RFID system, RFID cable system, and RFID cable laying method

When an RFID is attached to an object to assist testing operations, the following problems are encountered; (1) the RFID of write type tends to cause a failure and is troublesome due to the necessity of rewrite each time the situation is changed, (2) the incorporation of the reader function in a terminal block increases the cost, and (3) the known techniques are targeted for only the connecting operation and are not adapted for a sequence test that takes the most expense in time and effort. The operations are aided by using an RFID reader and a terminal having the function for accessing a database of circuit information, RFID information, and test procedure information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system.

2. Description of the Related Art

When electric cables are laid in plants, railways and buildings, work specifications are prepared from design circuit diagrams. While referring to the work specifications, workers perform laying, connecting, testing and removing operations. The operations are progressed as follows. First, the workers lay cables in a plant, for example, while referring to work instructions indicating the start point and the end point of each cable.FIG. 2illustrates sequence information printed on paper and shows a sequence for a part of the entire plant.FIG. 3illustrates information complementing the sequence information inFIG. 2and shows a connection diagram of terminal blocks and cable wires which is printed on paper. The connecting and disconnecting operations are carried out while referring toFIG. 3. After the connecting and disconnecting operations, a sequence test is performed while referring toFIG. 2.

From the viewpoint of ensuring high reliability, human errors have to be eliminated from such cable laying work. Checking the operation results repeatedly is one solution, but repeated check leads to an increase of cost. In addition, such a solution cannot completely eliminate human errors because of just resorting to high consciousness of the individual workers.

To overcome that problem, Patent Document 1 (JP,A 2003-114247) discloses a technique of writing wiring information in an RFID (also called an RFID tag as required) and attaching it to a cable. Also, Patent Document 2 (JP,A 2004-349184) discloses a technique of attaching an RFID to a cable, incorporating the reader function in the terminal block side, and issuing an alarm if improperly wired connection is found. The former known technique employing the write type RFID is disadvantageous in tending to cause a failure and being troublesome due to the necessity of rewrite each time the situation is changed. Also, the latter known technique has a problem that the incorporation of the reader function in the terminal block increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems to be solved by the present invention are as follows:

(1) The write type REID tends to cause a failure and is troublesome due to the necessity of rewrite each time the situation is changed.

(2) The incorporation of the reader function in the terminal block increases the cost.

(3) The known techniques are targeted for only the connecting operation and are not adapted for the sequence test that takes the most expense in time and effort.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems based on the following most important features:

(1) An REID system holds REID information indicating to which unit of equipment an REID is attached.

(2) The reader function is provided on an operating terminal.

(3) Work is performed while reading the REID.

According to the present invention, an REID system capable of eliminating human errors and ensuring efficient work can be realized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates one example of overall configuration of a cable laying system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and practical examples of information held in a data storage3are shown inFIGS. 2-5. Examples of operation of a PC2are shown inFIGS. 6-16.

A cable8inFIG. 1is a cable connecting two terminals as indicated by a cable C3. One end of the cable is connected to a particular terminal of a control board5. A reader1is an RFID reader which reads an ID stored for identification in an RFID (tag) and outputs the read ID (tag ID) to a signal line101. The reader1repeats the read operation at intervals of a predetermined time or reads the tag ID at the timing when a trigger is applied from the PC2via a signal line101. The PC2is constituted by any of a personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a small-sized microcomputer, and it is generally made up of a CPU, a memory, and a storage. In each operating mode, the PC2receives the ID (tag ID) read by the reader1via the signal line101and aids work by checking the read ID (tag ID) with not only circuit information, RFID information and work procedure information which are stored in the data storage3, but also with commands for mode selection, object selection, etc. which are inputted from a user (worker). The data storage3may be prepared on a storage incorporated in the PC2, or it may be a storage on the Internet, which is not incorporated in the PC2. In the latter case, the PC2is required to have the communication function.

