JP7547862B2 - Facility Management System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a facility management system that can achieve both reliability and work efficiency in facility management work that manages the location of equipment installed in each of multiple stores.

Generally, in equipment management systems that manage installation information indicating the location of equipment installed in multiple stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, a graphical code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or barcode indicating equipment information is attached to each piece of equipment in order to streamline management operations, and this graphical code is read. Alternatively, an RFID tag that holds equipment information is attached to each piece of equipment, and the equipment information in this RFID tag is read.

JP 2017-107536 A

By the way, when reading a graphic code, the equipment information of each piece of equipment can be read reliably and individually, but when reading, the graphic code scanner must be brought close to the graphic code, and depending on the installation status of the equipment or the arrangement of products on the equipment, other equipment or products may get in the way, making it impossible for the graphic code scanner to read the graphic code. In this case, extra work such as moving the equipment in the way or removing the products in the way increases, reducing work efficiency. Also, the graphic code may not be readable due to dirt, deterioration over time, damage, etc.

On the other hand, when reading RFID tags, multiple RFID tags can be read at once without being interfered with by other equipment. However, because the reading range is wide, there is a possibility that equipment other than the one intended to be registered will be registered when registering equipment at a store, reducing the reliability of registration.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a facility management system that can achieve both reliability and work efficiency in the facility management work of managing the location of equipment installed in each of multiple stores.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an equipment management system having an equipment management server that manages the location of equipment installed in each of a plurality of stores, and each piece of equipment is equipped with a coded wireless tag that holds equipment information that individually identifies the equipment and has a graphic code that displays the same equipment information as the equipment information on its surface, and is connectable to the equipment management server, and is equipped with a wireless mobile terminal that has a graphic code reader that reads the graphic code, a wireless tag reader that reads the equipment information on the wireless tag, and an equipment management control unit that selectively switches between a code reading process of the equipment information by the graphic code reader and a wireless reading process of the equipment information by the wireless tag reader, and transmits the read equipment information to the equipment management server.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the equipment management control unit is initially set to select the code reading process when registering equipment in the store, and to select the wireless reading process when inventorying equipment in the store.

In the above invention, the equipment management control unit, when taking an inventory of equipment in the store, if equipment registered in another store is found, notifies the equipment management server of the equipment as an appearing equipment, and the equipment management server transfers and registers the notified appearing equipment from the other store to the notifying store.

In the above invention, the equipment management control unit, when taking an inventory of equipment in the store, if there is no equipment registered in the store, notifies the equipment management server of the equipment as unknown equipment, and the equipment management server records the notified unknown equipment as unknown equipment.

In addition, in the above invention, when there is equipment to which it is difficult to attach the corded wireless tag, the present invention is characterized in that it has a management ledger in which a corded wireless tag corresponding to the equipment information is attached to a paper surface on which the equipment information of the equipment is recorded.

The present invention is also characterized in that in the above invention, the wireless tag is a passive RFID tag.

In the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the facility information is read simultaneously using multiple wireless mobile terminals within the store, and the read facility information is transmitted to the facility management server.

The present invention makes it possible to achieve both reliability and work efficiency in equipment management work for managing the location of equipment installed in each of multiple stores.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facility management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of equipment management control processing by the equipment management control unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions when registering equipment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition during inventory. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering facility information by the facility management server.

Below, the mode for implementing this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

<Overall composition>
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facility management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facility management system 100 manages the locations of facilities 21-23 installed in each of a plurality of stores 101, such as convenience stores. In the facility management system 100, a facility management server 1 that manages the entire system is connected to a plurality of wireless mobile terminals 2 installed in each store 101 via a network N.

Each piece of equipment 21-23 is, for example, a showcase, a freezer, a coffee machine, etc., and a coded wireless tag 5 is attached to each piece of equipment 21-23 by double-sided tape or the like. The coded wireless tag 5 has an RFID tag 3 holding equipment information that individually identifies the equipment 21-23, and a graphic code 4 that is a graphic representation of the equipment information that is the same as the equipment information. The graphic code may be any code that graphically represents the equipment information, and may be, for example, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), or a barcode. The RFID tag 3 is an example of a wireless tag, and is a passive RFID tag that does not incorporate a battery. The wireless tag may also be an active RFID tag that incorporates a battery. The wireless tag may also be a tag that performs BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication.

The wireless mobile terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet, and has an operation display unit 11, an external communication unit 12, a short-range wireless communication unit 13, a graphic code reader 14, an RFID tag reader 15, and a control unit 16.

