JP4742003B2 - Transport system, transport method, transport control device, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance system, a conveyance method, a conveyance control device, and a program for writing data to an RF tag attached to an article flowing on a conveyance line such as a belt conveyor, and in particular, can read and write a wide variety of RF tags. The present invention relates to a transfer system, a transfer method, a transfer control device, and a program that effectively use a transfer line that uses a reader / writer.

In recent years, non-contact IC chips called RF (Radio Frequency) tags are affixed to articles and used for inventory management, process management, and distribution management of the articles to improve work efficiency.
In addition, at airports, traceability is established by attaching RF tags to baggage, and air baggage management methods, RF tags for air baggage, which increase work efficiency by preventing lost baggage and sorting baggage, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a related art relating to an air baggage management system.

  At that time, in the airline baggage management system, the RF tag attached to the baggage writes the plane on which the airport baggage should be mounted, the user information, and the result of fluoroscopic inspection of the contents of the baggage. However, for example, the UHF band at Hong Kong International Airport, 13.56 MHz at Narita International Airport and British Airways, and 2.45 GHz and UHF band RF tags are used in the United States. Is different. Therefore, in order to use the RF tag attached at each airport, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of reader / writer devices at each airport. Also, if only one reader / writer is used for one transport line and one type of RF tag, the speed of the belt conveyor needs to be matched to the RF tag that takes the longest time to process, which makes the entire system very slow. There is a problem that processing efficiency is lowered. In addition, when data is written to the RF tag, it is necessary to read an identifier, write data, and perform a verify process. Further, if any one of the three processes fails due to the influence of noise or the like, the same process must be repeated, and there may be a further difference in the time until the process is completed.

JP 2002-362730 A (paragraphs 0013-0015, 0026-0028)

The first problem is that the frequency bands and types of RF tags used in each country and airport are different, so it is necessary to prepare as many conveyance lines as the number of types of RF tags, consisting of reader / writers and belt conveyors. Is a point. The second problem is that when a plurality of transport lines and a plurality of types of reader / writers are prepared, and when the type of RF tag attached to the baggage 310 is biased, a load / concentrated reader / writer or It is an inefficient system, such as the generation of a transport line that does not have a load.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to dynamically switch the operation of a reader / writer that can read and write a plurality of types of RF tags in accordance with the type of the RF tag attached to an article, so that a plurality of conveyance lines can be provided. The transfer system can be used efficiently by switching the transfer line to be used according to the flow condition of the article with the RF tag and distributing the load. It is to provide a conveyance method, a conveyance control device, and a program.

  The first transport system of the present invention includes means for acquiring RF tag type information, means for switching the writing method to the RF tag to a writing method based on the type information, and writing data to the RF tag. Means for acquiring and writing to the RF tag by the switched writing method.

  The second transport system of the present invention includes one or more reader / writer means capable of performing write processing on a plurality of types of RF tags, means for acquiring type information of the RF tags, and the reader / writer based on the type information. Means for instructing the writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type; and means for acquiring the identifier and write data of the RF tag and transmitting them to the reader / writer means.

  A third transport system of the present invention is the first or second transport system, and has means for measuring a writing time to the RF tag.

  The fourth transport system of the present invention is the third transport system, and has means for calculating an average value of the measured write time for each type information of the RF tag.

  The fifth transport system of the present invention is the second, third, or fourth transport system, wherein the means for recognizing the failure of the reader / writer means and the failed reader / writer means Means for not allocating the writing process of the RF tag.

  A sixth transport system of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth transport system, wherein the transport line is branched into a plurality of branches, and the plurality of branches is branched. The transport line has means for distributing the RF tags according to the type of the RF tags.

  The seventh transport system according to the present invention is the sixth transport system, wherein the sorting unit sorts based on a quantity of the RF tags waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines. It is characterized by determining a line.

  The eighth transport system of the present invention is the sixth or seventh transport system, wherein the sorting means is the type of the RF tag waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines. The transfer line to be distributed is determined based on a waiting time predicted from an average value of the writing time for each information.

  A ninth transport system of the present invention is the sixth, seventh, or eighth transport system, wherein the sorting means is configured to perform a writing method of the reader / writer means for each of the plurality of transport lines. The transfer line to be distributed is determined based on a time required for switching to a writing method based on the type information of the RF tag waiting for a writing process.

