JP2003187330A - Electronic shelf tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic shelf tag system in which point information to be reported to customers can be easily changed. <P>SOLUTION: On an electronic shelf tag (self tag display device) 5 provided for each kind of merchandise on a merchandise display shelf of the electronic shelf tag system 1, at least the price of the merchandise is displayed on the basis of merchandise information received from an electronic shelf tag controller (managing device) 2. The point information is also included as the merchandise information and the pertinent electronic shelf tag 5 displays the point information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label installed beside each product displayed in a retail store and displaying the price of the product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, at home electric appliance stores and the like, points are given at a predetermined ratio to the price of goods purchased by customers.
An increasing number of places have point systems that can use these points to pay for the next purchase. Further, since the point sale rate can enhance the product sales competitiveness, competitors are competing for this offer rate. For this reason, a printout of the awarding rate for each product is displayed on the shelf so as to appeal the customer's point awarding rate.

[0003]

However, the point-giving rate may differ for each product, and if the printed point-giving rate for each product is displayed on the shelf as in the conventional case, Even if the information of the grant rate of the competitor store is obtained, there is a problem that the work burden is heavy to change the grant rate of the own store against it, and it cannot be easily dealt with.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic shelf label system capable of easily changing point information to be notified to customers.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electronic shelf label system according to claim 1 has a shelf label indicator installed for each type of product on a product display shelf and a management device. In the electronic shelf label system for displaying at least the price of a product based on the product information received from the product, the product information also includes point information, and the corresponding shelf label display displays the point information.

The electronic shelf label system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the point information is set for each payment condition and the corresponding shelf label display displays the point information for each payment condition.

The electronic shelf label system according to the third aspect is characterized in that the display of the point information of each payment condition by the shelf label display is switched at every predetermined time.

In the electronic shelf label system according to the fourth aspect, the point information for each payment condition is displayed simultaneously by a plurality of display units.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic shelf label system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an electronic shelf label system, which is connected to a POS system 10 via a local area network LAN.

The POS system 10 includes a store controller (SC) 11 and a plurality of electronic cash registers (EC) connected to the store controller 11 online.
R) 12 and. Store controller 1
1 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and a screen display, and a memory stores a product file (PLU file) in which a product name, a normal price, a member price, etc. are stored for each product code, and a special sale start date for each product code. Special sale end date, special sale price set and stored special sale file and mix match (combination of products that will cause a discount if you purchase a certain number of preset products from multiple types) Start date, end for each code Day,
The number of winnings and the amount of winnings are set and stored, and a mix match file associated with the code of the product file and a set match (combination of products in which a discount is generated when a preset combination of products is purchased) code A set match file that allows you to set and memorize the established amount, multiple product codes, etc. and effectively change the selling price, and the date of inventory management and inventory by storing the number of orders, the number of stocks, the inventory execution date, etc. for each product code An inventory file that can manage data and an actual product file (aggregation file) that stores sales performance data and the like are provided.

The electronic cash register 12 is arranged in the checkout area of the store, and the store controller 11 is arranged in the back room of the store. When the barcode of the customer's purchased product is read by the scanner of the electronic cash register 12, the read code data (product code) is transmitted to the store controller 11. The store controller 11 reads the product data of the code data from the PLU file, transmits it to the electronic cash register 12 that has transmitted the code data, and updates the performance file. Electronic cash register 12 that received the product data
Displays merchandise data and performs checkout processing based on the data.

In this way, the store controller 11
The actual sales data is stored in the actual result file for each product code. The sales data are aggregated into sales on the day, sales on the previous day, sales on the week, sales on the previous week, sales on the month, sales on the previous month, and the past sales data are stored as necessary. It is also possible to set the period for totaling appropriately. The merchandise file and the totalization file connected to the store controller 11 can be appropriately referred to by the electronic shelf label system 1 and other devices connected to the LAN as needed.

The electronic shelf label system 1 includes a management device (electronic shelf label controller; TC) 2 and a plurality of shelf label indicators (electronic shelf labels; EPL) wirelessly (infrared communication) connected to the electronic shelf label controller 2. It is composed of 5 and. Electronic shelf label 5
Is arranged for each type of product on the product display shelf, and the price of each product is displayed in real time. Electronic shelf label controller 2
The electronic shelf label 5 and the electronic shelf label 5 are connected by using infrared rays as a transmission medium. In the present embodiment, one-way communication may be performed only for signal transmission from the electronic shelf label controller 2 to the electronic shelf label 5, or bidirectional communication may be performed.

The electronic shelf label 5 has a CPU, as shown in FIG.
31, ROM 32, RAM 33, infrared signal receiver 3
4, the LCD display unit 36, and the LED lamp 37 are provided, and are driven by a solar cell 38 arranged on the right side of the main body surface as shown in FIG. Also solar cell 3
A button battery 39, such as a lithium battery, is built in for backup of 8. The LED lamp 37 is used when it is desired to draw the attention of a customer or a store clerk. As shown in FIG. 2, the LCD display unit 36 includes an upper display unit a26, a lower left display unit b27, and a lower right display unit c28. Display unit a26, display unit b27, display unit c28
Is a liquid crystal display, each of which displays numbers in 7 segments, and the other characters are displayed by driving a liquid crystal element corresponding to a shielding plate provided with a cut character.

