Patent Publication Number: US-9886830-B2

Title: Article management system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-012331, filed Jan. 26, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein generally relate to an article management system for managing an article such as a baggage and the like deposited by a user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In an article checkroom for keeping an article, for example, baggage, when a user who has deposited baggage comes to a window, a person in charge looks for the baggage deposited by the user. Thus, it takes much time to hand over the baggage and an improvement is desired. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the whole constitution of an article management system; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a conversion table; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an association file; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a tracking file; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating processing procedures of a deposit job; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating procedures of a deposit registration processing and a deposit cancellation processing; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating procedures of a tracking job; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedures of a monitoring job; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an ID confirmation screen; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the ID confirmation screen; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a notification screen; and 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating processing procedures of the monitoring job according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to an embodiment, an article management system comprises a medium on which unique identification information is recorded, a reader configured to read the identification information recorded on the medium, an alarm, which is to be attached to an article deposited by a user, configured to execute a notification operation in response to input of a driving signal, and an article management apparatus. The article management apparatus comprises an association module configured to associate the medium with the alarm attached to the article to be handed over to the user who carries the medium and an output module configured to output the driving signal to the alarm associated with the medium of which the identification information is read by the reader. 
     Hereinafter, an article management system of the embodiment used to reduce the time spent in handing over an article to achieve a high efficiency of the job is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment exemplifies an article management system established in an article checkroom at which a user, e.g., a traveler temporarily deposits an article such as baggage. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the whole constitution of an article management system  100 . The article management system  100  includes a plurality of transmitters  110 , a plurality of alarms  120 , an article management apparatus  130 , and a reader unit  140 . 
     The transmitter  110  uses a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) represented by Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark) and the like or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) to transmit a beacon signal continuously or periodically. A unique ID of the transmitter  110  is contained in the beacon signal. 
     The transmitter  110 , a plurality of which is prepared at the window of the article checkroom, is handed over to a user who deposits baggage. The user carries the transmitter  110  during a period of depositing the baggage, and returns the transmitter  110  in exchange with the baggage at the time of receiving the deposited baggage. A barcode  111  representing the ID (hereinafter referred to as a user ID) of the transmitter  110  is attached to the transmitter  110 . 
     The alarm  120  executes a notification operation if a driving signal including a unique ID (hereinafter, referred to as an alarm ID) for the alarm  120  is received. The driving signal is transmitted from the article management apparatus  130 . The notification operation refers to both a light emitting operation from a light source and a sounding operation from a sound source. The notification operation may be executed in such a manner that only the light emitting operation is executed at first and then the sounding operation is executed after a given period of time elapses, or in such a manner that only the sounding operation is executed at first and then the light emitting operation is executed after a given period of time elapses. The notification operation stops through, for example, turning off a manual switch. After stopping, the notification operation is not executed until the manual switch is reset. 
     The alarm  120 , a plurality of which is prepared at the window of the article checkroom, is attached to the baggage deposited by the user. If the user deposits more than two pieces of baggage, all the baggage is gathered up to one location and one of them is attached with the alarm  120 . The alarm  120  is not attached to the baggage but may be placed at a location where the baggage is kept. A barcode  121  representing the alarm ID is attached to the alarm  120 . 
     The article management apparatus  130  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  131 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  132 , a RAM (Random Access Memory)  133 , a timepiece section  134 , an auxiliary storage device  135 , an input device  136 , a display device  137 , a barcode reader  138 , a first wireless unit  139 A, a second wireless unit  139 B and a communication interface  1310 . Further, in the article management apparatus  130 , the CPU  131  is connected with the ROM  132 , the RAM  133 , the timepiece section  134 , the auxiliary storage device  135 , the input device  136 , the display device  137 , the barcode reader  138 , the first wireless unit  139 A, the second wireless unit  139 B and the communication interface  1310  through a bus line BL such as an address bus line, a data bus line and the like. 
     The CPU  131  acting as a central part of a computer controls each section to realize various functions of the article management apparatus  130  according to an operating system and application programs. 
     The ROM  132  acting as a main memory part of the computer stores the operating system and application programs. There is a case in which the ROM  132  stores data required by the CPU  131  to execute processing for controlling each section. 
     The RAM  133  acting as a main memory part of the computer stores data required by the CPU  131  to execute the processing. Further, the RAM  133  is also used as a work area in which data is rewritten by the CPU  131 . 
