This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-156682, filed on Sep. 17, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to stock management system.
A system is known that performs stock management of articles using wireless tags attached to the articles in a store or the like (for example, JP-A-2010-70332 (Patent Literature 1) and JP-A-2010-44724 (Patent Literature 2)). The wireless tag is, for example, an RF tag. The RF tag is an IC tag adapted to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, that is, a technique for exchanging information by short-range wireless communication using a radio wave).
In such a system, an inventory job is performed by acquiring, with a reading device incorporating an antenna, information (an individual article code and an EPC (Electronic Product Code) stored by the wireless tag in a noncontact manner from a position away from the wireless tag by, for example, approximately 30 cm to 10 m.
In the inventory job, for example, the number of theoretical stocks (a theoretical number) obtained from management information of articles and the number of wireless tags actually read by the reading device (a measured number) are compared. As a result of the comparison, the measured number sometimes exceeds the theoretical number. In this case, sold commodities (or wireless tags attached to the sold commodities) and commodities before being warehoused are considered to be mixed in commodities of the theoretical stocks.
If commodities (or wireless tags) not included in the theoretical stocks are mixed in the commodities of the theoretical stocks, accuracy of the stock management is spoiled. Accordingly, it is desirable to find excess wireless tags not included in the theoretical stocks and then determine whether to treat the excess wireless tags as measured stocks. However, known stock management systems are not configured to support the finding of the excess wireless tags and the subsequent determination (whether to treat the excess wireless tags as the measured stocks).
An object of at least one embodiment is to, in order to solve the problem described above, make it easy to find excess wireless tags with respect to theoretical stocks among measured stocks.
A stock management system in at least one embodiment includes: a theoretical-stock acquiring unit (of at least one processor) configured to acquire, from a first storing unit (storage), information concerning theoretical stocks of commodities individually managed by wireless tags; a reading processing unit (of at least one processor) configured to read information received by an antenna that transmits and receives the information to and from the wireless tags; a comparison processing unit (of at least one processor) configured to compare the information acquired by the theoretical-stock acquiring unit and the information read by the reading processing unit to associate theoretical stock numbers and measured stock numbers of the commodities; a details presenting unit (of at least one processor) configured to show, among serial numbers of commodities, the measured stock numbers which exceed the theoretical stock numbers of the measured stock numbers, at least serial numbers not included in the theoretical stocks to enable the serial number to be selected; and a search processing unit (of at least one processor) configured to search for, with the antenna, a wireless tag matching the serial number selected from the serial numbers shown by the details presenting unit.
At least one embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings.
The server 300 is mainly used for retaining information concerning theoretical stocks, sold commodities, commodities before reception processing, and measured stocks. The commodities before reception processing are commodities for which reception confirmation by wireless tag reading is not implemented yet. Commodities individually managed by wireless tags read in the reception processing are recorded in theoretical stocks.
The sold commodities are commodities after sales processing is performed and are commodities individually managed by wireless tags read in the sales processing. The commodities are deleted from the record of the theoretical stocks according to the sales processing.
The theoretical stocks are commodities subjected to the reception processing and before sales. That is, the theoretical stocks are the remaining commodities after the commodities individually managed by the wireless tags read by the sales processing are excluded from the commodities individually managed by the wireless tags read by the reception processing.
The measured stocks are commodities individually managed by wireless tags read by the reading device 500 in inventory. In the inventory, details of places of inventory targets, designation of categories of commodities, for example, are set in the reading device 500 beforehand via an external terminal 600 or the like.
The wireless tag is, for example, an RF tag. The RF tag is an IC tag adapted to RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, that is, a technique for exchanging information by short-range wireless communication using a radio wave). Information stored by the wireless tag is, for example, an individual article code (EPC: Electronic Product Code). The individual article code is, for example, a code obtained by adding a serial number to a JAN code.