The circuit information means circuit information using a terminal ID and a cable ID, including information indicating connection between the terminal ID and the cable ID. By referring to the circuit information, it is possible to obtain, from the terminal ID, the cable ID to be connected, and conversely to obtain, from the cable ID, the terminal ID to be connected. In the following description, the cable ID is used as specifying either end of the cable. Instead of specifying either end of the cable, however, the cable ID may be used an ID for a cable having opposite ends such that those ends (starting end and terminating end) are separately managed. In such a case, the terminal ID to be connected can be specified by designating the cable ID and one of the opposite ends. Objects to which are attached RFIDs are not limited to the terminal and the cable. In this embodiment, the objects for attachment of RFIDs include a cable, an end of a wire, a control board, a control board terminal, a cable tray, a cable tray branch point, equipment to be controlled, and a principal point as a confirmation object in a sequence test. The circuit information has to be described by using those object IDs or IDs corresponding to the object IDs.

The RFID information indicates correspondence between the ID stored for identification in the RFID and the object ID representing the object to which is attached the RFID. By way of example, the cable ID representing one end of the cable8and the ID stored for identification in an RFID7_1, which is attached near that end of the cable8, are registered as the RFID information in correspondent relation. Although the objects for attachment of RFIDs in this embodiment include a cable, an end of a wire, a control board, a control board terminal, a cable tray, a cable tray branch point, equipment to be controlled, and a principal point as a confirmation object in a sequence test, the RFID information is similarly formed regardless of the kind of the object including other objects than mentioned above. By referring to the RFID information, it is possible to obtain, from the cable ID or the terminal ID, the ID stored for identification in the RFID, which is attached to an actual object represented by the cable ID or the terminal ID, and conversely to obtain, from the ID stored for identification in the RFID, the cable ID or the terminal ID.

The work procedure information means information indicating a work procedure, including a list of work details to be carried out by a worker in a certain day and procedures of individual operations, which are represented by the ID indicating the object to which is attached the RFID, or by the ID stored for identification in the attached RFID. An example of the list of work details to be carried out by a worker in a certain day will be described later with reference toFIG. 5. Assuming, as one example of the individual operations, an operation for confirming the connection between the terminal and the cable, the operation is progressed by prompting the worker to confirm the terminals included in a terminal block in order, and indicating the individual confirmation results to the worker. On that occasion, the confirmation order is represented by using the terminal ID or the cable ID, or the ID stored for identification in the RFID corresponding to the former, and is stored as the work procedure information. The work procedure is indicated to the user in a manner of changing color or blinking light of, on a diagram displayed as shown inFIG. 3, the terminal or the cable to be next confirmed, or illuminating an LED as described later, or displaying the terminal IDs or the cable IDs in the form of text rows. Such a manner will be further described later in connection with other examples of the individual operations by referring toFIGS. 9 and 10.

When a terminal of the control board5is required to be indicated as a part of the work aid, an ID of that terminal is outputted to a signal line102. An LED controller4receives designation of the terminal ID via the signal line102, and upon receiving the designation, it illuminates an LED6representing the designated terminal. For example, when the terminal of the control board5is not required to be indicated, the signal line102, the LED controller4, the LED6, and the work procedure information may be omitted from the system configuration. In the following, the RFID7is described as being a passive RFID and not having the write function. However, an REID being of active type or having the write function is also similarly usable. The cable is made up of a plurality of wires. The RFID7is previously attached to any of the cable, the end of each wire, the control board, the control board terminal, the cable tray, the cable tray branch point, the equipment to be controlled, and the principal point as the confirmation object in the sequence test by bonding, embedding, or just placing the RFID.

The data storage3holds the above-described circuit information, RFID information, and work procedure information, as well as work records. All data of the information may be stored in a memory or a disk inside the PC2, or may be stored in a server machine and obtained by the function of communicating with the server machine, which function is prepared in the PC2, each time the occasion requires. Even in the case using the memory or the disk inside the PC2, the data may be stored in the server machine such that data required for work is downloaded from the server machine before the work is started and work records are uploaded to the server machine after the work. Such a scheme makes it possible to share the information and to easily confirm the progress of the work.

As operating examples with the configuration shown inFIG. 1, the following modes are prepared. The worker starts work after depressing a desired button on a main menu in a screen2-2ofFIG. 6and setting one of the modes.

