JP7539476B2 - Article management system, reading device, and management device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an item management system, a reading device, and a management device.

Patent Document 1 describes a product display rack for displaying products with wireless tags attached, the product display rack having a cable-like reader/writer antenna installed within the space in which the products are displayed or facing said space, and a shielding member that separates said space from the outside space.

According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, real-time product management is possible by reading information from wireless tags using a reader/writer antenna, while also reducing interference with antennas on adjacent racks, making it difficult to read the wireless tags of products displayed on adjacent racks.

JP 2019-207445 A

The item management system according to the first aspect is a system for managing items using wireless tags. The item management system includes a reading device that performs a reading operation to read item identification information by wireless communication from a target wireless tag attached to each of one or more target items, and a reference wireless tag that is installed on the opposite side of the reading device across the one or more target items. The reading device performs a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of radio waves transmitted from the reading device based on radio waves received from the reference wireless tag.

The reading device according to the second aspect is a device used in an item management system for managing items using wireless tags. The reading device includes a tag reader that performs a reading operation to read item identification information by wireless communication from a target wireless tag attached to each of one or more target items, and a controller that performs a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of radio waves transmitted from the tag reader based on radio waves received from a reference wireless tag installed on the opposite side of the reading device across the one or more target items.

The management device according to the third aspect is a device configured separately from or integral with a reading device that executes a reading operation to read item identification information by wireless communication from a target wireless tag attached to each of one or more target items. The management device includes a controller that causes the reading device to execute a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of radio waves transmitted from the reading device in response to a decrease or increase in the number of the target items.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product management system according to an embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing an example of installation of a reading device and a reference wireless tag according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an appliance communication device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a reading device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a product management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the operation of the product management system according to an embodiment.

The method described in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the transmission power of radio waves from the reading device (reader/writer) is fixed and is large enough to cause radio waves to leak out of the product display space, and is configured to prevent radio waves from leaking out to the outside using a shielding member, so there is a problem in that the power consumption associated with the reading operation is large.

In particular, product display racks are not necessarily installed in locations where power is available, and the reading device may be powered by a battery, so there is a strong need to reduce the power consumption associated with the reading operation.

Therefore, the present disclosure aims to enable management of items using wireless tags while reducing the power consumption associated with reading operations.

The item management system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar symbols.

An item management system is a system for managing items using wireless tags. Wireless tags are also called electronic tags, IC (Integrated Circuit) tags, or RF (Radio Frequency) tags. In the following, a system in which the items managed using wireless tags are products (i.e., an item management system) will be described as an example. Also, an example in which the wireless tags are passive wireless tags will be described.

(Product management system configuration)
First, the configuration of a product management system according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a product management system 1 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product management system 1 has an appliance communication device 100 (100a, 100b, 100c...), a reading device 200, a wireless tag 300 (300a, 300b, 300c...), a reference wireless tag 400, and a management device 500.

In one embodiment, the appliance communication device 100, the reading device 200, the wireless tag 300, the reference wireless tag 400, and the management device 500 are provided in a store. In the following, an example will be mainly described in which the store is an apparel store and the product P is clothing. However, the store may be any store that sells the product P, and may be, for example, a supermarket.

The appliance communication device 100, the reading device 200, the wireless tag 300, and the reference wireless tag 400 are located within a display zone Z in which at least one set of a product P and an appliance H is arranged. In one embodiment, the display zone Z is configured by a hanger rack 600 (see FIG. 2). In the following, an example in which the display zone Z is configured by a hanger rack will be mainly described, but the display zone Z may be any zone that displays the product P, and may be, for example, a display shelf or a showcase. Also, although an example in which there is one display zone Z is illustrated, there may be multiple display zones Z.

The appliance communication device 100 is provided in an appliance H that hangs or holds a product P. In one embodiment, the appliance H is a hanger that hangs the product P. In the following, an example in which the appliance H is a hanger is mainly described, but the appliance H may be any appliance for hanging or holding a product P, and may be, for example, a tray or a product fixture. In addition, an example in which multiple sets of the appliance H and the product P are placed in the display zone Z is mainly described, but there may be only one set of the appliance H and the product P placed in the display zone Z.

