Information reading system

Abstract

To provide an information reading system capable of easily introducing article management using an RFID tag.SOLUTION: The information reading system 1 includes an RFID reader 3 that reads first information (tag ID) recorded in an RFID tag 6 attached to a book 10 as an example of an article, a barcode reader 7 that reads second information (ISBN) added to the book 10 in a readable manner, and a control device 4 that records the tag ID read by the RFID reader 3 and the ISBN read by the barcode reader 7 in association with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information reading system. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In recent years, a technology for managing items using wireless tags such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags has become known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which an RFID tag is embedded in the spine of a book, which is an example of an article, beforehand when the book is bound, and information recorded in the RFID tag is used for book management. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-326474 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In order to use RFID tags for item management, it is necessary to create a database that associates items with various information, including tag information. If the process of creating such a database could be simplified, it would be easier to popularize item management using RFID tags.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide an information reading system that makes it easy to introduce item management using RFID tags. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An information reading system according to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention includes a first reading device that reads first information recorded on a wireless tag attached to an item, a second reading device that reads second information that is readably attached to the item, and a control device that links and records the first information read by the first reading device and the second information read by the second reading device.

[0008] According to this aspect, if the first information about the wireless tag and the second information about the item to be managed can be obtained separately, for example, by a user, these multiple pieces of information are automatically linked and stored in a database. This simplifies the creation of a database required for using wireless tags in item management, making it easier to introduce item management using wireless tags.

[0009] In a work management system according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the first information may be first identification information including unique information assigned to each of the wireless tags, and the second information may be second identification information relating to the type of the item.

[0010] According to this aspect, the first information read by the first reading device is first identification information including unique information assigned to each tag, so by linking this unique information to second identification information related to the type of item and recording it, it becomes easy to distinguish and manage the items by unit.

[0011] In the work management system according to another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, the first reading device may be a handheld reader device.

[0012] According to this aspect, the area in which the wireless tag is read is not limited to a predetermined reading area, so that the degree of freedom in the information reading operation can be improved.

[0013] In a work management system according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the first reading device may be an installed reader device, and the installed reader device may be configured to read the first information from the wireless tag attached to the item within a predetermined reading area.

[0014] According to this aspect, the first information can be read by the first reading device more reliably.

[0015] In a work management system according to another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the item may be a book, the first information may be tag-specific information assigned to each wireless tag, the second information may be an ISBN related to the type of book, the first reading device may be a reader device that reads the tag-specific information from the wireless tag, the second reading device may be a barcode reader that reads a barcode corresponding to the ISBN, and the control device may be configured to link and record the tag-specific information read by the reader device and the ISBN read by the barcode reader.

[0016] According to this aspect, it is possible to easily introduce a book management system that uses wireless tags. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information reading system that makes it easy to introduce item management using RFID tags. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an information reading system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] Control device functional block diagram [Figure 3] Control device hardware configuration diagram [Figure 4] Flowchart of information reading control performed by the information reading system DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0020] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an information reading system 1 according to an embodiment. The information reading system 1 is a device that acquires information about a wireless tag and an object to be measured (an object) to which the wireless tag is affixed, and manages the information by linking the information.

[0021] In FIG. 1, the X, Y, and Z directions are perpendicular to each other. The X and Y directions are horizontal, and the Z direction is vertical. The X direction is the direction of one opposite side (the long side in the example of FIG. 1) of the rectangular shape of the top plate 21 of the reading table 2 of the information reading system 1, and is, for example, the front-to-back direction as seen by a system user. The Y direction is the direction of the other opposite side (the short side in the example of FIG. 1) of the rectangular shape of the top plate 21 of the reading table 2 of the information reading system 1, and is, for example, the left-to-right direction as seen by a system user. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the positive Z direction side may also be referred to as the upper side, and the negative Z direction side may also be referred to as the lower side.

[0022] In this embodiment, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag 6 is used as an example of a wireless tag, and a book 10 is used as an example of an article. The RFID tag 6 is also called an IC tag, an RF-ID tag, or an RF tag. Here, the "book" used in this embodiment can be defined as a book that is purchased and sold by a bookstore as a publication with an ISBN code.

[0023] The information reading system 1 of this embodiment illustrates a configuration in which RFID tags 6 are attached to any position on a book 10, and information on these RFID tags 6 is read. The RFID tags 6 record information (first information) related to the book 10 to which they are attached. The RFID tags 6 include an IC chip and an antenna electrically connected to the IC chip, and can record information (code ID in FIG. 1) in the IC chip.

