JP6142762B2 - Article search system and portable terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an article search system and a portable terminal.

  At present, in stores and factories, a wireless tag (RFID tag or the like) in which unique information (for example, information such as the model number, size, and color of the product) is recorded is attached to the product, and information on the wireless tag is recorded. Based on this, inventory management of goods is performed. For example, the following Patent Document 1 is provided as such a technique.

JP 2011-203922 A

  According to the configuration of Patent Document 1, since a plurality of wireless tags existing in the reading target area can be read together by the mobile terminal, it is possible to easily grasp the presence or absence of the plurality of wireless tags. However, there is a problem that the specific position of each wireless tag cannot be grasped in detail. Therefore, in such a technique, for example, when inventory is managed by attaching a wireless tag to an article, the existence of the article can be grasped, but the exact place where the desired article is placed in the storage space can be grasped. Difficult to do. For example, in the case where a plurality of articles are arranged side by side in the storage space, and such a vertical and horizontal arrangement continues in a plurality of rows in the depth direction, the desired article is at the back position. However, in order to find the article, there are problems that many articles are moved to the dark clouds, which takes time and effort.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an article search system capable of more quickly and accurately specifying the position of a desired article from a storage space in which a plurality of articles are arranged. An object is to provide a portable terminal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a portable terminal including a wireless tag attached to a plurality of arranged articles, a display unit, and a wireless tag reading unit that reads the wireless tag. The portable terminal is capable of recording the arrangement position information of the corresponding article and the article specifying information in an updatable manner for each of the wireless tags attached to each of the plurality of articles, Input means capable of inputting information specifying a search target article, wherein the RFID tag reading means specifies the article specification of the search target article based on the search target article specified by the input by the input means The array position information is read from the wireless tag in which information is recorded, and the display means is configured to search the search pair specified by the input means based on the array position information acquired by the wireless tag reading means. And displaying the position of the article.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article retrieval system including a wireless tag attached to a plurality of arranged articles, and a mobile terminal including a display unit and a wireless tag reading unit that reads the wireless tag. In addition, the mobile terminal includes a recording unit that can record the arrangement position information of the corresponding article and the article specifying information in an updatable manner for each wireless tag attached to each of the plurality of articles, and a search target article And an input means capable of inputting information for designating. The wireless tag reading means reads the array position information from the wireless tag in which the article specifying information of the search target article is recorded based on the search target article designated by the input by the input means. Further, the display means displays the position of the search target article designated by the input means based on the arrangement position information acquired by the wireless tag reading means.

  As described above, a plurality of arranged articles are attached with wireless tags in which arrangement position information and article specifying information are recorded. Then, by inputting information (for example, product information) for designating an article (a search target article) that a user (for example, a store clerk) wants to search on the mobile terminal, the wireless tag reading unit of the mobile terminal is attached to the search target article. The arrangement position information is read from the wireless tag, and the position of the article is displayed on the portable terminal. Thereby, the position of the desired article (search target article) can be identified more quickly and more accurately from the accommodation space in which a plurality of articles are arranged. In particular, at a site where a large number of articles are arranged, the specific position can be grasped more accurately and quickly. Therefore, convenience for the user can be improved.

  In the invention of claim 2, the mobile terminal acquires update information of the array position information recorded in the wireless tag with any one of the wireless tags as an update target, and based on the update information, Then, update data reflecting the update information is transmitted, and writing to the wireless tag is performed. When the wireless tag receives the update data from the mobile terminal side, the wireless tag updates the array position information stored in the wireless tag to reflect the update data. In this way, since the arrangement position information recorded on the wireless tag can be updated, for example, when the user of the system moves the article in accordance with the inventory status of the article, the arrangement after the movement is changed. It becomes easy to reflect accurately. Therefore, even when the situation changes, it is possible to adjust so that the user can accurately grasp the search target article.

  In the invention of claim 3, a plurality of portable terminals are used, and the arrangement position information and the article specifying information recorded on the wireless tag by any of the portable terminals can be read by the wireless tag reading means of the other portable terminals. It is configured. Thus, in the system, information stored in the wireless tag can be read by a plurality of portable terminals (because information stored in the wireless tag can be shared by a plurality of portable terminals). , Can improve convenience.

