WO2008133458A1

WO2008133458A1 - System for management entrance and exit

Info

Publication number: WO2008133458A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/002378
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Yoon Chin; Yae Sang Kim; Soon Wook Kwon; Chul Ho Choi; Ju Hyung Lee; Su Won Yoon; Nam Su Lee; Jae Hong Song
Original assignee: HANWOL CO Ltd; Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration; Doalltech Solution Provider
Current assignee: HANWOL CO Ltd; Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration; Doalltech Solution Provider
Priority date: 2007-04-27
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2008-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-27
Also published as: KR20090001567A

Abstract

Disclosed is a system which manages the entrance and exit of a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a 'trailer'), including a truck, entering/leaving a predetermined place, checks materials loaded on the trailer, and directs/manages information on a subsequent transportation plan of the trailer. The system includes: a radio communication means for acquiring the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information stored in the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer to an entrance/exit gate, transmitting the acquired electronic invoice information and vehicle information, and forming a communication channel with an externally located physical distribution management server; an entrance/exit control execution means for executing entrance control of the trailer in response to a control signal related to entrance/exit management, and displaying a predetermined message and subsequent transportation information related to the entrance/exit management; an image acquisition means for capturing a front surface of the trailer in response to a control signal related to the entrance/exit management, and transmitting the captured front surface of the trailer; and an entrance/exit control means for receiving previously stored information on entrance/exit and a transportation plan of materials from the physical distribution management server, comparing the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information provided by the radio communication means with the received information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials, and outputting a compared result and a control signal related to the entrance/exit management in response to the approach of the trailer. Accordingly, the system increases the efficiency of a physical distribution management process, and thoroughly monitors the loss and the damage of the materials, thereby preventing cost loss from occurring.

Description

Description SYSTEM FOR MANAGEMENT ENTRANCE AND EXIT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a system for managing entrance and exit, and more particularly to a system for managing entrance and exit, which comprehensively manages incoming and outgoing vehicles and construction materials or goods loaded on the vehicles at a construction site by using ubiquitous sensor networks technology including a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), thereby increasing the efficiency of a physical distribution management process. Background Art

[2] RFID is applied to a radio frequency identification system for wirelessly exchanging data in a predetermined frequency band, and refers to an electronic chip including various pieces of information on a product.

[3] An RFID system includes an RFID tag, a transmitting antenna, and a reader. Herein, data is stored in the RFID tag. The transmitting antenna transmits a radio wave. The reader reads data stored in the RFID tag through a receiving antenna, or reads predetermined data from the relevant RFID tag.

[4] According to the purpose of use, the RFID system as described above is classified into goods management RFID, RFID for physical distribution/delivery, product management RFID, warehouse goods management RFID, books management RFID, and the like. In addition, it is usual that the RFID system is used as a means for managing the entrance and exit of employees with the application thereof to a workplace or is used to control entrance to a particular facility in a workplace.

[5] Meanwhile, conventionally, in order to control and manage the entrance and exit of vehicles loaded with materials at a construction site, the incoming and outgoing vehicles and the materials loaded on the vehicles are checked and recognized manually or on paper. However, the entrance/exit management method as described above requires a lot of time to check and recognize the entrance and exit of the vehicles and the materials loaded on the vehicles. Moreover, there is concern about causing problems, such as the omission of information, etc., during the check and recognition of the materials.

[6] In connection with this, in order to improve the problems occurring in the prior art as described above, a method for applying a bar code and the RFID system as described above to entrance/exit management has been proposed. However, when using a bar code attached to a material loaded on a vehicle, a case where it is impossible to read the bar code due to the damage of the bar code may occur. Moreover, in the case of RFID, a tag is attached to each of materials loaded on a vehicle and the attached tag needs to be individually read. Accordingly, there is such a limit that many manual tasks are required for the check and recognition of the materials.

[7]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-stated problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for managing entrance and exit, which comprehensively manages incoming and outgoing vehicles and construction materials or goods loaded on the vehicles at a construction site by using ubiquitous technology including a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID), thereby increasing the efficiency of a physical distribution management process.

