WO2014132621A1 - Système de gestion d'articles, procédé de gestion d'articles et support lisible par ordinateur non temporaire sur lequel est stocké un programme de gestion d'articles - Google Patents

Système de gestion d'articles, procédé de gestion d'articles et support lisible par ordinateur non temporaire sur lequel est stocké un programme de gestion d'articles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014132621A1
WO2014132621A1 PCT/JP2014/000969 JP2014000969W WO2014132621A1 WO 2014132621 A1 WO2014132621 A1 WO 2014132621A1 JP 2014000969 W JP2014000969 W JP 2014000969W WO 2014132621 A1 WO2014132621 A1 WO 2014132621A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
article
sheet
tag
information
rfid tag
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PCT/JP2014/000969
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English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
大橋　啓之
服部　渉
Original Assignee
日本電気株式会社
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Priority to JP2015502769A priority Critical patent/JP6406243B2/ja
Publication of WO2014132621A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014132621A1/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
    • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an article management system, an article management method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which an article management program is stored, and in particular, an article management system, an article management method, and an article management program for managing articles using an RFID tag. Is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
  • the inventory status of a store is grasped by linking with the POS (Point of Sales) system, but it is difficult to grasp the presence or absence of a product in the product display shelf, and it is difficult to grasp the product display shelf. There was a case where there was no product and sales opportunity loss occurred. Also, although it is known that the sales will obviously change depending on how the products are arranged on the product display shelf, it is time-consuming for the store clerk to examine how to arrange the products on the product display shelf, and the appropriate product that will increase the sales of the product In some cases, they were left unattended. For this reason, a technique for effectively managing the display state of products is desired.
  • Patent Documents 1 to 5 are known as techniques related to article management such as merchandise.
  • Patent Document 1 describes that the position of an article is estimated based on the response time for the RFID tag attached to the article.
  • Patent Document 2 describes that the placement of an article is recognized by a section tag provided for each section that divides the article storage area in a fixed manner and a shielding unit attached to the article.
  • Patent Documents 3 and 4 describe that a product displayed on a product display shelf is detected by an RFID reader provided for each product display shelf.
  • Patent Document 5 describes an electronic shelf label that displays information about products displayed on a product display shelf.
  • the present invention manages an article at low cost and stores a article management system, an article management method, and an article management program that can flexibly cope with various arrangements of articles. Its main purpose is to provide a computer readable medium.
  • An article management system is an article arrangement having a reader waveguide constituted by an open transmission line, and an RFID tag for article detection arranged above the reader waveguide and corresponding to the arrangement position of the article.
  • An article management table storage unit that stores an article management table in which tag information of the tag is associated, and the article arrangement sheet and the article based on sheet identification information of the arranged article arrangement sheet with reference to the article management table Based on the position recognition unit for recognizing the position of the detection RFID tag and the read result of the article detection RFID tag
  • An article existence determining section for determining the presence or absence of the article in the recognized position, but with a.
  • an article arrangement sheet having an article detection RFID tag is arranged at a position corresponding to an article arrangement position above a reader waveguide formed of an open transmission line.
  • the tag information of the article detection RFID tag is read by electromagnetic field coupling through the reader waveguide, and the sheet identification information of the article arrangement sheet and the tag information of the article detection RFID tag on the article arrangement sheet are obtained.
  • the associated article management table is stored in the article management table storage unit, and the article management apparatus refers to the article management table and based on the sheet identification information of the arranged article arrangement sheet, the article arrangement sheet and the article.
  • the position of the detection RFID tag is recognized, and the position at the recognized position is determined based on the readout result of the article detection RFID tag. It is to determine the presence or absence of the article.
  • a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an article management program according to the present invention is a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an article management program for causing a computer to execute an article management process.
  • the management process stores an article management table in which the sheet identification information of the article arrangement sheet and tag information of the RFID tag for article detection on the article arrangement sheet are associated with each other in an article management table storage unit, From the article arrangement sheet arranged above the configured reader waveguide, tag information of the RFID tag for article detection arranged at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the article on the article arrangement sheet is converted into an electromagnetic field by the RFID reader.
  • the article management table is referred to, and the arranged article arrangement sheet sheet Recognizing the position of the article placement sheet and the article detection RFID tag based on other information, and determining the presence or absence of the article at the recognized position based on the read result of the article detection RFID tag. is there.
  • an article management system an article management method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing an article management program capable of managing articles at low cost and flexibly responding to various arrangements of articles are provided. can do.
  • FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a product management system according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reader waveguide according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reader waveguide according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged three-side view of a product display place on the product display shelf according to the first embodiment. It is the side view to which the goods display place of the goods display shelf which concerns on Embodiment 1 was expanded.
  • 4 is a table showing a relationship between a distance of an RFID tag according to Embodiment 1 and an electric field.
  • 3 is a flowchart illustrating a merchandise management method according to the first embodiment.
  • 4 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet ID detection method according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an output of the goods management method which concerns on Embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged three-side view of a product display place on the product display shelf according to the first embodiment. It is the side view to which the goods display place of the goods display shelf which concerns on Embodiment 1 was expanded.
  • 4 is a table showing a relationship
  • FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 2.
  • FIG. It is the side view to which the goods display place of the goods display shelf which concerns on Embodiment 2 was expanded. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet ID detection method according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to Embodiment 3.
  • FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the goods management system which concerns on Embodiment 4.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet ID detection method according to the fourth embodiment.
  • 10 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet ID detection method according to the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a merchandise display shelf according to a fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet location detection method according to a fifth embodiment.
  • 10 is a flowchart illustrating a tag sheet location detection method according to a fifth embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to a sixth embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to a seventh embodiment.
  • FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a tag sheet according to a seventh embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of an article management system (article management system) according to an embodiment.
  • the article management system includes a reader waveguide 101, an article placement sheet 102, an RFID reader 104, an article management table storage unit 107, a position recognition unit 105, and an article presence / absence judgment unit 106. ing.
  • the reader waveguide 101 is composed of an open transmission line.
  • An article arrangement sheet (for example, a tag sheet described later) 102 is a sheet that is arranged above the reader waveguide 101 and has an article detection RFID tag 103 at a position corresponding to the article arrangement position 108.
  • the RFID reader 104 reads the tag information of the RFID tag 103 for article detection by electromagnetic coupling through the reader waveguide 101.
  • the article management table storage unit (for example, corresponding to a merchandise information database described later) 107 is an article that associates sheet identification information of the article arrangement sheet 102 with tag information of the article detection RFID tag 103 on the article arrangement sheet 102. Store the management table.
  • a position recognizing unit (e.g., corresponding to a tag sheet position recognizing unit described later) 105 refers to the article management table, and based on the sheet identification information of the arranged article arranging sheet 102, the article arranging sheet 102 and the article detecting item are used. The position of the RFID tag 103 is recognized.
  • An article presence / absence determination unit (e.g., corresponding to a product presence / absence determination unit described later) 106 determines the presence / absence of an article at the recognized position based on the read result of the article detection RFID tag 103.
  • the presence / absence of an article is determined based on the readout result of the article detection RFID tag on the article placement sheet. For this reason, it is not necessary to attach an RFID tag or a shielding part to the article, and the presence / absence of the article can be managed at a low cost. Furthermore, in the embodiment, an article arrangement sheet for arranging articles is provided, and the arrangement position of the article is recognized by identifying the article arrangement sheet. For this reason, it is possible to flexibly cope with various arrangements of articles by preparing article arrangement sheets corresponding to various arrangements and laying or moving the article arrangement sheets.
  • FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a product management system (article management system) according to the present embodiment.
  • This merchandise management system is a system that sequentially monitors merchandise displayed on merchandise display shelves in stores, etc., determines the presence or absence of merchandise on the merchandise display shelves, and displays related to the display status and the like.
  • the RFID reader 7 and the store management apparatus 1 are connected via a communication network 3 such as a LAN so that data can be transmitted and received.
  • the RFID reader 7 and the reader waveguide 4 are connected via a LAN cable 3a.
  • the reader waveguide 4 and the spacer 4a are arranged in the entire region where the product display shelf 8 can display the product.
  • 2 is a perspective view of the reader waveguide 4, the spacer 4a, and the tag sheet 6.
  • FIG. 3A is a top view thereof
  • FIG. 3B is a front view (or a side view) thereof.
  • a spacer 4a having substantially the same size as the leader waveguide 4 is disposed on the leader waveguide 4.
  • the area above the reader waveguide 4 via the spacer 4a is an arrangement area for the tag sheet 6 and the RFID tag 5.
  • the tag sheet 6 is laid movably on the spacer 4a in a semi-fixed manner.
  • a plurality of RFID tags 5 are arranged in advance corresponding to the product display place 2a where the product 2 on the tag sheet 6 is displayed.
  • the tag sheet 6 can be arbitrarily moved on the reader waveguide 4, and a store clerk or the like lays the tag sheet 6 on the reader waveguide 4 to arrange the RFID tag 5 on the reader waveguide 4.
  • the RFID tag 5 is also referred to as a sensing RFID tag 5 for sensing the presence or absence of a product.
  • the tag sheet ID for identifying the tag sheet is assigned to the tag sheet 6.
  • the tag sheet ID is associated with the product name (JAN code) of the product to be arranged and the arrangement information of the RFID tag 5 arranged. Further, the tag sheet ID is associated with the tag ID of the arranged RFID tag 5 and its position information.
  • JAN code product name
  • the container etc. which are not restricted to a sheet
  • the RFID tag 5 performs data transmission / reception with the reader waveguide 4 by a UHF band signal.
  • the RFID reader 104 reads management information including signal intensity information of a response signal output from the RFID tag 5 via the reader waveguide 4 and tag information of the RFID tag 5. Further, details will be described later, the spacers 4a, setting the distance L 2 between the distance of the RFID tag 5 and item 2 L 1 and RFID tag 5 and the reader waveguide 4. For example, the distance L 1 ⁇ the distance L 2 is set.
  • the spacer 4a is made of a dielectric.
  • the RFID tag 5 has a tag antenna.
  • the RFID tag 5 is arranged at the position as described above, so that the tag antenna and the product 2 are electromagnetically coupled in a state where the product 2 is placed in the product display place 2a.
  • the reader waveguide 4 is an open transmission line that is matched and terminated, and is arranged at a position where the tag antenna and the tag antenna are electromagnetically coupled by the arrangement as described above, and the product 2 is not placed. Can transmit and receive radio signals to and from the RFID tag 5.
  • the RFID reader 7 supplies power to the RFID tag 5 by radio waves via the reader waveguide 4, receives a radio signal transmitted from the RFID tag 5 via the reader waveguide 4, and receives information from the received radio signal. And a transmission / reception unit that transmits information transmitted by the RFID tag 5 to the store management device 1 at any time (for example, at a predetermined time interval such as 1 second).
  • the RFID reader 7 and each RFID tag 5 are in a communicable state due to electromagnetic coupling by the near field with the waveguide reader waveguide 4.
  • the communication between the RFID tag 5 and the RFID reader 7 changes to the electromagnetic coupling state by the dielectric and metal of the product 2 itself.
  • the information sent from the RFID tag 5 to the RFID reader 7 is blocked and the signal intensity is reduced.
  • the fact that the product 2 at the corresponding position exists with the interruption of the information or the decrease in signal strength is sent from the RFID reader 7 (reader waveguide 4) to the store management device 1 to know the state of the product on the product display shelf 8. be able to.
  • FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the store management apparatus 1.
  • the store management device 1 includes a product information database 11, an input unit 12, a tag sheet ID recognition unit 13, a tag sheet position recognition unit 14, a product presence / absence determination unit 15, a product replenishment determination unit 16, and display.
  • a correction determination unit 17 and a display unit 18 are provided.
  • each of these blocks will be described as a function of the store management apparatus 1, but some / all of these blocks are provided in the RFID reader 7, and necessary information is sent from the RFID reader 7 to the store management apparatus 1. You may send it.
  • the configuration of this functional block is an example, and other configurations may be used as long as the product management process according to the present embodiment described later with reference to FIG.
  • the store management device 1 is composed of a general computer device (server device).
  • the store management device 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device such as a memory and a hard disk device, an input device such as a keyboard, a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and a communication unit connected to the communication network 3.
  • the storage device stores a product management program for executing the product management processing according to the present embodiment, and each functional block is realized by the CPU executing this program.
  • the store management device 1 is not limited to a single computer, and may be configured by a plurality of computers.
  • the programs described above can be stored and provided to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer readable media.
  • Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media.
  • the product information database 11 stores product information related to the product 2 displayed on the product display shelf 8.
  • the product information database 11 stores a product management table as shown in FIG. 5 as product information.
  • the product management table associates the tag sheet ID, tag sheet position, product name, RFID tag tag ID, RFID tag position, and product presence / absence.
  • the tag sheet ID is tag sheet identification information assigned to each tag sheet. Thereby, the same goods in a shelf, a backyard, etc. in a different place can be distinguished and managed for every place.
  • the tag sheet position of the product management table is position information indicating the position on the product display shelf 8 where the tag sheet 6 corresponding to the tag sheet ID is arranged.
  • shelf identification information for identifying the product display shelf 8
  • product The position information on the shelf for specifying the position on the display shelf 8 is included.
  • merchandise can be arranged for each column of the merchandise display shelf 8, and the on-shelf position information is column information that identifies the column of the merchandise display shelf. Since the product display shelf 8 corresponds to the reader waveguide 4, the tag sheet position is also a position on the reader waveguide 4. In the example of FIG.
  • the tag sheet 6 with the tag sheet ID “1001” is arranged in “shelf 1—row 1”, which is the first row of the first shelf, and the tag sheet 6 with the tag sheet ID “1002”
  • the tag sheet 6 with the tag sheet ID “1003” is arranged in the second row of the first shelf, and the “shelf 2-row 2” is the second row of the second shelf.
  • the product name in the product management table is information for identifying the product placed on the tag sheet 6 corresponding to the tag sheet ID.
  • One product name may be associated with one tag sheet ID, and a plurality of product names may be associated with one tag sheet ID.
  • the tag sheet 6 with the tag sheet ID “1001” is a sheet on which “product A” is arranged
  • the tag sheet 6 with the tag sheet ID “1002” is a sheet on which “product B” is arranged. Is shown.
  • the tag ID (tag information) of the RFID tag in the product management table is identification information assigned to each RFID tag 5 and stored in advance in the RFID tag 5.
  • the RFID tag position in the product management table is position information indicating the position on the tag sheet 6 where the RFID tag 5 is disposed.
  • the RFID tags 5 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X direction and the Y direction of the tag sheet 6 (which may be the row direction, the column direction, the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction), and the RFID tag position is the position of the X coordinate and the Y coordinate. It is coordinate information to identify.
  • RFID tags 5 with tag IDs “0001”, “0002”, and “0003” are arranged on a tag sheet 6 with tag sheet ID “1001”, and the RFID tag 5 with tag ID “0001” is a tag.
