JP2003151086A - Transport system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transport system and a method therefor allowing to normally trace a cargo without a need to make a record when transshipping the cargo. SOLUTION: This system includes a tag 12 fixed on the cargo, a center device 14 for collecting cargo position data and a communication network 16 for communicating between the tag 12 and the center device 14. A position detection means 18 is fixed on the tag 12 for detecting the position and the cargo 34 on which the tag 12 is fixed can be monitored by transmitting the position data to the center device 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transportation system for transporting goods such as cargo and a transportation method using the transportation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, in the transportation of cargo, there is provided a service for providing information on the current position of the cargo.
This service is: (1) Each time you transship an individual cargo or a collection of cargo that has the same route as the destination, between transportation means such as trucks, trains, ships, and planes, a tag (tag).
Read and record the identification code (number) or bar code recorded in, etc., (2) Specify the position of the transportation means that is transporting the target cargo at the time when you want to know the location information, or transport the cargo. This is realized by specifying the waiting place when the vehicle is in the waiting state on the way of the route.

As the luggage tag, in addition to the conventional paper medium, an FeRAM (Ferroelectric RAM) which is a non-volatile storage device, a microcontroller, and an LSI chip equipped with a proximity wireless circuit capable of wireless communication if a distance of several centimeters is entered. There is an IC tag that I used. As for the paper medium, of course, the identification mark is confirmed manually by a person. Even with an IC tag, some kind of reading device is used to read the identification symbol.

According to the conventional method, the identification code or number of the cargo is read manually or by a bar code reading device, an IC tag reading device or the like every time the cargo is transshipped between transportation means or arrives at a relay place. It is necessary to confirm the arrival of the cargo at the relay point. It is possible to use some automated equipment, but the work itself of checking the identification code of the cargo cannot be omitted. This is because if this read confirmation work is omitted, the arrival of the cargo at the relay point cannot be confirmed, and effective tracking of the cargo cannot be performed. The time required for this work affects the transportation time, and this read confirmation work requires some labor.

[0005] When a wrong transshipment destination is made due to an error during transshipment, the mistake is not confirmed until the cargo arrives at the next relay point, so it is virtually missing during that time. Therefore, transportation time and energy during that time are lost. In addition, since there are usually multiple possibilities of incorrect transshipment destinations, all potential destinations must be scrutinized until the relevant cargo is found, which requires a great deal of time and labor.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to keep records when transshipping cargo, etc.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transportation system and a method thereof that can always track a cargo.

[0007]

A transportation system according to the present invention detects a position, a storage unit in which at least an identification symbol for identifying a cargo is stored, a communication unit having a wireless communication function, and the position is detected. Control means for controlling the means, the storage means, and the communication means, a luggage tag attached to a cargo including a power source, and a communication means for communicating with the luggage tag,
And a center device including means for displaying data of the position detected by the position detecting means, and a communication network for communicatively connecting the tag and the center device.

In the transportation method of the present invention, a step of accessing a luggage tag attached to the cargo from the center device, a step of detecting the position of the luggage tag, and data of the detected position from the luggage tag to the center device. And a step of displaying the data of the position at the center device.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a transportation system and a transportation method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transportation system 10 of the present invention includes a luggage tag 12 attached to a cargo, a center device 14 for collecting data on the location of the cargo, and a luggage tag 1.
A communication network 16 that connects the two to the center device 14 is included.

As shown in FIG. 2, the luggage tag 12 is attached to a cargo 34 when being carried by a transportation means 32 such as a truck. The luggage tag 12 includes a plurality of means as will be described later, but a miniaturized one such as an IC card is preferable.

The structure of the luggage tag 12 includes means for detecting a position (hereinafter, referred to as position detecting means) 18, storage means 20 for a luggage tag in which at least an identification symbol (or identification number) for identifying the cargo 34 is stored, Communication means 22 for a tag having a wireless communication function, control means 24 for controlling the position detection means 18, the storage means 20, and the communication means 22, and a power supply 26.
including.

The position detecting means 18 uses GPS (Global P
ositioning System: Global Positioning System) can be used. Also, instead of GPS, PHS (Personal
Handyphone System: A handyphone system may be used to detect the position by using a plurality of base stations.