[0024] Furthermore, when the article to be read is a book 10, instead of a configuration in which the RFID tag 6 is affixed to the book 10 itself, the RFID tag 6 may be affixed to, for example, a bookmark or slip (a long, folded piece of paper cut out at a bookstore, etc.) that is inserted into the book 10. In other words, the RFID tag 6 may be inserted into the book 10 to be read via a bookmark or the like. In this embodiment, "affixed," which represents a state in which the RFID tag 6 is attached to the article to be read, includes not only a configuration in which the RFID tag 6 is directly affixed to the article itself, but also a configuration in which the RFID tag 6 is affixed to another element that is slid, inserted, or fastened to the article, and is thereby indirectly affixed to the article to be read.

[0025] In this embodiment, as an example of an information reading system 1, as shown in Figure 1, an application example will be described in which information is read from an RFID tag 6 attached to a book 10 when the book 10 to which the RFID tag 6 is attached is placed in a predetermined reading area 23.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the information reading system 1 includes a reading stand 2, an RFID reader 3 (first reading device), a control device 4, a touch panel 5, and a barcode reader 7 (second reading device).

[0027] The reading table 2 is a table on which the book 10 to be read is placed, and in the example of Fig. 1, it has a rectangular top plate 21 and four legs 22 provided at the four corners of the rectangle of the top plate. An upper surface 21A of the top plate 21 is used as a placement surface on which the book 10 to be read is placed. In the following description, this may also be referred to as "placement surface 21A".

[0028] The RFID reader 3 is an example of a reading device that reads information (first information) from the RFID tag 6 on the placement surface 21A. In the example of FIG. 1, the RFID reader 3 is an example of a stationary reader device that is installed without being exposed on the placement surface 21A so that the placement surface 21A side is the reading range. In the example of FIG. 1, the RFID reader 3 is installed on the underside 21B of the top plate 21 of the reading stand 2. Note that the configuration in which the RFID reader 3 is installed without being exposed on the placement surface 21A is not limited to the example of FIG. 1. For example, a configuration in which a recess is provided on the top surface 21A of the top plate 21, the RFID reader 3 is inserted into this recess, and the upper opening of the recess or the upper surface of the RFID reader 3 is covered with a cover may also be used.

[0029] 1, on the placement surface 21A, a predetermined area overlapping with the RFID reader 3 in a plan view seen from the Z direction is a reading area 23 in which tag information can be read from an object to be read. When a book 10, which is an object to be read, is placed within the range of this reading area 23, the RFID reader 3 can acquire information from the RFID tag 6 affixed to the book 10. On the other hand, for books 10 placed in locations other than the reading area 23, the RFID reader 3 cannot read information from the RFID tag 6 affixed to the book 10.

[0030] The reading area 23 is disposed directly above the RFID reader 3, and preferably has substantially the same outer shape and area as the RFID reader 3. However, the size of the reading area 23 may be larger or smaller than the RFID reader 3. As shown in Fig. 1, in this embodiment, the shape of the RFID reader 3 in a plan view is rectangular, so the reading area 23 is also formed in a rectangular shape.

[0031] It is also preferable that the reading area 23 on the placement surface 21A be distinguishable from other parts so that a system user can visually recognize the position of the reading area 23. For example, a line may be drawn on the outer edge of the reading area 23 on the placement surface 21A, or the color of the reading area 23 may be made different from the color of the other parts.

[0032] In the example of FIG. 1 , the RFID reader 3 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view in the Z direction. The RFID reader 3 also has a flat antenna unit, which is substantially rectangular in shape similar to the outline of the flat housing, located in the center of the top surface of the flat housing in a plan view in the Z direction. The antenna unit reads information from the RFID tag 6 in the reading area 23. Considering the communication distance, it is preferable to use the HF band, which is suitable for short-range communication, for communication between the RFID tag 6 and the antenna unit of the RFID reader 3. However, the UHF band, which is advantageous for miniaturizing the IC chip of the tag, may also be used. The RFID tag 6 may be a passive tag that is powered by radio waves W emitted from the antenna unit of the RFID reader 3, or an active tag that is powered by an internal power source for communication.

[0033] The barcode reader 7 is an example of a device that reads the ISBN from the barcode 29 written on the book 10 placed in the reading area 23.

