Freshness management device, freshness management system, freshness management method, and program

Abstract

To provide a system with which it is possible to monitor the freshness of tea leaves so as to be able to properly deliver the tea leaves before deteriorating.SOLUTION: A freshness management device may comprise: an acquisition unit for acquiring a signal outputted from a sensor in a detection period during which a sensor having a sensitive part that reacts to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and physically changes, outputting a signal corresponding to the physical change switches from a first state where it is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state where it is exposed to the at least one substance and then switches from the second state to the first state again; and an estimation unit for estimating the freshness of the tea leaves on the basis of relation information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of a signal waveform and the freshness of tea leaves, and the signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 states that "tea leaves are sealed in a breathable bag (ocean bag) 10, and one or more of the breathable bags 10 are stored and sealed inside an airtight container 2, and then a predetermined flow rate of inert gas is flowed around the breathable bag 10 inside the airtight container 2, while the pressure inside the airtight container 2 is maintained so that the inert gas and the oxygen inside the breathable bag 10 are replaced through the breathable bag, and when the oxygen concentration inside the breathable bag 10 falls below a predetermined concentration, the flow of inert gas is stopped and the airtight container 2 is sealed and stored." [Prior art document] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-054600 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a need for a system that can monitor the freshness of tea leaves so that they can be shipped appropriately before they deteriorate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A freshness management device according to one aspect of the present invention may include an acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change during a detection period from when a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance is switched to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance, until when the sensor switches from the second state to the first state again. The freshness management device may include an estimation unit that estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the signal and relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of a waveform of the signal and the freshness of the tea leaves.

[0006] In the freshness management device, the sensor may have a plurality of sensing parts having different characteristics of physical changes according to the at least one substance generated from the tea leaves. The acquisition part may acquire a plurality of signals output from the plurality of sensing parts during the detection period. The estimation part may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between a combination of waveform features of at least two of the plurality of signals and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the plurality of signals.

[0007] In any of the freshness control devices, the sensor part may include a sensor film that is deformed by the at least one substance being adsorbed thereto and diffusing therein.

[0008] In any of the freshness control devices, the sensitive film may include an organic-inorganic hybrid material.

[0009] In any of the freshness control devices, the characteristics of the signal waveform may include at least one of the amplitudes of multiple divided waveforms obtained by dividing the signal waveform at predetermined intervals, the sum of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms, the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms, the sum of the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms, and the average value of the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms.

[0010] In any of the freshness control devices, the combination of features of the waveforms of the at least two signals may include at least one of a ratio between the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of the at least two signals at predetermined intervals, a ratio between the sums of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the rates of change of each of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the sums of the rates of change of each of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, and a ratio between the average values ​​of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals.

[0011] In any of the freshness management devices, the acquisition unit may further acquire environmental information from a sensor that detects an environmental condition around the tea leaves. The estimation unit may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves further based on the environmental information.

[0012] In any of the freshness control devices, the tea leaves may be crude tea leaves.

[0013] In any of the freshness management devices, the tea leaves may be contained in bags, and the bags may be divided into predetermined sections. The sensor may output the signal for each predetermined section. The freshness management device may further include a determination unit that determines a priority order of bags to be shipped for each section based on the freshness of the tea leaves, and an output unit that outputs information indicating the sections of bags to be shipped based on the priority order according to the shipping volume of the tea leaves.

[0014] A freshness management system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include the freshness management device, the sensor, and a switching mechanism that is connected to the internal space of the bag containing the tea leaves and switches between the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance and the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance.

[0015] In the freshness management system, the switching mechanism may include a first pipe communicating with an internal space of the bag, a second pipe communicating with an external space of the bag, and a third pipe switchably communicating with one of the first pipe and the second pipe. The sensor may be disposed in the third pipe. When the third pipe communicates with the second pipe, the sensor may be in the first state, and when the third pipe communicates with the first pipe, the sensor may be in the second state.