The operation display unit 11 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display device, and is an input/output interface that performs operation input of various data and display output of various data, such as displaying the operation screen of a facility management app.

The external communication unit 12 is a communication interface that communicates with the facility management server 1 via the network N using a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark). The short-range wireless communication unit 13 is a communication interface that performs short-range wireless communication using a communication method such as WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The graphic code reader 14 is an input interface that reads the graphic code 4. The RFID tag reader 15 is an input interface that reads the equipment information of the RFID tag 3. The graphic code reader 14 can use an imaging function such as a camera. The RFID tag reader 15 may be a built-in type or an external type. If it is an external type, it may be connected by wire or wirelessly. If it is an external type, it may be an integrated type in which the main body of the wireless mobile terminal 2 is mounted on the RFID tag reader 15.

The control unit 16 is a control unit that controls the entire wireless mobile terminal 2, and has an equipment management control unit 17. The equipment management control unit 17 selectively switches between code reading processing of equipment information by the graphic code reader 14 and wireless reading processing of equipment information by the RFID tag reader 15, and transmits the read equipment information to the equipment management server 1, and is realized by an equipment management app.

A management ledger 30 is also placed within the store 101. When there is equipment on which it is difficult to affix a coded wireless tag 5, the management ledger 30 affixes a coded wireless tag 5 corresponding to the equipment information D on a sheet of paper that describes the equipment. Note that instead of the coded wireless tag 5 affixed to the management ledger 30, only a sticker with a graphic code may be affixed.

<Facility management control processing>
2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the facility management control process by the facility management control unit 17. First, the facility management control unit 17 logs in to the facility management server 1 (step S101). After logging in, a store search is performed for the store 101 for which facility management is to be performed (step S102). The store search is performed by inputting the store number, store name, address, etc. on a store search screen.

Then, the equipment management control unit 17 judges whether the selected information is equipment information reference, which refers to equipment information, equipment registration, which registers equipment information, or inventory, which generates inventory information (step S103). If it is equipment information reference (step S103: equipment information reference), the initial setting is code reading processing of equipment information by the graphic code reader 14, but if there is a reading switch instruction (step S104: Yes), the setting is switched to wireless reading processing of equipment information by the RFID tag reader 15 (step S105) and the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if there is no reading switch instruction (step S104: No), the process proceeds directly to step S106.

In step S106, the set code reading process or wireless reading process is performed, and then the read facility information is displayed (step S107). If store information is associated with the read facility information, the store information is also displayed. If the read facility information is not registered in the facility management server 1, a message to that effect is displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the reference display of facility information has been given (step S108), and if there is no instruction to end (step S108: No), the process proceeds to step S104 and the process to reference the next facility information is performed. On the other hand, if there is an instruction to end (step S104: Yes), the process ends as is.

If the selected information is equipment registration (step S103: Equipment registration), the initial setting is code reading of equipment information by the graphic code reader 14, but if there is an instruction to switch reading (step S114: Yes), the setting is switched to wireless reading of equipment information by the RFID tag reader 15 (step S115) and the process proceeds to step S116. On the other hand, if there is no instruction to switch reading (step S114: No), the process proceeds directly to step S116.

In step S116, the set code reading process or wireless reading process is performed, and then the reading result is displayed (step S117). Then, it is determined whether or not an instruction to complete the equipment registration has been given (step S118). If an instruction to complete the equipment registration has not been given (step S118: No), the process proceeds to step S114 and the registration process for the next equipment information is performed. On the other hand, if an instruction to complete the equipment registration has been given (step S118: Yes), the process ends.

If the selected information is inventory (step S103: inventory), the initial setting is wireless reading of equipment information by the RFID tag reader 15, but if there is an instruction to switch reading (step S124: Yes), the setting is switched to code reading of equipment information by the graphic code reader 14 (step S125) and the process proceeds to step S126. On the other hand, if there is no instruction to switch reading (step S124: No), the process proceeds directly to step S126.

In step S126, the set code reading process or wireless reading process is performed, and then the inventory information is updated based on the reading results (step S127). Then, it is determined whether or not an instruction to complete the inventory has been given (step S128), and if an instruction to complete the inventory has not been given (step S128: No), the process proceeds to step S124 and the registration process for the next equipment information is performed. On the other hand, if an instruction to complete the inventory has been given (step S128: Yes), the process ends as is.