The reading device 500 may be a portable type and transmits and receives radio waves to and from the wireless tags with an antenna to read (acquire) and write information of the wireless tags. The reading device 500 receives (acquires) information such as theoretical stocks from the server 300 and transmits information concerning measured stocks to the server 300.
In such aback office, if inventory by the reading device 500 is performed, an operator holding the reading device 500 to direct radio waves 501 to 503 radiated by an antenna to the stock commodities 930 moves in, for example, an arrow direction. Consequently, transmission and reception of information is performed between wireless tags attached to the stock commodities 930 and the reading device 500. The reading device 500 acquires the information from the wireless tags.
If a part of commodities before reception processing 911 and sold commodities 921 are mixed in a place for the stock commodities 930 as illustrated in
The control unit 310 is configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU is a processor and executes a program. The ROM is a program memory and stores various programs and control data. The RAM is a working memory and is used for loading of various data. The CPU is connected to the ROM, RAM, and the storing unit 320 via a data bus. The CPU reads out a program stored in the ROM to the RAM and executes the program, whereby the control unit 310 collectively controls the units.
The storing unit 320 is configured by a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The storing unit 320 can be realized by, for example, a HDD or a flash memory in which stored information is retained even if a power supply is turned off. The storing unit 320 stores a control program, control data, or the like. For example, a control program can be installed in the storing unit 320 as appropriate.
The storing unit 320 stores theoretical stock information 321, sales record information 322, commodity reception schedule information 323, measured stock information 324, for example. The theoretical stock information 321 is information concerning commodities, which are the “theoretical stocks”, and is, specifically, information (individual article codes, commodity names, sizes, colors, and the like) capable of identifying the commodities, which are the theoretical stocks. The sales record information 322 is information concerning the “sold commodities” and is, specifically, information (individual article codes, commodity names, sizes, colors, and the like) capable of identifying the sold commodities. The commodity reception schedule information 323 is information concerning the “commodities before reception processing” and is, specifically, information (individual article codes, commodity names, sizes, colors, for example) capable of identifying the commodities before reception processing. The measured stock information 324 is information concerning commodities, which are the “measured stocks”, and is, specifically, information (individual article codes, commodity names, sizes, colors, and the like) capable of identifying commodities, which are the measured stocks.
The components (the control unit 510, the storing unit 520, the communication unit 530, the display unit 541, the operation unit 542, the informing unit 543, and the I/F 544) other than the antenna control unit 551 and the antenna 552 may be configured by a portable terminal device such as a smartphone. The I/F 544 is included in the portable terminal device such as the smartphone and communicably connects the antenna control unit 551 to the control unit 510 and the like. The communication unit 530 is an interface for communicably connecting the reading device 500 to the server 300 by wire or radio.
The antenna control unit 551 controls the antenna 552 based on control by the control unit 510. The antenna 552 performs transmission and reception of radio waves according to the control by the antenna control unit 551. The display unit 541 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display and displays information for the operator on a screen. The operation unit 542 is, for example, a touch panel provided to be placed on the display unit 541 and receives operation such as an information input corresponding to display content of the display unit 541. The operation unit 542 may be an operation unit including mechanical hard keys. The informing unit 543 is, for example, a speaker and emits sound.
The control unit 510 is configured by, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor and executes a program. The ROM is a program memory and stores various programs and control data. The RAM is a working memory and is used for loading of various data. The CPU is connected to the ROM, the RAM, and the storing unit 520 via a data bus. The CPU reads out a program stored in the ROM to the RAM and executes the program, whereby the control unit 510 collectively controls the units.
The storing unit 520 is configured by a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The storing unit 520 can be realized by, for example, a flash memory in which stored information is retained even if a power supply is turned off. The storing unit 520 stores a control program, control data, for example. For example, a control program can be installed in the storing unit 520 as appropriate.
The storing unit 520 stores information (for example, a part of the theoretical stock information 321, the sales record information 322, and the commodity reception schedule information 323) acquired from the server 300 and measured stock information (transmitted to the server 300 and stored as the measured stock information 324).