[0016] In any of the freshness management systems, the switching mechanism may include a first pipe for each of the predetermined sections communicating with an internal space of the bag, a second pipe communicating with an external space of the bag, and a third pipe switchably communicating with any one of the first pipes and the second pipes. When the third pipe communicates with the second pipe, the sensor may be in the first state, and when the third pipe communicates with any one of the first pipes, the sensor may be in the second state.

[0017] A freshness management method according to one aspect of the present invention may include a step in which an acquisition unit acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance until when the sensor switches again from the second state to the first state. The freshness management method may include a step in which an estimation unit estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the signal and relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of a waveform of the signal and the freshness of the tea leaves.

[0018] A program according to one aspect of the present invention may cause a computer to function as an acquisition unit that acquires a signal output from a sensor having a sensing unit that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change during a detection period from when a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance is switched to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance and until when the sensor switches again from the second state to the first state. The program may cause the computer to function as an estimation unit that estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the signal and relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of the signal waveform and the freshness of the tea leaves.

[0019] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the overall configuration of a freshness management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block of a freshness management device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a waveform of a signal output from channel 1 of the sensor. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the waveform of a signal output from channel 2 of the sensor. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the waveform of a signal output from channel 3 of the sensor. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for estimating the freshness of tea leaves. [Figure 7A] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for deriving a feature amount of each signal. [Figure 7B] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for deriving a feature amount of each signal. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the overall configuration of a freshness management system 10 according to this embodiment. The freshness management system 10 estimates the freshness of tea leaves based on the detection results of at least one substance generated from tea leaves stored in a bag 20. In this embodiment, crude tea is used as an example of tea leaves. Crude tea is tea leaves obtained by steaming raw leaves, killing greens by roasting or the like, rolling, and drying. The tea leaves may be sencha or tencha. Sencha is tea leaves obtained by further finishing processing of crude tea, and tencha is tea leaves obtained by steaming raw leaves, killing greens by roasting or the like, and drying without rolling.

[0023] The freshness management system 10 includes a switching mechanism 30, a sensor 50, a display unit 60, and a freshness management device 100, all connected to a plurality of bags 20. The bags 20 contain tea leaves. The plurality of bags 20 are stored in a warehouse of a company that produces crude tea, or in a warehouse of a company (tea wholesaler) that produces finished tea, i.e., sencha, and are divided into predetermined sections 80. The sections 80 may be divided by the production date of the crude tea. The sections 80 may be defined by the pallets arranged in the warehouse on which the bags 20 are placed. The bags 20 may be breathable bags (deep sea bags).

[0024] A switching mechanism 30 is connected to the bag 20. The switching mechanism 30 has a plurality of pipes 36 communicating with the internal space of each bag 20, a pipe 31 communicating with the internal space of any of the bags 20 via the pipe 36, a pipe 32 communicating with the external space of the bag 20, and a pipe 33 connected to the pipes 31 and 32 via a switching valve 34 and a switching valve 35 and communicating with either the pipes 31 and 32. Gas present in the internal space of any of the bags 20 passes through the pipe 31 via the switching valve 35. Gas present in the external space of the bag 20 passes through the pipe 32. The gas present in the internal space of the bag 20 includes at least one substance generated from the tea leaves. The gas present in the external space of the bag 20 may be air. The switching mechanism 30 may have a suction mechanism that sucks gas into the pipe 33 so that the gas present in the internal space of the bag 20 is efficiently supplied to the pipe 33.

[0025] The amount or type of gas generated varies depending on the freshness of the tea leaves, so it is possible to estimate the freshness of the tea leaves by identifying at least one of the type and amount of gas generated.

[0026] Examples of gases that may be released by tea leaves are cis-3-hexenol, trans-2-hexenal, linalool, linalool oxide, geraniol, 2-phenylethanol, methyl jasmonate, jasmine lactone, theaspirone, 4-vinylphenol, nerolidol, indole, pyrazines, pyrroles, 2,4-heptadenal, and dimethyl sulfide.

[0027] Further gases that may be evolved by tea leaves are, for example, pentanol, cis-3-hexenylacetone, hexanol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, benzaldehyde, cis-linalool oxide, trans-linalool oxide, octanol, cis-3-hexenyl hexanoate, methyl salicylate, geraniol, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, β-ionone, cis-jasmone, and nerolidol.

