Patent ID: 7274286

Claim:
An ID issue management system comprising: article classification setting means which set an article classification serving as unit of handling, for a subject article; ID issue means which select one unused number from among numbers assigned in advance to the article classification set by the article classification setting means, and issue a new ID having a combination of the selected number with the article classification; tag discrimination means which determine every subject article of ID issue whether a tag having an already issued ID stored therein is attached or a tag having a blank ID is attached; and ID writing means which write an ID issued by the ID issue means into a tag when the tag is judged by the tag discrimination means to have a blank ID; wherein the article classification setting means comprise: a bar code reader which reads a bar code attached to an article; and article classification discrimination means which discriminate an article classification on the basis of bar code information read by the bar code reader, an article classification being set on the basis of a result of discrimination conducted by the article classification discrimination means.