WO1999019831A1

WO1999019831A1 - Terminal for managing products, management device and product manageable with such a device

Info

Publication number: WO1999019831A1
Application number: PCT/CH1998/000431
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Girardet
Original assignee: Girardet Francois
Priority date: 1997-10-09
Filing date: 1998-10-08
Publication date: 1999-04-22
Also published as: EP1021790A1; DE69810145D1; EP1021790B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a terminal to be connected to a computer network (T) for managing products (6), such as watches, each equipped with an identifying element (8). The terminal comprises a sensor (7) provided with a device (70, 71) for reading the identifying element (8), and a device (72) for sensing complementary signals concerning the products (6) and transmitting them through the network (T), to a measuring device. The invention is applicable to quality control in distribution networks.

Description

TERMINAL FOR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT,

MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND SUSCEPTIBLE PRODUCT

TO BE MANAGED USING THIS DEVICE

The present invention relates to product management. It relates in particular to a terminal for managing products each provided with an identification device.

Such terminals are known. They are for example placed at retailers and connected to a computer network, for the management of credit cards.

Using this terminal, the customer sends a code to the company that issued the card, which company gives a receipt to the retailer regarding the granting of credit.

The terminal according to the invention must make it possible to identify a product provided with an identification member and to control at least some of its qualities. It also makes it easier to manage the retailer's relationships with its partners.

Today, the management of products, in particular of prestige products, poses problems from the exit of the company which manufactured them. They are generally distributed to wholesalers who distribute them to concessionary retailers. From the moment these products were sent to the wholesaler, it is extremely difficult to know their history. In particular, it is very difficult to know how long they remain in stock at a retailer. However, the duration of storage significantly influences the quality of the product sold.

For example, when an electronic watch is sold after two or three years spent in stock, its battery is found to have a significantly reduced capacity. If it is not changed, it is to be feared that the customer will come back a few months after the purchase of his watch, to express his dissatisfaction. In the case of the mechanical watch, aging of the oils can considerably affect its precision. Parts sold under such conditions affect the brand's image. They are therefore seriously detrimental to the customer and to the company that manufactured them. Unfortunately, manufacturers today have few means to avoid such a situation. They can send directives to wholesalers and retailers relating to the storage and revision of parts in stock; they can offer management services and means to prevent such situations from occurring. Verification of compliance with these instructions remains difficult, if not impossible.

There is certainly tracking of parts under warranty. Unfortunately, we find that many retailers take certain liberties with regard to the warranty card.

The means of product control are expensive and sometimes incomplete at retailers. This is the case in particular of the means of controlling the progress of watches. Consequently, the verification of a part before its sale cannot always be done in good conditions.

An object of the present invention is to allow more rigorous management of products, by monitoring the history and characteristics of each part, until it is sold to the customer. This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the sensor further comprises a device intended to receive complementary signals relating to the products and to transmit them through said network, to a measuring device.

The present invention also relates to a management device provided with a terminal as defined above and a product capable of being managed by means of such a device.

The counterfeiting of prestige products is important today. It prejudices both the owners of the counterfeit brands and the buyers. There are in particular counterfeiters who make products whose identification is practically impossible for an uninformed customer. This genre counterfeiting is manufactured by competent professionals, but who despoil brand owners by taking advantage of their reputation and their promotional efforts. In addition, they of course have no after-sales service charges. Some retailers are being taken in by such counterfeiters. The identification of these counterfeits is difficult with conventional means.

It sometimes happens that a retailer does not have the product desired by a customer. Currently, the retailer must place orders according to the usual procedure. This can result in long delays that could upset the customer.

Prestigious objects today enjoy a long-term guarantee. This can be more than five years. Under these conditions, it often happens that the owner of such an object has lost the warranty card. The retailer can then be in an embarrassing situation. Any modification made to the part, for example an exchange of a bracelet, a change of battery or even a repair can only be difficult to control by the company.

The organization of a control and management system is complex and costly. If each company were to organize its network, with specific means of control, it would result in high costs and a multiplication of terminals at retailers. The operating costs would thus be considerably increased.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks. This object is achieved thanks to the fact that on the one hand, the terminal according to the invention is connected to a plurality of companies, through a wireless communication network, each of which companies has at least one communication center. processing to process the information relating to the products which it markets, identifiable by a code contained in the identification bodies, and that on the other hand the identification body is inseparably associated with the product. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the drawing, in which:

• Figure 1 illustrates the diagram of a product management device according to the invention, to ensure the quality and monitoring of these products to the retailer;

• Figure 2 shows a terminal according to the invention, used at the retailer;

• Figure 3 shows, seen from above, an identification member as used with the terminal according to the invention

• Figures 4 and 5 are sections along lines IV-IV and VV of Figure 3, an identification member provided in Figure 4 of the assembly means by bonding and in Figure 5 of a protective cover, and

FIG. 6 schematically represents the mode of interaction between an identification member and a terminal according to the invention. The quality management device according to the invention is based on the principle of a computer network, connecting retailers and businesses through a telephone network. This network is represented in Figure 1. In this figure, the retailers are identified by the letter D, the telephone network by the letter T and the businesses by the letter E. Each of the retailers Dj (i between 1 and 6 on the figure) has a terminal which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 and 5. This is connected to the telephone network. The latter establishes the link between the retailer Dj and one of the E- control centers (j between 1 and 4 in the figure) specific to each partner company. To establish communication with one or other of the companies E-, the retailer Dj dials the number of the control center. More advantageously, the communication can be established automatically, as will be explained below. The sole function of the telephone network is to direct the retailer to the control center of the firm that manufactured an identified product. All strategic information, relating to products, is managed and stored by the E- company's control center. It is thus possible to guarantee the confidentiality of the information processed.

