by day. In general, an express service means a transportation system for transporting baggage etc. to users, or a delivery system in which a delivery man visits a sender to receive goods or documents to be delivered and then visits a house of a recipient to deliver them to the recipient. Airport express services for inter nations or inter large cities, such as DHL, and inter local areas or inter larger city areas serves as an example of such an express service. Especially, the express service between local areas in a country employs various land transportation means, such as a freight vehicle, to delivery baggage. Fig. 5 is a view describing a prior art method for transporting baggage.

In order to transport baggage, a delivery man in an express service company visits a sender to take baggage and then keeps it in a business office 10 or a sender directly visits the business office 10 and then checks in his/her baggage thereat. After that, the kept baggage is transported to a branch office 20 through a freight vehicle 70, etc., and then the transported baggage is delivered to a logistic center 30. The baggage delivered to the logistic center 30 is classified on the basis of regional groups and then the classified baggage is transported to a corresponding branch 40 of the regional groups. The baggage transported to the corresponding branch 40 is delivered to a local business office 50 that is the closest to a destination place 60. Afterwards, the baggage delivered to the local business office 50 is forwarded to the destination place 60 using a motor cycle or a freight vehicle 70, etc.

However, the prior art method for transporting baggage has disadvantages in that, since a plurality of freight vehicles are needed to transport baggage, maintenance fees for the freight vehicles, such as fuel costs and transportation costs, can be required, and also environmental pollution can be caused thereby. Also, the prior art method has drawbacks in that, since the plurality of freight vehicles must travel into the downtown, it can cause traffic jams, and since relatively high height of freight vehicles can obstruct general car drivers' fields of vision, traffic accidents can occur. In addition, since the prior at method for transporting baggage is a loaded type of express service system performing a plurality of steps for transporting baggage from a sender to a recipient, the prior art method needs a relatively large area of land for a storehouse for loading the baggage at each step. Therefore, the prior art method wastes a great deal of money. Also, since a lot of baggage is loaded or unloaded at each step, followed by classification, baggage can be damaged or deformed.

Furthermore the prior art method requires that a sender and a recipient must be in their house to transmit baggage and to receive it. Also, as a guardroom in an apartment tends not to receive baggage on behalf of a recipient, users using an express service often complain to the company providing express services about the express service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for transporting baggage using subway, which is capable of rapidly and precisely transporting baggage without freight vehicles and logistic storehouses. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for transporting baggage using subway, which is capable of allowing a sender or recipient to transmit or receive baggage at his/her convenience.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide a method for transporting baggage using subway, which is capable of allowing a sender or recipient to confirm a movement state of baggage at any time.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway, comprising the steps of: finding out code information of a next stop station of a subway train, through a movement branch system installed in a rolling stock of the subway train; scanning a delivery tag attached to baggage loaded in the subway train, in which the delivery tag includes a start station field, a transfer station field and an arrival station; and comparing information of the scanned delivery tag with the code information of the stop station, and, based on the comparison, determining a transfer station or an arrival station at which the baggage is unloaded.

Preferably, the movement branch system transmits information of baggage arrived at the transfer station or the arrival station to a central logistic center system, based on the comparison result.

As such, the method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway according to the present invention has advantages in that, since the movement branch system, which is installed in a rolling stock of a subway train, finds out a next stop station, performs comparison for information of the baggage loaded in the subway train, and determines an arrival station and an transfer station of the baggage, freight vehicles and logistic warehouses are not needed such that the baggage can be rapidly and precisely transported to a desired location.

