105D, the terminal transmits the identification information to the management server 105.

In a case in which the identification information of any one of the first identification information or the second identification information is supplied from the terminal of the user, the management server 105 transmits information of a record corresponding to the identification information in the target object management table in the management database 105D to the terminal of the user.

In this case, the management server 105 combines each of the target object first position information and the target object second position information, combines, for example, an address and a name of the building, including an area and a location, and room information, converts the combined information into position information indicating that the position is in a room on which floor of a building with what name at the shown address, gives a notification to the terminal of the user.

In addition, the user can acquire first device set value information that is information of a set value of the first device 101 and a first device operating flag from the target object management table in the management database 105D via the terminal and the management server 105.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the target object management table of the management database 105D.

The target object management table is provided for each user, such as a company or an organization, is managed by the user identification information of the user, and cannot be referred to by another user.

In the target object management table, for each record, a column of each of the first identification information, the second identification information, target object information, the target object first position information, the target object second position information, the first device set value information, and the first device operating flag is provided.

Here, the first identification information is identification information of the communication module having the system of the LPWA, which is the first device 101.

The second identification information is identification information of the RFID tag that is the second device 102.

The target object information is information indicating a type or the like of the target object 200, and is, for example, a name or a category of the object that is moved by transport, such as a home appliance, furniture, a marine product, an agricultural product, a mailed item, and a publication.

Specific exemplary examples of the target object 200 include objects, such as a home appliance, furniture, a marine product, an agricultural product, a mailed item, a publication, or a mechanical component. In addition, exemplary examples of the target object 200 include a storage body, such as a package, a box, or a container in which these objects are stored, and a pallet on which the storage body is placed.

The target object first position information is first disposition information acquired by the management server 105 using the access point identification information of the access point 103, and is position information indicating a predetermined area, such as an address, a business name, or a building name at which the access point 103 is disposed.

The target object second position information is second disposition information acquired by the management server 105 based on the reader/writer identification information of the reader/writer 104, and is position information indicating a predetermined location, such as a carrying-in gate, a carrying-out gate, or an entrance of a room (what room number on which floor) in which the reader/writer 104 is disposed.

The first device set value information indicates a set value related to communication of the communication module having the system of the LPWA, which is the first device 101, or the like. Exemplary examples of the set value include a length (time, for example, 10 minutes, 1 hour, or the like) of a transmission period, a frequency of the radio waves to be transmitted, and an intensity of the radio waves to be transmitted.

The first device operating flag is a flag indicating whether the first device 101 operates or is stopped (sleep mode), for example, indicates that the first device 101 is stopped in a case in which the flag is “1” (in a case in which the flag is raised), and indicates that the first device 101 operates in a case in which the flag is “0” (in a case in which the flag is not raised).

As described above, the first identification information and the second identification information are managed in association with each other in the target object management table.

Therefore, even in a case in which the user recognizes only the identification information of any one of the first device 101 and the second device 102, the management information of the target object 200 to which the first device 101 and the second device 102 are attached as a set can be referred to in the target object management table.

Further, the first installation position of the target object and the second installation position of the target object are combined and stored in the target object management table.

For this reason, in a case in which the first installation position of the target object indicates a first warehouse (area at the position) in Yokohama and the second installation position of the target object indicates a carrying-in gate (location at the position) of the stock area, it is possible to detect that the target object 200 is located in the stock area of the first warehouse in Yokohama by combining the first installation position of the target object and the second installation position of the target object.

Returning to FIG. 1, the first device 101 includes each of the transmission/reception unit 1011 (communication module having the system of the LPWA), a control unit 1012, a storage unit 1013, and the battery 1014.

The control unit 1012 transmits the first identification information of the first device 101 to the access point 103 in a predetermined transmission period by using the radio waves of a predetermined wavelength and a predetermined intensity through the transmission/reception unit 1011.

The storage unit 1013 stores information, such as the first identification information, the transmission period, the wavelength, and the intensity. In a case in which the control unit 1012 executes the processing of transmitting the radio waves, the control unit 1012 reads out the information, such as the first identification information, the transmission period, the wavelength, and the intensity, by referring to the storage unit 1013. The storage unit 1013 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) in which electrical data can be rewritten.

The battery 1014 supplies the power required for driving each of the first device 101 and a shared area in a storage unit 1023 described later.

In addition, the second device 102 includes each of a transmission/reception unit 1021 (communication module having the communication system of the RFID), a control unit 1022, and a storage unit 1023.

