JP4165252B2 - Method of inputting shelf address and shelf management system in shelf management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shelf management system for analyzing and managing the display position of each product when the product is displayed on a product display shelf and sold in a retail store such as a supermarket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, in a shelf management system for merchandise at retail stores such as supermarkets, analysis of whether there is a problem with the placement position based on shelf position data (shelf number, column number, row order, number of faces, etc.) on which each product is displayed Can manage.
In order to use this shelf management system, it is first necessary to input the shelf position data of each product. Conventionally, after entering the shelf number and the column number, the products displayed on each column of the product display shelf are displayed. The shelf position data is input by scanning the bar code in order for each stage.
[0003]
That is, the product codes of the displayed products are read in a predetermined order, and the read product code sequence is input to the computer system. The computer system obtains the product display position data from the predetermined read order information, and based on the obtained product display position data. Product management information is output (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2978514 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the input method described in Patent Document 1 described above, if the bar code scan of a product displayed on the product display shelf is unsuccessful, all the data of the subsequent product are erroneously input because the order is shifted. Become. That is, there is a problem that it is easy to make a mistake.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a shelf address input method capable of randomly setting a shelf address.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means taken by the present invention to achieve the above object is to manage the shelf by storing the product code, shelf address, and other information in the product file for each product displayed on the product display shelf. In the shelf address input method, a product code reading step of reading the product code displayed at the display position of the product with a scanner of a portable reading means, a step of transmitting the product code read by the scanner to the shelf position input controller, when reading of the commodity code by the scanner, ultrasound, infrared, or propagation wave of the radio wave or the like, or a step of outputting a plurality of them propagating wave from the portable reading unit, a position where the propagating wave is outputted, detecting by the position detecting means comprising a plurality of sensors arranged in front of the product display shelf, the shelf position input controller There the position data from the position detecting means, a shelf address from the address detection table that is storing the position of each shelf (shelf number, column number, column order) determining the shelf position input controller, the product file to, and having the steps of: a writing setting shelf address corresponding to the commodity code and product code said received (claim 1).
The product code read by the scanner is not limited to the shelf label posted on the product display shelf, but may be a label with a barcode printed on the front of the display shelf or a product attached to the product. Moreover, not only a barcode but an OCR character or a two-dimensional code may be used.
According to the above method, when the product code displayed at the display position of the product is read by the scanner, the propagation wave is output from the scanner, and the position where the propagation wave is output is detected. And because the shelf address is set based on the product code read by the scanner and the position information from which the product code is read, the shelf address for shelf management is randomly assigned regardless of the order of the shelf row or shelf level. Can be set.
[0008]
The shelf management system for managing the shelf by storing the product code, the shelf address, and other information for each product displayed on the product display shelf includes a scanner unit that reads the product code displayed at the display position of the product, , when reading by the scanner unit, ultrasound, infrared, or propagation wave of the radio wave or the like, or a portable reading means having an output unit for outputting a plurality of them propagating wave, the output section of the portable reading means propagation detecting the position output waves, the detected position detecting means disposed in front of the product display shelf, and a product code scanner unit of the portable reading unit has read, by the position detecting means when reading of the commodity code the position data of the portable reading unit, rack position input for setting the shelf address quotient goods based on the address detection table that is storing the position of each shelf Characterized by comprising a controller, a (Claim 2).
The scanner unit for reading the product code provided in the portable reading means uses a reader corresponding to the product code system, and is not coded, that is, information corresponding to the product code is displayed with symbols such as letters and numbers. In this case, an OCR (Optical Character Reader) or the like is used.
Further, the position detecting means for detecting the position where the portable reading means outputs the propagation wave selects and uses a sensor corresponding to the propagation wave to be used. The detection means is not limited to using a plurality of propagation waves having different velocities, and may be a detection means that uses one kind of propagation wave. The detection means is provided with sensors at three locations in the four corners of the front surface of the shelf, and reception by the sensors. The position of the output source (portable reading means) is specified by the time difference.
Thereby, the propagation wave can be directly detected, and the sensor does not get in the way when the customer takes out the product from the product display shelf.
With the above configuration, the reading position is detected by reading the merchandise code with the scanner unit at the merchandise display position, and the shelf address can be set based on the detected position information and the read merchandise code. Thereby, the setting work of the shelf address can be made random, and the setting work can be easily performed.
