CZ20004600A3 - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

A library monitoring system includes a number of borrowable items. Each item has a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon and the radio frequency identification device has a unique identification code. A processing unit (1) is coupled to a database containing an indication of the location of each library item and is also coupled to a borrowing location (3), a borrowed item returning location (2) and the returned item sorting location (5). The borrowed item returning location (2) includes a receptacle (32, 33) into which the borrowed item (34) is inserted. The receptacle (32, 33) includes an antenna (10) which detects an insertion of library item (34) having a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon. The borrowed item returning location (2) responds to the insertion of a library item (34) into the receptacle (32, 33) detects the identification code and sends the identification code corresponding to the returned library item (34) to the processing unit (1). The processing unit (1) responds to the received identification code, updates the information on the database relating to the returned library item (34) to indicate that the returned library item (34) has been returned to the library.

Description

Monitoring system

Technical field

The invention relates to a monitoring system, and in particular to a system for identifying and monitoring the location of library items, such as books.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing library identification and tracking systems generally use a combination of a barcode system and a magnetic stripe to track the location of some item that is borrowed as a security means to prevent unauthorized removal of any item from the library. The drawbacks of this conventional system are that the barcodes require each book to be opened unevenly and the barcode removed when the user wishes to borrow the book, and for books that need to be individually scanned again when returning. In addition, the deactivation of the magnetic stripe when this item is borrowed and the reactivation of the magnetic stripe when it is returned are additional separate operations that are required.

Because this is a laborious intensive process, many libraries have started using bookshelf shelves where users can store returned books in a designated bin that is periodically emptied, and the returned books are removed when the bin is emptied and not when the book returns. Therefore, this has the disadvantage that a book that returns to the library and is in the book box is not recorded in the library system as currently returned until the bookcase shelf has been emptied and the books scanned. Therefore, with this conventional system, there are inaccuracies in the recording system maintained by the library and there is no real-time image of the books that are located in the library space.

In addition, the user can borrow a certain number of books. If this number of books has been stored in the mailbox, you are not able to 44 * The lender is able to borrow any other books until the books stored in the mailbox have been scanned as returned. For example, the total number of books that can be borrowed by one user may be limited to four.

There is also the additional disadvantage that the entire sorting of books must be done manually before returning books to the correct place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the library monitoring system consists of a number of borrowable items, each item having a radio frequency identification symbol thereon, and the radio frequency identification symbol having a specific identification code, a processing unit connected to a database containing location information for each library item. and to the borrowed item return point, according to the invention, wherein the borrowed item return point comprises a receptacle into which the borrowed item can be inserted, the receptacle comprising an antenna that detects the insertion of a library item having a radio frequency identification symbol thereon. , the borrowed item return location detects an identification code in response to the insertion of the library item in the drawer and sends the identification code corresponding to the returned library item to the processing units In response to the received identification code, the processing unit updates the information in the database regarding the returned library item to indicate that the returned library item has been returned to the library.

The advantage of the present invention is that, since there is a library system in which high-frequency identification features are placed on items in the library that can be borrowed, it is possible to detect when the items are returned to the library as soon as it enters the space.

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Typically, the RFID may also be used as a security feature, so that when it is attempted to carry a library item from a library or from an unlicensed library space, it is detected by a processing unit that generates an alarm signal, which may be video or audio.

When the return location detects that a library item has been inserted into the drawer, the return location preferably also sends a signal to the processing unit to indicate the location to which the item was returned.

Preferably, the processing unit is additionally connected to the sorting point of the item being returned. Thus, the library system may further include a transport mechanism between the return location and the sorting location, where the transport mechanism transports the returned items from the drawer to the sorting location.

Preferably, the sorting site comprises a high-frequency identification feature sensor that detects a library item to be sorted at the sorting site and sends an identification signal corresponding to the sorted item to the processing unit, in response to which the processing unit displays sorting information on the display means in the sorting site. to allow the operator in the sorting location to identify the location to which this library item is to return.

Alternatively, the processing unit may transmit a signal to the automated sorting unit in response to the identification signal to instruct the automated sorting unit to classify the library item at the correct location to return to.

The processing unit is preferably additionally connected to the borrowing point. The borrowing place may thus include a high-frequency identifier reader that reads the high-frequency identifying mark on the library item that the user wishes to borrow and sends the borrowing place: '' * * * »··· * * · · · ··· ·· ·· · one identification signal related to this library item and one identification signal related to the lender to the processing unit and this processing unit updates the identification information database related to this library item and the lender to show that this item has been borrowed by this lender .

