JP2002083369A - Commodity control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity control system capable of changing a commodity price based on freshness information such as the time limit for appreciation or the like and on the present date and time. SOLUTION: The freshness information such as the taste time limit of the commodity, the date of manufacture or the like, price information, and a commodity code are memorized in a wireless tag 102 pasted on the commodity 101 such as food or the like. A control device 104 installed in a commodity showcase 103 reads the information on the commodity tag 102 by a radio electromagnetic wave. In addition, the control device 104 has a calendar-timepiece part 306 for clocking the present date and time, and displays a discount amount of the commodity or various privilege information on a display part 302 based on the read freshness information of the commodity and the present date and time, to inform the customer of them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product management system for managing products using wireless tags.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Freshness management is important for products such as food, and products with reduced freshness need to be sold at a reduced price, various benefits, or reduced product value. Conventionally, an employee looks at the expiration date or the date of manufacture printed on a product, determines freshness based on the expiration date, and as a result, attaches a price reduction label or the like to the product.

[0003]

In the prior art, since a person reads the date and time information such as the expiration date by looking at the printed contents, there is a possibility that reading errors or omissions may occur. In addition, in order to attach a price reduction label based on the date and time information thus read, the date and time at that time are compared with the date and time of the expiration date (date and time information) of the product,
Due to the large and small difference, there is a possibility that a calculation error or the like may occur because the price reduction price is determined.

A system that uses a wireless tag attached to a product instead of managing the product manually is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-49.
Although described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 756, it is not possible to judge the freshness of a product by the method described in this publication.

[0005] Further, regarding an apparatus for printing a label to be attached when the price of a product is reduced, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-336 discloses
Although this device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 237, there is a problem that the operator has to input the price information of the product with a key or the like.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a product management system capable of managing product freshness and easily changing product value information such as price.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wireless tag attached to a product and storing information about the product, wirelessly reading information stored in the wireless tag, and product value information of the product and its information. This is a product management system that includes a management device that obtains date and time information on the date and time of a product.

Further, the management device of the present invention has a clock means for measuring the current date and time, and based on the date and time information of the read product and the current date and time from the clock means, stores the merchandise value information of the read product. It is characterized by changing.

A radio tag is affixed to each of the products arranged in the store, and the radio tag has merchandise value information such as the price of the product and information such as the expiration date of the product, the date of manufacture, and the date of arrival. Date and time information is stored in advance. The management device reads out product value information and date information from the wireless tag attached to each product by wireless electromagnetic waves. The management device has clock means for measuring the current date and time. Based on the current date and time by the clock means and the date and time information of the product such as the expiration date, the management device can store product value information such as a discount on a product price or the execution of a privilege. change.

Therefore, it is possible for the management device to read the date and time information of the wireless tag and carry out price reductions and various privileges without reading the expiration date or the date of manufacture described on the product by the clerk or customer. It is possible to prevent humans from reading or overlooking the date and time information manually.

[0011] Further, the management device of the present invention has a display means, is arranged near a product to be displayed, and displays the value of the product changed by the display means to a customer.

According to the present invention, an appeal to a customer based on date and time information can be automatically performed on a product display shelf.
Opportunity loss in product sales can be reduced.

Further, the management device of the present invention is arranged at a store along with a product, and enables a customer to read a wireless tag with the management device and confirm the changed product value information.

According to the present invention, the customer can directly read the date and time information written in the wireless tag from the management device, and know the resulting price information and various benefits, so that the customer can understand the date and time with assurance. A product can be selected after making a decision based on the information.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the settlement of the commodity is performed based on the commodity value information changed by the management device.

According to the present invention, by reading the date and time information written on the wireless tag at the time of payment, the management device can read the date and time information written on the wireless tag without the clerk reading the contents of the price reduction label attached to the product. The date and time information can be read and the price can be changed, thereby preventing human error and oversight of the date and time information.

Further, the management device of the present invention is characterized in that the wireless tags of a plurality of products are read at once, and a product to be discarded is determined based on the read information.

For example, if the product has expired,
It needs to be disposed of. According to the present invention, the management device can read the date and time information of the wireless tags of a plurality of products in a lump or divided into a plurality of items, and can determine collectively whether or not there is a product to be discarded based on the information. Inspection of each item one by one requires less labor and faster processing.

