Article management system, article management method, and program

Abstract

To easily manage the position of an article.SOLUTION: An article management system comprises: an information reading device that is operated by an operator present in a construction site; a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target body attached to the information reading device; and a position specification unit that specifies the position of an article on the basis of the position measured by the positioning system in correspondence with the timing when the information reading device reads article identification information from a medium provided on the article.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an item management system, an item management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a technology that can measure the position of a mobile object by utilizing the time lag it takes for an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal from a tag attached to the mobile object to reach a plurality of access points (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-65566 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] At manufacturing sites, logistics sites, and the like, it is preferable to enable simple management of the locations of materials, articles, and other items at the site.

[0005] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily manage the locations of items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention that solves the above-mentioned problems is an item management system that includes an information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site, a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, and a position determination unit that determines the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system in response to the timing at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an item management method in an item management system that includes an information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site and a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, and the item management method includes a position determination step in which a position determination unit determines the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system corresponding to the timing at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer in an item management system that has an information reading device operated by a worker at a work site and a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device to function as a position identification unit that identifies the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system in response to the timing when the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that the positions of articles can be easily managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an item management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an item management server according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 10 is a diagram showing an example of device registration information corresponding to a receiver in the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of item management information in the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure executed by an article management system in accordance with the present embodiment in response to article management. FIG. [Figure 6] 11 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the processing procedure executed by the article management system in the present embodiment in response to article management. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Embodiment> [Overall configuration example of an inventory management system] 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of an item management system according to this embodiment. The item management system according to this embodiment manages the positions of items CG in a work site WS. The work site WS in this embodiment may be, for example, a factory where products are manufactured, a logistics warehouse, or the like. The item CG may be a material, part, product, etc. that has been brought into the work site WS. The item CG may also be a package in which a certain number of materials, parts, products, etc. are packed together.

[0012] The worker WK carries a code reader 100 (an example of an information reading device). The code reader 100 is provided with a transmitter 200 (an example of an object to be positioned). The transmitter 200 is a device included in a positioning system used to measure the current position of the transmitter 200. The transmitter 200 may be, for example, in the form of a card. The positioning system of this embodiment may be a system using UWB (Ultra Wide Band). The transmitter 200 may be configured to transmit radio waves for positioning compatible with UWB.

[0013] Here, the "attachment" of the transmitter 200 to the code reader 100 means that the distance between the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 is within a certain range when the code reader 100 reads a code. As an example of such an attachment, the transmitter 200 may be attached to a mounting portion of the code reader 100 for the transmitter 200, or the operator WK who operates the code reader 100 may carry the transmitter 200. Although the figure shows one worker WK at the work site WS, there may be a plurality of workers WK operating the code reader 100 at the work site WS.

[0014] The item management server 600 also manages the associated code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 in association with each other. In the example shown in the figure, the item management server 600 is communicably connected to the code reader 100 and the work management terminal 700 via the gateway 20 of the work site WS. The association between the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 may be performed, for example, by the worker WK having the code reader 100 read the code symbol CD1 provided on the transmitter 200. The code symbol CD1 indicates a transmitter ID that uniquely identifies the corresponding transmitter 200. The code reader 100 transmits device registration information, in which the transmitter ID acquired from the read code symbol CD1 is associated with a code reader ID that uniquely identifies the code reader 100, to the item management server 600. The item management server 600 stores the received device registration information. In this way, the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 are associated with each other and managed.

[0015] The position management server 500 (an example of a positioning device) is a server that manages the position of the transmitter 200 at the work site WS. In this embodiment, the positioning system that measures the position of the transmitter 200 at the work site WS includes the position management server 500 and the receiver 400 in addition to the transmitter 200.

[0016] The position of the object CG is measured by such a positioning system as follows. At the work site WS, one receiver 400 is fixedly installed at each of a plurality of predetermined positions. The receivers 400 are connected to a position management server 500 via, for example, a hub 10 (HUB).

