SYSTEM FOR MANAGING CHEMICALS USING RFID

• US 20090243856A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rural Development Administration
• Original Assignee: Rural Development Administration
• Inventors: Lee, Chang Hee, Kim, Woo Sung, Kang, Ho Il, Yoo, Won Gon, Lim, Dong Kil, Jo, Dae Hyun, Kim, So Hee, Ko, Yong Suk, Park, Kun Sang, Kim, Dai Byung, Lee, Sang Mok
• Application Number:
  US12/261,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system for managing chemicals using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). A storage facility identification tag, attached to a chemical storage facility in a laboratory, stores the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility and a list of chemicals. A chemical identification tag, attached to the cover of a chemical container, stores the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility and chemical-related information. A mobile terminal, provided with an RFID reader, receives and outputs the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility, the list of the chemicals, and the chemical-related information. A chemical management server receives information, stores the chemical-related information, manages the use details and inventory quantity of the chemical, checks the storage location of the chemical container and provides warning when the storage location of the chemical container is wrong, and provides warning and information about countermeasures when a danger situation occurs.

Claims

1. A system for managing chemicals using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), comprising:

a storage facility identification tag configured to be attached to each of chemical storage facilities in a laboratory, and to store a unique identification code for identifying the chemical storage facility and a list of chemicals stored in the chemical storage facility, the storage facility identification tag being an RFID tag;

a chemical identification tag configured to be attached to a cover of each of chemical containers kept in the chemical storage facility, and to store the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility, in which relevant chemicals should be kept, and chemical-related information, the chemical identification tag being an RFID tag;

a mobile terminal provided with an RFID reader, and configured to receive and output the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility and the list of the chemicals, stored in the storage facility identification tag, and the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility and the chemical-related information, stored in the chemical identification tag; and

a chemical management server connected with the mobile terminal over a network, and configured to receive information recognized based on the storage facility identification tag and the chemical identification tag, to store the chemical-related information for the chemical, to manage use details and inventory quantity of the chemical, to check a storage location of the chemical container and provide a warning when the storage location of the chemical container is wrong, and to provide a warning and information about countermeasures when a danger situation occurs.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chemical management server comprises:

a chemical information management module for receiving the chemical-related information stored in the chemical identification tag from the mobile terminal which has recognized the chemical identification tag, and storing the chemical-related information in a chemical information Database (DB) and then managing it;

a location management module for receiving the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility and the list of the chemicals in the chemical storage facility, which are stored in the storage facility identification tag, and the unique identification code of the chemical storage facility, which is stored in the chemical identification tag, from the mobile terminal, storing them in a location management information DB and then managing them, and generating a warning signal when a chemical is not located at a desired location;

an inventory management module for managing an inventory quantity, use details and effective period of each of the chemicals based on data stored in the chemical information DB; and

a danger management module for storing classification reference data for chemicals which must not be kept together in a same place for a purpose of safe storage and danger management of the chemicals in a danger management information DB and then managing it, and generating a warning signal when one or more chemicals are kept in a state in which they are inconsistent with the classification reference stored in the danger management information DB.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein, when a new event, such as use, replacement or location change of a specific chemical, occurs, the mobile terminal receives data, such as an amount of used chemical, information about the replaced chemical or information about a changed location of the chemical, transmits the received data to the storage facility identification tag, the chemical identification tag, and the chemical management server, and then performs an update.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the chemical storage facility further comprises a storage facility terminal for recognizing the chemical identification tag and, when the chemical container is put into or drawn from the chemical storage facility, detecting the entry and exit and then notifying the chemical management server of the entry and exit in real time, recognizing a user identification card, provided with an RFID tag for storing personal information of a chemical user, and allowing a door of the chemical storage facility to be selectively opened and closed, and transmitting the recognized personal information of the chemical user to the chemical management server in real time.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the chemical management server comprises an entry and exit management module for storing the personal information of the user, which is received from the storage facility terminal, and a time, at which a specific chemical is put into and drawn from the chemical storage facility, in an entry and exit management information DB and then managing them.