FR3073724B1 - DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING AN ARTICLE WITH A DISPLAY, AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A STOCK OF ARTICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for suspending an article at a display, and a system for managing a stock of articles placed on display cases by means of the suspension device, with application in particular to the suspension devices of the type used for hangers. in a store to hang clothes at displays such as racks. The device 1 comprises at least one attachment portion 2 for hanging the device on a display, and at least one support portion 3 for supporting an article 4. Article 4 is characterized by one or more characteristic information and belongs to to a range of items associated with distinct characteristic information, the device 1 further comprises an interactive display module 9, and a wireless communication module 7 capable of communicating with a remote computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 4. The interactive display module 9 is configured to display one or more of the characteristic information of the article 4 supported by the support part 3, to allow a user to enter an information request. on the range of articles to which said article 4 belongs, and to transmit to the communication module 7 this information request, the communication module 7 is confi gure to transmit a request for information on the range of articles to which said article 4 received from the interactive display module 9, and identification information of the article 4 supported by the support part 3, to the computer system. 8, 10, 11, 13.

Description

Device for hanging an item from a display stand, and computer system for managing an inventory of items

The present invention relates to a device for suspending an article from a display stand, and to a system for managing a stock of articles arranged on display stands by means of the hanging device. The invention finds particular application to hanger-type hanging devices used in a store for hanging clothes from displays such as clothes racks. IT has long since appeared in the field of inventory management, in particular for the management of a stock of clothing in a ready-to-wear store. In addition, more and more, the digitalization of information and the presentation of this digitalized information on electronic display media, replaces the display on paper support. Thus, screens can be placed in a store in order to broadcast advertising messages, information relating to a product or a range of products can be presented on digital labels, interactive information terminals can be placed in the store.

In the specific case of ready-to-wear, where hangers are used to hang clothes on racks, the concept of a smart hanger was recently introduced. Such a smart hanger allows for example to broadcast specific media content on a digital screen when it is removed from its support (see for example www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yvPfRTbJz8, www.youtube.com/watch?v = NFMNQ37nsAg). Other examples are known, of the order of experimentation, the principle of which is to bring up information coming from social networks either on the hangers directly, or on associated screens (see for example the updated display permanently the number of people who declare, on a social network, to like the product in question: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHrUV5UljaE or www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh_uygXIHO).

At the same time, the technology of connected labels continues to develop (see for example: www.ses-imagotag.com/fr/news/detail/lsa-des-etiquettes-intelligentes-pour-une- geolocalisation-ultraprecise /).

These electronic tags are based on radio-identification technology, most often designated by the acronym RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification). This technology consists in memorizing and retrieving data remotely using markers called labels or radio-labels.

These labels are small objects, such as self-adhesive labels, which can be glued or incorporated into objects or products, and which include an antenna associated with an electronic chip.

This electronic chip contains an identifier, which is called an electronic product code, or EPC (Electronic Product Code) type code, and possibly additional data, stored in a memory, and allows the label to receive radio requests. transmitted from a transceiver, and to respond to these requests by transmitting to the transceiver the identifier or the other stored data. The transceiver is most often called a reader.

However, in these examples, a store customer interested in an item hanging on a hanger does not necessarily quickly see important information about the item such as its size. In addition, if the size does not suit him, that customer should look for a store seller to ask if another size is available. The latter must then move to a storage area to check for himself and / or query a database to obtain the information and return to the client.

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems in particular. Thus, the object of the invention is in particular to propose a device for hanging an article which can both give information on the article which it serves to hang, such as the size of this article for example, and allow a user to obtain further information on the corresponding range of article available, in a simple, quick and efficient manner. The object of the invention is therefore, according to a first aspect, a suspension device, in particular of the hanger type, comprising at least one attachment part capable of allowing the suspension device to be hung on a display such as a rack, and at least one support part capable of supporting an article, such as a garment, said article being characterized by one or more characteristic information and belonging to a range of articles associated with distinct characteristic information,

The device comprises an interactive display module, and a wireless communication module capable of communicating with a remote computer system for managing an inventory of articles.

The interactive display module is configured to display one or more of the information characteristic of the article supported by the support part, to allow a user to enter an information request on the range of articles to which said article belongs, and to transmit this request for information to the communication module,

The communication module is configured to transmit a request for information on the range of articles to which said article belongs, received from the interactive display module, and information identifying the article supported by the support part, to the system. computer science.