The characters "yen" can be displayed at the right ends of the display portions a26 and b27, and the character "discount" can be displayed at the right end of the display portion c28. Further, at the left end of the display portion a26, the characters "cash payment" or "card payment" can be displayed as payment conditions, and the characters "point" and point award rate (percentage;%) can be displayed as point information. Further, normally, as shown in FIG. 2, the (current) selling price is displayed on the right end of the display section a26 and the (normal) selling price is displayed on the display section b27.
The selling price and the discount information are displayed on the display part c28. Further, a product information label 20 is attached to the space on the left side of the electronic shelf label 5. The product information label 20 is printed with a product name 21, a shelf label ID 22, a bar code 23, and the like.

Further, the RAM 33 stores various data in each storage area as shown in FIG. Storage area 100 is C
This is a work area for storing the values of flags, registers, etc. necessary for the PU 31 to operate. Storage area 10
Reference numeral 1 is an area for storing the display surface number currently displayed.
The storage area 102 is an area for storing the current sales promotion mode number. The storage area 103 is an area for storing the data of the display surface table 41 as shown in FIG. The display surface table 41 is a table that defines display data of the display unit a26, the display unit b27, and the display unit c28 for each display surface number. The storage area 104 is an area for storing the data of the sales promotion table 42 as shown in FIG. The promotion table 42 includes a plurality of display surface numbers for each promotion mode number,
9 is a table for setting a time (timer value) of a timer that sequentially switches display surfaces to be displayed. Table 4 above
The setting data received from the electronic shelf label controller 2 is stored in the CPUs 1 and 42 by the CPU 31.
Various data (sales price, normal selling price, discount rate, point information (point award rate) 1, point information (point award rate) 2, inventory number, last week's sale number, previous month after the storage area 105 is received from the electronic shelf label controller 2 This is an area for storing the number of items sold, etc.).

The display screen is switched by a command from the electronic shelf label controller 2 or the screen switching remote controller 7 shown in FIG. That is, when the remote controller 7 is made to face the infrared light receiving portion (sensor) 6 of the electronic shelf label 5 and the display surface number is pressed with the ten key on the remote controller 7, the screen is switched to the screen designated by the ten key. As the remote control, only the screen switching button corresponding to the display surface number is provided,
When the button is operated, the display screen may be switched as 1 → 2 → 3.

The electronic shelf label controller 2 has a table for storing the correspondence between the product code and the shelf label ID for controlling the electronic shelf label 5. When starting up the electronic shelf label system, the following processing is performed. The shelf label ID 22 is individually stored in each electronic shelf label 5. (The shelf label ID 22 serves as address information when data is transmitted from the electronic shelf label controller 2.) Each electronic shelf label 5 is associated with a product. (The table stores the shelf label ID 22 and the product code associated therewith.)

The product information label 20 is issued. The product information label 20 is attached to the electronic shelf label 5 associated with the product. The electronic shelf label 5 is attached to the shelf on which the product of the product information label 20 is displayed. Data is transmitted from the electronic shelf label controller 2 to the electronic shelf label 5.

When the setting data of the display surface table 41 is transmitted from the electronic shelf label controller 2 to the electronic shelf label 5 and is set, "shelf label ID + display surface number + display section number (display section a,
This is performed by transmitting “b / c distinction) + display data” via the transmitting unit 3 and the infrared signal emitting means 4. In addition, when the setting data of the sales promotion table 42 is transmitted and set, it is performed by transmitting “shelf tag ID + sales promotion mode number + timer value + display surface number”. Also electronic shelf label 5
The control of the operation of is performed by transmitting “shelf tag ID + command etc. (instruction of operation content)”. For example, to select whether the LED lamp 37 is turned on, turned off, or blinked, transmission of “shelf tag ID + lighting command”, transmission of “shelf tag ID + lighting command”,
This is done by transmitting "shelf tag ID + blink command". When the data received via the infrared light receiving sensor 6 and the receiving unit 34 is its own (stored) shelf label ID, the electronic shelf label 5 stores the received data in the RAM 33 and LC
It is displayed on the D display unit 36, or the LED lamp 37 is turned on, turned off, or blinks.

The display data of each screen is displayed on the display surface table 4.
1, the display surface number 1 is a normal price display, the display surface number 2 is a point information display and a normal price display when cash is paid, and the display surface number 3 is a card payment. Point information display and normal price display,
The display surface number 4 is the inventory number display, the display surface number 5 is the past sales performance display, and the display surface number 6 is the registration data display related to ordering. Additional screen displays can be added as necessary. it can.

Further, by changing the sales promotion mode number,
The display screen can be automatically switched according to the setting contents of the sales promotion table 42. For example, in the case of the promotion mode number 1, the screen with the display surface number 2 and the screen with the display surface number 3 are sequentially displayed every 3 seconds. In the case of the promotion mode number 2, the screen of the display surface number 7 and the display surface number 8 are displayed.
And the screen of display surface number 9 are displayed in sequence every 5 seconds.