[9]

Technical Solution

[10] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a system for managing entrance and exit of a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a "trailer") including a truck, wherein the trailer has stored electronic invoice information including information on materials loaded thereon, and is equipped with a radio communication apparatus for transmitting the electronic invoice information, the system including: a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag attached to the trailer for storing therein vehicle information including a vehicle number and driver information; a radio communication means for acquiring the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information stored in the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer to an entrance/exit gate, transmitting the acquired electronic invoice information and vehicle information, and forming a communication channel with an externally located physical distribution management server; an entrance/exit control execution means for executing entrance control of the trailer in response to a control signal related to entrance/exit management, and displaying a predetermined message and subsequent transportation information related to the entrance/exit management; an image acquisition means for capturing a front surface of the trailer in response to a control signal related to the entrance/exit management, and transmitting the captured front surface of the trailer; and an entrance/ exit control means for receiving previously stored information on entrance/exit and a transportation plan of materials from the physical distribution management server, comparing the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information provided by the radio communication means with the received information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials, and outputting a compared result and a control signal related to the entrance/exit management in response to the approach of the trailer.

[11] Preferably, the radio communication means includes: a Zigbee module for receiving the electronic invoice information sent from the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer, transmitting the received electronic invoice information to the entrance/exit control means, and transmitting the predetermined message related to the entrance/exit management to the trailer in response to the control signal transmitted by the entrance/ exit control means; an RFID reader for reading information stored in the RFID tag attached to the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer, recognizing vehicle information included in the information read from the RFID tag, and transmitting the recognized vehicle information to the entrance/exit control means; and an Access Point (AP) having a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address thereof for gaining access to the physical distribution management server through a wireless Internet in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means through an internally located switching hub.

[12] Preferably, the entrance/exit control execution means includes: a crossing gate for blocking/permitting the entrance of the trailer in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means; a warning light for giving an alarm equivalent to the entrance/exit management in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means; and an electronic display board having a unique IP address thereof for displaying the predetermined message related to the entrance/exit management in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means through an internally located switching hub.

[13] Preferably, the entrance/exit control means includes: a data access module for forming a communication channel with the radio communication means, the entrance/ exit control execution means, and the image acquisition means; a data storage module for storing the electronic invoice information, vehicle IDentification (ID) information, and the image information acquired by capturing the front surface of the trailer; a display module having a touch screen function of receiving as an input predetermined information from an operator, for displaying the stored electronic invoice information, vehicle ID information, and image information to the operator; and a control module for outputting the control signal related to the entrance/exit management.

[14] More preferably, the RFID reader includes a 900 MHz RFID reader and a 13.56

MHz RFID reader.

Advantageous Effects [15] As can be known from the above description, a system for managing entrance and exit according to the present invention automatically recognizes, in real time, incoming and outgoing vehicles and materials loaded on the vehicles at a construction site, and comprehensively manages relevant information, thereby increasing the efficiency of a physical distribution management process. In addition, the system as described above thoroughly monitors the loss and the damage of the materials, thereby preventing cost loss from occurring.

[16] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention must be defined not by described embodiments thereof but by the appended claims and equivalents of the appended claims.

[17]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] The above and other exemplary features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[19] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system for managing entrance and exit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a radio communication means according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entrance/exit control execution means according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entrance/exit control means according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[23] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for managing entrance and exit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[24]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[25] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

[26] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system for managing entrance and exit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [27] The system for managing entrance and exit (hereinafter, referred to as the "entrance/ exit management system") according to an embodiment of the present invention is proposed in order to manage the entrance and exit of a vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a "trailer") , including a truck, entering/leaving a predetermined place, such as a construction site, etc., check materials loaded on the trailer, and direct and manage information on a subsequent transportation plan of the trailer. The trailer to which the present embodiment is applied has stored electronic invoice information including information on materials loaded thereon, is equipped with a predetermined radio communication apparatus capable of transmitting the stored electronic invoice information, and has an RFID tag attached thereto for storing vehicle information including a vehicle number and driver information. Also, it is desirable that a display apparatus capable of displaying a predetermined message transmitted from the entrance/exit management system is mounted in the trailer.

[28] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the entrance/exit management system includes a radio communication means 100, an entrance/exit control execution means 200, an image acquisition means 300, and an entrance/exit control means 400.

[29] The radio communication means 100 acquires the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information stored in the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer to an entrance/exit gate, transmits the acquired electronic invoice information and vehicle information to the entrance/exit control means 400, and forms a communication channel with an externally located physical distribution management server 500 through a wireless Internet. A configuration of the radio communication means 100 will be described as follows.