A label is affixed to the product according to the present invention in accordance with the product value, and the management device displays the changed product value information so that the label corresponding to the product value can be selected. It is characterized by having.

A label indicating the price is attached to the product in advance, and even if the product is the same product, a label with a reduced price is further applied when the expiration date is shortened. . In the present invention, the management device includes:
The date and time information of the wireless tag is read, and new price information (product value information) is determined from the content and displayed. In this way, the clerk applies the new price label to the product while viewing the information, so that the label is not mistakenly applied.

Further, the management apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that it has a printing means for printing the changed merchandise value information and printing a label attached to the merchandise.

According to the present invention, the date and time information written in the wireless tag is read out, and a new price label is printed based on the information, so that the clerk can check the expiration date and the date of manufacture described on the product. Without reading such information, a new price label can be created by the management device, thereby preventing human error or oversight of date and time information.

Further, the management device of the present invention is characterized in that necessary labels are collectively printed by reading a plurality of wireless tags at once.

According to the present invention, by reading and printing the date and time information of the products collectively without reading the products one by one, the labor and time required to create necessary labels can be reduced.

Further, the management device of the present invention is characterized in that it has a display means for displaying information printed on a product and information printed on a label in association with each other.

According to the present invention, when the collectively printed labels are attached to individual products, the product value information (price information) printed on the product and the changed product value information (price information) are compared. By displaying the pair and attaching the label of the new price (product value information) to the product while the clerk looks at the information, the label is not mistakenly attached.

[0027] The management device of the present invention is characterized in that it has a display means for reading a wireless tag of a product to which a label is to be attached and displaying the label to be attached.

According to the present invention, when a collectively printed label is to be attached to each product, the date and time information attached to the product is read by the wireless tag, the contents of the label to be attached are displayed, and the clerk can use it. By attaching a new price label to a product while viewing the information, the label is not mistakenly attached.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A product management system according to the present invention is applied to a product such as food that requires freshness management, and has a wireless tag attached to the product and a management device for reading information stored in the wireless tag by electromagnetic waves. It is composed of The wireless tag can store information, and the management device incorporates a means for wirelessly reading the information of the wireless tag, and a clock means which has a calendar and a clock function and measures the current date and time.

Since the freshness of a product such as food greatly affects the value of the product, if the expiration date is shortened, it is necessary to change the value of the product, such as lowering the price or implementing a privilege. In the present invention, the management device reads information of a product by wireless electromagnetic waves,
Freshness information (date and time information) such as date of manufacture or arrival date
And obtain price information (product value information), compare it with the current date and time by means of a clock, change the product price, and notify the customer or the clerk of the changed product price (product value information) and various benefits. Can be.

The system shown in FIG.
A first management device 104 is attached to the system to display a changed product price (product value information) to a customer;
The customer himself / herself brings the individual merchandise to the second management device 105 and checks the changed price, and the third management device is combined with the cash register 109 and settled based on the changed price. System. Note that the management device of each system has a data communication unit and is connected to a central management device that is managed centrally.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First management device 104 of this embodiment
Is attached to the product display shelf 103, reads the freshness information of the wireless tag, and displays the changed product value information such as special price information on the product display shelf 103 from the result.

The commodity 101 in FIG. 1 is a commodity whose expiration date is fixed, such as milk or tofu, or whose commodity value decreases over time, such as vegetables. This product 1
01, the wireless tag 102 is attached. This wireless tag 10
2 includes freshness information (date and time information) of the product, such as the expiration date, manufacture date, harvest date, and arrival date of the product, and price information (product value information) that is the price of the product. ) And a product code for identifying the product.

The wireless tag 102 will be described with reference to FIG. The wireless tag 102 receives an external power and performs communication with an antenna 201. The wireless tag 102 rectifies and stabilizes the power received by the antenna 201 to supply power to each circuit inside the wireless tag 102. The modulated data is passed to the rectification / power supply unit 202 and the antenna 201, and
The modulation / demodulation unit 203 demodulates the data received from the data processing unit 01 and the processing / storage unit 204 that controls the whole.

The merchandise 101 is displayed on a merchandise display shelf 103, and a first management device 104 is attached to the merchandise display shelf 103.