  In the invention of claim 4, a plurality of articles are arranged side by side in a predetermined depth direction in a storage space for accommodating these articles. The input means of the portable terminal is configured to be capable of inputting information specifying at least a column in the depth direction, and the display means is capable of displaying an article arrangement for each column in the depth direction. According to the designation of the column in the depth direction, the article arrangement of the designated column in the depth direction can be displayed. When a search target article is input by the input means, the position of the search target article is indicated in the display of the article arrangement in the depth direction column where the search target article exists. In this way, since the arrangement of the articles arranged in the depth direction can be displayed on the display means for each column in the depth direction, the user of the system can search at any position in any column in the depth direction. It becomes possible to specify more accurately and in detail whether the article exists.

  In the invention of claim 5, an information code is attached to each of the plurality of articles, and content information indicating the contents of the corresponding article is recorded in each information code. The portable terminal also includes information code reading means that can read the information code. Based on the content information of the information code read by the information code reading device, the recording unit reflects the content information of the information code on the wireless tag of the product to which the information code is attached. Is recorded. In this way, an information code in which the content information of each article is recorded is attached to each article, and the information code is read by the information code reading means, whereby the specific information of the article to which the read information code is attached. Since the contents can be recorded on the wireless tag, it is possible to save the input of the user of the system and to perform writing work on the wireless tag more accurately.

  According to the invention of claim 6, a mobile terminal having the same effect as that of claim 1 can be realized.

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating the article search system according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of reading an information code and writing a wireless tag. It is. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the mobile terminal used in the article search system of FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a wireless reader unit in the portable terminal of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating an information code reading unit in the portable terminal of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the wireless tag used in the article search system of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the arrangement of blocks in the store. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the flow of an article search process performed by the article search system of FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the reading range of the wireless tag by the mobile terminal, and FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining the reading range when the arranged articles are viewed in plan. (B) is a figure explaining the mode of the reading range when the arranged articles are viewed from the front. FIG. 8A shows a state of reading the wireless tag immediately after reading the start tag, FIG. 8B shows a state in the middle of reading the wireless tag, and FIG. This shows a state where reading of the wireless tag is completed. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how the position of the read wireless tag is determined in the control unit of the mobile terminal. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining how the array position information is displayed on the display unit. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the array position information.

[First embodiment]
The article search system 1 according to the present embodiment can specify the position of a desired article from among the plurality of articles when a plurality of articles are arranged in the storage space. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which products are arranged in boxes in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the depth direction in a shoe store or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the article search system 1 according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by a mobile terminal 2 and a wireless tag 50. The plurality of arranged articles 90 are each provided with a wireless tag 50, and the wireless tag 50 is configured to be read by the mobile terminal 2. The article search system 1 will be described using a configuration in which a plurality of portable terminals 1 are used as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an information code C is attached to each of a plurality of articles 90, and content information (for example, articles) indicating the contents of the corresponding article 90 is attached to each information code C. (Information such as model number, size, color, etc.) is recorded. Further, the content information recorded in the information code C can be read by the portable terminal 2. Based on the read content information of the information code C, the product identification information is recorded by reflecting the content information of the information code C on the wireless tag 50 of the product 90 to which the information code C is attached. It is like that. Here, the article specifying information is information for specifying the article 90 (for example, a unique number assigned to each article (for example, a shoebox number or the like, for example, “1223445-25B”)). . In the example of FIG. 1, a QR code (registered trademark) is shown as the information code C. However, the information code C is not particularly limited to this, and may be, for example, a barcode.

  As shown in FIG. 1A and the like, a plurality of articles 90 are arranged side by side in the storage space S, and three-dimensionally such that such a vertical and horizontal arrangement continues in the depth direction. Are arranged. In FIG. 1A, the X-axis direction is the horizontal direction, the Y-axis direction is the vertical direction, and the Z-axis direction (the direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) is the depth direction.