[0017] The transmitter 200 provided in the transmitter 200 emits a pulsed radio wave for positioning. The emitted radio wave is received by a plurality of receivers 400 present within the range of the plurality of radio waves. The receiver 400 that receives the radio wave from the transmitter 200 measures the time taken for the radio wave transmitted from the transmitter 200 to arrive at the coordinates where the receiver 400 is located (signal arrival time) and the strength of the received radio wave, and transmits measurement information including the measured signal arrival time and signal arrival angle to the position management server 500. The location management server 500 calculates the location of the transmitter 200 based on the signal arrival time and signal arrival angle included in each piece of measurement information received from the multiple receivers 400 .

[0018] In such a UWB positioning system, it is possible to measure a position with an accuracy of, for example, about several tens of centimeters. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is also possible to grasp the position of the transmitter 200 at the work site WS with a high accuracy of about several tens of centimeters.

[0019] The location management server 500 transmits transmitter location information indicating the measured location of the transmitter 200 to the item management server 600. The transmitted transmitter location information includes a transmitter ID indicating the corresponding transmitter 200. The item management server 600 stores device registration information to enable it to identify a transmitter and a code reader that are in an associated relationship. By referring to the device registration information, the item management server 600 can identify the code reader 100 associated with the transmitter 200 having the same transmitter ID as that included in the received transmitter location information.

[0020] In this embodiment, an item ID is assigned to each of the items CG handled in the work site WS, and a code symbol CD2 indicating the assigned item ID is attached to the item CG. The code symbol CD2 may be provided, for example, in a manner of being affixed to the item CG. When the worker WK places the item CG at a certain location in the work site WS, the worker WK performs an operation to have the code reader 100 read the code symbol CD2 attached to the item CG. In response to reading the code symbol CD2, the code reader 100 transmits an item placement notification including the item ID indicated by the read code symbol CD2 and its own code reader ID to the item management server 600.

[0021] The item management server 600 manages the items CG arranged in the work site WS. In response to receiving the item placement notification, the item management server 600 refers to the device registration information to identify the transmitter 200 that is in an associated relationship with the code reader 100 indicated by the code reader ID included in the received item placement notification. The item management server 600 refers to the transmitter position information of the identified transmitter 200 to recognize the current position of the transmitter 200. The position of the transmitter 200 recognized as described above was obtained when the worker WK had the code symbol CD2 of the item CG read by the code reader 100. At this time, the item CG targeted for reading the code symbol CD2 is present near the transmitter 200. Therefore, the recognized position of the transmitter 200 can be treated as the position of the item CG corresponding to the item ID included in the currently received item placement notification. In this way, the item management server 600 can obtain the position where the item CG is placed, which is indicated by the item ID obtained by receiving the item placement notification. The item management server 600 may store the obtained position of the item CG in association with time. In this way, the item management server 600 manages the position of the item CG at the work site WS.

[0022] The work management terminal 700 is provided, for example, at a work site WS, and is capable of outputting, by display or the like, information transmitted from the item management server 600. In this embodiment, the item management server 600 transmits item management information including information indicating the positions of items CG placed at the work site WS to the work management terminal 700. The work management terminal 700 may display an item management screen that reflects the contents of the received item management information.

[0023] [Example of functional configuration of item management server] An example of the functional configuration of an item management server 600 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The item management server 600 includes, as hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and storage devices such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The functions of the item management server 600 shown in the figure are realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) included in the hardware of the item management server 600 executing a program.

[0024] The article management server 600 in the figure includes a communication unit 601, a control unit 602, and a storage unit 603.

[0025] The communication unit 601 communicates with the code reader 100, the position management server 500, the work management terminal 700, and the like via the network.

[0026] The control unit 602 executes various controls in the item management server 600. The control unit 602 includes a position specifying unit 621, an information generating unit 622, and an information output unit 623. The position specifying unit 621 specifies the position of the item CG in the work site WS based on the transmitter position information indicating the position of the transmitter 200 transmitted from the position management server 500 and the device registration information.

[0027] The information generating unit 622 generates item management information corresponding to each item CG of the managed object. The item management information stores the position of the item identified by the position identifying unit 621. The information generating unit 622 may store the generated item management information in the item management information storage unit 632.

