Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To automatically specify identification information on a movable body that carries a reader device that reads a wireless tag.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus specifies identification information on a communication object owned by a movable body that carries a reader device, and the information processing apparatus receives, from the reader device, the identification information read by the reader device from the communication object and the reading time, stores, in a storage unit, linking information in which the received identification information and reading time are linked to each other, determines a detection state of the identification information for every communication object from linking information in which the reading time is within a specific period, of the linking information stored in the storage unit, and specifies the identification information on the communication object owned by the movable body based on the determined detection state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an information processing method for processing information of a wireless tag read by a reader device. [Background technology]

[0002] UHF band passive RFID tags are widely used in logistics traceability and item management. Passive RFID tags have a narrow communication distance, so an RFID reader placed in one location cannot read RFID tags over a wide range. Patent Document 1 proposes a method for item management in which a user carries a portable RFID reader while moving around, enabling the RFID reader to read RFID tags over a wide range. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2012-524948 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5987187 (referenced in the embodiment) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In general, in item management, it is necessary to record both information read by an RFID reader from an RFID tag attached to an item and identification information (hereinafter, ID information) of the user who used the RFID reader. However, in the method of Patent Document 1, although the RFID tag attached to an item can be automatically read when the user carries the item, automatic identification of the ID information of the user who carried the item is not considered. Therefore, in order to obtain the ID information of the user who carries the RFID reader, a procedure such as having the user set his / her own ID information in the RFID reader is required. For this reason, there is a problem that the user has to take the trouble of setting ID information when using the RFID reader, and there is a possibility of mistakes such as setting the wrong ID information.

[0005] The present invention provides a method for automatically determining the identity of a mobile object carrying a reader device that reads wireless tags. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An information processing device according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement: Owned by the vehicle carrying the reader device Prescribed An information processing device for identifying identification information of a communicating object, The reader device One or more The identification information read from the communication object, the read time, and the corresponding location based on a location tag whose location is fixed and whose location is registered in advance. One or more a receiving means for receiving the relative position of the communicating object and the identification information of the position tag from the reader device; The identification information and the read time received by the receiving means; the relative position and identification information of the position tag that is a reference for the relative position; A storage means for storing, in a storage unit, linking information linking the above. From the linked information stored in the storage unit, the read time of which is within a specific period, The one or more Communication Object Each of A determination means for determining a detection status of the identification information; Based on the detection status determined by the determination means, From among the identification information of the one or more communicating objectsThe above Prescribed A means for identifying an identification information of a communicating object; a display means for displaying a position of the communicating object specified based on the relative position and identification information of the position tag linked to the identification information of the communicating object when the one or more communicating objects include a communicating object other than the predetermined communicating object, and not displaying the position of the predetermined communicating object; Equipped with. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically identify the identification information of a mobile object carrying a reader device that reads a wireless tag. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the RFID reader according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a moving object that carries an RFID reader according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the position detection system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 3A and 3B are diagrams showing an example of the data configuration of linkage information and a database according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the RFID reader according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for generating association information in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 3A to 3C are diagrams showing examples of display by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 5 is a flowchart showing a process of identifying a moving object tag by the information processing device of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a process of identifying a moving object tag by an information processing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of linkage information and a database according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the RFID reader according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of linkage information and a database according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the RFID reader according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0010] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a method for identifying identification information of a mobile object carrying a reader device that reads ID information embedded in a wireless tag (RFID tag) based on a read result from the reader device (RFID reader) will be described.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an RFID reader 100 according to the first embodiment. The RFID reader 100, together with an information processing device 200 communicably connected thereto, may constitute a position detection system for managing the position of an article to which an RFID tag is attached, for example. The RFID reader 100 wirelessly reads information from an RFID tag as an external communication object. For example, the RFID reader 100 supplies electromagnetic waves in the UHF band to the RFID tag to operate an IC chip inside the RFID tag and reads out identification information (hereinafter, ID information) stored in a memory unit of the RFID tag. The RFID reader 100 reads ID information from an RFID tag attached to an article present in a wide range by being carried by a mobile object, and notifies the information processing device 200 of the result. The information processing device 200 manages the position of each article based on information from the RFID reader 100. The information processing device 200 of this embodiment automatically identifies ID information of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 based on ID information collected from the RFID reader 100.

[0012] 1 also shows an example of a hardware configuration of the RFID reader 100. In the RFID reader 100, the calculation unit 101 has one or more processors (hereinafter, referred to as processors). The processor of the calculation unit 101 realizes various controls of the RFID reader 100 by executing programs stored in one or more memories (for example, the storage unit 102).

[0013] The RF control unit 110 performs UHF band RF output from the TX terminal under the control of the calculation unit 101. The power of the RF output can be variably set by the calculation unit 101. The RF output signal output from the TX terminal is supplied to the antenna unit 115 via the power amplifier 111, the low pass filter 112, and the coupler 114. The power amplifier 111 amplifies the RF output signal. The low pass filter 112 cuts unnecessary frequency bands of the amplified RF output signal. The coupler 114 branches the RF output signal to the antenna unit 115 and the RF input signal received by the antenna unit 115. The antenna unit 115 supplies power to the RFID tag and is used to communicate with the RFID tag. On the other hand, the RF input signal from the RFID tag received by the antenna unit 115 is supplied to the RX terminal of the RF control unit 110 via the coupler 114. The RF control unit 110 receives the RF input signal input from the RX terminal, detects ID information of the RFID tag, and outputs the detected ID information to the calculation unit 101. The RF control unit 110 to the antenna unit 115 provide a configuration for wirelessly communicating with an external communicating object to read ID information of the communicating object.