The appliance communication device 100 is a device provided in the appliance H. The appliance communication device 100 may be incorporated in the appliance H or may be attached to the surface of the appliance H.

The wireless tag 300 is a passive wireless tag attached to the product P, and is the target wireless tag to be read. Product identification information indicating the corresponding product P is written in the wireless tag 300. The product identification information is an example of item identification information. The wireless tag 300 may be attached to the surface of the product P, or may be affixed to a label attached to the product P. Note that "the wireless tag 300 is attached to the product P" includes the wireless tag 300 being attached to an instrument H corresponding to the product P.

The reference wireless tag 400 is a passive wireless tag provided in the display zone Z, and is a wireless tag used to adjust the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200. The reference wireless tag 400 is provided on the opposite side of the product P to the reading device 200. The reference wireless tag 400 may have transmission directivity in the direction of the reading device 200.

The reading device 200 is a reader or reader/writer provided in the display zone Z. The reading device 200 executes a reading operation to read product identification information from the wireless tag 300 attached to each product P by wireless communication. The reading device 200 may be incorporated in the display zone Z or may be attached to the surface of the display zone Z. The reading device 200 has a tag reader 220 that reads product identification information from the wireless tag 300. The tag reader 220 may have a transmission directivity in the direction of the reference wireless tag 400. The reading device 200 is connected to the network NW via a wired line or a wireless line, and communicates with the management device 500 via the network NW.

In a reading operation by the reading device 200, first, the tag reader 220 transmits radio waves. Second, the wireless tag 300 receives the radio waves from the tag reader 220, generates power, and transmits product identification information to the tag reader 220 using the generated power. Third, the tag reader 220 receives the product identification information from the wireless tag 300. In this way, the reading device 200 reads the product identification information of the wireless tag 300.

The management device 500 is a device that manages the product P. The management device 500 is connected to the network NW via a wired or wireless line, and communicates with the reading device 200 via the network NW. The management device 500 may be a server installed outside or within the store. The management device 500 may be configured integrally with the reading device 200.

In the product management system 1 configured in this manner, the reference wireless tag 400 measures the reception strength (RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator) of the radio waves received from the reading device 200, and transmits reception strength information (RSSI value) indicating the measured reception strength to the reading device 200. The reading device 200 performs a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of the radio waves based on the reception strength information received from the reference wireless tag 400.

This allows the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200 to be appropriately adjusted by feedback control. This allows the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200 to be kept to a minimum, thereby reducing power consumption associated with the reading operation.

(Example of installation of reader and reference radio tag)
Next, a description will be given of an example of installation of the reading device 200 and the reference wireless tag 400 according to an embodiment.

As shown in Figure 2, the display zone Z for displaying products P is formed by a hanger rack 600. A plurality of fixtures H (hangers) are suspended from the upper support 600T of the hanger rack 600, and products P (clothing) are hung on each fixture H.

The reading device 200 is installed at the top of the left support pole 600L of the hanger rack 600. The reading device 200 identifies each product P in the display zone Z by reading product identification information from the wireless tag 300 attached to each product P.

The reference wireless tag 400 is installed at the top of the right-hand support 600R of the hanger rack 600. In other words, the reference wireless tag 400 is installed on the opposite side of the reading device 200 across the product P.

The radio waves from the reading device 200 pass through each product P and reach the reference radio tag 400. When the radio waves pass through the product P, they may be attenuated depending on the material and thickness of the product P.

Therefore, when the set of product P and tool H is moved from the display zone Z (i.e., when the set of product P and tool H is taken from the hanger rack 600), the reception strength of the radio waves reaching the reference wireless tag 400 may increase. In such a case, the transmission power of the radio waves from the reading device 200 may become excessive.

On the other hand, when the set of product P and tool H is moved to the display zone Z (for example, when the set of product P and tool H is returned to the hanger rack 600), the reception strength of the radio waves reaching the reference wireless tag 400 may decrease. In such a case, the transmission power of the radio waves from the reading device 200 may become too low.

The reading device 200 executes a power adjustment operation in response to a decrease or increase in the number of products P (wireless tags 300) in the display zone Z. Here, the power adjustment operation according to one embodiment is an operation of adjusting the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200 so that the reception strength at the reference wireless tag 400 falls within a predetermined reception strength range. This allows the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200 to be set to an appropriate value even if the number of products P in the display zone Z decreases or increases.