     The timepiece section  134  counts the system clock (date and time) of the computer as the current date and time. 
     The auxiliary storage device  135  acting as an auxiliary storage part of the computer is, for example, an EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The auxiliary storage device  135  stores data used for executing various processing by the CPU  131  and data generated in the processing executed by the CPU  131 . The auxiliary storage device  135  may also store application programs. 
     The input device  136  receives an instruction input by an operator. The display device  137  displays various screens. For example, a keyboard, a mouse and the like can be used as the input device  136 . For example, a liquid crystal display can be used as the display device  137 . A touch panel may be used to integrate the input device  136  with the display device  137 . 
     The barcode reader  138  optically reads the barcodes  111  and  121  attached to the transmitter  110  and the alarm  120 , respectively. 
     The first wireless unit  139 A is connected with an antenna ANT 1 , and a radio wave propagation area of the antenna ANT 1  is referred to as a wireless communication area. The first wireless unit  139 A receives the beacon signal transmitted from the transmitter  110  located in the wireless communication area. The antenna ANT 1  is arranged nearby the window of the article checkroom. The article management apparatus  130  can widely set the wireless communication area in a direction of directivity of the antenna ANT 1  from the window acting as a reference with the use of the antenna ANT 1  having directivity. The article management apparatus  130  can set the wireless communication area concentrically from the window acting as a center with the use of the antenna ANT 1  having non-directivity. The antenna ANT 1  and the first wireless unit  139 A function as a receiver which receives radio wave wirelessly sent from the transmitter  110 . The first wireless unit  139 A includes an intensity detection circuit  150  which detects the intensity of the radio wave (db) received with the antenna ANT 1 . 
     The second wireless unit  139 B is connected with the antenna ANT 2  and a radio wave propagation area of the antenna ANT 2  is referred to as a wireless communication area. The second wireless unit  139 B transmits a driving signal to the alarm  120  located in the wireless communication area. Other than a general antenna, for example, a leaky coaxial cable laid at the ceiling of a place for baggage can be applied as the antenna ANT 2 . 
     The communication interface  1310  carries out data communication with the reader unit  140  according to a prescribed communication protocol. 
     The article management apparatus  130  with such a constitution may be a computer such as a personal computer or a tablet terminal. If such a computer is applied as the article management apparatus  130 , the barcode reader  138  is connected with the article management apparatus  130  through an interface for peripheral devices such as a USB and the like. The article management apparatus  130  (computer) is located at or nearby the window of the article checkroom. 
     The reader unit  140  is mounted on a wall or a pillar at a location at a predetermined distance, for example, 30 meters, away from the window of the article checkroom. The reader unit  140  reads the user ID of the transmitter  110 . The reader unit  140  includes a scanner capable of reading the barcode  111  and an interface for transmitting the user ID obtained from the read barcode  111  to the communication interface  1310 . 
     In a case in which a short distance wireless communication element, which is referred to as, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag or an NFC (Near Field Communication) tag, is contained in the transmitter  110 , the reader unit  140  may comprise an RFID tag reader, or an NFC tag reader, instead of the scanner. The reader unit  140  may read the user ID transmitted from the transmitter  110  using the short distance wireless communication. The number of the reader units  140  is not limited to one. A plurality of the reader units  140  may be connected with the communication interface  1310  in parallel. 
     The article management apparatus  130  includes three job modes, i.e., a deposit job, a tracking job and a monitoring job. The article management apparatus  130  can execute the three jobs in parallel. The three jobs are controlled by respectively different application programs. 
     Further, a conversion table  200  shown in  FIG. 2 , an association file  300  shown in  FIG. 3  and a tracking file  400  shown in  FIG. 4  are required for the article management apparatus  130  to execute each job. 
     The conversion table  200  is a data table used for converting intensity of radio wave (db) at the time of receiving the radio wave from the transmitter  110  by the antenna ANT 1  into a relative distance (m) between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1 . For example, at the time the article management system  100  is introduced, the relative distance (m) is experimentally calculated with respect to the intensity of radio wave (db) and the calculated data is set in the conversion table  200 . The conversion table  200  is stored in the ROM  132  or the auxiliary storage device  135 . 
     The association file  300  is a data file for recording a plurality of records each of which consists of the user ID, the alarm ID and deposit date and time. The association file  300  is formed in the auxiliary storage device  135  or the RAM  133 . 