  A tenth transport system of the present invention is the sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth transport system, comprising means for recognizing a failure of the reader / writer means, wherein the RF tag is The means for distributing the attached article does not distribute the article to which the RF tag is attached to the transport line of only the reader / writer means in failure.

  The first transport method of the present invention acquires RF tag type information, switches the writing method to the RF tag to a writing method based on the type information, acquires write data to the RF tag, The RF tag is written by the switched writing method.

  In the second transport method of the present invention, the control means acquires RF tag type information, instructs the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, and the RF tag Is acquired and transmitted to the reader / writer means, and the reader / writer means performs switching to the designated corresponding RF tag type, and sends the write data to the RF tag. It is characterized by writing.

  The third transport method of the present invention is the first or second transport method, wherein the control unit measures a writing time to the RF tag.

  The fourth transport method of the present invention is the third transport method, wherein the control means calculates an average value of the write time for each type information of the RF tag.

  The fifth transport method of the present invention is the second, third, or fourth transport method, wherein the control means recognizes the failure of the reader / writer means and the failed reader / writer means. The RF tag writing process is not assigned to the.

  A sixth transport method of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth transport method, wherein the transport line is branched into a plurality, and the control means is branched. The RF tags are distributed to the plurality of transport lines according to the type of the RF tag.

  The seventh transport method of the present invention is the sixth transport method, wherein the control means distributes the transport lines based on the number of the RF tags waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transport lines. It is characterized by determining.

  The eighth transport method of the present invention is the sixth or seventh transport method, wherein the control unit is configured to store the type information of the RF tag waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines. The transport lines to be distributed are determined based on a waiting time predicted from an average value of the writing times for each.

  A ninth transport method of the present invention is the sixth, seventh, or eighth transport method, wherein the control unit writes the writing method of the reader / writer unit in each of the plurality of transport lines. The transfer line to be distributed is determined based on a time required to switch to a writing method based on the type information of the RF tag waiting for processing.

  The tenth transport method of the present invention is the sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth transport method, wherein the control means recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means, and It is characterized in that the RF tag is not distributed to the transport line only for the reader / writer means that is in failure.

  The first transport control device of the present invention acquires the type information of the RF tag, switches the writing method to the RF tag to the writing method based on the type information, acquires the writing data to the RF tag, And writing to the RF tag by the switched writing method.

  The second transport control device of the present invention acquires the type information of the RF tag, instructs the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, Write data is acquired and transmitted to the reader / writer means.

  A third transfer control device of the present invention is the first or second transfer control device, and measures a writing time to the RF tag.

  The fourth transport control device of the present invention is the third transport control device, wherein the average value of the writing time is calculated for each type information of the RF tag.

  A fifth transport control device of the present invention is the second, third, or fourth transport control device, which recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means and notifies the failed reader / writer means. The RF tag writing process is not assigned.

  The sixth transfer control device of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth transfer control device, wherein the transfer line is branched into a plurality of branches. The RF tags are distributed to a plurality of the transport lines according to the type of the RF tag.

  The seventh transport control device of the present invention is the sixth transport control device, wherein the transport lines to be distributed are determined based on the number of RF tags waiting for a writing process in each of the transport lines. It is characterized by doing.

  An eighth transport control device according to the present invention is the sixth or seventh transport control device, wherein each of the RF tags waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines is for each type information. The transfer line to be distributed is determined based on a waiting time predicted from the average value of the writing time.

  A ninth transport control device according to the present invention is the sixth, seventh, or eighth transport control device, wherein the reader / writer means performs a writing process for each of the plurality of transport lines. The transfer line to be distributed is determined based on a time required to switch to a writing method based on the type information of the RF tag that is waiting.

  A tenth transport control device according to the present invention is the sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth transport control device that recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means and detects the leader of the transport line. / The RF tag is not distributed to the carrier line where only the writer means is out of order.

  The first program of the present invention acquires the RF tag type information from the control device, switches the writing method to the RF tag to the writing method based on the type information, and acquires the writing data to the RF tag. Then, a process of giving an instruction to write to the RF tag by the switched writing method is performed.

  The second program of the present invention acquires the RF tag type information to the control device, instructs the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, and A process for acquiring an identifier and write data and transmitting it to the reader / writer means is performed.

  A third program of the present invention is the first or second program, and causes the control device to perform a process of measuring a write time to the RF tag.

  A fourth program according to the present invention is the third program, wherein the control device performs a process of calculating an average value of the write time for each type information of the RF tag.

