Tag management system and tag management method

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tag management system and a tag management method with which a reading condition corresponding to a use environment can be easily set and changed while using a lightweight reader. The tag management system comprises: a handheld-type reader that reads tag information from a first type of wireless tag; a main terminal that receives the tag information from the reader by wireless communication and manages the tag information; and a wearable-type sub terminal that has an input / output device, and that operates in cooperation with the main terminal by wireless communication. In relation to the first type of wireless tag which is to be read, the sub terminal receives, from the main terminal, at least one piece of management information from among a cumulative number, a remaining number of deletion targets, and the name of a search object. The sub-terminal then performs notification of the received management information by using the input / output device.

Description

Tag Management System and Tag Management Method

[0001] The present invention relates to a tag management system including a handheld type reader for reading tag information from a wireless tag, and a tag management method using the same.

[0002] A product sales data processing system including a store server and a plurality of smart watches, which performs settlement of products purchased by customers in a store and manages the inventory of products, is known (Patent Document 1). In this system, the store server receives settlement information including the product name, quantity, unit price, total amount, settlement method, etc. of the products purchased by the customer from the smart watch held by the store clerk. In addition, the store server receives the settlement information of the product, updates the inventory number of the product, and monitors the operating state of the smart watch.

[0003] In the above system, since the smart watch functions as an RFID reader / writer, it is not easy to set and change reading conditions according to the usage environment, such as the type of wireless tag and the installation status of products.

[0004] In addition, there is also a method of fixing and integrating a smartphone on the handheld type reader / writer main body and using the touch panel of the smartphone to manage the operation of the reader / writer. In this case, the operator needs to hold a terminal device combined with the mass of the reader / writer main body and the mass of the smartphone to work. For example, when handling a large amount of items such as inventory checking in a clothing store or checking books in a library, a situation where long-time work has to be continued occurs, and the work is difficult for those without physical strength.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 140243

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above background art, and an object thereof is to provide a tag management system and a tag management method that are easy to set and change reading conditions according to the usage environment while using a lightweight reader.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the tag management system according to the present invention comprises a handheld reader that reads tag information from a first type of wireless tag, a main terminal that receives tag information from the reader and manages the tag information, and a wearable sub-terminal having an input / output device that operates in cooperation with the main terminal via wireless communication. The sub-terminal receives at least one piece of management information from the main terminal regarding the read first type of wireless tag, which includes the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, and notifies the sub-terminal via the input / output device.

[0008] According to the tag management system described above, a handheld reader reads tag information from a first-type wireless tag, and a wearable sub-terminal receives at least one piece of management information from the main terminal regarding the read first-type wireless tag, which includes the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, and notifies it via an input / output device. This allows for the use of a dedicated reader without a main terminal, ensuring a lightweight design suitable for handling, while still receiving notification of management information with the assistance of the sub-terminal, thereby improving the efficiency of wireless tag management.

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the tag management method according to the present invention is a tag management method using a tag management system comprising a handheld type reader that reads tag information from a first type wireless tag, a main terminal that receives tag information from the reader and manages the tag information, and a wearable type sub-terminal that operates in cooperation with the main terminal via wireless communication, wherein the sub-terminal is notified of at least one piece of management information from among the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, with respect to the first type wireless tag that is read.

[0010] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of the tag management system. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of how to use the tag management system. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the reader / writer, etc. Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the main terminal. Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the sub-terminal. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display operation of the sub-terminal. Figure 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the tag management system. Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating a modified sub-terminal.

[0011] Specific embodiments of the tag management system and tag management method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the tag management system 100 is used for managing goods, books, etc. in stores, reading facilities, warehouses, etc., and comprises a handheld reader 10, which is a reader / writer 110, a portable main terminal 20, which is a smartphone 120, and a wearable sub-terminal 30, which is a smartwatch 130.

