Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
  • G06K17/00—Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • 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
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • 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
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
  • G06Q10/087—Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method and an article management system within a plurality of distribution platforms.
• the present invention relates to the field of data processing mechanisms collected contactless information media relating to the identification of articles within a plurality of distribution platforms.
• barcodes are associated with the articles to identify them, and are read from a manual or fixed optical device, located at the terminal acting as a payment box.
• a major disadvantage of this device is related to the reading mode which requires an individual reading of each bar code associated with an article which generates extremely long processing times that are not suitable for this type of platforms of exploitation in which the articles are numerous in particular in the context of managing these articles relating to the management of the different ranges of articles, the analysis of sales performance, the improvement of inventory management through visibility on its evolution in real time, the reduction of the time devoted to the inventories and the control of the markdown.
• the user of this system can not know at any time and in an immediate manner the precise and certain state of the number and the nature of articles exposed on article carriers within the distribution platform and its zone. storage.
• the finding of an item theft exposed on a support articles can be made only after the completion of a long and tedious inventory.
• the present invention aims to solve the problem related to technical difficulties encountered to improve the real-time traceability of the articles present in a plurality of distribution platforms.
• the invention proposes to improve the compatibility and interoperability of article management systems and methods from a real-time data collection mechanism relating to articles exposed on / in media. items.
• one aspect of the invention relates to a method of managing articles arranged on a support and each comprising a contactless tag, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
• detecting contactless tags comprising a sub-step of interrogating said non-contact tags so as to receive identification data of each article by at least one contactless reading means;
• the detection step is carried out continuously;
• said event data relates to actions performed on an article, said actions being deduced from the processing of the data transmitted to the server corresponding to the different steps of detection or loss of detection by at least one reading means succeeding a step initial loss of detection of the label without contact of said article by said at least one non-contact reading means of the article carrier in which said article is initially located, according to a predefined parameter relating to time.
• the invention also relates to an article management system comprising a technical platform connected by a communication network to at least one distribution platform, said distribution platform comprising at least one article carrier connected to a server, said at least one article carrier comprising at least one means of non-contact reading arranged in said medium so as to receive the archived data in contactless tags associated with each of the juxtaposed articles included in said article carrier, said distribution platform comprising a server able to exchange data with said technical platform.
• the technical platform comprises a management server and a database containing information associated with item identifiers;
• the server comprises processing means able to implement a computer code capable of processing the received data so as to identify an event relating to an action performed on an article;
• the distribution platform is a commercial enterprise
• the contactless tag is a FID chip and / or NFC;
• the non-contact reading means relates to at least one antenna integrated in the article holder so that said at least one antenna is not visible;
• the non-contact reading means relates to a plurality of coupled antennas connected to a multiplexer
• said at least one antenna is made of a flexible material; said at least one antenna has a detection field limited to the volume or surface of the article carrier; said at least one antenna is connected to the server by wireless communication means;
• the server is included in the distribution platform
• the server is connected to a cash register type terminal, and
• the terminal comprises a contactless reading means.
• FIG. 1 a schematic view of an embodiment according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 a representation of a support element: the tray of a showcase unit having a reading means.
• FIG. 1 relates to a system comprising:
• the technical platform 1 comprises in particular a management server 5, associated with a database 4.
• the management server 5 comprises processing means capable of executing a code relating to a computer application for the processing of the data it receives from the distribution platforms 2.
• This management server 5 is connected to a database 4.
• This database archives information relating to the various articles 8 exposed within the distribution platforms 2.
• the information data relating to an article is associated with an identifier of said article.
• This database also includes a set of data relating to the stock stored both within the distribution platforms but also within the technical platform.
• the identifier is also subsequently named identification data.
• the various distribution platforms 2 are all connected to this technical platform 1 from means of communication 13.
• the distribution platform 2 comprises a set of article holders 3 in or on which the articles 8 are exposed for sale.
• These supports relate for example to showcases (or showcase unit), or to shelves.