  • the RFID tag 5 with the tag ID “0002” arranged at “X1-Y1” which is the X coordinate 1 and Y coordinate 1 on the sheet 6 is “X1-Y2” which is the X coordinate 1 and Y coordinate 2 on the tag sheet 6.
  • the RFID tag 5 with the tag ID “0003” is arranged at “X1-Y3” which is the X coordinate 1 and the Y coordinate 3 on the tag sheet 6.
  • RFID tags 5 with tag IDs “0101”, “0102”, “0103” are arranged on the tag sheet 6 with tag sheet ID “1002”, and the RFID tag 5 with tag ID “0101” is on the tag sheet 6.
  • the RFID tag 5 with the tag ID “0102” is arranged at “X2-Y1” which is the X coordinate 2 and the Y coordinate 1 on the tag sheet 6 and is arranged at “X1-Y1” which is the X coordinate 1 and the Y coordinate 1.
  • the RFID tag 5 with the tag ID “0103” is arranged at “X3-Y1” which is the X coordinate 3 and the Y coordinate 1 on the tag sheet 6.
  • the input unit 12 receives information input by a store clerk or the like and information input (acquired) from the RFID reader 7 or other devices, and outputs the input information to each block.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit (sheet identification information recognition unit) 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6 placed on the product display shelf 8. For example, the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID by referring to the product management table based on the tag ID of any RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet 6. Further, as exemplified in other embodiments, the tag sheet ID may be recognized based on an RFID tag for sheet recognition, a barcode, a QR code (registered trademark), a character, a pattern, a sheet shape, or the like. . Further, the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 can recognize the product arranged on the tag sheet and the RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet based on the tag sheet ID with reference to the product management table.
  • the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 recognizes the position of the tag sheet 6 arranged on the product display shelf 8. For example, the position of the tag sheet 6 is input for each tag sheet ID, and the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 stores the input position in association with the tag sheet ID in the product management table. The position of the tag sheet 6 may be input by a store clerk or from another device such as a camera. Further, the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 can recognize the position of the RFID tag arranged on the tag sheet based on the tag sheet ID and the tag sheet position with reference to the product management table.
  • the product presence / absence determination unit 15 determines the presence / absence (display state) of the product on the tag sheet 6 in the product display shelf 8 according to the signal received from the RFID reader 7. As described above, when the product presence / absence determination unit 15 receives the signal strength received by the RFID reader 7 from the RFID tag 5 and the signal is interrupted or the signal strength is lower than a certain threshold value, When it is determined that there is no product and the signal strength is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is determined that there is a product on the tag sheet 6. In addition, the product presence / absence determination unit 15 determines and sets the state of the product presence / absence in the product management table.
  • the product replenishment determination unit 16 determines whether it is necessary to replenish the product on the tag sheet 6 in the product display shelf 8. When the product presence / absence determining unit 15 determines that there is no product, the product replenishment determining unit 16 determines the replenishment of the product based on the number of products remaining on the tag sheet 6. For example, when the number of products on the tag sheet 6 is smaller than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the product needs to be replenished.
  • the display correction determination unit 17 determines whether the display correction of the product on the tag sheet 6 in the product display shelf 8 is necessary. When the product presence / absence determination unit 15 determines that there is no product, the display correction determination unit 17 determines display correction based on the arrangement state of the products remaining on the tag sheet 6. For example, when there is no product in the front row of the tag sheet 6, it is determined that correction is necessary so that the product is displayed in the front row.
  • the display unit 18 displays information that needs to be notified to the store clerk (store manager), such as the processing result of each block. For example, the display unit 18 indicates that the tag sheet recognized by the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 has been placed at the position recognized by the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 (the arrangement state of the tag sheet), or the product presence / absence judgment unit 15 The determined product presence / absence state (product display state), the presence / absence of product replenishment determined by the product replenishment determination unit 16, and the presence / absence of display correction determined by the display correction determination unit 17 are displayed.
  • the configuration (product presence / absence detection unit) for realizing the product presence / absence detection method according to the present embodiment using the RFID reader 7, the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5 and the detection principle will be described in detail.
  • the RFID reader 7, the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5 constitute a product presence / absence detection unit
  • the product presence / absence determination unit 15 determines the presence / absence of a product according to the output of the product presence / absence detection unit.
  • the product presence / absence detection method according to the embodiment is realized.
  • the reader waveguide 4 is an open type waveguide having a structure in which an electromagnetic wave such as a microstrip structure, a coplanar line, or a slot line oozes out in the space around the waveguide as a near field.
  • 6A is an example in which the reader waveguide 4 is configured with two parallel lines
  • FIG. 6B is an example in which the reader waveguide 4 is configured with a microstrip line.
  • the RFID reader 7 and the distributor 41 are connected by the LAN cable 3a, and the distributor 41 distributes the signal of the LAN cable 3a to the plurality of parallel two lines 43.
  • the plurality of parallel two lines 43 are arranged to extend in parallel on the dielectric layer 42.
  • the RFID reader 7 and the distributor 41 are connected by the LAN cable 3a, and the distributor 41 distributes the signal of the LAN cable 3a to the plurality of microstrip lines 44.
  • a plurality of microstrip lines 44 are arranged in parallel on the dielectric layer 42, and a ground plane 45 is formed on the entire surface under the dielectric layer 42.
  • FIG. 7 is a three-side view for explaining a commodity presence / absence detecting unit including the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5 using the microstrip line structure according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 the figure which expanded the area
  • the reader waveguide 4 has a dielectric layer 204, and a strip conductor 203 is formed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 204.
  • a ground plane 205 is formed on the lower surface of the dielectric layer 204.
  • the RFID tag 5 is installed by disposing the tag sheet 6 above the reader waveguide 4. Further, the product 2 is placed in the product display place 2 a where the RFID tag 5 above the RFID tag 5 is covered.
  • the RFID tag 5 includes an RFID chip 201 and a tag antenna 202.
  • FIG. 8 shows a front view for explaining a commodity presence / absence detecting unit including the reader waveguide 4, the RFID tag 5, and the RFID reader 7 according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of a region where one product 2 is placed in the product display shelf 8 as in FIG.
  • a strip conductor 203 is formed on the upper surface of the dielectric layer 204.
  • a ground plane 205 is formed on the lower surface of the dielectric layer 204. Then, one end of the strip conductor 203 and the ground plane 205 are connected via a matching termination resistor Rt . With this connection, the leader waveguide 4 is terminated with matching.
  • An RFID reader 7 is connected to the other end of the reader waveguide 4.
  • FIG. 8 only the distance relationship between the product 2, the tag antenna 202, and the strip conductor 203 is shown, but in order to satisfy the above distance relationship, for example, when the RFID tag 5 is covered with a plastic plate or the like,
  • the thickness of the plastic plate can be used. That is, it is possible to built-in RFID tag 5 to the plastic plate, to secure the first distance L 1 by forming a sheet embedded RFID tag by the plastic plate.
  • FIG. 2 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, by inserting a spacer 4a between the RFID tag 5 and the reader waveguide 4, securing the second distance L 2 provided with a platform which supports the tags can do.
  • the above technique is a form for securing a first distance L 1 and the second distance L 2, it is also possible to use other techniques.
  • the strip conductor 203, and the tag antenna 202 while remaining in the same plane, or may be the distance L 2 apart in a plane. It is also possible to secure the distance L 2 by the thickness of the tag sheet 6.