  The portable terminal 2 is configured as a portable information terminal that is carried by a user and used in various places. The portable terminal 2 functions as an information code reader that reads an information code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code, and wireless that reads a wireless tag. It has a function as a tag reader and can be read in two ways.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a control unit 10 that performs overall control. The control unit 10 includes a memory 11, a key operation unit 12, a display unit 13, an external interface 14, and a wireless reader unit. 20, an information code reading unit 30, a wireless communication unit 40, and the like are connected.

  The control unit 10 is composed mainly of a microcomputer, has a CPU, a system bus, an input / output interface, and the like, and functions as an information processing device together with the memory 11. The memory 11 includes a semiconductor memory such as a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory, and stores various types of information such as a program for performing a reading process described later.

  The key operation unit 12 includes a plurality of keys, and is configured to give an operation signal to the control unit 10 according to a user's key operation. The control unit 10 receives an operation signal from the key operation unit 12. When received, it is configured to perform an operation according to the operation signal. The key operation unit 12 corresponds to an example of “input means”, and can input information for specifying a search target article.

  The display unit 13 corresponds to an example of a “display unit”, and is configured by a liquid crystal display, for example, and is configured such that display content is controlled by the control unit 10. The external interface 14 is configured as an interface for performing data communication (for example, serial communication via a cable) with the outside (for example, a host device), and cooperates with the control unit 10. It is configured to perform communication processing. Further, the mobile terminal 2 is provided with a battery 15 and a power supply unit 16 as power sources, and power is supplied to the control unit 10 and various electric components by these.

  The wireless reader unit 20 communicates with the wireless tag 50 in cooperation with the antenna 25 and the control unit 10 to read data stored in the wireless tag 50 or write data to the wireless tag 50. Is functioning to do. The wireless reader unit 20 is configured as a circuit that performs transmission using a known radio wave system, and includes a transmission circuit 21, a reception circuit 22, a matching circuit 23, and the like as illustrated in FIG. The wireless reader unit 20 corresponds to an example of “wireless tag reading unit” and “recording unit”.

  The transmission circuit 21 includes a carrier oscillator, an encoding unit, an amplifier, a transmission unit filter, a modulation unit, and the like, and is configured to output a carrier (carrier wave) having a predetermined frequency from the carrier oscillator. The encoding unit is connected to the control unit 10, encodes transmission data output from the control unit 10, and outputs the encoded transmission data to the modulation unit. The modulation unit is a part to which the carrier (carrier wave) from the carrier oscillator and the transmission data from the encoding unit are input. The carrier (carrier wave) output from the carrier oscillator is encoded at the time of command transmission to the communication target. A modulated signal that is ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulated by the encoded transmission code (modulated signal) output from the encoding unit is generated and output to the amplifier. The amplifier amplifies the input signal (the modulated signal modulated by the modulation unit) with a predetermined gain, and outputs the amplified signal to the transmission unit filter. The transmission unit filter filters the amplified signal from the amplifier. The transmission signal is output to the antenna 25 via the matching circuit 23. When a transmission signal is output to the antenna 25 in this way, the transmission signal is radiated to the outside from the antenna 25 as an electromagnetic wave.

  On the other hand, the radio wave signal received by the antenna 25 is input to the receiving circuit 22 through the matching circuit 23. The reception circuit 22 is configured by a reception unit filter, an amplifier, a demodulation unit, a binarization processing unit, a decoding unit, and the like, and after filtering a signal received via the antenna 25 with a reception unit filter, The signal is amplified by an amplifier, and the amplified signal is demodulated by a demodulator. Then, the demodulated signal waveform is binarized by the binarization processing unit, decoded by the decoding unit, and then the decoded signal is output to the control unit 10 as received data.