[0028] Further gases that may be produced by tea leaves are, for example, 4-mercapto-4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3-diethyl-5-methylpyrazine, cis-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal, trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal.

[0029] The sensor 50 is provided inside the pipe 33 and detects gas passing through the pipe 33. The sensor 50 may be a so-called olfactory sensor. The configuration of the switching mechanism 30 shown above is merely an example. The switching mechanism 30 may be any mechanism that can switch between a non-detection state (first state) in which the sensor 50 is not exposed to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and a detection state (second state) in which the sensor 50 is exposed to at least one substance generated from tea leaves. The switching mechanism 30 may have an injection unit that purges gas around the sensor 50 by injecting air into the inside of the pipe 33. The switching mechanism 30 may be provided for each bag 20 or each compartment 80, and the sensor 50 may be provided for each bag 20 or each compartment 80.

[0030] The sensor 50 may be a surface stress sensor that functions as an olfactory sensor. The surface stress sensor has a sensitive part that physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from the tea leaves and outputs a signal according to the physical change. The sensitive part includes a sensitive film that is deformed by adsorbing at least one substance and diffusing into the inside. The sensitive film may include an organic-inorganic hybrid material.

[0031] From the viewpoint of sensitivity and stability in a humid environment, the organic-inorganic hybrid is RSiO 3 / 2 where "R" represents an organic functional group.

[0032] In this embodiment, it is preferable that the organic functional group contains one or more aromatic rings (aromatic ring structures). When an aromatic ring is contained, moisture resistance tends to be further improved. The aromatic ring is not particularly limited because it can be appropriately selected in consideration of the use of the sensor, and examples thereof include aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as phenyl group, naphthyl group, p-tolyl group, and biphenyl group, substituted aromatic hydrocarbon groups such as 4-chlorophenyl group, 4-methoxyphenyl group, 4-aminophenyl group, and pentafluorophenyl group, heterocyclic hydrocarbon groups such as 3-furyl group, 3-thienyl group, 2-pyridyl group, 3-pyridyl group, and 4-pyridyl group, and metallocenes such as ferrocenyl group. The organic functional group in this embodiment may contain one type of the above-mentioned aromatic ring alone, or may contain two or more types in combination.

[0033] An environmental sensor 40 may be provided in the space in which bags 20 are stored. Environmental sensor 40 detects the environmental conditions of the space in which bags 20 are stored. Environmental sensor 40 may detect temperature and humidity as the environmental conditions of the space in which bags 20 are stored, and provide environmental information including temperature information and humidity information to freshness control device 100. Multiple environmental sensors 40 may be provided in the space in which multiple bags 20 are stored.

[0034] 2 shows an example of functional blocks of freshness management device 100. Freshness management device 100 includes a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120. Control unit 110 may be configured with a central processing unit (CPU).

[0035] The freshness management device 100 may be configured with a computer. The computer may be a personal computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a workstation, a server computer, a general-purpose computer, or a computer system to which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system is also a computer in a broad sense. The computer may be a dedicated computer designed for the estimation process of the freshness management device 100, or may be dedicated hardware realized by a dedicated circuit. The computer may be implemented by a virtual computer environment. When a computer is used, the freshness management device 100 is realized by executing a program by the computer.

[0036] The control unit 110 includes an acquisition unit 112, an estimation unit 114, a determination unit 116, and an output unit 118. The acquisition unit 112 acquires a signal output from the sensor 50 during a detection period from when the sensor 50 switches from a non-detection state in which it is not exposed to at least one substance generated from tea leaves to a detection state in which it is exposed to at least one substance, until when it switches from the detection state back to the non-detection state.

[0037] The sensor 50 may have a plurality of sensing parts each having different characteristics of physical changes in response to at least one substance generated from tea leaves. The plurality of sensing parts may have a plurality of sensing films each having different characteristics. The sensor 50 may have a plurality of channels for outputting signals from each of the plurality of sensing parts.