[30] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the radio communication means 100 includes a Zigbee module 110, an RFID reader 120, an Access Point (AP) 130, and a switching hub 140. Herein, the Zigbee module 110 receives the electronic invoice information sent from the predetermined radio communication apparatus (desirably, a Zigbee module) mounted in the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer. The RFID reader 120 reads information stored in the RFID tag attached to the trailer, recognizes a unique vehicle ID included in the information read from the RFID tag, and then transmits the recognized unique vehicle ID to the entrance/exit control means 400. The AP 130 forms a communication channel with the physical distribution management server 500 through the wireless Internet in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means 400 through the switching hub 140 mounted in the radio communication means 100. While the predetermined radio communication apparatus is implemented by using the Zigbee module 110 in the radio communication means 100 according to the present embodiment, for example, it may be possible to apply commercialized various radio communication technology, such as Bluetooth, etc., to the radio com- munication means 100. Herein, the Zigbee module 110 receives the electronic invoice information sent from the trailer, and transmits the received electronic invoice information to the entrance/exit control means 400 according to a Recommended Sta ndard-232C (RS-232C) protocol. Also, the Zigbee module 110 sends, to the trailer, a predetermined message (e.g. either the reason for the disapproval of entrance/exit, destination information at the site in accordance with entrance permission, or others) related to the entrance/exit transmitted from the entrance/exit control means 400, and delivers the predetermined message to a driver through the display apparatus mounted in the trailer. Meanwhile, the Zigbee module 110 has its own memory, and can thus store data in the memory. Accordingly, when such a module as the Zigbee module 110 is mounted in the trailer, the trailer does not need a storage means for separately storing the electronic invoice information. For reference, the Zigbee module 110 to which the present invention is applied transmits and receives radio data by using a frequency band of 2.4 MHz between nodes. Also, the RFID reader 120 reads information stored in the RFID tag attached to the trailer, recognizes vehicle information included in the information read from the RFID tag, and then transmits the recognized vehicle information to the entrance/exit control means 400 according to the RS-232C protocol. In addition, the RFID reader 120 includes a 900 MHz RFID reader and a 13.56 MHz RFID reader capable of operating for simultaneous application. For reference, the 900 MHz RFID reader uses Ultra High Frequency (UHF), and accordingly, has a wide recognition range and a high recognition speed. The 13.56 MHz RFID reader is hardly affected by environmental factors, which makes it possible to manage the entrance and exit of incoming and outgoing persons. Also, the AP has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address thereof, and based on the unique IP address thereof, forms the communication channel with the physical distribution management server 500 through the wireless Internet in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means 400 through the switching hub 140. For reference, a hardware standard of 2.412 to 2.472 MHz (1 to 13 CHs) is applied to the AP 130 according to the present invention.

[31] The entrance/exit control execution means 200 executes the entrance control of the trailer in response to a control signal related to the entrance/exit management provided by the entrance/exit control means 400, and displays the predetermined message related to the entrance/exit management. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the entrance/exit control execution means 200 includes a crossing gate 210, a warning light 220, and an electronic display board 230. Herein, the electronic display board 230 displays both the predetermined message and the subsequent transportation information related to the entrance/exit management. Herein, the crossing gate 210 opens/shuts a crossing pole in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means 400, and blocks/permits the entrance of the trailer. For reference, the crossing gate 210 to which the present invention is applied employs a driving scheme using a motor decelerator and a crankshaft, and has a response speed of about 1.5 seconds when applying the control signal to the crossing gate 210. Also, the warning light 220 gives an alarm equivalent to the entrance/exit management in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means 400. Also, the electronic display board 230 has a unique IP address thereof, displays the predetermined message (e.g. the reason for the disapproval of entrance/exit, destination information at the site in accordance with entrance permission, etc.) related to the entrance/exit management in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means 400 through the internally located switching hub 140, and delivers the predetermined message to the driver. For reference, the electronic display board 230 to which the present invention is applied has dimensions of 128 mm x 128 mm and 3 rows by 8 columns and a hardware standard equivalent to a scheme of 2 colors: Red (R) and Pure Green (PG). The image acquisition means 300 captures a front surface of the trailer in response to a control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means 400 according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, and transmits the captured front surface of the trailer to the entrance/exit control means 400 according to the USB protocol. For reference, the image acquisition means 300 to which the present invention is applied has a signal scheme of four hundred and ten thousand pixels and NTSC 550 lines. [32] The entrance/exit control means 400 receives previously stored information on entrance/exit and a transportation plan of materials from the physical distribution management server 500, compares the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information provided by the radio communication means 100 with the received information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials, and outputs a compared result and a control signal related to the entrance/exit management in response to the approach of the trailer. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the entrance/exit control means 400 includes a data access module 410, a data storage module 420, a display module 430, and a control module 440. Herein, the data access module 410 forms a communication channel with the radio communication means 100, the entrance/exit control execution means 200, and the image acquisition means 300. Desirably, the data access module 410 mutually communicates with the Zigbee module 110 and the RFID reader 120 according to the RS 232C protocol. Also, the data access module 410 communicates not only with the image acquisition means 300 according to the USB protocol, but also with the AP 130 and the electronic display board 230 through the switching hub 140 according to a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol. Meanwhile, an operation of each of the crossing gate 210 and the warning light 220 included in the entrance/exit control execution means 200 is controlled through an 8-bit control board 450 additionally included in the entrance/exit control means 400. Also, the data storage module 420 stores therein the electronic invoice information, the vehicle ID information, and the image information acquired by capturing the front surface of the trailer. Meanwhile, the information stored in the data storage module 420 as described above is transmitted to the physical distribution management server 500, so that a user who gains access to the physical distribution management server 500 can check and recognize information and a current status on the entrance/exit of the materials in real time. Also, the display module 430 displays the stored electronic invoice information, vehicle ID information, and image information to an operator, and has a touch screen function of receiving as input a predetermined message from the operator. In addition, the control module 440 outputs a control signal related to the entrance/exit management, and manages display information, etc., of the display module 430.