[0014] The calculation unit 101 stores the ID information of the RFID tag detected by the RF control unit 110 in the storage unit 102, and performs necessary data processing. The communication unit 103 transmits the processed data to the information processing device 200, which is an external device. The communication unit 103 preferably performs wireless communication, and communicates with the external device by, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or the like. The calculation unit 101 includes an internal timer 118, and can include the time when the ID information of the RFID tag is detected (the value of the timer 118) in the data transmitted to the external device. That is, the calculation unit 101 obtains the time when the ID information is read by the RF control unit 110, using the timer 118.

[0015] The movement amount detection sensor 104 includes a three-axis acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor, and detects the amount of movement of the RFID reader 100. The calculation unit 101 can obtain the relative position between a position RFID tag (hereinafter referred to as a position tag) indicating a reference position and an item RFID tag (hereinafter referred to as an item tag) attached to an item, from the output of the movement amount detection sensor 104. The power supply unit 105 includes a battery, a DC-DC converter, etc., and supplies power to each unit of the RFID reader 100.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows an example of a moving body to which the above-mentioned RFID reader 100 can be attached. FIG. 2(A) shows an example in which the RFID reader 100 is attached to a person (user 119). FIG. 2(B) shows an example in which the RFID reader 100 is attached to a drone 120. FIG. 2(C) shows an example in which the RFID reader 100 is attached to an unmanned guided vehicle 121. By attaching the RFID reader to a moving body, the RFID reader 100 can be moved over a wide range. This makes it possible to compensate for the short communication distance, which is a weakness of the RFID reader 100 and the RFID tag. Thus, according to this embodiment, by carrying the RFID reader 100 to a moving body such as a person, an animal, or a machine, it is possible to detect item tags attached to a management object over a wide range. Although not shown in FIG. 2, an RFID tag (hereinafter, a moving body tag) is also attached to the moving body, and the RFID reader 100 and the moving body tag move together with the moving body.

[0017] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing device 200. For example, a smartphone or a personal computer (PC) may be used as the information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 includes a CPU 211, a ROM 212, a RAM 213, an auxiliary storage device 214, a display unit 215, an operation unit 216, a communication I / F 217, and a bus 218.

[0018] The CPU 211 realizes each function of the information processing device 200 described later by controlling the entire information processing device 200 using computer programs and data stored in the ROM 212 and the RAM 213. The information processing device 200 may have one or more dedicated hardware different from the CPU 211, and at least a part of the processing by the CPU 211 may be executed by the dedicated hardware. Examples of the dedicated hardware include an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The ROM 212 stores programs that do not require modification. The RAM 213 temporarily stores programs and data supplied from the auxiliary storage device 214, and data supplied from the outside via the communication I / F 217. The auxiliary storage device 214 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive, and stores various data such as image data and audio data.

[0019] The display unit 215 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an LED, and displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the user to operate the information processing device 200. The operation unit 216 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a touch panel, and receives operations by the user and inputs various instructions to the CPU 211. The communication I / F 217 is used for communication with an external device (in this embodiment, the RFID reader 100) of the information processing device 200. The bus 218 connects each unit of the information processing device 200 to transmit information.

[0020] 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the RFID reader 100 and the information processing device 200 constituting the position detection system. In the RFID reader 100, the ID acquisition unit 311 reads ID information from the RFID tag. More specifically, the ID acquisition unit 311 detects the ID information of the RFID tag from the RF input signal input via the antenna unit 115, and stores the detected ID information in the storage unit 102. The position acquisition unit 312 acquires position information indicating the relative position of the item tag or the moving object tag with respect to the position tag based on the amount of movement of the RFID reader 100 detected by the movement amount detection sensor 104. The time acquisition unit 313 acquires time information indicating the time (also called the detection time) at which the ID acquisition unit 311 acquired the ID information of the item tag or the moving object tag by referring to the timer 118. The linked information generation unit 314 generates linked information that links, for one item tag or mobile object tag, the ID information acquired by the ID acquisition unit 311, the position information acquired by the position acquisition unit 312, and the time information acquired by the time acquisition unit 313. The transmission unit 315 transmits the linked information generated by the linked information generation unit 314 to the information processing device 200 using the communication unit 103.

[0021] In the information processing device 200, the receiving unit 321 receives the linking information from the RFID reader 100 via the communication I / F 217. The DB generating unit 322 accumulates the received linking information in a memory (ROM 212, RAM 213, or auxiliary storage device 214) to generate a linking information database 12 (described later with reference to FIG. 5). The mobile tag identifying unit 323 identifies the mobile tag carrying the RFID reader 100 from the ID information of the recorded RFID tags by referring to the linking information database 12. The processing of the mobile tag identifying unit 323 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9. The display processing unit 324 displays the position detection result of the item by referring to the tag information database 11 and the linking information database 12. The display of the position detection result of the item by the display processing unit 324 will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

