Patent Publication Number: US-2002007325-A1

Title: IT system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] The present application claims priority on Paris Convention on the basis of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-210303 filed on Jul. 11, 2000 in Japan.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] (i) Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to an IT (Information Technology) system for issuing unified IDs to manage commercial goods or services.  
       [0004] (ii) Related Background Art  
       [0005] Nowadays, there are increased examples of construction of an IT system such that internet or corporate networks are utilized to transmit/receive information between different departments.  
       [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of this kind of conventional IT system and shows an example where a plurality of departments in a company transmit/receive information through a corporate network. As shown in the drawing, it is general, in the prior art, that a computer  1  provided in each of departments such as an accounting department, a material department, a marketing department, a branch and a warehouse, and a center  2  having a server function transmit/receive information through a corporate network  3 .  
       [0007] Generally, the center  2  has a database  4 . In order to newly register data in this database  4 , there is required a troublesome procedure such that the computer  1  in each department inputs data in a determined format and the center  2  checks and thereafter registers the inputted information.  
       [0008] Further, since formats of data to be registered in the database  4  or conformations of the network are not unified in particular in the prior art, everything must be determined to construct the network, so that the construction of the IT system therefore takes a large amount of cost and time. In particular, there is a problem that an initial cost, a development cost and a maintenance cost become enormous as the scale of the system increases.  
       [0009] Additionally, when different types of computers are connected to the network, there is also a problem that the compatibility of data is lowered, which makes it difficult to communize data.  
       [0010] Moreover, the scale of the once constructed network cannot be easily increased, and the operation of the entire system becomes unstable, so that reliability tends to lower.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention-to provide an IT system which can easily and reliably transmit/receive data.  
       [0012] To this end, an IT (information Technology) system comprises:  
       [0013] issuing and managing means for issuing and managing an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) whose data format is unified;  
       [0014] an S-label on which the issued RFID is recorded;  
       [0015] reading means for reading data including the RFID recorded on the S-label;  
       [0016] authenticating means for authenticating the RFID read by the reading means; and  
       [0017] service providing means for providing various kinds of services to an owner of the S-label based on the data read by the reading means, when authentication by the authenticating means achieves success.  
       [0018] According to the present invention, information is transmitted/received by utilizing an S-label on which an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) is recorded having the unified data format, so that construction and change of the network are facilitated, which can greatly reduce the initial cost and the development time required for construction of the network.  
       [0019] Moreover, since middleware for connecting to the internet is provided, it is possible to have access to a specific site on the internet by a simple procedure based on the S-label so that various services can be available.  
       [0020] Further, since the S-label can be utilized as a user authenticating technique with the high confidentiality, it can be used for various purposes such as registry, updating and reference of a database, commercial goods management, provision of various services and others.  
       [0021] In addition, since information on the S-label is transmitted/received through the internet, information on the S-label can be extensively shared irrespective of countries and areas. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view showing this type of a prior art IT system;  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an IT system according to the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 3 is an outline view showing an S-label;  
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of an RFID chip  21 ;  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a data format of information stored in a PROM  34 ;  
     [0027]FIG. 6 is an electrical characteristic view of the S-label and a scanner  13 ;  
     [0028]FIG. 7 is an electrical characteristic view of an antenna for the S-label;  
     [0029]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the IT system illustrated in FIG. 2;  
     [0030]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an IT system aiming at registry, updating and distribution of a database;  
     [0031]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the IT system aiming at tracking of a delivery;  
     [0032]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at issue of a worldwide ID and registry, reference and distribution of a database;  
     [0033]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at management of entering and dispatching from warehouse and inventory;  
     [0034]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at reservation and ticketless; and  
     [0035]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at management of real/false articles and history. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0036] An IT system according to the present invention will now be concretely described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0037]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an embodiment of an IT system according to the present invention. The IT system illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises: an ID issue and management engine (issuing and management means)  11  for issuing and managing an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) whose data format is unified; an S-label recording device  12  for recording various kinds of data including the RFID on the S-label which will be described later; a scanner (reading means)  13  for reading data stored on the S-label; a computer device (transmitting means)  14  for fetching data read by a scanner  13 ; a server  16  connected to the computer device  14  through a network  15 ; and a mobile communication terminal  17  for performing wireless communication with the server  16 .  