[33] Hereinafter, a method for managing entrance and exit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the configuration as described above and FIG. 5, which is a flow diagram illustrating the method for managing entrance and exit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[34] First, the Zigbee module 110 receives electronic invoice information sent from the trailer in response to the approach of a trailer to an entrance/exit gate, and transmits the received electronic invoice information to the entrance/exit control means 400 according to the RS-232C protocol. Also, the RFID reader 120 reads information stored in an RFID tag attached to the trailer which approaches the RFID reader 120 within 3 to 10 meters, recognizes a unique vehicle ID included in the information read from the RFID tag, and transmits the recognized unique vehicle ID to the entrance/exit control means 400 according to the RS-232C protocol (Sl 10 to S 120).

[35] Then, the entrance/exit control means 400 stores the electronic invoice information and the unique vehicle ID, and reports the approach of the trailer to the physical distribution management server 500 through the switching hub 140 and the AP 130 (S 130 to S 140). At this time, the physical distribution management server 500 interworks with a Short Message Service (SMS) server (not illustrated), and sends a short message to a site manager, thereby inducing the site manager to move to a relevant location.

[36] At the same time, the entrance/exit control means 400 requests the image acquisition means 300 to capture a front surface of the trailer, and receives the captured image information (i.e. the captured front surface of the trailer) (S 150 to S 160).

[37] Then, the entrance/exit control means 400 transmits the stored electronic invoice information and unique vehicle ID and the captured image information to the physical distribution management server 500, so that the physical distribution management server 500 can store the received electronic invoice information, unique vehicle ID, and captured image information therein (S 170).

[38] Thereafter, through the switching hub 140 and the AP 130, the entrance/exit control means 400 requests the physical distribution management server 500 to transmit previously stored information on entrance/exit and a transportation plan of materials, and receives the information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials. Then, the entrance/exit control means 400 compares the stored electronic invoice information, unique vehicle ID, and captured image information with the received information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials, and confirms if the stored information coincides with the received information (S 180 to S200).

[39] When it is determined in step S200 that the stored information does not coincide with the received information, the entrance/exit control means 400 delivers a control signal to the entrance/exit control execution means 200, and blocks the entrance of the trailer (S210). Namely, the entrance/exit control means 400 delivers the control signal to the crossing gate 210 and the warning light 220, so that the crossing gate 210 blocks the entrance of the trailer and the warning light 220 gives an alarm. Also, the entrance/exit control means 400 sends a message (e.g. discordance between pieces of information related to the materials) to the electronic display board 230, and the electronic display board 230 reports an entrance/exit management situation.

[40] Thereafter, the entrance/exit control means 400 sends the same message as described above to the trailer through the Zigbee module 110, and informs the driver of an entrance disapproval situation (S220).