The identification code stored in the storage means 20 can be a slip number or the like currently used for freight transportation, but other symbols or numbers for identifying the cargo 34 can be used. But good. In addition, a symbol or number for identifying the relay point or the delivery point is provided at the relay point or the delivery point where the cargo 34 is transshipped.
It is also possible to further include the symbols and numbers of the relay points and the collection and delivery points through which 4 is transported when being transported. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a symbol and a number for identifying each customer, and to include them in the above-mentioned identification symbol.

The storage means 20 is a FeRAM (Ferroelec).
Next-generation non-volatile memories such as tric RAM) and MRAM (Magnetic RAM) have excellent writeability and power saving, and are advantageous for use in the system 10.
In addition, currently available EEPROM (Electrically Era
sable Programmable ROM) or Flash Memory. If there is no problem in terms of power supply, volatile memory such as SRAM (Static RAM) may be used. The system 10 includes a device for inputting the identification symbol to the storage means 20 and a device for reading the identification symbol.

The control means 24 is an MPU (Micro Processo).
r Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and / or other logic circuit.

As the power source 26, any one of a battery, a solar cell, a power generator by vibration, a power generator by external radio waves, or the like is selected or used, or a plurality of them are selected and used.

As the communication network 16 connecting the luggage tag 12 and the center device 14, a communication network including an existing mobile phone or PHS base station 17 can be used. In this case, the communication means 22 is configured to match the communication protocol of the mobile phone or PHS. The communication network 16 may be a satellite communication network so that communication can be performed even in an area where an existing communication network is not installed. In this case, the communication unit 22 is configured to be capable of satellite communication.
Furthermore, instead of using a communication network such as a mobile phone or PHS, a dedicated wireless communication network may be laid and used. Further, the communication network may include a relay station. The base station 17 and the relay station are mobile or fixed. The base station 17 and the relay station may be equipped in a transportation means (truck or airplane) that transports the cargo.

The center device 14 includes communication means of the center device for communicating with the luggage tag 12 and display means for displaying data of the position sent from the luggage tag. Also,
The center device 14 includes a storage unit that stores identification symbols, position data, and the like.

The communication means of the center device has a communication protocol that allows the center device to connect to the communication network 16 described above.

The storage device of the center device uses a device such as a hard disk that can store electronic data in order to store the data of the position obtained from the luggage tag 12. Also,
When storing data, it is stored as a database of a predetermined format. The predetermined format of this database is the storage means 20.
The format of the identification symbol and the position data stored in the corresponding format.

Information (data) on the transportation route of the cargo 34 is
It is stored in the storage means of the center device 14. For example, it is stored in the above database. By comparing the data of the position of the cargo 34 and the information of this transportation route, it is possible to find an error in the transportation route. Therefore, the center device 14 includes means (hereinafter, referred to as route confirmation means) for checking the data of the position of the cargo 34 and the information of the transportation route.

In addition to the above data, the storage means of the center device can store the weight, type, customer name, etc. of the cargo 34 as a database. If the customer name is provided with a symbol for identifying the customer, it may be used. This database is configured such that various data belonging to the same cargo 34 are stored in the same folder in the storage means of the center device so that other data can be browsed by the identification symbol or the like. As described above, the center device 14 includes the database management system for managing the above database.

Further, the center device 14 includes means for producing warning information indicating that the cargo 34 has deviated from the transportation route when it is confirmed by the route confirmation means that the cargo 34 has deviated from the transportation route.

A terminal device (computer) 28 is arranged at a collection / delivery point or a relay point for handling the cargo 34, and a communication means for making a communication connection with the center device 14 and the terminal device 28 is included. When the center device 14 finds an error in the transportation route of the cargo 34, warning information is sent to the terminal device 28, and the information is displayed on the display means of the terminal device 28, etc. Try to recover. The warning information is transmitted to the terminal device 28 such as a relay point related to a transportation accident, or all the terminal devices 28.

Further, the storage means 2 of the tag 12 at a collection point or the like.
The work of inputting an identification symbol to 0 is performed. When the identification code is not rewritable, the operation of reading the identification code is performed. By means of the communication means of the terminal device 28, the identification symbol can be sent to the center device 14 using the terminal device 28 of the collection / delivery station. At the same time as the transmission of the identification symbol, the data such as the destination of the cargo 34, the collection point serving as the destination and the relay point through which the cargo 34 passes are configured to be transmitted to the center device. Further, the center device 14 uses the data of the above-mentioned collection point and relay point sent together with the identification symbol to carry the cargo 3
4 means for determining the transportation route and transportation means (hereinafter referred to as transportation method determining means).