     [0038] Although the conformation of the network is no object, an example of transmission/reception of data on the internet will be described hereinafter.  
     [0039] The ID issue and management engine  11 , the S-label recording device  12 , and the server  16  connect to the internet through a public line such as a telephone line or a dedicated line, and the mobile communication terminal  17  connects to the internet through a radio line.  
     [0040]FIG. 3 is an outline view of an S-label. The S-label shown in FIG. 3 is a structure that an RFID chip  21  for transmitting various kinds of data including an RFID in the wireless manner and a plate-like antenna  22  so arranged as to surround the RFID chip  21  are adhered to a support body  23  such as, e.g., paper.  
     [0041]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the RFID chip  21 . The RFID chip  21  shown in FIG. 4 includes: a transmitting/receiving portion (an electric wave transmitting portion)  31 ; a rectification smoothing portion  32 ; an accumulating portion  33 ; a PROM (an RFID storage portion, a user storage portion)  34 ; a CPU  35 ; and an arithmetic calculation controlling portion  36 . The transmitting/receiving portion  31  modulates information stored in the PROM  34  to be transmitted and also detects an electric wave received by the antenna. The rectification smoothing portion  32  converts a signal detected by the transmitting/receiving portion  31  into a direct-current voltage or a direct-current current. The accumulating portion  33  accumulates the electrical energy obtained by the received electric wave and utilizes it as the electrical energy for radio wave transmission.  
     [0042] The CPU  35 , as well as the arithmetic operation controlling portion  36 , controls the entire RFID chip  21 . The PROM  34  is made up of a non-volatile semiconductor memory and the like and stores various kinds of information such as an RFID.  
     [0043]FIG. 5 shows an example of a data format of information stored in the PROM  34 . In the example of FIG. 5, security information is stored in the 15th to 12th bits in the 0th word; label type information is stored, in the 11th to 8th bits of the same; and region information is stored, in the 7th to 0th bits of the same. Further, serial numbers consisting of 32 bits representing an RFID are stored in the second and third words, and a customer number is stored in the 5th word. Moreover, 6th to 63rd words are used for storing therein various kinds of information as a user memory.  
     [0044]FIG. 6 is an electrical characteristic view of the S-label and a scanner  13 , and FIG. 7 is an electrical characteristic view of the antenna for the S-label. As shown in the drawings, the S-label has a data capacity with which 1024 bits can be read. Although an example in which the PROM  34  is used is shown in FIG. 4, if a RAM or an EEPROM is included in the RFID chip  21 , data can be overwritten.  
     [0045] On the other hand, the scanner  13  has, e.g., a mobile card size and can read data in the S-label in the non-contact manner by using an electric wave of 2.45 GHz. A distance between the scanner  13  and the S-label is set to approximately 60 to 100 cm.  
     [0046]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the IT system illustrated in FIG. 2. The operation of the IT system shown in FIG. 2 will be described hereinafter with reference to this flowchart.  
     [0047] Upon being requested to issue an RFID from an ID issue requester (step S 1 ), the ID issue and management agency  11  issues an unused RFID of 32 bits and informs the ID issue requester of the RFID (step S 2 ).  
     [0048] The ID issue requester produces an S-label whose shape is the same as that in FIG. 3 in the S-label recording device  12  (step S 3 ) and registers the RFID of the produced S-label in a database existing in a specific site for users on the internet (step S 4 ).  
     [0049] The produced S-label can be used for various purposes. For example, it can be utilized as a tag for managing commercial goods or for authenticating individuals when it is attached on a business card or an IC card. When used as a tag, commercial good information is recorded in a user memory in the RFID chip  21 . When used for authenticating individuals, personal information such as a name or a birth date of a user is recorded in the user memory in the RFID chip  21 .  
     [0050] After producing the S-label, if the information recorded on the S-label must be read, the scanner  13  is arranged near the S-label in order to read the information on the S-label (step S 5 ). The scanner  13  of this embodiment is provided with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface function so that the read information is transferred to the computer device  14  via the USB interface (step S 6 ).  