[41] At the same time, the entrance/exit control means 400 transmits a fact and a reason of the entrance/exit management to the physical distribution management server 500, and allows the physical distribution management server 500 to store the relevant information therein (S230). At this time, a site manager who arrives at the site confirms with his/her naked eye if the materials loaded on the trailer are damaged or poor in quality. When the site manager determines that there are problems with the materials, the site manager touches an item (e.g. entrance disapproval due to poor materials) on the display module 430 included in the entrance/exit control means 400, and displays a relevant message through the electronic display board 230, thereby reporting the reason of the entrance/exit management. When the trailer is not permitted to enter due to incorrect information or poor materials, it is desirable that the site manager leads and manages the situation in accordance with a relevant procedure.

[42] Meanwhile, in step S200, if it is determined that the stored information coincides with the received information, or if the item of entrance permission is touched by the site manager based on his/her confirmation of the materials with the naked eye, a control signal is delivered to the entrance/exit control execution means 200, and the entrance of the trailer is then permitted (S240). Namely, by delivering the control signal to the crossing gate 210, the entrance of the trailer is permitted, and besides, the entrance/exit control means 400 sends a message such as the entrance permission and movement destination information to the electronic display board 230, and displays them through the electronic display board 230.

[43] At the same time, the entrance/exit control execution means 200 sends the same message to the trailer through the Zigbee module 110, and informs the driver of the fact of the entrance permission and the movement destination (S250). At the same time, the entrance/exit control means 400 transmits an entrance/exit management situation to the physical distribution management server 500, and allows the physical distribution management server 500 to store the relevant information therein (S260).

[44]

Claims

[1] A system for managing entrance and exit of a vehicle including a truck

(hereinafter, referred to as a "trailer"), a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag for storing vehicle information including a vehicle number and driver information being attached to the trailer, the system having a radio communication apparatus for storing and transmitting electronic invoice information including information on materials loaded in the trailer, the system comprising: a radio communication means for acquiring the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information stored in the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer to an entrance/exit gate, transmitting the acquired electronic invoice information and vehicle information, and forming a communication channel with an externally located physical distribution management server; an entrance/exit control execution means for executing entrance control of the trailer in response to a control signal related to entrance/exit management, and displaying a predetermined message and subsequent transportation information related to the entrance/exit management; an image acquisition means for capturing a front surface of the trailer in response to a control signal related to the entrance/exit management, and transmitting the captured front surface of the trailer; and an entrance/exit control means for receiving previously stored information on entrance/exit and a transportation plan of materials from the physical distribution management server, comparing the electronic invoice information and the vehicle information provided by the radio communication means with the received information on the entrance/exit and the transportation plan of the materials, and outputting a compared result and a control signal related to the entrance/exit management in response to the approach of the trailer.

[2] The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio communication means comprises: a Zigbee module for receiving the electronic invoice information sent from the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer, transmitting the received electronic invoice information to the entrance/exit control means, and transmitting the predetermined message related to the entrance/exit management to the trailer in response to the control signal transmitted by the entrance/exit control means; an RFID reader for reading information stored in the RFID tag attached to the trailer in response to the approach of the trailer, recognizing vehicle information included in the information read from the RFID tag, and transmitting the recognized vehicle information to the entrance/exit control means; and an Access Point (AP) having a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address thereof for gaining access to the physical distribution management server through a wireless Internet in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means through an internally located switching hub.

[3] The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entrance/exit control execution means comprises: a crossing gate for blocking/permitting the entrance of the trailer in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means; a warning light for giving an alarm equivalent to the entrance/exit management in response to the control signal provided by the entrance/exit control means; and an electronic display board having a unique IP address thereof for displaying the predetermined message related to the entrance/exit management in response to a request provided by the entrance/exit control means through an internally located switching hub.

[4] The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entrance/exit control means comprises: a data access module for forming a communication channel with the radio communication means, the entrance/exit control execution means, and the image acquisition means; a data storage module for storing the electronic invoice information, vehicle IDentification (ID) information, and the image information acquired by capturing the front surface of the trailer; a display module having a touch screen function of receiving as an input predetermined information from an operator, for displaying the stored electronic invoice information, vehicle ID information, and image information to the operator; and a control module for outputting the control signal related to the entrance/exit management.

[5] The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the RFID reader comprises a 900

MHz RFID reader and a 13.56 MHz RFID reader.