FR2566148A1 - Computer operating device adapted to management of the siting of various products at sales outlets - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer operating system. The system comprises a laser pen L linked to a decoder D, which is itself linked to the central unit UC of a computer and an operating console bearing coded information with an area 1 bearing operating codes, an area 2 bearing product codes and other areas 3, 4, 5 comprising various control codes for the computer. The invention applies especially to the management of siting various products at sales outlets.

Description

 The invention relates to a control system of a computer adapted to the management of the implementation of sales points of various products.

 The system of the invention is intended to facilitate the development and writing of programming, as well as the verification of the quality of the chosen program by making these operations accessible even to personnel having no computer skills. .

 We know that the breakthroughs of computing now allow with very sophisticated equipment but at a very affordable price to perform extremely complex operations including management and optimization of stocks and displays made to the customer disposition at the point of sale. Unfortunately, in practice, these techniques can only be applied by very limited personnel who are particularly skilled in computer science, which poses real problems in the application of these techniques.

 The object of the invention is essentially a system enabling personnel without any IT qualification to be able to control and use in good conditions the management equipment and programs (progitiels) that can be made available.

 It will be recalled that at first the "dialogue" with a computer could only be done through relatively symmetrical "languages" symbolic and reserved for specialists.

 In a second stage, these languages were significantly simplified and made more accessible, the machine taking care of the "translations" of this language which was in some way "foreign" to it.

Languages are more and more "simplified", that is to say that they are more and more established in clear, the operator having only to dictate his questions or his instructions to the machine by means of conventional words extracted from a "dictionary" delivered with the machine. The operator asks questions or dictates instructions, and in return the machine displays on a screen the answer to the question asked or indicates that it has recorded the instruction and that it is ready for the next operating phase. At the same time she guides
The operator until the end of operations.

This system is obviously a big improvement over pre-existing systems. However, it involves implementation difficulties and serious drawbacks such as the following
- It forces the operator to "dialogue" with the machine via a keyboard, which is both slow and expensive;
it forces the operator to assimilate a very large number of conventional words or sentences corresponding to each operating step;
- For many people, it is a "psychological situation" and no longer allows the operator to see the problem clearly and ask the right questions.

 The object of the invention is a system which considerably facilitates the control of the computer and avoids the aforementioned difficulties.

For this purpose, the piLotage system of a computer delivering information in clear on a screen, adapted to the management of the implementation on the points of sale of various products is characterized according to the invention in that it comprises in combination
a reading device such as a laser connected to a decoder itself connected to the central unit of a computer, and
a control console carrying coded information including
a first zone carrying control codes such as right, left, up, down, return of column, return of line of the cursor of indication of location on the screen,
a second zone carrying product codes, and
at least one third zone comprising other control codes of the computer.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the zone comprising the product codes is represented in FIG.
The scale of the available displays of the points of sale, and said codes relating to said products are marked on surface elements representing on the same scale the surface they occupy on the displays.

 In a preferred embodiment allowing a very great flexibility of operation, said surface elements can be removably and interchangeably applied to said second zone.

 The invention and its implementation will appear more clearly with the aid of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating only by way of example an embodiment.

In these drawings
Figure 1 shows schematically the system of
The invention relates to the central unit of a computer.

 Figure 2 shows the organization of a control console according to the invention.

 Figure 3 is a diagram to explain how the control is done.

 Figure 4 shows how can be constituted a zone of the control console according to a preferred variant.

Referring first of all to FIG. 1, the central unit of a computer for assisted management has been illustrated and identified in UC, in particular for the implementation on
The places of sale of various products. In the computer are introduced the programs or "progitiels" developed and used for this management.

According to the invention, the dialogue with the computer is not effected by a keyboard system connected to the computer and making it possible to dictate to it the questions or instructions required, but by a system comprising a reading device, such as a laser L connected to the central unit
CPU via a decoder D. Such means comprising a reader and a decoder are known in the art.

 The invention consists in using such means in combination with a control console Cs carrying various coded information distributed over various zones marked 1 to 5 in FIG.

 In connection with Figure 2, we will describe in more detail such a conso-le.