  The wireless tag 50 to be communicated is configured as a known RFID tag in hardware, for example, and as shown in FIG. 4, an antenna 51, a power supply circuit 52, a demodulation circuit 53, a control circuit 54, a memory 55, a modulation circuit. 56 or the like. The power supply circuit 52 rectifies and smoothes a transmission signal (carrier signal) received from the portable terminal 2 via the antenna 51 to generate an operation power supply. The operation power supply includes the control circuit 54 and the like. Is supplied to each component. The demodulating circuit 53 demodulates the data superimposed on the transmission signal (carrier signal) and outputs it to the control circuit 54. The memory 55 includes various semiconductor memories such as a ROM and an EEPROM, and includes tag identification information (tag ID) for identifying the control program, the wireless tag 50, and data set by the user according to the use of the wireless tag 50. (Product data, logistics data, etc.) are stored. The control circuit 54 is configured to read the information and data from the memory 55 and output it as transmission data to the modulation circuit 56. The modulation circuit 56 performs load modulation on the carrier signal with the transmission data and performs the antenna 51. Is transmitted as a reflected wave.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the information code reading unit 30 functions as a known bar code reader, and is composed of a light receiving sensor composed of a solid-state imaging device, an imaging lens, a plurality of LEDs and lenses, and the like. The illumination unit is configured to function in such a manner as to read the information code attached to the reading object in cooperation with the control unit 10. The information code reading unit 30 corresponds to an example of “information code reading unit”.

  The wireless communication unit 40 is configured by a wireless LAN interface, for example, and functions to perform wireless communication with an external device connected to the wireless LAN.

  Further, the mobile terminal 2 is provided with an acceleration sensor 60 as shown in FIG. The acceleration sensor 60 is configured as a known three-axis acceleration sensor, and has a configuration capable of measuring acceleration in each of the three directions when the predetermined three directions of the mobile terminal 2 are XYZ.

(Preparation process)
Next, the preparation process before opening of a store performed in a store etc. is demonstrated.
In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of articles 90 are arranged in the storage space S by eight in the vertical direction, five in the horizontal direction, and four in the depth direction will be described as an example. To do. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1A, the first, second, third, and fourth columns from the front side are used. In FIG. 1A, the number of articles 90 is omitted for the sake of space. Further, in the store R, as shown in FIG. 5, these plurality of articles 90 include each block B (a total of 11 blocks B from No. 1 to No. 11 in FIG. 5) for each predetermined number. ) Are arranged separately.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1B, an information code attached to an article 90 (for example, a shoe box containing merchandise shoes) by a user (a store clerk (hereinafter also referred to simply as a “clerk”)). The content information recorded in C is read by the portable terminal 2, and based on the content information of the read information code C, the information code C is sent to the wireless tag 50 of the article 90 to which the information code C is attached. Article specifying information reflecting the content information (such as “12323445-25B”) is recorded. For example, the code reading side and the radio wave transmitting side are the same, and when reading the code, the wireless tag 50 is tried to be written, and the content of the read code is written to the wireless tag in the communication range. The portable terminal 2 is configured to display the content information of the article on the display unit 13 by inputting the article specifying information, and an application for executing the program is stored in the memory 11 in advance. Has been. For example, when “12323445-25B” is input to the mobile terminal 2 via the key operation unit 12, a product name, a size (for example, 25 cm), a color (for example, black), and the like are displayed. Such an operation is performed on all the arranged articles 90.

  Next, the store clerk arranges the articles 90 for one side on the back side. Specifically, a total of 40 are arranged in the fourth column, 8 vertically and 5 horizontally. And the information code C attached | subjected to each article | item 90 is read with the portable terminal 2 (Namely, the article | item specific information of each article | item 90 for the one surface of the 4th row | line | column) is read. Then, the read article specifying information is stored in the memory 11. At this time, arrangement position information corresponding to each article 90 is also stored.

  Here, the arrangement position information is a column number and address information of each article 90 (for example, 1, 2, 3,... 38, 39, 40, etc., which are attached in order according to the arrangement of the article 90). For example, “4-1”, “4-2”, “4-3”... “4-38”, “4-39”, “4-40”, etc. It becomes the number. Along with this arrangement position information, the corresponding block number (for example, “9”) is also stored in the memory 11. The arrangement position information is stored in the memory 11 by an input from the key operation unit 12 by a store clerk. For example, when an article specified by “12223445-25B” is arranged at the first address in the fourth column in the depth direction in the “9” block, as shown in FIG. 11, “12223445-25B”, “9”, “ 4-1 "is registered in association with each other and is made into a database. Such registration is performed for all articles. As described above, the article specifying information and the array position information of each article 90 are associated with each other and stored in the memory 11, and can also be used as a database for grasping inventory status and the like. Then, the article identification information and the array position information stored in the memory 11 are recorded in the wireless tag 50 by the wireless reader unit 20 of the portable terminal 2. Note that information recorded in the wireless tag 50 can be updated at any time.