     [0051] The computer device  14  which has received the information on the S-label has access to a specific site for users through the internet and authenticates the RFID (step S 7 ). As a result, if authentication achieves success, provision of various kinds of services or management of commercial goods is carried out (step S 8 ). As a specific example of provision of services, there are reference, updating and distribution of a database. Further, as management of commercial goods, there are provision of detailed information of a commercial good with the S-label or confirmation of inventory.  
     [0052] As the computer device  14  for receiving data read by the scanner  13 , there are included an electronic notebook, a notebook computer, the mobile communication terminal  17  such as a mobile phone, or an electric appliance having a communication function as well as a stationary computer.  
     [0053] For example, in case of using a mobile phone, if the mobile phone and the scanner  13  have the interface for enabling transmission/reception data to/from each other, for example, if the mobile phone and the scanner  13  have an infrared data communication function complying with Blue Tooth, data read-by the scanner  13  may be transmitted to the mobile phone by infrared data communication and an access may be thereafter made to a user-oriented specific site on the internet from the mobile phone through the wireless line.  
     [0054] In addition, if the mobile phone and the scanner  13  can not directly transmit/receive data to/from each other, data may be temporarily transmitted from the scanner  13  to the computer device  14  and that data may be transmitted from the computer device  14  to the mobile phone. Subsequently, an access may be made to a user-oriented specific site on the internet from the mobile phone.  
     [0055] The step S 7  in FIG. 8 corresponds to authenticating means and the step S 8  corresponds to service providing means.  
     [0056] As described above, in this embodiment, since the S-label on which the RFID having an unified data format is utilized for transmission/reception of various kinds of information, the data format exchanged on the network  15  can be unified, which facilitates construction and change of the IT system. In addition, since management of the RFID is uniformly carried out, management of commercial goods/services can be relatively easily performed in extensive area/regions, and the security function can be also improved.  
     [0057] Moreover, since the scanner  13  for reading information on the S-label has a card size, it can be easily carried and the cost for manufacturing the scanner  13  can be reduced. The S-label can be utilized for various purposes/applications.  
     [0058] Furthermore, since the scanner  13  can read information on the S-label in the non-contact mode, which facilitates handling and hardly causes physical damages, thereby improving the usability. Additionally, since information on a plurality of S-labels can be substantially simultaneously read, the S-label is suitable for usage in a job site where quickness is required such as a checkout counter.  
     [0059] In addition, since middleware for connecting to the internet is provided, information read by the scanner  13  can be transmitted to a specific site for users on the internet by the simple procedure, and this site can be utilized for provision of various kinds of information or management of commercial goods. In particular, in case of connecting to the internet, if it is preset that an access can be made to a specific site for users on the internet by no procedure, any person who is unfamiliar with the operation of the computer device  14  can accept provision of various services at a specific site.  
     [0060] Moreover, taking into consideration that examples of connection to the internet by using the mobile communication terminal  17  such as a mobile phone are recently increasing, information on the S-label read by the scanner  13  can be transmitted to a specific site for users on the internet through the mobile communication terminal  17 , and information of the S-label can be hence utilized in a mobile environment.  
     [0061] As a business conformation for providing the S-label to a user, there can be considered a purchase mode such that a user purchases the S-label and a rental mode such that the S-label is lent out to a user.  
     [0062] Although both the purchase mode and the rental mode have the same available service content, the S-label is lent out on the monthly basis in case of the rental mode. Specifically, a contract base rate is set at the time of contract in accordance with the content of the information service. Also, a master registry fee and an access fee in case of accepting provision of information by having access to a site may be separately set.  
     [0063] A market area that the IT system aims at includes, for example, (1) an SCM (Software Configuration Management) system in the apparel business, (2) a physical distribution management system which centers on a truck operation/management and a tracking system, (3) a physical distribution management system which centers on entering and dispatching from warehouse, inventory/stocktaking management, (4) a freshness management system for goods, (5) a real and false management/history management system for goods, (6) a management system in the laundry business, (7) an extensive personal authentication management system, and (8) a ticketless system for reservation and admission.  
     [0064] Specific examples of the IT system illustrated in FIG. 1 will now be described hereinafter.  
