The Application of Radio Frequency Identification Technology in the Processing of Postal General Package
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1 background
Mail processing of China Post generally involves the collection and delivery of the branch, intra-city transportation, sorting by the original central office, trunk transportation, sorting to the central office, intra-city transportation, and delivery. Among them, the central office sorting includes the general package receiving, general package opening and dismantling, loose parts sorting, general package sealing and dispatching, general package sorting, and general packaging truck delivery. In order to provide customers with high-quality services, China Post has formulated the famous “three basic systems” for internal production operations, namely, picking and checking, handover and acceptance, and balance and closure. Therefore, the mail processing of China Post has the characteristics of complicated technological process, tight operation time limit, strict communication quality requirements, and high requirements for tracking and query service.
In recent years, China Post has implemented the strategy of “promoting postal services with science and technology”, fully implemented barcode technology in the field of mail processing, and built a comprehensive computer network covering the whole country that can transmit data, voice, and images, especially in electronic branch offices and central offices. After the application subsystems such as production operations and postal transportation command and dispatch were put into operation, the level of mechanization, automation, and informatization of mail processing has been greatly improved. However, due to the inherent limitations of the barcode recognition technology, such as the short recognition distance, the reading effect is severely affected by light coverage, wrinkles and stains, and manual scanning is required one by one, so it is difficult to transfer and sort the general package. The realization of automated processing limits the further improvement of mail delivery speed and business management level. The RFID technology has the characteristics of long-distance, non-“line-of-sight” identification, high-speed, multi-label batch identification, no manual intervention, information rewritable, and can work in various harsh environments. It is very suitable for postal production operations. Therefore, in the scientific and technological development plan of China Post’s tenth “five-year plan”, the application of RFID technology has been one of the key points of new technology application. At the beginning of 2005, the national “863” project “Research and Development of Key Radio Frequency Technologies” was launched. With the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Post took the express delivery package processing business as a breakthrough and chose Shanghai as a pilot to conduct the “Radio Frequency Identification Technology Application in Shanghai Postal Express Package Processing” experiment. In December 2005, the project passed the preliminary inspection and was officially put into trial operation.
2 Test situation
2.1 Composition and deployment of RFID identification system
The production process of Shanghai postal express general parcel processing mainly includes the receipt and sealing of electronic branch offices, intra-city postal route re-transportation, Huqingping express processing center general parcel receiving, mail bag opening and dismantling, loose parts sorting, and general parcel sealing Shipment, general package and delivery, city lighter, Hongqiao Airport and new passenger station transfer station receiving and sorting, trunk line delivery. The RFID identification system consists of hand-held or fixed RFID readers and their upper computer systems deployed in production sites such as express mail collection points in the city, Shanghai Qingping Processing Center, Hongqiao Airport, and New Passenger Station, as well as in post offices and various production sites in the city. The radio frequency pocket cards circulating between the venues and their allocation management system constitute.
2.2 Technical scheme
2.2.1 Frequency selection
The express general package production operation requires a reading distance of 3 to 4 meters, and requires multi-label batch identification under certain conditions. Therefore, the RFID system of the UHF frequency band is selected.
2.2.2 Choice of label
(1) Use passive tags to reduce equipment purchase costs and maintenance costs.
(2) Use tags with two different functions: read-only and read-write.
From the electronic branch office to the processing center before dismantling, the read-only radio frequency label bag tag is used, and the 6-character barcode information is attached, and the radio frequency label information is bound with the barcode information and the general package business information during the operation of the electronic branch office. In this way, the original barcode-based information system and the RFID system of about 600 electronic branches in the city have been effectively combined. In this way, in the electronic branch, there is no need to be equipped with radio frequency readers, and the original barcode reading equipment can be used, which maximizes protection and saves investment.
Read-write radio frequency bag tags are used in the processing center to seal and send the total package to each transfer station. The 30-bit total package information required for postal services is actually recorded, which is exactly the same as the existing bar code bag information, adapting to the postal trunk network. Information transmission requirements.