[0022] As described above, the RFID reader 100 automatically detects the ID information of RFID tags (position tags, article tags, and mobile object tags) and acquires position information indicating the relative position of the article tag / mobile object tag with respect to the position tag and time information indicating the time of reading. Then, the linking information generating unit 314 of the RFID reader 100 generates linking information linking the ID information, time information, and position information of the RFID tag, and transmits the linking information to the information processing device 200. In the information processing device 200, the DB generating unit 322 generates the linking information database 12 from the received linking information, and the mobile object tag identifying unit 323 identifies the identification information of the mobile object tag based on the linking information recorded in the linking information database 12.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the linking information and database of the position detection system in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the RFID reader 100 (an example of the detection situation of the RFID tag) in the first embodiment. In the following, the position detection system of the first embodiment will be described assuming a situation in which a user 119 wearing the RFID reader 100 passes near an item 122 as shown in FIG. 6. The RFID tags include position tags 130a to 130b, item tags 140a to 140c, and mobile tags 140y to 140z. Hereinafter, the position tags 130a to 130b are collectively referred to as the position tag 130. The position tag 130 is an RFID tag arranged to detect a reference position, and is attached to, for example, a floor, etc., and its arrangement position is fixed. The item tags 140a to 140c are RFID tags attached to the items 122 (122a to 122c) to be managed. The mobile object tag 140z is an RFID tag attached to a mobile object (a user 119 in this example). The RFID reader 100 and the information processing device 200 of the first embodiment distinguish between the position tag 130 and other tags (item tags 140a to 140c and mobile object tags 140y to 140z), but do not distinguish between the item tags and the mobile object tags. Therefore, hereinafter, the item tags 140a to 140c and the mobile object tags 140y to 140z will be collectively referred to as the item tag 140.

[0024] In the example of Fig. 6, the RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the position tag 130a and the ID information of the mobile object tag 140z of user A at time t0. At time t1, the RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the item tags 140a and 140b attached to the items 122a and 122b and the mobile object tag 140z. At time t2, the RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the item tag 140b and the mobile object tag 140z. At time t3, the RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the position tag 130b, the item tag 140c of the item 122c, and the mobile object tag 140z, and at time t4, reads the ID information of the mobile object tag 140z.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 5, data linking the ID information of the position tag 130 with the position name, and data linking the ID information of the item tag 140 with the name of the item 122 or the moving object (user 119) are registered in the tag information database 11. In Fig. 5, the ID information of each RFID tag is shown as a reference number given to the RFID tag with a # added to the beginning, for the sake of convenience. The RFID reader 100 transmits linking information linking the ID information read from the item tag 140, the ID information read from the position tag 130, position information indicating the relative positions of the item tag 140 and the position tag 130, and the detection time of the RFID (time information).

[0026] The RFID reader 100 can simultaneously read multiple RFID tags and periodically repeats the reading operation of the RFID tags. The RFID reader 100 transmits to the information processing device 200 "linking information" linking the ID information of the item tag 140, the ID information of the position tag 130, position information (coordinates) indicating the relative positions of the item tag 140 and the position tag 130, and the detection time of the item tag 140.

[0027] It is assumed that the RFID reader 100 can distinguish the position tag 130 from other tags (item tag 140) by itself. There are various methods for determining whether an RFID tag is a position tag 130 or not. For example, a numerical range of ID information of the position tag is determined in advance, and it can be determined whether the acquired ID information is within the numerical range. Alternatively, the RFID reader 100 may notify the read ID information to the information processing device 200 and inquire whether the ID information is that of a position tag or not. In addition, the RFID reader 100 generates and transmits to the information processing device 200 the linking information when a change occurs in the combination of simultaneously read item tags in the result of periodically performed RFID tag reading. For example, at time t1, the RFID tags of the items 122a and 122b are read in addition to the mobile tag 140z, and thus the linking information is transmitted to the information processing device 200. At time t4, the item tag 140c of the item 122c cannot be read, and thus the linking information is transmitted to the information processing device 200. Although the linking information may be transmitted each time the RFID tag is read, which is performed periodically, this would increase the frequency of communication.

[0028] The information processing device 200 (DB generation unit 322) generates the linked information database 12 by accumulating the linked information received from the RFID reader 100 as one record. Therefore, the ID information of the position tag 130, the ID information of the item tag 140, the relative positions of the position tag 130 and the item tag 140, and the detection times (t0, t1, t2, ...) of the item tag 140 are linked and stored in the linked information database 12. In addition, the display unit 215 can display the position information of the items stored in the linked information database 12 by a user operation.

[0029] Next, the operation of the RFID reader 100 and the information processing device 200 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of generating linked information by the RFID reader 100 of the first embodiment. When the RFID reader 100 is turned on, it periodically reads out the ID information from the RFID tag, and executes the process of detecting the position information of the article and generating the linked information.

[0030] In S501, the position acquisition unit 312 sets information of the relative position with respect to the reference position in the storage unit 102 to 0 (x=0, y=0, z=0) in order to make the position at the time of startup of the RFID reader 100 the reference position. In S502, the position acquisition unit 312 starts a process of updating information of the relative position with respect to the reference position in the storage unit 102, using an integral value of the amount of movement, which is the detection result of the movement amount detection sensor 104. In S503, the ID acquisition unit 311 starts control to periodically operate the RF control unit 110 to communicate with the RFID tag.

[0031] In S504, the linking information generating unit 314 judges whether communication with the RFID tag has been successful and whether the ID acquiring unit 311 has been able to acquire the ID information of the RFID tag. If the ID information of the RFID tag has been acquired, the process proceeds to S505, and if the ID information of the RFID tag has not been acquired, the process of S504 is repeated. In S505, the linking information generating unit 314 judges whether the RFID tag is a position tag 130 or another RFID tag (item tag 140) based on the ID information acquired by the ID acquiring unit 311. If it is determined in S505 that the RFID tag is an RFID tag other than a position tag (NO in S505), the process proceeds to S506, and if it is determined that the RFID tag is a position tag (YES in S505), the process proceeds to S508.