[0028] The information output unit 623 transmits the item management information to the work management terminal 700, so that the work management terminal 700 outputs the item management information by displaying or printing it.

[0029] The storage unit 603 stores various information corresponding to the item management server 600. The storage unit 603 includes a device registration information storage unit 631, an item management information storage unit 632, and a map storage unit 633.

[0030] The device registration information storage unit 631 stores device registration information. The device registration information indicates the association of the receiver 400 with the currently registered code reader 100. The device registration information may also indicate the worker WK who currently uses the corresponding code reader 100.

[0031] 3 shows an example of device registration information corresponding to one receiver 400. The device registration information includes fields for a code reader ID, a transmitter ID, and a worker ID. The code reader ID field stores the code reader ID of the corresponding code reader 100. The transmitter ID field stores the transmitter ID of the transmitter 200 currently attached to the corresponding code reader 100 . The worker ID field stores the worker ID of the worker WK currently registered as the user of the corresponding code reader 100.

[0032] Returning to Fig. 2 for the explanation, the goods management information storage unit 632 stores goods management information for each goods CG to be managed in the work site WS. 4 shows an example of item management information corresponding to one item CG. The item management information includes fields for item ID, item basic information, and site item information. The item ID field stores the item ID of the corresponding item. The basic information of the item includes basic information about the corresponding item. For example, the basic information of the item may include the part number of the corresponding item, and when one item CG is a box unit, the quantity of materials, parts, products, etc. included in the corresponding item CG, the date of delivery, the scheduled date of delivery, etc. The site item information is information that indicates the status of the corresponding item CG at the work site WS, and includes fields for the item location, confirmation time, and corresponding worker. The item location field stores the location of the corresponding item identified by the location identification unit 621 . The confirmation time field stores the confirmation time for the corresponding item CG. The storage time may be the time (date and time) corresponding to the timing when the position of the item is identified by the position identification unit 621. The storage time corresponds to the time when the worker WK places the corresponding item CG in an appropriate place at the work site WS and has the code symbol CD1 provided on the item CG read by the code reader 100. In other words, the confirmation time can be treated as the time when the worker WK places the corresponding item CG in a certain place at the work site WS. The corresponding worker field stores the worker ID of the corresponding worker. The corresponding worker is the worker WK who placed the corresponding item CG and caused the code reader 100 to read the code symbol CD2.

[0033] The map storage unit 633 stores a map of the work site WS. The map of the work site WS may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional.

[0034] An example of a processing procedure executed by the article management system of this embodiment in response to article management will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Step S100: In the positioning system, the location management server 500 receives measurement information about the transmitter 200 periodically transmitted from the receiver 400 at time intervals of, for example, several seconds. The location management server 500 calculates the location of the transmitter 200 based on the received measurement information, and obtains the time when the location is calculated as a timestamp associated with the calculated location.

[0035] Step S102: The location management server 500 stores location and time stamp information including the location calculated in step S100 and the acquired time stamp. The processing in steps S100 and S102 is a loop processing that is constantly executed while the work site WS is in operation. By repeating the processing in steps S100 and S102, the location management server 500 accumulates and stores location and time stamp information.

[0036] Step S104: Before performing an item management task at the work site WS, the worker WK receives the code reader 100 to be used for the current item management task and the transmitter 200 to be attached to the code reader 100. Then, the worker WK performs a device registration operation to register the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 to be used in the current item management task. As a device registration operation, the worker WK performs an operation to have the received code reader 100 read the code symbol CD1 attached to the received transmitter 200.

[0037] Step S106: The code reader 100 acquires the transmitter ID from the code symbol CD1 read in response to the operation corresponding to step S104.

[0038] Step S108: Furthermore, as a device registration operation, the worker WK performs a worker registration operation on the code reader 100. The worker registration operation may be, for example, an operation of inputting the worker ID of the worker WK into the code reader 100. The operation of inputting the worker ID may be, for example, an operation of having the code reader 100 read the worker ID recorded as a code symbol or RFID tag data on an ID card held by the worker WK.