2.2.3 Selection of operating scenarios
Due to various reasons, the current batch recognition rate of UHF RFID tags is still less than 100%. Therefore, the implementation of the RFID system should be combined with the process organization of postal production, maximize strengths and avoid weaknesses, and find operating scenarios that can take advantage of RFID’s long-distance, penetrating general material, and multi-tag reading characteristics. In the general package handover, we choose to collect information during the bag-by-bag unloading process; in the general package sorting, choose to collect information at the package supply station, which maximizes the RFID reading rate and maximizes the liberation It saves the hands and mind of the workers, simplifies the complexity of the operation, thereby improving the efficiency while ensuring the quality of the work.
2.2.4 Construction of Application Information System
Make full use of the original information network resources of the enterprise to build a distributed application information system. In the electronic branch, it realizes the collection of distributed barcode data information, the binding of the radio frequency tag ID and the business information. Complete data collection and data conversion inside, and pass the read business data to the relevant business system. So as to realize the organic integration with the existing business computer system. The network structure of RFID application system is shown as in Fig. 1.
2.2.5 Recycling of radio frequency tags
Establish a radio frequency tag recycling management and allocation mechanism. Through the radio frequency bag card recycling management system, invalid bag cards can be eliminated, and the efficiency and benefit of the actual operation of RFID can be analyzed by collecting the RFID data of each link.
2.3 Production process
The production process is shown in Figure 2.
2.3.1 Branch office operations
The branch office scans the bar code of the bulk items, collects the mail receiving and sending information, and automatically generates the general package feature information and list information; scans the barcode attached to the radio frequency bag tag to obtain the radio frequency bag ID information, and compares it with the generated general package feature information Binding list information; attaching read-only radio frequency bag tags, and sealing and sending according to frequency; after sealing and sending, the total package ID information and the corresponding total package information, mail receiving and sending information, and list information are transmitted to the upper through the postal integrated computer network. First-level rendezvous point and express mail processing center.
The general package mails sealed and sent by the branch offices are sent to the collection point by each branch office, and each collection point is equipped with a handheld portable radio frequency reader to read the radio frequency information to complete the check and check.
2.3.2 Shanghai Qingping Processing Center Operations
(1) Total package reception
A fixed reader is installed above the unloading (loading) station platform of the processing center or on the unloading (loading) car belt conveyor. After the city train arrives, during the unloading process, the radio frequency bag ID information is automatically read, and it is automatically checked and checked with the general package route information received from the network to complete the rapid handover. Figure 3 is a real-life photo of the loading and unloading platform of the Huqingping Processing Center, with an RFID reader antenna installed above the platform.
(2) Opening of the general package
Keep the existing methods of opening and dismantling. After the radio frequency bag brand is opened, it is recycled and reused in a unified manner.
(3) The total package is sealed and sent
The unpacked parts are sorted by a cross belt sorter. The sorter automatically reads the 13-digit ID information of the bulk items, obtains the arrival office and other information from the information system to realize automatic sorting, and automatically requests seals according to the weight and volume of the mail, and generates list information and 30-digit information for the total package. After the sealer manually checks the bagging confirmation, print the list and put it into the mail bag. At the same time, the RFID reader obtains the 30-bit information of the total package through the local area network, writes it into the radio frequency tag bag tag, seals the bag after the sender seals the bag, and hangs the radio frequency tag bag tag.
At the end of each frequency of the central office, the relevant business data will be sent to the Internet in a timely manner and transmitted to the information center.
(4) Export general contract delivery and handover
General package delivery is the reverse process of general package reception. A fixed reader is installed on the tape conveyor or the gate of the shipping station, and the total package is shipped through the RFID scanning channel, and the information of the radio frequency bag tag is automatically read, and it is automatically checked and checked with the information on the route of the transfer workshop.
2.3.3 Hongqiao Airport and other transfer stations
After the general package is transported to the Hongqiao terminal, the general package information is collected through the RFID scanning channel on the cross-belt general package sorter to realize automatic picking and verification, and at the same time to realize fast route sorting.
At other mail transfer stations, fixed RFID readers are used to automatically pick and check when the station is handed over.
Above, through the application of RFID in the whole process of express general package processing, the multi-link automatic check and automatic sorting process of general package information has been realized, and the whole process of logistics and information flow has been unified.