The control unit 1022 transmits the second identification information of the second device 102 in the transmission and reception of the data to and from the reader/writer 104.

The storage unit 1023 stores the information, such as the second identification information. In a case in which the control unit 1012 executes the processing of transmitting the radio waves, the control unit 1012 reads out information, such as the second identification information, by referring to the storage unit 1023. Similarly to the storage unit 1013, the storage unit 1023 is, for example, a non-volatile memory, such as an EEPROM in which electrical data can be rewritten.

In addition, the storage unit 1023 is provided with a shared storage area that is a storage area in which the first device 101 is accessible.

In a case in which the set value to be changed in the first device 101 is supplied from the reader/writer 104, the second device 102 writes and stores the supplied set value in the shared storage area of the storage unit 1023. In the shared storage area, for example, an area in which the transmission period, the wavelength, the intensity, and the like are written is set.

Each of the first device 101 and the second device 102 is configured to transmit and receive the data by using, for example, an interface, such as an inter integrated circuit (I2C) or a serial peripheral interface (SPI).

In a case in which the data is written in the shared area of the storage unit 1023, the second device 102 notifies the first device 101 that the set value is changed.

Accordingly, the first device 101 refers to numerical values of the transmission period, the wavelength, and the intensity in the shared area of the storage unit 1023, extracts data different from the transmission period, the wavelength, and the intensity stored in the storage unit 1013, and reads out the extracted data from the shared area of the storage unit 1023.

Then, the first device 101 writes and stores the data read out from the shared area of the storage unit 1023 to a corresponding location (storage area for the transmission period, the wavelength, the intensity, and the like) in the storage unit 1013.

As described above, since the set value can only be changed by wire with respect to the first device 101, the set value written at the time of manufacture and shipment cannot be easily rewritten wirelessly after distribution. The set value of the first device 101 can be wirelessly rewritten through the second device 102.

By providing the operating flag indicating whether or not to stop the operation in the shared area of the storage unit 1023, the first device can be optionally made to transition between operation states of the operating state and the stopped state through the second device 102. Here, the stopped state indicates a power-saving sleep mode, such as reducing an operation frequency of a central processing unit (CPU) inside the control unit 1012 without transmitting the radio waves.

In a case in which the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 is rewritten, the control unit 1022 of the second device 102 notifies the first device 101 that the operation state is changed.

Accordingly, the control unit 1012 of the first device 101 refers to the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023, compares the operating flag with the operating flag stored at the corresponding location of the storage unit 1013, and rewrites the operating flag to the value of the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 in a case in which the operating flags are different.

Then, the control unit 1012 of the first device 101 transitions the operation state of the first device 101 to any one of the operating state or the stopped state according to the operation state indicated by the operating flag.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual diagrams showing examples of changing the set value of the first device through the second device.

FIG. 4A shows a change in the transmission period of the radio waves of the transmission/reception unit 1011 in the first device 101.

In FIG. 4A, by writing 30 min (minutes), 5 min, and 1 min as the numerical values (time) of the transmission period in a data area of the transmission period in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 by the reader/writer 104, the first device 101 accesses the shared area of the storage unit 1023.

Then, the control unit 1012 of the first device 101 changes the transmission period (control information) of the radio waves to 30 min, 5 min, 1 min, or the like read from the shared area of the storage unit 1023.

Here, in a case in which the set value is changed, the reader/writer 104 transmits the numerical value of the changed set value together with the second identification information of the reader/writer 104, which executes writing, to the management server 105.

Accordingly, the management server 105 rewrites the first device set value information in the record of the corresponding second identification information in the target object management table of the management database 105D.

FIG. 4B shows the operating state of the first device 101 based on rewriting of the operating flag in the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102.

At a time T1, the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 is rewritten from the stopped state (flag is “1”) to the operating state (flag is “0”) by the reader/writer 104.

In addition, at a time T3, the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 is rewritten from the operating state (flag is “0”) to the stopped state (flag is “1”) by the reader/writer 104.

Accordingly, the first device 101 is in the operating state during a time T2 between the time T1 and the time T3.

Then, at a time T4, the operating flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 is rewritten from the stopped state (flag is “l”) to the operating state (flag is “0”) by the reader/writer 104.

Accordingly, the first device 101 is in the stopped state during the time between the time T3 and the time T4.