[0039] Step S110: The code reader 100 acquires the worker ID of the worker WK in response to the operation corresponding to step S108. The code reader 100 may store the acquired worker ID. In addition, as the operation for registering the worker, the operation for registering the worker may be performed first, and the operation for reading the code symbol CD1 of the transmitter 200 may be performed later.

[0040] Step S112: The code reader 100 transmits a device registration request to the article management server 600. The device registration request includes the code reader ID indicating the code reader 100 that transmitted the request, the transmitter ID acquired in step S106, and the worker ID acquired in step S110.

[0041] Step S114: In response to receiving the registration request transmitted in step S112, the information generation unit 622 of the item management server 600 executes a device registration process. For example, the information generation unit 622 generates device registration information that stores the code reader ID, the transmitter ID, and the worker ID included in the received registration request, and stores the generated device registration information in the device registration information storage unit 631. In this manner, device registration corresponding to one code reader 100 is performed. The information generating unit 622 may, for example, access a worker database to obtain information such as the name of the worker WK associated with the worker ID and the department to which the worker belongs, and may include the obtained information in the device registration information.

[0042] Step S116: After registering the device, the worker WK performs an operation to have the code reader 100 read the code symbol CD2 attached to the item CG to be managed, in order to have the item management server 600 manage the location of the item CG that has been placed at a certain location at the work site WS, for example for storage, etc. In addition, even if the worker WK has already caused the code symbol CD2 to be read by the code reader 100 for an object CG, if the worker WK moves the object CG, the worker WK may update the position of the object CG by performing an operation to cause the code reader 100 to read the code symbol CD2 again at the moved position.

[0043] Step S118: The code reader 100 acquires an article ID from the code symbol CD2 read in response to step S116. The code reader 100 also acquires a time according to the timing at which the article ID was acquired as a time stamp indicating the time at which the article ID was acquired.

[0044] Step S120: The code reader 100 transmits an item management request to the item management server 600. The item management request may include the item ID and the time stamp acquired in step S118. Furthermore, the item management request may include the worker ID stored in step S110.

[0045] Step S122: In the item management server 600, the information generation unit 622 acquires the item ID, time stamp, and worker ID included in the item management request transmitted in step S120. The information generation unit 622 acquires the time stamp included in the item management request as the confirmation time, and acquires the worker ID included in the item management request as the worker ID of the corresponding worker.

[0046] Step S124: In response to receiving the item management request sent in step S120, the item management server 600 identifies the current location of the target item CG. To this end, the location identification unit 621 of the item management server 600 sends a corresponding location request to the location management server 500. The corresponding location request includes the timestamp included in the item management request received in step S120. The corresponding location request is a command requesting the location of the transmitter 200 corresponding to the location of the item CG whose code symbol CD2 was read in response to this step S116.

[0047] Step S126: In response to receiving the corresponding location request, the location management server 500 searches the stored location / timestamp information for location / timestamp information associated with a timestamp indicating the time closest to the timestamp included in the received corresponding location request. The location management server 500 transmits the location included in the searched location / timestamp information to the item management server 600 as the corresponding location.

[0048] Step S128: The position specifying unit 621 acquires the position transmitted in step S124 as the position (item position) of the item CG indicated by the item ID included in the item management request received in step S120.

[0049] Step S130: The information generating unit 622 generates on-site item information that stores the item position acquired in step S126, and the confirmation time and worker ID of the corresponding worker acquired in step S122. The information generating unit 622 updates the on-site item information in the item management information that stores the same item ID as acquired in step S122, among the item information stored in the item management information storage unit 632, with the currently generated on-site item information.

[0050] Further, with reference to a sequence diagram of FIG. 6, another example of the processing procedure executed by the article management system of this embodiment in response to article management will be described. Step S200: In the positioning system, the location management server 500 calculates the location of the transmitter 200 by using measurement information on the transmitter 200 periodically transmitted from the receiver 400. The location management server 500 sequentially transmits location information indicating the calculated location to the item management server 600.

