WO2002015115A1

WO2002015115A1 - Device for automatically identifying luggage provided with electronic tags

Info

Publication number: WO2002015115A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/009303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinhard Kahl; Alain Ganga Doudy
Original assignee: Kahl Elektrotechnik Gmbh
Priority date: 2000-08-15
Filing date: 2001-08-11
Publication date: 2002-02-21
Also published as: DE10040550A1; AU2001291759A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1, 60) for automatically monitoring luggage as part of a luggage transport system, especially in an airport. Said device comprises an object identification device (13, 14, 15, 16) for checking for the presence of luggage (3), a radio identification device (10) for checking for the presence of electronic tags (5), and a processing device (20) for processing the results of both identification devices, and for producing a signal dependant on both results.

Description

Kahl ElektiOtechnik GmbH

Device for the automatic detection of luggage provided with electronic tags

The invention relates to a device for the automatic monitoring of items of luggage provided with electronic tags as part of a luggage guidance system.

In the automated processing of luggage, in particular in an airport, it is known to provide the luggage with optically readable tags, so-called tags. The data required for automated processing are generally stored on them in the form of a bar or bar code. The tags are attached to the handle of the luggage, for example. These barcode tags are read by optical barcode readers, which are arranged, for example, in an automated baggage routing system at the points at which the items of baggage are to be diverted depending on their destination.

One disadvantage of these optical barcode tags is that they can only be used once for a trip. On the other hand, it is disadvantageous that the optical Baicode readers need a clear view of the barcode of the day to read the required information. This clear view must be guaranteed regardless of the orientation of the luggage relative to the barcode reader. In order to achieve this, a high and correspondingly cost-intensive effort has to be made, for example by using several optical baicode readers spatially distributed with different viewing angles. However, reading is not possible in all cases, for example, because the tags are badly printed, get dirty or tear off, or the barcode cannot be recognized by any of the readers. A certain percentage of luggage remains unprocessed. Such pieces are laborious to edit and assign manually, and thus provide the airlines with a considerable and costly amount of time and personnel. Under certain circumstances, a piece of luggage can no longer be assigned and is lost to the owner for the companies subject to replacement.

On the other hand, there are electronic tags that communicate in a manner that does not require any guidance. With the designation of the electronic tags used here, all those luggage tags are to be recorded in which information is stored electronically and is read out contactlessly via furik transmission. For example, they enable saving, reading and deleting. These electronic tags essentially contain a transponder, which in turn consists of at least one antenna and one transponder chip. The latter usually has a permanent and a rewritable memory area. The antenna can be used to send and receive information, for example, transmission in the long-wave or microwave range. Energy is usually also transmitted via the antenna in order to supply the transponder with the energy required for transmission. However, transponders with their own energy supply are also known. The writable memory area enables entry and subsequent reading or deletion required information and it can consist of an EEPROM, for example. The electronic tags or the transponders can be integrated into a piece of luggage, for example, which makes them captive. But they can also be attached or glued on.

As an example, reference is made to WO 98/15921 regarding the prior art, in which a luggage guidance system and a person identification system based on such an electronic tag is disclosed. An electronic tag shows e.g. EP 0 595 549.

Electronic tags have the advantage that they can be read without contact, even in harsh environments, that they have a very long lifespan, that they can be written on repeatedly, that is, they can be used again and again on multiple trips, and that more information can be stored than conventional tags, and that the stored data can be protected against unauthorized reading, for example through password protection.

Known baggage management systems based on electronic tags only work with items of baggage that all have an electronic tag. Appropriately equipped luggage items are not yet available, or have not yet established themselves on the market, but if luggage items that do not have such a day or a defective day come into such a luggage management system that does not have such a day or a defective day, then malfunctions occur ,

From "TIRIS ™ NEWS" Texas Instruments, No. 19 1999, a hand-held reader is known that can read both barcodes and electronic tags. Problems with unmarked items of luggage can arise with such Do not show up the device, since there is always an operator on site who can intervene if an unmarked piece of luggage appears.