[0038] The amount and type of gas generated varies depending on the freshness of the tea leaves. Therefore, the signals output from the multiple channels of the sensor 50 also vary. That is, the waveform feature of each signal varies depending on the freshness of the tea leaves. Therefore, if relationship information that associates the relationship between the waveform feature of the signal and the freshness of the tea leaves in advance is generated, the freshness of the tea leaves can be estimated from the waveform feature of the signal. The amount and type of gas generated depending on the freshness of the tea leaves varies depending on the type of tea leaves. Therefore, relationship information may be generated for each type of tea leaves.

[0039] The estimation unit 114 estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amounts of the signal waveform and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the signal from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the signal from the sensor 50.

[0040] The estimation unit 114 may further estimate the type of tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amounts of the signal waveform and the type of tea leaves, and the signal from the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may estimate the type of tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between at least two feature amounts of the signal waveform and the type of tea leaves, and the signal from the sensor 50.

[0041] The feature amount of the signal waveform may include at least one of the amplitudes of multiple divided waveforms obtained by dividing the signal waveform at predetermined intervals, the sum of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms, the rate of change of each of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms, the sum of the rate of change of each of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms, and the average value of the rate of change of each of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms. The amplitude of the divided waveform corresponds to the signal strength at a time corresponding to the divided waveform of the signal.

[0042] The freshness of tea leaves may be an index that is determined in stages according to the amount or type of a specific gas generated, for example, with the state immediately after the crude tea is produced being 100% and the state at its most deteriorated being 0%.

[0043] 3 shows an example of the waveform of a signal output from one channel (channel 1) of the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may derive the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the multiple divided waveforms by dividing the waveform of the signal S1 at a predetermined interval t. The estimation unit 114 may derive the sum (s1+s2+s3+s4+s5=s_total) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the multiple divided waveforms. The estimation unit 114 may derive the change rates (s2-s1) / t=Δs1, (s3-s2) / t=Δs2, (s4-s3) / t=Δs3, and (s5-s4)t=Δs4 of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the multiple divided waveforms. The estimation unit 114 may derive the sum (Δs1+Δs2+Δs3+Δs4) of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms. The estimation section 114 may derive the average value ((Δs1+Δs2+Δs3+Δs4) / 4) of the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms.

[0044] The acquiring unit 112 may acquire a plurality of signals output from the plurality of sensing units during a detection period. The estimating unit 114 may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves based on the plurality of signals and relationship information indicating the relationship between the freshness of the tea leaves and a combination of waveform features of at least two of the plurality of signals.

[0045] The combination of features of the waveforms of the at least two signals may include at least one of a ratio between the amplitudes of each of a plurality of divided waveforms of the at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of the at least two signals at a predetermined interval t, a ratio between the sums of the amplitudes of each of the plurality of divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the rates of change of the amplitudes of each of the plurality of divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the sums of the rates of change of the amplitudes of each of the plurality of divided waveforms of the at least two signals, and a ratio between the average values ​​of the amplitudes of each of the plurality of divided waveforms of the at least two signals.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows an example of the waveform of the signal S2 output from another channel (channel 2) of the sensor 50. The estimation unit 114 may derive, for example, the ratio (s1 / m1, s2 / m2, s3 / m3, s4 / m4, s5 / m5) between the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S1 of the channel 1 in Fig. 3 and the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S2 of the channel 2 in Fig. 4. The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratio (s_total / m_total) between the sum of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S1 (s1+s2+s3+s4+s5=s_total) and the sum of the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveforms of the signal 2 (m1+m2+m3+m4+m5=m_total). The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratios (Δs1 / Δm1, Δs2 / Δm2, Δs3 / Δm3, Δs4 / Δm4) of the rates of change (Δs1, Δs2, Δs3, Δs4) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S1 to the rates of change (Δm1, Δm2, Δm3, Δm4) of the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S2. The estimation unit 114 may derive the ratio (s_total / m_total) of the average value (s_total / 4) of the amplitudes s1 to s5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S1 to the average value (m_total / 4) of the amplitudes m1 to m5 of the divided waveforms of the signal S2.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an example of the waveform of a signal S3 output from yet another channel (channel 3) of the sensor 50. In FIG.