  A fifth program of the present invention is the second, third, or fourth program, wherein the controller recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means, and the failed reader / writer means The RF tag writing process is not assigned.

  A sixth program of the present invention is the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth program, wherein the conveyance line branches into a plurality of branches to the control device. A process of distributing the RF tag according to the type of the RF tag is performed on a plurality of the transport lines.

  The seventh program of the present invention is the sixth program, wherein the control line determines the transport line to be distributed based on the number of the RF tags waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transport lines. It is characterized in that the processing is performed.

  An eighth program according to the present invention is the sixth or seventh program, wherein the RF tag waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines is sent to the control device for each type information. Based on the waiting time predicted from the average value of the writing time, a process for determining the transport line to be distributed is performed.

  A ninth program of the present invention is the sixth, seventh, or eighth program, wherein the control device performs a writing method of the reader / writer means on each of the plurality of transport lines. A process of determining the transfer line to be distributed is performed based on a time required for switching to a writing method based on the type information of the RF tag that is waiting.

  A tenth program according to the present invention is the sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth program, wherein the controller recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means and the reader of the transport line. / The processing that does not distribute the RF tag is performed on the transport line that is only in the state where the writer means is out of order.

The present invention has an effect that it is possible to efficiently use a conveyance line for executing read / write processing of various types of RF tags attached to articles. The reason is that the type of RF tag that can be read and written by the reader / writer can be dynamically changed, and the operation of the reader / writer is switched for each type of RF tag attached to the article.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, an embodiment of a system for writing a result of fluoroscopic inspection of an air baggage on an RF tag attached to the air baggage on the transport line in the air baggage transport system will be described. In the present embodiment, the data to be written to the RF tag is a fluoroscopic inspection result, but the owner's name, address, baggage weight, etc. may be written. Since the RF tag attached to the package is an RF tag attached at each airport in each country, there are various types of RF tags. In the present embodiment, a carrier line for performing writing processing is effectively selected based on the tag types of these RF tags, and the baggage to which the RF tags are attached is sorted.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the present invention includes a distributed control device 100, a reader / writer A 210, a reader / writer B 220, and a line branch 200.

  The distributed control apparatus 100 includes a transport line control unit 110, a scheduler 120, a storage unit 130, a reader / writer control unit A141, and a reader / writer control unit B142.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a physical installation image of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the conveyance line is divided into two. When the baggage 310 to which the RF tag 320 is attached flows from the transport line C280, at the line branch 200, the baggage 310 is transferred to the transport line A281 where the reader / writer A210 is installed or the transport line B282 where the reader / writer B220 is installed. Sorted.

  The transfer line control unit 110 receives from the scheduler 120 a notification of the transfer destination transfer line name indicating whether the baggage 310 is transferred to the transfer line A 281 or the transfer line B 282. The transport line control unit 110 controls the line branch 200 based on the sorting destination transport line name.

  The scheduler 120 refers to the tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5 and the order determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 to determine the distribution destination transport line name of each bag 310. Various indexes can be used for the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. For example, use of a load is used as dynamic distribution, and round robin is used as static distribution. The index of the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment uses the writing time of the reader / writer A 210 and reader / writer B 220 for each tag type. The index of the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment also uses the time required for switching the corresponding tag types of the reader / writer A 210 and the reader / writer B 220. The index of the rank determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment also uses the number of write processing waits for the RF tag 320 allocated to the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 held by the scheduler 120. The index of the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 in the present embodiment further uses failure information of the reader / writer A 210 and the reader / writer B 220. In the present embodiment, the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 is created by using the above information to rank the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 for each tag type, and the value is used. The scheduler 120 notifies the transfer line control unit 110 of the determined transfer destination transfer line name.

  The scheduler 120 acquires the writing time required to write data to the RF tag 320 from the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142. The scheduler 120 stores the acquired write time in the write time history 430 shown in FIG.

  The scheduler 120 acquires failure information of the reader / writer A and the reader / writer B from the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142. The scheduler 120 reflects the acquired failure information in the order determination policy 410 shown in FIG.

  In the storage unit 130, the tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5, the ranking determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6, the processing queue 420 shown in FIG. 7, the write time history 430 shown in FIG. 8, and the average shown in FIG. A processing time 440 and a control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 are stored.