(1) The reader/writer1reads the ID stored for identification in the RFID (tag) attached to the cable8.

(2) The reader/writer1sends the read ID (tag ID) to the PC2.

(3) The PC2obtains the cable ID corresponding to the read ID (tag ID) by referring to the RFID information stored in the data storage3, and then obtains the terminal ID to which is to be connected the cable ID by referring to the circuit information, followed by sending the obtained terminal ID to the LED controller4.

(4) The LED controller4obtains the LED number indicating the relevant terminal ID and illuminates the corresponding LED6.

(5) In accordance with an instruction given from the illuminated LED, the worker connects the cable to the corresponding terminal.

Thus, when the REID attached to the cable is read, the LED representing the terminal to be connected is illuminated in accordance with the connection decided in the circuit information, thus enabling that terminal to be indicated to the worker. Assuming, for example, that the right end of the cable8is to be connected to the second terminal of the control board in the left side counting from top, the LED6of the control board5arranged in the left side at a second position counting from top is illuminated.

In the connection mode described above, the terminal to be connected may be displayed on a PC screen instead of performing the above steps (4) and (5). For example, the connection diagram is displayed in a similar format to that indicating the terminal block shown inFIG. 3, and the corresponding terminal is highlighted by changing its color or blinking it. In such a case, the signal line102, the LED controller4, the LED6, and the work procedure information may be omitted from the system configuration shown inFIG. 1.

(1) The reader/writer1reads the REID tag attached to the cable8.

(2) The reader/writer1reads the REID tag7—iattached to the control board5.

(3) The PC2obtains the cable ID corresponding to the read ID (tag ID) by referring to the RFID information stored in the data storage3, and then obtains the terminal ID to which is to be connected the cable ID by referring to the circuit information. Also, the PC2obtains a terminal ID2corresponding to the RFID tag7—iof the control board5by referring to the RFID information.

(4) If the terminal ID and the terminal ID2are matched with each other, the PC2determines the connection being proper and sends a signal to the LED controller4such that the terminal ID (exactly speaking, the corresponding LED) is illuminated. If the terminal ID and the terminal ID2are not matched with each other, the PC2determines the connection being not proper and sends a signal to the LED controller4such that the terminal ID or the terminal ID2is blinked. The determination as to the match or the mismatch may be performed by making a check after conversion to the cable ID.

(5) The corresponding LED6is illuminated or blinked.

In the confirmation mode described above, the match or the mismatch may be indicated by using a buzzer, for example, instead of above (5). In such a case, the signal line102, the LED controller4, the LED6, and the work procedure information may be omitted from the system configuration shown inFIG. 1.

(1) From the work procedure information stored in the data storage3, the PC2obtains the confirmation procedure for each terminal of the control board5, i.e., an object for which the connection is to be confirmed. In the case of the terminal block having one vertical row of terminals, the test procedure (confirmation procedure) is performed, for example, by confirming the terminal connection from the top to the last successively. However, the confirmation may be performed in any other suitable order. The PC2sends a signal to the LED controller4such that the LED corresponding to the terminal ID for which the confirmation is to be made is blinked.

(2) The reader/writer1reads the RFID tag7—iof the cable8connected to the terminal which is indicated by blinking of the LED.

(3) The PC2obtains the cable ID corresponding to the read ID (tag ID) by referring to the RFID information stored in the data storage3, and then obtains a terminal ID2to which is to be connected the cable ID by referring to the circuit information.

(4) If the terminal ID to be confirmed and the terminal ID2to which is to be connected the cable ID are matched with each other, the PC2determines the connection being proper and sends a signal to the LED controller4such that the terminal ID (exactly speaking, the corresponding LED) is illuminated. If the terminal ID and the terminal ID2are not matched with each, the PC2determines the connection being not proper and sends a signal to the LED controller4such that the terminal ID or the terminal ID2is blinked.

(5) The corresponding LED6is illuminated or blinked.

[3] Disconnection Mode: The disconnection mode is carried out in a similar manner to that described above in [2](1) to (5). It is however preferable to display a screen allowing write of a memo, for example, in the case of mismatch in (4) so that the worker can write down notes as required.
[4] Test Mode: The LED is illuminated in accordance with the test procedural steps included in the work procedure information which is stored in the data storage3. Details will be described below with reference toFIG. 2.