[0013] The reader / writer 110 can read tag information from a number of RFID (radio frequency identification) tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... which are the first type of wireless tag T1. The smartwatch 130 can also read tag information from an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag TG1, which is the second type of wireless tag T2. Here, the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... use radio waves and have a communication range of about 50 cm to 10 m, enabling communication and ID acquisition within a relatively long-range area DA1. On the other hand, the NFC tag TG1 is a type of RFID, but has a communication range of about 10 cm, enabling communication and ID acquisition within a relatively short-range area DA2. For the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ..., for example, radio waves in the UHF band of 860 to 960 MHz are used, but this is an example and not limited to this. For NFC tag TG1, a 13.56 MHz radio wave is used.

[0014] Digital information can be exchanged between the reader / writer 110 and the smartphone 120 via inter-terminal wireless communication, such as Bluetooth® or Bluetooth®. Between these devices, digital information may be exchanged not only via Bluetooth, but also via inter-terminal wireless communication such as Wi-Fi® or Wi-Fi® (wireless LAN).

[0015] Digital information can be exchanged between the smartphone 120 and the smartwatch 130 via inter-device wireless communication, such as Bluetooth. However, digital information can also be exchanged between these devices using inter-device wireless communication other than Bluetooth, such as Wi-Fi or other wireless LAN technologies.

[0016] Referring to Figure 2, the operator US of the tag management system 100 is a person who manages merchandise ST, such as clothing CLs, located in stores or back rooms. For example, while carrying a smartphone 120 in their pocket or bag, they use a reader / writer 110 in their hand to read tag information, including ID information, from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to numerous merchandise STs.

[0017] The worker US uses a smartwatch 130 (see Figure 1) worn on their arm to read tag information, including group ID information, from NFC tags TG1 attached to holding devices 2 such as hanger racks and fixtures that group and hold a large number of products ST.

[0018] Referring to Figure 3, the reader / writer 110 includes a transmit / receive circuit 11 for a first type wireless tag T1, a control circuit 12 that operates the transmit / receive circuit 11 to acquire tag information including ID information, a storage device 13 that stores a program PG0 containing instructions and data for executing at least a part of the processing described later, a communication device 14 for performing terminal-to-terminal wireless communication with a smartphone 120, a trigger button 16a that causes the transmission of a carrier wave for searching, an adjustment button 16b that adjusts the output strength of the carrier wave, and an indicator 16c that displays the output strength of the carrier wave. The control circuit 12 includes a CPU 12a and memory 12b and operates based on the installed program. The reader / writer 110 outputs radio waves in a predetermined band from the antenna 17 via the transmitting / receiving circuit 11, receives response waves from nearby RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3,..., identifies the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3,..., obtains the necessary information from the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3,..., and writes the information to the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3,... as needed.

[0019] More specifically, (1) the control circuit 12 of the reader / writer 110 operates the transmit / receive circuit 11 and transmits radio waves, which are carrier waves for searching that carry commands, or instructions. (2) The RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... receive radio waves from the reader / writer 110, i.e., the transmit / receive circuit 11, and current flows within the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ..., and the information within the tag chip is converted into a signal in response to the command from the reader / writer 110. (3) The RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... transmit a response signal from the tag antenna. (4) The control circuit 12 of the reader / writer 110 receives the response signal via the transmit / receive circuit 11. The response signal obtained in this way is processed as data by the control circuit 12. At this time, operations such as reading, writing, and anti-collision become possible in response to the command from the reader / writer 110. Furthermore, the control circuit 12 of the reader / writer 110 has the function of monitoring the received signal strength, i.e., the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value, of the response waves from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ...

[0020] Although not shown in the diagram, the reader / writer 110 incorporates a function that allows the administrator to adjust the operation status of the reader / writer 110 regarding radio wave transmission and reception, taking into account the type of wireless tag T1 and the installation environment. The reader / writer 110 can support multiple types of wireless tags T1, and can be replaced with a different model with different specifications depending on the type of wireless tag to be used.

[0021] The first type of wireless tag T1, i.e., RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ..., comprises an antenna 71 and an IC chip 72. The memory 72a of the IC chip 72 is provided with memory areas such as EPC (UII) memory and TID memory, enabling identification of the wireless tag T1 during communication with the reader / writer 110.

