JP6656454B1 - Product management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent illegal taking out of products. SOLUTION: A product management device indicates a wireless tag (beacon tag 200) attached to a product, a plurality of receiving devices (in-store gateway 300) that receive a tag signal transmitted from the wireless tag, and a status regarding the movement of the product. The server device 400 includes a detection device 400 and a display device (tablet terminal 500) that displays a moving state indicating a state related to the movement of the product, and the server device changes the receiving device whose reception level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level. Accordingly, the movement state display is changed. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a product management device for preventing a product from being illegally taken out of a store.

  In order to prevent unauthorized removal of products at stores, for example, while attaching an RF tag to the product, an RFID reader is installed on the display shelf, and there is no response from the RF tag to the RFID reader. Techniques for detecting that the user has left are known. In addition to attaching the above-described RF tag to a product, an electronic tag gate can be installed in front of the entrance of the store to detect the passage of an unpaid product (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

Japanese Patent No. 6195331

  However, even if the RFID reader installed on the display shelf detects that the product has left the display shelf as described above, is it going to be settled afterwards, or is it going to be taken out without being adjusted? Cannot be determined. Further, even if an unpaid product can be detected by the electronic tag gate, it is not easy to track the product if it is taken out of the store within a short time. Therefore, it has not always been easy to prevent unauthorized removal of products.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily prevent unauthorized removal of a product.

To achieve the above objectives,
The present invention
A product management device that manages a product trend in a product management area,
A wireless tag attached to the product,
A plurality of receiving devices each arranged in the product management area and receiving a tag signal transmitted from the wireless tag,
A server device that detects a state related to the movement of the product based on information transmitted from the plurality of receiving devices in response to the received tag signal,
A display device that performs a movement state display indicating a state related to the movement of the product according to a detection result by the server device;
With
The server device detects a reception device whose reception level of the tag signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to each product is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level, and detects the reception device whose reception level is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold level. It is characterized in that the moving state display is changed according to the change.

  As a result, it is easy to grasp not only whether the product is located at the position corresponding to the specific receiving device but also the movement and the movement route of the product, so that it is possible to quickly cope with unauthorized removal of the product. And so on.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily prevent unauthorized removal of a product.

It is an explanatory view showing an example of the whole composition of a goods management device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the beacon tag 200. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the in-store gateway 300. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a server device 400. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example on the tablet terminal 500. It is a block diagram which shows the security room gateway 600 functional structure.

  Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the present invention, an example in which a product placed in a store is managed will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Overall configuration of product management device)
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a display shelf 101 is provided in a store area 100 (product management area), and a product 150 is placed thereon. The store area 100 can be entered and exited through an entrance 102, an escalator 103, or a staircase 104. A beacon tag 200 (wireless tag) is attached to the product 150.

  A plurality of in-store gateways 300 for receiving radio waves as tag signals transmitted from the beacon tags 200, and entrance / exit gateways 300 '(receiving devices) are arranged on the ceiling of the store area 100. More specifically, the entrance gateway 300 ′ is arranged near the entrance of the entrance 102, the entrance of the escalator 103, and the entrance of the stairs 104, and the in-store gateway 300 is located in an area closer to the inside than these.

  These gateways 300 and 300 'communicate with the server device 400 (for example, a cloud device) by, for example, mobile communication. A tablet terminal 500 (display device) is connected to the server device 400 via the Internet 700, for example. The tablet terminal 500 is provided in the security room 110 or the like adjacent to the store area 100, and performs a movement state display indicating a state related to the movement of the product 150. In the security room 110, a security room gateway 600 that can communicate with the gateways 300 and 300 'is also provided.

  The beacon tag 200, the gateways 300 and 300 ', the server device 400, and the security room gateway 600 have the following functional configuration, for example.

(Beacon tag 200)
The beacon tag 200 periodically emits a predetermined tag signal to notify the nearby gateways 300 and 300 'of the position of the beacon tag 200 (the position of the product 150 to which the beacon tag 200 is attached). is there. As shown in FIG. 2, the beacon tag 200 includes a transmission data processing unit 201, a G sensor 202 (acceleration sensor), a Bluetooth transmission unit 203 (Bluetooth is a registered trademark), and a battery 204 for supplying power thereto. Is provided. As shown in the following (Table 1), the transmission data processing unit 201 transmits a serial number (for example, a preset beacon tag MAC address) for identifying the beacon tag 200, the beacon tag 200 detected by the G sensor 202, Beacon transmission data indicating the movement level indicating the acceleration and the remaining capacity of the battery 204 is generated and transmitted as a tag signal via the Bluetooth transmission unit 203.

(Gateway 300/300 ')
The gateways 300 and 300 ′ detect the presence of the beacon tag 200 in the vicinity by receiving a tag signal having a reception level equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level from the beacon tag 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the gateways 300 and 300 'are provided with a Bluetooth receiving unit 301, a transmission data processing unit 302, a clock 303, a gateway ID storage unit 304, and a mobile transmitting unit 305. The transmission data processing unit 302 adds the beacon transmission data transmitted from the beacon tag 200 and received by the Bluetooth reception unit 301 to the gateways 300 and 300 ′ indicated by the clock 303 as shown in the following (Table 2). The mobile transmission unit 305 adds a processing time, a gateway ID for identifying the gateways 300 and 300 ′, and RSSI data (received signal strength data) indicating the level of a signal received from the beacon tag 200 as GW transmission data. And via a mobile line.