(Configuration of the appliance communication device)
Next, a configuration of the appliance communication device 100 according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the appliance communication device 100 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the appliance communication device 100 has a wireless transmitter 110, a controller 120, a detection unit 130, and a battery 140.

The wireless transmitter 110 transmits a notification signal based on the detection of the movement of the device H. In the following, an example of using a BT beacon based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard as the notification signal will be mainly described. However, this is not limited to a BT beacon, and standards other than BT may be used.

The controller 120 controls various functions in the appliance communication device 100. The controller 120 has at least one memory 122 and at least one processor 121 electrically connected to the memory 122. The memory 122 includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and stores information used for processing in the processor 121 and programs executed by the processor 121. The processor 121 performs various processes by executing the programs stored in the memory 122.

The detection unit 130 detects when the appliance H has been removed from the display zone Z and when the appliance H has been returned to the display zone Z, and outputs a signal indicating the detection result to the controller 120. For example, the detection unit 130 may include a switch that turns on/off in response to the appliance H (hanger) being hung on the display zone Z (hanger rack), or may include a sensor that detects a change in a physical quantity (e.g., mass, etc.) when the appliance H (hanger) is hung on the display zone Z (hanger rack).

The battery 140 stores power to be supplied to each part of the appliance communication device 100.

In the appliance communication device 100 configured in this manner, the controller 120 controls the wireless transmitter 110 to transmit a first notification signal for a certain period of time when the detection unit 130 detects that the user's appliance H has been removed from the display zone Z. The first notification signal is a signal indicating that the user's appliance H has been removed from the display zone Z, i.e., that the user is holding the user's appliance H.

In addition, when the detection unit 130 detects that the own appliance H has been removed from the display zone Z and then detects that the own appliance H has been returned to the display zone Z, the controller 120 controls the wireless transmitter 110 to transmit a second notification signal for a certain period of time. The second notification signal is a signal indicating that the own appliance H has been returned to the display zone Z.

(Configuration of the reading device)
Next, a configuration of the reading device 200 according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reading device 200 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reading device 200 has a wireless receiver 210, a tag reader 220, a controller 230, a communication interface 240, and a battery 250. When the reading device 200 is driven by power supplied from a commercial power source, the reading device 200 does not need to have a battery 250.

The wireless receiver 210 receives a notification signal transmitted from the appliance communication device 100 and outputs the received notification signal to the controller 230.

The tag reader 220 performs a reading operation to read product identification information from the wireless tag 300 attached to each product P via wireless communication, and outputs the read product identification information to the controller 230.

The controller 230 controls various functions in the reading device 200. For example, the controller 230 controls the tag reader 220. The controller 230 has at least one memory 232 and at least one processor 231 electrically connected to the memory 232. The memory 232 includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and stores information used for processing in the processor 231 and programs executed by the processor 231. The processor 231 performs various processes by executing the programs stored in the memory 232.

The communication interface 240 is connected to the network NW via a wired or wireless line and communicates with the management device 500 via the network NW.

The battery 250 stores power to be supplied to each part of the reading device 200.

In the reading device 200 configured in this manner, the controller 230 causes the tag reader 220 to execute a reading operation in response to the wireless receiver 210 receiving a first notification signal or a second notification signal from the wireless transmitter 110 of the appliance communication device 100. That is, the controller 230 causes the tag reader 220 to execute a reading operation when the number of products P in the display zone Z decreases or increases. The controller 230 does not cause the tag reader 220 to execute a reading operation at other times. In this manner, by limiting the timing at which the tag reader 220 executes the reading operation, the power consumption associated with the reading operation can be reduced.

The controller 230 identifies the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z based on the product identification information read from the wireless tag 300. Specifically, the controller 230 reads the product identification information at the first read timing, and then reads the product identification information at the second read timing. If the product identification information read at the second read timing is decreased compared to the product identification information read at the first read timing, the controller 230 identifies the product identification information corresponding to this decrease as the product identification information of the decreased product P. On the other hand, if the product identification information read at the second read timing is increased compared to the product identification information read at the first read timing, the controller 230 identifies the product identification information corresponding to this increase as the product identification information of the increased product P.