  The reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 obtain the tag type and identifier of each RF tag 320 with reference to the tag data 400 shown in FIG. The reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 instruct to change the tag types corresponding to the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220, respectively, based on the acquired tag type and the identifier. The reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 obtain the write data of each RF tag 320 with reference to the tag data 400 shown in FIG. Then, the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 send the write data to the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220, respectively, and instruct data write to the RF tag 320.

  The reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 change the corresponding tag types based on instructions from the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142, respectively. The reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 obtain the write data of the RF tag 320 from the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142, respectively. Then, the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 write the write data to the RF tag 320 based on instructions from the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142, respectively.

  The line branch 200 distributes the baggage 310 flowing from the transport line C280 to either the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 based on an instruction from the transport line control unit 110.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the tag data 400 stored in the storage unit 130. The tag type of the RF tag 320 stored in the arrival order of the baggage 310 and attached to each baggage 310, the identifier, and the like. And the write data. The tag type specifies an interface standard for the reader / writer to access the RF tag 320 in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The identifier is the unique identifier for each RF tag 320. The write data is data to be written to the RF tag 320, and in the present embodiment, is the result of fluoroscopic inspection of the baggage 310. Tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5 is stored in advance by an input means (not shown) by an operator or other linked apparatus means (not shown).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the rank determination policy 410 stored in the storage unit 130, and stores the rank value of each tag type for each of the transport line A281 and the transport line B282. That is, FIG. 6 is a table in which the priority order for assigning to the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 for each tag type is described. The scheduler 120 sets a value of “1” or more to the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 that can be assigned as the rank value. The scheduler 120 sets a value of “0” as the ranking value when the system is returned to the initial state in order to take into account the system start state and environmental changes. When the baggage 310 waiting for the writing process stays as the rank value and the waiting time exceeds a predetermined value, the scheduler 120 controls the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer. When the section B 142 detects the failure of the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220, respectively, the value “−1” is set to the corresponding transport line A281 and transport line B282. The rank value includes the processing time of the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 for each tag type to be written, the switching time to the corresponding tag type of the reader / writer, failure information, the transport line A281, and The rank value is determined so that the writing time becomes the shortest in the entire system by using the number of waiting for the writing process of the RF tag 320 allocated to the transport line B282.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of the processing waiting queue 420 stored in the storage unit 130, for managing the processing order of the distribution line A281 and the conveyance line B282. The processing queue 420 stores the tag type and the identifier of each RF tag 320 attached to the write processing waiting bag 310 for each of the transport line A281 and the transport line B282.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the structure of the writing time history 430 stored in the storage unit 130, and the actual writing time is stored for each of the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 for each tag type.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of the average processing time 440 stored in the storage unit 130, and the average writing processing time is stored for each of the transport line A281 and transport line B282 for each tag type.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the control parameter 450 stored in the storage unit 130. The tag type switching time corresponding to the reader / writer is a time required for switching the tag type that can be read and written by the reader / writer from one tag type to another. The weight value α and the weight value β are numerical values indicating the load weights according to the distribution priority in the rank values “1” and “2” used when calculating the rank value of the rank determination policy 410 shown in FIG. , Weight value α> weight value β, and is determined in advance based on empirical rules. As the upper limit value and the lower limit value, the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the number of waiting for write processing used when calculating the rank value of the rank determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 are stored. The average processing time difference is a time for determining that the difference is significant if the difference in the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. The rank value initialization time is a time indicating an interval until the rank value is once returned to “0” and the rank value is recalculated. The average value calculation data number is the data number of the writing time necessary for obtaining the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. The contents of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 are stored in advance by an input means (not shown) by an operator or other linked apparatus means (not shown).

  Next, the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 11 shows the process of the scheduler 120 for determining whether the baggage 310 attached with the RF tag 320 is distributed to the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 in the first embodiment of the present invention, and accordingly It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process of the conveyance line control part 110 which operate | moves.

  The scheduler 120 acquires from the tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5 the tag type and the identifier of the RF tag 320 attached to the baggage 310 that is then distributed to the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 at the line branch 200 ( Step S500), with reference to the order determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6, it is determined whether the distribution is to be made to the transfer line A281 or the transfer line B282 (Step S510), and is added to the process waiting queue 420 shown in FIG. S520). Then, the scheduler 120 notifies the distribution line control unit 110 of the distribution destination transfer line name (S530).

