Information processor

Abstract

To make it easier to search items put in a storage place for a target item.SOLUTION: A portable information processor (100) is used to manage an item (4) by providing the item (4) put in a storage place with a code (1) includes: positional information acquisition means (106) for acquiring positional information of an owned machine; code reading means (105) for reading the code (1) provided on the item (4) from a picture taken by an imaging unit (101); and correction means (107) for correcting the positional information acquired by the positional information acquisition means (106) on the basis of the result of reading the code by the code reading means (105) and obtaining positional information of the item 4 provided with the code (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable information processing device that is provided with a code that is placed in a storage location and is used to manage the items. [Background technology]

[0002] In the manufacturing, construction, and distribution industries, a large number of items (raw materials, parts, work in progress, finished products, supplies, products, etc.) are stored in a large storage area such as a yard. Conventionally, workers search for a target item (item to be searched) among the many items stored in the storage area according to a list called an instruction manual or assembly drawing. However, workers must search for the target item visually while moving around the storage area, which increases unnecessary movement and raises concerns about human error such as confirmation errors and selection errors.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a portable location data acquisition device having a reading means for reading identification information such as an IC tag, barcode, or two-dimensional code attached to the item, a location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of the item, and a memory unit for storing the location information in association with the identification information, in order to accurately and quickly determine the location of a specific item from among a large number of items stored in an outdoor area such as a construction site or a Self-Defense Force training ground. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-117413 A [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6219911 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the position of the location data acquisition device based on GPS signals is treated as the position of the item whose identification information has been read. However, there are cases where the location data acquisition device reads the identification information attached to the item at a location away from the item. In this case, the location data acquisition device and the item's location do not match, and the item's location cannot be accurately represented. Therefore, when searching for a target item, the general location can be determined, but the exact location cannot be determined.

[0006] In addition, in Patent Document 1, the location information and identification information associated by the location data acquisition device are transmitted to a computer and registered. Then, a map and list are displayed on the computer display so that the location of the item can be easily understood. In this case, when searching for a target item, the worker must refer to a printed map or the like and visually search for the target item while moving around the storage area, which may increase unnecessary movement or cause human error.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and has an object to make it easier to search for a search target item among items placed in a storage area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The information processing device of the present invention is a portable information processing device used to manage items placed in a storage area by attaching a code to the items, and is characterized in that it comprises a location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of its own device, a code reading means for reading the code attached to the item from an image captured by an imaging unit, and a correction means for correcting the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means based on the result of reading the code by the code reading means, to obtain location information of the item to which the code is attached. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily search for a search target item among items placed in a storage area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an item management system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 11 is a diagram for explaining how identification information recorded in a two-dimensional code is associated with location information of an article on which the two-dimensional code is provided, using a mobile information terminal according to an embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a list. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a search for a target item using a mobile information terminal according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a search for a target item using a mobile information terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a two-dimensional code. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, a two-dimensional code 1 is provided on each item 4 placed in a storage area to manage the items 4. For example, a label with the two-dimensional code 1 printed on it is attached to the item 4. The two-dimensional code 1 can be provided when the item 4 is brought into the storage area. Identification information is recorded in the two-dimensional code 1, and the item 4 and the two-dimensional code 1 (identification information) are associated one-to-one. Note that FIG. 2 shows only a portion of the storage area, but many items 4 are placed in various places in the storage area.

[0012] 6, the present applicant has proposed a two-dimensional code 1 comprising a data section 2 in which a bit string corresponding to target data is expressed as a pattern, and a finder pattern 3 arranged separately from the data section 2 (see Patent Document 2). In this embodiment, this two-dimensional code 1 is used to record identification information in the data section 2. The finder pattern 3 is a detection pattern for detecting the data portion 2, and has an annular portion 3a and a direction specifying portion 3b. The annular portion 3a has multiple rings. The direction specifying portion 3b is a pattern that can specify the reference direction 3c of the finder pattern 3, and has multiple protrusions that extend in the circumferential direction of the annular portion 3a along the annular portion 3a. The data section 2 is disposed in a predetermined direction relative to the reference direction 3c, and at a predetermined distance from the finder pattern 3. The data section 2 has a data area provided with cell areas arranged in a matrix inside a rectangular frame, and records information in the data area.

[0013] The process of reading the two-dimensional code 1 is as described in Patent Document 2. Briefly, the image of the two-dimensional code 1 is scanned to search for the finder pattern 3. Next, the circular ring portion 3a is regarded as an ellipse, an elliptical constant, which is a constant of the equation of this ellipse, is calculated, and the reference direction 3c is specified based on the direction specification portion 3b. The reason for calculating the elliptical constant is that the two-dimensional code 1 is not necessarily photographed from the front, but may be photographed from an oblique angle, and the finder pattern 3 may become an ellipse on the captured image. When the two-dimensional code 1 is photographed from the front, the circular ring portion 3a is represented as a circle, and the obtained elliptical constant represents the equation of a circle. Next, the position of the data portion 2 is specified based on the reference direction 3c. Then, based on the specified position of the data portion 2, the recorded information is read from the data portion 2.