[0032] If the RFID tag is not a position tag, in this embodiment, the RFID tag is an item tag 140 (item tags 140a to 140c or moving object tags 140y to 140z). In S506, the association information generating unit 314 judges whether or not the configuration of the simultaneously detected item tag 140 has changed (a new item tag has been detected, a previously detected item tag has become undetectable, etc.). If there is no change in the configuration of the detected item tag, the process returns to S504 and no association information is generated. On the other hand, if there is a change in the configuration of the simultaneously detected item tag, the process proceeds to S507. In S507, the association information generating unit 314 judges whether or not a reference position tag has been set. If the reference position tag has not yet been set, such as immediately after the RFID reader 100 is started, the process proceeds to S513, and if the reference position tag has been set, the process proceeds to S514. In S513, the linking information generation unit 314 stores information linking the "ID information of the item tag 140," the "detection time of the item tag 140," and the "relative position between the reference position (initial position at startup) and the item tag 140" in the memory unit 102 as provisional linking information.

[0033] On the other hand, if it is determined in S505 that the communicated RFID tag is a position tag (YES in S505), the process proceeds to S508. In S508, the linking information generating unit 314 stores the ID information of the position tag 130 acquired by the ID acquiring unit 311 and the information of the relative position with respect to the reference position in the memory unit 102 as information of the reference position tag. In S509, the linking information generating unit 314 judges whether or not the current detection of the position tag is the first detection of the position tag since the start of the RFID reader 100. If it is determined that this is the first detection of the position tag, the process proceeds to S510, otherwise (detection of the position tag for the second or subsequent time), the process proceeds to S512.

[0034] The processing of S510 to S511 is executed only once when a position tag is detected for the first time after the RFID reader 100 is started, and is processing for updating the provisional association information stored in the storage unit 102 in S513 to association information to be transmitted to the information processing device 200. Therefore, if a plurality of provisional association information are stored in the storage unit 102, the processing of S510 to S511 is executed for all of them. Also, if no provisional association information is stored in the storage unit 102, S510 to S511 are skipped.

[0035] In S510, the association information generating unit 314 generates association information to be transmitted to the information processing device 200 from the provisional association information of the article / mobile tag stored in the storage unit 102 in S513. Specifically, the position information of the article / mobile tag in the provisional association information (position based on the position of the RFID reader 100 at the time of startup) is changed to position information based on the mobile tag. First, the association information generating unit 314 acquires "information on the relative position of the article tag 140 with respect to the reference position (initial position at startup)" from the provisional association information stored in the storage unit 102 in S513. The association information generating unit 314 calculates the relative position of the position tag 130 and the article / mobile tag based on the relative position acquired from the provisional association information and the relative position of the RFID reader 100 from the reference position (initial position at startup) at the time when the position tag 130 is detected. The calculated relative position is the position of the item / mobile tag relative to the position tag 130 .

[0036] Next, in S511, the linking information generating unit 314 generates linking information by linking the ID information of the article / mobile tag included in the provisional linking information, the detection time, the ID information of the position tag 130, and information on the relative position of the article / mobile tag with respect to the position tag 130. The linking information generating unit 314 transmits the generated linking information to the information processing device 200 via the transmitting unit 315. For information communication between the transmitting unit 315 and the receiving unit 321, as described above, a communication means such as Bluetooth can be used.

[0037] In S512, the association information generating unit 314 sets the information of the relative position with respect to the reference position of the storage unit 102 to 0 (x=0, y=0, z=0). By setting the relative position information to 0, the information of the relative position with respect to the reference position of the storage unit 102 indicates the relative position of the RFID reader 100 with respect to the last detected position tag. Then, the process proceeds to S515.

[0038] As described above, the reference position tag is set by setting the relative position to the reference position to 0 in S512. Therefore, after the process of S512 is executed even once, it is determined in the judgment of S507 that the reference position tag has been set. When it is determined in S507 that the reference position tag has been set (YES in S507), the process proceeds to S514. In S514, the linking information generating unit 314 generates linking information and transmits it to the information processing device 200 via the transmitting unit 315. The linking information is information in which the ID information of the article / mobile tag, the ID information of the reference position tag 130 (the position tag last detected at that time), the detection time of the article / mobile tag, and the relative position information of the article / mobile tag and the position tag 130 are linked. The ID information of the article / mobile tag is acquired by the ID acquiring unit 311. The ID information of the position tag 130 is saved in S508. The detection time of the article / mobile tag is acquired by a time acquisition unit 313. Information on the relative position between the article / mobile tag and the position tag 130 is acquired by a position acquisition unit 312.

[0039] The linking information generating unit 314 repeats the above-mentioned processes of S504 to S514 until it is determined in S515 that a system termination request has been made. In this way, the calculation unit 101 of the RFID reader 100 automatically detects the position information of the item tag 140 attached to the managed object, and transmits the above-mentioned linking information to the information processing device 200. If multiple RFID tags are detected at the same time, the processes of S505 to S514 are executed for all of those RFID tags. At this time, if the simultaneously detected RFID tags include a position tag, the process for the position tag is executed with priority. This is to obtain position information based on the latest position tag.