  • the product 2 is located above the tag antenna 202 of the RFID tag 5 and the distance is the first distance L 1. Placed in. Furthermore, the reader waveguide 4 connected to the RFID reader 7, a lower portion of the RFID tag 5 is disposed sight distance apart by a second distance L 2 between the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 ing. As described above, in the present management system, the product 2 is arranged outside the region sandwiched between the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5. Therefore, the line of sight between the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5 is not blocked by the product 2.
  • the management system adjusts the first distance L 1 between the product 2 and the tag antenna 202 and the second distance L 2 that is the line-of-sight distance between the tag antenna 202 and the reader waveguide 4. It is desirable to do.
  • the coupling coefficient k 2 between the product 2 and the tag antenna 202 and the coupling between the tag antenna 202 and the reader waveguide 4 are adjusted by adjusting the first distance L 1 and the second distance L 2. It is desirable to adjust the coefficient k 1.
  • the signal strength between the tag antenna 202 and the reader waveguide 4 is changed according to the coupling coefficient k 2 that changes depending on the presence or absence of the product 2, and the presence or absence of the product 2 is determined by the change in the signal strength. to decide.
  • the coupling coefficient indicating the strength of the electromagnetic coupling can be evaluated relatively easily by an electromagnetic simulator.
  • the electromagnetic field coupling when the wavelength of the radio signal between the tag antenna 202 and the reader waveguide 4 is ⁇ , the distance from the wave source (for example, the waveguide) is ⁇ / 2 ⁇ ( ⁇ is the circular ratio).
  • Nearer region is reactive near field, distance is longer than ⁇ / 2 ⁇ and nearer than ⁇ is near radial field, and these two regions are combined and near. This is called the near-field region.
  • the electromagnetic field has a complex aspect, and there exists a non-negligible intensity ratio between the quasi-electrostatic magnetic field, the induction electromagnetic field, and the radiated electromagnetic field, and the resultant electromagnetic field vector is also spatial.
  • Changes in time variously.
  • the wave source is a minute dipole antenna
  • the electric field E [V / m] and the magnetic field H [A / m] formed by this antenna are indicated by a spherical coordinate system (r, ⁇ , ⁇ ) and a phasor display. It can be expressed by the following formulas (1) to (4).
  • the charge stored in the minute dipole antenna is q [C]
  • the length of the antenna is l [m]
  • the wavelength is ⁇ [m]
  • from the wave source to the observation point was set to r [m].
  • ⁇ is a circular constant
  • ⁇ is a dielectric constant
  • ⁇ is a magnetic permeability.
  • the term proportional to 1 / r 3 is a quasi-electrostatic magnetic field
  • the term proportional to 1 / r 2 is an induction electromagnetic field
  • the term proportional to 1 / r is radiated.
  • the electromagnetic field is shown. Since these electromagnetic field components have different dependencies on the distance r, the relative strength changes depending on the distance r.
  • FIG. 9 shows a table illustrating the quasi-electrostatic field in Figure 9 in a field E theta, induced electric field, the dependence on the distance r normalized by the wavelength ⁇ for the relative intensity of the radiation field.
  • the second row of the table shown in FIG. 9 shows the distance converted with a free space wavelength of 950 MHz, which is almost the same as the frequency of UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band RFID permitted by the Domestic Radio Law.
  • UHF Ultra High Frequency
  • each electric field strength decreases and each component ratio also changes.
  • the electric field strength increases in the order of quasi-electrostatic field, induction field, and radiation field
  • the field strength decreases in order of quasi-electrostatic field, induction field, and radiation field.
  • the contribution of the quasi-electrostatic field and the induced electric field is extremely small in the region where r> ⁇ , and only the radiated electric field component is present in the far field where r> 2 ⁇ .
  • the contribution of the quasi-electrostatic field and the induced electric field remains sufficiently in the region of r ⁇ , and the quasi-electrostatic field and the induced electric field make a large contribution in the reactive near field of r ⁇ / 2 ⁇ .
  • the far-field (r >> ⁇ / 2 ⁇ ) radiation field has only the ⁇ direction component, whereas the quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and the induction electromagnetic field are ⁇ In addition to the direction component, it has an r-direction component and a ⁇ -direction component, and has components in various directions.
  • quasi-electrostatic and inductive fields that remain in the vicinity of the antenna (waveguide) are dominant in the reactive near field as compared to the radiated electromagnetic field that is radiated from the antenna into the space and propagates.
  • the absolute electromagnetic field strength is also strong. In the near field of radiation, in general, the absolute electromagnetic field strength becomes weaker as the distance from the wave source becomes longer.
  • the relative strength of the quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and the induction electromagnetic field rapidly decreases as the distance from the wave source increases.
  • the relative strength of the radiated electromagnetic field is increased with respect to other electromagnetic fields.
  • a quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and an induction electromagnetic field exist in the near field, and these electromagnetic fields cause coupling between the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 and coupling between the tag antenna 202 and the product 2. .
  • the distance r between the reader antenna corresponding to the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna satisfies the relationship of r> ⁇ . Is used.
  • a resonant antenna typified by a patch antenna is often used as the reader antenna.
  • the electromagnetic field strength varies greatly depending on the location due to the standing wave in the resonant antenna. For example, the amplitude is the largest near the top of the standing wave, and the amplitude is 0 at the midpoint of the standing wave.
  • the signal from the reader antenna is near the midpoint of the standing wave in the reader antenna. Can not be received by the tag antenna, or the received signal strength becomes extremely weak. That is, an insensitive area is created, which may hinder use.
  • a coupling circuit can be formed by electromagnetic coupling between antennas through a quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and an induction electromagnetic field that exist in the near field of r ⁇ , and more preferably in the reactive near field of r ⁇ / 2 ⁇ . .
  • a wide space is not required between the RFID reader and the RFID tag according to the conditions.
  • a resonant antenna is simply used instead of the reader waveguide 4, a dead zone is created, which may hinder use.
  • the reader waveguide 4 connected to the RFID reader 7 is configured by an open transmission line terminated with matching, and the tag antenna 202 of the open transmission line and the RFID tag 5 is used.
  • the RFID tag 5 is arranged so that and are electromagnetically coupled.
  • an open transmission line that emits less radio waves is used as the reader waveguide 4 of the RFID reader 7, so that the reader is guided mainly through a quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and an induction electromagnetic field generated around the open transmission line.
  • the waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 are electromagnetically coupled to form a coupling circuit. That is, it can be said that the open transmission line is used as a traveling wave antenna operating in the near field. With this configuration, a large space is not required between the reader waveguide 4 and the RFID tag 5.
  • the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 since communication between the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 is performed at a short distance through the coupling circuit, a person or a person is not allowed between the occurrence of the multipath phenomenon and the place where the reader waveguide 4 and the product 2 are disposed. It is possible to suppress erroneous detection due to a thing entering. Furthermore, since an open transmission line terminated with matching is used as the leader waveguide 4, the main component of the electromagnetic wave propagating in the antenna does not generate a standing wave but propagates as a traveling wave to the matching end. Here, strictly speaking, the fact that no standing wave is generated means that the standing wave is sufficiently small, and usually the standing wave ratio is a value of 2 or less.
  • the electromagnetic field distribution in such a transmission line can be utilized.
  • the electromagnetic field formed in the space around the line has a relatively small radiated electromagnetic field, and an electrostatic magnetic field and an induction electromagnetic field are main components.