The route confirmation means, the transportation method determination means and the like can be constructed by programs and stored in the storage means of the center device 14.

The center device 14 may be connected to the Internet so that the data of the position of the cargo 34 stored as a database can be browsed from a computer connected to the Internet. in this case,
The center device 14 includes a web server. The computer also includes a mobile phone and a mobile terminal that can be connected to the Internet.

As described above, the center device 14 accesses the luggage tag 12 and stores various data, and thus functions as a device for controlling and managing the system 10.

Next, a transportation method using the transportation system 10 of the present invention will be described. After the cargo 34 is received from the customer at a collection / delivery point of the cargo 34, the identification code is input to the storage means 20 of the tag 21 attached to the cargo 34 using a device for inputting the identification code. Input the cargo 34
Either before or after attaching the luggage tag 12 to the.
If the identification code is not rewritable, the identification code on the tag 12 is read. Thereafter, the cargo 34 is transported by the transportation means 32 such as a truck or a train along the transportation route determined by the center device.

Information such as the identification code of the luggage tag 12 and the destination of the cargo 34 is transmitted from the terminal device 28 to the center device 14. The transportation method determining means determines the transportation route and the transportation means. The storage means of the center device 14 stores the identification symbol and the information of the transportation route in the form of a database.

During the transportation of the cargo 34, the center device 14
Acquires position data from the luggage tag 12, and the center device 1
The process of displaying the data on the display means 4 is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. When it is desired to know the position of the cargo 34 during transportation of the cargo 34, the center device 14
And the tag 12 are connected via the communication network 16 (step 1). When it is desired to know the position of the cargo 34 during the transportation of the cargo 34, there is a case where the center device 14 is accessed through the Internet, which will be described later. Further, the center device 14 and the luggage tag 12 may be regularly connected. In this connection, a desired tag 12 is identified from among a large number of tags by the identification symbol stored in the storage means 20, and the connection is made. If the tag 12 has a communication connection,
The current position is detected by using the position detecting means 18 (step 2). The data on the detected position is sent to the center device 14 via the communication network 16 (step 3). When the center device 14 receives the position data, the center device 14 displays the data on the display means (step 4). Further, the position data is stored in the storage means of the center device as a database of a predetermined format. At least the identification symbol, the information on the transportation route, and the data on the position become the corresponding databases.

When the center device 14 is connected to the Internet, the center device 14 can acquire various data and browse the created data of the database via the communication network of the Internet. At the time of browsing, a search is made using the identification symbol of the luggage tag 12 or the like.

The route confirming means compares the transportation route information and the position data stored in the center device 14 to check whether the transportation route of the cargo 34 is correct.

When the error is found when checking the error in the transportation route of the cargo 34, the center device 14 creates warning information and sends the warning information to the terminal device 28. The terminal device 28 that receives the warning information is the nearest terminal device 28 in which a transportation accident has occurred, the terminal device 28 at the point where the cargo 34 should originally arrive, or all the terminal devices 28. Thus, by transmitting the warning information at an early stage, it is possible to recover the transport accident at an early stage. Since the position of the cargo 34 is detected by the position detecting means 18 of the luggage tag 12, the cargo 34 is never lost.

According to the present invention, by detecting the position of the cargo 34 by the position detecting means 18 of the luggage tag 12 and sending it to the center device 14, it is possible to reliably notice the transportation accident of the cargo 34, and waste energy consumption. Can be kept to a minimum. In addition, in the conventional service that provides information, it is always performed by checking the identification symbol written on the luggage tag every time when passing through the relay point, but in the present invention, such a thing is not necessary, and Since it is possible to eliminate inspections at such relay points, it is possible to reduce transportation cost and transportation time.

Since the cargo 12 is attached to each cargo 34, even if the cargo 34 is stolen, the position of the cargo 34 can be confirmed in real time, and the cargo 34 can be secured early and the criminal can be cleared early. Therefore, the transportation system 10
Is also effective in preventing theft of the cargo 34.

Although the embodiments of the transportation system and the transportation method according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment,
Although only the identification symbol is stored in the storage means 20 of the luggage tag 12, other data may be stored. For example, the transportation route information and the route confirmation means may be stored in the storage means 20, and the tag 12 may confirm the mistake of the transportation route. When the transportation route is wrong, an alarm buzzer or the like is used to notify the driver of the transportation means 32 of the error. In addition, the center device 14
Alternatively, it may be transmitted to the terminal device 28.