     FIRST CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0065]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at registry, updating and distribution of a database. The IT system in FIG. 9 includes: a head office  42  for carrying out registry in a database  41 ; physical distribution centers  43  accepting distribution from the database  41 ; and stores  44  which similarly accept distribution from the database  41 . The database  41  is provided at a specific site for users on the internet, and the head office  42 , the physical distribution centers  43  and the stores  44  respectively connect to the internet to have access to the database  41 .  
     [0066] Commercial goods or services registered in the database  41  have S-labels attached thereto in advance. If the head office  42  registers a new good or service, information on the S-label is read by the scanner  13  and the read information is registered on the database  41  through the internet. Further, if the registered goods or the contents of the services are to be changed, the head office  42  updates the database  41  through the internet.  
     [0067] The physical distribution centers  43  and the stores  44  can make reference to the latest database  41  by having access to a specific site for users on the internet. That is, the specific site for users concentrates/subrogates the database management for the physical distribution centers  43  and the stores  44 , and the physical distribution centers  43  and the stores  44  do not need to have the database on their own account, which greatly reduces the system cost. In particular, the cost reduction effect increases as a number of the physical distribution centers  43  or the stores  44  is large and a number of registered goods or services is large.  
     SECOND CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0068]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at tracking of a delivery. The IT system in FIG. 10 transmits/receives information through the internet between a customer  51  who makes an offer of a good, a head office  52  for accepting inquiries from the customer  51 , a delivery center  53 , an area delivery depot  54  and a destination  55 .  
     [0069] When the customer  51  makes an offer of a good, the S-label of the good is read by the scanner  13  and the read information is transmitted to a specific site for users on the internet through the computer device  14 .  
     [0070] When the head office  52  confirms that there was an order from the customer  51  by having access to the specific site for users, it instructs delivery of the good. Further, when the customer  51  makes inquiries about a delivery status of the good, the head office  52  has access to the specific site for users to confirm the delivery status and informs the customer of a result of confirmation.  
     [0071] When the good to be delivered to the customer  51  arrives, the delivery center  53  and the area delivery depot  54  respectively read the S-label of that good by the scanner  13  and transmit the read information to the specific site for users together with information such as a delivery expected date. The processing by the delivery center  53  and the area delivery depot  54  corresponds to first transmitting means.  
     [0072] Further, when a home delivery service supplier and the like delivers the good to a destination specified by the customer  51 , the S-label of that good is read by the scanner  13  before handing that good, and the read information is transmitted to the specific site for users. When the head center  52  confirms that the good has arrived to the destination by having access to the specific site for users, it informs the customer  51  of this arrival. The processing by the home delivery service supplier and the like corresponds to second transmitting means and the processing by the head office  52  corresponds to delivery status providing means.  
     [0073] As described above, in this concrete example, since the S-label on the good is read by the scanner  13  in the delivery center  53  or the area delivery depot  54  and the like and the read information is transmitted to the specific site for users on the internet, the user can be informed of the delivery status of the good in real time and in detail.  
     THIRD CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0074]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a specific structure of an IT system aiming at issue of a worldwide ID and registry, reference and distribution of a database. In the IT system depicted in FIG. 11, a head office  61  is located in, e.g., Japan (any country other than Japan is available) and an S-label is attached to each of various goods or services in Japan to be distributed. Similarly, an S-label is attached to each of various goods or services overseas to be distributed. An RFID having a unified data format such as shown in FIG. 5 is recorded on each of these S-label.  
     [0075] Further, a database  62  for uniformly managing information recorded on the S-label of each good or service is provided at a specific site for users on the internet. When people around the world, however, have access to this database  61 , the communication line may burst. The database  61  can be, therefore, divided into multiple parts or the databases  61  having the same content can be provided at a plurality of sites throughout the world.  
     [0076] As described above, in this concrete example, since the unified S-label is given to goods or services distributed throughout the world, management of goods or registry, reference and distribution of the database  61  can be performed by the simple procedure by reading information on the S-label by the scanner  13  and transmitting the read information to the specific site for users on the internet.  
     FOURTH CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0077]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at management of entering and dispatching from warehouse and inventory. In the IT system shown in FIG. 12, an arrival processing section (arrival status detecting means)  71 , a shipment processing section (shipment status detecting means)  72 , a stocktaking processing section (first inventory status comprehending means, second inventory status comprehending means and inventory determining means)  73  respectively have access to a specific site for users on the internet to transmit/receive information.  