While the above description is made in connection the method of attaching the RFID to the cable wire, the RFID may be connected to a cable body. In such a case, the terminal block corresponding to the cable ID is displayed on the PC2, but individual wires cannot be specified. It is therefore preferable to display all of the terminals related to all the wires in a highlighted way or to illuminate all the corresponding LEDs.

Practical examples of the information held in the data storage3inFIG. 1are shown inFIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2shows, as a sequence diagram, one example of the circuit information held in the data storage. A circuit is made up of constituent elements, such as the cable, the end of each wire, the control board, the control board terminal, the cable tray, the cable tray branch point, the equipment to be controlled, and the principal point as the confirmation object in the sequence test. The circuit information is indicated by allocating specific IDs to those constituent elements. The result of the sequence test is confirmed successively from the left side. Although such circuit information is here shown in the form of a diagram, the circuit information is stored in the data storage3as a database including information capable of automatically producing the diagram.

FIG. 3shows, as a terminal block wiring diagram, one example of the circuit information held in the data storage3. Prior to starting the sequence test, the cable is required to be connected to the control board or an equipment terminal, thereby constituting a circuit. The terminal block wiring diagram represents data indicating the connecting operation to be performed for that purpose. Although such circuit information is here shown in the form of a diagram, the circuit information is stored in the data storage3as a database including information capable of automatically producing the diagram. As one example, information set in the first to fourth columns ofFIG. 4, counting from the left side, corresponds to the relevant data. In other words, the relevant data is given by correspondence information (connection specifications) between the control board terminals and the cable wire terminals. More specifically, “X23” representing a row of the control board, shown inFIG. 3, corresponds to “row number” in the first column ofFIG. 4, “1” to “21” each representing the terminal of the control board, shown inFIG. 3, corresponds to “terminal number” (of the control board) in the second column ofFIG. 4. The position of a line representing each of the wires, shown inFIG. 3, corresponds to “wire number” in the fourth column ofFIG. 4, and information representing the cable name such as “C000100”, shown inFIG. 3, corresponds to “cable number” in the third column ofFIG. 4.

FIG. 4shows one example of the RFID information held in the data storage3. The RFID information corresponds to the information set in the third to fifth columns ofFIG. 4counting from the left side, while it additionally contains information capable of automatically producing the diagram ofFIG. 3. More specifically, the third to fifth columns ofFIG. 4hold the RFID information indicating that which RFID, indicated in the fifth column, is attached to which wire, indicated in the fourth column, of which cable, indicated in the third column. In addition to the cable wire, for each of the cable, the control board, the control board terminal, the cable tray, the cable tray branch point, the equipment to be controlled, and the principal point as the confirmation object in the sequence test, similar RFID information is held which represents correspondence between the ID or the specific name used in the circuit information indicating those components and the value of the RFID that is bonded to, embedded in or just placed near the actual object.

FIG. 5shows one example of the work procedure information held in the data storage3. In other words,FIG. 5shows a list of operations which are resulted from assigning the whole of work to individual workers to be carried out by each worker. In the shown example, data indicating the name of each worker, the date of work start, the date of work end or incompletion are entered in respective areas each having a fixed length. Further, a list of operations includes connection, test, and removal. Data indicating the end of the operation list is present at the last. Detailed specifications of each operation are designated in another area as described later with reference toFIG. 10.

An example of the operation of the PC2inFIG. 1will be described below with reference toFIGS. 6-16.

2-1inFIG. 6shows a system log-in screen. One name is selected from a list of worker names registered in advance, and an OK button is depressed. Alternatively, the log-in may be started by reading RFIDs allocated to individual workers. In such a case, allocation information representing correspondence between the workers and the RFIDs must be prepared in advance as RFID information that is to be held in the data storage3. After the log-in, the process shifts to a menu list screen (2-2inFIG. 6). While all menu items may be displayed, the worker is able to more easily progress selection steps by displaying only work menu items to be next performed in accordance with the work procedure information. When the worker designates a certain menu item, corresponding one of the operating modes described above with reference toFIG. 1can be set.