When the controller 230 identifies the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z, it controls the communication interface 240 to transmit the identified product identification information to the management device 500. Note that all of the product identification information read from the wireless tag 300 may be transmitted from the reading device 200 to the management device 500, and the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z may be identified in the management device 500.

Then, when the communication interface 240 receives a transmission power adjustment command from the management device 500, the controller 230 executes a power adjustment operation. Here, the power adjustment operation may be an operation of adjusting the transmission power of radio waves based on a designated transmission power specified by the management device 500. In this case, the communication interface 240 receives information on the designated transmission power from the management device 500 along with the transmission power adjustment command. By using such a designated transmission power as a reference, it is possible to efficiently carry out the power adjustment operation.

The controller 230 controls the tag reader 220 to transmit radio waves at a specified transmission power, and then performs a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of the radio waves of the tag reader 220 based on the reception strength information that the tag reader 220 receives from the reference radio tag 400.

(Configuration of management device)
Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the management device 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the management device 500 has a communication interface 510 and a controller 520.

The communication interface 510 is connected to the network NW via a wired or wireless line and communicates with the reading device 200 via the network NW.

The controller 520 controls various functions in the management device 500. The controller 520 has at least one memory 522 and at least one processor 521 electrically connected to the memory 522. The memory 522 includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and stores information used in the processing in the processor 521 and programs executed by the processor 521. The processor 521 performs various processes by executing the programs stored in the memory 522.

In the management device 500 configured in this manner, the communication interface 510 receives product identification information of products P that have decreased or increased in the display zone Z from the reading device 200. The communication interface 510 may receive from the reading device 200 all of the product identification information that the reading device 200 reads from the wireless tag 300, and the controller 520 may identify the product identification information of products P that have decreased or increased in the display zone Z.

The controller 520 determines whether or not to cause the reading device 200 to execute a power adjustment operation based on the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z. For example, the product identification information and information on whether or not a power adjustment operation is required are associated in advance and stored in the memory 522.

If the amount of radio wave attenuation (power loss) in the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z is zero or very small (for example, if the product P that has decreased or increased is a thin product such as a T-shirt), the controller 520 decides not to cause the reading device 200 to perform a power adjustment operation. Otherwise, the controller 520 decides to cause the reading device 200 to perform a power adjustment operation.

When the controller 520 causes the reading device 200 to perform a power adjustment operation, it determines the designated transmission power to be the reference transmission power for the power adjustment operation based on the identified product identification information. For example, the product identification information and the amount of radio wave attenuation (amount of power loss) are associated in advance and stored in the memory 522. For example, the controller 520 determines that a product with metal such as a zipper has a loss of, for example, 3 dB.

If the increased product P is such a product, the controller 520 controls the communication interface 510 to transmit information to the reading device 200 indicating that the transmission power should be increased by 3 dB. On the other hand, if the decreased product P is such a product, the controller 520 controls the communication interface 510 to transmit information to the reading device 200 indicating that the transmission power should be decreased by 3 dB.

(Example of product management system operation)
Next, an example of the operation of the product management system 1 according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the product management system 1 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step S1, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 controls the wireless receiver 210 to wait for reception of a notification signal. The controller 230 of the reading device 200 also controls the tag reader 220 to pause the reading operation.

In step S2, the detection unit 130 of the appliance communication device 100 detects that the appliance H has been removed from the display zone Z or that the appliance H has been returned to the display zone Z.

In steps S3 and S4, the controller 120 of the appliance communication device 100 controls the wireless transmitter 110 to transmit the first notification signal or the second notification signal for a certain period of time.

In step S5, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines whether the wireless receiver 210 has received the first notification signal or the second notification signal. If the wireless receiver 210 has not received the first notification signal or the second notification signal (step S5: No), the controller 230 of the reading device 200 returns the process to step S1.

If the wireless receiver 210 receives the first notification signal or the second notification signal (step S5: Yes), in step S6, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 controls the tag reader 220 to execute a reading operation. Specifically, the tag reader 220 transmits radio waves and receives product identification information from the wireless tag 300.

In step S7, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines whether or not the product identification information (product ID) of the product P that has been removed from or returned to the display zone Z, i.e., the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z, has been identified. If the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z has not been identified (step S7: No), the controller 230 of the reading device 200 returns the process to step S6.