     The tracking file  400  is a data file for recording a plurality of records each of which consists of the user ID, the intensity of radio wave Am (db), the distance Dn (m), a display flag F 1  and a notification flag F 2 . The tracking file  400  is formed in the auxiliary storage device  135  or the RAM  133 . Each record in the tracking file  400  may further record an alarm ID associated with the user ID. 
     Hereinafter, all the jobs are described in order. First, the deposit job is described with reference to the flowcharts shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . 
     An application program for controlling the deposit job is started if the article management apparatus  130  starts. If the application program is started, the CPU  131  starts the procedures of processing in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5 . First, the CPU  131  waits for a deposit declaration (Act  1 ). If the input device  136  is a keyboard, the CPU  131  waits for input of a deposit declaration key allocated on the keyboard. If the input device  136  is a mouse, the CPU  131  waits for a click on an icon ‘deposit declaration’ displayed on the display device  137 . 
     If the user who wants to deposit the baggage comes to the window, a person in charge of the window operates the input device  136  to input the deposit declaration by pressing the deposit declaration key or clicking the icon ‘deposit declaration’. In this way, if the deposit declaration is received (Yes in Act  1 ), the CPU  131  clears a pair of work memories WM 1  and WM 2  formed in the RAM  133  (Act  2 ). 
     The CPU  131  stands by until the barcode data is input (Act  3 ). If the barcode is read by the barcode reader  138  (Yes in Act  3 ), the CPU  131  identifies whether the barcode data is the user ID or the alarm ID (Act  4  and Act  5 ). Different category flags are incorporated into the user ID attached to each transmitter  110  and the alarm ID attached to each alarm  120 , respectively. The CPU  131  identifies whether the barcode data is the user ID or the alarm ID through recognizing the category flag. 
     If the barcode data is neither the user ID nor the alarm ID (No in Act  4  and No in Act  5 ), the CPU  131  stands by until the next barcode data is input (Act  3 ). 
     The person in charge of the window who carries out a deposit declaration takes out one transmitter  110  to be handed over to the user in exchange of the baggage. Then, the person in charge operates the barcode reader  138  to read the barcode  111  attached to the transmitter  110 . If the barcode data is the user ID (Yes in Act  4 ), the CPU  131  stores the user ID in the work memory WM 1  (Act  6 ). 
     Similarly, the person in charge of the window who carries out the deposit declaration takes out one alarm  120  to be attached to the baggage deposited by the user. The person in charge operates the barcode reader  138  to read the barcode  121  attached to the alarm  120 . If the barcode data is the alarm ID (Yes in Act  5 ), the CPU  131  stores the alarm ID in the work memory WM 2  (Act  7 ). 
     The CPU  131  confirms whether or not the user ID is associated with the alarm ID (Act  8 ). If the user ID and the alarm ID are stored in the pair of work memories WM 1  and WM 2  correspondingly, the CPU  131  determines that the user ID is associated with the alarm ID. If only one of the user ID and the alarm ID is stored, the CPU  131  determines that the user ID is not associated with the alarm ID. If the user ID is not associated with the alarm ID (No in Act  8 ), the CPU  131  stands by until the next barcode data is input (Act  3 ). 
     If the user ID is associated with the alarm ID (Yes in Act  8 ), the CPU  131  displays an ID confirmation screen  500  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) on the display device  137  (Act  9 ). 
       FIG. 9  is an example of the ID confirmation screen  500 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the ID confirmation screen  500  includes a display area for customer  501 , a display area for baggage  502 , a deposit registration button  503  and a deposit cancellation button  504  as display components. 
     The CPU  131  displays the user ID stored in the work memory WM 1  in the display area for customer  501 . The CPU  131  displays the alarm ID stored in the work memory WM 2  in the display area for baggage  502 . At this time, the CPU  131  disables the deposit registration button  503  and the deposit cancellation button  504 . Thus, even if the person in charge of the window desires to operate the input device  136  to input either of buttons  503  and  504 , the input operation cannot be executed. 
     After displaying the ID confirmation screen  500 , the CPU  131  retrieves the association file  300  (Act  10 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not a record containing the user ID stored in the work memory WM 1  and the alarm ID stored in the work memory WM 2  is registered in the association file  300  (Act  11 ). If the record is not registered (Yes in Act  11 ), the CPU  131  executes a deposit registration processing (Act  12 ). If the record is registered (No in Act  11 ), the CPU  131  executes the deposit cancellation processing (Act  13 ). 
