Location management system

Abstract

To enable proper management of objects used at work sites. [Solution] The location management system is a location management system that includes a terminal carried by the user and a server, wherein objects to be managed are registered in a predetermined system on the server, the terminal can access and operate an application related to the management of the objects, the terminal transmits its location information to the server at a predetermined timing in the application, and transmits usage information of the object to the server when updating the usage status of an object identifiable by the terminal, the server associates the received usage information with location information and updates the location information of the object being operated.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a location management system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a technology for associating the location information of a mobile terminal with a device or the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that enables determination of the validity of using the location information of a mobile terminal as information indicating the location of a device. In this technology, an accuracy rank is used as an example of validity information indicating the degree of validity. The accuracy rank is calculated based on the operation type and detection accuracy of the mobile terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, at a construction site or the like, when using objects used for work such as rental items and work vehicles, it is necessary to manage the location information of the corresponding objects.

[0006] However, it is costly and not practical to always attach a device (such as a beacon) for grasping the location to the object. Also, when updating the location of an object managed in the system, the operation for use may become complicated.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a location management system that can appropriately manage objects used at a work site.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the location management system disclosed herein is a location management system including a terminal carried by a user and a server, wherein objects to be managed are registered in a predetermined system on the server, the terminal is able to access and operate an application related to the management of objects, the terminal transmits its location information to the server at predetermined timings in the application, and transmits usage information of an object identifiable by the terminal to the server when updating the usage status of the object, the server associates the received usage information with location information and updates the location information of the object being operated on. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, the effect of being able to properly manage objects used at the work site can be obtained. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the location management system. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of registering location information during inventory of rental items. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of the work vehicle in use. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of a management screen that can be operated from the application when borrowing or repaying a loan. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the location information registration screen when borrowing and returning a loan. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of a management screen that can be operated from the application during inventory management. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the location information registration screen during inventory. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the list of rental items displayed as search results during inventory. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a sequence diagram of the management process in the location management system. [Figure 10]Figure 10 shows an example of a management screen for unlocking and registering work vehicles. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an overview of the method of this embodiment will be described.

[0012] The system of this embodiment is a location management system for managing objects used at work sites and the like. As shown in Figure 1, the location management system 100 includes a terminal 102 carried by the user and a server 104, which are connected via a network N. The terminal 102 can access and operate applications related to the management of objects. The terminal 102 can perform operations to manage objects using the application. The application may be a web application accessible from a web browser, or it may be installed on the terminal.

[0013] Server 104 is configured as a device and is implemented by a computer that includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs for implementing each processing routine, RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data, memory as a means of storage, and a network interface. Depending on the processing, a GPGPU or accelerator may be used instead of the CPU, and the appropriate computing unit for the processing may be used. In particular, the use of a GPGPU or accelerator is preferable for processing related to learning and inference.

[0014] At the timing of the operation of the application, when starting the use of the object, the position information of the object is updated based on the position information held by the terminal. Assume as a premise that the objects to be managed are registered in the system on server 104. Note that the update of the user's position information on the server 104 side is performed at a timing separate from the update of the usage status of the object. To update the position information of the object, for example, when the usage information table of the object is updated, refer to the latest position information in the position information table of the same user of the terminal 102 that updated the usage status of the object, and use it by associating it as the position information of the object.

[0015] As cases where the position management system of this method is applied, embodiments such as (1) updating the usage status in the management of rental items at a construction site and (2) updating the usage status of a work vehicle for high-altitude work are assumed.

[0016] Figure 2 is an example of updating the position information during the inventory of rental items. When the user borrows, takes inventory, and returns from the application, the usage status of the rental item is updated at each timing, and the position information is updated. In addition, the rental items are subject to expiration management, and it is possible to grasp whether it is within the expiration date or expired.

[0017] Figure 3 is an example when using a work vehicle. The user operates the terminal to send a release signal to the work vehicle and starts using it. At this time, the application communicates with the server, and the unlocking state of the work vehicle is updated to unlocked (when the use ends, it is updated to locked). Also, when updating the unlocking state, that is, when starting the use, the position information of the work vehicle is updated using the position information held by the terminal.