<Example of screen transition when registering equipment>
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions during equipment registration. As shown in Fig. 3, when an equipment registration button B1 is selected on a selection screen E1 displayed on the operation display unit 11, an equipment information registration start screen E10 is displayed. Store information D1 of the searched store is displayed on the equipment information registration start screen E10. The store information D1 is information such as a store number, address, telephone number, fax number, and person in charge, for example.

The equipment information registration start screen E10 also has buttons for selecting either reading a QR code (registered trademark), which is a graphic code, or reading an RFID tag, and when registering equipment, reading the QR code (registered trademark) is selected as the default setting. This is to ensure that each piece of equipment is registered correctly and without error when registering equipment. RFID tag reading is also possible by switching the selection button. This is to deal with cases where the graphic code is dirty and cannot be read due to deterioration over time, or where the graphic code is damaged or the reading characteristics are poor due to the material of the surface it is attached to. Also, when the graphic code of the equipment to be registered cannot be directly read, switching to RFID tag reading avoids the task of moving products or equipment that are in the way.

The equipment information registration start screen E10 displays the number of completed equipment items. Initially, there are 0 items, and the number increases each time a graphic code or RFID tag is read.

At the bottom of the equipment information registration start screen E10, a QR code (registered trademark) reading button B11 and a completion button B12 are displayed. If RFID tag reading is selected, button B11 becomes the RFID tag reading button. Pressing the completion button B12 transitions to the selection screen E1. At the top left of each screen, a "back" button BB is located, and pressing this button BB returns to the previous screen.

Here, pressing button B11 displays a screen for reading the graphic code 4, and when the graphic code 4 is read, the equipment information reading result screen E11 is displayed. On the equipment information reading result screen E11, like the equipment information registration start screen E10, store information D1 is displayed, as well as equipment information D10 indicated by the read graphic code 4. The equipment information D10 is information such as the equipment management number, manufacturer, type, equipment name, equipment model, equipment model number, manufacturing date, installation date, type, storage temperature classification, etc.

A registration button B13 is displayed at the bottom of the equipment information reading result screen E11. When the button B13 is pressed, the read equipment information D10 is sent to the equipment management server 1, and the screen transitions to the equipment information registration start screen E10, incrementing the number of completed equipment items.

When the QR code (registered trademark) reading button B11 is pressed on this equipment information registration start screen E10, the reading of the equipment information for the next equipment begins, and the number of completed equipment items increases. On the other hand, when the Complete button B12 is pressed, the screen transitions to the selection screen E1, and the equipment registration process ends.

<Example of screen transition during inventory>
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions during inventory. As shown in Fig. 4, when an inventory button B2 is selected on a selection screen E1 displayed on the operation display unit 11, an inventory information screen E20 is displayed. The inventory information screen E20 displays store information D1 of the searched store, in the same manner as the facility information registration start screen E10.

Also, like the equipment information registration start screen E10, the inventory information screen E20 has buttons for alternatively selecting between reading a QR code (registered trademark), which is a graphic code, and reading an RFID tag, and for this inventory, reading the RFID tag is selected as the initial setting. This is because most of the equipment is registered at the time of inventory, and by reading the RFID tag, information on multiple pieces of equipment is read almost simultaneously, and the equipment information data itself is read, thereby shortening the inventory work time and improving work efficiency. In particular, when the graphic code of the equipment to be inventoryed cannot be read directly, it is possible to avoid the task of moving products or equipment that is in the way. Note that QR code (registered trademark) reading is possible by switching the selection button.

Furthermore, the inventory information screen E20 displays summary information about the inventory process. Specifically, the start date and time, completion date and time, total number of equipment items, number of completed equipment items, number of appearing equipment items (equipment registered in other stores), number of incomplete equipment items, and number of unknown equipment items are displayed and updated sequentially. Incomplete equipment is equipment for which inventory has not been performed. Unknown equipment is equipment that could not be read at the time inventory was completed.

Inventory information screen E20 also displays inventory information D20. Inventory information D20 displays the inventory status (status of completed, incomplete, unknown, etc.) for all equipment that is the subject of inventory along with equipment information, and a details button is added to each piece of equipment information. Pressing this details button displays details of the equipment information for the inventory that corresponds to the details button.

At the bottom of the inventory information screen E20, an RFID tag reading button B21 and a completion button B22 are displayed. If QR code (registered trademark) reading is selected, button B21 becomes a QR code (registered trademark) reading button. Pressing the completion button B22 transitions to the selection screen E1 and ends the inventory process. At the top left of each screen, a "back" button BB is located, and pressing this button BB returns to the previous screen.