The first management device 104 will be described with reference to FIG. The first management device 104 supplies power to the wireless tag 102 and reads / writes the contents thereof, an RFID wireless unit 303 (including an antenna), a data communication unit 304 that receives information on the product 101 from the central management device,
File 3 in which information on all products 101 is stored
05, the wireless tag 1 of the product 101 by the RFID wireless unit 303
A display unit 302 for displaying a judgment result based on a result of reading the 02 part, a calendar for supplying date and clock data,
It comprises a clock unit (clock means) 306 and a processing / storage unit 301 that controls the whole.

The processing / storage unit 301 periodically or in accordance with an instruction from the data communication unit 304 transmits the freshness information of the wireless tag 102 attached to the product 101 in the product display shelf 103 via the RFID wireless unit 303. Read and obtain freshness information. The obtained freshness information is compared with the current date and time from the calendar / clock unit 306, and according to the result, even if there is even one product whose expiration date is today on the display unit 302, for example, on the product display shelf 103. For example, a display such as "products whose expiration date is today is reduced by 50 yen from the displayed price" is displayed. In this way, even if the product code is the same, the price of the product can be automatically changed and displayed or various benefits can be displayed based on the freshness information.

At this time, the merchandise value change information such as how much to subtract from the displayed price or how many days before the expiration date is to be discounted usually differs for each merchandise. Therefore, the merchandise value change information is stored in the file 305 for each merchandise, and based on the merchandise code read from the wireless tag 102, the merchandise value change information of the merchandise is extracted from the file 305 and displayed based on this. You may comprise. Alternatively, a configuration may be made in which the central management device is inquired via the data communication unit 304 to obtain product value change information. There is also a method of storing the merchandise value change information itself in the wireless tag 102.

This is to read the freshness information of the wireless tag and display the changed merchandise value information such as the special price information of each merchandise on the second management device 106 from the result.

As shown in FIG. 1, a customer 107 places a product 101 on which a wireless tag 102 is attached on a product display shelf 103.
And bring it closer to the second management device 105, the display unit 402 allows the customer 107 to know the special price information of the product 101 or the like.

The second management device 105 will be described with reference to FIG. The second management device 105 supplies power to the wireless tag and reads / writes the content of the RFID tag.
03 (including the antenna), a data communication unit 404 for receiving information on the product 101, a file 405 storing information on all the products 101, an RFID wireless unit 4
A display unit 402 that displays a determination result based on a result of reading the wireless tag 102 of the product 101 in 03, a calendar / clock unit (clock unit) 40 that supplies date and clock data,
6, a processing / storage unit 401 for controlling the whole.

The RFID wireless unit 403 is provided with a processing / storage unit 4
Product 1 brought by the customer 107 according to an instruction from the customer 01
The freshness information of the wireless tag 102 attached to 01 is read. The read freshness information is stored in the calendar / clock section 4.
Compared to the date and time at the time from 06, the display unit 402 displays the product value information after the change, for example, "50 yen off from the displayed price" based on the result. In this way, even if the product code is the same, the price of the product can be automatically changed and displayed or various benefits can be displayed based on the freshness information.

At this time, the merchandise value change information such as how much to subtract from the displayed price or how many days before the expiration date is to be discounted is usually different for each product. As with the management device 104, the file 405
The commodity value change information is stored in the wireless tag 102, and the commodity value change information of the commodity is extracted from the file 405 from the commodity code written together with the freshness information in the wireless tag 102, or the data communication unit 404 queries the central management device. It is configured to obtain product value information. There is also a method of storing the merchandise value change information itself in the wireless tag 102.

In this method, the freshness information of the wireless tag 102 is read by the third management device, and based on the result, the discount amount of each product is reflected on the cash register operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, a customer 107 places a commodity 101 on which a wireless tag 102 is attached on a commodity display shelf 103.
And take it to the cash register, the clerk 110 uses the third management device in the cash register stand 108 to
The discount information of 1 is known, and the result is reflected in the cash register operation performed by the cash register 109.

The third management device in the register table 108 will be described with reference to FIG. The third management device supplies power to the wireless tag, and reads and writes the content of the RFID tag.
A wireless unit 503 (including an antenna), a data communication unit 504 for receiving product information on the product 101 from the central management device and transmitting a discount amount to the cashier 109, a file 505 storing information on all the products 101, It comprises a calendar / clock unit (clock means) 506 for supplying date and clock data, and a processing / storage unit 501 for controlling the whole.