[0022] Referring to Figure 4, the main terminal 20, a smartphone 120, comprises an input / output device 21, a communication device 22, a storage device 23, and a processing unit 24.

[0023] The input / output device 21 receives information for the arithmetic unit 24 to perform processing. The input / output device 21 also outputs the results of the processing performed by the arithmetic unit 24. The input / output device 21 includes various input and output devices, such as a touch panel, microphone, speaker, vibrator, etc.

[0024] The communication device 22 has a first communication circuit 22a for connecting to a mobile phone line and a second communication circuit 22b for enabling wireless communication between terminals. The first communication circuit 22a enables the smartphone 120 to connect to a network NT such as the Internet. In other words, the main terminal 20 is able to send and receive information with a remote management server and can operate in cooperation with or under the management of the management server. The second communication circuit 22b enables the smartphone 120 to connect to the reader / writer 110 and the smartwatch 130. Specifically, the second communication circuit 22b enables wireless communication between terminals such as Bluetooth and wireless LAN.

[0025] The storage device 23 stores a program PG1, which includes various data and instructions for the smartphone 120 to perform the processes described later. The storage device 23 is used as a non-transitory tangible storage medium for storing this data and instructions. The storage device 23 is a semiconductor storage device including RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc., but is not limited to these, and may also be a storage device of an external server (not shown) that stores the program PG1. In this case, the program PG1 may be provided as a computer program product that can be downloaded from the external server.

[0026] The arithmetic unit 24 reads a program PG1 containing instructions and data for executing at least a part of the processing described later from the storage device 23 and executes it. The arithmetic unit 24 includes a central processing unit (CPU), etc. By reading and executing the program PG1, the arithmetic unit 24 realizes functions for coordinating with the reader / writer 110 and the smartwatch 130, specifically functions for reading tag information including ID information from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to a large number of products ST, functions for making decisions by referring to a pre-prepared tag management table TB1 based on the obtained tag information, and functions for updating the tag management table TB1.

[0027] The smartphone 120 may be equipped with a transceiver circuit 28 that realizes contactless communication functionality using NFC technology. The transceiver circuit 28 incorporated in the smartphone 120 is a tag detection circuit 128 that targets a third type of wireless tag. The transceiver circuit 28 operates in either passive mode or active mode, and enables automatic pairing with the smartwatch 130 or reader / writer 110 if the smartwatch 130 or reader / writer 110 has a corresponding function, such as the transceiver circuit 38 of the smartwatch 130.

[0028] Referring to Figure 5, the smartwatch 130, which is the secondary terminal 30, includes an input / output device 31, a communication device 32, a storage device 33, and a processing unit 34.

[0029] The input / output device 31 receives information for the arithmetic unit 34 to perform processing. The input / output device 31 also outputs the results of the processing performed by the arithmetic unit 34. The input / output device 31 includes various input and output devices, such as a touch panel, microphone, speaker, vibrator, etc.

[0030] Figure 6 illustrates the display state of the touch panel display 31d, one of the input / output devices 31. When searching for a product, as described later, if a specific tag TA1 being searched for by the reader / writer 110 is found, the system switches to the single-tag search function, displays the target product name D1, and simultaneously receives the RSSI value or its level data acquired by the reader / writer 110. This allows the system to show how close the specific RFID tag TA1 is using an RSSI value level display D2, similar to a vehicle's tachometer. In other words, the input / output device 31 of the smartwatch 130 can assist in the search. When the tag management system 100 operates in search mode, it first searches all tags on the search list. If a specific tag matching the search list is found, it switches to the single-tag search function, which masks and searches only that tag.