     Procedures of the deposit registration processing and the deposit cancellation processing are disclosed with the flowchart shown in  FIG. 6 . If the deposit registration processing is executed, the CPU  131  enables the deposit registration button  503  on the ID confirmation screen  500  first (Act  21 ). Then the CPU  131  stands by until the deposit registration button  503  is operated (Act  22 ). 
     The person in charge of the window who reads the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  and the barcode  121  of the alarm  120  with the barcode reader  138  confirms that each barcode is read correctly from the ID confirmation screen  500 . After confirming, the person in charge of the window operates the input device  136  to input the deposit registration button  503 . 
     If the deposit registration button  503  is input, the CPU  131  acquires the data of date and time clocked by the timepiece section  134  as the date and time of depositing the baggage by the user (Act  23 ). The CPU  131  records the user ID in the work memory WM 1 , the alarm ID in the work memory WM 2  and the data of deposit date and time acquired by the processing in Act  23  as one record in the association file  300  (Act  24 : association module). Then, the CPU  131  erases the ID confirmation screen  500  (Act  25 ). In this way, the deposit registration processing is ended. 
     If the deposit cancellation processing is executed, the CPU  131  enables the deposit cancellation button  504  on the ID confirmation screen  500  (Act  31 ). Then the CPU  131  stands by until the deposit cancellation button  504  is operated (Act  32 ). 
     If the user who has deposited the baggage comes for receiving the baggage, the person in charge of the window reads the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  received from the user and the barcode of the alarm.  120  attached to the baggage deposited by the user with the barcode reader  138 . The person in charge of the window inputs, if it is confirmed that each barcode is correctly read through the ID confirmation screen  500 , the deposit cancellation button  504  by operating the input device  136 . 
     If the deposit cancellation button  504  is input, the CPU  131  acquires the deposit date and time from the record of the association file  300  containing the user ID stored in the work memory WM 1  and the alarm ID stored in the work memory WM 2  (Act  33 ). The CPU  131  calculates a deposit time S from the deposit date and time to the current date and time clocked by the timepiece section  134  (Act  34 ). The CPU  131  displays the deposit time S on the ID confirmation screen  500  together with a confirmation button  505  (Act  35 ), as shown in  FIG. 10 . Then the CPU  131  stands by until the confirmation button  505  is input (Act  36 ). 
     The person in charge of the window who confirms the deposit time S operates the input device  136  to input the confirmation button  505 . If the confirmation button  505  is input (Yes in Act  36 ), the CPU  131  deletes the record containing the user ID stored in the work memory WM 1  and the alarm ID stored in the work memory WM 2  from the association file  300  (Act  37 ). The CPU  131  deletes the record containing the user ID stored in the work memory WM 1  from the tracking file  400  (Act  38 ). Then, the CPU  131  erases the ID confirmation screen  500  (Act  25 ). In this way, the deposit cancellation processing is ended. The deletion of the record refers to not only the deletion of the record physically, but also the invalidation of the record by setting a deletion flag. 
     If the deposit registration processing or the deposit cancellation processing is ended, the application program for controlling the deposit job returns to the initial step. The CPU  131  starts the processing procedures shown in the flowchart in  FIG. 5  again. 
     Next, the tracking job is described with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The application program for controlling the tracking job is started if the article management apparatus  130  starts. If the program is started, the CPU  131  starts the processing procedures shown in the flowchart in  FIG. 7 . First, the CPU  131  confirms whether or not the user ID is received by the antenna ANT 1  (Act  41 ). If the user ID is not received (No in Act  41 ), the CPU  131  confirms whether the user ID is read by the reader unit  140  (Act  42 ). If the user ID is not read (No in Act  42 ), the CPU  131  confirms whether or not the user ID is received by the antenna ANT 1  (Act  41 ). In this way, the CPU  131  waits for receiving the user ID. 
     If the user ID transmitted from the transmitter  110  is received through the first wireless unit  139 A (Yes in Act  41 ), the CPU  131  retrieves the association file  300  with the user ID (Act  43 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not the record containing the user ID serving as a retrieval target is registered in the association file  300  (Act  44 ). If the record is not registered in the association file  300  (No in Act  44 ), the CPU  131  waits for receiving the user ID again (Act  41 , Act  42 ). 
