JP2011060040A - Asset management system and asset management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an asset management system for automatically invalidating read information of an RFID tag and performing management when reading the information of the RFID tag outside a designated area. <P>SOLUTION: This asset management system includes: the RFID tags each attached to each of a plurality of assets that are management targets, each storing information for specifying each asset; an RFID tag reader receiving a response electric wave from the RFID tag; an asset management part receiving the information of the RFID tag of an asset present inside the set area from the RFID tag reader, and collating it with management information of a database to perform the management of each asset; and a registration part registering, when the information of the RFID tag outside the set area is read, the RFID tag into a read error list. When the information of the RFID tag registered in the read error list is read when executing reading of the RFID inside the set area, the read information is ignored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an asset management system and an asset management method for managing assets such as documents and fixtures using a wireless tag.

  Conventionally, a company (company, store, bank, etc.) regularly takes inventory to check whether the assets it owns (such as personal computers and other goods and documents) match the quantity on the books. ing. Inventory is used to check whether assets have been illegally taken out or lost. In recent years, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags are attached to each article or document for asset management, ID information of each asset is stored in the RFID tag, and RFID tag information is read in a contactless manner during inventory. In addition, the existence of each article or document is checked.

  For example, an RFID tag storing ID information is affixed to a holder such as a cardboard box or bag for storing an article or document to be managed, or an article itself, and the RFID tag information is contactlessly provided by a handy reader / writer equipped with a tag reader. Reading, the presence / absence of each article, the storage position, etc. are detected. Further, which articles and holders are stored in each storage shelf is stored in advance in a database, and the inventory information is checked by comparing the read RFID tag management information with the stored information in the database.

  By the way, when inventory management is performed by attaching an RFID tag to an article or a holder, information on a plurality of tags can be read by radio waves even if the RFID tag cannot be visually observed. Information may also be read. For this reason, when the information of the RFID tag that does not need to be read is read, an operation such as reconfirmation by visual inspection occurs.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an asset management system that updates or newly registers a master database when an asset that does not exist in the master database is detected during inventory. This Patent Document 1 mainly improves the problems associated with data input mistakes and transcription mistakes.

Republished patent WO02 / 008979

  Conventionally, when inventory management is performed by attaching RFID tags to articles or holders, information on a plurality of tags can be read by radio waves, so information on RFID tags other than the set area is also read, resulting in a read error. If it occurred, reconfirmation work was required, leading to a reduction in inventory efficiency.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an asset that can be efficiently managed by automatically disabling it when information of an RFID tag outside the designated area is read. An object is to provide a management system and an asset management method.

  The asset management system of the present invention according to claim 1 is attached to each of a plurality of assets to be managed, stores an RFID tag storing information for specifying the plurality of assets, and transmits radio waves to the plurality of RFID tags An RFID reader that receives the response radio wave from the RFID tag and reads the information of the RFID tag, a database that stores management information of the plurality of assets, and an RFID tag of the asset in a preset area. When the information of the asset management unit that receives information from the RFID reader and manages each asset by checking with the management information of the database and the RFID tag outside the set area is read, the corresponding RFID tag A registration unit for registering in the read error list, and reading the RFID tag in the area In addition, when the information of the RFID tag registered in the read error list is read, the read information is ignored.

  The asset management method of the present invention according to claim 5 is an RFID tag attached to each of a plurality of assets to be managed and storing information for specifying the plurality of assets, and a radio wave for the plurality of RFID tags. And an RFID reader that reads the information of the RFID tag by receiving a response radio wave from the RFID tag, stores management information of the plurality of assets in a database, and the assets within a preset area RFID tag information is received from the RFID reader, each asset is managed by collating with the management information of the database, and when the RFID tag information outside the set area is read, the corresponding RFID tag Is registered in the read error list, and when the RFID tag in the area is read, the read error list is If the information of the RFID tag registered in the bets has been read, characterized in that it ignores the read information.