[0031] The display 31d of the input / output device 31 can display a background color of, for example, blue when wireless communication is established across the entire system, including the smartwatch 130, smartphone 120, and reader / writer 110. When wireless communication between the smartwatch 130 and smartphone 120 is disconnected, the background color can be displayed of, for example, yellow. When wireless communication between the reader / writer 110 and smartphone 120 is disconnected, the background color can be displayed of, for example, red. This allows the smartwatch 130 to visually notify the operator (US) of where communication has been disconnected. The operator (US) can easily keep track of the operating status of the tag management system 100 at all times.

[0032] Returning to Figure 5, the communication device 32 has a second communication circuit 32b that enables wireless communication between terminals. The second communication circuit 32b enables the smartwatch 130 to connect to a smartphone 120, etc. Specifically, the second communication circuit 32b enables wireless communication between terminals such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

[0033] The storage device 33 stores a program PG2, which includes various data and instructions for the smartwatch 130 to perform the processes described later. The storage device 33 is used as a non-temporary storage medium for storing this data and instructions. The storage device 33 is a semiconductor storage device including RAM, ROM, flash memory, etc., but is not limited to these, and may be a storage device of an external server (not shown) that stores the program PG2. In this case, the program PG2 may be provided as a computer program product that can be downloaded from the external server, for example, via a smartphone 120.

[0034] The arithmetic unit 34 reads a program PG2 containing instructions and data for executing at least a part of the processing described later from the storage device 33 and executes it. The arithmetic unit 34 includes a central processing unit (CPU), etc. By reading and executing the program PG2, the arithmetic unit 34 realizes functions for coordinating with the smartphone 120, specifically functions for notifying the worker US of commands from the smartphone 120, and functions for presenting tag information managed by the smartphone 120 to the worker US.

[0035] The smartwatch 130 includes a state sensor 36, which includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The state sensor 36 can detect the displacement and changes in the posture of the smartwatch 130 and can accept gestures from the worker US as instructions.

[0036] The smartwatch 130 may also be equipped with a transceiver circuit 38 that realizes contactless communication functionality using NFC technology. The transceiver circuit 38 incorporated in the smartwatch 130 is a tag detection circuit 138 that targets second-type and third-type wireless tags. The transceiver circuit 38 operates in either passive mode or active mode and can read tag information from the NFC tag TG1, which is a second-type wireless tag T2 attached to the holding device 2. Furthermore, the transceiver circuit 38 enables automatic pairing with the smartphone 120 or reader / writer 110 if the smartphone 120 or reader / writer 110 has the corresponding functionality, for example, like the transceiver circuit 28 of the smartphone 120. Here, the transceiver circuit 38 also functions as a third-type wireless tag.

[0037] The following describes specific examples of tag management processes performed by the tag management system 100. Tag management is performed, for example, when reading tag information including ID information from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to product STs (see Figure 2) present in a target area of ​​a facility, checking the number and contents of product STs present in the target area, and creating a list. Tag management is also performed, for example, when an inventory target list has been created in advance, and tag information including ID information is read from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to product STs present in the target area, and a comparison is made to see if the inventory status of product STs in the target area matches the inventory target list. Furthermore, tag management is performed, for example, when searching for a target product ST in a target area, and tag information including ID information is read from RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to product STs present in the target area, to confirm the existence of the target product ST and to pick it up. In the above examples, the managed object is described as product STs, but the managed object can be anything appropriate to the facility, such as the collection of books in a library.

[0038] When listing the product STs present in the aforementioned target area, the smartphone 120 has the role of storing and aggregating the detection results from the reader / writer 110, and displays the number of product STs read and the product names on the touch panel display of the smartwatch 130 to inform the worker US of the reading status. When taking inventory of product STs in the aforementioned target area, the smartphone 120 has the role of storing the detection results from the reader / writer 110 and comparing them with the inventory target list, and displays the number of remaining items to be reconciled after matching (e.g., 15 / 2000) on the touch panel display of the smartwatch 130 to inform the worker US of the inventory progress. When searching for product STs present in the aforementioned target area, the smartphone 120 has the role of determining the detection results from the reader / writer 110, and displays the product names as the reading results of the product STs on the touch panel display of the smartwatch 130 to inform the worker US of the search results.