[0040] The linking information transmitted from the RFID reader 100 in the above manner is registered in the linking information database 12 of the information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 can show the user, for example, the arrangement state of the items at a certain location at a certain time by distinguishing between the items and the moving object carrying the RFID reader 100 from the contents of the linking information database 12. For example, Fig. 8 shows an example of the display on the display unit 215 when the user instructs the information processing device 200 to display item information at location XXXX at time t4.

[0041] Assume that the location tag 130a arranged at the position A and the location tag 130b arranged at the position B are present within the range of the location XXXX. The display processing unit 324 refers to the linking information database 12 and selects the linking information including the position tag 130a or the position tag 130b, in which the detection time for each item tag is closest to the time t4. The display processing unit 324 refers to the information on the relative position between the item tag 140 and the position tag 130 in the selected linking information, and displays information indicating the positions of the items 122 (item α, item β, item γ) based on the positions A and B on the display unit 215. The relationship between the item tag 140 and the item 122 (name) can be acquired by referring to the tag information database 11. The user can grasp the position of each item based on the position of the position tag from the display contents of the display unit 215. By storing the relative positional relationship between the position tag 130a and the position tag 130b in advance, map information including multiple position tags 130 and items can be displayed as shown in FIG. 8.

[0042] The display of the above-mentioned item information must not include information on the mobile object tag, and it must be determined whether the item tag 140 in the associated information database 12 is a mobile object tag. In the information processing device 200, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 identifies the ID information of the mobile object based on the associated information database 12. The following describes a process in which the mobile object tag identification unit 323 identifies the ID information of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 from the associated information database 12. In this embodiment, the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object tag 140z are attached to the user 119, and the position tags 130a to 130b and the item tags 140a to 140c are detected as the user 119 moves. In the following description, the method of identifying the mobile object tag 140z from among the RFID tags detected by the RFID reader 100 is focused on, and therefore the description of the above-mentioned position tag 130 is omitted. That is, the configuration related to the position information can be omitted from the process of identifying the ID information of the mobile object.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the association information database 12 stores association information that associates each time with the acquired ID information. FIG. 5 shows the results of the item tags 140a to 140c and the mobile object tag 140z detected at each time from t0 to t4. It can be seen that the tag that has been detected the most times during this period from t0 to t4 is the mobile object tag 140z. This is because the user 119 carries both the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object tag 140z, and therefore the mobile object tag 140z can be detected by the RFID reader 100 more frequently. From this, it is possible to identify the RFID tag that corresponds to the ID information that has been detected the most times during a specified period as the mobile object tag worn by the user 119 (mobile object) who wears the RFID reader 100.

[0044] The process of identifying a mobile tag in the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0045] In S701, the mobile tag identification unit 323 sets a period for identifying a mobile tag (hereinafter, referred to as a specific period). For example, the user may be able to set the start and end times of the specific period via the operation unit 216. Alternatively, when the user specifies the start time of the specific period, the end time of the specific period may be automatically set by adding a period of a predetermined length to the specified start time. Alternatively, the specific period may be set by setting the time when the RFID reader 100 starts the operation of reading the RFID tag at a predetermined interval as the start time, and setting the time obtained by adding a period of a predetermined length to the start time as the end time. Here, it is assumed that times Ta to Tb are set as the specific period. In S702, the mobile tag identification unit 323 refers to the linking information database 12, and counts the number of detections for each ID information of the item tag from the linking information that is linked to the time within the specific period set in S701.

[0046] In S703, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 judges whether or not aggregated data has been obtained from the linking information for the specific period. If aggregated data has not been obtained (NO in S703), the process proceeds to S706, and if aggregated data has been obtained (YES in S703), the process proceeds to S704. In S704, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 extracts the item tag corresponding to the ID information with the highest number of detections from the aggregated detection counts. In S705, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 judges whether or not the number of item tags extracted in S704 is one. If it is judged that there is not one, the process proceeds to S706.

[0047] If no aggregated data is obtained in S702, or if there are multiple RFID tags extracted in S704, in S706, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 changes the identification period to be longer. For example, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 extends the identification period by delaying the time Tb by α while leaving the time Ta unchanged. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S702, and the processes from S702 to S705 are repeated. If it is determined in S705 that the number of item tags extracted in S704 is one (YES in S705), the process proceeds to S707. In S707, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 identifies the extracted item tag as a mobile object tag, and ends this process.

[0048] If there is a possibility that the user 119 (mobile object) wearing the RFID reader 100 will change, the sequence of Fig. 9 may be repeatedly executed to update the ID information of the mobile object tag. In this case, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 repeats the process of Fig. 9 while automatically updating the specific period. As a method of updating the specific period, for example, the end time Tb of the current specific period is set to the start time Ta of the specific period after update, and the time obtained by adding a period β of a predetermined length to this Ta is set to the end time Tb of the specific period after update (Ta = Tb, Tb = Ta + β). If there is no possibility that the user 119 (mobile object) wearing the RFID reader 100 will change, the sequence of Fig. 9 may be executed only once to confirm the mobile object tag.

[0049] As described above, in the first embodiment, the number of detections as the detection status of the item tag during a specific period is determined, and the mobile object tag attached to the mobile object (user 119) is identified based on the determined detection status. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the detection status of the RFID tag is not limited to the number of detections (the number of times ID information is detected). For example, the received radio wave strength or communication distance of the RFID reader 100 can also be used as the detection status. Below, a method of identifying a mobile object tag when the received radio wave strength or communication distance is used as the detection status will be described. The RFID reader 100 generates linking information including the received radio wave strength or communication distance.