[0048] When signal S3 is output from another channel (channel 3) from sensor 50, estimation unit 114 may derive the ratios of amplitudes, ratios of sums of amplitudes, ratios of rates of change of amplitudes, ratios of sums of rates of change of amplitudes, and ratios of average amplitudes for combinations of the waveform features of signals S1 and S2, as well as combinations of the waveform features of signals S1 and S3, and combinations of the waveform features of signals S2 and S3.

[0049] The estimation unit 114 may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves based on a combination of multiple feature amounts of the waveform of one signal, relationship information indicating the relationship with the freshness of the tea leaves, and the signal. Alternatively, the estimation unit 114 may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves based on a combination of multiple feature amounts of the waveforms of at least two signals, relationship information indicating the relationship with the freshness of the tea leaves, and at least two signals.

[0050] In this way, estimation unit 114 derives multiple parameters that indicate the characteristics of the waveforms of one or more signals, and estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on a combination of the parameters. This allows the freshness of the tea leaves to be estimated more accurately than if the freshness of the tea leaves were estimated based on one parameter for one signal.

[0051] The estimation unit 114 may estimate the freshness of the tea leaves using a learning model generated by supervised learning as relationship information indicating the relationship between the waveform features of a signal and the freshness of the tea leaves, or relationship information indicating the relationship between a combination of the waveform features of at least two of the multiple signals and the freshness of the tea leaves.

[0052] The estimation unit 114 may perform machine learning according to a supervised learning algorithm using the feature amount of the waveform of a signal, at least two feature amounts of the waveform of a signal, or a combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of two signals as explanatory variables and the freshness of the tea leaves as a target variable, to generate a trained learning model that estimates the freshness of the tea leaves from the feature amount of the waveform of a signal, or a combination of the feature amounts of the waveforms of two signals, and store the trained learning model in the storage unit 120. The algorithm may be any type of algorithm, such as a neural network, a support vector machine, a multiple regression analysis, or a decision tree.

[0053] The determination unit 116 determines the priority of the bags to be shipped for each section 80 based on the freshness of the tea leaves. The determination unit 116 may determine the priority such that the lower the freshness of the tea leaves in the section 80, the higher the priority of the bag to be shipped. The determination unit 116 may determine the section 80 of the bag containing tea leaves with a freshness falling within the specified freshness range as the section 80 of the bag to be shipped. The output unit 118 may output information indicating the section 80 of the bag to be shipped based on the priority according to the shipping volume of the tea leaves. The output unit 118 may refer to the section information indicating the amount of tea leaves for each section, and select the section with the highest priority order until the amount of tea leaves meets the shipping volume. The output unit 118 may output information indicating the section 80 of the bag containing tea leaves with a freshness falling within the specified freshness range as the section 80 of the bag to be shipped. The section information may be stored in the storage unit 120. The section information may be updated each time the bag 20 containing the tea leaves is stored in the warehouse.

[0054] The output unit 118 outputs information indicating the section 80 of the bag to be shipped to the display unit 60. The display unit 60 may be a terminal for managing the warehouse. The display unit 60 may be a tablet or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone held by a person in charge of managing the warehouse.

[0055] 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for estimating the freshness of tea leaves. The acquisition unit 112 controls the switching valves 34 and 35 of the switching mechanism 30 to switch the sensor 50 from a non-detection state in which the sensor 50 is exposed to the outside air outside the bag 20 to a detection state in which the sensor 50 is exposed to the inside air inside the bag 20 of the section 80 to be estimated (S100). The acquisition unit 112 controls the switching valves 34 and 35 so that only the pipe 36 communicating with the bag 20 containing the tea leaves to be estimated communicates with the pipe 33.

[0056] Freshness management device 100 starts detecting the inside air of bag 20 that is the subject of estimation using sensor 50 (S102). Acquisition unit 112 controls switching valve 34 of switching mechanism 30 to switch sensor 50 from a detection state in which it is exposed to the inside air inside bag 20 to a non-detection state in which it is exposed to the outside air outside bag 20 (S104). Next, acquisition unit 112 acquires each signal detected during the detection period in the detection state from each channel of sensor 50 (S106).