  • the electromagnetic field intensity of the electrostatic magnetic field and the induction electromagnetic field is stronger than the intensity of the radiated electromagnetic field, and the electromagnetic field intensity with which the RFID tag 5 can be obtained becomes strong even when the reader is operating with the same output. In other words, it is possible to prevent the radiation electromagnetic field from deteriorating the surrounding electromagnetic environment while ensuring the operation of the tag.
  • the electromagnetic field distribution in the vicinity of the antenna is very uneven according to the distribution of the standing wave inside the antenna.
  • the area where the product 2 can be managed needs to be limited.
  • a reader waveguide composed of an open transmission line described in the present embodiment there is no portion that does not change like a node of a standing wave even in the vicinity of the waveguide. It is possible to obtain the required signal strength at the place. Therefore, even in the near field, the non-uniformity of the electromagnetic field along the waveguide (antenna) is small, and it is difficult to generate an area where the tag information of the RFID tag 5 cannot be read. That is, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the reader waveguide 4 and the tag antenna 202 is improved.
  • the detection unit extends the transmission line regardless of the wavelength within a range in which the strength of the quasi-electrostatic magnetic field and the induction electromagnetic field generated around the open transmission line is sufficiently large to operate the RFID tag 5.
  • the area can be taken widely. That is, in the merchandise management system according to the present embodiment, by using the above open transmission line, the radiation loss of power is suppressed and the cover area can be easily expanded.
  • the open transmission line here is basically a transmission line intended to transmit electromagnetic waves in the longitudinal direction of the line while suppressing radiation, and the open type does not completely cover the space with metal.
  • Examples include balanced two-wire transmission lines and similar transmission lines, transmission lines such as microstrip lines, coplanar lines, and slot lines, and grounded coplanar lines and triplate lines that are modifications of these transmission lines.
  • a planar shape two-dimensional that transmits signals by changing the electromagnetic field propagating in the gap region sandwiched between the mesh-like conductor portion and the sheet-like conductor portion and the near-field leaching region outside the mesh-like conductor portion.
  • Antennas can also be used depending on the conditions.
  • a shielded transmission line that does not generate such an electromagnetic field around the transmission line such as a coaxial cable or a waveguide that shields the periphery of the transmission line, cannot be used.
  • crank line that obtains a constant radiated electromagnetic field strength by designing a crank shape with the intention of radiating electromagnetic waves from an open transmission line or by actively using higher-order modes.
  • a traveling wave antenna for electromagnetic radiation in the far field using an antenna, a meander line antenna, a leaky coaxial cable or the like is different from the open transmission line used in the product management system according to the present embodiment.
  • These traveling wave antennas emit strong electromagnetic waves preferentially from crank-shaped portions and slots that are periodically provided with a size of the order of a wavelength, generally 1/10 or more of the wavelength. Similar to the resonant antenna, there is a drawback that the strength of the electromagnetic field varies greatly depending on the location.
  • the allocated frequency is different in each country in the world, and it is distributed in a band of about 860 to 960 MHz. This is a wide band of about 10% as a specific band, and is a resonant antenna. Resonant point design and crank, meander, and slot periods require significant changes.
  • an open transmission line having an extremely wide band is originally used, so that the same antenna can be used as the reader waveguide 4 without any particular change.
  • the product display place 2a for placing the product 2 near the RFID tag 5 is provided so that the product 2 and the tag antenna 202 of the RFID tag 5 are electromagnetically coupled.
  • the resonance frequency of the tag antenna 202 changes or the feed point impedance of the tag antenna 202 is compared with the case where the product 2 is not present. Or change. Since the tag antenna 202 resonates at the frequency of the signal used for communication in free space, the feed point impedance is adjusted, and the reception sensitivity is maximized, the above change lowers the reception sensitivity.
  • the operation of the tag antenna 202 when sending a reflected signal to the RFID reader 7 is also adversely affected.
  • the power reception sensitivity with respect to the signal used for communication falls.
  • the transmission output of the signal reflected by the RFID tag 5 also decreases. Therefore, the RFID tag 5 cannot receive a signal from the RFID reader 7, or the signal receiving intensity is low, and the tag cannot be provided with sufficient operating power, or the tag cannot generate a reflected electromagnetic field with sufficient strength.
  • the RFID reader 7 cannot read the tag information of the RFID tag 5.
  • the intensity and phase of the reflected electromagnetic field reaching the RFID reader 7 change greatly with changes in the resonance frequency of the tag.
  • the tag information cannot be read, or the intensity of the reflected electromagnetic field from the RFID tag 5 is greatly changed compared to the case where the product 2 is not present.
  • the product management system according to the embodiment can detect the presence or absence of a product.
  • a store clerk or store manager or the like determines whether or not shelves need to be changed (S101).
  • the store clerk or store manager
  • the store clerk displays the product on the arranged tag sheet 6 (S107).
  • the product to be arranged for each tag sheet 6 and the arrangement position are determined in advance. For this reason, the product matched with the tag sheet 6 is arranged at a predetermined position of the tag sheet 6.
  • the store clerk determines whether the shelf allocation correction operation is necessary (S102). If it is determined in S102 that the shelf allocation correction work is necessary, the store clerk or the like moves the tag sheet 6 based on the stock (S108). For example, the tag sheet 6 of a product with a large stock is moved to a place where the purchaser can easily see.
  • the store management device 1 After displaying the product on the tag sheet 6 in S107 or moving the tag sheet 6 in S108, the store management device 1 detects the tag sheet ID of the arranged tag sheet 6 (S109).
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 of the store management device 1 recognizes the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6 in order to grasp the products arranged on the product display shelf 8. For example, in the present embodiment, the tag sheet ID is recognized based on the tag ID of the RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet 6.
  • FIG. 11 shows a specific example of the tag sheet ID detection process in S109.
  • the RFID reader 7 reads the tag ID of the RFID tag 5 (sensing RFID tag) (S202). Subsequently, the RFID reader 7 transmits the read tag ID of the RFID tag 5 to the store management apparatus 1 (server) (S203).
  • the store management device 1 takes out the arrangement of the RFID tag 5 and the product name (JAN code) (S204).
  • the input unit 12 acquires the tag ID of the RFID tag 5 on the tag sheet 6 from the RFID reader 7.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 refers to the product management table and recognizes the tag sheet ID corresponding to the acquired tag ID. Further, the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the RFID tag 5 and the product arranged on the tag sheet corresponding to the tag sheet ID.
  • the store management device 1 detects the location of the arranged tag sheet 6 (S110).
  • the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 of the store management device 1 recognizes the position of the tag sheet 6 in order to grasp the position of the product placed on the product display shelf 8. For example, a store clerk or the like inputs the position of the arranged tag sheet 6 to the input unit, whereby the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 recognizes the position of the tag sheet 6 and sets the tag sheet position in the product management table.
  • the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 refers to the product management table and recognizes the position of the RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet 6 with reference to the position of the tag sheet 6.
  • the display unit 18 displays the tag sheet 6 and the RFID tag 5 (product placement position) according to the tag sheet position and the RFID tag position of the product management table.
  • the store management device 1 detects the presence / absence of a product (S103). As described above, when the purchaser takes out the product from the product display shelf 8, the signal intensity that the RFID reader 7 receives from the RFID tag 5 through the reader waveguide 4 changes.
  • the product presence / absence determination unit 15 of the store management device 1 determines that there is a product on the RFID tag 5 of the tag sheet 6 when the signal strength acquired from the RFID reader 7 is lower than the threshold, and when the signal strength is equal to or higher than the threshold, It is determined that there is no product on the RFID tag 5 of the tag sheet 6.