If the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z is identified (step S7: Yes), in step S8, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 controls the communication interface 240 to transmit the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z to the management device 500. The communication interface 510 of the management device 500 receives the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z.

In step S9, the controller 520 of the management device 500 decides whether or not to cause the reading device 200 to perform a power adjustment operation (i.e., a change in transmission power) based on the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z. If it is decided to cause the reading device 200 to perform a power adjustment operation, the controller 520 of the management device 500 decides a designated transmission power to be used as the reference transmission power in the power adjustment operation based on the product identification information of the product P that has decreased or increased in the display zone Z.

In step S10, the controller 520 of the management device 500 controls the communication interface 510 to transmit a power adjustment command and information indicating the designated transmission power to the reading device 200. The communication interface 240 of the reading device 200 receives the power adjustment command and information indicating the designated transmission power.

In step S11, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines whether or not a power adjustment command has been received from the management device 500. If a power adjustment command has been received from the management device 500 (step S11: Yes), in step S12, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 changes the current transmission power to a designated transmission power, and controls the tag reader 220 to transmit radio waves at the designated transmission power.

In step S13, the tag reader 220 of the reading device 200 receives reception strength information (RSSI value) from the reference radio tag 400. Here, the tag reader 220 of the reading device 200 may further receive identification information (tag ID) from the reference radio tag 400 and identify the reference radio tag 400 using this identification information.

In step S14, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines whether the RSSI value received in step S13 is within a predetermined range. If the RSSI value received in step S13 is within the predetermined range, the power adjustment operation is completed.

On the other hand, if the RSSI value received in step S13 is not within the predetermined range (step S14: No), in step S12, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 fine-tunes the transmission power of the radio waves from the tag reader 220. For example, if the RSSI value received in step S13 exceeds the predetermined range, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 reduces the transmission power of the current radio waves compared to the previous transmission of the radio waves so that the RSSI value falls within the predetermined range. On the other hand, if the RSSI value received in step S13 falls below the predetermined range, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 increases the transmission power of the current radio waves compared to the previous transmission of the radio waves so that the RSSI value falls within the predetermined range.

If reception strength information (RSSI value) cannot be received from the reference radio tag 400 in step S13, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines that the transmission power of the previous radio wave was too low, and therefore increases the transmission power of the current radio wave compared to the previous transmission of the radio wave.

(Example of change)
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the power adjustment operation is an operation for adjusting the transmission power of radio waves from the reading device 200 so that the reception strength of the radio waves received by the reference radio tag 400 from the reading device 200 falls within a predetermined reception strength range. Specifically, the reference radio tag 400 measures the reception strength of the radio waves received from the reading device 200, and transmits radio waves including reception strength information indicating the measured reception strength.

However, the power adjustment operation may be an operation of adjusting the transmission power of the radio waves of the reading device 200 so that the reception strength of the radio waves received by the reading device 200 from the reference radio tag 400 falls within a predetermined reception strength range. That is, in this modified example, the measurement of the reception strength is performed by the reading device 200, not the reference radio tag 400. Since the reading device 200 measures the reception strength of the radio waves received from the reference radio tag 400, the reference radio tag 400 only needs to transmit radio waves including its own identification information and does not need to transmit reception strength information. Note that the reference radio tag 400 transmits radio waves with a power level corresponding to the reception strength of the radio waves received from the reading device 200.

In this modified example, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 controls the tag reader 220 to transmit radio waves at a specified transmission power, and then measures the reception strength of the radio waves received by the tag reader 220 from the reference radio tag 400, and performs a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of the radio waves of the tag reader 220 according to the measured reception strength.

Figure 7 shows an example of a modification of the operation of the product management system 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the operations of steps S101 to S112 are similar to those in the above-described embodiment.

In step S113, the tag reader 220 of the reading device 200 receives radio waves including the identification information of the reference radio tag 400 from the reference radio tag 400. The controller 230 of the reading device 200 measures the reception strength (RSSI) of the radio waves received by the tag reader 220 from the reference radio tag 400.

In step S114, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 determines whether the RSSI value measured in step S113 is within a predetermined range. If the RSSI value measured in step S113 is within the predetermined range, the power adjustment operation is completed.