Typically, a plurality of returnable workplaces may be located at different geographical locations, which may be inside or outside the library.

Advantageously, there may be a number of loan systems and all loan stations are typically located within the library premises.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the monitoring system comprises a plurality of items to be tracked, wherein each monitored item has a radio frequency identification symbol having a separate identification code stored thereon, and a plurality of radio frequency identification sensors located within the monitored space and a processing unit connected to a database containing an indication of the location of each item within the space and to each of the RFID readers, the RFID readers performing scanning operations to identify all items near each sensor and send the identification codes of each item found to the processing unit, whereupon the processing unit identifies in response to received identification codes from each sensor, the location of each item located within that space, and so on hence updates the database.

Preferably, the processing unit instructs the RFID sensors to periodically perform a scanning operation to identify all items near each sensor.

The processing unit may further preferably display a message

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Preferably, the database includes information about each item, including specific identification information, the correct location of the item within the space, and the current location of that item.

From this second view of the invention, the monitoring system is preferably a library monitoring system and the items are library items. Typically, the space to be monitored is a library.

The current location may typically be a location within the library, which may or may not be the correct location, or some location outside the library, such as when an item is borrowed by a library user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One example of a library monitoring system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 a schematic drawing showing a library monitoring system; Figure 2 a perspective view of a borrowing station for use with the library system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 a schematic view of a return station for use with the library shown in Figure 1; workplace for use with the library system shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a library system that includes a master computer 1 that is connected to a row of returnable workstations (or book boxes) 2, a row of borrowing workstations 3, • 00 • 00 • 0000 000φ 0 • · 0 0000 00 0 ** ·· · ·· · «0.000

In addition, the main computer 1 is also connected to the local service station 6 and the station. server and control computer 7.

This library system also includes a transport system 8 that transports library items such as books, videotapes, compact discs or cassette tapes from the return station 2 to the sorting station 5, each of the return stations 2, the sorting station 5, the borrowing station 3, and the counting station. the stations 4 are connected to the radio frequency identification feature sensor 9 and the scanning antenna

10. In addition, each of the borrowing stations 3 and the counting station 4 is connected to a mini printer 11 and a bar code reader 12.

Each item in the library has a high-frequency identifier (RFID) on it.

The borrowing stations 3 are shown in more detail in the figure

Figure 2 shows that the borrowing station 3 comprises a housing 20 and also includes a pentium personal computer (PC) 21 that is connected to a display unit 22 and a keyboard

23. In addition, the housing 20 also has an antenna 10, a sensor 9, a mini printer 11, and a barcode reader 12 and are connected to the pentium PC 21. The antenna 10 is located on the surface of the console 24 forming part of the housing 20.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation showing a return station 2 comprising a personal computer (PC) 30 which is connected to a sensor 9 which in turn is connected to an antenna 10 and a display unit 31 connected to a PC 30. The antenna 10 is located inside the chute. 32, through which the books pass after being inserted by the user returning the book 34 to the library, through the book slot 33 from the other side of the book slot 33. The transport system 8 is located at the bottom of the chute 32 so that the books pass through the chute 32 and The transport system 8 then transports the returning books 34 to the sorting station 5.

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The sorting station 5 is shown in more detail in Figure 4. The sorting station 5 comprises a display unit 31 and a PC 30. The PC 30 is connected to the sensor 9 and the sensor is connected to the antenna LO. The books arrive at the sorting station 5 via the transport system 8 and the books 34 descend into the receiving tray 35. The books are then removed from the receiving tray 35 by the operator 36 and dragged over the antenna 10 to allow removal of the RFID located on the book 34 by the reader 9. information relating to the book 34 that is scanned by the sensor 9 and provides identification information to the main computer 1. The main computer 1 determines the correct location of the book 34 being scanned and the light 36 on the sorting section to indicate the library space into which the book is to be 34 return. The operator 36 places the book 34 in the correct section to return to the correct section of the library.

During operation, a user may borrow a book 34 from the library by inserting a library membership card or identity card into the barcode reader 12. For multilingual use, the borrowing station 3 may include a multilingual interface that allows the user to select the language that the borrowing station wishes to use the procedure for communicating with or the instruction to use during the borrowing user.