 In this figure we find the areas marked 1 to 5 of Figure 1.

Zone 1
This zone comprises, in the illustrated example, 5 codes marked C1 to C5 consisting of ba-codes # (formed by a succession in a specified order and spacing of thin or thick lines). To each of these codes corresponds, * when it is scanned by the laser pen L a control command in displacement of the cursor of indication of location on the screen (as it will appear more clearly later) towards the top (C1 ), down (C3), to the left (C2), to the right (C4) or back to the next column (C5). Next to the corresponding bar code is an arrow pointing immediately to the operator the direction of movement of the cursor he will get.

Zone 2
On this area are marked identification barcodes corresponding to the different items that can be placed on the displays of the place of sale. To avoid overloading the figure, only some of these barcodes have been marked C6 to C23.

 Each barcode of the zone 2 identifies with precision when it is scanned by the laser pen L the corresponding product: for example a shoe sole of such quality and such size; a slipper of such quality and size lace laces of such quality, such color and length, etc ...

Zone 3
In this area are identified identification barcodes, some of which have been marked C24 to C30.

 Each of these barcodes corresponds, when it is scanned by the laser beam L, to a precise control operation operation of the computer. Of course, the corresponding operation can be marked in clear on the barcode to facilitate the operation of the operator. For example, the barcode C24 may be in "normal" clear, which will correspond to a "normal" management operation where the operator's decisions will be limited to the strict minimum and management will be dictated according to the programs to which the computer has access.

 In the same way, the entry C26 can for example bring to light the word "proposition", which means for the operator that he can, during the piloting operations of the computer, "propose" a given presentation that the computer will allow it to optimize.

Zone 4
In this zone, are also carried bar codes which have been identified three C31, C32 and C33 may correspond to operations such as erasure of part of an implantation program started or on the contrary the recording of a completed program.

Zone 5
In this zone appear various bar codes, some have been marked C34 to C39. These barcodes correspond to information that can be entered at the beginning of the program, for example to indicate to the computer the length and / or height available on the display units.

 We will now describe with reference to Figures 2 and 3 some examples of driving the computer from the system of the invention.

1 / Automatic control
In this case, the operator only decides to use the programmed presentation supplied to the computer for example by means of diskettes corresponding to the type of store considered.

 To gain access to the program, the operator scans with his laser pencil the code C25 in zone 3, for example in the plain text "archives".

 By this action the computer displays on the screen the implementation stored in the program.

2 / Request for recommendation
The operator scans with the laser pencil the bar code identified C27 in zone 3, which may for example be clearly labeled "recommendation".

By this action engages a "dialogue" with the order that displays on the screen questions corresponding to the characteristics of the point of sale, such as for example
- importance of the turnover in thousands of francs,
- importance of the locality in which the place of sale is located,
- geographical position of the place of sale,
- time of year,
- etc ...

 For each question, # the operator responds by scanning in zone 5 the corresponding barcodes which can, for example, clearly indicate the digits 0 to 9 making it possible to answer the questions asked by the computer by displaying simple number-s translating the adequate answers.

When the operator has answered the various questions, the computer displays on the screen the recommendation he proposes, such as
- display surface (usually translated into linear length of product presentation),
- location on the display of the different products,
- location of the display to the entrance, the center or the exit of the point of sale,
- etc ...

3 / Normal control
To access this phase, the operator scans the barcode C24 clearly indicating "normal".

 In response, the computer displays on the screen questions corresponding to the dimensions imposed by the operator for the displays.

 To these questions, the operator responds by displaying the corresponding numbers by scanning the corresponding bar codes of area 5 as indicated above.

 At the end of the operations, the computer displays on the screen the implementation program that it retains.

4 / Controlled piloting
The operator here accesses the most interesting part of the system and can be easily implemented thanks to the improvement of the invention.

 The operator first scans the bar code C26 of zone 3, for example in the clear, the word "proposal".

 The computer displays on the screen the dimensions of the display that are offered, for example by defining the height of the display and the length of the "linear" The height of the display can be defined for example by a simple number corresponding to the number of existing perforations on the display, for example 67 according to the code C39 or 70 according to the code C38, which can carry these numbers in clear.

