GB2273589A - A retail trading apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

A retail trading apparatus including a graphics plotter for printing graphical representations of retail store shelves and goods placed on the shelves. <IMAGE>

Description

A Retail Trading ApParatus" The invention relates to an apparatus to assist in the sale of goods in each branch of a chain of retail stores.

European Patent Specification No. 206565 B1 discloses a retail trading apparatus in which a graphical representation of a good for sale is generated. This helps a potential customer to visualise the product when considering a purchase. Such an apparatus would not, however, be suitable for use in assisting the sale of goods which a customer picks from shelves in a retail store.

The invention is directed towards providing a retail trading apparatus which assists in the sale of goods in a retail store, particularly for a group or chain of retail stores. Another object is that maximum use is made available transaction data which would also be used for other purposes directly for assisting in the sale of goods.

According to the invention, there is provided a retail trading apparatus comprising: an image data memory storing static image data relating to retail products, the data including physical dimensions, colour, package type, product category and shelf life data for products; a retail data memory storing variable retail data relating to products including stock levels and sales data for retail stores; a converter for conversion of the data in the retail data memory to the format of data in the image data memory and for transmission of data from the retail data memory to the image data memory; a graphics controller connected to the image data memory comprising means for generation of output control instructions for generation of a graphical representation of shelves in a retail store with a configuration of products placed on the shelves; a high resolution display screen connected to the graphics controller; a colour plotter connected to the graphics controller; a means for outputting signals from the graphics controller to the plotter and to the display screen for generation of displays and printed graphical representations; a data processor connected to the graphics controller and constructed to operate in parallel with the graphics controller for generation of textual data indicating meaning of codes which are used in the graphical representations; a printer connected to the data processor for printing of the textual data; means in the data processor for printing of the textual data; means in the data processor for monitoring operation of the graphics controller and generating an update file containing all data which was amended by operation of the graphics controller; and means in the data processor for transmitting the update file to the host computer.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a label printer, wherein the host computer comprises means for referring to the update file and to stored data on a fixed disk drive for generating printing instructions for shelf edge labels and for transmitting the printing instructions to the label printer.

Preferably, the host computer is connected to a communications controllor for transmission of printing instructions for shelf edge labels via a telecommunications network to a remote label printer in a retail store.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of portion of a retail trading apparatus which is located at a host site and in one of the retail stores; Fig. 2 is a detailed diagrammatic view showing portion of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a sample graphical representation generated by the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, that portion of a retail trading apparatus of the invention which is located at a host site and in one of the retail stores as illustrated.

The remainder of the apparatus 1 comprises a duplication of items 5 and 6 in each of the retail stores. Items 5 and 6 are described below.

The apparatus 1 comprises a central processing unit (C.P.U.) 2 located at the host site and this is connected to a host computer 3. The host computer 3 is constructed to carry out many different processing operations which do not form part of this invention and so will not be described. The host computer 3 is connected to a communications controller 4 including a modem for communication with each of the retail stores, and in particular with the retail controller 5 at each store.

The communication controller 5 is connected to the various processing equipment, not shown, and to a label printer 6 for printing of shelf edge labels 7. The host computer 3 is also connected directly to a bank of fixed disk drives 16 for storage of retail trading data. The C.P.U. 2 is connected to a fixed disk drive 10 which stores data relating to retail sales. The C.P.U. 2 is also connected a number of output devices for output of retail sales information. The output devices include a high-resolution display screen 11, a laser printer 12, a graphics plotter 13, a dot matrix printer 14 and a label printer 6. The graphics plotter 13 is of the type having a pen carousel which holds up to eight pens for multicolour plotting.

Paper is held between pinch wheels to move it back and forth during plotting. The label printer 6 at both the host site and in the retail stores is a serial, matrix, bi-directional printer. It has a speed of 600cps and has automatic sheet feed. It is fed with a web having four labels across as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring in particular to Fig. 2, the configuration of the C.P.U. 2 and its connection to the output devices is shown in more detail. The C.P.U. 2 comprises a data processor 20 connected to a graphics controller 21.

Memory circuits include a retail data memory 22 which is connected via a converter 23 to an image data memory 24.

The C.P.U. 2 includes a keyboard input interface 25 and R.S-232-C interfaces 26 and 27 for communication with the host computer 3.