[0039] Referring to Figure 7, an example of the operation of the tag management system 100 will be explained. First, the worker US places the smartphone 120 and smartwatch 130 that they wish to use for management in close proximity, and an automatic pairing process is performed between the smartphone 120 and the smartwatch 130 (step S01). In other words, terminal-to-terminal communication is established between the smartphone 120 and the smartwatch 130. Note that, for example, if the smartphone 120 does not have an NFC transmitting / receiving circuit 28, pairing between the smartphone 120 and the smartwatch 130 is achieved by the worker US operating the smartphone 120.

[0040] Next, the operator US places the smartphone 120 and the reader / writer 110, which they wish to use for management, in close proximity, and an automatic pairing process is performed between the smartphone 120 and the reader / writer 110 (step S02). In other words, terminal-to-terminal communication is established between the smartphone 120 and the reader / writer 110. Note that, for example, if the smartphone 120 does not have an NFC transmitting / receiving circuit 28, pairing between the smartphone 120 and the reader / writer 110 is achieved by the operator US operating the smartphone 120.

[0041] Furthermore, even if the smartphone 120 does not have an NFC transmitting / receiving circuit 28, if the smartwatch 130 has an NFC transmitting / receiving circuit 38, automatic pairing can be performed between them and the reader / writer 110. In other words, if terminal-to-terminal communication is established between the smartphone 120 and the smartwatch 130 in advance, the pairing between the smartphone 120 and the reader / writer 110 can be automated through the smartwatch 130 by placing the smartwatch 130 and the reader / writer 110 in close proximity.

[0042] Next, the worker US selects the processing content using the touch panel of the smartphone 120 and notifies the smartwatch 130 of the processing content from the smartphone 120 (step S03). Specifically, the processing content from the smartphone 120 includes listing product ST, taking inventory of product ST, searching for product ST, etc.

[0043] Next, the tag management system 100 receives an operation from the worker US and starts operating, and the smartwatch 130, reader / writer 110, and smartphone 120 work together to identify the group of product ST (step S10). In this process, the worker US first brings the smartwatch 130 close to the NFC tag TG1 attached to the holding device 2 that holds a large number of product STs. As a result, the smartwatch 130 operates under the control of its computing device 34, and the transmitting / receiving circuit 38 reads the tag information, including the group ID information, from the NFC tag TG1 attached to the holding device 2 (step S11). After that, the smartwatch 130 operates under the control of its computing device 34 and transfers the group ID information to the smartphone 120 (step S12). The smartphone 120 operates under the control of its computing device 24, processes the information from the smartwatch 130, returns the status of acquisition of the group ID information to the smartwatch 130, and sends instructions for processing content as needed (step S13). The smartwatch 130 operates under the control of its computing unit 34 and displays status notifications regarding the acquisition status of group ID information and processing instructions for the worker US on the touch panel, i.e., display 31d, of the input / output device 31 (step S14). For example, the status such as when group ID information is being acquired, when information acquisition is complete, and the results such as group ID information are displayed. This display may include prompts for the worker US to start reading using the reader / writer 110.