  Next, as in the fourth row, the store clerk arranges the articles 90 in the third row for a total of 40 pieces, 8 vertically and 5 horizontally. The information code C attached to each article 90 is read by the portable terminal 2 and the read article specifying information is stored in the memory 11. At this time, arrangement position information corresponding to each article 90 is also stored. In this case, the arrangement position information includes, for example, “3-1”, “3-2”, “3-3”... “3-38”, “3-39”, “3-40”, and the like. It becomes the number. Along with this arrangement position information, the corresponding block number (for example, “9”) is also stored in the memory 11. Then, the article identification information and the array position information stored in the memory 11 are recorded in the wireless tag 50 by the wireless reader unit 20 of the portable terminal 2.

  Similarly, in the second row and the first row, the store clerk arranges the items 90 and stores the item specifying information and the arrangement position information corresponding to each item 90 and the block number in the memory 11. Record in the attached wireless tag 50. When this process is completed for all the columns, the inventory information (that is, data as shown in FIG. 11) of each mobile terminal 2 in the store is installed in the store via a network such as a wireless LAN. Upload to a host computer (not shown). The uploaded data is always rewritten to the latest one, and is used as a database for inventory information and the like. The data uploaded to the host computer is downloaded to each portable terminal 2 in the store and stored in the memory 11 at any time (for example, regularly every predetermined time or whenever there is an update). It is shared by a plurality of portable terminals 2. Then, this preparation process ends. In this way, the article specifying information and the array position information recorded on the wireless tag 50 can be read by other portable terminals in the store and can be rewritten.

(Article search process)
Next, processing for searching for a desired article from among a plurality of articles 90 arranged in the storage space S will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where the store clerk searches for a desired article (search target article) after opening the store will be described as an example.

  For example, in response to an inquiry such as a customer who came to a store (for example, when there is an inquiry such as wanting a difference in size of a certain article), in order to search for this article, For example, “1234445-25B” or the like, which corresponds to “information for specifying a search target article”) is input to the mobile terminal 2 via the key operation unit 12 or the like (step S1).

  Then, in the portable terminal 2, when the article specifying information is input, the inventory information downloaded in advance from the host computer to the memory 11 (that is, the information as shown in FIG. 1) is referred to, and whether or not the corresponding article is in stock. Is determined (step S2). If it is determined that there is no corresponding article, error information such as “out of stock” is displayed on the display unit 13 (step S10). In addition, an ordering process for the article is performed. And the said article search process is complete | finished.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that there is a stock, the number of the block in which the search target article is arranged is displayed on the display unit 13 in subsequent step S3. For example, when the search target article is arranged in the ninth block B, “block 9” or the like is displayed. Specifically, a block B arrangement map as shown in FIG. 5 may be displayed on the display unit 13 to indicate the corresponding block B. Then, the store clerk goes to the corresponding block B based on this display, and starts reading the wireless tag 50 by the portable terminal 2. In the subsequent processing from step S4, the arrangement position information and the article specifying information recorded in the wireless tag 50 are read and stored in the memory 11.

  7 shows the reading range α of the wireless tag 50 by the portable terminal 2, and FIG. 7A shows the reading range α when viewed from above (viewed from above). The reading range α can be moved by moving the terminal 2 in the X-axis direction. FIG. 7B shows a reading range α when viewed from the front, and the mobile terminal 2 is uniformly moved as indicated by arrows in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction along the surface on which the articles 90 are arranged. By doing so, the wireless tag 50 attached to the article 90 arranged in the storage space S can be read.

Here, a method for reading the wireless tag 50 will be described.
For the reading of the wireless tag 50, for example, a technique disclosed in JP2011-203922A can be suitably used. As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the start tag ST is arranged at a predetermined first boundary portion of the reading target area AR, and the end tag ET is arranged at a second boundary portion different from the first boundary portion in the reading target area AR. ing. The start tag ST and the end tag ET are configured as a wireless tag 50 shown in FIG. 4 in terms of hardware, and first specific information (start tag information) indicating the start tag ST is recorded in the start tag ST. In the end tag ET, second specific information (end tag information) indicating the end tag ET is recorded.