The RFID radio section 503 is provided with the processing / storage section 5
01, the product 101 on the cashier stand 108
Of the wireless tag 102 is read. The read freshness information is stored in the calendar / clock unit 506.
Is compared with the date and time at that time, and the result is notified to the cash register 109 by the data communication unit 504 according to the result. In this way, even if the product code is the same, the price of the product can be automatically changed and settled based on the freshness information.

At this time, the merchandise value change information such as how much to subtract from the displayed price or how many days before the expiration date is to be discounted is usually different for each product. Similarly to the second management apparatus, the merchandise value change information for each merchandise is stored in the file 505, and the price change information of the merchandise is stored in the file 505 based on the merchandise code written together with the freshness information in the wireless tag 102. Or the data communication unit 504 inquires of the central management device to obtain product value change information. In addition, there is a method of putting the merchandise value change information itself in a wireless tag.

Although the merchandise information has been described as being in the management device in the cashier table 108, these data may be stored on the cashier 109 side. Also, the cashier 109 and the management device in the cashier table 108 have been described as separate devices.
An internal configuration may be used.

The fourth management device of this embodiment reads the freshness information of the wireless tag and prints the discount amount of each product on the label based on the read result.

As shown in FIG. 6, a handy terminal 11 having a built-in fourth management device and held and used by a user.
1 is directed to a single product or a plurality of product groups, the information of the wireless tag 102 attached to the product 101 is read, and a price reduction label 113 is printed from the printer 112 based on the information.

A management device built in the handy terminal 111 supplies power to the wireless tag and reads / writes the contents thereof, and an RFID wireless unit 603 (including an antenna) and a data communication wireless unit for receiving information on the product 101. 604, a file 605 storing information on the product 101, a calendar / clock unit (clock means) 606 for supplying date and clock data, a printing unit 607 for label printing, a display unit 602, and a processing / storage unit for controlling the whole. 601.

The RFID radio section 603 is provided with a processing / storage section 6
In accordance with an instruction from 01, freshness information of the wireless tag 102 attached to the product 101 is read. At this time, if it is not a single product but a plurality of product groups, the freshness information of all the products is read at once or divided into a plurality. The read freshness information is compared with the current date / time from the calendar / clock unit 606, and based on the result, a discount amount, a price after reduction, or a privilege is displayed on the display unit 60.
2 and a printing unit 607 (printer 112)
To print on the price reduction label 113. In this way, even if the product code is the same, the price reduction or the like of the product can be printed on the label based on the freshness information. The clerk puts a price reduction label on the product based on the changed price information displayed on the display unit.

At this time, the merchandise value change information such as how much to subtract from the displayed price or how many days before the expiration date is to be discounted is usually different for each product. Similarly to the third management apparatus, the merchandise value change information of each merchandise is stored in the file 605, and the merchandise value change information of the merchandise is extracted from the file 605 based on the merchandise code stored in the wireless tag 102. The data communication unit 604 may inquire the central management device to obtain the information. There is also a method of storing the price change information itself in the wireless tag. As described above, necessary labels can be collectively printed by collectively reading the wireless tags on which freshness information is written.

When the labels printed together are pasted to individual products, the correspondence between the freshness information printed on the products and the labels to be pasted is displayed on the display unit 602 so as not to make a mistake. Alternatively, the freshness information attached to the product may be read by a wireless tag, and the content of the label to be attached may be displayed.

In FIG. 6, the handy terminal 111 is used.
And the printing unit 112 are represented in separate housings, but they may be in the same housing.

Further, as still another embodiment of the present invention, freshness information of a plurality of wireless tags is read all at once or divided into a plurality of pieces, and the presence or absence of a product to be discarded is notified based on the information. You may comprise so that a management apparatus may be provided.

Next, a control method common to the management apparatuses of the respective embodiments will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 701, the freshness information of the wireless tag is read by the RFID wireless unit provided in the management device.
In the next step 702, the current date / time information is read from the calendar / clock section in the management device.

In the next step 703, the freshness information read from the wireless tag is compared with the current date and time, and in the next step 704, a discount price or privilege information is obtained from the comparison result and the product value change information of the product. Decide etc. Then, the commodity value changed in step 705 is displayed on the display unit or printed on a label.