[0044] Next, the tag management system 100 starts operating upon receiving an operation by the worker US using the reader / writer 110, i.e., a reading action. The reader / writer 110, smartphone 120, and smartwatch 130 then work together to detect the product ST (step S20). This product ST detection process is repeated a predetermined number of times as a loop, while receiving reading actions from the worker US. The product ST detection process is, for example, a process of checking and listing the product STs. In this process, the worker US first presses the trigger button 16a with the reader / writer 110 facing the holding device 2. As a result, the reader / writer 110 operates under the control of its control circuit 12, and the transmit / receive circuit 11 transmits and receives radio waves in a predetermined band, reading tag information, including ID information, from the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3, ... attached to the product STs held in the holding device 2 (step S21). Subsequently, the reader / writer 110 operates under the control of its control circuit 12 and transfers the tag information to the smartphone 120 (step S22). The smartphone 120 operates under the control of its computing device 24 and manages the acquisition status of ID information based on the information from the reader / writer 110 (step S23). Specifically, when the process of checking and listing product ST is being performed, if there is newly read ID information, the smartphone 120 records the ID information in the tag management table TB1, linked to the group ID information. The smartphone 120 transmits the acquisition status of ID information to the smartwatch 130 and transmits instructions for processing content as needed (step S24). The smartwatch 130 operates under the control of its computing device 34 and displays status notifications regarding the acquisition status of ID information on its touch panel and displays processing instructions for the worker US as needed (step S25). The worker US can visually check the progress of the work on the smartwatch 130's display 31d, etc. Specifically, when the process involves checking and listing product STs, the touch panel displays the product name associated with the newly read ID information and the cumulative number equivalent to the total number of reads as management information.When the loop is completed, the smartphone 120 transmits the completion of the process to the smartwatch 130, and causes the smartwatch 130 to display or notify the completion of the work via the touch panel or the like of the smartwatch 130 (step S30). The worker US can visually confirm the completion of the work and the processing result on the display 31d or the like of the smartwatch 130.

[0045] In the above process, the smartphone 120 operates under the control of its arithmetic unit 24, and checks whether the wireless communication with the reader / writer 110 is disconnected or whether the wireless communication with the smartwatch 130 is disconnected (step S26). The smartwatch 130 also checks whether the wireless communication with the smartphone 120 is disconnected (step S27). When the smartphone 120 determines that the wireless communication with the smartwatch 130 is disconnected, it ends the loop process (step S28). When the smartphone 120 determines that the wireless communication with the reader / writer 110 is disconnected, it can transmit to the smartwatch 130 that a wireless communication disconnection has occurred when ending the loop process. Thereafter, the smartwatch 130 notifies the worker US of the occurrence of the wireless communication disconnection by displaying the wireless communication disconnection on the touch panel (step S29). The notification of the wireless communication disconnection is not limited to a visual one via the touch panel, and may be one using voice, vibration, or the like. By such notification, the worker US can immediately confirm the occurrence of the wireless communication disconnection, and can prevent proceeding with unnecessary work without noticing the wireless communication disconnection.

[0046] Similar to the occurrence of the wireless communication disconnection, when the cumulative number of reads does not increase over a certain period of time during the reading, there is a high possibility that RFID radio wave interference has occurred and continues. Therefore, the smartwatch 130 can notify the worker US of the occurrence of RFID radio wave interference via the display 31d or the like which is a touch panel.

[0047] In the above description, the process of mainly checking and listing the product ST has been explained. However, the process of performing an inventory of the product ST is the same. In this case, while performing a cancellation process of registering that the newly read ID information has been checked in the inventory target list, the remaining quantity is displayed on the smartwatch 130 as management information, and the cancellation process is repeated until all have been checked. In the case of the process of searching for the product ST, the name of the search target is displayed on the smartwatch 130 in advance as management information, and the search is repeated until all the target search objects, that is, the product ST, are found. When all the target search objects are found, the smartwatch 130 can display a list of the found search objects.

[0048] When searching for the product ST, the RSSI value information detected by the reader / writer 110 can be transferred from the smartphone 120 to the smartwatch 130. Based on the received RSSI value information, the smartwatch 130 has a function of assisting the operator US in searching by performing a display regarding the search status of the target first-type wireless tag T1, specifically, a display as exemplified in FIG. 6.

[0049] In the above, it has been premised that the operator US operates the trigger button 16a of the reader / writer 110 to instruct the start and stop of reading tag information from the RFID tags TA1, TA2, TA3,.... However, the state sensor 36 can be used to receive an instruction from the operator US.

[0050] Specifically, for example, the smartwatch 130 is worn on the hand opposite to the hand holding the reader / writer 110. By shaking the smartwatch 130 once, the reading starts, and by shaking it twice, the reading stops. Various instruction actions can be detected by the smartwatch 130 as gesture patterns, and the detection result can be transmitted to the smartphone 120. At this time, by notifying the operator US of the detection of the instruction action through vibration or sound, the instruction can be received more reliably.