A luggage input station is known from EP 0 770 546 A1, in which luggage is first provided with electronic tags and then placed on an input space. There they are measured, weighed and the electronic tags are read. Problems with non-existent tags cannot arise here because the tags are freshly attached on site. In addition, if several pieces of luggage are entered at the same time, the pieces of luggage are counted based on the tags read. In the event of unintentional or deliberate incorrect operation, that is to say when a piece of luggage is set up without a day, problems also arise in the luggage guidance system which cannot be prevented by this input station.

WO 93/11504 AI shows an antenna system with which elective tags transported on a conveyor belt can be read. The passage of untagged luggage that would feel the problems mentioned above cannot be prevented by this construction, since only electronic tags can be detected.

In a completely different technical field, namely the field of monitoring taxi traffic at airports, US Pat. No. 5,375,058 shows a monitoring system which monitors the rolling traffic with infrared scanners and detects its presence when a plane passes, and reads barcodes attached to it in a further reading step , This recognition system can be used to identify and differentiate between aircraft that are identified with codes and aircraft that are not identified with codes. It prevents uncoded aircraft from being completely overlooked. This monitoring system can be applied to baggage control systems that work with electronic tags. Do not carry over, as only the elective tags are addressed by radio and a piece of luggage without a functioning elective tag remains invisible to the radio operator. The infrared scanner, in turn, is able to detect the presence of an aircraft even without a barcode on it.

The detection systems known from the prior art are therefore not able to detect items of luggage in a luggage guidance system which works with electronic tags and which do not have a properly working elective tag.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which, in the case of baggage control systems which work with elective tags, detects those items of baggage which are not provided with properly working elective tags.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

The solution according to the invention provides that the device has an object detection device for checking the presence of luggage and a radio detection device for checking the presence of electronic tags, and that it also has a processing priority device which provides the presence detection results provided by the two detection devices for one of the two Results dependent signal processed.

The device according to the invention can make an automated distinction with regard to the equipment of a piece of luggage with one day, since the two proposed detection devices respond to different events. The object recognition device determines whether a piece of luggage is present at all. The radio detection device determines whether a electronic tag is present. However, it is unable to determine the presence of an object without an electronic tag. However, conclusions can be drawn from the combination of the two independent pieces of information, so that, for example, the presence of a piece of luggage can be determined without an elective tag and communicated using a signal. Depending on the determined result, further action steps can be triggered. For example, the item of luggage can be removed from the guidance system provided for items of luggage with an electronic tag and can be used for other processing. This other processing can include, for example, the read attempt with an optical barcode reader, by means of which items of luggage equipped with an optical barcode tag can then be processed. This optical barcode reader could, for example, be integrated into the device and make further improved differentiation possible as a further recognition device. However, the optical barcode reader could also be part of a known baggage control system based on barcode tags. If neither the electronic nor the possible optical reading attempt leads to success, an operator could be called, for example.

Advantageous embodiments of the device are the subject of the subclaims.

It is preferred according to claim 2 that a reading and writing unit, which can also enable a possible deletion, is provided in the device, with which an electronic tag can be read and / or written and / or deleted. It is made possible, on the one hand, that in addition to the mere detection of an elective tag, information necessary for baggage identification and assignment can also be read. The read information can then be used, for example, for the automated management of the piece of luggage. On the other hand, the electronic tag for the store further information about baggage processing or allocation that is read elsewhere. This information can be, for example, data about the destination of the luggage or about the luggage owner.

In principle, this reading and writing unit, with the possibility of deleting it, could be arranged in addition to the radio detection device for detecting elective tags. However, it is preferred according to claim 3 that this reading and sliding unit forms the radio detection device.

The advantages of electronic tags can only be fully exploited in a baggage management system if it is ensured that all items of baggage have the appropriate tags, or items of baggage without an electronic tag otherwise e.g. can be processed in the conventional manner using optical bar code readers. With the device according to the invention, however, it is precisely the items of luggage that are not equipped with an electronic tag that can be automatically identified. It is therefore advantageous according to claim 4 that the device includes an egg device for the treatment of items of luggage not provided with an elective tag. This device can e.g. consist of a conventional bar code reader or a portable hand-held reader, with which the items of luggage provided with optical bar code tags in the usual way can be processed.