The theoretical-stock acquiring unit 511 communicates with the server 300 via the communication unit 530 to thereby acquire a theoretical stock number of each commodity provided by the server 300 (ACT 1) and causes the storing unit 520 to store the theoretical stock number. In providing the theoretical stock number of each commodity (ACT 21), the control unit 310 of the server 300 acquires information (at least an individual article code) from the theoretical stock information 321 and counts the number of individual article codes for each JAN code to thereby calculate the theoretical stock number of each commodity.
The reading processing unit 512 controls the antenna 552 via the antenna control unit 551 and transmits and receives information to and from wireless tags (ACT 2) to thereby acquire information (at least individual article codes) from the wireless tags.
The measured-stock-record processing unit 513 causes the storing unit 520 to store, as information concerning measured stocks, the information read by the reading processing unit 512. The measured-stock-record processing unit 513 counts, for each JAN code, the number of the individual article codes acquired by the reading processing unit 512 to thereby obtain a measured stock number of each commodity (ACT 3).
The list output unit 514 displays information concerning measured stocks collectively as a list for each commodity. Specifically, the list output unit 514 causes the display unit 541 to display a list table obtained by including the information concerning the measured stocks in a table-format commodity list.
In the display of the list table, the comparison processing unit 515 compares the information acquired by the theoretical-stock acquiring unit 511 and the information read by the reading processing unit 512 to associate theoretical stock numbers and measured stock numbers of commodities. Consequently, the operator can recognize, by viewing the list table, a commodity, a measured stock number of which is larger than a theoretical stock number thereof, that is, a commodity including an excess.
If a commodity is selected from the list table, the details presenting unit 516 displays a serial number of a measured stock of the commodity. In implementation, the details presenting unit 516 only has to show, among serial numbers of commodities, the measured stock numbers of which exceed the theoretical stock numbers thereof, at least serial numbers not included in the theoretical stocks to enable the serial number to be selected.
Regarding the commodities, the measured stock numbers of which exceed the theoretical stock numbers thereof, the details presenting unit 516 highlights the serial number not included in the theoretical stocks. As the highlighting, for example, the details presenting unit 516 displays the serial number not included in the theoretical stocks in red characters (or in boldfaces or with an underline) if the serial numbers of the theoretical stocks are displayed in black characters.
The search processing unit 517 searches for, with the antenna 552, a wireless tag matching the serial number selected out of the serial numbers shown by the details presenting unit 516.
The deletion processing unit 518 deletes, among the information concerning the measured stocks that the measured-stock-record processing unit 513 causes the storing unit 520 to store, information corresponding to the serial number selected out of the serial numbers shown by the details presenting unit 516.
The stock management system 100 having such a configuration performs the processing illustrated in the flowchart of
The measured stock list screen illustrated in
The button 571 is a button for declaring start and suspension of wireless tag reading by transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from the antenna 552 and is a toggle button for switching a function of receiving a start declaration and a function of receiving a suspension declaration every time operation is received. If the button 571 receives the start declaration, the control unit 510 (the reading processing unit 512) starts transmission and reception of radio waves by the antenna 552 (ACT 2). If the button 571 receives the suspension declaration, the control unit 510 stops the transmission and reception of radio waves by the antenna 552.
If reading of a wireless tag is started and radio waves are transmitted and received by the antenna 552 and information of the wireless tag is input (ACT 2), the control unit 510 (the measured-stock-record processing unit 513) obtains a measured stock number based on the received information (ACT 3). According to the measured stock number, the control unit 510 (the list output unit 514 or the comparison processing unit 515) counts up a value of the measured stock number 577 in the list table 570 (ACT 4).
A button 572 illustrated in
If any one of rows in the list table 570 is selected (Yes in ACT 5), the control unit 510 (the details presenting unit 516) requests the server 300 to provide details information about a commodity displayed in the selected row (ACT 6). At this time, the control unit 510 transmits serial numbers of measured stocks of the commodity in the selected row to the server 300. If a row is not selected in ACT 5 (No in ACT 5), the control unit 510 ends this processing.