     If the record is registered in the association file  300  (Yes in Act  44 ), the CPU  131  acquires the data of deposit date and time from the record (Act  45 ). The CPU  131  calculates an elapsed time t from the deposit date and time to the current date and time clocked by timepiece section  134  (Act  46 ). 
     The CPU  131  confirms whether or not the elapsed time t is longer than a determination time T (Act  47 ). The determination time T can be optionally set as long as it is an adequate time for the user who deposits the baggage to move outside of the wireless communication area of the antenna ANT 1 . 
     If the elapsed time t is shorter than the determination time T, the received user ID can be regarded as an ID that is transmitted from the transmitter  110  handed over to the user who just deposits the baggage. In this case (No in Act  47 ), the CPU  131  returns to the standby state for receiving the user ID (Act  41 , Act  42 ). 
     If the elapsed time t is longer than the determination time T (Yes in Act  47 ), the received user ID can be regarded as an ID that is transmitted from the transmitter  110  carried by the user who comes to the baggage checkroom to receive the baggage. In this case, the CPU  131  acquires the intensity of radio wave An (db) detected by the intensity detection circuit  150  (Act  48 ). The CPU  131  retrieves the tracking file  400  with the user ID received through the processing in Act  41  (Act  49 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not the record containing the user ID serving as the retrieval target is registered in the tracking file  400  (Act  50 ). 
     If the record is not registered in the tracking file  400  (No in Act  50 ), the received user ID can be regarded as an ID transmitted from the transmitter  110  carried by the user who just enters the wireless communication area of the antenna ANT 1 . In this case, the CPU  131  records the record containing the user ID and the intensity of radio wave An (db) in the tracking file  400  (Act  51 ). The CPU  131  resets the display flag F 1  of the record to ‘0’ (Act  52 ). Further, the CPU  131  refers to the conversion table  200  to convert the intensity of radio wave Am (db) into the relative distance Dn (m) between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1 . Then, the CPU  131  records the relative distance Dn (m) in the record (Act  53 ). In this case, the tracking job for the transmitter  110  of which the user ID is received is ended. 
     If the record containing the same user ID is registered in the tracking file  400  (Yes in Act  50 ), the CPU  131  reads the intensity of radio wave Am (db) recorded in the record (Act  54 ). The CPU  131  compares the intensity of radio wave Am (db) with the intensity of radio wave An (db) acquired through the processing in Act  48  (Act  55 : determination module). 
     If the intensity of radio wave An (db) is smaller than the intensity of radio wave Am (db) (No in Act  55 ), in other word, in a case in which the intensity of radio wave becomes weak as time elapses, it can be regarded that the user goes increasingly away from the window of the baggage checkroom. In this case, the CPU  131  resets the display flag F 1  of the record to ‘0’ (Act  52 ). The CPU  131  refers to the conversion table  200  to convert the intensity of radio wave Am (db) to the relative distance Dn (m) between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1 . The CPU  131  records the relative distance Dn (m) in the record (Act  53 ). In this way, the tracking job for the transmitter  110  of which the user ID is received is ended. 
     If the intensity of radio wave An (db) is greater than the intensity of radio wave Am (db) (Yes in Act  55 ), in other word, in a case in which the intensity of radio wave becomes strong as time elapses, it can be regarded that the user is approaching the window of the baggage checkroom. In this case, the CPU  131  confirms whether or not the intensity of radio wave An (db) is greater than a threshold value As 1  (db) (Act  56 ). The threshold value As 1  (db) refers to a normal value of the intensity of radio wave received from the transmitter  110  at the time relative distance between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1  is, for example, 50 m. 
     If the intensity of radio wave An (db) is smaller than the threshold value As 1  (db) (No in Act  56 ), it can be regarded that the user does not approach a position within a distance of 50 m away from the window. In this case, the CPU  131  resets the display flag F 1  of the record containing the received user ID to ‘0’ (Act  52 ). The CPU  131  refers to the conversion table  200  to convert the intensity of radio wave Am (db) to the relative distance Dn (m) between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1 . Then the CPU  131  records the relative distance Dn (m) in the record (Act  53 ). In this way, the tracking job for the transmitter  110  of which the user ID is received is ended. 