[0057] The estimation unit 114 derives the waveform feature of each signal (S108). The estimation unit 114 estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the waveform feature of each signal and the relationship information (S110). The determination unit 116 determines the priority order of bags to be shipped for each section 80 based on the freshness of the tea leaves (S112).

[0058] The output unit 114 outputs information indicating the sections 80 of bags to be shipped based on the priority order according to the shipping volume of tea leaves (S114).

[0059] When estimation unit 114 estimates the type of tea leaves based on the waveform features of each signal and the relationship information, output unit 118 may notify the type of tea leaves together with the freshness of the tea leaves to the outside. Note that storage unit 120 may store the relationship information for estimating the freshness of the tea leaves and the relationship information for identifying the type of tea leaves separately.

[0060] 7A and 7B are flow charts showing an example of a procedure for deriving the feature amount of each signal. The related information used by the estimation unit 114 to estimate the freshness of the tea leaves may differ depending on the type of tea leaves. Therefore, the estimation unit 114 specifies the type of feature amount of each waveform of each signal that is indicated by the related information used to estimate the freshness of the tea leaves in association with the freshness of the tea leaves, depending on the type of tea leaves.

[0061] The estimation unit 114 acquires each signal of each channel for the gas in the bag 20 via the acquisition unit 112 (S200). The estimation unit 114 determines whether or not to derive each amplitude of each signal based on the type of the specified feature amount of each signal (S202).

[0062] If each amplitude is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature amount set yc1 by deriving each amplitude of each signal for each interval t (S204).

[0063] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the sum of the amplitudes of each signal based on the type of the feature of each signal identified (S206). If the sum of the amplitudes is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature set yc2 by deriving the sum of the amplitudes of each signal for each interval t (S208).

[0064] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude of each signal based on the type of the feature of each identified signal (S210). If the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature set yc3 by deriving the inter-channel ratio of each amplitude of each signal for each interval t (S212).

[0065] Next, based on the type of the feature of each signal identified, it is determined whether to derive the inter-channel ratio of the sum of the amplitudes of each signal (S214). If the inter-channel ratio of the sum of the amplitudes of each signal is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature set yc4 by deriving the inter-channel ratio of the sum of the amplitudes of each signal for each interval t (S216).

[0066] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the rate of change of each amplitude of each signal based on the type of the feature of each identified signal (S218). If the rate of change of each amplitude of each signal is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates the feature yc5 by deriving the rate of change of each amplitude of each signal for each interval t (S220).

[0067] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the sum of the change rates of the amplitudes of each signal based on the type of the feature of each signal identified (S222). If the sum of the change rates of the amplitudes of each signal is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature group yc6 by deriving the sum of the change rates of the amplitudes for each interval t (S224).

[0068] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive an average value of the rate of change of each amplitude of each signal based on the type of the feature of each signal identified (S226). If the average value of the rate of change of each amplitude of each signal is to be derived, the estimation unit 114 generates a feature set yc7 by deriving the average value of the rate of change for each interval t (S228).

[0069] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether or not to derive the average temperature value and standard deviation based on the type of feature of each identified signal (S230). If the average temperature value and standard deviation are to be derived, the estimation unit 114 acquires temperature information indicating the temperature inside the bag 20, and generates feature value groups yt1, yt2, and yt3 by deriving the temperature, the average temperature value, and the standard deviation of the temperature for each interval t (S232).

[0070] Next, the estimation unit 114 determines whether to derive the average humidity value and standard deviation based on the type of feature amount of each identified signal (S234). If the average humidity value and standard deviation are to be derived, the estimation unit 114 acquires humidity information indicating the humidity inside the bag 20, and derives the humidity, the average humidity value, and the standard deviation of the humidity value for each interval t to generate feature amount groups yh1, yh2, and yh3 (S236).