[0034] The control device 4 is connected to the RFID reader 3, the touch panel 5, and the barcode reader 7 wirelessly or via a wired connection so as to be able to communicate with them, and controls the operation of each of these devices. In particular, in this embodiment, the control device 4 links and records the first information read by the RFID reader 3 and recorded on the RFID tag 6 attached to the book 10 with the second information read by the barcode reader 7 and attached to the book 10 in a readable manner.

[0035] Here, when the managed item is a book 10, the "first information" refers to tag-specific information (first identification information) assigned to each RFID tag 6, such as unique information (such as EPC or TID) assigned to each tag during tag manufacturing and capable of individually identifying the tag. The "second information" refers to an ISBN (second identification information) related to the type of book 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , a barcode 29 (hereinafter also referred to as the "ISBN code 29") corresponding to the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is printed on the back cover of the book 10. In other words, the ISBN code 29 is attached to the surface of the book 10 at a position that can be read by the barcode reader 7 when the book 10 is placed in the reading area 23. The first information may be information other than the tag-specific information, and the second information may be information other than the ISBN or information other than the type of item.

[0036] Generally, a two-line barcode called the book JAN (Japanese Article Number) code is printed on the back cover of a book 10. The JAN code is the Japanese name for a globally recognized product identification code, and is also known internationally as the EAN (European Article Number) code, GTIN-13, or GTIN-8. The top barcode of the book JAN code contains ISBN information, while the bottom barcode contains information such as the C code (book classification code) and the book's retail price. The ISBN code 29 in this embodiment corresponds to the top barcode of the book JAN code.

[0037] In particular, in this embodiment, when the RFID tag 6 is affixed to the back cover of the book 10, it is preferable to place the RFID tag 6 adjacent to the printed location of the ISBN code 29. Furthermore, in this case, it is preferable to affix the RFID tag 6 directly above the barcode below the book JAN code, i.e., the barcode containing information such as a C code, so as to cover and conceal this barcode. This prevents misreading of other information such as the C code when the ISBN code 29 is read by the barcode reader 7, and therefore makes it possible to more reliably obtain the ISBN and tag ID information required for database creation in this embodiment.

[0038] The touch panel 5 is a display device that displays information related to tag information reading control. The touch panel 5 also functions as an input device that accepts operational inputs from a user. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the touch panel 5 is installed on the mounting surface 21A of the reading stand 2, on the rear side (negative X direction side) of the reading area 23 as seen from the user. The touch panel 5 is also installed so that the screen faces the reading area 23 so that a user in front of the reading area 23 can easily operate and view the touch panel 5. This allows a user of the information reading system 1 to operate the touch panel 5 and perform tag information reading operations while standing in front of the reading area 23.

[0039] 1 illustrates a configuration in which the control device 4 is disposed at a position separate from the reading table 2, but the control device 4 may be integrally installed on the reading table 2. Also, instead of the touch panel 5, a configuration may be used in which a display device such as a display and an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard are used.

[0040] Furthermore, the reading table 2 is not limited to the shape illustrated in Fig. 1 as long as it has at least a placement surface 21A and the RFID reader 3 is installed without being exposed on the placement surface 21A so that the placement surface 21A side is the reading range. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the reading table 2 may be configured without wheels for movement at the lower ends of the legs 22, and the top plate 21 may have a shape other than rectangular. Furthermore, in the example of Fig. 1, the reading area 23 is located on the front side (positive X direction side) of the placement surface 21A, but the position of the reading area 23 may also be set arbitrarily.

[0041] Furthermore, a light-emitting device such as an LED may be provided on the mounting surface 21A of the reading table 2, for example, and the light intensity of the light-emitting device may be changed depending on the strength of the radio waves W emitted from the RFID reader 3. Alternatively, an audio device such as a speaker may be provided instead of the light-emitting device, and the volume of the audio device may be changed depending on the strength of the radio waves W. Similarly, information indicating the strength of the radio waves W may be presented to the user on the display screen of the touch panel 5 using any information such as light, color, or sound. These configurations allow the user to easily grasp the radio wave W alert status (for example, strength level), thereby providing a system that is easier for users to use.

[0042] 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 4. As functions related to a series of information reading operations of the information reading system 1 described above, the control device 4 has a tag reading control unit 41, an information recording unit 42, and an article information storage unit 43.

