Package-Position Code Association for Automated Logistics Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing logistics management systems require users to manually input facility and storage position IDs for package tracking, increasing user burden.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that reads and associates package and position codes using a terminal device, transmitting identification information to a server for automated management, reducing the need for manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual input of facility ID and storage position ID is used to associate package with logistics facility, then package management capability is achieved, but user burden and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser burdenVSAvoidpackage management efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical input system with an automated optical recognition system. The terminal device uses a camera to capture images of QR codes attached to packages and storage positions, automatically extracts identification information through OCR technology, and transmits this data to the server. This substitution eliminates the need for manual typing and selection of facility IDs and storage position IDs, significantly reducing user burden while improving package management efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of time

If manual selection of facility ID from list is required, then accurate package-facility association is ensured, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to input facility informationVSAvoidpackage-position association accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-attaching QR codes containing facility ID and storage position ID information to the logistics facility and storage positions before package arrival. When a package is brought to a storage position, the terminal device simply needs to capture images of these pre-placed QR codes along with the package QR code. The server then automatically associates the package with the correct facility and storage position based on the extracted identification information, eliminating the need for manual selection from lists while ensuring accurate association.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If user inputs storage position ID each time package is moved, then real-time package tracking is maintained, but user effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser effort in package movingVSAvoidpackage position information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the terminal device to automatically capture images of the package QR code and storage position QR code, automatically extract the identification information through OCR, and automatically transmit this data to the server for updating the package position information. This automated process eliminates the need for users to manually input storage position IDs each time a package is moved, significantly reducing user effort while maintaining real-time package tracking and position information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4621680A1Information processing system, information processing method, and carrier medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4621680A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4621680A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4621680A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system that manages packages includes a terminal device (120) and a server (110). The terminal device (120) includes a reading unit (322) to read, with a reader (280), a first code including first identification information identifying a package and a second code including second identification information identifying a position of the package; an extraction unit (323) to extract the first identification information and the second identification information from the first code and the second code, respectively; and a communication unit (311) to transmit the first identification information and the second identification information extracted by the extraction unit (323) to the server (110). The server (110) includes a first management unit (314) configured to manage, in a storage device (240), information on the package identified by the first identification information and information on the position identified by the second identification information in association with each other based on the first identification information and the second identification information.