  According to the present invention, when an RFID tag outside the area is read in the asset management system using the RFID tag, the read information is registered even if there is a read error thereafter by registering the corresponding tag in the list. Is treated as invalid, so asset management can be performed efficiently.

The block diagram which shows the asset management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing explaining the reading operation | movement and read error of RFID tag information. The block diagram which shows the structure of the asset management system which concerns on one Embodiment. The flowchart and explanatory drawing which show the registration process of RFID tag. The flowchart and explanatory drawing which show the operation | movement of the data collation at the time of inventory. The explanatory view of the flow chart which shows the operation at the time of a read error, and a display example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an asset management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The asset management system of this embodiment includes an RFID tag 20 (wireless tag) attached to an asset 10 such as an article / document stored in the storage shelf 100, and a handy type RFID reader 30 (reading information from the RFID tag 20). (Hereinafter referred to as a handy terminal 30).

  The handy terminal 30 can communicate with the RFID tag 20 wirelessly, transmits radio waves from the handy terminal 30 to the RFID tag 20, and reads response radio waves from the RFID tag 20 by the handy terminal 30. The handy terminal 30 is connected to a host system 40 such as a personal computer. The handy terminal 30 includes a display unit 301 and an operation unit 302 including various input keys, and is operated by a user (operator).

  The storage shelf 100 has, for example, multistage storage locations, and stores holders 10 that store assets such as articles and documents in each stage. The assets include various documents (contracts, design documents, planning documents, etc.) in addition to articles such as personal computers, software, scanners and telephones.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the plurality of holders 10 stored in the storage shelf 100 and the RFID tag 20 attached thereto. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 2, documents and articles as assets are stored in specific holders 10 (101, 102... 10n), and RFID tags 20 (201, 202. An example of asset management by pasting will be described. Of course, the RFID tag 20 may be attached to each article, or the RFID tag 20 may be attached to each document. Further, the number of storage shelves 100 is not limited to one and may be plural. A case of performing inventory as an example of asset management will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the handy terminal 30 and peripheral devices. The handy terminal 30 performs data communication with a CPU 31 (Central Processing Unit) constituting a main control unit, a storage unit including a ROM 32 (Read Only Memory) and a RAM 33 (Random Access Memory), and a host system 40 (personal computer: PC). It has the communication part 34 which performs. Further, in order to communicate with the RFID tag 20, an RFID control unit 35, a transmission control unit 36, a reception control unit 37, a circulator 38 and an antenna 39 are provided.

  The RFID control unit 35 controls the transmission control unit 36 and the reception control unit 37 under the control of the CPU 31. The transmission control unit 36 modulates the high frequency signal from the RFID control unit 35 with digital data and outputs it to the circulator 38. The circulator 38 outputs a signal from the transmission control unit 36 to the antenna 39, and transmits a radio wave corresponding to the output signal of the circulator 38 from the antenna 39.

  On the other hand, the RFID tag 20 attached to the holder 10 transmits a response radio wave to the handy terminal 30 when receiving the radio wave transmitted from the antenna 39. The response radio wave from the RFID tag 20 is received by the antenna 39. The response radio wave received by the antenna 39 is input to the circulator 38 and received by the reception control unit 37. The reception control unit 37 amplifies the input signal, converts it to a baseband signal, demodulates the baseband signal, converts it to digital data, and outputs it to the RFID control unit 35. The handy terminal 30 includes a display unit 301 and an operation unit 302 shown in FIG.

  The handy terminal 30 is connected to a PC 40 that is a host system. The PC 40 executes asset management (for example, inventory) in accordance with a built-in management program 401, and constitutes an asset management unit. Further, the PC 40 is connected to the database 50. The database 50 stores inventory management information. For example, an installation location of the management shelf 100, a management department, a person in charge, an asset name stored in each shelf, ID information of each RFID tag 20, and the like are stored. The database 50 and the PC 40 may be configured separately, but the database 50 may be incorporated in the PC 40.