2.4 Effect
u The reading rate of loading and unloading truck is 99.4%; the reading rate of sorting is 100% (preliminary test value)
u The internal courier operation and general package sorting processing in the processing center can increase the efficiency by about 20%
u Realize the automatic check of information during handover and automatic collection of information during sorting.The handover link between the courier department and the postal department has been delivered and cleared
u Realize the automatic collection of mail processing time information in each link, and support the optimization of the logistics network
u Improved the tracking and inquiry link of the express delivery package, avoiding the delay and loss of mail, facilitating the quality assessment, and improving the management level
In addition, the benefits of RFID in Shanghai express delivery are not only reflected in the improvement of operational efficiency and service quality, but also because more than 600 branch offices can recycle radio frequency tags every day instead of using disposable barcode labels, and save disposable barcode labels every year. The cost of materials, equipment loss and labor costs can be reduced by 320,000 yuan.
3 experience
Through the Shanghai pilot, we have a better understanding of the characteristics of postal applications of RFID technology.
3.1 About information identification
Information identification is one of the core issues in the application of RFID technology. The formulation of the information labeling plan is not only affected by the company’s existing business characteristics, information systems, application links, network infrastructure, construction funds, etc., but also profoundly affects the enterprise’s information system architecture and network structure, and even the enterprise Long-term technological development system. Here, standardization plays a very important role.
3.2 About the reading rate
In the initial stage of the application of RFID technology, the first concern of enterprise users is the correct reading rate of the reading device. We believe that to improve the reading rate, on the one hand, we need to rely on the development and improvement of the reading equipment itself-we all hope that the ISO18000-6C standard will be released early; on the other hand, it can be helpful to analyze and explore from the business process of the enterprise. The information collection link to improve the reading rate—that is, to transform the business process to create application scenarios; or to gradually gather the read information in each link of the entire business process, and through data verification, reduce the impact of reading errors.
3.3 About middleware
In the Shanghai experiment, the RFID system was established on the existing information system architecture. Through the processing of reading, writing, de-duplication, filtering, and translation of radio frequency information, it is compatible with the existing bar code-based electronic branch system. , The central office production operation system, postal command and dispatch system, etc. maintain effective information exchange. Many interface software with special functions are used in use, which is not a complete middleware product. We believe that with the expansion and deepening of the application of RFID technology, mature middleware for commercialization is indispensable.
3.4 About label cost
From the test results, it is more appropriate to adopt ultra-high frequency passive tags in the postal field. In the postal RFID system, the amount of tags is huge. In a sense, the cost of tags determines the application scale of RFID technology. The reuse of labels after recycling is certainly a remedial measure, but it also brings about an increase in management costs. A few years ago, people expected the price of labels used in postal services to fall below 5 cents, and we have reason to believe that this day will come soon.
4. Outlook
Undoubtedly, RFID technology has broad application prospects in the postal field. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China recently organized and formulated the “China Radio Frequency Identification Technology Policy White Paper”, and regarded the research and development and application of RFID technology as a major scientific research project in China’s 11th “Five-Year Plan” for science and technology, of which postal service was listed as a key demonstration Application areas.
China Post will also increase the promotion and application of RFID technology in phases and steps during the eleventh “five-year plan.” Our preliminary assumption is that based on summarizing the experience of Shanghai express general contract processing pilot, we will conduct a network test of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou express general package processing in 2006; conduct courier, logistics parts processing, and vehicle dispatching applications of RFID technology; research and propose The overall plan for the application of RFID technology in the entire postal network, including the specific technical route, system technical parameters, performance and functional indicators of the RFID system in the entire postal network; the collection method of each link of data collection and the method of balancing and closing information and physical objects, and formulating corresponding Production process; put forward relevant business rules and regulations reform, mail processing technology reform and related standardization suggestions; put forward equipment configuration requirements, investment estimates, implementation plans and procedures. In 2008, comprehensively promoted the application of RFID technology in the general package processing involved in the national “all night flight”, and carried out research and experimental work in other fields such as general postal general package, logistics general package, letter box, container and asset management.
China Post has just taken the first step on the road of RFID application, and there are many follow-up work. Recently, the RFID Technology Application Working Group (WG) under the Advanced Electronic Service User Group of the Telematics Cooperative Information Technology Cooperation Organization (Telematics Cooperative) has been set up, which will specialize in the global postal application of RFID related technologies, Business and standard issues, and launched a global international mail quality tracking and inspection system based on RFID technology. China Post is willing to cooperate with postal services and related enterprises in various countries to create a future that will comprehensively improve the application level of RFID technology!
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