In addition, the method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway according to the present invention has advantages in that a sender or a recipient can check a movement state of baggage in real time at any time as the movement branch system transmits information for presently moving baggage to the central logistic center, in which the movement branch system is installed in a rolling stock in which corresponding baggage is loaded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view describing a method for transporting baggage according to an embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view describing a delivery tag according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dedicated box according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a flow chart describing a method for transporting baggage according to an embodiment according to the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view describing a prior art method for transporting baggage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

Fig. 1 is a view describing a method for transporting baggage according to an embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the method for transporting baggage includes a vehicle business office system 200, a central logistic center system 210, a business base system 220, a business office system 230 and a movement branch system 240. More specifically, the vehicle business office system

200 located at a vehicle business office includes an issue device for issuing a delivery tag 110 (i.e., a delivery tag issue device) , a barcode recognizing device or a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, which is capable of scanning the delivery tag 110, and a computer connected to the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader. The vehicle business office system 200 determines a start station field value, a transfer station field value, and an arrival station field value, according to start and arrival stations of baggage delivered from a local area to a city area, and then issues a delivery tag 110 through the delivery tag issue device. Afterwards, a staff member of the vehicle business office system 200 attaches the issued delivery tag 110 to the baggage and then loads the baggage in a dedicated box 120 based on subway lines. More specifically, the delivery tag 110 and the dedicated box 120 are described in detail later, with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

The vehicle business office system 200 is operated such that the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader scans information of the delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage which is delivered from the city area to the local area, and the computer connected to the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader displays information of an arrival place of the baggage thereon. Therefore, the staff member of the vehicle business office packs baggage in a box based on local areas referring to the information displayed on the computer, and then delivers the baggage.

In the vehicle business office, classification work is performed as to whether baggage is delivered from a local area to a city area or from a city area to a local area. Also, in the vehicle business office, the delivery tags 110 are attached to baggage transported from the local area to the city, and then the tag-attached baggage is loaded to dedicated boxes 120 based on subway lines. Namely, the baggage gathered from the entire city areas is packed in boxes based on local areas and then transported to corresponding local areas. In addition, the vehicle business office transports dedicated boxes 120 based on subway lines to the central logistic center, which will be described later. Here, the vehicle business office is preferably built in areas, such as an area adjacent express ways, an area easily accessed by freight vehicles, or an area in which spaces for logistics can be easily secured, etc. On the other hand, like the vehicle business office system 200, the central logistic center system 210 installed in a central logistic center includes a delivery tag issue device, a barcode recognizing device or a RFID reader, a computer connected to the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader, and a database, etc., which is associated with web servers, in which the database stores various information. The computer of the central logistic center system 210 stores information of the delivery tag 110 attached to baggage, which is inputted through the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader, in the database. Also, the computer stores inherent information of baggage in the database. Here, the inherent information includes receipt numbers of baggage and subway line numbers, etc., which are generated when the baggage is received, and then transmitted from the business base system 220 or the business office system 230.

Additionally, when the central logistic center system 210 receives baggage information, according to movement states of baggage, from the movement branch system 240, which will be described later, it compares the baggage information from the movement branch system 240 with baggage information previously stored in the database when the baggage is received. If the comparison is positive, the central logistic center system 210 performs update of the baggage information in the database.

Accordingly, when a sender or a delivery man wishes to refer to a movement state of baggage, he can connect to the database associated with the web server of the central logistic center system 210 through the Internet using personal terminals, such as a computer. Namely, the computer of the central logistic center system 210 provides baggage information in the database to the sender or the delivery man, and thus he can confirm the movement state of baggage through the Internet at any time. On the other hand, the central logistic center temporarily keeps the dedicated boxes 120 transported from the vehicle business office, baggage to be transported from a city area to local areas, or baggage whose arrival state is not clear. Also, the central logistic center loads the kept baggage or the dedicated boxes to the movement branch or a subway train. According to an embodiment according to the present invention, the central logistic center is preferably implemented with a subway station which is one of primary transfer stations in a city area and which can be easily accessed by a business base. Preferably, the central logistic center is built in a subway station that is close to the vehicle business office. For example, the central logistic center is a business base built in a Sangil-dong station of subway line 5, that is connected to a primary transfer station in the city area. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described, assuming that the central logistic center is a business office built in the Sangil- dong station of subway line 5.