  When performing inventory, radio waves are transmitted from the handy terminal 30 to the holder 10 stored in a predetermined area of the storage shelf 100. When the RFID tag 20 attached to each holder 10 receives a radio wave from the handy terminal 30, it transmits a response radio wave to the handy terminal 30. The handy terminal 30 reads the unique ID information of the RFID tag 20 included in the received radio wave and sends it to the PC 40. That is, each RFID tag 20 stores information (ID information) for identifying the holder 10 (assets), and returns a signal including ID information in response to a read request from the handy terminal 30.

  The PC 40 collates the management information stored in the database 50 with the ID information transmitted from the RFID tag 20 and checks whether or not the holder 10 is stored at a predetermined position (stage) of the storage shelf 100. That is, the database 50, because it stores what holder 10 in advance what stage of which storage shelf 100 is stored, including the ID information of the RFID tag 20, in PC40 information handy terminal 30 read By receiving and comparing with the management information stored in the database 50, it is determined whether or not each holder 10 is in a proper position, and the presence or absence of the asset to be managed is confirmed.

  By the way, in such an asset management system, if the number of storage shelves and the number of storage shelves increase, it is difficult to execute the inventory of all the holders 10 at a time. For example, the first and second tiers of the A shelf In general, inventory is divided into predetermined areas such as eyes. That is, an area can be designated by adjusting the radio wave intensity, frequency, directivity, etc. from the handy terminal 30, and inventory can be carried out for each of several areas.

  However, even if an attempt is made to specify a predetermined area (for example, the first stage of the A shelf), the information of the RFID tag 20 of the holder 10 outside the specified area may be read, and the verification of the inventory is not correct. May occur. Reading the ID information of the RFID tag 20 outside the designated area in this way is referred to as a read error in the following description. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, even if the holder 10 (101, 102... 10n) in the first stage is designated as an area, a response radio wave is received from the RFID tag 20p of the holder 10p in the second stage that is not designated. There is.

  When the holders 10 are densely arranged, it is necessary to increase the power of radio wave transmission from the handy terminal 30, so that the RFID tag 20 outside the area (second stage of the A shelf) rarely reacts. It is in. Or the tag data of the holder in the adjacent storage shelf is read. For this reason, when information on an RFID tag that is not originally required to be read is read, a read error occurs, and a work for reconfirming visually occurs, resulting in a decrease in inventory efficiency. Especially when inventorying tens of thousands of assets, a lot of time is spent on reconfirmation work.

  The embodiment of the present invention addresses such a read error. That is, the radio wave for starting / communication of the RFID tag 20 may or may not be read well due to the influence of the surrounding environment (reflection state of the radio wave), the material and size of the asset. That is, when an area is designated and inventory is performed several times, the RFID tag 20 that can be read well despite being outside the area can be identified.

  Therefore, when the information of the RFID tag 20 outside the area has been read, it is registered in the read error list as an RFID tag having a high possibility of a read error based on the number of read errors. The read error list is provided in the storage unit in the database 50 or the PC 40. Thereafter, if a read error occurs when taking inventory, if it is registered in the read error list, it is ignored and inventory is judged to be normal.

  Less than. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the following description, the RFID tag 20 may be simply referred to as a tag 20.

  First, in step S1 of FIG. 4A, the RFID tag 20 is registered. In other words, the management information for inventory is stored in the database 50 as shown in FIG. FIG. 4B shows an example in which documents contracted for each customer are stored in the holder 10. For example, the shelf number (A, B...), Level (first level, second level...), Issuer, customer name, management number, ID information of the RFID tag 20, and the like of the storage shelf 100 are stored.

  Therefore, based on the information in the database 50, it can be understood which holder 10 containing which contract is stored in which stage of the storage shelf 100. Further, the ID information of the corresponding RFID tag 20 can be confirmed. In addition, when there is a document that is being lent, data such as to whom the month was lent out is also stored.