The connection mode will be described below with reference to2-3in FIGS.6and2-4inFIG. 18. When the worker depresses a “connection” button from the main menu displayed as shown in2-2ofFIG. 6, the system displays a work list, as shown in2-3ofFIG. 6, for prompting the worker to select one of control boards or equipment for which the connection is to be performed. The worker selects one work object from the work list by clicking it. As an alternative, the manipulation to be made by the worker for the selection can be simplified by attaching an RFID to each of the control boards or the equipment and reading the REID by a reader for the selection of the desired work object. When the worker selects the desired work object, the system shifts to the connection mode and displays a connection mode screen as shown in2-4ofFIG. 18. The connection mode screen is preferably displayed in the same format as the above-described diagram ofFIG. 3, which is called the terminal block wiring diagram, for convenience of the connecting operations. The diagram is automatically produced and displayed from the circuit information stored in the data storage3. “ABC10” in2-4ofFIG. 18represents the name of the control board selected by the worker from the main menu screen shown in2-3ofFIG. 6; namely, it means that the displayed diagram indicates information of the selected control board. Because the control board is usually constituted by two rows on the left and right sides, the diagram is also displayed in two rows, but it may be displayed in one row. “A01” to “B20” represent the names of terminals, and numerical values put on both sides of the two rows represent respective identification numbers of the terminals. “C1” to “C9” represent the names of cables, and descriptions of the cables are displayed under the names. Line segments shown near C1represent that the cable C1has three wires and another one wire is extended from a cable shield. When the wires have different colors, the line segments are preferably displayed in the same colors as the wires such that the worker can intuitively perceive the wires in an individually discriminated way. When the line segment is extended until reaching the identification number of the terminal like C1, it indicates that the corresponding wire is now in the connected state. On the other hand, when the line segment is not extended until reaching the identification number of the terminal like C2, it indicates that the corresponding wire is now in the disconnected state. When the RFID of the wire is read, the wire is displayed in a blinked manner, or the identification name or the identification number corresponding to the relevant wire is displayed in a highlighted manner (like C7) for easier recognition. In addition, whether the connection is established or not may be displayed near the cable or the terminal. During the connecting operation, some worker connects the wires in the order of the terminal number. To facilitate finding of the wire to be connected to the terminal, therefore, a process is required which, after reading one RFID, cancels the first RFID upon read of the next RFID so that the relevant worker can easily find the wires next by next by reading the respective RFIDs.

The confirmation mode will be described below. The confirmation mode is a mode for confirming whether the cable and the terminal are correctly connected to each other. Because the confirming operation is carried out for each control board, a screen similar to that shown inFIG. 18is displayed. First, the identification name or the identification number of the terminal is displayed in color, e.g., gray, indicating that the confirmation is not yet completed. Then, the RFIDs on the cable side are read in the order of the terminal numbers. For the terminal to which is not connected the cable and for the terminal which is not required to make confirmation, the RFIDs on the terminal side are read. As a result of reading the RFIDs in such order, if the read data is matched with the circuit information (data), the confirmation is regarded as being completed. Whether the confirmation is completed or not yet completed must be indicated to the worker in an easily recognizable way, for example, by displaying a mark which indicates the completion of the confirmation. If the read data is not matched with the circuit information (data), in which terminal or cable occurs the mismatch is indicated to the worker in an easily recognizable way. When the mismatch is cleared as a result of error correction performed by the worker, the operation is brought to an end with the completion of the confirmation. When the mismatch is not cleared for the reason that the RFID cannot be read or that an action is necessitated which is to be made in the case of the connection incapable of being partly established, such fact is preferably recorded. For example, a “memo” menu button is disposed at the bottom of the screen shown inFIG. 18such that a memo pad is opened when the “memo” menu button is depressed, thus allowing the worker to write down notes in the memo pad. While the memo pad may be in the form of a text, it is preferable to leave a written memo as handwriting by using a pen or a mouse, or to perform character recognition of the handwriting such that a text search can be made. When the confirmation mode is brought to an end for the reason of not-yet-completion of the confirmation with the memo affixed, such fact is also recorded in a work report.