Upon insertion of the identity library membership card, the borrowing station displays the screen and at the correct point in the borrowing procedure the user places the book 34 above the RFID antenna 10 on the surface 24. Receipt is printed by the mini printer 11 as each book is scanned. The PC 21 with the book identification information 34 from the reader 9 and the borrower identification information from the barcode reader 12 passes this information to the master 1 to allow the master 1 to update the database to indicate that the borrowed book is now localized with the corresponding lender to the lender's identification card * 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · · · «· 4 ·« kartě ♦ 4 When the user has finished scanning all the books he wants to borrow, he removes the library card or identity card, which activates a mini-computer cutter (not shown) to trim the receipt, and the receipt of the borrowed books is given to the user.

Alternatively, a user may submit a book to one of the computing stations to allow the book to be viewed by some member of the library staff when borrowed by that user.

When the user wishes to return the book 34, the user goes to the return station 2 and throws the book 34 in through the book slot 33. The book 34 then passes on its way to the transport system 8 via the RFID antenna 10 in a slip 32. Slip 32, PC 30 reads the identification code of this book from the reader 9 and passes identification information to the main computer 1. The main computer 1 then updates its database to indicate that the book 34 inserted by the book slice is now located in the library.

In addition, the main computer 1 may assign to the book 34 some number of different locations, so that when the book 34 enters the book slot 33, this book is recorded in the computer database as localized at the reversing station 2. When this book 34 is scanned at the sorting station update the database to indicate that the book 34 has been classified and is located in the sorting section.

In addition, the antennas 10 as well as the sensors 9 can be located all over the library. These readers 9 can be periodically queried by the main computer 1 to identify all books near this sub-reader 9 and the database has been updated with the locations of books detected near this reader 9. This has the advantage that it allows to maintain the location of all books 34 in the library based on potentially real time.

In addition to books, the same library system can also be used with

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any other item that can be borrowed from the library, such as compact discs, cassettes, tapes and videotapes.

Moreover, this system has the advantage that returnable workplaces can be located outside of the library itself, and provided that the PC 30 is connected to the main computer 1 by a suitable communication link, the main computer 1 can determine the position of the bookbox to which the book 34 has been returned. It is possible that some book boxes outside the library cannot be connected to the library by the transport mechanism 8, in which case the books may be collected for returning books to the library manually, for example, by delivery van or courier or other collection agencies.

The advantages of the present invention are that, when using an RFID-based system, it is not necessary to manually examine each book while lending the book, returning the book, and classifying the book.

In addition, RFID may also be used as a means of protection to minimize the risk of books being taken out of the library without authorization. Typically, the security feature is deactivated when the user borrows the book at the borrowing station 3, and reactivates when the book returns to the library, either at the return station 2 or at the sorting station 5. This security feature may be enabled by using the EEPROM RFID. For example, one typical EEPROM in an RFID tag will have a memory of 128 bits. Approximately 75% of the storage space is used to desentify library items. For example, when the library item is a book, the identification information may include a Dewe decimal number and / or a Library of Congress convention and the library branch code to which the book belongs. One of the remaining bits of memory is allocated to indicate whether the library item has been authorized to be fetched from the library. Thus, if it contains a memory location of 0, this indicates that the library statement has not been approved. However, when the memory space contains

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1 indicates that a library listing (for example, an authorized book borrower) has been approved. Thus, when a person attempts to fetch a book from a library that has not been officially borrowed, a sensor in or near the library exit detects 0 in the EEPROM and triggers an alarm. If this sensor detects 1 in the EEPROM, the system knows that the book has been borrowed officially and there will be no alarm.

This character controls the reader at the Writing Station 3 to the memory location when an item is loaned, and the reader at the Return Station 2 to writing the 0 to the memory location when the book returns to reactivate the security feature.

Suitable RFID designations that can be mounted on books 34 are designations such as those manufactured by Motorola Indala Corporation, such as the miniature disc model, IT-52E, or the high voltage model IT-54E. Suitable sensors 9 that can be used with this library system include a Motorola Indala Corporation reader such as IR-24E or IR36E long range sensor, universal IR-50E sensor, or compact IR-12E sensor.