[0051] If a smartwatch 130 is to be worn on the hand holding the reader / writer 110, the method for acquiring instruction actions can be changed. Specifically, when the smartwatch 130 detects that the hand holding the reader / writer 110 is raised at a predetermined speed or faster, it determines this action to be a reading start instruction and sends a request to start reading to the smartphone 120. Also, when the smartwatch 130 detects that the hand holding the reader / writer 110 is lowered at a predetermined speed or faster, it determines this action to be a reading end instruction and sends a request to end reading to the smartphone 120.

[0052] By using the microphone, which is the input / output device 31 of the smartwatch 130, to acquire the voice of the worker US, and by utilizing the voice recognition function realized by the processing unit 34, etc., it is also possible to receive voice instructions from the worker US, such as instructions to start reading or instructions to stop reading.

[0053] The above describes the case where the reader / writer 110 issues instructions to start and stop reading tag information via the smartwatch 130. However, changes to the transmission output, transmission frequency, and reading mask data can also be made via the smartwatch 130 or smartphone 120. The reading mask data may, for example, be set to distinguish between different tag types, but is not limited to this. It may also distinguish specific tags from tags of the same type based on their intended use, i.e., based on filter conditions.

[0054] Furthermore, the display screen of the smartwatch 130 can be cleared or switched by the worker US operating the smartwatch 130, but the worker US may also operate the smartphone 120. The purpose of the tag information reading operation by the reader / writer 110 can be set or changed by the worker US operating the smartphone 120, but it can also be done by the worker US operating the smartwatch 130.

[0055] In the above, the process of identifying the group of product ST is performed using the functions of the smartwatch 130 (step S10), but it is also possible to perform a process of detecting product ST from the beginning (step S20) without identifying the group of product ST.

[0056] In the above, the process of detecting product ST (step S20) is started in response to the operator US's operation of the reader / writer 110. However, once the process of identifying the group of product ST (step S10) is completed, the process of detecting product ST (step S20) may be started automatically.

[0057] The tag management system 100 of the embodiment described above comprises a handheld reader 10 that reads tag information from a first type wireless tag T1, a main terminal 20 that receives tag information from the reader 10 and manages the tag information, and a wearable type sub-terminal 30 that has an input / output device 31 and operates in cooperation with the main terminal 20 via wireless communication. The sub-terminal 30 receives at least one piece of management information from the main terminal 20 regarding the read first type wireless tag T1, which includes the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, and notifies the worker US via the input / output device 31.

[0058] According to the tag management system 100 described above, a handheld reader 10 reads tag information from a first-type wireless tag T1, and a wearable sub-terminal 30 receives at least one piece of management information from the main terminal 20 regarding the read first-type wireless tag T1, which includes the cumulative count, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, and notifies it via the input / output device 31. Therefore, by using a dedicated reader 10 that does not have the main terminal 20 mounted on it, it is possible to ensure lightness suitable for holding, while receiving notification of management information with the assistance of the sub-terminal 30, thereby improving the workability of wireless tag management. In other words, it is possible to ensure lightness and improve workability without having to hold the main terminal 20 in your hand.

[0059] [Other] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from its essence. For example, the smartphone 120 may be a tablet device. The smartwatch 130 may also be any small device that can be attached to various parts of the body.

[0060] Communication between the reader 10 and the main terminal 20 is not limited to wireless communication; it may also be conducted via a wired connection.

[0061] As shown in Figure 8, the sub-terminal 30 may be equipped with a camera 31c as an input / output device 31. The operator US operates the camera 31c by operating the input / output device 31 of the sub-terminal 30 and captures an image of the image tag attached to the object to be searched. The sub-terminal 30 reads ID information, etc. from the image of the image tag and transfers it to the main terminal 20. Alternatively, the main terminal 20 receives the image of the image tag from the sub-terminal 30 and reads ID information, etc. from the image of the image tag.