[0018] Hereinafter, (1) the case of managing rental items at a construction site will be described as an example. Note that (2) the case when using a work vehicle for high-altitude work will be described later as a modified example.

[0019] The following explains the registration process using the management of rental items as an example. Rental items are an example of the items involved. In this context, rental items refer to items that the main contractor leases from a rental company, which then lends to each subcontractor on site for use by each subcontractor.

[0020] Figure 4 shows an example of a management screen that can be operated from the application when borrowing and returning items. (A1) is the search screen for rental items. Rental items can be searched using "QR code," "RFID," or "search by condition." Search screens are available for each scene (borrowing / returning / inventory) where the location information of the target item is updated. (A2) is the list screen of rental items displayed as a search result when borrowing and returning items. Figure 5 is the location information registration screen when borrowing and returning items. The location information registration screen in Figure 5 is an example of a modal window display. Three methods for updating the location information on the location information registration screen are exemplified: "QR code," "current location," and "select floor and register."

[0021] The "QR Code" option allows location information to be registered by scanning a QR code. This can be set as the default selection on the application screen of terminal 102. The "Current Location" option uses the current location of terminal 102 to register location information. The latest location logs from QR codes, beacons, barometric pressure, and GPS can be used. For example, it is usable if there is a location log within the last 5 minutes. For example, it is sufficient if the log records the floor number, time, and type of log used to acquire the location, such as "5F / 16:00 / Beacon". The "Search by Condition" option allows location information registration by selecting the company using the rental equipment (cooperating company) and the type of rental equipment. A building floor is selected. From the second time onwards, the previously used floor is selected. Note that personal computers can be configured to only use the "Select Floor and Register" option.

[0022] For rental items located in the rental yard, a list of rental items (and their types) can be displayed and selected. The list of rental items can be obtained from identification information installed at the rental location (rental yard). The identification information used to identify the items includes designated short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth®, 2D codes, and RFD (Reduced-Function Device). Alternatively, the identification information of the rental yard can be manually entered or selected to obtain the information.

[0023] As explained above, "current location" is an example of the location information of the terminal itself in this disclosure. "Two-dimensional code" is an example of a registration method for either location information obtained from identification information installed at a predetermined location in this disclosure, or location information obtained from identification information attached to a nearby object. Furthermore, the location information held by terminal 102 when operating the location information registration screen is an example of the location information held at the time of operation of this disclosure.

[0024] When you select a rental item from the list of rental items and press the "Return" button, the location information registration screen shown in Figure 5 will appear. The location information registration screen is displayed as a modal window. Although the example shown is for borrowing, the same process can be used for returning items and during inventory work. The button that triggers the transition to the location information registration screen is the "Return" button when returning an item, and the "Confirmed" button when taking inventory.

[0025] As illustrated in the explanations of Figures 4 and 5 above, the location management system 100 allows users to select an object from the search screen on the application's management screen, and when an object is selected and an operation is performed, the method for registering the location information can be selected.

[0026] Figure 6 shows an example of a management screen that can be operated from the application during inventory. Figure 7 shows the location information registration screen during inventory. For example, after scanning the QR code of a rental item, the modal window for the location information update screen shown in Figure 7 opens. The method for updating the location during inventory is the same as during borrowing and returning. After updating the location information, the rental item list screen opens. Figure 8 shows the rental item list screen displayed as a search result during inventory. During inventory, the rental item whose QR code was scanned is displayed selected. Pressing the details button displays the rental item details screen in a modal window. The details screen displays management information for the rental item, such as item name, type, management number, cooperating company name, team name, loan expiration date, and last inventory date.

[0027] As illustrated above, the application updates the location information of rental items used as materials at the work site by performing operations on them. When the application is operated, the operations performed when the rental item is lent out, taken into inventory, and returned are treated as operations for updating usage information. The location information of the rental item is updated in accordance with these operations.

[0028] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Figure 9 is a sequence diagram of the management process in the location management system 100. It is assumed that the terminal 102 is running an application for managing the target object (rental item in this embodiment). Although the target object has been described using the example of a rental item, it may also be equipment or machinery such as a work vehicle.

[0029] In step S100, the terminal 102 obtains the location information it currently holds.