It is obvious that the E- control centers each have a computer to manage and store the information processed. The assembly comprising the terminals, the telephone network and the control centers defines a computer network, which advantageously uses the public telephone network.

Transactions carried out through the network can be of different orders.

The Dj retailer can thus place his orders directly, by entering on his terminal the number of the parts he wishes to put on sale. When he receives the documents, he gives a receipt to the control center.

When a retailer does not have a part desired by a customer, it is possible, via the network, to make a request to the control center (E _j ) of the company concerned so that it identifies the retailer. nearest with the required part. The information thus obtained then makes it possible to organize the transfer of the part from one to the other retailer. The result is greater efficiency in inventory management and reduced delivery times.

The warranty service no longer necessarily has to use a bulletin, too often lost by the customer. This is particularly the case for long term warranties. The recording of the sale by the management system therefore makes it possible to identify the part at any accredited retailer and also to know its history.

Certain retailers are authorized to modify certain parts, by changing one or the other component. It is thus possible to offer the customer the part with the characteristics that interest him. These changes are registered at the E * control center. We can thus follow the interest of the customers by recording these modifications by means of the management device. We can also ensure the replacement of exchanged parts.

Finally, the E- control center can provide maintenance services to retailers and wholesalers. To this end, it informs its customers of the parts which must undergo a check, be subject to a battery change or cleaning. This service can go beyond sales. The E ^* control center can therefore offer customer service to the retailer, advising of a desirable cleaning or an imminent battery change. As soon as the public is informed of the existence of an identification body on the products sold, the customer can be guaranteed that the part they are about to buy is not a counterfeit.

To provide a service offering these advantages, the means to be implemented at the retailer are simple, compact and inexpensive. FIG. 2 schematically represents an equipment ensuring such a service. You can see a terminal with a support 1, a keyboard 2, a display 3, a control circuit 4 and a box 5.

The support 1 is intended to receive the object to be tracked, for example a watch, schematically represented in dashed lines and bearing the reference 6. It carries a sensor 7 capable of decoding an identification element 8 associated with the watch, but also to interpret the signals emitted by the watch, in sound or electromagnetic form for example. This sensor will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

The equipment installed at the retailer can advantageously be supplemented by a printer 9. It is connected to the computer network by means of a telephone line 10.

The keyboard 2 as shown has a limited number of keys. It allows coded information from the retailer to be transmitted to one or other of the E * control centers. It allows in particular to choose the control center, to define the type of transaction or to transmit a number of part to order for example. Such a keyboard makes it possible to carry out all of the transactions defined above. This function could also be performed using a computer keyboard in case the retailer had one. The display 3 is of the liquid crystal or light-emitting diode type, with a structure allowing the display of alphanumeric information. It is thus possible for the retailer to know that the code he is using corresponds to the action he plans to take. The display also allows information to be transmitted from a control center to the retailer. A computer screen could also perform this function.

The control circuit 4 provides the interface between the various components of the equipment and the telephone network T. It makes it possible to establish the telephone link, to code and format the signals generated by the keyboard 2 or the sensor 7 for , on the one hand display the decoded information, on the other hand send the message to an E * control center. It ensures the control of the sensor 7 and the processing of the signals perceived by the latter, coming from the identification element 8 as well as from the watch 6. It also transmits to the printer 9 the information to be recorded in written form . As described above, it could be the printing of a warranty card, an order confirmation or messages relating to maintenance.

The housing 5 is intended to protect the equipment and more particularly the sensor 7 and the control circuit 4. It is produced in a conventional manner for those skilled in the art, for example in molded plastic. It will not be described in more detail.

The sensor 7 comprises an emitter of electromagnetic signals 70 working at high frequency as well as a receiver 71 processing the signal from the identification member.

FIG. 3 represents an identification member 8 which can be used in the device according to the invention. Figures 4 and 5 show in section the organ of the FIG. 3, along lines IV-IV and VV with, in addition, a layer of adhesive in FIG. 4, a coating in FIG. 5. The identification member 8 comprises a support 80 made of insulating material, such as used for example in printed circuits. It carries on one of its faces a spiral of conductive material 81 having the function of antenna, with two rectangular areas 82 and 83 defining the ends of the spiral. The support 80 is drilled right through two holes 84 and 85 (fig. 5), each opening on the face of one of the rectangular areas 82 and 83. An integrated circuit 86 is fixed on the second face of the support 80 Connection wires 87 and 88 connect the circuit to pads 82 and 83, respectively through holes 84 and 85. The face carrying the circuit 86 is entirely covered with an insulating layer 89 acting as a protection. The other face, carrying the antenna 81, is covered with a layer of glue 90 allowing the element 8 to be fixed on any support. Before use, this layer can advantageously be covered with a protective film.