Here, when button B21 is pressed, the RFID tag is read by the RFID tag reader 15, the information on the inventory information screen E20 is updated, and the updated information is sequentially sent to the equipment management server 1. Pressing this button B21 updates the inventory information of the equipment that is the target of the inventory.

<Transfer registration of existing equipment>
Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure for registering facility information by the facility management server 1. As shown in Fig. 5, the facility management server 1 judges whether or not the received information from the wireless mobile terminal 2 is information on an appearing facility (step S201). If the information is information on an appearing facility (step S201: Yes), the facility management server 1 transfers and registers the appearing facility to the store that transmitted the information (step S202), and ends this process.

On the other hand, if the received information is not information about an appearing facility (step S201: No), it is further determined whether the received information is about an unknown facility (step S203). If the received information is about an unknown facility (step S203: Yes), it is recorded as an unknown facility (step S204), and this process is terminated.

If the information is not unknown (step S203: No), the received information is registered or recorded (step S205) and the process ends.

In this way, when there is equipment that appears, the equipment management server 1 automatically performs a process of transferring and registering the notified equipment from another store to the notifying store, based on a notification from the wireless mobile terminal 2. Note that the equipment management server 1 can also manually perform the transfer registration.

In this embodiment, the graphic code is read when registering equipment, so that individual equipment information can be obtained reliably and erroneous registration can be prevented, and the RFID tag is read when inventory is taken, improving work efficiency.

In addition, since the reading mode can be switched between graphic code reading and RFID tag reading as appropriate, for example, RFID tag reading can be performed when graphic code reading is not possible, and graphic code reading can be performed when RFID tag reading is not possible, there is a complementary relationship, which means that situations in which equipment information cannot be obtained are almost eliminated, allowing for reliable and highly efficient equipment management work.

In the above embodiment, one wireless mobile terminal 2 is placed in the store 101 to perform facility management tasks, but this is not limited to the above, and facility management tasks may be performed using multiple wireless mobile terminals 2 simultaneously.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a single wireless mobile terminal 2 is connected to the facility management server 1, but multiple wireless mobile terminals 2 may be connected.

Note that the configurations illustrated in the above embodiments are merely functional schematics, and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various usage conditions, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Facility management server 2 Wireless mobile terminal 3 RFID tag 4 Graphical code 5 Coded wireless tag 11 Operation display unit 12 External communication unit 13 Short-range wireless communication unit 14 Graphical code reader 15 RFID tag reader 16 Control unit 17 Facility management control unit 21 to 23 Facility 30 Management ledger 100 Facility management system 101 Store B1, B2, B11, B12, B13, B21, B22, BB Buttons D, D10 Facility information D1 Store information D20 Inventory information E1 Selection screen E10 Facility information registration start screen E11 Facility information reading result screen E20 Inventory information screen N Network

Claims (6)

A facility management system having a facility management server that manages the location of facilities installed in each of a plurality of stores,
Each piece of equipment is provided with a wireless tag with a code, on the surface of which is attached a graphic code that graphically represents the same equipment information as the wireless tag that holds equipment information for individually identifying the equipment;
a wireless mobile terminal that is connectable to the equipment management server and has a graphic code reader that reads the graphic code, a wireless tag reader that reads the equipment information of the wireless tag, and an equipment management control unit that selectively switches between a code reading process of the equipment information by the graphic code reader and a wireless reading process of the equipment information by the wireless tag reader and transmits the read equipment information to the equipment management server ;
The equipment management control unit is initially set so that, when equipment is registered in the store, the code reading process for the equipment is selected, and, when equipment in the store is inventoried, the wireless reading process for the equipment is selected, and the code reading process and the wireless reading process for the equipment are switchable between the code reading process and the wireless reading process for the equipment . the facility management control unit notifies the facility management server of a facility registered in another store as an existing facility when inventorying the facility in the store;
The facility management system according to claim 1 , wherein the facility management server transfers and registers the notified appearing facility from the other store to the store that notified the facility. the equipment management control unit notifies the equipment management server of an equipment that is not registered in the store at the time of inventorying the equipment in the store as an unknown equipment,
3. The facility management system according to claim 1, wherein the facility management server records the notified unknown facility as an unknown facility. The facility management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when there is facility to which it is difficult to affix the coded wireless tag, the management book has a coded wireless tag affixed to a paper surface on which the facility information of the facility is recorded, in correspondence with the facility information. 5. The facility management system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag is a passive RFID tag. A facility management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the facility information is read using a plurality of the wireless mobile terminals simultaneously within the store, and the read facility information is transmitted to the facility management server.

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