On the other hand, if the RSSI value measured in step S113 is not within the predetermined range (step S114: No), in step S112, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 fine-tunes the transmission power of the radio waves from the tag reader 220. For example, if the RSSI value measured in step S113 exceeds the predetermined range, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 reduces the transmission power of the radio waves this time compared to the previous transmission of the radio waves so that the RSSI value falls within the predetermined range. On the other hand, if the RSSI value measured in step S113 is below the predetermined range, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 increases the transmission power of the radio waves this time compared to the previous transmission of the radio waves so that the RSSI value falls within the predetermined range.

In addition, if the identification information of the reference radio tag 400 cannot be received from the reference radio tag 400 in step S113, the controller 230 of the reading device 200 increases the transmission power of the current radio wave compared to the previous transmission of the radio wave, since it is considered that the transmission power of the previous radio wave was too low.

Other embodiments
In the above embodiment, a description has been given mainly of an example in which the reference wireless tag 400 is a passive wireless tag. However, the reference wireless tag 400 may be an active or semi-active wireless tag.

A program may be provided that causes a computer to execute each process according to the above-described embodiments. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. Using the computer-readable medium, it is possible to install the program on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient recording medium. The non-transient recording medium is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

The above describes the embodiments in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-142751 (filed August 26, 2020), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1: Product management system 100: Appliance communication device 110: Wireless transmitter 120: Controller 121: Processor 122: Memory 130: Detection unit 140: Battery 200: Reading device 210: Wireless receiver 220: Tag reader 230: Controller 231: Processor 232: Memory 240: Communication interface 250: Battery 300: Wireless tag 400: Reference wireless tag 500: Management device 510: Communication interface 520: Controller 521: Processor 522: Memory 600: Hanger rack

Claims (8)

An article management system for managing articles using wireless tags,
A reading device that performs a reading operation to read article identification information from a target wireless tag attached to each of one or more target articles by wireless communication;
a reference wireless tag disposed on the opposite side of the one or more target articles from the reader;
the reader performs a power adjustment operation to adjust a transmission power of a radio wave to be transmitted from the reader based on the radio wave received from the reference radio tag ;
The reading device measures the reception strength of the radio waves received from the reference wireless tag, and executes the power adjustment operation according to the measured reception strength. The reference wireless tag measures a reception strength of a radio wave received from the reader, and transmits a radio wave including reception strength information indicating the measured reception strength;
The article management system according to claim 1 , wherein the reading device executes the power adjustment operation in accordance with the reception strength indicated by the reception strength information. The article management system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the power adjustment operation is an operation for adjusting a transmission power of radio waves transmitted from the reading device so that the reception strength falls within a predetermined reception strength range. The reading device further includes a management device that is configured separately or integrally with the reading device,
The article management system according to claim 1 , wherein the management device causes the reading device to execute the power adjustment operation in response to a decrease or increase in the number of target articles. The reader identifies the item identification information of the target item that has decreased or increased based on the item identification information read from the target wireless tag,
The article management system according to claim 4 , wherein the management device determines whether or not to cause the reading device to execute the power adjustment operation based on the identified article identification information. the power adjustment operation is an operation of adjusting a transmission power of a radio wave transmitted from the reader device based on a designated transmission power designated by the management device;
The item management system of claim 5, wherein when the management device causes the reading device to perform the power adjustment operation, the management device transmits information indicating the designated transmission power determined based on the identified item identification information to the reading device. each of the one or more target articles is hung or held by a device having a wireless transmitter;
The article management system according to claim 1 , wherein the reading device receives a notification signal from the wireless transmitter based on the detection of the movement of the instrument, and performs the reading operation in response to receiving the notification signal. A reading device for use in an article management system for managing articles using wireless tags, comprising:
a tag reader that executes a reading operation to read item identification information from a target wireless tag attached to each of one or more target items by wireless communication;
a controller that executes a power adjustment operation to adjust the transmission power of radio waves transmitted from the tag reader based on radio waves received from a reference radio tag installed on the opposite side of the one or more target articles from the reader ;
The controller is a reader that measures the reception strength of the radio waves received from the reference wireless tag, and executes the power adjustment operation in accordance with the measured reception strength.

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