     If the intensity of radio wave An (db) is greater than the threshold value As 1  (db) (Yes in Act  56 ), it can be regarded that the user is approaching a position within a distance of 50 m away from the window. In this case, the CPU  131  sets the display flag F 1  of the record containing the received user ID to ‘1’ (Act  57 ). The CPU  131  refers to the conversion table  200  to convert the intensity of radio wave Am (db) to the relative distance Dn (m) between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1 . The CPU  131  records the relative distance Dn (m) in the record (Act  53 ). In this way, the tracking job for the transmitter  110  of which the user ID is received is ended. 
     On the other hand, in a case in which the user ID read by the reader unit  140  is acquired via the communication interface  1310  (Yes in Act  42 ), the CPU  131  retrieves the tracking file  400  with the user ID (Act  58 ). Then the CPU  131  confirms whether or not the record containing the user ID serving as the retrieval target is registered in the tracking file  400  (Act  59 ). 
     If the record is not registered in the tracking file  400  (No in Act  59 ), the CPU  131  enters the standby state for the receiving of the user ID again (Act  41 , Act  42 ). 
     The user operates the reader unit  140  to read the barcode of the transmitter  110  carried by himself/herself before he or she comes to the window at the time the user receives the deposited baggage. Generally, the record containing the user ID serving as the retrieval target is registered in the tracking file  400 . If the record is registered in the tracking file (Yes in Act  59 ), the CPU  131  sets the notification flag F 2  of the record containing the user ID to ‘1’ (Act  60 ). In this way, the tracking job for the transmitter  110  of which the user ID is read by the reader unit  140  is ended. 
     If the tracking job is ended, the application program for controlling the tracking job is returned to initial step. The CPU  131  starts the processing procedures shown in flowchart in  FIG. 7  again. 
     Next, the monitoring job is described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     The application program for controlling the monitoring job is started according to the interruption signal generated at given intervals (e.g. an interval of 1 second). If the program is started, the CPU  131  starts the processing procedures shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 8 . First, the CPU  131  retrieves the notification flag F 2  of each record recorded in the tracking file  400  (Act  71 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not there is a record of which the notification flag F 2  is set to ‘1’ (Act  72 ). 
     If there is a record of which the notification flag F 2  is set to ‘1’ (Yes in Act  72 ), then the record is a notification target. In this case, the CPU  131  retrieves the association file  300  with the user ID in the record. The CPU  131  detects an alarm ID associated with the user ID (Act  73 ). The CPU  131  transmits a driving signal containing the alarm ID from the antenna ANT 2  through the second wireless unit  139 B (Act  74 : output module). 
     If there is a plurality of the records of which notification flags F 2  are set to ‘1’ respectively, the CPU  131  retrieves the association file  300  with the user ID of each record to detect all the alarm IDs associated with the user IDs. The CPU  131  transmits driving signals each of which contains each alarm ID in a time-division manner from the antenna ANT 2  via the second wireless unit  139 B. 
     The alarm  120  set by the alarm ID carries out a notification operation with light and sound according to transmission of the driving signal containing the alarm ID. The baggage to which the alarm  120  executing the notification operation is attached is the baggage deposited by the user who operates the reader unit  140  to read the user ID. Therefore, the person in charge of the window or the person in charge of the place for baggage looks for the baggage deposited by the user to find the baggage and can carry the baggage out to the window in advance before the user arrives at the window. As a result, the time spent in delivering the baggage at the window is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of the job at the window. 
     After the driving signal is transmitted or if there is no record serving as the notification target (No in Act  72 ), the CPU  131  retrieves the display flag F 1  of each record stored in the tracking file  400  (Act  75 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not there is a record of which the display flag F 1  is set to ‘1’ (Act  76 ). If there is no record of which the display flag F 1  is set to ‘1’ (No in Act  76 ), then the monitoring job is ended. 