It is advantageous according to claim 5 that the processing device activates the reading and pushing device when it recognizes a piece of luggage provided with an electronic tag. In this case, information required for the functioning of the baggage control system can be exchanged automatically with the elective tag arranged on the baggage item, without the need for an intervention by an operator. This exchange can, for example, from a le- the information relating to the destination airport of the baggage exists or include the description of the electronic tag with further data.

The luggage could e.g. can be transported by hand to and from the device according to the invention. In the sense of extensive automation and for better integration into a baggage control system, it is advantageous according to Claim 6 that the device has a transport device that guides the items of baggage through the recognition areas of the recognition devices. Personnel for the arduous luggage transport are therefore not required. It is irrelevant whether the luggage is transported hanging, lying, sliding, falling or the like. Typically e.g. a belt conveyor can be used.

It is also advantageous according to spoke 7 that the processing device controls the transport device. So if the processing device recognizes a piece of luggage without an elective tag, e.g. the transport device is stopped so that the baggage e.g. is provided with such a day by an operator. On the other hand, the processing device can also forward the piece of luggage on the basis of the information read, e.g. initiates the right course.

The device can be arranged at any point in a luggage guidance system, for example in front of a switch and in control of it. According to spoke 8, however, it is advantageous that the device is arranged at an entrance station of a luggage guidance system. With a device arranged at the entry point of a baggage control system, it can be ensured that only items of baggage that are equipped with a day in accordance with the processing possibilities of the system can enter the baggage guide system, for example, by the baggage only equipped with an electronic tag without objection lets continue, otherwise the baggage is denied access to the control system.

It is advantageous according to spoke 9 that an input unit is provided on the device with which e.g. Ticket data and / or passenger data can be read in and / or entered or also deleted. Such an input unit can e.g. consist of a PC connected to the device with a keyboard, or of a reading device with which a ticket or an ID card containing the passenger data can be read. This data can then advantageously be uniquely linked to the item of luggage in accordance with Claim 10. It is thereby achieved that each piece of luggage can be clearly identified after passing through the device.

This linkage of the information can be achieved, for example, by creating a database in which the read data are stored together with an assignment rule, the electronic tag warning, for example, only contains one identification number. The baggage control system must have access to this database. Using the Internet, for example, the database could easily be available to several airports or airlines. According to claim 11, however, it is preferred that the reading and writing unit is communicatively connected to the reading unit and that it can transfer the data received from the reading unit to the electronic tag. This is possible, among other things, because the transponder chip of the electronic tag can hold significantly larger amounts of data than the conventional optical information carriers in foam of a bar code tag. The information required repeatedly, for example for automatic forwarding, can then be stored on the electronic tag. If necessary, they can be read and the baggage can be distributed locally without establishing a connection to a database or the like. As the information needed for the baggage line the electronic tag and thus stored on the piece of luggage, and a connection to a database or a central computer is not necessary, the piece of luggage can be processed on its way to the destination without problems even at various unconnected airports.

According to spoke 12, it is advantageous that these data contain at least the flight data. A piece of luggage on whose electronic tag this data is stored can subsequently be processed automatically, in which case the advantages of the electronic tag can then be fully exploited.

According to spoke 13, it is advantageous that an output unit is provided in the device, with which elective tags that can be subsequently attached to a piece of luggage can be written with flight data and / or passenger data. In this way, items of luggage can be retrofitted that do not yet have an electronic tag. The tags can e.g. pasture glued to the luggage.

The item recognition device could e.g. a mechanical signal transmitter or a signal transmitter in the manner of a scale. According to spoke 14, however, it is advantageous that the object detection igsei icht is a light barrier. Photoelectric sensors work very reliably and maintenance-free, and they are inexpensive. She prefers this to other conceivable alternatives.

There are several options for powering the electronic tags. For example, the day could be equipped with a battery as a power source. However, according to spoke 15 it is preferred that the radio detection device contains an antenna, by means of which the electronic tags can be supplied with energy without contact. According to spoke 16, it is advantageous that the detection area of the light barrier is arranged in the detection area of the antenna. A spatial coincidence of the two recognition devices is thereby achieved, which facilitates the interaction and expansion of the two. The light barrier can be arranged, for example, in the middle of the detection area of the antenna or on the output side. This ensures that, after passing through the light barrier, a piece of luggage has in each case also passed through the detection area of the antenna recognizing the electronic tag.