According to certain embodiments, the device further comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination: the interactive display module is configured to allow a user to enter an availability request , in the stock managed by the computer system, of an article belonging to the same range as the article supported by the support part and associated with one or more characteristic information distinct from the characteristic information of the article supported by the support part; the interactive display module is a touch screen, and / or a screen with a key or button input interface; the characteristic information includes the size of the article and / or the color of the article; the interactive display module and the communication module are integrated into the device, preferably in its support part; the interactive display module, and the communication module are fixed to the device, preferably on its support part; the communication module is configured to transmit to the computer system, with the request for information on the range of articles to which said article belongs and with the identification information of the article supported by the support part, also information device location. The invention also relates, according to a second aspect, to a computer system for managing an article stock comprising a server, a system for locating an article in an article storage area, and a database. data in which article identification information is stored, each associated with one or more information characteristic of the corresponding article, said articles belonging to a range of articles associated with distinct characteristic information.

The system comprises at least one suspension device as presented above, and the server is configured to receive, from the suspension device, information identifying an article supported by the support part and a request for information on the range of articles to which said article supported by the support part belongs, in order to obtain in the database the information requested on said range of articles, and to transmit, to the location system, said information on said range of items obtained.

Thus, the device and the system of the invention make it possible both to quickly and reliably give information characteristic of the article suspended on the device, and to give the user the possibility of simply and effectively requesting information on the corresponding article range, for example information on available sizes.

When the device is localizable, this request for information, received for example by a seller, can be satisfied quickly and efficiently, without the user having to travel. For example, in the case of an item of clothing type, the user may be in a clothing fitting area, and the seller can then respond to his request for information by going directly to this area. fitting.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given only by way of example, and not limiting, as well as with reference to the single appended figure schematically showing an example of a device, and computer system for managing an inventory of articles, according to the invention.

In the example shown in the figure, a hanger type suspension device 1 is provided for receiving an article 4 of garment type 4, to be hung on a display rack type, such as clothes racks that one found in ready-to-wear stores or ready-to-wear department stores.

The hanger 1 precisely comprises a hooking part 2, which allows this hanger 1 to be hung on a support, and a support part 3, which allows the garment 4 to be supported.

A number of electronic modules are associated with the hanger 1. Thus, the hanger 1 comprises an interactive display module 9, such as a touch screen (for example of the LCD type) 9, and a communication module 7 intended to enable wireless communication with a remote clothing management computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 4. The touch screen 9 can be replaced by a non-touch screen accompanied by a key input interface, such as keys keyboard, or by buttons. The touch screen 9 can be a flexible device, of the electronic paper type, with which the user interacts directly with the finger for example, or by means of a support such as a stylus.

It may possibly also include a reading module 5 intended to allow wireless reading of information contained in an electronic label 6 carried by the garment 4.

Each of the display 9, reading 5, and communication 7 modules can be integrated in the hanger 1, preferably in its support part 3, or fixed on the hanger 1, always preferably in its support part 3.

In the example shown in the figure, each of the display 9, reading 5, and communication 7 modules are first integrated into an electronic assembly 12, itself integrated into the hanger 1, or fixed to it. this.

By integration is meant the insertion of the corresponding module 5, 7, 9 into the hanger 1 during the manufacture of this hanger 1, the module 5, 7, 9 may or may not be extracted from the hanger 1.

By fixing is meant bringing the corresponding module 5, 7, 9 onto the hanger 1 already manufactured, this module 5, 7, 9 may or may not be removed from the hanger 1.

The hanger 1 is autonomous, that is to say that it has its own energy source to supply the modules 5, 7, 9.

When the garment 4 carries an electronic label 6, such as an RFID type label, in which can be stored in particular identification information of this garment 4 (for example alphanumeric identifier, or electronic product code of the EPC type in accordance with RFID technology), this information can be read by the reading module 5. The latter is therefore provided for reading this identification information contained in the electronic label 6, when the garment 4 is supported by the support part 3 of the hanger 1. The reading module 5 then transmits the identification information read to the communication module 7.

Garment 4 is part of a range of garments. A range of clothing is divided into categories based on one or more distinct characteristics. Thus, to each category in the range corresponds one or more characteristic information distinct from the information characteristic of another category in the range. Thus, a given garment 4 belongs to one or the other of the categories of the range, according to the characteristic information or information concerning it. Such a range can for example be conventionally defined by distinct sizes. As an example, to simplify, we consider the case of a range of clothing 4, with three size categories: small, medium, large.