[0009]
The position detection means in the system may be provided for each merchandise display shelf, and a shelf number may be assigned to each. With this configuration, even if there are a plurality of product display shelves and the position exceeds two dimensions, accurate position detection can be performed with an inexpensive configuration.
[0010]
Further, when the shelf address setting by the rack position input controller, if there is no item code read in commodity file, the items may be set the code (claim 4). Thereby, since a product code is set for a new product, workability can be improved.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an outline of an apparatus in which the shelf management system of the present invention is implemented in a supermarket product display, in which 1 is a product display shelf, 2 is a product displayed on the display shelf 1 for each product, An electronic shelf label attached to the front surface of the shelf, and a product code such as a barcode is displayed on the electronic shelf label 2. 3 is a portable reading means having a scanner unit 3a for reading a product code displayed on the electronic shelf label 2 and an output unit 3b for outputting a propagation wave, and 4 is an output unit 3b of the portable reading means 3 for outputting a propagation wave. The position detecting means 4 is arranged at the end of the front surface of the commodity display shelf 1. Reference numeral 5 denotes a wireless device arranged on the ceiling in the store.
[0012]
The product display shelf 1 is formed with a plurality of stages in the vertical direction in order to display a plurality of products in a multi-stage shape, and each stage has a row indicating the display position for each product type in the horizontal direction. Has been. That is, the merchandise display shelf 1 is configured so that display positions can be specified in a matrix by “stages” and “columns”.
[0013]
On the front of each display position specified by the “stage” and “column” of the product display shelf 1, a 7-segment display 2a for each product, a barcode representing the product code, and a shelf label 2b on which the product name is printed. As shown in the system diagram of FIG. 2, the electronic shelf label 2 is configured to be communicable with the shelf label controller 6 via the wireless device 5 by radio or infrared, as shown in the system diagram of FIG. Product data such as unit price transmitted from the bill controller 6 is received, stored and displayed.
Since the electronic shelf label 2 is attached with a shelf label 2b on which a bar code representing a product code and a product name are printed, the electronic shelf label 2 is also moved together when the product is rearranged.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the portable reading means 3 is provided with a scanner unit 3a for reading the product code displayed on the shelf label 2b of the electronic shelf label 2 on the back side of the front portion of the main body 3 '. A display unit 3c and an operation unit 3d such as a numeric keypad are arranged, and an output unit 3b for outputting a propagation wave is provided on the side surface of the main body 3 '.
The position of the output unit 3b is a position at which a propagating wave is output toward the end of the product display shelf 1 when the scanner unit 3a is in a posture to read a barcode representing the product code.
The output unit 3b includes an ultrasonic output unit 3b ′ that outputs ultrasonic waves having a predetermined wavelength and an infrared output unit 3b ″ that outputs infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength.
Thereby, the position detection means 4 installed in the front edge part of the merchandise display shelf 1 includes ultrasonic sensors 4a and 4b that detect ultrasonic waves and an infrared sensor 4c that detects infrared rays, and the ultrasonic sensor 4a. 4b are installed at the upper and lower ends, and an infrared sensor 4c is installed between the upper and lower ultrasonic sensors 4a and 4b.
[0015]
Then, as shown in the electric block diagram of FIG. 5, the portable reading means 3 described above is connected to the CPU 7 that controls each block of the portable reading means 3 via the bus 8 in the ROM 9, RAM 10, display section 3c, operation section 3d, wireless communication. The communication unit 11, the scanner unit 3a, the ultrasonic output unit 3b ′, and the infrared output unit 3b ″ are connected.
The ROM 9 stores various programs executed by the CPU 7.
The RAM 10 stores a flag and a register for the CPU 7 to operate or execute, and a product number, unit price data, etc. as product data.
The display unit 3c is composed of a liquid crystal display, and displays read information, input information, and the like.
The operation unit 3d can operate the reading unit and input information such as a numeric keypad and a function key.
The wireless communication unit 11 is a functional part that communicates with the shelf position input controller 12 wirelessly. A frequency different from the frequency at which the electronic shelf label 2 communicates with the shelf label controller 6 via the transceiver is set.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the above-described shelf management system. A management device 13 having a server function is connected to a cash register 14, a shelf label controller 6, and a shelf position input controller 12 via a LAN. The management device 13 includes a product number, a product name, By storing a product file 17 storing a plurality of product data such as unit prices, the unit price, display position, sales, inventory, etc. of each product are managed.