  On the other hand, the ID information stored in the database 50 is written to the RFID tag 20 attached to the holder 10 in step S1. The RFID tag 20 may be written with other information, such as shelf number and stage information indicating the storage position, or management number information.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart and an explanatory diagram showing a collation operation when inventory is performed. When an area is specified in step S2 of FIG. 5A and, for example, it is determined that the holder group 10 in the first area of the A shelf is to be stocked, in step S3, the corresponding area (A shelf The management information of the first stage) is called and saved in the PC 40.

  In step S4, a radio wave is transmitted from the handy terminal 30 to the holder group 10 in the designated area (the first stage of the A shelf), and a response radio wave is received from the RFID tag 20 attached to each holder 10, and the tag The information stored in 20 is read. In step S5, ID information of the RFID tag 20 is acquired from the read information. In step S6, the read error information (misread) of the designated area (first stage of shelf A) is called from the read error list of the database 50.

  In step S7, the information of the database 50 called in step S3, the read error information called in step S6, and the ID information acquired in step S5 are collated. In step S8, based on the result of the collation, the presence / absence of information on the RFID tag 20 other than the designated area is determined to determine whether the inventory is successful.

  In step S8, when there is no information of the tag 20 other than the designated area, the inventory of the designated area is finished in step S9. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, when there is information on the tag 20 in the designated area is indicated by ○, and when there is no information on the tag 20 in the designated area, If is a circle, the inventory is terminated. Even if there is a cross, the inventory is terminated because there is no problem if it is lent out (circle).

  On the other hand, if the information of the RFID tag 20 other than the designated area is read in step S8, the process proceeds to step S10 in FIG. In step S10, it is determined whether the read tag 20 information is registered in the read error list. If not registered (NO), the number of read errors is counted in step S11, and is incremented every time a read error occurs. Usually, since the same area is invented a plurality of times, if a read error occurs repeatedly, the number of times is stored together with the designated area. In step S12, the read error information is displayed on the display unit of the PC 40. Step S13 is a confirmation / correction / registration step. If confirmation is completed, the inventory is terminated. If there are corrections or registration items, correction and registration are performed, and the process ends.

  FIG. 6B shows a display example of read error information. In FIG. 6B, when there is a read error with respect to the number of inventory in the designated area, the number is displayed. For example, if the first stage of the A shelf is inspected and the ID information of the RFID tag 20 “P” on the second stage of the A shelf is read every time, the same read error phenomenon in the past. The user (operator) can know from the display of the number of times. If it is confirmed that there is no problem with visual confirmation even if there is a read error in the past, even if there is a read error, it can be ignored, so the user registers in the read error list in the next step S13. Registration in the read error list is performed by operating the PC 40. Accordingly, the PC 40 constitutes a registration unit that performs registration processing on the read error list.

  At this time, the system side said, “There was a read error more than twice at the second stage“ P ”when the first stage of shelf A was inventoried. In the future, a comment such as “Is the information on“ P ”ignored in the first-stage inventory” may be displayed to ask the user whether he / she wants to set the registration. Since the degree of occurrence of a read error may differ depending on how each user operates the handy terminal 30 (standing position, transmission angle, etc.), when determining whether or not to register in the read error list, Informing the occurrence status of a read error can be important judgment information.

  When the information is registered in the read error list, information on the RFID tag 20 of “P” is ignored at the time of the first inventory of the A shelf. If the tag information already registered in the read error list is read in step S10, the process proceeds to step S14 and the data is ignored. Therefore, even if there is a read error, it is ignored and the inventory is completed. Further, after the inventory for a predetermined area is completed, the management information of other areas is read from the database 50, and the inventory is executed in the same procedure.