     If there is a record of which the display flag F 1  is set to ‘1’ (Yes in Act  76 ), the record is a display target. In this case, the CPU  131  acquires the user ID and the distance Dn from the record. If there is a plurality of the records of which the display flags Fl are set to ‘1’ respectively, the CPU  131  acquires the user ID and the distance Dn from each record (Act  77 ). The CPU  131  displays, for example, a notification screen  600  having a layout shown in  FIG. 11  on the display device  137  based on the data acquired from the tracking file  400  (Act  78 : control module). In this way, the monitoring job is ended. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a user ID  601  and an indicator  602  indicating the distance Dn (m) are displayed on the notification screen  600  in an associated manner. Taking 50 m, corresponding to a threshold value As 1 (db), which is a relative distance from the antenna ANT 1 , as a reference value, the distance is displayed in such a manner that the indicator becomes longer as the distance becomes shorter than the reference value. The person in charge of the window or the person in charge of the place for baggage who confirms the notification screen  600  can visually confirm the information, for example, how many users who come to baggage checkroom to receive the baggage and how far the users are away from the window. As a result, if there are many users who come to receive the baggage, the window job can be processed more efficiently by taking proper measures such as increasing the number of the persons in charge of the window to prepare for receiving the users. 
     Further, the layout of the notification screen  600  is not limited to that shown in  FIG. 11 . For example, the numerical value of the distance, not the indicator, may be displayed as a distance without any change. The alarm ID associated with the user ID may be displayed instead of displaying the user ID. 
     The article management system  100  of the present embodiment includes the transmitter  110  the unique user ID of which is recorded as the barcode  111 , the reader unit  140  capable of reading the barcode  111 , the alarm  120  the unique wireless device ID of which is recorded as the barcode  121  and the article management apparatus  130 . The person in charge of the window at the baggage checkroom, when the user comes to deposit a baggage, selects the transmitter  110  to be handed over to the user and the alarm  120  to be attached to the baggage. The person in charge of the window operates the barcode reader  138  of the article management apparatus  130  to read the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  and the barcode  121  of the alarm  120 . In this way, the article management apparatus  130  functions as an association module to associate the user ID decoded from the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  with the alarm ID decoded from the barcode  121  of the alarm  120 . The associated user ID and the alarm ID are registered in the association file  300  as one record. 
     On the other hand, the user operates the reader unit  140  at the front side of the window to read the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  before coming to the window to receive the baggage. In this way, the article management apparatus  130  functions as an output module to detect the alarm ID associated with the user ID decoded from the barcode  111  read by the reader unit  140 . A driving signal identified with the alarm ID is output to the alarm  120 . As a result, the person in charge of the window can quickly specify which one is the baggage of the user who comes to receive baggage because the alarm  120  identified with the alarm ID carries out a notification operation. 
     Incidentally, the transmitter  110  is equipped with a function of transmitting the beacon signal. The article management apparatus  130  includes the antenna ANT 1  for receiving the beacon signal and the first wireless unit  139 A. The first wireless unit  139 A includes the intensity detection circuit  150  for detecting the intensity of radio wave (db) received by the antenna ANT 1 . The article management apparatus  130  has a function of determining whether the relative distance between the transmitter  110  that is transmitting the beacon signal and the antenna ANT 1  becomes shorter according to the intensity of radio wave of the beacon signal detected by the intensity detection circuit  150 . Thus, the article management system  100  can determine whether or not there is a user who is approaching the window of the baggage checkroom to receive the deposited baggage. 
     The article management apparatus  130  displays, on the display device  137 , the notification screen  600  containing the user ID of the transmitter  110  carried by the user if it is determined that the user who is approaching the window is present. The person in charge of the window can specify the user who is approaching the window. 
     Second Embodiment 
     The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the processing procedures of the monitoring job. The remaining part of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, and thus  FIG. 1 ˜ FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 ˜ FIG. 11  are used without any change. Thus, the detailed description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedures of the monitoring job in the second embodiment. The application program for controlling the monitoring job is started in response to an interruption signal generated at a given interval (e.g. an interval of 1 second). If the program is started, first, the display flag F 1  of each record recorded in the tracking file  400  is retrieved (Act  81 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not there is a record the display flag F 1  of which is set to ‘1’ (Act  82 ). If there is no record the display flag F 1  of which is set to ‘1’ (No in Act  82 ), the monitoring job is terminated. 
     If there is a record the display flag F 1  of which is set to ‘1’ (Yes in Act  82 ), then the record becomes a display target. In this case, the CPU  131  retrieves the notification flag F 2  of each record recorded in the tracking file  400  (Act  83 ). The CPU  131  confirms whether or not there is a record the notification flag F 2  of which is set to ‘1’ (Act  84 ). If there is no record the notification flag F 2  of which is set to ‘1’ (No in Act  84 ), the monitoring job is terminated. 