[0030] In step S102, terminal 102 periodically transmits the acquired location information to server 104. This location information is associated with the user who manages terminal 102.

[0031] In step S104, terminal 102 determines whether the predetermined operation for updating the use of the object has been performed. If it determines that the operation has been performed, it proceeds to step S106; if it determines that the operation has not been performed, it returns to step S100.

[0032] In step S106, terminal 102 sends usage information to server 104 when a predetermined operation for updating the usage of the target object is performed. The usage information is sent to server 104 when an operation for updating the usage of the target object is performed. The usage information includes information such as the target object's identification ID, user ID, application, and usage status and purpose according to the target object's settings.

[0033] The operation during usage renewal refers to the operation on the location information registration screen described above. An example of an operation during usage renewal is when the application accepts an operation to update the usage status of an object near the terminal 102 (operations during lending, inventory, and return). An operation during usage renewal also includes the case of unlocking the work vehicle, as in case (2) described above. In this case, permission to use the object is granted when predetermined conditions are met during unlocking. In cases where permission to use the object is granted, permission to use (unlocking) is granted when the object approaches within a predetermined range of the terminal 102, and usage information is sent to the server 104 as an operation during usage renewal. In addition, usage information is sent to the server 104 through operations during work and reporting.

[0034] In step S108, the server 104 updates the location information of the target object by referring to the location information corresponding to the user associated with the received usage information.

[0035] In step S110, the server 104 returns a location information update notification to the terminal 102.

[0036] In step S112, terminal 102 displays the update result of the object's location information on the application's management screen.

[0037] As described above, the location management system 100 according to this embodiment can appropriately manage objects used at the work site.

[0038] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0039] (modified version) As in the case described in (2) above, as a variation, the location management system can be configured to update location information for equipment managed by digital keys, such as work vehicles. At least one of the operations related to unlocking, updating, or reporting of the equipment can be designated as an operation to update the usage status, and the timing for sending usage information to the server 104 can be set at the time of such operation. Furthermore, operations performed automatically by the terminal 102 are also included in the operations to update the usage status. An automatic operation is, for example, an automatic reporting process performed by the application when the terminal 102 is located at a specific location. The terminal 102 sends usage information at the time of the operation via the application, and the server 104 updates the location information. Figure 10 is an example of a management screen for unlocking and registering operations for a work vehicle. Before inspection, unlocking and reporting operations for the work vehicle are disabled, and after inspection registration is completed, unlocking and reporting operations for the work vehicle are enabled. In this case, for example, the location information registration screen described above can be displayed when unlocking to update the location information. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 100 Location Management Systems 102 terminals 104 Servers

Claims

1. A location management system including a user's portable device and a server, The objects to be managed are registered in a predetermined system on the aforementioned server. The aforementioned terminal is capable of accessing and operating applications related to the management of the object. The terminal transmits its location information to the server at a predetermined time in the application, and when updating the usage status of an object identifiable by the terminal, transmits the usage information of the object to the server. The server is a location management system that associates location information corresponding to the received usage information and updates the location information of the target object being operated on.

2. The location management system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal transmits the usage information to the server when a predetermined usage update operation for the object is performed in the application.

3. The location management system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal uses, in the application, one of the following registration methods for location information: location information of the terminal itself, location information obtained from identification information installed at a predetermined location, and location information obtained from identification information assigned to the object.

4. In the management screen of the aforementioned application, the target object can be selected, and when the object is selected and the operation is performed, the method for registering the location information can be selected. The location management system according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned items are rental items used as materials at work sites. The operation for renewal of use is defined as at least one of the operations for lending, inventorying, and returning the rented item, and when such operation is performed, the location information is updated in accordance with that operation. The location management system according to claim 2.

6. The aforementioned objects are equipment used at work sites. The operation performed during the renewal of the equipment is defined as an operation related to at least one of the following: unlocking the equipment, performing work that requires renewal, or reporting, and when such operation is performed, the location information is updated in accordance with that operation. The location management system according to claim 2.

7. The location management system according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined short-range wireless communication, a two-dimensional code, and RFID are used as a method for identifying the object from the terminal.

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