  Therefore, the portable terminal 2 can grasp that the start tag ST has been read when the first specific information (start tag information) is read. In step S4, the first specific information (start tag information) is detected. ) Is read or not. If the start tag ST is detected, the determination in step S4 is Yes, and the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, unless the start tag ST is detected, it is determined No in step S4.

  When the start tag ST is read (Yes in S4), the wireless tag 50 attached to each article 90 is read in the subsequent step S5. That is, in the process of step S5, the store clerk moves the mobile terminal 2 evenly in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, so that the information stored in the wireless tag 50 in the reading target AR is read. . The read information of the wireless tag 50 is stored in the memory 11 of the mobile terminal 2 as needed.

  In the subsequent process of step S6, it is determined whether or not reading has been completed. Here, when the end tag ET is detected, Yes is made in step S6, and the process proceeds to the subsequent step S7. On the other hand, unless the end tag ET is detected, it is determined No in step S6. That is, when this end tag ET is detected, even if reading of the wireless tags 50 in the reading target AR has not all been completed, the reading process performed in step S5 is once interrupted, and subsequent step S7. Proceed to

  8A shows a state of reading the wireless tag immediately after reading the start tag ST, and FIG. 8B shows a state in the middle of reading the wireless tag. C) shows a state in which reading of all the wireless tags 50 and end tags ET in the reading target AR has been completed (in FIG. 8, the arrangement position information of the read wireless tags 50 is displayed for convenience of explanation. ). That is, as shown in FIG. 8C, the end tag ET may be read after reading all the wireless tags 50 in the reading target AR. As shown in FIG. Even when all of them are not read (for example, when the store clerk knows the approximate position of the article to be searched without reading all the wireless tags 50), the end tag ET is read, and the reading process of step S5 You may make it end.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how the position of the read wireless tag 50 is determined mainly in the control unit 10 of the mobile terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 9A, first of all, radio waves of A, B1, C, D, E1, F, and G (for the sake of convenience of explanation, the radio tags 50 are identified in this manner by identifying the radio tags 50). When the tag 50 is read (FIG. 9 (A)) and then the wireless tag 50 of B is read, compared with the read data (A, B1, C) (read read arranged around B) The position of the B wireless tag 50 is determined. Further, the position of the wireless tag 50 of E is determined in the same manner (FIG. 9B). By repeating this process (FIGS. 9C and 9D), the positions of all the wireless tags 50 can be determined.

  In a succeeding step S7, the inventory information stored in the memory 11 is referred to and it is determined whether or not there is an inventory of the corresponding article. If it is determined that there is no corresponding article, the process proceeds to step S10, and error information such as “out of stock” is displayed on the display unit 13. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the item is in stock, in the subsequent step S8, the position of the search target article is displayed on the basis of the arrangement position information of the wireless tag 50 read by the portable terminal 2. 13 is displayed.

  The array position information can be displayed on the display unit 13 for each column in the depth direction as shown in FIG. By inputting information for designating a column in the depth direction by the key operation unit 12, the article arrangement in the designated column in the depth direction is displayed. For example, when the first row in the depth direction is designated, array data as shown in FIG. 10A is displayed on the display unit 13, for example. Further, in the display of the article arrangement in the column in the depth direction where the search target article exists, as shown in FIG. 10B, the position of the search target article is shown (in the example of FIG. 10B). “2-39” is the position of the article to be searched).

  Then, the store clerk takes out the search target article from the accommodation space S based on the arrangement position information displayed on the display unit 13 and updates the stock status stored in the memory 11 of the mobile terminal 2, such as a wireless LAN. Via the network, the data is uploaded to a host computer (not shown) or the like installed in the store (step S9), and the article search process is terminated.