Such a member 8 plays the role of electronic key. The memory of the integrated circuit 86 is programmed so that it gives a unique response to an identification request signal. In addition, the response given can include so much information that no two organs will ever give the same. This provides very high operating security.

More precisely, and as can be seen in FIG. 6, the sensor 7 transmits on request a signal at a given frequency, for example 13.56 Mhz for the devices as marketed by the company Gemplus ( France). This signal is picked up by the antenna 81 of the identification member 8. The information received is applied to the integrated circuit 86 and compared with the code in memory. When the signal is recognized by the identification body, it is amortized. The receiver 71 of the sensor 7 then receives a different signal for each identification member 8. The control circuit 4 then interprets the signal received from the receiver 71 of the sensor 7, and thus identifies the member 8. It is possible to automatically ensure the telephone link between the terminal and the control center, based on code numbers. It suffices for this that these numbers are distributed so that part of the code makes it possible to identify the control center and to associate in the memory of circuit 4 this code with the call number.

The member 8 as described therefore does not include a battery. It operates only on the energy it receives from the transmitter 70 of the sensor 7. More precisely, it modulates the signal transmitted by absorption. The receiver 71 thus receives a signal modified as a function of the characteristics of the identification member.

The object carrying the identification member 8, for example a watch shown diagrammatically at 6, is placed on the support 1. This watch 6 has a back 60 made of insulating material, for example sapphire. In FIG. 6, the member 8 is fixed to the bottom 60 of the watch 6. The use of an insulating material makes it possible to avoid a disturbance of the reading signal generated and picked up by the sensor 7.

Thanks to the fact that the identification element is directly integrated into the watch, it is possible at all times to identify the latter and follow it throughout its life, through the services it is likely to undergo. . The sensor 7 also comprises a microphone and an electromagnetic sensor schematically represented at 72.

The microphone picks up the sound signals emitted by the escapement of each mechanical watch.

The electromagnetic sensor is activated by the signals emitted by the motors of electronic watches with needle display.

These signals are formed by circuit 4 and sent by the computer network to the company E * concerned. The latter can thus know the running of the watch as well as other characteristics likely to be defined by the interpretation of these signals. If she deems it necessary, it can also send the retailer additional information relating to the product and any directives concerning its maintenance.

Alternatively, it is possible to use as an identification device a device which can not only be read, but on which it is also possible to write. In this case, the sensor 7 will further comprise a device making it possible to send a signal to write information in the device 8. Such a solution would make it possible to store in the identification member at least part of the information relating to the object with which it is associated. Among these, it would be possible to store the name of the owner, in order to identify a stolen product for example.

Claims

1. Terminal intended to be connected to a computer network (T) for the management of products (6) each provided with an identification member (8), which comprises a sensor (7) provided with a reading device ( 70, 71) of the identification member (8), characterized in that said sensor (7) further comprises a device (72) intended to receive complementary signals relating to said products (6) and to transmit them through from said network (T), to a measuring device.

2. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a keyboard (2) allowing manual entry of information relating to the product associated with the identification member (8).

3. Terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises display means (3) provided with an electro-optical display cell capable of making information relating to the user of said terminal accessible. to the product (6), which are addressed to it through the network (T).

4. Terminal according to claim 3, characterized in that said display means (3) further comprises a printer (9) capable of printing the information transmitted and received by said terminal.

5. Terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading device (70, 71) comprises an activation device (70) and a reading device (71) for respectively activating and reading organs of identification (8) of the type comprising an electronic chip (86) and an antenna (81).

6. Terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, intended for managing mechanical watches (6), characterized in that the device intended for receiving complementary signals comprises at least one microphone (72) capable of picking up the emitted sound signals by said watch.

7. Terminal according to any one of the preceding claims, intended for managing electromechanical watches (6), characterized in that the device intended for receiving complementary signals comprises at least one electro-magnetic sensor (72) capable of picking up the signals emitted by a motor that comprises said watch (6).

8. Management device, intended to manage products each provided with an identification member, by means of a terminal (Dj) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said terminal (Dj) is connected , to a plurality of companies through a radio communication network (T), each of which has at least one processing center (E *), to process information relating to the products (6) that it markets, identifiable by a code contained in the identification bodies (8).

9. Product (6) capable of being managed by means of a terminal according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the identification member (8) is inseparably associated with said product (6) .

10. Product (6) according to claim 9, characterized in that it consists of a watch.

11. Product according to claim 10, wherein the watch (6) comprises a box provided with a bottom, characterized in that the identification member (8) is fixed inseparably to the bottom of the watch.

12. Product according to claim 11, capable of being managed by means of the terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the chip and the antenna are fixed to said bottom and in that the latter is made of electrically insulating material.

13. Product according to claim 12, characterized in that the electrically insulating material is sapphire.