• This distribution platform relates for example to a commercial enterprise such as a boutique, a jewelry store, a perfume or a business belonging to the field of mass distribution.
• These articie supports comprise at least one non-contact type of reading antenna type.
• the non-contact reading means relates to a plurality of coupled antennas connected to a multiplexer.
• this reading means comprises:
• intelligent antenna 24 which is in fact a mesh of multiplexed antennas 23
• This multiplexing system is based on intelligent electronic multiplexing of the antenna outputs of the RFID reader 25 in order to duplicate the number of antennas without multiplying the number of RFID readers.
• This multiplexing system plans to duplicate the antenna outputs from 1 to 8 or 16 outputs.
• a multiplexer can feed antennas covering several showcases.
• the piloting of the active outputs of the multiplexer by the software application makes it possible to precisely identify which antenna returns information (or an event related to an article) and thus in which window the identified article (the identified jewel) is located.
• This multiplexing is performed automatically between different smaller antennas constituting a mesh arranged under a plate 3 and 22 included in a window block and supporting the articles.
• This rigid assembly is an antenna of larger size equivalent to the size of a showcase block.
• the multiplexing is this time automatic because it is not necessary to know precisely which antenna within the mesh has read the identified article (identified jewel).
• a tray 22 is deposited under the jewelry and behind the jewelry at the bottom of the window.
• This antenna and RFID reader are integrated in the article carrier, or arranged in such a way that it does not interfere with the field of view of a customer who observes the articles of this article carrier 3, and that it is at a sufficient distance from articles of the article support 3 to detect only the articles exposed on this support 3.
• This antenna is made of a relatively flexible and flexible material for example a material belonging to the family of polyolefins.
• a material is a polymer whose cost is low and corresponds to the inert plastic.
• This antenna has an optimal shape allowing it to interrogate one or more labels without contact simultaneously.
• This form may for example be ovoidal.
• this antenna relates to a sulcus, a strand, or all other elements capable of generating an electric or electromagnetic field.
• This antenna is sensitive to an electric or electromagnetic field and delivers an electromotive force depending on the electric or electromagnetic field detected by the antenna.
• This antenna is connected to a power supply box.
• Articles placed in or on these media includes contactless labels 14 belonging to the NFC (Near Field Communication) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies.
• NFC Near Field Communication
• RFID Radio Frequency Identification
• the RFID is a wireless or wireless communication between the contactless reading means and the contactless tag.
• the RFID technology used as an example in the present invention is of the UHF RFID type (Ultra High Frequency 860 MHz at 960 MHz).
• These contactless tags 14 comprise memory means archiving unique identification data of the article.
• the distribution platform includes the server 6.
• This server 6 includes processing means adapted to implement a computer code capable of processing the received data so as to identify an event relating to an action performed on the article.
• the antenna or antennas included in each of the article carriers are connected to the server 6 from technologies relating to the communication means 13.
• This server is also connected to a cash register type terminal 18 and / or to security portals 19 from technologies relating to the communication means 13.
• the cash register and / or these safety gates comprise at least one contactless tag reading means.
• the communication means 13 connecting in particular the technical platform to the distribution platforms relate to a network corresponding to an Internet network but not exclusively.
• the data exchanges are carried out under TCP / IP protocol or other protocols allowing optimized and reliable exchanges of data.
• the network used relates to wiring means and / or electromagnetic transmission means.
• these cabling means correspond, for example, to optical fiber or copper cables
• the electromagnetic transmission means relate, for example, to radio links based on mobile telephone standards such as GSM (acronym Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (acronym for Universé Mobile Telecommunications System), EDGE (acronym for Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) or HSDPA
• the non-contact label reading means relating in this example to an antenna, detects a set of articles each comprising an RFID tag and belonging to the article carrier 3 in which is placed this antenna 7.
• This antenna 7 interrogates by sending a signai, each label and obtains in response the identification element of each article. It is the same for the contactless reading means included in the cash register and / or these security gates.
• the identification elements are transmitted to the server 6, each time the process relating to the detection step is performed.