[0071] Through the above process, the estimation unit 114 derives a group of feature amounts used for estimating the freshness of tea leaves. Note that the types and derivation order of the group of feature amounts shown in Figures 7A and 7B are merely examples.

[0072] According to the freshness management device 100 of this embodiment, the freshness of tea leaves can be estimated with high accuracy based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between the feature amount of the waveform of a signal, at least two feature amounts of the waveform of a signal, or a combination of the feature amounts of the waveform of two signals, and the freshness of tea leaves, and the feature amount of the waveform of at least one signal output from the sensor. Therefore, tea leaves to be shipped can be appropriately selected according to their freshness.

[0073] 8 shows an example of a computer 1200 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 1200 may cause the computer 1200 to perform operations associated with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention or one or more "parts" of the apparatus. Alternatively, the program may cause the computer 1200 to execute the operations or one or more "parts". The program may cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or steps of the process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to execute specific operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0074] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212 and a RAM 1214, which are connected to each other by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes a communication interface 1222 and an input / output unit, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer 1200 also includes a ROM 1230. The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit.

[0075] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive may store programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The ROM 1230 stores a boot program executed by the computer 1200 when activated and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 1200. The programs are provided via a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a USB memory, or an IC card, or a network. The programs are installed in the RAM 1214, which is also an example of a computer-readable recording medium, or the ROM 1230, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 1200, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources. An apparatus or method may be configured by implementing an operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 1200.

[0076] For example, when communication is performed between the computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM 1214 and instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in the RAM 1214 or a recording medium such as a USB memory, transmits the read transmission data to a network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0077] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as a USB memory to be read into the RAM 1214, and may perform various types of processing on the data on the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0078] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and undergo information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and write back the results to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 1212 may search for an entry that matches a condition, in which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified, from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0079] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 1200 or in the vicinity of the computer 1200. Also, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0080] A computer-readable medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that are executed by a suitable device. As a result, a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon comprises an article of manufacture that includes instructions that can be executed to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, and the like. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), static random access memories (SRAMs), compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), Blu-ray (RTM) disks, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, and the like.

[0081] The computer readable instructions may include either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The source code or object code includes conventional procedural programming languages. The conventional procedural programming languages ​​may be assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or object oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, JAVA®, C++, etc., and the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable instructions may be provided to a processor or programmable circuitry of a programmable data processing apparatus locally or over a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc. The processor or programmable circuitry may execute the computer readable instructions to create means for performing the operations specified in the flowcharts or block diagrams.

[0082] Here, the computer may be a computer such as a PC (personal computer), a tablet computer, a smartphone, a workstation, a server computer, or a general-purpose computer, or may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system, and is a computer in the broad sense. In a distributed computing system, each of the multiple computers executes a part of a program, and the multiple computers collectively execute a program by transferring data during program execution between the computers as necessary.

[0083] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units (CPUs), processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc. A computer may have one processor or multiple processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a part of a program, and the multiple processors collectively execute a program by passing data during program execution between the processors as necessary. For example, in executing multitasks, each of the multiple processors may execute a part of each task in small chunks by switching tasks for each time slice. In this case, which part of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Also, which part of a program each of the multiple processors executes may be statically determined by programming that takes the multiprocessor into consideration.

[0084] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0085] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10 Freshness control system 20 bags 30 Switching Mechanism 31, 32, 33 Piping 34 Switching valve 40 Environmental Sensors 50 Sensors 60 Display 80 plots 100 Freshness control device 110 Control section 112 Acquisition Department 114 Estimation Department 116 Decision Section 118 Output section 120 Storage section 1200 Computer 1210 Host Controller 1212 CPU 1214 RAM 1220 Input / Output Controller 1222 Communication Interface 1230 ROM

Claims

1. a sensor having a sensitive part which physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from the tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, and an acquisition part which acquires a signal output from the sensor during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance until the sensor switches from the second state to the first state again; an estimation unit that estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of a waveform of a signal and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the signal; A freshness control device comprising:

2. The sensor has a plurality of sensitive parts each having a different characteristic of a physical change in response to the at least one substance generated from the tea leaves, The acquisition unit acquires a plurality of signals output from the plurality of sensory units during the detection period, The freshness management device of claim 1, wherein the estimation unit estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on the relationship information indicating the relationship between a combination of waveform features of at least two of the multiple signals and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the multiple signals.