On the other hand, configurations of the business base system 220 in a business base and a business office system 230 in a business office are similar to the configuration of the central logistic center 210, in which the business base system 220 and the business office system 230 are constructed such that they can be connected to the delivery tag issue device, and a computer connected to the issue device, etc. When receiving a baggage delivery request, the business base system 220 and the business office system 230 are operated such that the delivery tag issue device issues a delivery tag 110 in which information, such as an arrival station and a transfer station of baggage, etc., is included, and also, the computer connected to the issue device transmits inherent information of the baggage to the central logistic center system 210 through the Internet, etc., in which the inherent information includes the receipt number of the received baggage and the number of subway line for the received baggage, etc.

The business base is a base established at a primary transfer station which can be directly connected to the subway line of the central logistic center (Sangil-dong station) . One business base is preferably established at each subway line. Staff member of the office base receive baggage from movement branches, and then deliver the baggage to other movement branches of corresponding subway lines which are indicated on the dedicated boxes 120 on which the baggage is loaded.

The business office is established at all subway stations in the city area. The business office performs works such that baggage received from the movement branch is transported to a corresponding received position, and a staff member of the business office visits a sender to receive baggage, etc.

On the other hand, the movement branch system 240, included in a rolling stock of a subway train which is moving, includes a barcode recognizing device or a RFID reader, and a computer, etc., in which the computer, which is connected to the barcode recognizing device or a RFID reader, includes a wireless communication unit receiving information of stop stations of the moving subway train. Here, the wireless communication unit is implemented with an RF communication module, or a ZigBee communication module, etc. For example, when a receiver including information of current stop station is installed around a subway rail close to a station to which a subway train is entered, and then when a subway train has entered a predetermined distance, the wireless communication unit can receive information of the stop station at which the subway train is stopped from the receiver.

Therefore, the computer of the movement branch system 240 receives the information for the stop station through the wireless communication unit, and then compares the information with information of a delivery tag 110 which is inputted through the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader from the delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage, in order to determine as to whether the next stop station is a transfer station or an arrival station for the presently scanned baggage. Therefore, based on the comparison result, the staff member of the movement branch can recognize a transfer station or an arrival station where baggage is unloaded according to baggage. More specifically, in the movement branch system 240 included in most of rolling stocks, since the number of subway line of an arrival station of corresponding baggage is indicated on a dedicated box 120 in which baggage is loaded, a member of the movement branch can determines as to whether next stop station is a transfer station. The movement branch system 240 included in most of rolling stocks compares information of next stop station with that of delivery tag 110 to determine as to whether the next stop station is just an arrival station of a presently scanned baggage. However, since dedicated boxes 120, in which baggage to be delivered to Cheonan and Incheon is loaded, indicates subway line 1 thereon, the movement branch system 240 included in a train of subway line 1 compares information of next stop station with that of delivery tag 110, through a wireless communication unit, to determine as to whether the next stop station is a transfer station.

Based on the comparison result between information of a next stop station received through the wireless communication unit and information of a delivery tag 110 attached to baggage, in which the delivery tag information is inputted through a barcode recognizing device or an RFID reader, the computer of a movement branch system 240 transmits information of corresponding baggage, which is stopped at a transfer station or an arrival station, to a central logistic center system 210. Therefore, a sender or a delivery man can check a movement state of baggage when they connect to the central logistic center system 210 through the Internet, etc.

If the computer of the movement branch system 240 determines that an arrival station is located at an area (i.e., a local area) to which baggage cannot be delivered through a subway train, in which the arrival station is scanned from a delivery tag 110 attached to baggage by the barcode recognizing device or an RFID reader, of if information for an arrival station of baggage, which is scanned from a delivery tag, is unclear because the delivery tag 110 is in a bad state, an arrival station field of the delivery tag 110 is recognized as the central logistic center. Therefore, based on such a procedure, a staff member in a movement branch transmits baggage to be delivered from a city area to a local area or baggage whose information, such as an arrival station, is unclear, to the central logistic center.