[0051] Step S202: In the item management server 600, the position identifying unit 621 acquires the position information transmitted in step S200. The processes of transmitting and acquiring the position information indicating the position of the transmitter 200 in steps S200 and S202 may be loop processes that are constantly executed while the work site WS is in operation.

[0052] Step S204: Before performing an item management task at the work site WS, the worker WK receives the code reader 100 to be used for the current item management task and the transmitter 200 to be attached to the code reader 100. Then, the worker WK performs a device registration operation to register the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 to be used in the current item management task. As a device registration operation, the worker WK performs an operation to have the received code reader 100 read the code symbol CD1 attached to the received transmitter 200.

[0053] Step S206: The code reader 100 acquires the transmitter ID from the code symbol CD1 read in response to the operation corresponding to step S204.

[0054] Step S208: As a device registration operation, the worker WK performs a worker registration operation on the code reader 100. The worker registration operation may be, for example, an operation of inputting the worker ID of the worker WK into the code reader 100. The operation of inputting the worker ID may be, for example, an operation of having the code reader 100 read the worker ID recorded as a code symbol or RFID tag data on an ID card held by the worker WK.

[0055] Step S210: The code reader 100 acquires the worker ID of the worker WK in response to the operation corresponding to step S208. In addition, as the operation for registering the worker, the operation for registering the worker may be performed first, and the operation for reading the code symbol CD1 of the transmitter 200 may be performed later.

[0056] Step S212: The code reader 100 transmits a device registration request to the article management server 600. The device registration request includes the code reader ID indicating the code reader 100 that transmitted the request, the transmitter ID acquired in step S206, and the worker ID acquired in step S208.

[0057] Step S214: In response to receiving the registration request transmitted in step S212, the information generation unit 622 of the item management server 600 executes a device registration process. For example, the information generation unit 622 generates device registration information that stores the code reader ID, the transmitter ID, and the worker ID included in the received registration request, and stores the generated device registration information in the device registration information storage unit 631. In this manner, device registration corresponding to one code reader 100 is performed. The information generating unit 622 may, for example, access a worker database to obtain information such as the name of the worker WK associated with the worker ID and the department to which the worker belongs, and may include the obtained information in the device registration information.

[0058] Step S216: After device registration, the worker WK performs an operation to have the code reader 100 read the code symbol CD2 attached to the item CG to be managed, in order to have the item management server 600 manage the location of the item CG that has been placed at a certain location at the work site WS, for example for storage, etc. In addition, even if the worker WK has already caused the code symbol CD2 to be read by the code reader 100 for an object CG, if the worker WK moves the object CG, the worker WK may update the position of the object CG by performing an operation to cause the code reader 100 to read the code symbol CD2 again at the moved position.

[0059] Step S218: The code reader 100 acquires the article ID from the code symbol CD2 read in response to step S216.

[0060] Step S220: The code reader 100 transmits an article management request to the article management server 600. The article management request may include a code reader ID indicating the code reader 100 that transmitted the request, and the article ID acquired in step S218.

[0061] Step S222: In response to receiving the item management request transmitted in step S220, the item management server 600 identifies the current location of the target item CG. To this end, the location identification unit 621 of the item management server 600 searches for device registration information that stores the same code reader ID as that included in the received item management request from among the device registration information stored in the device registration information storage unit 631. The location identification unit 621 identifies the transmitter ID stored in the searched device registration information. The position identification unit 621 identifies the position indicated by the currently acquired position information for the transmitter 200 indicated by the identified transmitter ID from among the position information acquired in steps S200 and S202 as the position of the target item CG.

[0062] Step S224: Furthermore, the information generating unit 622 acquires, as a confirmation time, a time corresponding to the timing at which the goods management request transmitted in step S220 is received, for example. The order of the processes in steps S222 and S224 may be reversed.

[0063] Step S226: The information generating unit 622 generates on-site item information that stores the position of the item CG identified in step S222, the confirmation time acquired in step S224, and the worker ID of the corresponding worker. The information generating unit 622 may store the worker ID stored in the device registration information searched in step S222 as the worker ID of the corresponding worker. The information generation unit 622 updates the on-site item information in the item management information stored in the item management information memory unit 632 that stores the same code reader ID as that included in the received item management request with the currently generated on-site item information.