[0014] In this way, by separating the data section 2 and the finder pattern 3, the size and arrangement of the finder pattern 3 do not need to depend on the shape of the data section 2. This improves the accuracy of reading the two-dimensional code 1, and makes it possible to collectively analyze multiple two-dimensional codes 1 at high speed in an image that shows these codes, and to read the information recorded by each two-dimensional code 1.

[0015] 1 shows a schematic configuration of an item management system according to an embodiment. The item management system is configured so that a mobile information terminal 100 carried by a worker and a server 200 can communicate with each other via a network 300 such as the Internet. The mobile information terminal 100 is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like, and is an example of a portable information processing device to which the present invention is applied. Although only one mobile information terminal 100 is shown in the figure, multiple mobile information terminals 100 may be present.

[0016] The server 200 includes a communication control unit 201 and a management unit 202 . The communication control unit 201 controls communication with the mobile information terminal 100 . The management unit 202 stores in a storage medium the correspondence between the item 4 and the two-dimensional code 1 (identification information) and manages it. The management unit 202 also stores in a storage medium the identification information recorded in the two-dimensional code 1 and the position information of the item 4 on which the two-dimensional code 1 is provided, which are transmitted from the mobile information terminal 100 as described below, and manages them.

[0017] The portable information terminal 100 includes an imaging unit 101 and a display unit 102 . The imaging unit 101 includes a lens, an imaging element that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2 and other figures, the display unit 102 is a display mounted on the main body of the portable information terminal 100 for displaying images and various types of information.

[0018] The mobile information terminal 100 also includes a communication control unit 103, a display control unit 104, a two-dimensional code reading unit 105, a location information acquisition unit 106, a correction unit 107, an association unit 108, a designation unit 109, and a search unit 110.

[0019] The communication control unit 103 controls communication with the server 200 . The display control unit 104 controls the display on the display unit 102. The display control unit 104 displays the image captured by the imaging unit 101 on the display unit 102 as a live view image.

[0020] The two-dimensional code reading unit 105 reads the two-dimensional code 1 provided on the article 4 from the image captured by the imaging unit 101. The two-dimensional code reading unit 105 can read a plurality of two-dimensional codes 1 at once and obtain the identification information recorded in each of the two-dimensional codes 1. The location information acquisition unit 106 sequentially acquires location information of its own device (mobile information terminal 100) by using a satellite positioning system such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) or the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

[0021] Based on the result of reading the two-dimensional code 1 by the two-dimensional code reading unit 105, the correction unit 107 corrects the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106 when reading the two-dimensional code 1, and sets it as position information of the article 4 on which the two-dimensional code 1 is provided. This makes it possible to more accurately represent the position of the article 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the imaging unit 101 captures a two-dimensional code 1 and the two-dimensional code reader 105 reads the two-dimensional code 1, the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106 when reading the two-dimensional code 1 is corrected according to the shooting direction of the imaging unit 101 and the size of the two-dimensional code 1 in the imaging area of ​​the imaging unit 101 (hereinafter referred to as the reading size). The size of the two-dimensional code 1 provided on each item 4 is uniform, and if the reading size is large, the imaging unit 101, i.e., the mobile information terminal 100, is close to the item 4, and if the reading size is small, the mobile information terminal 100 is far from the item 4. For example, the distance between the mobile information terminal 100 and the item 4 when the reading size is a predetermined size is prepared as a reference distance. Then, if the reading size is large, the reference distance is shortened as the correction distance, and if the reading size is small, the reference distance is lengthened as the correction distance, and the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106 is corrected using the correction distance. In this case, to obtain the correction distance, for example, a previously prepared calculation formula may be used, or the amount of change to the reference distance according to the reading size may be stored in a table or the like. If the imaging unit 101 has a zoom function, the zoom magnification is taken into consideration. Although an example of using the reference distance has been described, the correction distance itself according to the reading size may be stored in a table or the like. In addition, although the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106 is corrected in accordance with the reading size, in addition to or instead of this, the distance measurement function of the imaging unit 101 may be utilized to correct the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 106.

[0022] The associating unit 108 associates the identification information recorded in the two-dimensional code 1 read by the two-dimensional code reading unit 105 with position information of the article 4 on which the two-dimensional code 1 is provided, obtained by correction by the correction unit 107. The identification information and position information associated by the associating unit 108 are transmitted to the server 200 under the control of the communication control unit 103, and registered in the server 200. As described above, the management unit 202 of the server 200 stores the identification information and position information associated by the associating unit 108 in a storage medium and manages them. In this way, the mobile information terminal 100 has a registration function for registering in the server 200 the identification information recorded in the two-dimensional code 1 and the position information of the article 4 on which the two-dimensional code 1 is provided, in association with each other.