Although, taking the connection mode as an example, the above description is made on an assumption that the RFIDs are attached in advance, it is important that the RFIDs are attached without errors. In other words, the RFID information stored in the data storage3has to be matched with the information of the RFID correctly attached to the actual components. If the RFIDs are incorrectly attached to the wires, the connecting operation is itself performed erroneously. An RFID attaching method for preventing such a problem will be described below with reference toFIGS. 7,15and16.

According to the RFID attaching method, RFIDs to be attached to opposite ends of each wire are first prepared in the stage of making preparatory arrangement of a cable. For example, the RFIDs are prepared while cards indicating wires to be connected are hanged at opposite ends of the cable as shown inFIG. 15. Data of each RFID may be written in the RFID information in the stage of preparing the cards or in the stage of attaching the RFIDs in a site. To positively prevent errors in writing, after executing a process of (1) designating the cable name and the wires, (2) reading the data of each RFID, and (3) writing the read data in the RFID information as shown in2-5ofFIG. 7, it is preferable to repeat another process of (2) reading the data of each RFID and then (1) designating the cable name and the wires in the reversed order. For example, the above step (2) of reading the RFIDs for the wires and the above step (1) of designating the cable name are carried out by reading the RFIDs if they are attached to the cable. The step of designating the wires is carried out by displaying a screen as shown in2-7ofFIG. 7and designating respective colors of the wires.FIG. 16shows an allocation process flow. When the “allocation” mode button in6-2ofFIG. 6is selected in step1, the process is shifted to the allocation mode. In step2, a user designates a control board number Sno. At that time, the control board number Sno may be designated by reading the RFID which is previously attached to the control board and represents the control board number. Also, a list of cables may be displayed at that time. Information related to the selected control board number or the wires corresponding to the cable number is displayed. Stated another way, data related to the control board number is read from the back view, for example. Until the end of the “allocation” mode, steps5and6are repeated while attaching the RFIDs. More specifically, in step5, the cable name and the wires are designated based on the list shown in2-5ofFIG. 7. At that time, the cable name may be designated by reading the RFID which is previously attached to the cable and represents the cable. The designation of the wires is preferably set in an automatic manner successively from No. 1 as a default routine. Then, the RFID is read in step6. Subsequently, in step7, the RFID read in step6is made correspondent as the RFID information for the cable name and the wires which were designated in step5, thereby updating the data of the RFID information in accordance with a system program. After the RFIDs are attached to all the wires, the system enters an allocation confirmation mode in which the RFID is read in step9and the cable name and the wires are then designated in step10in the order reversal to the above. If the results obtained in steps9and10are matched with the RFID information obtained in steps5and6, the confirmation is regarded as being finished and a display is presented in a manner enabling the user to recognize which one of the wires has been confirmed and which one of the wires is not yet confirmed, for example, by changing the color of the cable wire having finished the confirmation in the screen shown in2-5ofFIG. 7. After the end of the allocation confirmation mode is determined in step8, it is ensured that the RFIDs attached to the cable and the control board, which are objects of the work at that time, are matched with the RFID information. Preferably, it is determined after the end of step8, for example, whether a written guarantee can be issued or not.

FIG. 8shows a screen example in the removal mode. The name of each cable to be removed is displayed. When the RFID attached to the cable to be removed is read, that cable is displayed in a highlighted manner, and whether it is “removal” or the “not removal” is notified to the user in an easily recognizable manner by using voices or displaying characters. For that purpose, as shown inFIGS. 12,13and14, RFIDs are required to be attached to the cable at various positions so that identification names in the circuit information for the relevant cable can be traced by reading those RFIDs. As an alternative, the identification names in the circuit information may be written in the RFIDs.FIG. 13shows the RFIDs which are successively arranged before the cable is cut. The RFIDs are bonded to the cable when the cable is formed, and data of the RFIDs in the order of the bonding is employed. Alternatively, data may be obtained by bonding the RFIDs and then reading the bonded RFIDs. When the cable is cut and each cable identification name is defined, the RFIDs positioned near opposite ends of each cut cable are read and made correspondent to the cable identification name as shown inFIG. 12. As a result, to which cable the read RFID belongs can be traced by using the data shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. In other words, those data constitute the RFID information of the cable, which is held in the data storage3. Further, by searching the circuit information based on the cable identification name, it is possible to know detailed information, such as the start point and the end point of the relevant cable.