3. The freshness control device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor section includes a sensor film that is deformed when the at least one substance is adsorbed and diffuses into the sensor film.

4. The freshness control device of claim 3 , wherein the sensitive film comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid material.

5. The freshness management device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic quantities of the signal waveform include at least one of the amplitudes of multiple divided waveforms obtained by dividing the signal waveform at predetermined intervals, the sum of the amplitudes of the multiple divided waveforms, the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms, the sum of the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms, and the average value of the rate of change of each amplitude of the multiple divided waveforms.

6. The freshness management device of claim 2, wherein the combination of features of the waveforms of the at least two signals includes at least one of a ratio between the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals obtained by dividing the waveforms of the at least two signals at predetermined intervals, a ratio between the sums of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the rates of change of each of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, a ratio between the sums of the rates of change of each of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals, and a ratio between the average values ​​of the amplitudes of each of the multiple divided waveforms of the at least two signals.

7. The acquisition unit further acquires environmental information from a sensor that detects an environmental condition around the tea leaves, The freshness management device according to claim 1 , wherein the estimation unit estimates the freshness of the tea leaves further based on the environmental information.

8. The freshness management device according to claim 1 , wherein the tea leaves are crude tea leaves.

9. The tea leaves are contained in bags, and the bags are divided into predetermined sections, The sensor outputs the signal for each predetermined section, The freshness management device includes: A decision unit that decides the priority order of bags to be shipped for each section based on the freshness of the tea leaves; an output unit that outputs information indicating the sections of the bags to be shipped based on the priority order according to the shipping amount of the tea leaves; The freshness management device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

10. A freshness management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The sensor; a switching mechanism that communicates with an internal space of the bag that contains the tea leaves and switches between the first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance and the second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance; A freshness management system equipped with

11. The switching mechanism includes: A first pipe communicating with an internal space of the bag; A second pipe communicating with a space outside the bag; a third pipe that is switchably connected to one of the first pipe and the second pipe; and Including, The sensor is disposed in the third pipe, The freshness management system of claim 10, wherein when the third pipe is connected to the second pipe, the sensor is in the first state, and when the third pipe is connected to the first pipe, the sensor is in the second state.

12. The tea leaves are contained in bags, and the bags are divided into predetermined sections, The sensor outputs the signal for each predetermined section, The freshness management device includes: A decision unit that decides the priority order of bags to be shipped for each section based on the freshness of the tea leaves; an output unit that outputs information indicating the sections of bags to be shipped based on the priority order according to the shipping volume of tea leaves; Further equipped with The switching mechanism includes: A first pipe for each of the predetermined sections communicating with an internal space of the bag; A second pipe communicating with a space outside the bag; a third pipe switchably communicating with any one of the plurality of first pipes and the second pipes; The freshness management system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is in the first state when the third pipe is connected to the second pipe, and the sensor is in the second state when the third pipe is connected to any one of the plurality of first pipes.

13. a step in which a sensor having a sensitive part which physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, acquires a signal output from the sensor during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance until when the sensor switches from the second state to the first state again; an estimation unit estimating the freshness of the tea leaves based on the signal and relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of a waveform of the signal and the freshness of the tea leaves; A freshness control method comprising:

14. a sensor having a sensitive part which physically changes in response to at least one substance generated from the tea leaves and outputs a signal corresponding to the physical change, and an acquisition part which acquires a signal output from the sensor during a detection period from when the sensor switches from a first state in which the sensor is not exposed to the at least one substance to a second state in which the sensor is exposed to the at least one substance until the sensor switches from the second state to the first state again; an estimation unit that estimates the freshness of the tea leaves based on relationship information indicating a relationship between a feature amount of a waveform of a signal and the freshness of the tea leaves, and the signal; A program that allows a computer to function.

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