[0023] The designation unit 109 accepts the designation of a target item (item to be searched) 4. The target item 4 may be a plurality of items 4. Since the items 4 and the two-dimensional code 1 (identification information) are in one-to-one correspondence, the designation of the target item 4 may be made by identifying the name, number, etc. of the item 4, or by identifying the identification information recorded in the two-dimensional code 1 provided on the item 4. For example, the target item 4 may be designated by a worker through manual input, or the mobile information terminal 100 may communicate with a higher-level computer device (not shown) and accept the designation of the target item 4 from the higher-level computer device. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a list 5 is prepared in which a list of the individual names, numbers, etc. 6 of the target items 4 is listed, and the list 5 is designed to include a two-dimensional code 1' in which the identification information of each item 4 is recorded. The two-dimensional code 1' may be the same as the two-dimensional code 1 provided on the target item 4. Then, the two-dimensional code reading unit 105 of the mobile information terminal 100 reads the two-dimensional code 1' on the list 5, and the designation unit 109 accepts the designation of the target item 4 and obtains the identification information of each item.

[0024] When the target item 4 is specified by the specification unit 109, the mobile information terminal 100, under the control of the communication control unit 103, acquires the location information of the target item 4 managed by the server 200, and starts searching for the target item 4. When the search for the target item 4 starts, the display control unit 104 displays a map of the storage location on the display unit 102 as shown in FIG. 4 (the map is not shown in FIG. 4), and also displays an icon 7 representing the location information of the target item 4 and an icon 8 representing the location information of the mobile information terminal 100 sequentially acquired by the location information acquisition unit 106. The icon 7 is stationary on the map, whereas the icon 8 moves on the map as the worker carrying the mobile information terminal 100 moves. This allows the worker carrying the mobile information terminal 100 to grasp the relationship between the location of the target item 4 and his / her own current location, and can head to the location of the target item 4 without unnecessary movement. As described above, the position of the article 4 can be represented more accurately by the correction in the correction unit 107, and the worker can even grasp the exact position of the target article 4. In this way, the mobile information terminal 100 has a search assistance function that makes it easier to search for a target item 4, for which the identification information and location information are managed in the server 200.

[0025] When the two-dimensional code reading unit 105 reads the two-dimensional code 1 attached to the object 4 from the image captured by the imaging unit 101, the search unit 110 searches for the two-dimensional code 1 attached to the target object 4 specified by the designation unit 109 from among the two-dimensional codes 1 read by the two-dimensional code reading unit 105. In response to the search result from the search unit 110, the display control unit 104 highlights the item 4 on which the two-dimensional code 1 found by the search unit 110 is provided in the live view image displayed on the display unit 102. As an example of the highlighting, as shown in Fig. 5, the two-dimensional code 1 found by the search unit 110 is displayed as a predetermined icon 9. Note that the item 4 may be highlighted in any form. 4, when the operator approaches the location of the target item 4 using icons 7 and 8 displayed on the display unit 102, and captures an image of the vicinity of the location of the target item 4 with the imaging unit 101 while displaying a live view image on the display unit 102, the target item 4 is highlighted in the live view image displayed on the display unit 102. The operator need only select an item that is highlighted in the live view image, and is not required to decide which item to select by himself / herself, which makes it possible to reduce human errors such as confirmation errors and selection errors. In this way, the mobile information terminal 100 has a search assistance function that makes it easier to search for a target item 4, for which the identification information and location information are managed in the server 200.

[0026] As described above, it is possible to easily search for a target item among a large number of items placed in a storage area.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the specific examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features. In this embodiment, a mobile information terminal 100 such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal has been described as a portable information processing device to which the present invention is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a wearable terminal using a head-mounted display such as smart glasses may function as a portable information processing device to which the present invention is applied. By using smart glasses worn on the head, a worker can use both hands, making it easier to perform actions such as picking up and moving items. In addition, in this embodiment, a two-dimensional code 1 having a data section 2 and a finder pattern 3 arranged separately from the data section 2 is used as the code as defined in the present invention, but another code (a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), a barcode, etc.) may also be used.

[0028] A portable information processing device to which the present invention is applied is configured, for example, by a computer device equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and each means is realized by the CPU reading out a program stored, for example, in the ROM and executing this program. The present invention can also be realized by supplying software (program) that realizes the functions of the present invention to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and having the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1: two-dimensional code, 2: data section, 3: finder pattern, 4: article, 100: portable information terminal, 101: imaging section, 102: display section, 103: communication control section, 104: display control section, 105: two-dimensional code reading section, 106: position information acquisition section, 107: correction section, 108: association section, 109: designation section, 110: search section

Claims

1. A portable information processing device that is used to manage an item placed in a storage area by attaching a code to the item, comprising: A location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of the own device; a code reading means for reading the code provided on the article from an image captured by an imaging unit; and a correction means for correcting the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means based on the result of reading the code by the code reading means, to obtain position information of the item on which the code is provided.

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an association means for associating the identification information recorded in the code read by the code reading means with position information of the article on which the code is provided, obtained by the correction means.

3. 3. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a display control means for displaying, on a display unit, location information of the specified item and location information sequentially acquired by the location information acquisition means when the item to be searched is specified.

4. A display control means for displaying an image captured by the imaging unit on a display unit; a search means for searching for the code provided on the specified item from among the codes read by the code read means when the code read means reads the code provided on the specified item from the image captured by the imaging unit while the item to be searched is specified; 3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display control means highlights the item having the code found by the search means in the image captured by the imaging section and displayed on the display section. 4 .

Images