  In addition, when a search target article is taken out and the arrangement of the articles 90 is changed, when the column number (update information) after the change is input from the key operation unit 12 by the store clerk, the update information is displayed. The update data reflecting the above is transmitted from the portable terminal 2 to the wireless tag 50, and the information recorded in the wireless tag 50 is updated. The updated information is uploaded to a host computer (not shown) installed in the store via a network such as a wireless LAN, and is also shared with other portable terminals in the store. ing. The key operation unit 12 and the control unit 10 that acquire the update information of the array position information correspond to an example of “acquisition means”. The control circuit 54 that updates the array position information stored in the wireless tag 50 corresponds to an example of “update control means”.

  As described above, in the article search system 1 according to the first embodiment, the wireless tag 50 attached to the plurality of arranged articles 90 and the display unit 13 and the wireless reader unit 20 that reads the wireless tag 50 are provided. And a portable terminal 2 provided. In addition, the mobile terminal 2 has a memory 11 that can record the arrangement position information and the item specifying information of the corresponding item 90 in an updatable manner with respect to each wireless tag 50 attached to each of the plurality of items 90. And a key operation unit 12 capable of inputting information for designating the search target article. Then, the wireless reader unit 20 reads the array position information from the wireless tag 50 in which the article specifying information of the search target article is recorded based on the search target article specified by the input by the key operation unit 12. Yes. Further, the display unit 13 displays the position of the search target article designated by the key operation unit 12 based on the arrangement position information acquired by the wireless reader unit 20.

  As described above, the wireless tag 50 in which the array position information and the article specifying information are recorded is attached to the plurality of articles 90 arranged. Then, the user (for example, a store clerk) or the like inputs information (for example, product information) that specifies an item (search target item) that the mobile terminal 2 wants to search, so that the wireless reader unit 20 of the mobile terminal 2 can search the target item. The arrangement position information is read from the wireless tag 50 attached to the, and the position of the article 90 is displayed on the portable terminal 2. Thereby, the position of the desired article (search target article) can be identified more quickly and more accurately from the accommodation space in which a plurality of articles 90 are arranged. In particular, even if the plurality of articles 90 are arranged side by side in the storage space S and such a vertical and horizontal arrangement continues in a plurality of rows in the depth direction, the desired article may be obtained. Ninety positions can be identified.

  Further, the mobile terminal 2 acquires update information on the array position information recorded in the wireless tag 50 with any one of the wireless tags 50 as an update target, and based on this update information, The update data reflecting the update information is transmitted, and writing to the wireless tag 50 is performed. When the wireless tag 50 receives update data from the mobile terminal 2 side, the wireless tag 50 reflects the update data and updates the array position information stored in the wireless tag 50. As described above, since the arrangement position information recorded in the wireless tag 50 can be updated, for example, when the user of the system moves the article 90 in accordance with the inventory status of the article 90, etc. can do.

  Further, a plurality of portable terminals 2 are used, and the arrangement position information and the article specifying information recorded on the wireless tag 50 by any of the portable terminals 2 can be read by the wireless reader unit 20 of the other portable terminals 2. It is configured. As described above, the system is configured to be able to read information stored in the wireless tag 50 by the plurality of portable terminals 2 (the information stored in the wireless tag 50 is shared by the plurality of portable terminals 2). Can be improved).

  A plurality of articles 90 are arranged side by side in a predetermined depth direction in the storage space S in which these articles 90 are accommodated. The key operation unit 12 of the mobile terminal 2 is configured to be able to input information specifying at least a column in the depth direction, and the display unit 13 can display an article arrangement for each column in the depth direction. According to the designation of the row in the depth direction by the key operation unit 12, the article arrangement in the designated row in the depth direction can be displayed. When the search target article is input by the key operation unit 12, the position of the search target article is indicated in the display of the article arrangement in the column in the depth direction where the search target article exists. In this way, since the array of the articles 90 arranged in the depth direction can be displayed on the display unit 13 for each column in the depth direction, the user of the system can be located at any position in any column in the depth direction. It becomes possible to specify more accurately and in detail whether the search target article exists.