  • the product presence / absence determination unit 15 updates the product presence / absence information in the product management table according to the determination result of the product presence / absence, and the display unit 18 displays the arrangement state of the products according to the product presence / absence information in the product management table.
  • FIG. 12 is a display example of the display unit 18 of the store management apparatus 1.
  • the tag sheet 6-1 and the RFID on the tag sheet 6-1 correspond to the position of the tag sheet 6-1.
  • An image of the tag 5 is displayed on the display unit 18.
  • the tag sheet 6-2 is additionally arranged on the reader waveguide 4, as shown in FIG. 12B, the tag sheet 6-2 and the tag sheet 6 correspond to the position of the tag sheet 6-2.
  • the image of the RFID tag 5 above is additionally displayed on the display unit 18.
  • the change or addition / deletion of the tag sheet 6 is recognized by the tag sheet ID, and the output can be expressed in accordance with the used sheet (product type).
  • the store management device 1 determines whether or not the product needs to be replenished (S104).
  • the product replenishment determination unit 16 of the store management device 1 grasps the number of products on the tag sheet 6 based on the product presence / absence detection result in S103. For example, when the number of products on the tag sheet 6 is smaller than the threshold, If it is determined that replenishment is necessary and the number of products is equal to or greater than the threshold value, it is determined that replenishment of the product is unnecessary.
  • the display unit 18 displays an alarm so that a store clerk or the like replenishes a product when the standard needs to be replenished.
  • the alarm display can also be performed using a handy terminal or an electronic shelf label owned by the store clerk.
  • the store management apparatus 1 determines whether or not the backyard is in stock (S111). If the backyard is not in stock, the store management device 1 instructs to place an order (S112). If there is a stock in the yard, an instruction to replenish the product is given (S113). After the product is replenished, the product presence / absence detection process (S103) and subsequent steps are repeated.
  • the backyard inventory check can be calculated by subtracting the display shelf inventory from the theoretical inventory of the POS system. However, the backyard inventory can be directly grasped in real time by using the tag sheet.
  • the store management apparatus 1 determines whether or not the display needs to be corrected (S105).
  • the display correction determination unit 17 of the store management device 1 grasps the arrangement state of the products on the tag sheet 6 based on the product presence / absence detection result in S103. For example, if there is no product in the front row, the product is displayed in the front row. Thus, it is determined that display correction is necessary, and if there is a product in the front row, it is determined that display correction is unnecessary. When the display correction is necessary, the display unit 18 displays an alarm so that a store clerk or the like corrects the display.
  • the presence / absence of a product is determined based on the signal intensity from the RFID tag on the tag sheet. For this reason, it is not necessary to attach an RFID tag or a shielding part to the product, and the presence or absence of the product can be managed at a low cost.
  • a tag sheet for placing products is provided, the tag sheet is identified by recognizing the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet, and the placement position of the product is grasped by recognizing the position of the tag sheet. . For this reason, it is possible to flexibly cope with various arrangements of products by arrangement and movement of tag sheets.
  • FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B show an example of the configuration of the tag sheet according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 13A is a top view of the tag sheet 6 and FIG. 13B is a side view thereof.
  • the tag sheet 6 includes a product placement area (management target article placement area) 6a in which a product (management target article) is placed, and a product non-placement area (management target article non-placement) in which no product is placed.
  • Arrangement area) 6b is arranged.
  • the same RFID tag 5 as in the first embodiment is placed.
  • the RFID tag 5 is referred to as a sensing RFID tag 5 for sensing the presence or absence of a product.
  • a sheet recognition RFID tag 5a is disposed in the product non-arrangement area 6b on the tag sheet 6.
  • the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a is an RFID tag that stores a tag sheet ID for identifying a tag sheet and is not used for sensing a product.
  • the sensing RFID tag 5 and the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a are RFID tags having the same configuration (type). Thereby, it is not necessary to prepare another new RFID tag, and it is possible to read from the RFID reader 7 in the same manner as the sensing RFID tag 5.
  • the sensing RFID tag 5 and the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a may be RFID tags having different configurations.
  • the tag sheet ID of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a it is preferable to have a structure in which a product cannot be placed in the product non-placement area 6b in the vicinity of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a.
  • a cover that covers the upper surface of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a may be provided.
  • the upper surface of the product non-arrangement region 6b may be made higher than the upper surface of the product arrangement region 6a, or the upper surface may be inclined, arcuate, or uneven. Moreover, you may bend
  • FIG. 14 is a side view of a state in which the tag sheet 6 according to the present embodiment is disposed on the reader waveguide 4. Sensing of the sensing RFID tag 5 is the same as in the first embodiment, and in this embodiment, reading of the tag sheet ID from the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a is also the same.
  • the reader waveguide 4 is connected to an RFID reader 7, and the RFID reader 7 generates a near-field electromagnetic wave in the vicinity of the reader waveguide 4, and the sensing RFID on the tag sheet 6.
  • a reflected signal from the tag 5 is detected.
  • the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a has tag sheet-specific tag information (tag sheet ID), and the tag sheet ID is associated with the arrangement information of the sensing RFID tag 5 and the management target article information (product type, etc.).
  • the sensing RFID tag 5 and the product can be used to know only the presence / absence (out of stock) of the product in the product placement area 6a without having a one-to-one correspondence with the product.
  • the RFID reader 7 reads the tag information of the RFID tag 5 through the reader waveguide 4 and also reads the tag information of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a.
  • FIG. 15 shows an example in which a plurality of tag sheets 6 according to the present embodiment are arranged on the reader waveguide 4.
  • the tag sheets 6 correspond to the products to be arranged, and when different products are placed for each row of the product display shelf 8, the tag sheets 6 are placed for each row.
  • tag sheets 6-1 to 6-5 are arranged in each row on the reader waveguide 4.
  • the tag sheets 6-1 to 6-5 include sensing RFID tags 5-1 to 5-5 and sheet recognition RFID tags 5a-1 to 5a-5, respectively.
  • the sensing RFID tag 5 is disposed on the front side (buyer side) of the product display shelf 8, and the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a is disposed on the rear side of the product display shelf 8.
  • a product partition 61 may be provided on the tag sheet 6. By providing the partition 61, it becomes easy to arrange and arrange products for each column of the tag sheet 6, and mixing of products in the adjacent column can be prevented.
  • product management is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 10 of the first embodiment, and only the detection method of the tag sheet ID is different.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID based on the tag information of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5a.
  • FIG. 16 is a specific example of S109 of FIG. 10 and shows tag sheet ID detection processing according to the present embodiment.
  • the RFID reader 7 reads the tag ID (tag sheet ID) of the RFID tag 5a for sheet recognition (S212). Subsequently, the RFID reader 7 transmits the tag sheet ID of the read sheet recognition RFID tag 5a to the store management apparatus 1 (server) (S213).
  • the store management device 1 takes out the arrangement and product name (JAN code) of the sensing RFID tag 5 (S214).
  • the input unit 12 acquires the tag sheet ID of the sheet recognition RFID tag 5 a on the tag sheet 6 from the RFID reader 7.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 refers to the product management table, recognizes the acquired tag sheet ID, and recognizes the sensing RFID tag 5 and the product arranged on the tag sheet corresponding to the tag sheet ID.
  • an RFID tag for sheet recognition that is not used for product sensing is provided on the tag sheet and used for tag sheet ID detection.
  • the tag sheet ID can be directly acquired by the RFID tag for sheet recognition to identify the tag sheet, and no product is arranged on the RFID tag for sheet recognition, so that the tag sheet ID can always be detected.