An area on the right side ofFIG. 8displays the information of the cable to which is attached the RFID tag. The above-described process is also applicable to work in other mode than the removal mode by similarly tracing the information of the object to which is attached the RFID.

A manner of aiding the sequence test will be described below with reference toFIGS. 9,10,11and17.

In the sequence test mode, screens ofFIGS. 9 and 10are switchable from one to the other by clicking a tab. The screen ofFIG. 9displays a sequence diagram and indicates in which part of the diagram the sequence test has been completed. The screen ofFIG. 10displays a list of procedural steps and indicates to which one of the steps the procedure has been completed. The steps having been completed are displayed by thin characters, the steps which will be performed subsequently are displayed by bold characters, and the step to be next performed is indicated by a triangular mark. As shown inFIG. 10, by inserting a step of reading the RFID bonded to (or placed near) the object of the procedure, it is confirmed that the equipment of the object to be confirmed is correct. Further, the procedure information contains information indicating that the test in which part of the sequence diagram inFIG. 10corresponds to which step of the procedure inFIG. 10, thus displaying that, in each step of the procedures inFIG. 10, to which part has been completed the sequence test inFIG. 9. Instead of displaying a list of the procedure steps, rough procedure items and a detailed procedure for each of those items may be displayed. This enables the skilled user to progress the work while referring to only the rough procedure, thus resulting in an increase of the working efficiency. When the work is progressed as per the procedure and the RFIDs having been read during the procedure are also as per designated, it is preferable to determine after the end of the sequence test whether a written guarantee ensuring the completion of work can be issued or not.

Steps of the sequence test will be described below with reference toFIG. 11.

When the worker (user) selects the “Test” mode from the main menu in step1, the process is shifted to the sequence test mode. In step2, the worker is prompted to select the sequence number. As an alternative, the sequence number may be designated by reading the RFID which is previously attached to the object of the test, e.g., a control board. With the function of searching for the designated RFID and the testing operations to be carried out by the relevant worker from among the work procedure information shown inFIG. 5, it is possible to restrict candidates of the testing operations, to reduce the distance through which the worker must move, and to increase the working efficiency. The sequence data is read in step3to display the screens ofFIGS. 9 and 10. Until the end of the “test” mode which is determined in step4, step5and subsequent steps are repeated. More specifically, in step5, the procedure to be next performed is displayed as shown inFIG. 10. If it is determined in step6that the current procedure includes a process of reading the RFID, the system waits for read of the RFID in step7and then determines whether the read RFID is matched with the designated RFID. If both the RFIDs are matched with each other (i.e., OK), the current procedure is brought to an end in step9. If it is determined in step6that the current procedure does not include a process of reading the RFID, the current procedure is brought to an end after waiting for depression of an end-of-work button or an entry of an operating command instructing “end of the current procedure”, e.g., an instruction of the next work item. Then, the completion of the current procedure is reflected on the degree of progress in step10. If both the RFIDs are not matched with each other in step7, error processing is executed in step8.

In relation to step7, the following is additionally included:

If the RFID is misread, the worker is prompted to read the RFID again, and if the read RFID is OK, the process flow advances to step9.

If the RFID having been read again is not OK, or if the RFID cannot be read, the worker is prompted to write notes regarding the situation in a remark area in the course of the error processing.

In such a case, the work is continued or interrupted.

If the work is continued in that situation, such fact is recorded in a written work guarantee.