[0043] The tag reading control unit 41 controls the operation of reading information from the RFID tag 6 of the book 10 by the RFID reader 3. The tag reading control unit 41 is communicatively connected to the RFID reader 3, and receives information read by the RFID reader 3 from the RFID tag 6. The tag reading control unit 41 outputs tag-specific information (tag ID) acquired by the RFID reader 3 to the information recording unit 42. The tag reading control unit 41 is also communicatively connected to the touch panel 5, and outputs information related to the reading of the tag information acquired by the RFID reader 3.

[0044] The tag ID acquired by the RFID reader 3 is input from the tag reading control unit 41 to the information recording unit 42. The information recording unit 42 is also communicably connected to the barcode reader 7, and receives input of ISBN information read by the barcode reader 7 from the ISBN code 29 of the book 10 that is the reading target and whose tag ID has been read. The information recording unit 42 associates the input tag ID and ISBN and outputs them to the item information storage unit 43 as a set of data related to one book 10 placed in the reading area 23 on the placement surface 21A.

[0045] The product information storage unit 43 records the tag ID and ISBN in association with each other based on the data set of the tag ID and ISBN input from the information recording unit 42. Note that information other than the tag ID and ISBN may be added to the data set recorded in the product information storage unit 43. The information recorded in the product information storage unit 43 can be viewed by users of the information reading system 1 or output to an external device.

[0046] 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control device 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 4 can be physically configured as a computer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103 as main storage devices, an input device 104 such as a keyboard and a mouse as input devices, an output device 105 such as a display, a communication module 106 as a data transmission / reception device such as a network card, an auxiliary storage device 107, and the like. Each function of the control device 4 described with reference to FIG. 2 is realized by loading predetermined computer software onto hardware such as the CPU 101 and RAM 102, thereby operating the communication module 106, the input device 104, and the output device 105 under the control of the CPU 101, and reading and writing data from and to the RAM 102 and the auxiliary storage device 107.

[0047] Fig. 4 is a flowchart of information reading control performed by the information reading system 1. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 4 is performed, for example, in a situation where a bookstore clerk wants to perform inventory management based on RFID tags for books 10 that were not affixed with RFID tags at the time of binding or arrival. In this situation, as a preprocessing before performing the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 4, the clerk prepares RFID tags 6 in the same number as the number of books 10 to be included in the management target, and later affixes one RFID tag 6 to each book 10.

[0048] In step S1, the system user inputs an operation to start information reading via the touch panel 5. The operation command to start information reading is input to each element of the control device 4, such as the tag reading control unit 41. After the operation to start information reading, the system user places the book 10 to be read in the reading area 23 of the reading table 2.

[0049] In step S2, the tag reading control unit 41 outputs a control command to the RFID reader 3 in response to the start operation in step S1, and the RFID reader 3 starts emitting radio waves W.

[0050] In step S3, after the radio wave alert in step S2, the tag reading control unit 41 acquires the tag ID from the RFID tag 6 of the book 10 placed in the reading area 23 via the RFID reader 3. The tag reading control unit 41 outputs the acquired tag ID to the information recording unit 42.

[0051] In step S4, for example, a system user uses barcode reader 7 to read the ISBN code 29 of book 10 that was placed in reading area 23 and whose tag ID was read in step S3, thereby obtaining the ISBN of the book 10. The obtained ISBN is output from barcode reader 7 to information recording unit 42. Note that barcode reader 7 may be a handheld type that the user holds and uses, or a stationary type that is fixedly installed on reading stand 2 or the like. In the case of a handheld type, for example, the user can bring barcode reader 7 close to book 10 placed in reading area 23 to read ISBN code 29. On the other hand, in the case of a stationary type, for example, the user can hold book 10 and move it to a position where ISBN code 29 is within the reading range of barcode reader 7 to read ISBN code 29.

[0052] In step S5, the information recording unit 42 links the tag ID (e.g., EPC or TID) of the RFID tag 6 attached to the book 10 that was input to the information recording unit 42 from the tag reading control unit 41 in step S3 with the ISBN information read by the barcode reader 7 from the ISBN code 29 of the book 10 whose tag ID was read in step S4, and records the linked data in the item information storage unit 43.