The server 300 provides details information of the commodity as a response to the request (ACT 22). At this time, the server 300 transmits a serial number absent in the theoretical stocks among the serial numbers transmitted in ACT 6. At this time, if the serial number is included in a sold commodity or a commodity before reception processing, the server 300 may add information indicating to that effect.
The control unit 510 (the details presenting unit 516) causes, based on the provided details information, the display unit 541 to display a screen illustrated in
A commodity shown in a row 578 in the list table 570 illustrated in
In the highlighting, a type of highlight may be changed to enable the serial number to be distinguished in appearance, for example, if the serial number not included in the theoretical stocks is included in, for example, a sold commodity, underline the serial number, if the serial number is included in a commodity before reception processing, display the serial number in red characters, and if the serial number is included neither in the sold commodity nor in the commodity before reception processing, display the serial number in boldfaces.
On the details screen, as illustrated in
The search screen includes a concentric circle 591 indicating directions and distances centering on the reading device 500 and buttons 592 and 593. The button 592 receives operation for starting a search for a wireless tag with a serial number designated. The button 593 receives operation for ending a search job with the search screen displayed and returning to the details screen (
If the button 592 is operated on the details screen in
If the operator 584 is not operated in ACT 8 (No in ACT 8) and the button 583 receives operation (Yes in ACT 12), the control unit 510 (the deletion processing unit 518) transmits, to the server 300, a request for deleting the selected serial number from the measured stocks (ACT 13). If receiving the request, the server 300 deletes information concerning a measured stock corresponding to the serial number (ACT 23). Subsequently, the control unit 510 (the deletion processing unit 518) reflects the processing on display content (ACT 14), that is, applies, to the serial number in the field 582 for displaying the serial number of the wireless tag, processing for, for example, adding a strikethrough or thinning down characters.
As explained above, the stock management system 100 in at least one embodiment supports the search for the wireless tag with the serial number not included in the theoretical stocks designated such that the search can be easily executed. Therefore, it is possible to make it easier to find an excess wireless tag with respect to the theoretical stocks among the measured stocks.
In the at least one embodiment explained above, the reading device 500 includes the various functional units 511 to 518. However, in implementation, anyone of the devices configuring the stock management system 100 only has to assume the functions of the functional units 511 to 518. The device assuming the functions of the functional units 511 to 518 is not limited to the reading device 500. A plurality of devices (implemented as at least one processor, for example) included in the stock management system 100 may share and realize the functions of the functional units 511 to 518.
A program executed by the stock management system 100 in this embodiment is incorporated in a ROM or the like and provided.
The program executed by the stock management system 100 in at least one embodiment may be provided while being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) as a file of an installable format or an executable format.
Further, the program executed by the stock management system 100 in at least one embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded through the network. The program executed by the stock management system 100 in this embodiment may be provided or distributed through a network such as the Internet.
The program executed by the stock management system 100 in at least one embodiment has a module configuration including the units explained above (the theoretical-stock acquiring unit 511, the reading processing unit 512, the measured-stock-record processing unit 513, the list output unit 514, the comparison processing unit 515, the details presenting unit 516, the search processing unit 517, and the deletion processing unit 518). A CPU (a processor) reads out the program from the storage medium and executes the program to thereby load the units onto a main storage device. Consequently, the theoretical-stock acquiring unit 511, the reading processing unit 512, the measured-stock-record processing unit 513, the list output unit 514, the comparison processing unit 515, the details presenting unit 516, the search processing unit 517, and the deletion processing unit 518 are generated on the main storage device.
The several embodiments are explained above. However, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms. Various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications of the embodiments are included in the scope and the gist of the disclosure and included in the disclosure described in claims and the scope of equivalents of the disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-156682 | Sep 2020 | JP | national |