 The computer then requests the orientation of the linear, from left to right, which can be translated by the number 1, or from right to left which can be translated by the number 2.

The operator responds by scanning the corresponding digit.

 The computer then requests the season, for example summer that can result in the number 1 or winter that can result in the number 2. The operator scans in area 5 the number corresponding to the answer.

It then appears on the screen a grid formed of points arranged in rows and columns corresponding for example to each perforation of the display. The columns can be numbered, for example from 1 to 5 if there are 5 columns, and the lines can be marked with letters such as A,
B, C, D etc ..., as shown schematically below

<tb><SEP> 1 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 5
<tb> A <SEP>
<tb> B
<tb> C
<tb> D
<tb> E
<tb> F <SEP> ..... <SEP> .. <SEP> .. <SEP> ..., ..
<Tb>

G <SEP> .....
<Tb>

 With the laser pencil, the operator will now be able to "build" his display with the products he wants to sell.

 For example, the operator wishes to display the coded product C6 in table 2 on the display. It scans this code with the laser pen and the corresponding code is displayed on the screen grid in column 1 at the top of the column, for example. example between two lines indicating the height that the product will occupy in reality on the display.

 Then, that is to say below, the operator wishes to display the product corresponding to the C7 code. It scans with the laser pen this code and this product appears below the product previously displayed C6 in the grid occupying the place corresponding to its size.

The operator then places in the same way and in the same column a coded product C8. This product appears on the grid and the operator sees that all column 1 is full. It then sweeps in the control zone 1 the code
C5 so as to recall the cursor X (figured in the table below by xxx) at the top of the next column 2.

The operator then places in this column, one below the other, three times the coded product C11 by scanning the corresponding code of the zone 2. It then places a coded product C17 by scanning the corresponding code. He then tries to place a C18 coded product. he sees that in this case the product does not fit in the overflowing column below. With the laser pencil, he then sweeps in zone 4 the code C33, for example in plain text the symbol
CE (correction of errors) which erases the last operation performed.

 He then calls up the cursor at the top of the next column 3 by scanning the barcode C5 of zone 1. The code C18 then fits in the grid at the top of column 3 and appears below the cursor representing the place the display where the operator has arrived at this stage of operations.

It is this provision that is illustrated in Table 2 below

<tb><SEP> 1 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 5
<tb> A <SEP> - <SEP> Cil <SEP><SEP>
<tb> B <SEP> C6 <SEP> Cli <SEP><SEP> f <SEP>
<tb> C <SEP> - <SEP> CII <SEP>
<tb> D <SEP> C7 <SEP> - <SEP> xxx
<tb> E <SEP> - <SEP> C17
<tb> F <SEP> C8 <SEP>
<tb> G <SEP> - <SEP>
If a column does not give satisfaction to the operator, he can erase it in its entirety by scanning with the laser pen the code C32 of the zone 4, for example in clear column erasure. The cursor can, as mentioned above, be moved on the grid by attacking the different barcodes C1 to C4 of the zone 1.

 It is understood that with such a system, it is easy and very "talking" for the operator to "propose" an implementation and view the result immediately.

 When part or all of the grid is satisfactory, the corresponding information can be validated, that is to say protected from an accidental erasure by scanning a validation code, for example C31 (zone 4).

 When the implementation is completed, it is also possible to determine the "perfor # mance" of the proposed layout by scanning a corresponding code, for example the code C29 of the zone 3. By this operation, and according to the data of the programs to which the computer has access, the computer displays on the screen information such as: the display surface occupied by each product, the best-developed products, etc., allowing the operator to judge results he can expect.

5 / Controlled piloting with simulator
In this variant the various codes are carried on surface elements which represent on a reduced scale the surface they occupy on the display units. In addition, these surface elements can clearly indicate the product and also ideograms facilitating the identification of the products as well as their actual visualization and presentation. This is illustrated in Figure 4.