  The transport line control unit 110 controls the line branch 200 to flow the baggage 310 to the designated transport line A281 and transport line B282 based on the distribution destination transport line name notified from the scheduler 120 (S580).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of detailed processing in step S510 for determining whether to distribute to the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 with reference to the order determination policy 410 illustrated in FIG.

  The scheduler 120 refers to the rank determination policy 410 shown in FIG. 6 and checks the rank value corresponding to the tag type (step S511).

  When the rank value is set to “0” (step S512), the scheduler 120 determines the distribution destination transfer line name as the transfer line A281 or the transfer line B282 with the shorter processing completion prediction time. The estimated processing completion time of the transport line A281 is the average processing time 440 corresponding to the tag type shown in FIG. 9 for all the RF tags 320 stored in the processing queue 420 of the transport line A281 shown in FIG. The added tag, when the tag type is changed, the corresponding tag type added with the switching time shown in FIG. 10, and the RF tag 320 affixed to the baggage 310 to be newly distributed The average processing time 440 corresponding to the tag type shown in FIG. 9 and the tag type of the RF tag 320 affixed to the baggage 310 to be newly assigned are the last processing queue 420 shown in FIG. If the tag type is different, the tag type of the RF tag 320 attached to the baggage 310 to be newly distributed The switching time and shown in FIG. 10, are all summed time. Further, the predicted process completion time for the transport line B282 is obtained by the same method as the predicted process completion time for the transport line A281 (step S513).

As an example, the case where the RF tag 320 with the identifier “T920” of the tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5 is added to the state of the processing waiting queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 will be specifically calculated.
The estimated processing completion time for the transport line A281 is (700 + 700 + 320 + 320 + 700) + (110 + 120) + 320 + 110 = 3400. The estimated processing completion time of the transport line B282 is (180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180 + 180) + 180 = 2700 When the rank value is not set to “0” (step S512), the scheduler 120 sets the transport line having the minimum rank value. (Except for “−1”) (step S514). When the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 having the smallest ranking value exists (step S515), the scheduler 120 determines the sorting destination transport line name to be the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 having the smallest ranking value (step S515). S516). When the transport line A281 or the transport line B282 having the smallest rank value does not exist (that is, when the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 are “−1”), the scheduler 120 sets the write processing wait number to a constant value. Since it has exceeded or there is a possibility of failure, it waits until the rank value changes (step S517).

  Next, the process flow of the scheduler 120 for setting the rank value will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for determining the rank value using the write processing time.

  At the system startup, the scheduler 120 sets all the rank values to 0 (step S601).

  When the number of data of the writing time history 430 shown in FIG. 8 exceeds the average value calculation data number of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 for any one of the above-mentioned tag type transport lines A281 and B282 (step S702). The scheduler 120 calculates the average of the tag type write processing time for each of the transport line A281 and the transport line B282, and records it in the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. 9 (step S603).

  When the calculated difference in the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. 9 for each of the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 exceeds the average processing time difference of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 (step S604), the scheduler 120 displays the difference in the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. The order values are set in the order of “1” and “2” from the transport line A 281 and the transport line B 282 with the smallest average time to the order determination policy 410 shown in FIG.

  When the calculated difference in the average processing time 440 shown in FIG. 9 for each of the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 is within the average processing time difference of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 (step S604), the ranking determination shown in FIG. Referring to the policy 410, “weight value α × the number of tag types in which“ 1 ”is set in the ranking value + weight value β × the number of tag types in which“ 2 ”is set in the ranking value” The values calculated by this formula are all described as rank values) ”are calculated for each of the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 (step S606).

  If all the rank values are not the same in comparison with the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 (step S607), the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 having the smallest number are sequentially ordered from “1” to “2”. A rank value is set (step S608). If they are the same size (step S607), the rank value remains “0” and the process is terminated. When the number of data of the RF tag 320 is within the average value calculation data number of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 (step S742), the rank value remains “0” and the process is terminated.

  This process is started following the process of initializing the rank value activated at each rank value initialization time of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 to “0”.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for changing the rank value in accordance with the number of write processing waits.