On the other hand, the movement branch means a branch installed in a train (subway train) based on each subway line. Namely, the movement branch is installed to a first rolling stock of an up track train and to a last rolling stock of a down track train. Staff member of the movement branch delivers baggage received from vehicle business offices, central logistic centers, business bases, and business offices to a business office of a corresponding arrival station or a business base (a transfer station) of a corresponding arrival station, etc. Also, the staff member of the movement branch receives baggage from central logistic centers, business bases or business offices, classifies the baggage into a transfer station or an arrival station based on the determination result of the movement branch system 240, and packs the baggage into the dedicated boxes 120 based on corresponding subway lines. On the other hand, the computer of the vehicle business office system 200, the central logistic center system 210, the business base system 220 or the business office system 230 issues a delivery tag 110 according to a start station and an arrival station of received baggage. Here, the computer calculates the least time from the start station to the arrival station based on information, in which the information is includes the number of stations from the start station to the arrival station and the required times for each interval between stations, which are stored in a database or a memory, etc., and then determines a start station field value, a transfer station field value, an arrival station field value. With reference to Fig. 2, the delivery tag 110 will be described in detail below.

Fig. 2 is a view describing a delivery tag according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 2, the delivery tag 110 is composed of an inherent field of baggage, a start station field, a transfer station field and an arrival station field. Also, the delivery tag 110 is implemented with a barcode tag or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Generally, the RFID is related to a wireless frequency recognition technology and used in conjunction with a reader for transmitting/receiving data stored in a tag, a label, a card, etc., which includes a chip, using radio frequency. The RFID are relatively uninfluenced by external environments, compared with a barcode. Also, even though the boxes are piled, the RFID can still be recognized.

The inherent field value of the baggage records inherent information of the baggage therein. For example, the inherent field records a series number of receipt, which is issued when the baggage is received, such as 000001, an inherent number for a station for received baggage, and a subway line code number for a station for received baggage, such as B for subway line 1, C for subway line 2. A start station field value records information of a station to which baggage is firstly delivered, a start station subway line code, such as B for subway line 1, C for subway line 2, etc., and a code number of a station to which baggage is firstly delivered, such as 01. The transfer station field value records inherent code number of a transfer station while baggage is transported from a start station to an arrival station. The arrival station field value records an inherent code number of an arrival station to which baggage is finally arrived, and a corresponding subway line number of an arrival station. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a dedicated box according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the method for transporting baggage using subway according to the present invention additionally uses dedicated boxes 120 for each subway line to easily classify baggage when baggage is classified in a movement branch on the basis of subway lines. For example, the dedicated box for subway line 2 can be implemented such that its entire color is green and 2 indicative of subway line 2 is written at the center of the box.

Therefore, the staff members of the vehicle business or the movement branch can scan the delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage such that vehicle business office system 200 or the movement branch system 240 can determine information of the transfer station or arrival station of corresponding baggage, and classify the baggage into transfer station or arrival station of baggage, based on the information of the transfer station or arrival station of corresponding baggage. Therefore, the baggage can be put into dedicated boxes 120 for a corresponding subway line.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart describing a method for transporting baggage according to an embodiment according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 4, in the movement branch, baggage to which a delivery tag 110 is attached is loaded. Here, the delivery tag 110 is issued through the vehicle business office system 200, the central logistic center system 210, the business base system 220, and the business office system 230. The movement branch system 240 in the movement branch receives code information of stations to find out a next stop station, through a computer including a wireless communication unit, in step SlO.

More specifically, the computer including wireless communication unit in the movement branch system 240 receives code information of a station, to which a subway train will be stopped, from a receiver which is installed around a rail close to a station, when the subway train has entered a predetermined distance in a subway station. Here, the receiver includes information of a present stop station. Therefore, the computer detects a next stop station.

On the other hand, according to another embodiment according to the present invention, a computer of the movement branch system 240 can be implemented without an additional wireless communication unit, instead the computer can be wiredly connected to a system included in a control room of a moving subway train.