     [0078] The arrival processing section  71  reads the S-label attached to an incoming good and transmits the read information to the specific site for users. Upon receiving the information from the arrival processing section  71 , the specific site for users detects the arrival status and transmits arrival specification information to the arrival processing section  71 . The arrival processing section  71  prints out an arrival specification slip based on the received arrival specification information.  
     [0079] The shipment processing section  72  reads the S-label attached to a shipment by the scanner  13  and transmits the read information to the specific site for users. Upon receiving the information from the shipment processing section  72 , the specific site for users detects a shipment status and transmits shipment specification information to the shipment processing section  72 . The shipment processing section  72  prints out a shipment specification slip based on the received shipment specification information.  
     [0080] The stocktaking processing section  73  reads the S-label attached to a stock good by the scanner  13  and checks an inventory status for each good. Further, the specific site for users detects the inventory status from the arrival status and the shipment status and transmits inventory specification information to the stocktaking processing section  73 . The stocktaking processing section  73  compares the inventory status checked by itself and the inventory status transmitted from the specific state for users and obtains the accurate inventory status.  
     [0081] As described above, in this concrete example, since the arrival status and the shipment status are checked by using the S-label, the inventory status can be accurately obtained by the simple processing.  
     FIFTH CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0082]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at reservation and ticketless. The IT system in FIG. 13 gives the S-label on which identification information and personal information are recorded to each user and reads the information on the S-label by using the scanner  13  to automatically make a reservation for each of various events or transport facilities.  
     [0083] The IT system in FIG. 13 includes a reservation surrogate section (reservation accepting means and request processing means)  81  for making a reservation in accordance with a request for a reservation from a user and a home PC  82  by which the user him/herself makes a reservation. Both the reservation surrogate section  81  and the home PC  82  have access to the specific site for users on the internet to perform the reservation processing.  
     [0084] Both the reservation surrogate section  81  and the home P  82  read the S-label given to the user by the scanner  13  and transmit the read information to the specific site for users. The specific site for users carries out user authentication. When authentication has succeeded, this site accepts a reservation for an event and the like requested from the user and makes judgment upon whether the reservation is possible. If the reservation is possible as a result of judgment, the reservation processing is effected, and the user is then notified of information of securing a reservation through the reservation surrogate section  81  or the home PC  82 . In this case, the request processing concerning the reservation is also carried out.  
     [0085] As described above, in this concrete example, since the personal information of the user is recorded in the S-label and the information on the S-label is read to conduct the reservation processing, the user can make a reservation for each of various events an the like without inputting his/her name and others, which saves the trouble of the user. Further, a reservation can be extremely rapidly made.  
     [0086] It is to be noted that the S-label may be recorded on a card type recording medium from which information can be read by a CD-ROM device. Consequently, data which exceeds an amount of data recorded on the S-label itself can be stored on one recording medium, and a sample screen, a menu screen or an online screen can be provided to the user.  
     SIXTH CONCRETE EXAMPLE  
     [0087]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an IT system aiming at real and false/history management of goods. The IT system in FIG. 14 includes a head office  91  which performs registry and updating of goods information and a plurality of stores  92  and  93  which make inquiries about the goods information. The head office  91  and the respective stores  92  and  93  have access to the specific site for users on the internet to transmit/receive the goods information.  
     [0088] The head office  91  reads the S-label of goods to be newly registered by the scanner  13  and transmits the read information to the specific site for users. The specific site for users constructs a database in which detailed information relating to each goods is recorded based on the information from the head office  91 .  
     [0089] When the detailed information of goods (for example, the inventory status) is necessary, the stores  92  and  93  read the S-label of that goods by the scanner  13  and transmits the read information to the specific site for users to acquire the detailed information concerning that goods.  
     [0090] As described above, in the sixth concrete example, when there are goods whose detailed information is needed at a store, the detailed information of that goods can be acquired by only reading the S-label of that goods by the scanner  13  to be transmitted. Therefore, provision of the database at each store is no longer necessary, and the facility cost can be eliminated. In addition, even a person who is unfamiliar with the operation of the database can readily obtain the detailed information of the goods.