  • FIG. 17 is an example in which a plurality of tag sheets 6 according to the present embodiment are arranged on the reader waveguide 4, and an example in which a shelf label 62 is provided in the configuration of FIG. 15.
  • tag sheets 6-1 to 6-5 are arranged in each row on the reader waveguide 4 as in FIG.
  • the tag sheets 6-1 to 6-5 include sensing RFID tags 5-1 to 5-5 and sheet recognition RFID tags 5a-1 to 5a-5, respectively.
  • shelf labels 62-1 to 62-5 are attached to the tag sheets 6-1 to 6-5.
  • the shelf label 62 is associated with the tag sheet 6. That is, the tag sheet 6 includes a sensing RFID tag 5 and a sheet recognition RFID tag 5 a, and a shelf label 62 is disposed at a position corresponding to the tag sheet 6.
  • the shelf label 62 is attached to the front side (buyer side) of the product display shelf 8 and displays, for example, the product name and price of the product placed on the tag sheet 6.
  • the shelf label may be a paper shelf label or an electronic shelf label.
  • a barcode may be put on the shelf label 62.
  • the management target article information may be obtained from the camera image by putting a two-dimensional code such as a QR code in the shelf label 62.
  • L11 in FIG. 17 is a display line close to the shelf label, and L12 is an out-of-stock expected line.
  • the merchandise management of the display line L11 close to the shelf label 62 (to make it easy to see and increase sales by putting it on the front), and the out-of-stock forecast line L12 may be provided at the back.
  • the presence / absence of a product before or after such a display line can be detected to determine whether to replenish the product or correct the display. For example, even when it is difficult to see the back, such as in a hot case, it is possible to detect the presence of a product behind the out-of-stock expected line L12 and determine the product replenishment early.
  • By setting two lines L11 and L12 it is possible to obtain the speed at which the product is reduced, thereby increasing the expected accuracy of the replenishment time.
  • 18A to 18C are examples of the tag sheet according to the present embodiment.
  • 18A is a top view of the tag sheet 6
  • FIG. 18B is a side view thereof
  • FIG. 18C is a front view thereof.
  • the shelf label 62 is directly fixed to the end portion of the tag sheet 6 similar to that of the second embodiment.
  • FIG. 19 is an example of a tag sheet and a product display shelf according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 19 is a side view of the tag sheet 6 and the commodity display shelf 8.
  • the same tag sheet as that of the second embodiment is arranged on the product display shelf 8, and the shelf label 62 tied to the tag sheet 6 with a string 62 a or the like is fixed to the front surface of the product display shelf 8.
  • the shelf label 62 may be an electronic shelf label, and power supply and information transmission may be performed by a single LAN cable using PoE (Power over Ethernet (registered trademark)) for both the electronic shelf label and the RFID reader 7. Power may be supplied to the electronic shelf label via the LAN cable 3 a that connects the RFID reader 7 and the reader waveguide 4.
  • PoE Power over Ethernet
  • 20A to 20C are other examples of the tag sheet according to the present embodiment.
  • 20A is a top view of the tag sheet 6
  • FIG. 20B is a side view thereof
  • FIG. 20C is a front view thereof.
  • the RFID tag 5a for sheet recognition is affixed to the shelf label 62 as compared with the configuration of FIGS. 18A to 18C.
  • a shelf label is placed in a place where communication with the reader waveguide 4 is possible, and the RFID tag 5a for sheet recognition can be read.
  • the tag sheet ID can be changed simply by changing the shelf label, so that the product corresponding to the tag sheet can be freely changed. can do.
  • a shelf label is associated with a tag sheet.
  • the fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
  • the present embodiment is an example in which the tag sheet ID is detected by another method in the configuration of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of the product management system according to the present embodiment.
  • the merchandise management system further includes an input device 10 in addition to the configuration of FIG.
  • the input device 10 is connected to the store management device 1 via the communication network 3.
  • the input device 10 is a device that inputs the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6 and transmits the tag sheet ID to the store management device 1.
  • the RFID reader 7 and the input device 10 may be a single device.
  • the input device 10 may be the input unit 12 of the store management device 1.
  • the tag sheet can be identified with a configuration other than the RFID tag.
  • FIG. 23, and FIG. 24 show an example of a tag sheet according to the present embodiment.
  • 22A to 22C a shelf label 62 as shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C and FIG. 19 is attached to the tag sheet 6 of the first embodiment, and tag sheet identification information 63 capable of recognizing the tag sheet ID is displayed on the shelf label 62. Display (print).
  • the tag sheet identification information (sheet identification mark) 63 is a barcode, QR code, character, pattern, or the like corresponding to the tag sheet ID.
  • tag sheet identification information 63 may be directly displayed (printed) on the tag sheet 6.
  • the tag sheet 6 may be associated with the tag sheet ID so that the outer shape of the tag sheet 6 is different for each tag sheet. For example, the shape of a part such as a corner of the tag sheet 6 is changed for each tag sheet.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID based on the tag sheet identification information (sheet identification mark) 63 read by the input device 10. It can be said that the input device 10 reads the sheet identification mark and generates identification mark information that can be recognized by the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13.
  • FIG. 25 is a specific example of S109 of FIG. 10 and shows tag sheet ID detection processing according to the present embodiment.
  • the input device 10 reads the tag sheet information from a barcode, QR code, camera image, or the like (S222). Subsequently, the input device 10 transmits the read tag sheet information to the store management device 1 (server) (S223).
  • the store management device 1 takes out the arrangement and the product name (JAN code) of the sensing RFID tag 5 (S224).
  • the input unit 12 acquires tag sheet information of the tag sheet 6 from the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 analyzes the acquired tag sheet information to recognize the tag sheet ID, refers to the product management table, and refers to the RFID tag for sensing arranged on the tag sheet corresponding to the tag sheet ID 5 and recognize the product.
  • FIG. 26 shows another example of the tag sheet ID detection process according to the present embodiment.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID based on the tag sheet identification information (sheet identification mark) 63 input to the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 recognizes the tag sheet ID based on the tag sheet identification information (sheet identification mark) 63 input to the input device 10.
  • the store clerk reads the tag sheet information visually (S232).
  • the tag sheet information read by the store clerk or the like is input to the input device 10, and the input device 10 transmits the tag sheet information to the store management device 1 (server) (S233).
  • the store management device 1 takes out the arrangement and product name (JAN code) of the sensing RFID tag 5 (S234).
  • the input unit 12 acquires tag sheet information of the tag sheet 6 from the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet ID recognition unit 13 analyzes the acquired tag sheet information to recognize the tag sheet ID, refers to the product management table, and refers to the RFID tag for sensing arranged on the tag sheet corresponding to the tag sheet ID 5 and recognize the product.
  • the tag sheet ID is recognized by reading the shelf label, the barcode of the tag sheet, and the outer shape of the sheet with the apparatus or manually inputting the tag sheet ID. Even in this case, the tag sheet can be identified as in the first embodiment, and it is possible to flexibly cope with various arrangements of products.
  • FIG. 27 shows a configuration example of the commodity display shelf 8 according to the present embodiment.
  • position information (position identification marks) 81-1 to 81-7 that can recognize the position is displayed at each position (row) of the commodity display shelf 8.
  • the position information 81 is a barcode, QR code, character, pattern, or the like corresponding to the position (row) of the product display shelf 8.
  • the position of the tag sheet 6 is recognized by associating the position (row) indicated by the position information 81 with the tag sheet 6.