[0064] For example, when managing the location of an item, the location of the item may be managed by reading both the item ID attached to the item and the ID (location ID) of the storage location, such as a shelf, where the item is placed, and matching the read item ID with the location ID. In this case, however, when managing the location of an item, it is necessary to perform two reading operations: an operation to read the item ID and an operation to read the location ID. In contrast, in this embodiment, the position of the article CG can be managed by the worker WK performing an operation to have the code reader 100 read the code symbol CD2 attached to the article CG. In this way, in this embodiment, the procedure of the worker is simplified, and the position of the article can be easily managed.

[0065] Also, there are cases where the item CG is laid flat in an appropriate location at the work site WS, rather than in a location such as a shelf where items are stored in advance. In such cases, in the mode of managing the location of the item by reading the item ID and location ID as described above, location IDs may not be prepared, making management difficult. In contrast to this, in this embodiment, even if the item CG is laid flat in an arbitrary location, it is possible to accurately identify and manage the position.

[0066] The information output unit 623 of the item management server 600 may, for example, in response to access from the work management terminal 700, display an item management screen on the work management terminal 700 that reflects the contents of the item management information stored in the item management information memory unit 632. The item management screen may be configured to show the location of the item CG on the map of the work site WS stored in the map storage unit 633. Also, on the item management screen, for example, the confirmation time of the corresponding item may be displayed in correspondence with the item CG. Also, on the item management screen, information (such as the worker ID and the name of the worker) showing the worker WK who performed the operation to read the code symbol CD2 of the item CG (i.e., the worker WK who performed the work of placing the target item CG) may be displayed using the information of the corresponding worker in the site item information.

[0067] <Modification> A modification of this embodiment will now be described. [First Modification] The positioning system of this embodiment may be configured to measure not only the position of the article CG on the two-dimensional coordinate system in the planar direction at the work site WS, but also the position in the height direction perpendicular to the planar direction. For this purpose, for example, an altitude sensor that detects altitude based on changes in atmospheric pressure or the like may be provided on the article CG, and the height information detected by the altitude sensor may be associated with the article ID of the article CG and acquired by the position management server 500 or the article management server 600.

[0068] [Second modified example] As a mode of attachment to the code reader 100, the transmitter 200 may be integrated with the code reader 100 by being fixedly attached to the code reader 100 or built into the code reader 100. In this case, since the attachment relationship between the code reader 100 and the transmitter 200 is fixed, the code reader ID may be stored in advance in association with the transmitter ID in the device registration information.

[0069] [Third Modification] The positioning system in this embodiment may be based on a technology other than UWB.

[0070] [Fourth Variation] The article management server 600 may be configured to be distributed across multiple devices, each of which executes a specific function in cooperation with the other devices. Furthermore, the location management server 500 and the item management server 600 may be configured to be integrated. Also, the receiver 400 may calculate the position of the transmitter 200 and transmit information on the calculated position to the position management server 500 or the item management server 600. In this case, when the receiver 400 transmits information on the position to the item management server 600, the position management server 500 may be omitted.

[0071] In addition, a program for realizing each function of the code reader 100, the transmitter 200, the receiver 400, the location management server 500, the item management server 600, the work management terminal 700, etc. may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform the processes of the code reader 100, the transmitter 200, the receiver 400, the location management server 500, the item management server 600, the work management terminal 700, etc. described above. Here, "reading a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system and executing it" includes installing the program into the computer system. The "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. In addition, the "computer system" may include multiple computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, or a dedicated line. In addition, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, an optical magnetic disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as an HDD or SSD built into a computer system. In this way, the recording medium storing the program may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes a recording medium installed inside or outside the distribution server and accessible from the distribution server in order to distribute the program. The code of the program stored in the distribution server's recording medium may be different from the code of the program in a format executable by the terminal device. In other words, the format in which the program is stored in the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a format executable by the terminal device. Note that the program may be divided into multiple parts, each of which may be downloaded at a different time and then combined in the terminal device, or each of the divided programs may be distributed by a different distribution server. Furthermore, the "computer-readable recording medium" includes a memory that holds the program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that is a server or client when the program is transmitted via a network.The program may be for implementing some of the above-mentioned functions, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

[0072] <Additional Notes> (1) One aspect of this embodiment is an item management system that includes an information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site, a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, and a position determination unit that determines the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system in response to the timing at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item.