  The scheduler 120 monitors the number of write processing waits accumulated in the process wait queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 (step S721), and when the number of write processing waits exceeds a predetermined upper limit (step S722). ), The rank value is stored (step S723), and all the tag types of the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 are set so as not to be allocated to the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 corresponding to the processing waiting queue 420. Is set to “−1” (step S724).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for returning the rank value set to “−1” to the original value (setting a value equal to or greater than “1”). The scheduler 120 monitors the number of waiting for the write process in the process queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 for the transfer line A281 and the transfer line B282 whose rank value is set to “−1” (Step S631), and the write process. When the waiting number falls below a predetermined lower limit value (however, upper limit value> lower limit value) (step S632), the stored value is changed to the original value stored (step S633).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of processing for initializing the rank value to “0” when the rank value initialization time of the control parameter 450 shown in FIG. 10 elapses.

  After setting the rank value for a certain tag type, a predetermined time has elapsed (step S641), and “−1” is not set for the rank values of all the transport lines A281 and B282 in the tag type. If so (step S642), the scheduler 120 sets the rank value of the tag type to “0” (step S643).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing of the scheduler 120, the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142, and the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 when writing data to the RF tag 320. .

  The reader / writer control unit A 141 and the reader / writer control unit B 142 can acquire the tag type and the identifier at the head of the processing waiting queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 (step S711), and write them to the RF tag 320 of the tag type. As described above, the operations of the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 are switched (step S712).

Next, the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 obtain the write data corresponding to the identifier from the tag data 400 shown in FIG. 5 (step 613), and start measuring the write time (step 613). In step S714, the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 are controlled to execute a writing operation (step S715).
The reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 write data to the RF tag 320 (step S721), and notify the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 of the end of writing (step S722). When the reader / writer control unit A141 and the reader / writer control unit B142 receive a write end notification from the reader / writer, the reader / writer control unit A141 ends the measurement of the write time (step S716) and notifies the scheduler 120 of the time taken for processing. (Step S717). The scheduler 120 records the notified write time in the write time history 430 shown in FIG. 8 (step S702). The scheduler 120 deletes the processed tag type and the identifier from the processing queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 and updates the processing queue 420 (step S703).

  In the present embodiment, the reader / writer A210 and the reader / writer B220 that can communicate with a plurality of types of RF tags 320 are shown as a single unit, but each tag type corresponds to each as shown in FIG. The reader / writer E211, the reader / writer F212, and the reader / writer G213 may be disposed on the transport line A281, and the reader / writer H221, the reader / writer J222, and the reader / writer K223 may be disposed on the transport line B282, and may be switched. .

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, for the transport line A281 and the transport line B282, the writing time for each tag type affixed to the baggage 310, the corresponding tag type switching time of the reader / writer, By dynamically allocating the baggage 310 to the transport line A281 and the transport line B282 according to the number of write processing waits and the failure state of the reader / writer, it becomes possible to cope with a noise environment that changes from day to day. This has the effect of improving the overall operating rate.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a transport system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, functions are added to the reader / writer and the reader / writer control unit, and the module control unit 100 is provided with the module file storage unit 150 in the first embodiment. Different from form. In the following, the reader / writer and reader / writer control unit functions different from those of the first embodiment, and the module file storage unit 150 that does not exist in the first embodiment will be described.

  The functions of the reader / writer control unit C146 and the reader / writer control unit D147 acquire a module file that matches the tag type from the module file storage unit 150 based on the tag type and the identifier acquired from the scheduler 120, The difference from the first embodiment is that the tag type that can be read and written by the reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240 is changed by replacing module files on the reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240.

  The reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240 operate with module files replaced by the reader / writer control unit C146 and the reader / writer control unit D147, respectively, and read / write the RF tag 320 of the tag type. This is different from the embodiment.

  The module file storage unit 150 stores a module file corresponding to the tag type used in this system. The module file is an execution file that determines the operation of the reader / writer. For example, the module file corresponding to the RF tag 320 of ISO15693 supports all commands defined in ISO15693.

  Next, the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The basic processing of the transport system according to the second embodiment is the same as the processing according to the first embodiment described in FIGS. 11 and 12 to 17, but the reader / writer controller C146 and the reader / writer Before the writer control unit D147 acquires the tag type and the identifier at the head of the processing queue 420 shown in FIG. 7 (step S711), the data to be written to the RF tag 320 is acquired from the storage unit 130 (step S713). The portion corresponding to the processing of S712 in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a flowchart showing an example of processing of the different parts of the reader / writer control unit C146, the reader / writer control unit D147, the reader / writer C230, and the reader / writer D240 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The reader / writer control unit C146 and the reader / writer control unit D147 check whether or not the module file corresponding to the tag type already exists in the reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240, and if not (step S741). Then, the module file corresponding to the tag type is acquired from the module file storage unit 150 (step S742) and transferred to the reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240 (step S743). The reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240 replace the module file received from the reader / writer control unit C146 and the reader / writer control unit D147 with the previous module file (step S751).