Here, in a case in which the target object 200 is stored in the warehouse, the target object 200 is not moved and it is not required to transmit the radio waves. Therefore, the first device 101 is in the stopped state to suppress the consumption of the power from the battery 1014.

For example, in FIG. 2B, in a case of transport from the storage-in-warehouse area 402 to the stock area 403, since the reader/writer 104_2 transmits the first identification information and the reader/writer identification information to the management server 105 and then changes the operating state to the stopped state, the operating flag in the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 is rewritten from “0” to “1”.

On the other hand, in a case of transport from the stock area 403 to the delivery-from-warehouse area 404, since the reader/writer 104_3 transmits the first identification information and the reader/writer identification information to the management server 105 and then changes the stopped state to the operating state, the operating flag in the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 is rewritten from “1” to “0”.

In addition, it is possible to detect another moving position of the target object 200, such as being placed on an airplane or being placed on a ship, and even in a case in which the target object 200 is not moved from the position, the battery 1014 is in the stopped state in order to suppress the consumption of the power from the battery 1014.

In the operation example of FIG. 4B described above, the processing will be described as processing executed after the first identification information is received in a case in which the target object 200 passes through the gate for carrying-in and carrying-out at which the reader/writer 104 is installed.

However, a person in charge may manually carry out the processing at any timing using a portable reader/writer (application of a terminal, such as a smartphone).

Here, in a case in which the operating flag is changed, the reader/writer 104 transmits the numerical value of the changed operating flag together with the second identification information of the reader/writer 104, which executes writing, to the management server 105.

Accordingly, the management server 105 rewrites the first device operating flag in the record of the corresponding second identification information in the target object management table of the management database 105D.

FIG. 4C shows an example in which the first device 101 transmits the radio waves at any timing regardless of a period of periodic transmission by the portable reader/writer 104.

At each of a time T11, a time T12, a time T15, and a time T16, for example, as the set value, the radio waves are transmitted once every 30 min. That is, each time between the time T11, the time T12, the time T15, and the time T16 is a time at an interval of the period, for example, 30 min.

Then, at the time T14 (for example, 15 min after the time T13 in a case in which the time interval of the transmission period is 30 min) or at a time T17, by setting a flag for executing radio wave transmission in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 by using the reader/writer 104, it is possible to cause the first device 101 to execute interruption transmission of the radio waves.

In this case, the reader/writer 104 rewrites an interruption transmission flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 of the second device 102 from “0” to “1”. In a case in which the transmission flag is set to “I”, the interruption transmission is executed.

The control unit 1022 of the second device 102 notifies the first device 101 that the interruption transmission flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 is rewritten.

Accordingly, the first device 101 refers to the interruption transmission flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023.

Then, the control unit 1012 of the first device 101 transmits the radio waves by using the transmission/reception unit 1011 as the interruption transmission.

In addition, in a case in which the notification is given from the first device 101 that the interruption transmission flag in the shared area of the storage unit 1023 is referred to, the control unit 1022 of the second device 102 resets the interruption transmission flag to “0”.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of processing of changing the set value of the first device in the target object management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the below description, the second device is configured to generate a one-time password as a password for authentication. A target object management method using the target object management system will be described below.

Step S101:

The reader/writer 104 transmits a control signal for transmitting the second identification information to the second device 102 together with a predetermined character string.

The predetermined character string is acquired from the management server 105 in a case in which the reader/writer 104 rewrites the set value of the first device and executes the authentication of the second device 102.

Accordingly, the control unit 1022 of the second device 102 reads out the second identification information from the storage unit 1023 and generates the one-time password from the character string by a predetermined calculation expression.

Then, the control unit 1022 of the second device 102 transmits the second identification information and the one-time password to the reader/writer 104 through the transmission/reception unit 1021.

The reader/writer 104 receives (reads) the second identification information and the one-time password transmitted from the second device 102.

Step S102:

The reader/writer 104 transmits the second identification information and the one-time password supplied from the second device 102 to the management server 105 to request the authentication of the second device 102.

The management server 105 searches for the second identification information of the second device for which the request is given, by referring to the target object management table of the management database 105D.

Then, in a case in which the second identification information is detected in the target object management table of the management database 105D, the management server 105 verifies true/false of the one-time password by using the predetermined calculation expression and the character string transmitted by the management server 105.

Step S103:

In a case in which the second identification information is present in the target object management table of the management database 105D and the one-time password is true, the management server 105 determines that the correct authentication is made (authentication is OK) and transmits the fact that the authentication is OK to the reader/writer