As shown in FIG. 3, the product file stored by the management device 13 is a product code, shelf number, level, row, number of faces (for each product, expressed by how many times the display width is the minimum width, for example, It is “2” if there are two columns), and is composed of the item name, unit price, shelf label number, and the like. A combination of the three items of “shelf number”, “stage”, and “column” is referred to as “shelf address”, and by this “shelf address”, what shelf from the bottom and what column from the left. It is configured so that it can be seen whether it is the display position.
[0017]
The shelf position input controller 12 is a so-called setting means that is used for inputting a shelf address of a product into a product file when a new product is displayed or when a product is rearranged.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the shelf position input controller 12 includes an ultrasonic wave of the position detection means 4 installed at the end of the electronic shelf label 2 and the product display shelf 1 for each “stage” and “column”. An address detection table 15 in which distances L1 and L2 with the sensors 4a and 4b are set in advance is stored. For example, in FIG. 4, row 01 is the bottom row, and row 01 is the distance L1 from the electronic shelf label installed at the display position of the first row from the left side to ultrasonic sensor 4a. The distance to 4b is L2. The data of the distances L1 and L2 may be limited values. However, if the range is set, the address can be specified more accurately.
[0018]
The barcode printed on the shelf label 2b affixed to the electronic shelf label 2 attached to each product displayed on the product display shelf 1 by the scanner unit 3a installed in the portable reading means 3 described above. When read, the read product code is wirelessly transmitted to the shelf position input controller 12 via the wireless transceiver 16, and ultrasonic waves with a predetermined wavelength are transmitted from the ultrasonic output unit 3b ', and infrared rays with a predetermined wavelength are transmitted to the infrared output unit 3b. The output infrared signal is detected by the infrared sensor 4c of the position detecting means 4 installed at the front end portion of the commodity display shelf 1, and then the ultrasonic wave is detected by the ultrasonic sensor 4a. The distance L1 between the portable reading means 3 and the ultrasonic sensor 4a is calculated from the time until the reading is performed, and the distance between the portable reading means 3 and the ultrasonic sensor 4b is calculated similarly. L2 is calculated, and the “stage” and “column” of the shelf addresses are identified from the distances L1 and L2 and the address detection table 15, and the shelf address of the read product code can be set in the product file.
[0019]
Next, the flow of processing from the display of a new product or moving a product to another display position together with the electronic shelf label until the end of setting the shelf address of the product will be described based on the flow of FIG. .
Step 1: The operator brings the scanner unit 3a of the portable reading means 3 close to the product code (bar code) printed and displayed on the shelf label 2b of the electronic shelf label 2 at the product display position.
Step 2: The scanner unit 3a reads the product code from the bar code, and transmits the read information to the shelf position input controller 12 wirelessly. Thereby, the shelf position input controller 12 receives the product code.
Step 3. The portable reading means 3 outputs ultrasonic waves and infrared rays simultaneously from the ultrasonic output unit 3b ′ and the infrared output unit 3b ″.
Step 4... When the infrared sensor 4c of the position detecting means 4 installed on the merchandise display shelf 1 detects the infrared light, the timer of the shelf position input controller 12 starts with the detection signal.
Step 5: When the ultrasonic waves are received by the ultrasonic sensors 4a and 4b of the position detecting means 4 installed on the commodity display shelf 1, the shelf position input controller 12 receives the infrared rays and then the ultrasonic sensors 4a and 4b The time until reception is obtained from the timer. Then, the time L1 is multiplied by the sound speed to calculate the distance L1 between the ultrasonic sensor 4a and the ultrasonic output unit 3b ′ (portable reading means 3). Similarly, the distance L2 between the ultrasonic sensor 4b and the ultrasonic output unit 3b ′ (portable reading means 3) is also calculated.
Step 6... Next, the shelf position input controller 12 obtains the “stage” and “column” numbers corresponding to the numerical values of the distances L 1 and L 2 obtained in the previous step from the stored address detection table 15. In addition, since the position detection means 4 that has received infrared rays or ultrasonic waves in step 4 or 5 has a shelf number set in advance for each product display shelf, the shelf number of the received position detection means 4 can be identified. I understand. Therefore, the shelf address (shelf number, column number, column order) is determined here.
Step 7: The shelf position input controller 12 writes the data obtained in Step 6 into the respective columns of the shelf number, the column number, and the column order of the corresponding product in the product file based on the product code received in Step 2, Set the shelf address.
