WO2011120765A1

WO2011120765A1 - Autonomous electronic tag

Info

Publication number: WO2011120765A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/053425
Authority: WO
Inventors: Silvio Becher; Christian Seitz
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2010-03-30
Filing date: 2011-03-08
Publication date: 2011-10-06
Also published as: DE102010013358B4; DE102010013358A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an autonomous electronic tag (1) for storing product-related data with a rule base (6) for storing rules which stipulate conditions under which prescribable data are intended to be obtained and stored, a rule machine (4) for checking the conditions, an agent (3) for generating messages for requesting data when a corresponding rule is satisfied, a communication interface (2) for sending the messages and for receiving the data, and a main memory (7) for storing the received data. In this case, the autonomous electronic tag (1) can be fitted to a product or to a package for the product. The invention can be used as a digital product memory and affords the advantage of the rule set being able to be easily replaced.

Description

description

Autonomous Electronic Label The invention relates to an autonomous electronic label for storing product-relevant data which can be attached to a product or a packaging of the product.

Technologies for automatic identification as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has in recent years in the field of production, supply chain management (Supply Chain Management) and become very important in Inventarisierungssys ^¬ temen. For future purposes, however, the idea of storing a simple identifier (ID) has been extended to a so-called digital product memory. Such a product memory then constitutes a kind of digital diary in which all relevant environmental parameters are stored in digital form throughout the entire life cycle of the product.

But a key problem in the preparation of a complete product life is the necessary Speicherkapa ^¬ capacity. So far, only parts of the entire product life cycle are recorded as a rule. Furthermore, the data is generally not stored on the product or the product packaging itself, but in a central database. If data are to be stored directly on the product, then storage media are used which, for example, are based on RFID technologies and only have a storage capacity of a few kilobytes.

Another key issue concerns the selection of spei ^¬ chernden product-relevant data. Frequently, products are shipped to different countries with different labeling standards. This may result in the need to store different data in the product memory. In known systems, the selection of the data is not made by the product itself, but by the devices which write the data to the storage medium. The selection of the data is fixed. If other data are to be stored, a complex reconfiguration of the devices is required. To avoid reconfiguration, generally all possible data would have saved the ^¬. However, this is only possible if it is very little data, otherwise the available storage capacity is by no means sufficient. The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a digital product memory, which the ^¬ to store obtains the product relevant data independently, allowing the Spei ^¬ assurance of the data directly to a product or on the packaging of the product and ER- it easily allows to define those data which should be stored in the product memory.

This object is achieved by an autonomous electronic label for storing product-relevant data, which comprises:

a rule base for storing rules which specify conditions under which specifiable data are to be obtained and stored,

a rule machine for checking the conditions,

a software agent (hereafter referred to as an agent) for generating data request messages when a corresponding rule is met,

a communication interface for sending the messages and for receiving the data and

- A memory for storing the received data, which is commonly referred to as "working memory" and represents the actual product memory.

The autonomous electronic tag is attached on a per ^¬ domestic product or packaging of the product.

According to the invention, those data which are to be included in the product ^memory are specified via a rule-based mechanism. These are in a Speckerein- unit, which is usually referred to as a rule base, deposits rules which specify at what time which data is to be procured and stored. These control conditions are regularly checked by a rule machine based on facts, which are preferably stored in the Ar ^¬ beitsspeicher or provided by the agent. Is one of the conditions are met, a software agent is used to develop the necessary data to be ^¬. Here, the agent uses the integrated in the autonomous electronic tag communication interface, wel ^¬ che for example, as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) - and / or Bluetooth (BT) interface can be configured with other electronic labels or other Components, such as sensor units or devices in the environment of the product to communicate.

The use of a rule-based mechanism for specifying the data to be stored in the product memory, by simply adding or changing individual rules or by exchanging the entire rule set, allows further or changed data to be included in the product memory should. The new or changed rules can be supplied to the label via the communication interface. In the case of RFID interface example, it is suffi ^¬ cient to bring a transponder with the appropriately modified rules within communication range of the communication interface ^¬ imagine. The invention thus creates an autonomous electronic label, which independently procures the product-relevant data to be stored from the environment.

The rule base may also contain rules defining conditions under which actions should be performed. The actions often include this triggering an alarm, which is why this function is often referred to as Alarmme ^¬ mechanism. If the rule engine determines that such a condition is met, the Agent the necessary messages to implement the action.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rule machine checks all the conditions stored in the rule base as part of a check, and the agent collects all the data and actions to be requested from this in a so-called agenda. Subsequently, the necessary messages are generated on the basis of this agenda. This procedure also allows, for example, a prioritization in the acquisition of data and / or the implementation of actions.

In order to always ensure the acquisition and storage of required data and / or the execution of an action, it is advantageous for the rule engine to start a checking process, ie a check of the conditions, whenever a change occurs in the rule base or the main memory.

To ensure a timely storage of received data, thus for example also a timely storage amended Re ^¬ rules sure the agent at regular intervals to check whether new data has been received from the communication interface.

One embodiment provides that received produktrele ^¬-relevant data is first forwarded to the agent and this then forwards the data to the memory. Here, the agent can transform the data into a designated for storing data format, so that even committed more appropriate under certain circumstances data format can be used for Kom ^¬ communication. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the rule base and the working memory in a common Wis ^¬ sensdatenbank - often referred to as "Knowledge Base" - integrated. But alternatively may also be provided separate Spei ^¬ chermedien.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an embodiment which is explained below with reference to the figure, which shows a schematic representation of a possible architecture of an autonomous electronic label according to the invention.