[0050] First, a method of using the received radio wave intensity of the RFID reader 100 as a detection condition used to identify a mobile tag will be described. Since a user 119 (mobile object) wears both an RFID reader 100 and a mobile object tag 140z, the distance between the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object tag 140z is short. Therefore, the RFID reader 100 can always detect the received radio wave from the mobile object tag 140z with a relatively strong radio wave intensity. Therefore, the RFID tag with the strongest received radio wave intensity (for example, average value) in a specific period can be identified as the mobile object tag 140z.

[0051] Next, a method of using an estimated value of the communication distance between the RFID reader 100 and the RFID tag when ID information is detected as a detection situation used to identify a mobile tag will be described. A method of measuring the distance between an RFID reader and an RFID tag is proposed in, for example, Patent Document 2. Since a user 119 (mobile object) wears both an RFID reader 100 and a mobile object tag 140z, the distance between the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object tag 140z is always close, and the communication distance between the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object tag 140z is always short. In other words, by calculating the distance between the RFID reader and the RFID tag, a tag with the shortest communication distance (for example, average value) for a specific period can be identified as the mobile object tag 140z.

[0052] As described above, in the first embodiment, it is possible to automatically identify the identification information of a moving object by simply attaching a moving object tag to the moving object carrying the RFID reader 100. Therefore, it is possible to realize item management that links the moving object and item information without being aware of the identification information of the moving object carrying the RFID reader.

[0053] As described above, the mobile tag identification method according to the first embodiment can also be applied to a case where one RFID reader 100 is shared by a plurality of mobile objects (e.g., a plurality of users). When the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 changes, the RFID tag identified as the mobile tag automatically changes accordingly. When the RFID reader 100 is shared by a plurality of users, the user who inherits the RFID reader 100 needs to set his / her own ID information in the RFID reader 100 each time. This not only takes time and effort to inherit the RFID reader 100, but also makes it easy to make mistakes such as forgetting to set ID information or setting it incorrectly. According to the mobile tag identification method of the first embodiment, for example, by simply attaching a mobile tag to the possession (e.g., ID card, uniform, etc.) of the user who carries the RFID reader 100, the ID information of the mobile tag is identified as the ID of the user who carries the RFID reader 100. This makes it possible to prevent the time and effort required for registering ID information and mistakes such as forgetting to set ID information.

[0054] In addition, in the mobile tag identification method of the first embodiment, RFID tags that operate in the same communication method are used for both the item tags 140a to 140c and the mobile tags 140y to 140z. This allows the scale of the communication circuit required for the RFID reader 100 to be reduced, and the cost and size of the device can be reduced. As shown in FIG. 2, the RFID reader 100 and the mobile tag are not limited to being attached to a user. For example, they can be attached to an AGV (automatic guided vehicle 121) or a drone 120, and can be used to identify a mobile object other than a human. Of course, the above embodiment can be applied without any problem even when the RFID reader 100 is passed between a person and a machine, such as from a user 119 to a drone 120.

[0055] <Second embodiment> In the first embodiment, the ID information of the mobile tag is specified from the acquired ID information of the RFID tag based on the acquisition state (number of communications, received radio wave intensity, communication distance, etc.) of the ID information from the RFID tag by the RFID reader 100 within a specific period. Here, in the first embodiment, the specific period is adjusted based on the number of extracted RFID tags, but in the second embodiment, the specific period is further adjusted based on the movement amount of the RFID reader 100. That is, the RFID reader 100 of the second embodiment transmits the detection result by the movement amount detection sensor 104 to the information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 calculates the movement amount of the RFID reader 100 from the detection result by the movement amount detection sensor 104, and adjusts the specific period of the mobile tag using the calculated movement amount. Note that the system configuration, the configuration and operation of the RFID reader 100, and the configuration of the information processing device 200 are similar to those of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 8).

[0056] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which the information processing device 200 according to the second embodiment identifies a moving object tag. Steps S701 to S707 are the same as those in the first embodiment (Fig. 9). The following mainly describes the process of steps S801 to S802 newly added in Fig. 10.

[0057] In S801, the moving object tag identification unit 323 calculates an integrated value of the movement amount of the RFID reader 100 during the specific period (times Ta to Tb) set in S701 from the detection result of the movement amount detection sensor 104. In S802, the moving object tag identification unit 323 judges whether the movement amount calculated in S801 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If the movement amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount (YES in S802), the process proceeds to S702, and if the movement amount is less than the predetermined amount (NO in S802), the process proceeds to S706. When the specific period is changed in S706, the processes from S801 onwards are executed again.

[0058] As described above, in the method for identifying a moving object tag of the second embodiment, the moving object tag identification unit 323 adjusts the specific period for identifying the moving object tag so that the amount of movement obtained based on the detection result of the movement amount detection sensor 104 of the RFID reader 100 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. While the user 119 wearing both the RFID reader 100 and the moving object tag 140z is moving, a difference in the detection status of the ID information between the moving object tag and the article tag that does not move with the user 119 is more likely to occur, and the moving object tag is easier to identify. According to the method for identifying a moving object of the second embodiment, the moving object tag can be identified using a specific period in which the amount of movement can be ensured, and the moving object tag can be identified more easily and accurately.