The interactive display module 9 thus makes it possible to display the characteristic information or information of the garment 4 supported by the support part 3 of the hanger 1. In our example, if the garment is of medium size, the information “medium size” is displayed on the interactive screen 9.

In one embodiment, this characteristic information is received by the screen 9 from the communication module 7, which receives it beforehand from the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13

In the embodiment with electronic label 6 carried by the garment 4 and reading module 5 present in the hanger 1, this reading module 5 obtains information identifying the garment 4 by reading this information in the electronic label 6 and transmits it to the communication module 7.

This communication module 7, once the identification information has been received, in turn transmits this identification information to the computer system 8, 10, 11. As will be seen below, the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 returns to the communication module 7 one or more pieces of information characteristic of the garment 4 identified by the identification information.

By characteristic information is meant, for example, the size of the garment 4 as mentioned above, and / or its color, and / or other information which may be important for characterizing the garment 4. In order to display this characteristic information for a client, size is in particular important characteristic information.

This display module 9 thus displays the characteristic information received, for example the size of the garment 4 worn by the hanger 1, thus allowing a customer to immediately determine if the garment is suitable for him.

In one embodiment, provision may be made to display on the display module 9 of the hanger 1 carrying the garment 4, information other than the information or information directly characteristic of this garment 4.

Thus, garment 4 is part of a range of garments as explained above. The communication module 7 can then also receive, from the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 the characteristic information or information corresponding to one or more categories of the range.

Furthermore, the interactive display module 9 allows the user, such as a store customer, to enter a request for information on the range of articles to which the garment 4 belongs, and to transmit to the communication module 7 this request for information. This communication module then makes it possible to transmit the request for information on the range of articles to which said article belongs (4), entered on the interactive screen 9 and received from the latter, and the item of clothing identification information. 4, to the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13.

As a reminder, as explained above, the identification information may for example have been previously obtained by reading, by means of the reading module 5, an electronic label 6 carried by the garment 4. Alternatively, this information identification may have been configured in the communication module 7 when installing the garment 4 on the hanger 1, for example by means of an external reader which will have previously read the information in the electronic label 6 .

The request for information that can be entered on the interactive screen 9 can for example be a request for availability, in the stock managed by the computer system 8, 10, 11, of a garment belonging to the same range as the garment 4 supported by the support part 3 of the hanger 1 and associated with one or more characteristic information distinct from the characteristic information of the garment 4 supported by the support part 3.

Thus, in the case where the characteristic information concerned is size information, as explained above, if the item of clothing is of medium size, this size is displayed on the interactive screen 9, so that the client visualizes very quickly and easily this size. If this does not suit him, he can enter on the interactive screen 9 a request for the availability of a garment of the same range as the garment 4 supported by the hanger 1, but in another size.

This request for information is received by the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 which processes it appropriately. For example, this request can be sent to a seller or a stock manager, who can then inform the customer directly.

Ideally, information on the location of the hanger 1 is transmitted to the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 with the request for information, for example in the case of the use of an electronic tag 6 of the RFID type. Thus, the seller receiving the information request can easily locate the customer who made the information request and come back directly to him to give him an answer.

In one embodiment, the response to the request for information can also be received directly by the communication module 7 from the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13, and displayed on the interactive screen 9.

The computer system 8, 10, 11, 13 for managing the stock of articles 4 comprises a server 8, 10, a system 13 for locating a garment 4 in a clothing storage area, and a storage base. data 11.

The database groups the garments 4, through their identification information, associated with the corresponding characteristic information or information.

The server 8, 10, in the example of FIG. 1, comprises a system 8 implementing functions of communication with the hanger 1, and a system 10 implementing functions of computer management of the stock of clothing, in particular of database management 11.

In the database 11, also called catalog 11, the identification information of all the items managed is stored, in association with one or more information characteristics of the corresponding item.