Afterwards, the computer of the movement branch system 240 inputs information of baggage as the barcode recognizing device or RFID reader scans a delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage, in step S20. Here, the deliver tag 110 includes a start station field, a transfer station field and an arrival station field.

The computer of the movement branch system 240 compares code information of a next stop station, which is received though the wireless communication unit, with information of the delivery tag 110 which is scanned by the barcode recognizing device or RFID reader, and then determines as to whether the next stop station is a transfer station or an arrival station for the presently scanned baggage in step S30.

Based on the comparison result of the information of the scanned delivery tag 110 and code information of a stop station, if the next stop station is not a transfer station or an arrival station for the presently scanned baggage, the staff member of the movement branch does not unloaded corresponding baggage at the next stop station, instead continuously operates the movement branch system and repeats the above procedure. More specifically, the staff member of the movement branch refers to information of the next stop station which is determined by the computer of the movement branch system 240, and then scans the delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage using the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader which is connected to the computer of the movement branch system 240. The computer can compare code information of a next stop station with the information of the delivery tag 1110 which is scanned through the barcode recognizing device or RFID reader, and then determine as to whether the next stop station is a transfer station or an arrival station for the presently scanned baggage.

Therefore, if the movement branch system 240 determines that the next stop station is not a transfer station or an arrival station for the presently scanned baggage, the staff member of the movement branch classifies the scanned baggage as it is, and then repeatedly scans the delivery tag 110 attached to the baggage using the barcode recognizing device or the RFID reader at the next stop station. On the other hand, based on the result of comparing information of scanned delivery tag 110 with code information of a stop station, if the computer of the movement branch system 240 determines that the next stop station is a transfer station or an arrival stop station of the presently scanned baggage, information of the baggage is transmitted to the central logistic center system 210 in step S40.

Afterwards, the staff member of the movement branch refers to the result determined by the movement branch system 240, and then transports baggage, which is loaded to the movement branch, to a corresponding transfer station (business base) or a corresponding arrival station (business office) .

As described above, the method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway according to the present invention has advantages in that, since baggage is delivered through subways, freight vehicles and logistic warehouses are not needed such that the baggage can be rapidly and precisely transported to a desired location. Also, the method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway according to the present invention has advantages in that a sender or a recipient can deliver or receive baggage at their convenience through a business office installed inside a subway station. In addition, the method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway according to the present invention has advantages in that a sender or a recipient can check a movement state of baggage in real time at any time as the movement branch system transmits information for presently moving baggage to the central logistic center, in which the movement branch system is installed in a rolling stock in which corresponding baggage is loaded.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for processing circular logistic delivery through a subway, comprising the steps of: finding out code information of a next stop station of a subway train, through a movement branch system installed in a rolling stock of the subway train; scanning a delivery tag attached to baggage loaded in the subway train, in which the delivery tag includes a start station field, a transfer station field and an arrival station; and comparing information of the scanned delivery tag with the code information of the stop station, and, based on the comparison, determining a transfer station or an arrival station at which the baggage is unloaded.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the movement branch system transmits information of baggage arrived at the transfer station or the arrival station to a central logistic center system, based on the comparison result .

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the central logistic center system or a business office base system or a business office system, in which the business base and the business office receives the baggage, determines a start station field value, a transfer station field value, and an arrival station field value, and issues the delivery tag, based on the start station and the arrival station of the received baggage.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the baggage is put into dedicated boxes which can be classified according to transfer stations.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the movement branch system operates such that the arrival station field includes the central logistic center, when the arrival station which is indicated by the scanned delivery tag and which cannot be delivered to by the subway train or when the arrival station is not clear.

β. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the business office system, the business base system or the central logistic center system calculates the shortest time to the arrival station of the received baggage from the start station and determines the transfer station field value.

7. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the delivery tag includes a barcode tag or an RFID tag.

8. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the central logistic center system stores information of the baggage transmitted to the movement branch system in a database which is associated with a web server.