Here, if the received product code does not exist in the product file, create a new product area in the product file and write the product code. Address can be set simultaneously.
[0020]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without changing the gist of the invention.
(1) The position detection means is not limited to using a plurality of propagation waves having different velocities, and may be performed using one type of propagation wave. For example, sensors may be arranged at three locations in the four corners on the front surface of the merchandise display shelf, and the position of the output source of the propagation wave (the position of the electronic shelf label) may be specified based on the reception time difference between the sensors. In this case, it is necessary to set data based on a time difference from the third sensor by testing in advance for the distances L1 and L2 of the address detection table stored in the shelf position input controller.
(2) Since the sound wave used as the propagation wave is low speed, the reception time can be easily measured. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even infrared rays or radio waves are theoretically possible.
(3) The barcode of the product code is not limited to the shelf label attached to the electronic shelf label, but may be a form in which a label on which the barcode is printed is attached directly to the front of the shelf or attached to the product.
(4) The number of faces may be transmitted by operating the operation unit 3d of the portable reading means 3 and inputting a key. Also, after setting the shelf address for all products, set the product for which the shelf address is set to 1, and if there is an empty number (a shelf address that is not set anywhere), the previous shelf address is set The number of faces of the product being sold may be plus one.
(5) Further, the ultrasonic output unit 3b ′ or the infrared output unit 3b ″ of the portable reading means is not limited to be provided on the left and right, but may be one as long as it can output in all directions except the front direction.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the shelf address input method of the present invention, the shelf address of the product can be set by reading the product code at the product display position. Can be set. Therefore, the setting operation of the shelf address is easy and can be accurately set without erroneous input.
Further, the shelf management system for carrying out the above input method can provide an accurate input setting with a very simple configuration by the configuration described in claim 2. And a propagation wave can be detected directly, and the sensor is convenient without being in the way when a customer takes out a product from a shelf.
Furthermore, according to the configuration of claim 3, even if there are a plurality of product display shelves and the position exceeds two dimensions (plane), accurate position detection can be performed with an inexpensive configuration.
Further, according to the configuration of the fourth aspect , in the case of a new product, the product code can be set at the same time, so that the work efficiency can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are outline views of a shelf management system according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an external view of portable reading means.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing a configuration of the system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a product file.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an address detection table.
FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of portable reading means.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a shelf address setting process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Merchandise display shelf 2 ... Electronic shelf label 3 ... Portable reading means 3a ... Scanner part 3b ... Propagation wave output part 4 ... Position detection means 4a, 4b ... Ultrasonic sensor 4c ... Infrared sensor

Claims (4)

In the input method of shelf address for managing the shelf by storing the product code, shelf address and other information in the product file for each product displayed on the product display shelf,
A product code reading step of reading the product code displayed at the display position of the product with a scanner of a portable reading means ;
Transmitting the product code read by the scanner to a shelf position input controller;
When reading the product code by the scanner , outputting any one of propagation waves such as ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, radio waves, or a plurality of these propagation waves from the portable reading means ;
Detecting the position where the propagation wave is output by a position detecting means comprising a plurality of sensors arranged on the front surface of the commodity display shelf ;
Determining the shelf address (shelf number, column number, column order) from the address detection table in which the shelf position input controller stores the position data from the position detection means and the position of each shelf;
The shelf position input controller writes and sets the received product code and the shelf address corresponding to the product code in the product file ;
Input method shelf address, characterized in that it comprises a. In the shelf management system that manages the shelf by storing the product code, shelf address, and other information for each product displayed on the product display shelf,
A scanner unit that reads a product code displayed at a display position of a product, and an output unit that outputs one or more of propagation waves such as ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, and radio waves when read by the scanner unit Portable reading means,
A position detecting means arranged on the front surface of the commodity display shelf for detecting the position where the output unit of the portable reading means outputs the propagation wave;
Based on the commodity code read by the scanner unit of the portable reading means, the position data of the portable reading means detected by the position detecting means at the time of reading the commodity code, and the address detection table storing the position for each shelf A shelf position input controller for setting the shelf address of the product,
A shelf management system characterized by comprising: The product display each shelf said position detecting means is disposed, the shelf management system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the assigned shelf numbers, respectively. When the shelf address setting by the rack position input controller, if there is no item code read to the product file shelf management system as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein that you set the product code.

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