The fixed disk 10 shows a record relating to each product for sale in any of the retail stores. The data which is stored for each product is referred to as "static data" as it relates to physical data which rarely changes. This includes physical dimensions of the product, the packaging colour, the packaging type and the product category. The data processor 20 is constructed to retrieve from the host computer 3 and ultimately the fixed disk 16 variable data for each product relating to stock levels in each of the stores and up-to-date sales data for each store. This data is received at one of the interfaces 26 or 27 and is transmitted to the data memory 22 by the data processor 20. An instruction is received from the input interface 25 for generation of information relating to a particular set of products. The data processor 20 is also configured to retrieve static image data from the fixed disk 10 and to write this data to the image data memory 24. In summary, therefore, when an instruction is received from the input interface 25 for generation of retail sales information for a number of products, the data processor 20 directs storage in the retail data memory 22 of variable product data relating to the retail store such as stock levels and sales, and direct storage in the image data memory 24 of static image data including physical dimensions, colour, package type, product category and shelf life.

Subsequently, the converter 23 operates to convert the format of the data in the retail data memory 22 to that of the image data in the image data memory 24. It also transmits the converted data to the image data memory 24.

The graphics controller 21 then uses its connection to the data memory 24, to generate graphical representation data of products on shelves in the relevant retail store. The graphical representation data is generated using all of the image data and this processing involves generation of R.G.B. colour signals corresponding to the colour data stored in the image data memory 24. The graphical representation data is then outputted to the screen 11 and the processor 13, both of which output a graphical representation of the shelves with the products on them in a particular store. A sample graphical representation is shown in Fig. 3 in which the shelves are represented by the numeral 30, and products 31 are placed on the shelves.

It can be seen in this sample that the outline of a product is shown, and is accurately scaled to the size of the shelves and the other products which are next to it.

The actual graphical representation which is generated is in colour and helps one to view immediately an ideal shelf presentation for goods. This representation takes into account all relevant parameters in both the retail and static image data. It is an important aspect of the invention that data which is retrieved from the host computer is used together with the static data to generate the most up to date and relevant graphical representation for sales of goods. In doing this, operation of the converter 23 is most important as it allows merging of all of the necessary data so that the graphical processing may be carried out.

The graphical representation which is generated is sent to the relevant retail store where the local manager organises shelf presentation according to the representation.

In addition to generating the graphical representations, the processor 20 operates in parallel with the graphics controller 21 to generate a report indicating the codes which are printed on the graphical representation. This data is transmitted, together with the printing instructions to a laser printer 12, or to the dot matrix printer 14, whichever is required. In addition, the data processor 20 by referring to the data generated by the graphics controller 21 generates an update file of all data which has been changed. This data may include shelf levels, facings, packaging types and any other data which is changed by the graphics controller 21 and generating the correct graphical representation. The data processor 21 then transmits a file containing the up date data to the host computer 3 via one of the interfaces 26 or 27.

When the host computer 3 receives the update data, it automatically directs the printing out of labels at the label printer 26 at the host site. It will be appreciated that the generation of labels requires data from both the memories 22 and 24 and thus the update file which is transmitted from the data processor 20 is ideally suitable for generation of shelf edge labels. The host computer 3 may also transmit the necessary data via the communications controllers 4 and 5 to the relevant retail store for local printing of the labels at the local label printer 6.

It will be appreciated that the manner in which variable data and static image data is combined leads to the officient generation of graphical representations to assist in sales of goods. It will also be appreciated that the manner in which the data processor operates in conjunction with the graphics controller 21 to generate the update file and reports ensures that the relevant databases are kept very much up to date and that all users may have access to the most relevant information. It is extremely important in the context of a large number of retail stores from a host site.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS.

1. A retail trading apparatus comprising; an image data memory storing static image data relating to retail products, the data including physical dimensions, colour, package type, product category and shelf life data for products; a retail data memory storing variable retail data relating to products including stock levels and sales data for retail stores; a converter for conversion of the data in the retail data memory to the format of data in the image data memory and for transmission of data from the retail data memory to the image data memory; a graphics controller connected to the image data memory comprising means for generation of output control instructions for generation of a graphical representation of shelves in a retail store with a configuration of products placed on the shelves; a high resolution display screen connected to the graphics controller;; a colour plotter connected to the graphics controller; a means for outputting signals from the graphics controller to the plotter and to the display screen for generation of displays and printed graphical representations; a data processor connected to the graphics controller and constructed to operate in parallel with the graphics controller for generation of textual data indicating meaning of codes which are used in the graphical representations; a printer connected to the data processor for printing of the textual data; means in the data processor for printing of the textual data; means in the data processor for monitoring operation of the graphics controller and generating an update file containing all data which was amended by operation of the graphics controller; and means in the data processor for transmitting the update file to the host computer.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a label printer, wherein the host computer comprises means for referring to the update file and to stored data on a fixed disk drive for generating printing instructions for shelf edge labels and for transmitting the printing instructions to the label printer.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the host computer is connected to a communications controllor for transmission of printing instructions for shelf edge labels via a telecommunications network to a remote label printer in a retail store.

4. A retail trading apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.