The autonomously illustrated in Figure 1 autonomous electronic label 1, which is attachable to a product or packaging of the product and is intended to store produktrele ^¬ vanter data, has a communication ^¬ interface 2, an agent 3, a rule engine 4 and a knowledge database. 5 on. The knowledge database 5 in turn comprises a rule base 6 and a memory 7, wel ^¬ cher represents the actual product memory. For speci ^¬ fication of those data which are to be included in the product memory, rules are stored in the rule base, which data should be procured at what time, or better under what condition and stored in the working memory. Examples of such rules are:

(1) IF position = X, then enter room temperature value

(2) IF product to machine Y, THEN enter weight

Wear (3) IF temperature value> 30 ° C, humidity THEN one ^¬

In addition, the rules can also specify so-called alarm mechanisms involved in fulfillment of a condition not data entry but an action, such as the Auslö ^¬ sen an alarm, changing a machine setting or sending a status report, requested. The rule machine 4 regularly checks the conditions defined in the rules on the basis of so-called facts which determine the condition part (IF part) of the rule. These facts can be either stored in memory 7, wherein the facts serving as data in memory advantageous are marked accordingly, or have to be by the agent 3, for example via external services, be ^¬ manages. The conditions or rules are preferably checked by the rule engine 4 as soon as a change in the rule base 6 or the main memory 7 occurs.

Agent 3 is responsible for procuring the data to be entered in the rules and / or for implementing the actions defined in the rules. Software agents are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are characterized in that they include, among others

- operate autonomously, ie largely independent of user intervention,

- Be proactive, ie initiate actions on your own initiative,

- react to changes in environmental conditions,

- Communicate and collaborate with other agents

can and

- are adaptable and adaptable.

If the rule engine 4 determines that one of the rules is fulfilled, the agent 3 generates a corresponding message for requesting the required date, for example the room temperature, the weight or the air humidity, or for the implementation of the required action, for example one alarm message. In this case, the data to be requested and the actions to be implemented resulting from a check of the entire rule set are preferably collected in the form of a so-called agenda and subsequently requested or implemented, if appropriate with meaningful prioritization. To obtain the data or to implement an action of the agent 3 usually has to an external component, such as a sensor unit, a machine or a contact external database. This is done via the communication interface 2, which can be configured as RFID and / or BT interface. In this case, on the one hand, messages for data request or for implementing an action can be sent via the communication interface 2 and, on the other hand, the requested data can be received. Preferably, it checks Agent periodically whether were collected emp ^¬ from the communication interface new data and forwards it, possibly after appropriate processing of the data format of the RAM 7 or in described below, the case of new rules to the rule base 6 on.

The communication interface 2 can also receive data comprising new rules, which are then stored in the rule base 6. In this way, the rule set can be customized ringing and easily to concrete Umgebungsbedingun ^¬ gen and / or requirements. Such a change or adaptation of the rule set is necessary, for example, because a product manufactured for the industry is frequently put into operation in different environments and it is absolutely necessary for maintenance work to provide the maintenance mechanics with the appropriate information adapted to the respective environment be put. By simply changing the rule sets and their application, it is low on ^¬ wall possible to use the product in various Fertigungsab ^¬ cut. Likewise, products are often shipped into different countries using different standards Stan ^¬ with different thresholds or even dictate. Consequently, the product memory per ^¬ duktrelevante data needs, such as sensor and / or usage data document in a different way. So it is playing, conceivable examples that an ambient temperature ^¬ must be recorded as early as 5 ° C for the detection of Kühlunterbre ^¬ monitoring of a food in a country A, in a country B but only from 7 ° C. Even in such a case is the Use of different rule sets makes sense

Claims

claims

1. Autonomous electronic label (1) for storing product-related data with

a rule base (6) for storing rules specifying conditions under which specifiable data is to be obtained and stored,

a control machine (4) for checking the conditions,

an agent (3) for generating messages for the data request, if a corresponding rule is fulfilled,

a communication interface (2) for sending the ^messages and for receiving the data and

a main memory (7) for storing the received data,

wherein the autonomous electronic tag (1) is mountable on a per ^¬ domestic product or packaging of the product.

2. Autonomous electronic label according to claim 1, characterized in that in the rule base (6) also rules are stored, which define conditions under which

Actions are to be executed and the agent (3) generates messages for the implementation of the action, if a corresponding rule is fulfilled.

3. Autonomous electronic label according to one of claims 1 or 2,

characterized in that the agent (3) to be requested stores Since ^¬ th and actions to be performed in an agenda and generates the messages based on this agenda.

4. Autonomous electronic label according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the agent (3) checks the Be ^¬ conditions based on facts that are stored in the working ^¬ memory (7) or by the agent (3) be - be prepared.

5. An autonomous electronic label according to one of vorherge ^¬ Henden claims, characterized in that the rule engine (4) checks the Bedin ^¬ conditions as soon as a change in the rule base (6) or the working memory (7) occurs.

6. An autonomous electronic label according to one of vorherge ^¬ Henden claims,

characterized in that the agent (3) checks at regular intervals whether new data has been received from the communication interface (2).

7. An autonomous electronic label according to one of vorherge ^¬ Henden claims,

characterized in that the agent (3) transformed received per ^¬ duktrelevante data in an intended for storing data format and to the memory (7) terleitet wei ^¬.

8. An autonomous electronic label according to one of vorherge ^¬ Henden claims,

characterized in that the data received by the communication interface ^¬ (2) data may also comprise new rules which are stored in the rule base (6).

9. Autonomous electronic label according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the rule base (6) and the Ar ^¬ beitsspeicher (7) are integrated into a knowledge database (5).

10. An autonomous electronic label according to one of vorherge ^¬ Henden claims,

characterized in that the communication interface (2) is designed as a radio frequency identification and / or Bluetooth interface.