# US 10,482,294 B2 · Information processing apparatus, information collecting apparatus, and information collecting system

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- Number: US 10,482,294 B2
- Document ID: US10482294B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/902,631
- Filed: 2018-02-22
- Published: 2018-09-27
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-21
- Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Koichi Watanabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482294B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/10425: {the interrogation device being arranged for interrogation of record carriers passing by the interrogation device}
- B62B 5/0026: {Propulsion aids}
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 10/0833: Tracking
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, an information collecting apparatus includes a plurality of tag readers disposed on a mobile apparatus, each respective tag reader being configured to detect a wireless tag attached to an article that is within a detection range of the respective tag reader, a movement controller configured to control movement of the mobile apparatus within a search area along a plurality of routes, each route enclosing a different segment region of the search area, and a data processor configured to acquire tag detection information of the wireless tag during a time in which the mobile apparatus is moving in a particular route enclosing each segment region, aggregate the number of times for which the wireless tag is detected, and identify a particular segment region in which the wireless tag is present based on the aggregated number of times for which the wireless tag is detected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information collecting apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of tag readers disposed on the apparatus, each respective tag reader in the plurality of tag readers being configured to detect a wireless tag attached to an article located within a detection range of the respective tag reader;
a movement controller configured to control movement of the apparatus within a search area along a plurality of routes, each route enclosing a different segment region of the search area; and
a data processor configured to:
acquire tag detection information of the wireless tag during a time in which the apparatus is moving in a particular route enclosing each segment region, the tag detection information including a number of times the wireless tag is detected while the apparatus moves along the particular route,
aggregate the number of times for which the wireless tag is detected during the time in which the apparatus is moving along the particular route, and
identify a particular segment region in which the wireless tag is present based on the aggregated number of times for which the wireless tag is detected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tag detection information further includes:
tag identity information stored in the wireless tag;
a route identification for identifying the particular route along which the apparatus was moving when the tag identity information is acquired; and
a segment region identification for identifying the particular segment region enclosed by the particular route.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of tag readers faces toward a segment region when the apparatus moves along a route.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
each route of the plurality of routes includes a plurality of route parts extending in different directions, and
the data processor stores a number of times the wireless tag is detected while the apparatus moves along each respective route part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a case body;
wheels on the case body; and
a moving mechanism configured to rotate the wheels.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving mechanism is a motor.

### Claim 7

An information collecting apparatus, comprising:
a case body;
wheels on the case body;
a moving mechanism configured to rotate the wheels;
a support body attached to the case body;
a plurality of tag readers attached to the support body, each respective tag reader in the plurality of tag readers being configured to detect a wireless tag attached to an article located within a detection range of the respective tag reader;
a movement controller configured to control movement of the apparatus within a search area along a plurality of routes, each route enclosing a different segment region of the search area; and
a control device on the case body, the control device configured to:
acquire tag detection information of the wireless tag during a time in which the apparatus is moving in a particular route enclosing each segment region, the tag detection information including a number of times the wireless tag is detected while the apparatus moves along the particular route,
aggregate the number of times for which the wireless tag is detected during the time in which the apparatus is moving along the particular route, and
identify a particular segment region in which the wireless tag is present based on the aggregated number of times for which the wireless tag is detected.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tag detection information further includes:
tag identity information from the wireless tag;
a route identification for identifying the particular route along which the apparatus was moving when the tag identity information was acquired; and
a segment region identification for identifying the particular segment region enclosed by the particular route.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of tag readers faces toward a segment region when the apparatus moves along a route.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
each route of the plurality of routes includes a plurality of route parts extending in different directions, and
the control device stores a number of times the wireless tag is detected while the apparatus moves along each respective route part.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the moving mechanism is a motor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The information collecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of tag readers is aligned in a row in a first direction that is perpendicular to a second direction along which the case body moves.