In addition, handheld sensors such as those manufactured by Motorola Indala Corporation, such as the IR-200E Geo Technology sensor and the IR-2E focal sensor and the portable IR- sensor, can be used for portable applications such as manual book scanning, if necessary. 100E.

Claims (17)

PATENT REQUIREMENTS as well as a number of different geographical A library monitoring system comprising a series of borrowable items, each item having a radio frequency identification symbol thereon, the radio frequency identification symbol having a specific identification code, a processing unit associated with a database containing an indication of the location of each library item and a loan item return point , a return station located at a position remote from said library position, wherein the borrowed item return and return locations include a drawer into which the borrowed item can be inserted, wherein the drawer includes an antenna that detects the insertion of a library item having a high-frequency identifier placed thereon, wherein the borrowed item's return location detects an identification code in response to the insertion of a library item in the drawer and sends the identification code corresponding to or return library item processing unit and the processing unit is updated in response to the received identifier information in the database relating to the returned library item to indicate that the returned library item is returned to the library. The system of claim 1, wherein the return location or return station also sends a signal to the processing unit to indicate the location to which the item was returned when the return location or return station detects that the library item has been inserted into the drawer. * · • · · · · · · · - 12 series of each other including an item on 3. The Borrowing Item Library Monitoring System, each of which has a high-frequency identifier located, wherein the high-frequency identifier has a specific identification code, a processing unit associated with a database containing information about the location of each library item and a borrowed item return. wherein the borrowed item return includes a drawer into which the borrowed item can be embedded, the drawer comprising an antenna that detects the insertion of a library item having a radio frequency identification symbol thereon, while detecting the borrowed item return in response the identification code and sends the identification code corresponding to the returned library item to the processing unit, which processing unit updates in response to the received identification code information in the database relating to the returned library item to indicate that the returned library item has been returned to the library, and a transport mechanism between the return location and the sorting location, which transport mechanism transports the returned items from the drawer to the sorting location. The system of claim 3, wherein the return location also sends a signal to the processing unit to indicate the location where the item was returned when the return location detects that the library item has been inserted into the drawer. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processing unit is additionally attached to the sorting point of the returned item. • * ··· fa · fa fa fa fa fa faafafa · 4 fa fa fa fa fa faaf 4 * · fafafa »4 4« 4 · 4 ·· - 13 The system of claim 5, wherein the sorting site comprises a radio frequency identification feature sensor that detects a library item to be sorted at the sorting location and sends an identification signal corresponding to the item to be sorted to a processing unit such as the response of which the processing unit displays information on the display unit in the sorting location to allow the operator at the sorting location to identify the position to which the library item is to return. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit is additionally connected to the borrowing point. The system of claim 7, wherein the borrowing station comprises a high-frequency identifier reader that reads the high-frequency identifier on the library item the user wishes to borrow, and the borrowing site sends an identification signal related to the library item and an identification signal related to the library item. the lender to the processing unit and the processing unit updates the database of identification information regarding the library item and the lender to show that the item has been borrowed by the lender. The system of claim 8, wherein the borrowing point writes the borrowing code to the memory password within the RFID tag after reading the RFID tag and the sorting point writes a return code to the memory password in the RFID tag in response to inserting the library item into the plugs. • * 9 99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 99 99 999 - 14 The system of claim 8, wherein the borrowing point writes the borrowing code to the memory password in the RFID tag after reading the RFID tag, and the return site or return station writes the return code to the memory password in the RFID tag in response to insertion. library items in the drawer. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of return workplaces located at different geographical locations remote from the library. System according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that a number of borrowing stations are equipped inside the library. A monitoring system comprising a plurality of items to be monitored, wherein each item to be monitored has a RFID having a specific identification code thereon, and a plurality of RFID sensors located in the space to be monitored, a processing unit connected to the database including indicating the location of each item within the space and to each of the RFID readers by which RFID readers perform the identification operation to identify all items near each sensor and send the identification codes of each item found to the processing unit, identifying the processing unit as a response to the received identification code from each sensor instead of each item inside the space and updates the database accordingly. · * * «* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 15 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit instructs the RFID sensors to periodically perform the scanning operation and identify all items near each sensor. The system of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the processing unit displays a message to the system operator that an item is in the wrong location when the processing unit detects that an item is in a location other than its correct location. System according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the database contains information about each item including specific identification information, the correct location of the item in space and the current location of that item. System according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the monitoring system is a library monitoring system and the items are library items.