  In the above example, the number of read errors is displayed, and an example of determining whether to register in the read error list based on the user's judgment is described. However, when the number of read errors exceeds a predetermined number. May be automatically registered in the read error list. For assets with high importance such as contracts, it is desirable to register them in the lead error list at the discretion of the user. However, when taking inventory of assets with low importance, automatic registration can save time and effort. it can.

  In addition, when inventory is managed by managing the storage location of assets, inventory is grouped in advance for each storage location before taking inventory, and information on RFID tags other than the group has been read. A function of ignoring information may be added. That is, the group for which the inventory is performed is divided into a plurality of groups, it is determined that the group other than the group being inventoried is out of the area, and when information on RFID tags belonging to other groups outside the area is read, it is ignored. As a result, inventory is performed in units of groups, and when tag information other than the group is read, the inventory is ignored and the inventory efficiency can be improved.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, when an RFID tag outside the area is read in the inventory management system using the RFID tag, a read error is subsequently generated by registering the corresponding tag in the list. Even if it exists, since the read information is processed as invalid, inventory can be performed efficiently.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above description, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

100: Storage shelf 10 ... Holder (managed asset)
20 ... RFID tag 30 ... Handy terminal (RFID reader)
31 ... CPU
35 ... RFID control unit 36 ... transmission control unit 37 ... reception control unit 38 ... circulator 39 ... antenna 40 ... PC (asset management unit)
50 ... Database

Claims (8)

RFID tags attached to a plurality of assets to be managed and storing information for identifying the plurality of assets,
An RFID reader that transmits radio waves to the plurality of RFID tags, receives response radio waves from the RFID tags, and reads information of the RFID tags;
A database storing management information of the plurality of assets;
An asset management unit that receives information about the RFID tag of the asset in a preset area from the RFID reader and manages the asset by checking with the management information of the database;
A registration unit that registers a corresponding RFID tag in a read error list when information of an RFID tag outside the set area is read; and
When reading the RFID tag in the area, if the information of the RFID tag registered in the read error list is read, the read information is ignored.   When the RFID tag in the area is read, if the information of the RFID tag outside the area is read, the registration unit presents the number of times of reading to the user, and corresponds based on the user operation. 2. The asset management system according to claim 1, wherein an RFID tag to be registered is registered in the read error list.   The registration unit, when reading the RFID tag in the area, when information on the RFID tag outside the area is read, when the number of times of reading exceeds a predetermined number of times, 2. The asset management system according to claim 1, wherein the asset management system is automatically registered in a read error list. The asset management unit groups the plurality of assets,
The registration unit registers the corresponding RFID tag in a read error list when information on RFID tags of other groups is read when the RFID tags of a predetermined group are read. The asset management system according to claim 1. An RFID tag attached to each of a plurality of assets to be managed and storing information for identifying the plurality of assets, and a radio wave is transmitted to the plurality of RFID tags, and a response radio wave from the RFID tag is received. An RFID reader for reading information of the RFID tag,
Storing management information of the plurality of assets in a database;
The information of the RFID tag of the asset in a preset area is received from the RFID reader, and each asset is managed by checking with the management information of the database,
When the information of the RFID tag outside the set area is read, the corresponding RFID tag is registered in the read error list,
An asset management method characterized by ignoring the read information when the RFID tag information registered in the read error list is read when the RFID tag in the area is read.   When reading the RFID tag in the area, if the information of the RFID tag outside the area is read, the number of times of reading is presented to the user, and the corresponding RFID tag is set based on the user operation. 6. The asset management method according to claim 5, wherein the asset management method is registered in a read error list.   When reading the RFID tag in the area, if the information of the RFID tag outside the area is read, the RFID tag corresponding to when the number of times of reading exceeds a predetermined number 6. The asset management method according to claim 5, wherein the asset management method is automatically registered in a read error list. Grouping the plurality of assets,
6. The RFID tag according to claim 5, wherein when the RFID tag of the predetermined group is read, if the information of the RFID tag of another group is read, the corresponding RFID tag is registered in the read error list. Asset management method.

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