Thus, when the communication module 7 of the hanger 1 transmits the identification information of the garment 4 worn by this hanger 1, and a request for information on the range of clothing to which the garment 4 belongs and previously entered on the interactive screen 9, to the computer system 8, 10, 11, 13, this identification information and this request for information are received by the communication system 8, which in turn transmits it to the management system 10. The management 10 interrogates the database 11, to obtain the characteristic information or information stored in the database 11 and associated with the clothing identification information 4. This or these identification information is transmitted to the communication system 8 , which in turn transmits them to the communication module 7 of the hanger 1 for display by the display module 9 of this hanger 1. The information requested concerning the range of clothing ment, for example the availability of a garment of the same range as the garment worn by the hanger 1 but of different size, is transmitted to the location system 13. This location system 13 allows for example to inform a seller of the response to a request for information made by a client, the seller being able to locate the hanger 1, therefore indirectly the client to provide him with the answer. Optionally, the rental system also receives a garment identifier corresponding to the response to the request for information, for example the identifier of a garment of the requested size, so that the corresponding garment can be retrieved from the stock. and brought to the client.

The present description is given by way of example and is not limitative of the invention.

In particular, the invention is not limited to a hanger type device 1 for hanging clothes on a clothes rack. It extends to any device for suspending any article 4 on a display, provided that it can incorporate electronic modules 5, 7 and 9, either by integration into the manufacture of the device, or by subsequent addition.

Furthermore, the concepts of display module 9, reading 5 and communication 7 are functional concepts. Thus, physically, in a particular embodiment of the invention, it is entirely possible for example that the reading module and the communication module form one and the same electronic module.

Also, the computer server 8, 10 is broken down between a server 8 dedicated to communication with the suspension devices 1, and a server 10 dedicated to managing the stock of articles 4. However, this breakdown is purely functional. In practice, it may equally well be a single and appropriately configured server for implementing the two functions, or two separate servers, or one and / or the other of the functions may be distributed over several separate physical machines, remote or not. This is also the case for the database 11, presented separately in the figure, but which can just as easily be integrated into the server 10 totally or partially, or even located on one or distributed over several machines, remote or not. .

Claims (8)

1. Suspension device (1), in particular of the hanger type (1), comprising at least one attachment part (2) capable of allowing the suspension device (1) to be hung on a display such as a rack, and at least one support part (3) capable of enabling an article (4) to be supported, such as a garment (4), said article (4) being characterized by one or more characteristic information and belonging to a range of articles associated with distinct characteristic information, characterized in that it comprises an interactive display module (9), and a wireless communication module (7) capable of communicating with a computer system (8, 10, 11, 13) remote management of an inventory of articles (4), the interactive display module (9) being configured to display one or more of the characteristic information of the article (4) supported by the support part (3), for allow a user to enter an information request on the range of articles to which said article (4) belongs, and to transmit this request for information to the communication module (7), the communication module (7) being configured to transmit a request for information on the range of articles to which said article (4) belongs, received from the interactive display module (9), and information identifying the article (4) supported by the support part (3), to the computer system (8, 10, 11, 13). 2. Suspension device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive display module (9) is configured to allow a user to enter an availability request, in the stock managed by the computer system (8 , 10, 11), of an article belonging to the same range as the article (4) supported by the support part (3) and associated with one or more characteristic information distinct from the characteristic information of the supported article (4) by the support part (3). 3. Suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the interactive display module (9) is a touch screen (9) and / or a screen (9) with an interface input by keys or buttons. 4. Suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the characteristic information includes the size of the article (4) and / or the color of the article (4). 5. Suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the interactive display module (9), and the communication module (7) are integrated in the device (1), preferably in its support part (3). 6. Suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the interactive display module (9), and the communication module (7) are fixed to the device (1), preferably on its support part (3). 7. Suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the communication module (7) is configured to transmit to the computer system (8, 10, 11, 13), with the request of information on the range of articles to which said article (4) belongs and with the identification information of the article (4) supported by the support part (3), also information on the location of the device (1 ). 8. A computer system for managing an article stock (4) comprising a server (8, 10), a system for locating (13) an article (4) in an article storage area, and a database (11) in which article identification information (4) is stored, each associated with one or more information characteristic of the corresponding article (4), said articles (4) belonging to a range of articles associated with distinct characteristic information, characterized in that it comprises at least one suspension device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and in that the server (8, 10) is configured to receive, from the suspension device (1), information identifying an article (4) supported by the support part (3) and a request for information on the range of articles to which said article (4) belongs ) supported by the support part (3), to obtain dan s the database (11) the information requested on said range of articles, and for transmitting, to the location system (13), said information on said range of articles obtained.