  In the present embodiment described above, the reader / writer control unit C146 and the reader / writer control unit D147 dynamically transfer the module file to the reader / writer C230 and the reader / writer D240. In addition, since the tag type that can be read and written by the reader / writer D240 is changed, a reader / writer device to which software radio technology is applied can be used.

  In the embodiment described above, the case where there are two transport lines has been described, but the present invention can be applied to one or more than three.

  As an application example of the present invention, it is effective when handling various types of RFID such as airports, factories or logistics, and writing data into the RF tag 320 in the transport system.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other structure of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of the actual use scene of the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the tag data 400 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the order determination policy 410 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the process waiting queue 420 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the write time log | history 430 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the average processing time 440 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control parameter 450 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process of the conveyance line control part 110 and the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which determines a conveyance line in the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which sets the said rank value in the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which updates the said rank value of the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which returns the said rank value of the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process which initializes the said rank value of the scheduler 120 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process of the scheduler 120 at the time of writing data in RF tag 320 in the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention, a reader / writer control part, and a reader / writer. It is the flowchart which showed an example of the process of the scheduler 120 at the time of writing data in RF tag 320 in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, a reader / writer control part, and a reader / writer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Distributed control apparatus 110 Conveyance line control part 120 Scheduler 130 Storage part 141 Reader / writer control part A
142 Reader / Writer Control Unit B
146 Reader / Writer Control Unit C
147 Reader / Writer Control Unit D
150 Module file storage 200 Line branch 210 Reader / Writer A
211 Reader / Writer E
212 Reader / Writer F
213 Reader / Writer G
220 Reader / Writer B
221 Reader / Writer H
222 Reader / Writer J
223 Reader / Writer K
230 Reader / Writer C
240 Reader / Writer D
280 Transport line C
281 Transport line A
282 Transport line B
310 Baggage 320 RF Tag 400 Tag Data 410 Order Determination Policy 420 Processing Queue 430 Write Time History 440 Average Processing Time 450 Control Parameter

Claims (36)