• the resulting data of these detection steps are saved by the server 6 and associated with a parameter relating to time.
• This parameter corresponds to the moment when the detection was performed. This is for example the date and time of completion of this detection step.
• This detection step is carried out continuously.
• the detection cycle can be parameterized from the technical platform. This setting makes it possible to space or reconcile the detection steps.
• the server 6 determines event data relating to actions performed on an article.
• the antenna of this medium no longer detects this article, and transmits the identifier of this article to the server 6 which archives it with a time parameter t0 in its database.
• the item is detected by the antenna included in the cash register. This antenna in turn transmits the identifier of this article to the server 6 which archives it with a time t1.
• the processing means of this server 6 with respect to the received data relating to the identifier of the article, to the time parameter, and the location of the antennas having transmitted this identifier to the time t0 and t1, determines that the article was removed from support 3 in order to be sold.
• the event refers to the sale of the item with this identifier.
• the received data relate to the identifier of the article, the time parameter, and the location of the antennas. having transmitted this identifier which, for the time t0 corresponds to the antenna of the support, and for the time t1 corresponds to the antenna of the gantry placed at the exit of the trade, then the determined event relates to an article theft .
• these actions then result from the processing of the data transmitted to the server 6 corresponding to the different detection or loss of detection steps by at least one reading means succeeding an initial step of loss of detection of the contactless tag 14 of said article 8 by said at least one contactless reading means 7 of article carrier 3 in which said article 8 is initially located, as a function of a predefined parameter relating to time.
• the elements relating to this article and to the determination of this event which are archived in the database of the server 6, are transmitted to the technical platform, and more particularly to the management server 5.
• This management server 5 stores these elements in the database 4.
• the management server 5 from these elements knows in real time the status of actions and events relating to each article and category of articles, as well as the inventory status for each category of articles.
• This management server is able to generate statistical data correlating the elements relating to each event with the different distribution platforms, and the different categories of articles.
• the server 5 comprises processing means such as at least one processor and memory means for implementing the software application, which makes it possible to determine a state of the inventory of articles at regular and close intervals, which can be parameterized.
• each event relating to an article is stored in a database linked to the management server 5.
• the server processing means 5 From the archived events, the server processing means 5 perform, in real time, a comparison of two successive stock statuses relating for example to a showcase block, and identify the items that are missing or added or moved.
• a new article entering a showcase can be either following a return after customer demo (moving the article), or following a receipt of new products. If this is not the case, then an alert is generated at the server 6 to process this abnormal presence.
• the server 6 issues an alert by transmitting a request to a warning device intended to warn the personnel of the distribution platform 2.
• the system analyzes potential sales or out of stock for return. If this is not the case, after a configurable period of time (in order to handle the cases where the article here the jewel is out for customer demonstration) then the server 6 issues an alert in transmitting a request to a warning device intended to warn the personnel of the distribution platform 2.
• the server processing means 5 compare globally for an article or a range of articles the number of outputs of the showcases found over a given period (a month for example) and the number of sales.
• the processing means of this server 5 implement a software application making it possible to determine in a non-exhaustive manner:
• processing means of the server 5 allow from these criteria to have indicators for performing a block arrangement of showcase or sub-block window.
• the invention makes it possible to set up rules for the distribution of articles in the showcase blocks. Then with each determination of the contents of the showcase blocks, it is possible to compare the real distribution with the rules of distribution to check the good arrangement in the showcases.
• the invention offers the advantage of allowing the real-time traceability of articles, so as to better manage the sale of different categories of articles, reduce the time spent on inventories, control shrink and analyze the performance of distribution platforms.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. It is furthermore not limited to these exemplary embodiments and the variants described.

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• 2009
  • 2009-10-01 FR FR0904692A patent/FR2950994B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-10-01 EP EP10781949A patent/EP2483842A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-10-01 WO PCT/FR2010/052083 patent/WO2011039492A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-10-01 US US13/499,361 patent/US20120268255A1/en not_active Abandoned

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