[0059] As in the first embodiment, if there is a possibility that the user 119 (mobile object) wearing the RFID reader 100 will change, the sequence of Fig. 10 may be repeatedly executed to repeatedly update the information of the mobile object tag. Also, if there is no possibility that the user 119 (mobile object) wearing the RFID reader 100 will change, the sequence of Fig. 10 may be executed only once to confirm the mobile object tag.

[0060] As in the first embodiment, in addition to the number of detections, the average reception strength or the average communication distance can be used as the detection status of the ID information by the RFID reader 100 during a specific period.

[0061] As described above, in the second embodiment, a moving body tag is identified based on ID information detected during a period in which the accumulated value of the movement amount of the RFID reader 100 is greater than a predetermined value. In other words, it is possible to narrow down RFID tags that are candidates for moving body tags, making it easier to identify a moving body compared to the first embodiment.

[0062] <Third embodiment> In the first and second embodiments, the linking information database 12 is created without distinguishing between the item tag and the mobile object tag. In the third embodiment, a configuration is described in which the linking information database 12a is created in which the mobile object tag and the item tag are distinguished, so that the mobile object tag attached to the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 can be extracted more reliably and easily. That is, in the first and second embodiments, the tag of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 is identified from among multiple item tags, but in the third embodiment, the tag of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 is identified from among multiple mobile object tags. Note that the system configuration, the configuration and operation of the RFID reader 100, and the configuration of the information processing device 200 are the same as those of the first and second embodiments, and the following mainly describes the parts that are different from the first and second embodiments.

[0063] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the linking information and database according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the tag information database 11a classifies and registers item tags and moving object tags. The DB generating unit 322 can distinguish between item tags (140a-c) and moving object tags (140y-z) by referring to the tag information database 11a. That is, the DB generating unit 322 can classify the linking information received from the RFID reader 100 into linking information of item tags and linking information of moving object tags by referring to the tag information database 11a. The DB generating unit 322 generates the linking information database 12a in which RFID tags are distinguished as item tags or moving object tags.

[0064] The mobile object tag identifying unit 323 can easily identify the mobile object tag of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 from among the mobile object tags (140y-z) by using the association information database 12a. Hereinafter, a method for identifying a mobile object tag according to the third embodiment will be described assuming a case where there are multiple items around the RFID reader 100 and the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 is changed midway. Note that in the third embodiment, the description of the position tag will be omitted as in the first and second embodiments.

[0065] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the RFID reader 100 (example of the detection state of the RFID tag) in the third embodiment. Fig. 12 shows a state in which the RFID reader 100 worn by the user A (mobile tag 140z) at time t0 is handed over to the user B (mobile tag 140y) at time t2, and then the user B wears the RFID reader 100. The RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the position tag 130a and the ID information of the mobile tag 140z of the user A at time t0, and reads the ID information of the item tags 140a and 140b and the mobile tag 140z at time t1. At time t2, the RFID reader 100 is handed over from the user A to the user B who has the mobile tag 140y, and the RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the item tag 140b and the mobile tags 140z and 140y. The RFID reader 100 reads the ID information of the position tag 130b, the item tag 140c, and the mobile object tag 140y at time t3, and reads the ID information of the mobile object tag 140y at time t4.

[0066] 11 shows an example of the structure of data stored when linking information is received from the RFID reader 100 that has performed the above-described reading operation. As described above, the DB generation unit 322 generates the linking information database 12a by distinguishing between the item tags (140a-c) and the moving object tags (140y-z).

[0067] The mobile object tag identification unit 323 performs the same process as in the first embodiment (FIG. 9), but the RFID tag to be counted for the detection status is not an article tag (including a mobile object tag) but a mobile object tag. For example, the mobile object tag identification unit 323 defines the time tn to tn+2 as a specific period, and identifies the mobile object tag of the mobile object carrying the RFID reader 100 based on the number of times the mobile object tag is detected within the specific period. When the association information is registered as shown in the association information database 12a, it is understood that the number of times the mobile object tag 140z is detected is the most in the specific period from t0 to t2, and that the mobile object tag 140z (user A) is carrying the RFID reader 100. It is also understood that the number of times the mobile object tag 140y is detected is the most in the specific period from t2 to t4, and that the mobile object tag 140y (user B) is carrying the RFID reader 100. It is also understood that the mobile object wearing the RFID reader 100 is switched from person A to person B at a timing around time t2.

[0068] As in the first embodiment, a mobile object may be identified by using the average reception strength or the average communication distance as the detection status, instead of the number of times the mobile object tag is detected. Also, as in the second embodiment (FIG. 10), a mobile object tag carrying the RFID reader 100 may be identified from the ID information of the mobile object tag detected during a period in which the accumulated value of the movement amount of the RFID reader 100 is greater than a predetermined value.

[0069] As described above, according to the third embodiment, by registering moving object tags in advance separately from item tags, it becomes possible to narrow down RFID tags that are candidates for moving object tags, making it easier to identify moving objects compared to the first and second embodiments.

[0070] <Fourth embodiment> In the first to third embodiments, RFID tags are used as both the item tag and the mobile object tag. In the fourth embodiment, a method is described in which tags that operate using different communication methods are used as the item tag and the mobile object tag. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, an item tag 140 (RFID tag) is attached to an item 122, and a beacon 150 using Bluetooth communication is attached to a mobile object. The RFID reader 100 has a communication unit (not shown) capable of communicating with the beacon 150 used as a tag for the mobile object, and obtains information (e.g., ID information) that allows individual identification of the beacon 150.