  Further, an information code C is attached to each of the plurality of articles 90, and content information indicating the contents of the corresponding article 90 is recorded in each information code C. The portable terminal 2 includes an information code reading unit 30 that can read the information code C. Then, based on the content information of the information code C read by the information code reading unit 30, the memory 11 sends the content information of the information code C to the wireless tag 50 of the article 90 to which the information code C is attached. The item identification information is recorded in reflection. Thus, the information code C in which the content information of each article 90 is recorded is attached to each article 90, and the read information code C is attached by reading the information code C by the information code reading unit 30. Since the specific contents of the article 90 can be recorded on the wireless tag 50, it is possible to save the input of the user of the system and to write the wireless tag 50 more accurately. .

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, a plurality of articles 90 are arranged side by side in the storage space S, and further, such a vertical and horizontal arrangement is arranged three-dimensionally so as to continue in the depth direction. However, the present invention can also be applied when a plurality of articles 90 are two-dimensionally arranged.

  In the above embodiment, a configuration using a plurality of mobile terminals 2 is exemplified, but only one mobile terminal 2 may be used, and the configuration can be changed as appropriate according to the store scale and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Article search system 2 ... Portable terminal 10 ... Control part (acquisition means)
11 ... Memory (recording means)
12. Key operation unit (input means, acquisition means)
13 ... Display section (display means)
20: Wireless reader unit (wireless tag reading means)
30 ... Information code reading unit (information code reading means)
50: wireless tag 54 ... control circuit (update control means)
90 ... Article C ... Information code S ... Storage space

Claims (6)

A wireless tag attached to a plurality of arranged articles;
A portable terminal comprising display means and wireless tag reading means for reading the wireless tag;
Have
The portable terminal is
Recording means capable of recording the arrangement position information and article specifying information of the corresponding article in an updatable manner with respect to each of the wireless tags attached in association with each of the plurality of articles,
An input means capable of inputting information for specifying an article to be searched;
With
The wireless tag reading means reads the array position information from the wireless tag in which the article specifying information of the search target article is recorded based on the search target article specified by the input by the input means,
The article search system, wherein the display means displays the position of the search target article designated by the input means based on the arrangement position information acquired by the RFID tag reading means. The portable terminal includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire update information of the array position information recorded in the recording unit of the wireless tag with any one of the wireless tags as an update target,
The recording unit is configured to transmit update data reflecting the update information to the wireless tag to be updated and write to the wireless tag based on the update information acquired by the acquisition unit. And
When the wireless tag receives the update data from the recording means, the wireless tag includes update control means for updating the array position information stored in the wireless tag to reflect the update data. The article search system according to claim 1. A plurality of the mobile terminals are used;
The arrangement position information and the article specifying information recorded on the wireless tag by any one of the portable terminals are configured to be readable by the wireless tag reading unit of the other portable terminal. The article search system according to claim 1 or 2. A plurality of the articles are arranged side by side in a predetermined depth direction in a storage space that houses the articles,
The input means is configured to be capable of inputting information specifying at least the column in the depth direction,
The display means can display the article arrangement for each column in the depth direction, and can display the article arrangement in the designated row in the depth direction according to the designation of the depth direction column by the input means. When the search target article is input by the input means, the position of the search target article is indicated in the display of the article arrangement in the column in the depth direction where the search target article exists. The article search system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article search system is characterized. An information code is attached to each of the plurality of articles,
In each of the information codes, content information indicating the content of the corresponding article is recorded,
The portable terminal includes an information code reading unit capable of reading the information code,
The recording unit reflects the content information of the information code on the wireless tag of the article to which the information code is attached based on the content information of the information code read by the information code reading unit. The article search system according to claim 1, wherein the article specifying information is recorded. Display means;
Wireless tag reading means for reading wireless tags attached to a plurality of arranged articles;
Recording means capable of recording the arrangement position information and article specifying information of the corresponding article in an updatable manner with respect to each of the wireless tags attached in association with each of the plurality of articles,
An input means capable of inputting information for specifying an article to be searched;
With
The wireless tag reading means reads the array position information from the wireless tag in which the article specifying information of the search target article is recorded based on the search target article specified by the input by the input means,
The portable terminal characterized in that the display means displays the position of the search target article designated by the input means based on the arrangement position information acquired by the wireless tag reading means.

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