The position detecting means 18 of the luggage tag 12 periodically detects the position and stores the periodically detected position in the storage means 20 of the luggage tag 12 so that the position can be estimated. May be. Therefore, the storage means 20 stores map data, and the tag 12 is provided with means for estimating the current position from the change in the position data. When the center device 14 and the luggage tag 12 are communicatively connected and the cargo 34 is in the tunnel and the position detecting means 18 such as GPS cannot be used, the position is estimated and the center device 14 is inferred the position. Information can be sent.

When the position is detected periodically, the position data may be sent to the center device 14 each time the position is detected. The center device 14 rewrites or adds to the database of the storage means of the center device 14 each time the position data is sent. Therefore, the center device 14 via the Internet
When is accessed, the position data can be obtained without accessing the luggage tag 12. By shortening the timing of detecting the position, the position data obtained on the Internet and the actual position of the cargo 34 are accurate.

In addition, the present invention can be carried out in a mode in which various improvements, modifications and variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0042]

According to the present invention, the position of a cargo can be known accurately at any time. In principle, the cargo will not be lost unless the tag is broken. It is not necessary to read the identification code (identification number) on the luggage tag at the time of transshipment of cargo or at the relay point, which leads to cost reduction and speedup of the transportation service.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a transportation system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in which a cargo tag is attached to a cargo when the cargo is transported by a transportation means.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when acquiring data of a tag.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Transportation system 12: Tag 14: Center device 16: Communication network 17: Base station 18: Position detecting means 20: Storage means for luggage 22: Communication means for luggage 24: Control means 26: Power supply 28: Terminal device 30: Satellite 32: means of transport 34: Freight

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hisadamu Miyatake             800 Miyake, Yasu-cho, Yasu-gun, Shiga Prefecture             Japan IBM Corporation Yasu Business             In-house F term (reference) 5H180 AA15 BB04 BB05 BB12 CC12                       FF05 FF10 FF13                 5J062 AA03 BB01 CC07                 5K067 AA21 BB04 BB21 BB36 DD51                       EE02 EE07 EE10 EE16 FF01                       FF03 HH22 JJ52 JJ56

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A transportation system for detecting the position of a cargo being transported, said means for detecting the position, storage means for storing at least an identification symbol for identifying the cargo, and communication provided with a wireless communication function. Means, means for detecting the position, control means for controlling the storage means and the communication means, a luggage tag attached to a cargo including a power source, a communication means for communicating with the luggage tag, and a means for detecting the position A transportation system including a center device including means for displaying the data of the position detected in 1. and a communication network for communicatively connecting the tag and the center device. 2. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the position includes GPS or PHS. 3. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the communication network includes a PHS communication network or a mobile phone communication network. 4. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a unit capable of rewriting the identification mark. 5. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the center device includes storage means, and information on a transportation route of the cargo is stored in the storage means of the center device or the storage means of the tag. 6. The transportation system according to claim 5, wherein the center device or the tag includes means for comparing the data of the position detected by the means for detecting the position with the information of the transportation route of the cargo. 7. A means for creating warning information indicating that the cargo has deviated from the transportation route, when the center device or the tag has confirmed that the cargo has deviated from the transportation route by the collating means. 7. The transportation system according to claim 6, including: 8. A terminal device, which is installed at least at a relay point or a collection point for transporting the cargo and is communicatively connected to the center device, the center device transmitting the warning information to the terminal device. The transportation system according to claim 7, further comprising means, wherein the terminal device includes means for receiving the warning information and means for displaying the warning information. 9. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the luggage tag includes means for estimating a current location of the luggage tag using data of a plurality of locations. 10. The transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the center device includes a Web server and is connected to the Internet. 11. A transportation method for detecting the position of a cargo being transported, the method comprising: accessing a luggage tag attached to the cargo from a center device; detecting the location of the luggage tag; and the detected position. Is transmitted from the luggage tag to the center device, and the center device displays the data of the position. 12. The transportation method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of comparing the position data transmitted from the luggage tag to the center device with information on the transportation route of the cargo. 13. If the position data does not match the transportation route information by the comparing step,
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: a step of generating warning information indicating that the cargo has deviated from a transportation route, and a step of transmitting the warning information to a terminal device provided at a relay point and a delivery point when the cargo is transported. The transportation method described in.