[0071] 14 shows how the RFID reader 100 worn by user A (beacon 150z) at time t0 is handed over to user B (beacon 150y) at time t2, and then user B wears the RFID reader 100. FIG. 14 is the same as FIG. 12, except that the tag worn by the moving object is changed from the moving object tag 140 (RFID tag) to the beacon 150.

[0072] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the association information and database according to the fourth embodiment. In the tag information database 11b and the association information database 12b of the fourth embodiment, ID information of the beacon of the mobile body is registered instead of ID information of the mobile body tag (RFID tag of the mobile body). The process of the fourth embodiment is the process of the third embodiment in which the mobile body tag is replaced with a beacon, and similarly to the third embodiment, the mobile body (beacon) carrying the RFID reader 100 can be identified.

[0073] Also, similarly to the first embodiment, the RFID reader 100 can identify the ID information of the beacon 150 worn by the mobile object based on the number of times the beacon 150 is detected during the determination period, the average reception strength of the beacon 150, or the average communication distance with the beacon 150. Also, instead of using the beacon 150 using Bluetooth communication for the mobile object tag, a smartphone having a Bluetooth communication function may be used. In this case, the smartphone used as the beacon 150 may also be used as the information processing device 200.

[0074] As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the mobile tag can use a communication method different from that of the article tag. In other words, the mobile tag can be used as something other than an RFID tag, and the options in the system can be expanded when actually using the mobile tag.

[0075] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 11: tag information database, 12: linked information database, 100: RFID reader, 200: information processing device, 311: ID acquisition unit, 312: position acquisition unit, 313: time acquisition unit, 314: linked information generation unit, 315: transmission unit, 321: reception unit, 322: DB generation unit, 323: mobile tag identification unit, 324: display processing unit

Claims

1. An information processing device that identifies identification information of a predetermined communication object possessed by a mobile body carrying a reader device, a receiving means for receiving from the reader device the identification information read from one or more communicating objects by the reader device, the read time, the relative positions of the one or more communicating objects with respect to a position tag whose position is fixed and whose position is registered in advance, and the identification information of the position tag; a storage means for storing in a storage unit, linking information that links the identification information received by the receiving means, the read time, the relative position, and the identification information of the position tag that is a reference for the relative position; a determination means for determining a detection status of each of the identification information of the one or more communicating objects from among the linked information stored in the storage unit, the read time of which is within a specific period; an identification means for identifying the identification information of the predetermined communicating object from among the identification information of the one or more communicating objects based on the detection situation determined by the determination means; An information processing device characterized by comprising: a display means for, when the one or more communicating objects includes a communicating object other than the specified communicating object, displaying the position of the communicating object identified based on the identification information of the position tag linked to the identification information of the communicating object and the relative position, and not displaying the position of the specified communicating object.

2. the detection status is a detection count of each of the identification information of the one or more communicating objects during the specific period; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the identification information having the highest number of detections as the identification information of said predetermined communication object.

3. The receiving means further receives the received radio wave intensity of the identification information from the reader device, In the linking information, identification information is linked to received radio wave intensity, the detection status is an average value of received radio wave intensity of each of the one or more communicating objects during the specific period; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the identification information having the largest average value of the received radio wave intensity as the identification information of said predetermined communication object.

4. The receiving means further receives a communication distance between the reader device and the wireless tag when the identification information is detected, In the linking information, the identification information is linked to a communication distance, the detection status is an average value of the communication distances of the one or more communicating objects during the specific period; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specifying means specifies the identification information having the smallest average communication distance as the identification information of said predetermined communicating object.

5. The receiving means receives a detection result of the amount of movement from the reader device, 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets the specific period based on the detection result of the amount of movement.

6. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting unit sets the specific period so that an integrated value of the detection results during the specific period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

7. A registration of identities of communicating objects owned by the mobile entity; 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means determines the detection status based on identification information registered as identification information of a communication object possessed by a mobile unit.

8. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communicating object possessed by a moving object and a communicating object attached to an article other than the moving object both communicate with the reader device by RFID.

9. A communication object owned by a mobile unit communicates with the reader device using a first communication method; a communication object disposed on an article different from the moving body communicates with the reader device by a second communication method different from the first communication method; 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the detection status for identification information acquired by the first communication method.

10. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first communication method is Bluetooth, and the second communication method is RFID.

11. 1. An information processing method for identifying identification information of a predetermined communicating object possessed by a mobile body carrying a reader device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving from the reader device identification information read from one or more communicating objects by the reader device, a read time, a relative position of the one or more communicating objects with respect to a position tag whose position is fixed and whose position is registered in advance, and identification information of the position tag; a storage step of storing in a storage unit, linking information that links the identification information received in the receiving step, the read time, the relative position, and the identification information of the position tag that is a reference for the relative position; a determination step of determining a detection status of each of the identification information of the one or more communicating objects from among the linked information stored in the storage unit, the read time of which is within a specific period; an identification step of identifying the identification information of the predetermined communicating object from among the identification information of the one or more communicating objects based on the detection situation determined in the determination step; An information processing method characterized by comprising a display step of, when the one or more communicating objects includes a communicating object other than the specified communicating object, displaying the position of the communicating object identified based on the identification information of the position tag linked to the identification information of the communicating object and the relative position, and not displaying the position of the specified communicating object.

12. 11. A program for causing a computer to function as each of the means of the information processing device according to claim 1.

Images