     If there is a record the notification flag F 2  of which is set to ‘1’ (Yes in Act  84 ), the record becomes a notification target. In this case, the CPU  131  retrieves the association file  300  with the user ID of the record. The CPU  131  detects the alarm ID associated with the user ID (Act  85 ). The CPU  131  transmits a driving signal containing the alarm ID from the antenna ANT 2  via the second wireless unit  139 B (Act  86 : output module). 
     The CPU  131  acquires the distance Dn and the user ID from the record. At this time, if there is a plurality of records both the display flag F 1  and the notification flag F 2  of which are set to ‘1’, the user ID and the distance Dn are acquired from each record (Act  87 ). The CPU  131  displays the notification screen  600  containing the data acquired from the tracking file  400  on the display device  137  (Act  88 : control module). In this way, the monitoring job is terminated. 
     In the second embodiment, the user ID of the user who reads the barcode  111  of the transmitter  110  with the reader unit  140  and the distance between the window and the user are displayed on the notification screen  600 . Thus, only the information of the user who actually approaches the window to receive the baggage is displayed on the notification screen  600 . Information of a user who occasionally approaches or is present near the window is eliminated. 
     Further, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. 
     For example, in the foregoing embodiments, the deposit registration button  503  is enabled if the deposit registration processing is executed, and the deposit cancellation button  504  is enabled if the deposit cancellation processing is executed in the deposit job. On this point, for example, the deposit registration button  503  may be displayed on the ID confirmation screen  500  if the deposit registration processing is executed, and the deposit cancellation button  504  may be displayed on the ID confirmation screen  500  if the deposit cancellation processing is executed. Further, although the deposit registration button  503  and the deposit cancellation button  504  are always enabled, it may be determined as an operation error in a case in which the deposit cancellation button  504  is input when the deposit registration processing is executed or the deposit registration button  503  is input when the deposit cancellation processing is executed. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the medium on which the user ID is recorded is the transmitter  110 . However, the medium is not necessarily equipped with a function of transmitting the radio wave such as the beacon signal. For example, the medium may be a wireless card, a smart phone or a mobile phone which carries a short distance wireless communication element such as an RFID tag or an NFC tag to be capable of reading the user ID with the use of a short distance wireless communication. Alternatively, the medium may also be a portable object (e.g. a card) on which the barcode coded with the user ID is printed. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the intensity of radio wave is compared with the threshold value. However, the intensity of radio wave is converted to distance data and the converted distance date may be compared with a threshold value. The method for confirming whether or not the relative distance between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1  becomes shorter than a given distance one after another is not limited to the method in which the radio wave reception intensity is used. It is most important thing in the confirmation method that the relative distance between the transmitter  110  and the antenna ANT 1  can be calculated. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the first wireless unit  139 A and the second wireless unit  139 B are arranged; however, these wireless units may be combined to be one. In that case, the communication method may use the existing system such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), while the communication with the transmitter  110  is carried out with a unidirectional communication, and the communication with the alarm  120  is carried out with a bidirectional data communication. It is preferable to use a diversity antenna as the antenna ANT 1  in order to ensure the long communication distance with the transmitter  110 . 
     In the foregoing embodiments, a case is exemplified in which the deposit and reception of an article are carried out at the same window; however, it is not limited to this. For example, it is also applicable that an article is deposited at the window of an A location and is received at the window of a B location. At the window of the A location, the transmitter  110  is handed over to the user and the alarm  120  is attached to the article. Then the article is delivered from the A location to the B location. At the window of the B location, in response to the operation in which the user reads the barcode of the transmitter  110  with the reader unit  140  nearby the window, the notification operation by the alarm  120  associated with the transmitter  110  is carried out and therefore the deposition and reception operation can be smoothly performed. 
     Generally, the transfer of the article management apparatus is carried out in a state of storing programs such as application programs in the ROM; however, it is not limited to this. The programs transferred separately from the computer may be written into the writable storage device included in the computer through the operation of the user. The transfer of the program can be carried out by recording the program in the removable storage medium or communicating via an internet. The storage medium is optional as long as the storage medium, such as a CD-ROM, a memory card and the like, can store programs and can be readable to a device. The functions obtained by installing or downloading the programs may be realized with the cooperation of OS (operating system) inside the device. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.