Further features and properties of the invention can be found in the following description part, in which the invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically with the aid of drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1: a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is arranged in front of a switch of a luggage guidance system,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is arranged at an entrance station of a luggage guidance system, and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is arranged in a fully automated entrance station.

In Figure 1, a detection device 1 according to the invention is shown, which is arranged in front of a switch 2 of a luggage management system and this master. A piece of luggage 3 located in the luggage guidance system is conveyor 4 transported to the detection device 1. An electronic tag 5 is attached to the side of the luggage item 3 facing away from the belt conveyor 4. It can be glued there, for example, or integrated into the luggage compartment

The detection device 1 in the example shown consists of a right-angled archway 6 with two vertical side walls 7a, 7b and an upper wall 8 connecting the side walls 7a, 7b. A rectangular antenna 10 is accommodated in this archway 6, which is indicated in the drawing by dashed lines , In a transmission mode, electromagnetic waves are emitted from the rectangular antenna 10 in the direction of luggage 3, which pass through the archway 6 lying on the belt conveyor 4, and in a reception mode, electromagnetic waves are also received if necessary. The change between send and receive mode takes place in short periodic time intervals, e.g. with a frequency of 50 Hz. However, it is also possible to provide separate antennas 10 for transmission and reception, which can then transmit or receive continuously on separate frequencies. The transmission and reception area can e.g. are in the long-wave or microwave range. The flat antenna shown is suitable for the long-wave range; in the microwave range, e.g. a home antenna can be used. More than one antenna can also be provided.

At the exit end of the archway 6, a light barrier 13 is arranged at a short height above the belt conveyor 4, which consists of a compact-size laser 14 and a photodiode 15 arranged on the opposite side of the belt conveyor 4 for detecting the laser radiation 16 generated by the laser 14. Both are installed in the opposite side walls 7a, 7b of the archway 6 in the illustrated case. The control of the rectangular antenna 10 and the light barrier 13 and the evaluation of the antenna and light barrier signals takes place via a control unit 20 which communicates with them and which is supplied with current via lines, not shown, which is connected to a current source, also not shown. The control unit 20 monitors the signal received from the photodiode 15 and the rectangular antenna 10 and supplies the rectangular antenna 10 periodically with a high-frequency AC voltage. Typical AC voltage frequencies can be in the microwave or long-wave range, for example.

When the piece of luggage 3 is felt by the belt conveyor 4 through the arch 6 and its rear end face 22 reaches the laser beam 16 of the light barrier 13, this is interrupted. The control unit 20 recognizes on the basis of the output signal from the photodiode 15 that a piece of luggage 3 enters the detection area of the antenna 10. When the piece of luggage 3 releases the light barrier 13 again, the control unit 20 recognizes that the piece of luggage 3 has completely passed through the device 1 and also the detection area of the antenna 10. Then an electronic tag 5 possibly present on the piece of luggage 3 must also have passed through the detection area of the antenna 10. If the rectangular antenna 10 cannot detect an electronic tag 5 between the interruption and release of the light barrier 13, the piece of luggage 3 must be one without or with a defective electronic tag 5. The control unit 20 can then e.g. Control deflection means 29, 30 via control lines (not shown) such that the item of luggage 3 is deflected at the switch 2 onto a second belt 4 'which transports the item of luggage 3 for its further processing.

In the illustrated case, the deflecting sleeves consist of a guardrail 30 which is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 29 and which can be pivoted in two positions 30, 30b in such a way that pieces of luggage 3 which are passing through either remain on belt 4 or be diverted to band 4 '. The position 30b is shown with dashed lines.

However, if an electronic tag 5 is recognized by the control unit 20, the tape 4 can be stopped by the control unit 20 and stored data can be read from the memory area of the tag 5. The control unit 20 can control the deflection means 29, 30 from the read information in such a way that the piece of luggage 3 continues on the correct belt 4 or 4 ', and e.g. to the right plane to the right gate.