[0061]

According to the present invention, the freshness information written in the wireless tag is read out, so that the salesclerk or the customer can read the expiration date and the manufacturing date written on the product without reading the product. Thus, the freshness information of the wireless tag can be read to perform product management, various benefits, and the like, thereby preventing mistaken reading or oversight of the freshness information by hand.

Further, according to the present invention, an appeal to a customer based on freshness information can be automatically performed on a product display shelf, and loss of opportunity for product sales can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the customer can directly read the freshness information written on the wireless tag and know the resulting price information and various benefits, so that the customer can understand the freshness information. A product can be selected after making a decision based on the decision.

Further, according to the present invention, by reading the freshness information written in the wireless tag at the time of settlement, the device enables this wireless device to read the contents of the price reduction label attached to the product without reading it. The price can be changed by reading the freshness information of the tag, thereby preventing mistaken reading or oversight of the freshness information by hand.

According to the present invention, freshness information of wireless tags of a plurality of products is read at once or divided into a plurality of pieces,
Based on the information, the presence / absence of products to be discarded can be determined at a time, so that it is possible to quickly process the products without any trouble when inspecting the products one by one.

Further, according to the present invention, the freshness information of the wireless tag is read and the new price information is judged from the content, so that the pair of the freshness and the price information is displayed. By attaching the label to the product, the label is not mistakenly attached.

According to the present invention, the freshness information written in the wireless tag is read, and a new price label is printed based on the information, so that the clerk can check the expiration date and the manufacturing date written on the product. A new price label can be created by the device without reading the date and the like, thereby preventing a mistake in reading freshness information by hand or oversight.

Further, according to the present invention, the freshness information of commodities is read together and printed together without reading the freshness information of the commodities one by one, thereby reducing the labor and time required for producing necessary labels.

Further, according to the present invention, when a label printed together is pasted on each product, a pair of freshness and price information is displayed, and a clerk looks at the information and applies a label of a new price to the product. By sticking, the label is not mistakenly stuck.

Further, according to the present invention, when the labels printed together are affixed to each product, the freshness information attached to the product is read by the wireless tag, and the contents of the label to be affixed are displayed. By applying the new price label to the product while viewing the information, the label is not mistakenly applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall concept of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a wireless tag.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 merchandise 102 wireless tag 103 merchandise display shelf 104 first management device 105 second management device 107 customer 108 cash register stand 109 cash register 110 clerk 111 handy terminal 112 printer 113 price reduction label 201 antenna 202 rectification / power supply unit 203 modulation / demodulation unit 204 processing -Storage unit 301, 401, 501, 601 Processing-Storage unit 302, 402, 602 Display unit 303, 403, 503, 603 RFID wireless unit 304, 404, 504, 604 Data communication unit 305, 405, 505, 605 File 306 , 406, 506, 605 Calendar / clock section 607 Printing section

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A wireless tag attached to a product and storing information about the product, and wirelessly reading information stored in the wireless tag to obtain product value information of the product and date and time information on the date and time of the product. A product management system including a management device. 2. The management device has clock means for measuring the current date and time, and changes the merchandise value information of the read commodity based on the read date and time information of the commodity and the current date and time from the clock means. The merchandise management system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The management device according to claim 2, wherein the management device has a display unit, is arranged near the displayed product, and displays the changed product value information to the customer on the display unit. Item 2 of the product management system. 4. The merchandise management according to claim 2, wherein the management device is arranged at a store along with the merchandise, and enables a customer to read the wireless tag with the management device and check the changed merchandise value information. system. 5. The merchandise management system according to claim 2, wherein the merchandise is settled based on the merchandise value information changed by the management device. 6. The product management system according to claim 2, wherein the management device reads wireless tags of a plurality of products at a time, and determines a product to be discarded based on the read information. 7. A label is attached to a product according to a product value, and the management device includes a display unit that displays changed product value information so that a label corresponding to the product value can be selected. The merchandise management system according to claim 2, wherein: 8. The product management system according to claim 2, wherein the management device includes a printing unit that prints the changed product value information and prints a label attached to the product. 9. The merchandise management system according to claim 8, wherein the management device reads a plurality of wireless tags at a time and prints necessary labels collectively. 10. The product management system according to claim 9, wherein the management device includes a display unit that displays information printed on the product and information printed on a label in association with each other. 11. The management device according to claim 9, further comprising a display unit that reads a wireless tag of a product to which a label is to be attached and displays the label to be attached.
Product management system described.