FIG. 17illustrates connection states in portions corresponding to each sequence. A cable C1connects a terminal of a control board No. 1, which is represented by RFID(7_1R_1), and a terminal of a control board No. 2, which is represented by RFID(7_2L_1). For example, a sequence test No. 1 is performed to confirm the cables C1and C3, and a sequence test No. 2 is performed to confirm the cables C1and C4. If the work of the sequence test No. 1 is ended at date within a predetermined period, the test regarding the cable C1in the sequence test No. 1 can be omitted. For that purpose, it is required to assign a specific ID to each partial sequence in the sequence diagram ofFIG. 9, and to hold, in the procedure information, information indicating that each step of the procedure shown inFIG. 10corresponds to which one of the tests assigned with the respective specific IDs. It is also required to store information indicating when each test assigned with the specific ID has been ended, and to refer to that information. With such an arrangement, the worker can check that partial sequences indicated by the same specific ID are present in separate sequence diagrams, and that the sequence test has been completed. If there is a partial sequence which has already been completed in the sequence test No. 1, a portion corresponding to the completed partial sequence can be displayed in a recognizable manner when the sequence diagram is displayed as shown inFIG. 9. By displaying the completed partial sequence as the completed step when the list of the procedural steps is displayed as shown inFIG. 10, the corresponding test step can be skipped.

By logging system operating situations (i.e., recording the time of each depression of the menu button, each read of the RFID, etc.) after the worker started up the system, it is possible to confirm how the work has been progressed. In other words, the logging enables collection of basic data indicating what kind of work takes expense in time and effort. Based on the collected basic data, the amount of operations required for each kind of work can be estimated from the cable length (in this case, the cable length for each cable ID must be also stored), the number of terminals, and/or the number of test procedural steps. As a result, work allocation among a plurality of workers can be performed in more appropriate manner.

FIG. 19shows a screen example in the confirmation mode. To input the situations of cable connections, the RFIDs of cables connected in the order of the terminal number in the terminal block are read and, for the terminals to which are not connected the cables, the RFIDs attached to those terminals are read. As another method for inputting the situations of cable connections, the RFIDs of cables connected to the RFIDs of the terminal block may be read two by two. When the user (worker) depresses a “PRINT” button located in a lower area of the screen after inputting the situations of cable connections, a work report is automatically formed, as shown inFIG. 20, in accordance with a program. With such a function, the user can easily prepare the work report. Also, by storing the time when the confirmation mode was started or the time when the RFID of the cable connected to the first terminal was read, and the time when the RFID of the cable connected to the last terminal was read or the time when the confirmation mode was ended, and by automatically entering the stored data and time in the work report, the work report can be handled as the evidence indicating execution of the relevant work.

When the PC2updates data which is stored in the data storage3periodically or as required and which can be shared by other persons via a network, both sides are required to have the communication function. As another method, data may be transferred between the PC2and the data storage3by downloading the data to the PC2from the data storage3prior to the start of work, locally updating and storing the data in the PC2during the work, and uploading the stored data after the end of the work. In such a case, guarantee information is required to be also uploaded at the same time. The guarantee information includes, for example, “information guaranteeing that the attached RFIDs are matched with the RFID information” based on the allocating operation described with reference toFIG. 16, “information guaranteeing that the test results are matched with the RFID information” based on the operation of the sequence test described with reference toFIG. 11, and “information guaranteeing that check of the connection situations in comparison with the diagram using the RFIDs has been completed”. In addition, the degree of progress and the log are required to be also uploaded to the data storage3.

Thus, the system of the present invention has the advantage that since correspondence information between IDs used in the circuit information, such as design data, and the RFIDs attached to actual objects is held as data on the system side, it is possible to confirm which part of the circuit information is now under work by referring to the held data based on the RFID read by using the reader, and to aid the work with no necessity of writing any data in the RFID.

Also, since the system of the present invention has the read function on the operating terminal side, the reader function is no longer required to be prepared for each terminal block, and therefore the cost can be cut.

Further, according to the system of the present invention, since the correspondence information between IDs used in the circuit information, such as design data, and the RFIDs attached to actual objects is held as data on the system side, the sequence test can also be aided by reading the RFID, which corresponds to a certain part in the sequence diagram representing the circuit information, during the work.

In addition, by employing LED plates attached to casings and the above-described confirmation mode, the present invention can also be applied to applications in which it is essential to navigate positions and to confirm arrival to each position, such as whack-a-mole game.