A second alternative exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 2. A typical check-in counter 41, which is operated by an operator 40 of an airline, is shown there, at which passengers 42 can check in and check in their luggage 3. For this purpose, the operator 40 accepts the travel documents 43 of the passenger 42, reads or enters the data to be recorded into an input unit, which e.g. can have a reader 46 for identification documents and a keyboard connected to a PC 52, and after a short computer-assisted confirmation of the documents 43 and the passenger 42, hands the guest 42 a boarding pass 48.

The baggage 3 checked in at the switch 41 is placed on a conveyor belt 4, weighed, passes through the recognition device 1 and then reaches the downstream baggage distribution system. The mode of operation of the detection device 1 according to the invention, which in this example is also equipped with an antenna 10 and a light barrier 13, corresponds to that explained with reference to FIG. 1. However, the control unit 20 controls the conveyor belt 4 here in a different manner and which will be explained below.

If the control unit 20 detects a piece of luggage 3 with an electronic tag 5, it automatically stops the belt 4. The electronic day 5 is thus in the reading and writing area of the antenna 10. The operator 40 initiates or automatically initiates the data required for the processing of the item of luggage 3 in the luggage guidance system, be it personal data or data relating to the flight electronic day 5 broadcast. When this transmission has been completed and a verification check may have taken place, the belt 4 is automatically started up again and the baggage item 3 is transported on. It can now be processed on the basis of the information contained in electronically readable form on the electronic tag 5 by the baggage control system, in the recognition devices 1 for recognizing electronic tags 5 and for reading out the data from the tags 5, for example in the alt explained with reference to FIG are arranged.

However, if the recognition device 1 recognizes a piece of luggage 3 without an electronic tag 5, the control unit 20 stops the belt 4 after the luggage item 3 has passed through the recognition device 1. The luggage item 3 is freely accessible again in the stopped position. A notice appears on the monitor 50 for the operator 40 that a piece of luggage 3 was recognized without the required electronic tag 5. The operator 40 then causes the data required for luggage processing to be transmitted from the input unit 46, 47 or a PC 52 connected to it to an output unit 55, which in turn writes the data to an electronic tag 56 output by this output unit 55. These tags 56 can be retrofitted in the alt of a sticker on the luggage item 3. After such a roasted tag 56 has been attached to the item of luggage 3, the belt 4 is set in motion again by the operator 40 and the item of luggage 3 enters the guidance system. A fully automatic entry station 60, which can be operated without an operator, is shown in FIG. 3. A passenger 42 can check in his luggage 3 at this station 60 or, if he has not yet booked a flight, buy a flight ticket there. For this purpose, the input station 60 has a detection device with an antenna 10 and a light barrier 13 for detecting pieces of luggage, the principle of which has already been explained above. It also has a monitor 50 for displaying explanations and instructions, a keyboard 47 for input, a reading device 46 for the automated detection of identification documents and flight documents, an output unit 55 for outputting elective tags 56 which can subsequently be attached to luggage 3 and a card slot 62 for insertion from credit cards on.

A possible process sequence is to be illustrated below as an example.

A passenger 42 enters his desired destination via the keyboard 47. Further inputs are queried via the monitor 50, e.g. a preferred airline, whether a non-smoker or smoking place is desired, whether a taxi should wait at the destination airport or the like. After the passenger 42 has entered all booking requests, the price to be paid is displayed. For payment, the passenger 42 feels a credit card 65 in the card slot 62 and enters an identification number via the keyboard 47. The flight price is then booked on its card 65 and the issuing unit 55 issues the ticket e.g. in the form of a credit card-like card with an integrated, electronically readable chip, which the passenger 42 now feels with himself and needs for the start of the flight.

The baggage 3 is also checked in during the travel booking at the entry station 60. The passenger 42 is asked to put his luggage 3 in the luggage compartment 66. The shaft 66 is moved from the antenna 10 onto the existing an electronic tag 5 is examined and a light barrier 13 recognizes whether there is a piece of luggage 3 in the shaft 66 at all. If a piece of luggage 3 is ascertained without electronic tag 5, the machine 60 issues a stick-on elective tag 56 and the passenger 42 is asked to attach it to the piece of luggage 3. The data required for automated baggage processing is already on day 56. The attachment of the tag 56 is checked by reading the tag 56 from the antenna. When the tag 56 is attached to the piece of luggage 3, it is transported by the belt 4 into the guidance system.