Means for acquiring type information of an RF (Radio Frequency) tag; means for switching a writing method to the RF tag to a writing method based on the type information; and acquiring data to be written to the RF tag and performing the switching And a means for allocating the RF tag to a plurality of branched carrier lines according to the type of the RF tag . One or more reader / writer means capable of writing to a plurality of types of RF tags, means for obtaining type information of the RF tag, and RF tag types corresponding to the reader / writer means based on the type information According to the type of the RF tag, and a means for obtaining the RF tag identifier and write data and transmitting it to the reader / writer means, and a plurality of branched transfer lines. And a means for distributing the RF tag . 3. The conveyance system according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring a writing time to the RF tag. 4. The transport system according to claim 3, further comprising means for calculating an average value of the measured writing time for each type information of the RF tag. 4. A means for recognizing a failure of the reader / writer means and a means for preventing the writing process of the RF tag from being assigned to the failed reader / writer means. 4. The transport system according to 4. The said distribution means determines the said conveyance line to distribute based on the quantity of the said RF tag waiting for the writing process in each of the said some conveyance line, The one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The transport system described. The distribution means determines the transfer line to be distributed based on a waiting time predicted from an average value of the write time for each type information of the RF tag waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transfer lines. The conveyance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The sorting means is based on a time required to switch the writing method of the reader / writer means to a writing method based on the type information of the RF tag waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transport lines. The transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transfer line to be distributed is determined. Means for recognizing failure of the reader / writer means, and means for distributing the article attached with the RF tag is attached with the RF tag to the transport line of only the reader / writer means in failure. The conveyance system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the article is not sorted. The type information of the RF tag is acquired, the writing method to the RF tag is switched to the writing method based on the type information, the writing data to the RF tag is acquired, and the RF tag is transferred to the RF tag by the switched writing method. write the conveying method characterized by distributing the RF tag according to the type of said RF tags into a plurality of conveying lines are branched. The control means acquires the RF tag type information, instructs the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, acquires the RF tag identifier and write data, transmitted to the reader / writer unit, the reader / writer unit, the execute switching to the indicated corresponding RF tag type, writes the write data to the RF tag, a plurality of branches A transfer method, wherein the RF tags are distributed to a transfer line according to the type of the RF tag . The transport method according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the control means measures a writing time to the RF tag. The transport method according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit calculates an average value of the writing time for each type information of the RF tag. Control means, said recognizing the failure of the reader / writer unit, either the the failed the reader / writer means of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that do not assign a write operation of the RF tag one The transport method according to the item . Control means, based on the quantity of the RF tag waiting to write processing at each of a plurality of said conveying line, according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that to determine the transfer line to distribute Transport method. The control means determines the transfer line to be distributed based on a waiting time predicted from an average value of the write time for each type information of the RF tag waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transfer lines. The conveyance method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein Based on the time required for the control means to switch the writing method of the reader / writer means to the writing method based on the type information of the RF tag waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transport lines, The transfer method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the transfer line to be distributed is determined. Claim control means recognizes the failure of the reader / writer unit, the reader / writer means of the conveying line to the said conveying line only those in the fault, characterized in that no sorting the RF tag The conveyance method as described in any one of 10-17 . The type information of the RF tag is acquired, the writing method to the RF tag is switched to the writing method based on the type information, the writing data to the RF tag is acquired, and the RF tag is transferred to the RF tag by the switched writing method. writes, branched into a plurality of conveying lines and, the transfer control device, characterized in that an instruction for distributing the RF tag according to the type of the RF tag. Obtaining RF tag type information, instructing the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, obtaining the RF tag identifier and write data, and obtaining the reader / writer A conveyance control device, wherein the RF tags are distributed to a plurality of branched conveyance lines transmitted to the means according to the type of the RF tags . 21. The transport control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a writing time to the RF tag is measured. The transport control apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein an average value of the writing time is calculated for each type information of the RF tag. The failure of the reader / writer means is recognized, and the writing process of the RF tag is not assigned to the failed reader / writer means. 23 . Transport control device. The transport control device according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the transport line to be distributed is determined based on a quantity of the RF tags waiting for a writing process in each of the transport lines. . The carrier line to be distributed is determined based on a waiting time predicted from an average value of the writing time for each type information of the RF tag waiting for a writing process in each of a plurality of the carrier lines. The transport control device according to any one of claims 19 to 24 . The transport line that distributes the writing method of the reader / writer means based on the time required to switch to the writing method based on the type information of the RF tag that is waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines The transfer control device according to any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein the transfer control device is determined. 27. The RF tag is not distributed to the transfer line that recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means and only the reader / writer means of the transfer line is in failure . The conveyance control apparatus as described in any one of Claims . In the control device, the type information of the RF tag is acquired, the writing method to the RF tag is switched to the writing method based on the type information, the writing data to the RF tag is acquired, and the switched writing method is used. the have line instructions to be written into the RF tag, it branched into a plurality of conveying lines and, program characterized by causing the processing for distributing the RF tag according to the type of the RF tag. Obtaining the RF tag type information to the control device, instructing the reader / writer means to switch the corresponding RF tag type based on the type information, obtaining the RF tag identifier and write data, A program which is transmitted to the reader / writer means and causes the plurality of branched transfer lines to perform processing for distributing the RF tags according to the type of the RF tag . 30. The program according to claim 28, wherein the program causes the control device to perform a process of measuring a write time to the RF tag. 31. The program according to claim 30 , wherein the program causes the control device to calculate an average value of the write time for each type information of the RF tag. The control device, according to claim recognizes a failure of the reader / writer unit, is to failed the reader / writer unit, characterized in that to perform a process of not assign the writing process of the RF tag 29 to 31 The program as described in any one of . 33. The control device according to claim 28, further comprising: a control device configured to perform a process of determining the transport line to be distributed based on a quantity of the RF tags waiting for a writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines . The program according to one item . Based on the waiting time estimated from the average value of the writing time for each type information of the RF tag waiting for writing processing in each of the plurality of transport lines, the control device determines the transport lines to be distributed. The program according to any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein processing is performed. Based on the time required to switch the writing method of the reader / writer means to the writing method based on the type information of the RF tag waiting for the writing process in each of the plurality of transport lines in the control device, The program according to any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein processing for determining the transfer line to be distributed is performed. The control device recognizes a failure of the reader / writer means, and causes a process not to distribute the RF tag to the transfer line of which only the reader / writer means of the transfer line is in failure. The program according to any one of claims 28 to 35 .

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