[0053] If there are multiple books 10 to be included in the management target, the processing of steps S3 to S5 is performed sequentially for each book. When the information reading control for all books 10 is completed, this control flow ends. As a result, multiple sets of data, each including an ISBN and a tag ID, are added to the product information storage unit 43 for each of the multiple books 10 to be included in the management target.

[0054] The tag ID acquisition process in step S3 and the ISBN acquisition process in step S4 may be performed interchangeably.

[0055] As described above, the information reading system 1 of this embodiment comprises an RFID reader 3 that reads first information (tag ID) recorded on an RFID tag 6 attached to a book 10 as an example of an item to be managed, a barcode reader 7 that reads second information (ISBN) that is attached to the book 10 in a readable manner, and a control device 4 that links and records the tag ID read by the RFID reader 3 and the ISBN read by the barcode reader 7.

[0056] With this configuration, if the first information (tag ID) about the RFID tag 6 and the second information (ISBN) about the book 10 as an example of an item to be managed can be obtained separately, for example, by a user, these multiple pieces of information are automatically linked and stored in a database. This simplifies the creation of a database required to use RFID tags for item management, making it easier to introduce item management using RFID tags.

[0057] In the information reading system 1 of this embodiment, the first information read by the RFID reader 3 is first identification information (tag ID) including unique information assigned to each RFID tag 6. The second information read by the barcode reader 7 is second identification information (ISBN) relating to the type of book 10 as an example of an article to be managed.

[0058] With this configuration, the first information read by the RFID reader 3 is first identification information including unique information assigned to each tag, so if this unique information is recorded in association with second identification information related to the type of book 10, it becomes easy to distinguish and manage each book 10 separately.

[0059] In the information reading system 1 of this embodiment, the RFID reader 3 is a stationary reader device. The stationary reader device reads the first information (tag ID) from the RFID tag 6 attached to the book 10 within a predetermined reading area 23.

[0060] This configuration allows the RFID reader 3 to read the first information (tag ID) more reliably.

[0061] In the information reading system 1 of this embodiment, the article to be managed is a book 10. The first information read by the RFID reader 3 is tag-specific information (tag ID) assigned to each RFID tag 6, and the second information read by the barcode reader 7 is an ISBN related to the type of book 10. The RFID reader 3 reads the tag-specific information from the RFID tag 6. The barcode reader 7 reads a barcode (ISBN code) 29 corresponding to the ISBN. The control device 4 records the tag ID read by the RFID reader 3 and the ISBN read by the barcode reader 7 in association with each other.

[0062] This configuration makes it easy to introduce a management system for books 10 that uses RFID tags.

[0063] The present embodiment has been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Design modifications to these specific examples made by a person skilled in the art as appropriate are also included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as they comprise the features of the present disclosure. The elements of the above-described specific examples, as well as their arrangement, conditions, shape, etc., are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of the above-described specific examples can be combined in various ways as appropriate, as long as no technical contradictions arise.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the RFID reader 3 is built into the reading stand 2, i.e., a configuration in which a fixed-type reader device is applied is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a handheld reader device that can be held or worn by a user may be applied as the RFID reader 3. This allows the area in which the RFID tag 6 is read to be not limited to the reading area 23 on the reading stand 2, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the information reading operation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 Information reading system 2 Reading stand 23 Reading Area 3 RFID reader (first reading device) 4. Control device 6 RFID tags (wireless tags) 7 Barcode reader (second reading device) 10 Books (goods) 29 ISBN code (barcode)

Claims

1. a first reader that reads first information recorded in a wireless tag attached to an article; a second reading device that reads second information that is readably attached to the article; a control device that associates and records the first information read by the first reading device and the second information read by the second reading device; An information reading system comprising:

2. the first information is first identification information including unique information assigned to each of the wireless tags, the second information is second identification information relating to the type of the item; 2. The information reading system according to claim 1.

3. The first reading device is a handheld reader device.

2. The information reading system according to claim 1.

4. the first reading device is a stationary reader device, the stationary reader device reads the first information from the wireless tag attached to the article within a predetermined reading area; 2. The information reading system according to claim 1.

5. the article is a book, the first information is tag-specific information assigned to each of the wireless tags, the second information is an ISBN related to the type of book; the first reading device is a reader device that reads the tag-specific information from the wireless tag, the second reading device is a barcode reader that reads a barcode corresponding to the ISBN, The control device records the tag-specific information read by the reader device and the ISBN read by the barcode reader in association with each other.

5. The information reading system according to claim 1.

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