  • the tag sheet 6-1 is arranged in the column of the position information 81-1, and the position “first column” indicated by the position information 81-1 is associated with the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6-1.
  • the position “second column” indicated by the position information 81-2 is associated with the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6-2, and the position “fourth column” indicated by the position information 81-4 and the tag sheet 6-3 are associated with each other.
  • the position “sixth column” indicated by the position information 81-6 and the tag sheet ID of the tag sheet 6-4 are associated with each other.
  • the input device 10 is provided as in FIG.
  • the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 recognizes the position of the tag sheet 6 based on the position information (position identification mark) read by the input device 10.
  • FIG. 28 is a specific example of S110 of FIG. 10, and shows an example of tag sheet location detection processing according to the present embodiment.
  • the tag sheet 6 is arranged on the reader waveguide 4 in S106 and S108 of FIG. 10, and when the tag sheet ID is detected in S109, the input device 10 displays the position information of the tag sheet as a barcode, QR code. Or it reads from a camera image etc. (S301). Subsequently, the input device 10 transmits the read position information to the store management device 1 (server) (S302).
  • server store management device 1
  • the store management device 1 associates the tag sheet position information with the tag sheet ID (S303).
  • the input unit 12 acquires the position information of the tag sheet 6 from the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet position recognizing unit 14 analyzes the acquired position information, recognizes the position (column) of the tag sheet, and stores the recognized position in the product management table in association with the tag sheet ID. Thereby, the position of the tag sheet 6 and the position of the sensing RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet 6 are recognized.
  • FIG. 29 shows another example of tag sheet location detection processing according to the present embodiment.
  • the tag sheet position recognition unit 14 recognizes the position of the tag sheet 6 based on the position information (position identification mark) input to the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet 6 is placed on the reader waveguide 4 in S106 and S108 of FIG. 10, and when the tag sheet ID is detected in S109, the store clerk visually reads the position information of the tag sheet (S311).
  • the position information of the tag sheet read by the store clerk or the like is input to the input device 10, and the input device 10 transmits the position information of the tag sheet to the store management device 1 (server) (S312).
  • the store management device 1 associates the tag sheet position information with the tag sheet ID (S313).
  • the input unit 12 acquires the position information of the tag sheet 6 from the input device 10.
  • the tag sheet position recognizing unit 14 analyzes the acquired position information, recognizes the position (column) of the tag sheet, and stores the recognized position in the product management table in association with the tag sheet ID. Thereby, the position of the tag sheet 6 and the position of the sensing RFID tag 5 arranged on the tag sheet 6 are recognized.
  • the position of the tag sheet is recognized by reading the position of the placed tag sheet with the apparatus or manually inputting the position.
  • the position of the tag sheet can be associated with the tag sheet ID, and the position of the tag sheet and the position of the RFID tag can be reliably grasped.
  • the position of the tag sheet and the position of the RFID tag can be recognized, it is possible to simultaneously grasp the quantity of the same product on different shelves and the same product on the backyard and its change.
  • FIG. 30 shows an example of the configuration of the tag sheet according to the present embodiment.
  • the tag sheet 6 includes a plurality of product placement areas 6a-1 and 6a-2, and the product placement areas 6a-1 and 6a-2 include the sensing RFID tag 5-1, 5-2 is arranged.
  • the sensing RFID tag 5-1 in the product placement area 6a-1 is larger in size than the sensing RFID tag 5-2 in the product placement area 6a-2.
  • the kind of RFID tag can be changed according to a place according to a use.
  • a large RFID tag has a lower detection spatial resolution
  • a plurality of types of RFID tags are arranged in consideration of easy detection of distant products.
  • FIG. 31A and 31B show an example of the configuration of the tag sheet and the reader waveguide according to the present embodiment.
  • FIG. 31A is an example in which the reader waveguide is configured by a sheet-like antenna
  • FIG. 31B is an example in which the reader waveguide is configured by a linear antenna.
  • the tag sheet 6 has an arc shape (semicircle), and the sensing RFID tag 5 is disposed along the periphery of the arc.
  • a sensing RFID tag 5 is arranged along an arc shape.
  • An RFID tag 5a for sheet recognition is arranged at a substantially arc-shaped central portion.
  • the reader waveguide may be a sheet-like antenna 46 having a size larger than that of the tag sheet 6, or as shown in FIG. 31B, the reader waveguide may be a narrow linear antenna 47.
  • the tag sheet 6 is arranged so that the sheet recognition RFID tag 5 a and the sensing RFID tag 5 are placed on the linear antenna 47.
  • the sensing RFID tags are arranged side by side on the periphery of the tag sheet. Accordingly, it is possible to detect that there is no product on the outside of the tag sheet, that is, in the front row of the product display shelf, and to notify the necessity of display correction.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
  • the leader waveguide 4 instead of placing the leader waveguide 4 on the commodity display shelf 8, it is installed on the side surface of the wall or the lower surface of the top plate, and the tag sheet 6 is installed on the surface with adhesive tape or the like.
  • the tag sheet 6 is installed on the surface with adhesive tape or the like.
  • An article detection sheet comprising a reader waveguide constituted by an open transmission line, and a tag sheet having a plurality of RFID tags electromagnetically coupled to the reader waveguide;
  • an article management system comprising: an RFID reader that transmits a transmission signal to the reader waveguide and receives a wireless response signal output from the RFID tag via the reader waveguide;
  • a tag antenna of at least one RFID tag among the plurality of RFID tags is a sensing RFID tag disposed at a position where the tag antenna can be electromagnetically coupled to an article to be managed,
  • At least one RFID tag other than the sensing RFID tag is a RFID tag for sheet recognition that is disposed at a position that is not electromagnetically coupled to the article to be managed,
  • the RFID reader detects a change in operating characteristics of the RFID tag for sensing depending on the presence or absence of the management target object as a change in intensity or phase of a reflected signal, And the article management system which reads the tag information of the said tag sheet from the radio
  • Appendix 3 In the article management system shown in Appendix 1, An article management system for identifying an arrangement place of an article to be managed by detecting an installation place of the tag sheet using means such as visual observation, barcode reading, or image recognition.

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Abstract

Un système de gestion d'articles doté d'une feuille de positionnement d'articles (102) positionnée au-dessus d'un lecteur à guide d'ondes (101) et qui comporte des étiquettes RFID (103) de détection d'articles; un lecteur RFID (104) qui lit les informations des étiquettes RFID (103) pour la détection d'articles; une unité de stockage de tables de gestion d'articles (107) qui stocke une table de gestion d'articles dans laquelle une information d'identification de feuille pour la feuille de positionnement d'article (102) est associée à des informations d'étiquette pour les étiquettes RFID (103) pour la détection d'articles; une unité de reconnaissance de position (105) qui, sur la base de l'information d'identification de feuilles pour la feuille de positionnement d'article (102) positionnée au-dessus du lecteur à guide d'ondes (101), reconnaît la position de la feuille de positionnement d'articles (102) et les étiquettes RFID (103) pour la détection d'articles; et une unité de détermination de présence d'articles (106) qui, sur la base des résultats de lecture pour les étiquettes RFID (103) pour la détection d'article, détermine si des articles sont présents ou non aux positions reconnues. L'invention permet ainsi une gestion d'articles. à coûts réduits et une souplesse d'adaptabilité à différents positionnements d'articles.
PCT/JP2014/000969 2013-03-01 2014-02-25 Système de gestion d'articles, procédé de gestion d'articles et support lisible par ordinateur non temporaire sur lequel est stocké un programme de gestion d'articles WO2014132621A1 (fr)

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