EP-4428834-B1 - MANAGEMENT DEVICE, MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Inventors

• NAKAZAWA, HIDETA

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20210406

Claims (7)

1. A management apparatus comprising: a control unit (1) configured to: divide a predetermined three-dimensional real space (RLS(α)) into cubes that are each a predetermined three-dimensional virtual space ((α)VM(n)) by preset units, wherein each cube ((α)VM(n)) has a predetermined size of (n) mm 3 , set relative position coordinates for each three-dimensional virtual space, issue and assign a sequence number(SNg) to each three-dimensional virtual space for identifying the position coordinates, and generate object position information that associates the sequence number of the three-dimensional virtual space, identification information of an object that is or was present at said three-dimensional virtual space, and an indication of presence or absence of delivery of the object with each other; and a storage unit configured to store the generated object position information.
2. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit generates, upon detecting that the object is no longer present at said three-dimensional virtual space of the object, holder information associating a holder which was holding the object no longer present, and the identification information of the object with each other.
3. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit compares the identification information of the object registered in the holder information with identification information of the object presented by the holder and determines whether a predetermined process has been performed on the object held by the holder.
4. The management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, upon determining that the predetermined process has been performed on the object, the control unit updates the object position information to indicate that the object no longer present at the said three-dimensional virtual space.
5. The management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage unit stores the sequence number of a three-dimensional virtual space indicating a position of an arrangement entity where the object is arranged, and the control unit outputs an arrangement position of the object.
6. A management method executed by a computer, the management method comprising: dividing a predetermined three-dimensional real space (RLS(α)) into cubes that are each a predetermined three-dimensional virtual space ((α)VM(n)) by preset units, wherein each cube ((α)VM(n)) has a predetermined size of (n)mm 3 ; setting relative position coordinates for each three-dimensional virtual space, issuing and assigning a sequence number (SNg) to each three-dimensional virtual space for identifying the position coordinates; and generating object position information that associates the sequence number of the three-dimensional virtual space, identification information of an object that is or was present at the position coordinates, and an indication of presence or absence of delivery of the object with each other storing the generated object position information into a storage unit.
7. A computer program that causes a computer to perform a process comprising: dividing a predetermined three-dimensional real space (RLS(α)) into cubes that are each a predetermined three-dimensional virtual space ((α)VM(n)) by preset units, wherein each cube ((α)VM(n)) has a predetermined size of (n)mm 3 ; setting relative position coordinates for each three-dimensional virtual space, issuing and assigning a sequence number (SNg) to each three-dimensional virtual space for identifying the position coordinates; and generating object position information that associates the sequence number of the three-dimensional virtual space, identification information of an object that is or was present at said three-dimensional virtual space, and an indication of presence or absence of delivery of the object with each other storing the generated object position information into a storage unit.

Description

Technical Field The embodiment discussed herein relates to a management apparatus, a management method, and a computer program. Background Art A system for managing stocks of items has been known. For example, there have been known a system in which a position measurement system and a position measurement server automatically measure a position where a package is warehoused by a manned guided vehicle in a flat warehouse and a stock management system converts an absolute physical position that is the measured position of the package into a relative logical position that is a relative arrangement of the package and manages the package as a stock using the relative logical position. Citation List Patent Literature [PTL1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-87530 US 2020/293992 A1 (BOGOLEA BRADLEY [US] ET AL) of 17. September 2020 discloses a stock management system for a retail store based on images of shelves located in a 3-dimensional map of the store. Summary of Invention Technical Problem PTL1 states "measuring the absolute physical position of a package warehoused as the position of the package, converting the absolute physical position into a relative logical position, and performing stock management," but does not disclose any specific method therefor. According to one aspect, the present invention has an objective of managing stocks using a virtual space. Solution to Problem To accomplish the above objective, there is provided a disclosed management apparatus. This management apparatus includes a control unit that sets relative position coordinates for each unit space formed by dividing a predetermined space by preset units, issues numbers identifying the position coordinates, and generates object position information that associates the position coordinates, an object present at the position coordinates, and the presence or absence of movement of the object with each other, and a storage unit storing the object position information generated by the control unit. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to one aspect, it is achieved to manage stocks using a virtual space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a view for describing a management system according to one embodiment.[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a hardware configuration of a management apparatus according to the embodiment.[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the management apparatus according to the embodiment.[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a view for describing unit three-dimensional virtual cube master data.[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a view for describing item master data.[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a view for describing pack master data.[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a view for describing shopping basket master data.[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a view for describing a warehousing information management table.[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a view for describing an updated warehousing information management table.[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a view for describing a stock information management table.[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a view for describing a display place information.[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a view for describing a visitor information management table.[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a view for describing a take-out information management table.[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a view for describing an updated stock information management table.[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 is a view for describing a process performed when a visitor takes an item.[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 is a flowchart for describing a process at checkout. Description of Embodiment(s) Hereinafter, a management apparatus according to one embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For easy understanding of the embodiment, the positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, and others of the individual components illustrated in the drawings do not represent the actual positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, and others. Therefore, the embodiment is not limited to the illustrated positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, and others. Elements that are each expressed in a singular form in the embodiment may be plural in use, expect otherwise particularly specified in writing. In addition, the term "sigma" is used to represent the summation symbol Σ in the following description. (Embodiment) A management apparatus (computer) of one embodiment divides a three-dimensional (a•b•c) m3 real space (hereinafter, referred to as "RLS(α)") into cubes that are each a three-dimensional virtual space of (n) mm3 (hereinafter, referred to as "(α)VM(n)." In this connection, the symbol "α" is not a variable but is used to specify a real space. For example, "α = earth" means that the earth is divided into cubes in a virtual space. As another example, "α = warehouse" means that a warehouse is divided into cubes in a virtual space. Unit three-dimensional virtual spaces (α)VM(n) each assigned a sequence (SQ) number (this numbering is hereinafter referred to "SNg") are individually referred to as (α)VM(n)SNg(k), where k is a positive number. Assu