  Here, the in-store gateway 300 and the entrance / exit gateway 300 'are functionally similar.

(Server 400)
The server device 400 receives the GW transmission data transmitted from the gateways 300 and 300 ′ that have received the tag signal from the beacon tag 200, detects a state related to the movement of each product, and displays the status on the tablet terminal 500. It is supposed to do. This server device 400 is configured as shown in FIG.

  The mobile receiving unit 411 is configured to receive GW transmission data transmitted from each of the gateways 300 and 300 '.

  The current location data processing unit 412 causes the reception data ID addition unit 421 and the like to perform the following processing based on the GW transmission data, and controls the accumulation and reading of various data in the server reception data storage unit 431 and the like. It has become.

  That is, the reception data ID addition unit 421 generates server reception data in which the reception data ID by automatic numbering is added to the GW transmission data received by the mobile reception unit 411 as shown in (Table 3) below. The data is stored in the server reception data storage unit 431.

  For example, the closest GW determination unit 422 refers to the beacon tag master set in advance and stored in the beacon tag master storage unit 433 as shown in the following (Table 4), and for each beacon tag 200, And the gateways 300 and 300 ′ whose reception level of the tag signal received from is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold level are obtained, and the current location data ID is added by automatic numbering by the current location data ID adding unit 423 as shown in (Table 5) below. The current location data is generated and stored in the current location data storage unit 432. Although not essential, the current location data includes a tag ID having a smaller data amount, for example, instead of the serial number of the beacon tag 200 (beacon tag MAC address).

  Here, the above-mentioned predetermined threshold level in the gateways 300 and 300 ′ may be set to be the same, but when the entrance gateway 300 ′ is set higher than the in-store gateway 300, the two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown in the figure, the entrance / exit gateway 300 'can make the detection area narrower. That is, it is possible to easily detect that the probability that the product 150 is taken out of the store area 100 is high, and in the area inside the store area 100, the detection area is set to a necessary and sufficient size so that the number of the in-store gateways 300 is increased. Can be reduced. Such setting of the threshold level may be set in the gateway master, or may be set in the gateways 300 and 300 '. In FIG. 1, the detection area indicated by the two-dot chain line is drawn with a smaller radius for simplification of the figure. Preferably, it is made detectable by 300 '.

  Also, for example, when there are a plurality of gateways 300 and 300 'whose reception levels are equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level, the gateway 300 and 300' having the highest reception level is determined as the closest gateway.

  Further, the status determination unit 424 refers to the beacon tag master storage unit 433 to find the in-store gateway 300 corresponding to the initial position of the product to which each beacon tag 200 is attached, and determines whether or not it is the same as the closest gateway. Is determined, and if they are different, status data indicating that the corresponding product is moving from the initial position is generated and stored in the current location data storage unit 432.

  Further, the alarm determination unit 425 detects that the closest gateway is the entrance gateway 300 ′ by referring to the gateway master stored in the gateway master storage unit 434 as shown in (Table 6) below, for example. If it is, the status data indicating the alarm level is generated and stored in the current location data storage unit 432.

  If the reception level of any of the gateways 300 and 300 'is lower than the predetermined threshold level, the alarm determination unit 425 can generate information indicating that, and display a warning or an alarm. It has become. That is, there is a possibility that the merchandise has already been taken out of the store area 100 by some method, or the beacon tag 200 has failed or has been invalidated.

  Further, even when the position has moved from the initial position for a predetermined time or more, the alarm determination unit 425 can generate information indicating that, and can issue a warning display or an alarm. ing. That is, in such a case, it is easy to confirm because the product is moved and left without being returned to an appropriate position, or the beacon tag 200 may be removed from the product and left alone. You can do so.

  The mail transmitting unit 441 and the display processing unit 442 generate mail data and web display data based on the information obtained by the above-described processing, and transmit the mail data and the web display data to the tablet terminal 500 via the Internet transmitting / receiving unit 444 and the Internet 700. Is displayed, and an alarm is issued to the security room gateway 600 via the mobile transmission unit 445. Here, when the web display data is generated, for example, the content of the product is referred to by referring to the product information shown in the following (Table 7) stored in the product master storage unit 443. You may make it easy to grasp.

(Tablet terminal 500)
When the web display data is generated by the server device 400 as described above, the display of the movement state of the product can be performed by using the display unit 501 of the tablet terminal 500 as shown in FIG. On a display screen of a personal computer. In the example of FIG. 7, a tag display 511 indicating the position of each beacon tag 200 is displayed together with the layout of the shop area 100. More specifically, each tag display 511 is displayed at the position of the nearest in-store gateway 300 based on the gateway ID included in the current location data. Also, based on the status information included in the current location data, for example, if the vehicle is stationary at the initial position, the color is blue; if the vehicle is moving at the initial position (the acceleration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value by lifting, etc.), When moving to the position corresponding to the in-store gateway 300 different from the initial position, the display is displayed in yellow, and when moving to the position corresponding to the entrance gateway 300 ', red is displayed. That is, not only whether or not the product is located at a specific gateway, but also the movement and moving route of the product are detected and displayed, so that it is possible to know in advance that the product is approaching the entrance 102 of the store area 100. Will be possible. Therefore, it is easy to quickly deal with fraudulent removal of goods.