[0073] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the item management system described in (1), wherein the positioning system is configured to associate the measured position of the object to the time at which the position was measured, and the position identification unit may identify, as the position of the item, the position of the object measured at the time closest to the time at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item.

[0074] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is an item management system as described in (1) or (2), which may further include an information generation unit that generates item management information including the position of the item identified by the position identification unit.

[0075] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the item management system described in (3), wherein the information generation unit may include a time obtained corresponding to the timing at which the item identification information was read in the item management information.

[0076] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is an item management system as described in (3) or (4), wherein the information generation unit may include worker identification information indicating the worker operating the information reading device in the item management information.

[0077] (6) One aspect of the present embodiment is the item management system according to any one of (3) to (5), which may further include an information output unit that outputs the item management information on a specified terminal.

[0078] (7) One aspect of this embodiment is an item management system described in any one of (1) to (6), wherein the positioning system may include a transmitter carried by each worker and emitting UWB (Ultra Wide Band) positioning radio waves, a receiver provided at each of a number of predetermined positions at the work site and receiving the positioning radio waves, and a positioning device that calculates the position of the transmitter based on the positioning radio waves received by the multiple receivers.

[0079] (8) One aspect of this embodiment is an item management method in an item management system that includes an information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site and a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, wherein the item management system includes a position identification step in which a position identification unit identifies the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system corresponding to the timing at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item.

[0080] (9) One aspect of this embodiment is a program for causing a computer in an item management system that includes an information reading device operated by a worker at a work site and a positioning system that measures the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device to function as a position identification unit that identifies the position of the item based on the position measured by the positioning system in response to the timing at which the information reading device reads item identification information from a medium attached to the item. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 100 Code reader, 200 Transmitter, 400 Receiver, 500 Location management server, 600 Item management server, 700 Work management terminal

Claims

1. An information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site; A positioning system for measuring the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device; a position specifying unit that specifies a position of the article based on a position measured by the positioning system in response to a timing when the information reading device reads the article identification information from the medium attached to the article; An article management system comprising:

2. the positioning system is configured to associate a time at which the position of the measured object to be positioned is measured, The position specifying unit specifies, as the position of the article, the position of the object to be positioned measured at the time closest to the time when the information reading device reads the article identification information from the medium attached to the article. The article management system according to claim 1 .

3. The position specifying unit further includes an information generating unit that generates item management information including the position of the item specified by the position specifying unit.

3. An article management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The information generating unit includes a time acquired corresponding to a timing at which the item identification information is read in the item management information. The article management system according to claim 3.

5. The information generating unit includes worker identification information, which indicates a worker who operates the information reading device, in the item management information. The article management system according to claim 3.

6. The information output unit outputs the item management information on a predetermined terminal. The article management system according to claim 3.

7. The positioning system includes: A transmitter carried by each of the workers and emitting radio waves for positioning by UWB (Ultra Wide Band); a receiver provided at each of a plurality of predetermined positions in the work site for receiving the positioning radio waves; a positioning device that calculates the position of the transmitter based on the positioning radio waves received by the multiple receivers.

3. An article management system according to claim 1 or 2.

8. An article management method in an article management system including an information reading device operated by a worker at a work site and a positioning system for measuring a position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, comprising: A position specifying step in which a position specifying unit specifies a position of the article based on a position measured by the positioning system corresponding to a timing when the information reading device reads the article identification information from the medium attached to the article. An article management method comprising:

9. A computer in an item management system including an information reading device operated by a worker present at a work site and a positioning system for measuring the position of a positioning target attached to the information reading device, a position specifying unit that specifies the position of the article based on the position measured by the positioning system in response to the timing when the information reading device reads the article identification information from the medium attached to the article; A program to function as a

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