RFID Process Tracking with Variable Spatial Granularity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID-based process management systems lack flexibility in spatial granularity for location determination, failing to adapt to varying requirements in construction and other work processes.
Innovation Solution
A process management system that utilizes a hierarchical section data structure with variable spatial granularity, combining passive RFID tags with self-localization techniques to track management targets, and a management server that updates location and status information based on tag readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single spatial granularity is used for location determination, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot adapt to varying requirements for different building materials and work processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the construction site into multiple hierarchical sections with different spatial granularities (e.g., large zones for general material storage, smaller sub-sections for specific material types). This segmentation allows the system to provide coarse-grained location management for materials that don't require precise positioning while enabling fine-grained management for materials that do, thereby improving adaptability without uniformly increasing system complexity across all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the spatial granularity used for location determination based on the type of building material and the current work process stage. For example, early construction stages may use coarser granularity while later stages require finer granularity. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying requirements without maintaining maximum complexity throughout the entire process.
2Measurement precision
If fine spatial granularity is used for all location determinations, then location precision is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different spatial granularities to different locations based on local requirements. High-precision location determination with fine spatial granularity is applied only to critical areas where specific building materials must be delivered to exact positions, while coarser granularity is used in areas where general location tracking suffices. This local differentiation improves measurement precision where needed without unnecessarily increasing system complexity elsewhere.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and flexible management of work processes by accurately determining the location of management targets with varying spatial granularity, enhancing the visibility and management of work progress.
Implementation Method 1
a passive type RFID tag, which transmits information utilizing energy of electromagnetic wave emitted from a reader
Data Source
AI summary
A process management system includes a management unit that manages section data that defines sections in a real space and process data that indicates an expected location, from among the sections, in which a management target is to be positioned at the time of completing a work process, a first wireless device that is attached to the management target and stores first identification information, at least one reading apparatus that is capable of reading identification information from a wireless device, and a determination unit that checks a location of the management target estimated based on a result of reading of the first identification information from the first wireless device against the expected location by variable granularity depending on type information associated with the management target to determine a status of the work process regarding the management target.