(Security Room Gateway 600)
In the security room 110, a security room gateway 600 is provided in addition to the tablet terminal 500. As shown in FIG. 6, the security room gateway 600 includes a mobile receiving unit 601, a command processing unit 602, and an alarm output unit 603, and generates an alarm according to a command transmitted from the entrance gateway 300 'or the server device 400. The green light 611a, the yellow light 611b, or the red light 611c of the lamp 611 is turned on, and an alarm is sounded by the speaker 612. That is, the green light 611a and the yellow light 611b are turned on in response to an instruction from the server device 400 in the same manner as the display on the tablet terminal 500, so that the display unit 501 of the tablet terminal 500 does not need to be looked into. It becomes easily visible from a distance. Further, for example, when the beacon tag 200 approaches the entrance gateway 300 ′, the red light 611 c is quickly turned on without a time lag caused by passing through the server device 400, or an alarm is sounded by the speaker 612. be able to.

  As described above, a comparison is made as to whether the product is moving at the initial position (whether the acceleration is equal to or higher than a predetermined value by being lifted or the like) or whether the product is moving to a position corresponding to the in-store gateway 300 different from the initial position. The complicated determination is performed by the server device 400, and by turning on the green light 611a and the yellow light 611b according to the determination result, it is possible to easily grasp the detailed situation, while the product is transmitted to the entrance gateway 300 '. In the case where it is relatively easy to determine, such as whether or not the user has moved to the corresponding position, or in the case of a high degree of urgency, the red light 611c is turned on or an alarm sounds in response to a command from the entrance gateway 300 '. Sounding can facilitate quick response.

(Other matters)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which Bluetooth, mobile communication, the Internet, or the like is used for communication of each unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various communication methods may be used.

  In addition, although an example in which the display color is made different in order to display the moving state of the product 150 is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape, size, sound, etc. of the display image may be made different. They may be combined. Further, it may be combined with a display indicating the characteristics or the like of the product stored in the product master storage unit 443 or the like. Further, the display is not limited to the display imitating the layout of the store area 100, but may be displayed in a format such as a list of products or the like instead or together with the display.

  Further, in addition to the current position of the product or separately, a moving route (movement history) of the product may be displayed so as to be grasped.

100 Store Area 101 Display Shelf 102 Entrance 103 Escalator 104 Stairs 110 Security Room 150 Product 200 Beacon Tag 201 Transmission Data Processing Unit 202 G Sensor 203 Bluetooth Transmission Unit 204 Battery 300 In-Store Gateway 300 ′ Gateway Gateway 301 Bluetooth Reception Unit 302 Transmission Data Processing Unit 303 Clock 304 Gateway ID storage unit 305 Mobile transmission unit 400 Server device 411 Mobile reception unit 412 Current location data processing unit 421 Received data ID addition unit 422 Nearest GW determination unit 423 Current location data ID addition unit 424 Status determination unit 425 Alarm determination unit 431 Server reception data storage unit 432 Current location data storage unit 433 Beacon tag master storage unit 434 Gateway master storage 441 E-mail transmission section 442 Display processing section 443 Product master storage section 444 Internet transmission / reception section 445 Mobile transmission section 500 Tablet terminal 501 Display section 511 Tag display 600 Security room gateway 601 Mobile reception section 602 Command processing section 603 Alarm output section 611 Alarm lamp 611a Green light 611b Yellow light 611c Red light 612 Speaker 700 Internet

Claims (2)

A product management device that manages a product trend in a product management area,
A wireless tag attached to the product,
A plurality of receiving devices each arranged in the product management area and receiving a tag signal transmitted from the wireless tag,
A server device that detects a state related to the movement of the product based on information transmitted from the plurality of receiving devices in response to the received tag signal,
A display device that performs a movement state display indicating a state related to the movement of the product according to a detection result by the server device;
With
The server device detects a receiving device in which the reception level of the tag signal transmitted from the wireless tag attached to each product is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level, and the receiving device in which the reception level is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold level, In the case where the initial position receiving device corresponding to the initial position of the product and the case where the initial position receiving device is different from the receiving device, the moving state display is different , and
Further, the wireless tag has an acceleration sensor,
The server device, when a receiving device whose reception level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level is the initial position receiving device, changes the display of the moving state according to the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor , ,
The server device may be configured such that the reception device whose reception level is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold level is an entrance reception device arranged at an entrance into and out of the product management area, and a case where the reception device is another reception device. A merchandise management apparatus characterized by differentiating a moving state display. The product management device according to claim 1 ,
The said server apparatus makes the display color of the said movement state display different, The goods management apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

Images