[0062] Wireless tags have a possibility of their built-in IC chip failing. Therefore, as a backup in case of failure, barcodes are sometimes attached, or wireless tags with barcodes printed on them are attached, and the data of the barcode and wireless tag are pre-linked so that the object can be identified regardless of which is read. In this case, one could consider using a reader / writer model with a built-in barcode reader, or using a smartphone camera to read the barcode, but this would complicate the structure of the reader / writer, or make smartphone operation essential, reducing usability.

[0063] For example, if the first type wireless tag T1 malfunctions, the sub-terminal 30 can read the image-type tag attached to the object to be searched, specifically a barcode (including a 2D code), and transmit it to the main terminal 20, thereby assisting with inventory and search. Similarly, regarding the operation of step S10 in Figure 7, a barcode can be attached in place of the NFC tag TG1 attached to the holding device 2, and the camera 31c of the sub-terminal 30 can read that barcode and transmit it to either the sub-terminal 30 or the main terminal 20, thereby achieving the same function.

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, by incorporating the tag management system 100 into the sub-terminal 30 equipped with a camera 31c, it is possible to read either the target wireless tags T1 and T2 or barcodes depending on the situation. In other words, the structure of the reader 10 can be simplified, and there is no need to take out a smartphone and operate it in the event of a failure of the wireless tags T1 and T2. In short, this tag management system 100 can streamline the operation of tag management.

[0065] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-210144, filed on 3 December 2024, and all of its disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A tag management system comprising: a handheld reader for reading tag information from a first type wireless tag; a main terminal for receiving and managing the tag information from the reader; and a wearable sub-terminal having an input / output device and operating in cooperation with the main terminal via wireless communication, wherein the sub-terminal receives at least one piece of management information from the main terminal regarding the read first type wireless tag, which includes the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched, and notifies this information via the input / output device.

2. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the input / output device of the sub-terminal receives instructions including the start and stop of reading, and transmits the instructions to the main terminal.

3. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the input / output device of the sub-terminal receives an instruction to change the reader-related parameters and transmits the instruction to the main terminal.

4. The tag management system according to claim 3, wherein the read-related parameters include at least one of the following: transmission output, transmission frequency, and read mask data.

5. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the main terminal receives the tag information from the reader via wireless communication, and the sub-terminal notifies the occurrence of a wireless communication disconnection by the input / output device when at least one of the wireless communication disconnections between the reader and the main terminal or between the sub-terminal and the main terminal occurs.

6. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-terminal has a state sensor capable of detecting gestures, and when it detects a gesture corresponding to a read start instruction, it sends a request to the main terminal for the reader to start reading, and when it detects a gesture corresponding to a read end instruction, it sends a request to the main terminal for the reader to end reading.

7. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-terminal has a tag detection circuit that performs wireless communication with a second type wireless tag, and when the sub-terminal detects the second type wireless tag, the main terminal requests the reader to read the tag information from the first type wireless tag associated with the second type wireless tag.

8. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the reader incorporates a third type of wireless tag, the sub-terminal has a tag detection circuit that performs wireless communication with the third type of wireless tag, and transmits to the main terminal information necessary to initiate pairing between the sub-terminal or the reader.

9. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-terminal receives RSSI value information from the reader via the main terminal and displays the search status of the target first type wireless tag based on the RSSI value information.

10. The tag management system according to claim 1, wherein the sub-terminal has a camera for capturing images of image-type tags, and at least one of the sub-terminal and the main terminal reads tag information recorded on the image-type tag from the image of the image-type tag.

11. A tag management method using a tag management system comprising a handheld reader for reading tag information from a first type of wireless tag, a main terminal for receiving and managing the tag information from the reader, and a wearable sub-terminal that operates in cooperation with the main terminal via wireless communication, wherein the sub-terminal is notified of at least one piece of management information regarding the read first type of wireless tag, which is one of the following: the cumulative number, the number of remaining items to be cleared, and the name of the item to be searched.

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