 Thus, there is shown in this figure a surface element 10 having the C6 code with the barcode beside and in clear the word coal. Fifteen weeks are shown and their size indicated, identifying immediately for the operator that this model corresponds to a presentation of fifteen insoles activated carbon shoes with stilettos sizes between the size 37 and size 45. On the same figure 4 can be seen In the same way, surface elements corresponding to various products identified by different bar codes and carrying ideograms and indications facilitating the identification of the product for the operator are similarly selected. These surface elements can be moved on a plate which on the same scale corresponds to the surface of the display. This plate is divided into 4 levels respectively upper 21, lower 22 and intermediate 23 and 24 corresponding substantially to the level of the eyes and the level of the eyes. hands of customers passing by the display stands.

 In 25 is the level of soL.

 The operator can thus very easily make a manual preselection by arranging the various surface elements 10 to 20 on the receiving plate 26 of these elements, the presentation being facilitated by providing that the plate 26 will attract and magnetically fix the elements. The operator can judge the overall effect of the presentation.

After which, the operator can communicate the presentation he has selected to the computer by successively scanning in order the different codes such as C6, C7, C8, C11,
C12, C17, C18, C19, C20, CZ1, C22 by walking the laser pen on these different codes in the order and by recalling at the bottom of each column the cursor at the top of the next column, scanning by the laser pencil the C5 code for zone 1 for rappelling at the top of the cursor column.

 The various operations described above are summarized in the synoptic table of FIG.

In this figure one enters at the top by means of the laser and one chooses as the case the entry ARCH (archives) for the automatic piloting, the entry Pré for the request of recommendation, the entry N for the normal piloting or entry
Prop for controlled driving. The inputs FI, F2, F3 are used to give access to the file to create and modify the file.

 The autopilot is done by introducing the corresponding floppy disk (SAVE) into the computer leading to Realization. If desired, the realization can be printed in clear (IP).

 The recommendation request path goes through the calculation of the recommended linear length (Long). If this length is valid, it is valued (Val) If it seems better to fix another length, Fix it (Fix). From there, implantation is defined by its height H, the orientation of the linear (left to right or right to left) and the season (summer or winter). The articulation of the other season A.S. can also be displayed. From there we come to the realization.

 The input of the normal pilot N corresponds to a very similar sequence of operations, the recommendation being only avoided.

 According to the Prop input (controlled control), one uses either a simulator, that is to say one constructs an image of the implantation as illustrated in Figure 4 (Sim), after which one enters the data in the computer (E) and we thus arrive at the realization (Real). If we do not use a simulator, we create from the zone 2 of the Cs console the implantation (Créat) and one happens to Real realization.

 From the realization, one can evaluate the performances Serf) of the implantation and make different computations by the ways P and V.

 From the realization, it is possible to order the printing of the labels (I.E.). If one wishes to keep the plan in memory, it is introduced in the archive (SAVE).

 Thanks to the system of the invention, it is also possible to form notebooks corresponding to all kinds of optimal implementations for various needs and we can immediately "propose" these implementations to a computer that from the site specific data sales will optimize the presentation by allowing the operator either to make the best selection among the programs proposed, or to make from these presentations changes more or less important.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Thus, for example, the cursor control can be completed by providing in addition to the cursor return to the next column (C5), a cursor return to the beginning of the next line, etc.

Claims (3)

 1. Control system of a computer delivering information in clear on a screen, adapted to the management of the implementation at the point of sale of various products, characterized in that it comprises in combination  a reading device such as a laser (L) connected to a decoder (D), itself connected to the central unit (CPU) of a computer, and  a control console (Cs) carrying coded information comprising  a first zone (1) bearing control codes such as right, left, up, down, column return, line return of the cursor of indications of locations on the screen,  a second zone (2) carrying product codes, and  at least one third zone (3, 4, 5) comprising other control codes of the computer.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the zone (26) comprising the product codes is represented on the scale of the available displays of the points of sale, and the said codes relating to the said products are marked on surface elements (10). -20) representing on the same scale the surface they occupy on the displays.  3. System according to claim 2 characterized in that said surface elements (10-20) can be applied removably and interchangeably on a support surface (26) embodying said second zone.