If a piece of luggage 3 with an already existing tag 5 is recognized, the data received from the passenger 42 are transmitted to the electronic tag 5 in a read / write mode of the antenna 10. Then the piece of luggage 3 arrives via the conveyor belt 4 in the control system.

The device according to the invention can also be combined, in a manner not shown, with optical barcode readers known in the prior art in such a way that the processing or control unit also communicates with them, and the latter informs the processing unit, for example, that they are attached to a piece of luggage have attached or read the attached optical barcode tag. It would be expedient for the optical detection area of the optical readers in the luggage transport direction to lie in front of the electronic detection area of the previously described device or to overlap it. This facilitates the interaction of the electronic with the optical recognition. With this combination with optical barcode readers, for example, the optically read information could also be used to control the forwarding of luggage. The device according to the invention makes it possible, for example, to upgrade an existing baggage control system based on barcode tags for processing luggage with electronic tags by arranging devices according to the invention in addition to the existing optical barcode readers and integrating them into the existing system. However, it is also possible to provide additional optical barcode readers on the device, which can then detect and process elective and barcode tags independently of any optical recognition system that may already be present.

It is also possible to provide luggage with both electronic and barcode tags. The attachment of two independent information carriers results in double security, with the optical or electronic information simulation recognition optionally being given priority when processing information.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Device (1) for the automatic monitoring of luggage (3) as part of a baggage control system, in particular in an airport, the device comprising an object detection device (13, 14, 15, 16) for presence detection of luggage (3), a radio detection device (10 ) for presence detection of electronic tags (5), and a processing device (20) for processing the presence test results of both detection devices (10, 13, 14, 15, 16) and for generating a signal dependent on both results.

2. Device (1) according spoke 1, characterized in that a reading and writing unit (10, 20) is provided with which an electronic tag (5) can be read and / or written.

>. Device (1) according to spoke 2, characterized in that the reading and writing unit (10, 20) forms the radio detection device (10).

4. Vomchtung (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a

Eimichrung for the treatment of luggage (3) not provided with electronic tags (5) is provided.

5. Vomchtung (1) according spoke 2, characterized in that the

Processing device (20) activates the reading and writing device (10, 20) upon detection of the presence of a piece of luggage (3) provided with an electronic tag (5).

6. Vomchtung (1) according spoke 1, characterized in that a

Pieces of luggage (3) through the detection areas of the detection devices (10, 13, 14, 15, 16) leading transport device (4) is provided.

7. The device (1) according spoke 6, characterized in that the

Veraibeitungseimichtung (20) controls the transport device (4). Device (1) according to spoke 1, characterized in that it is arranged at an entrance station (41, 60) of a luggage guidance system.

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a

An input unit (46, 47) is provided, with which flight ticket data and / or passenger data can be read and / or entered.

10. The device (1) according spoke 9, characterized in that it is a one-way link between luggage (3) with electronic tag (5) and from the input unit (46, 47) reading data.

11. Vomchtung (1) according spoke 2 and 9, characterized in that the reading and sliding unit (10, 20) is communicatively connected to the reading unit (46, 47), and from the reading unit (46, 47) received data the electronic day (5) are transferable.

12. The device (1) according spoke 11, characterized in that these data contain flight data.

13. The device (1) according to spoke 11, characterized in that an output unit (55) is provided with which subsequently on a Ge Package (3) attachable electronic tags (56) with flight data and / or passenger data can be written on.

14. The device (1) according to spoke 1, characterized in that the object recognition device is a light barrier (14, 15, 16).

15. The device (1) according spoke 1, characterized in that the radio detection device includes an antenna (10) by means of which an electronic tag (5) can be supplied with energy without contact.

16. Warning (1) according to spoke 14 and 15, characterized in that the detection area of the light barrier (14, 15, 16) is arranged in the detection area of the antenna (10).