The operator can display a selection condition setting screen on the store controller 11 by performing a predetermined operation, and set a product selection condition for causing the LED to blink on the setting screen.

Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the CPU 31 shown in FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by First,
In the electronic shelf label 5, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the command to enter the sales promotion mode and the sales promotion mode number have been received. If the reception, the processing proceeds to step S2, and if not received, the processing proceeds to step S5 ( Step S1).

In step S2, the CPU 31 stores the received sales promotion mode number in the storage area 102 of the RAM 33, enters the sales promotion mode state of the received sales promotion mode number, and sets the timer value corresponding to the sales promotion mode number from the sales promotion table 42. Read the display surface number. Then, the timer value is set in the timer and activated (step S
3). Then, the first read display surface number is written in the storage area 101, corresponding display data is read from the storage area according to the definition content corresponding to the display surface number of the display surface table 41, and the display data is respectively displayed in the corresponding display section. It is displayed (step S4).

For example, if the sales promotion mode number is 1, the timer value "3 (seconds)" and the display surface number "2" are read from the sales promotion table 42 in FIG. Then, according to the definition content corresponding to the display surface number “2” of the display surface table 41, the point information 1 “20” of the storage area 108 and the selling price “159” of the storage area 105 as the display data of the display unit a.
Is read, the normal selling price “190” of the storage area 106 is read as the display data of the display section b, and the discount rate “1.6” of the storage area 107 is read as the display data of the display section c. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, these display data are respectively displayed on the display part a26, the display part b27, and the display part c.
28 is displayed. It should be noted that in the display part a26, the character "cash payment" and the display of the point information are defined because "cash payment" is defined as the payment condition display in the display surface number "2" of the display surface table 41. Therefore, the characters "point" are displayed respectively. After performing the process of step S4, the process returns to step S1.

In step S5, the CPU 31 determines whether or not it is currently in the sales promotion mode depending on whether or not an effective numerical value other than 0 is stored in the storage area 102. 0
If an effective value other than is stored, it is determined that the sales promotion mode is set, and the process proceeds to step S6. If 0 is stored, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S6, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the timer started in step S3 has timed out. If the timer has timed up, the process proceeds to step S7. If not, step S9. Process shifts to.

In step S7, the CPU 31 writes, in the storage area 101, the display surface number next to the number stored in the storage area 101 among the display surface numbers of the sales promotion table 42 corresponding to the current sales promotion mode. S4
The next display surface number is displayed in the same manner as the processing of step 1, and the timer is set and activated (steps S7 and S8).
For example, if the promotion mode number is 1 and the number stored in the storage area 101 is 2, the timer value “3 (seconds)” and the display surface number “3” are read from the promotion table 42 in FIG. According to the definition content of the display surface table 41 corresponding to the display surface number “3”, the point information 2 “10” in the storage area 108 and the selling price “159” in the storage area 105 are read as the display data of the display unit a. , The normal selling price “190” of the storage area 106 as the display data of the display section b
Is read out and stored in the storage area 1 as the display data of the display section c.
The discount rate "1.6" of 07 is read. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, these display data are respectively displayed on the display part a2.
6, displayed on the display part b27 and the display part c28. In addition,
In the display part a26, the character "card payment" is defined as the payment condition display in the display surface number "3" of the display surface table 41, and the display of the point information is defined. The characters "point" are displayed respectively. Next, the timer value "3 (seconds)" is set in the timer and activated. After performing the process of step S8, the process returns to step S1.

In step S9, the CPU 31 determines whether or not data other than sales promotion data, that is, data such as display data or display screen number has been received. If so, the process proceeds to step S10. If not received, the process proceeds to step S12. Step S10
At, the CPU 31 stores the received data in the corresponding storage area. Next, the display surface table 41 is referred to based on the display surface number of the storage area 101, and the data is read from the corresponding storage area according to the definition content and displayed. After performing this process, the process returns to step S1.

In step S12, the CPU 31 performs processing other than the above steps, for example, initialization processing and the like, and returns to step S1.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a display example of the electronic shelf label 5 according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the point award rate when the payment condition is cash payment is "20% for cash payment points" on the display part b27, and the point award for card payment is displayed on the display part c28. The rate is displayed at the same time, such as "card payment points 10%". In this case, the display control operation of the CPU 31 is simple because it is not necessary to switch the display within a predetermined time.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the display of the point information is not limited to the percentage display with respect to the price of the product, but may be the number of points awarded for one product. In this way, it is possible to directly appeal the number of points to be given to the customer and to expect an effect of inviting the customer to purchase.
Further, in the point information display for each payment condition, the conditions are not limited to two types, and only cash payment may be displayed as points, and other payment conditions may not be displayed as points. Alternatively, the payment conditions may be three or more types.

The display of the payment conditions on the shelf label display (electronic shelf label) is not limited to the cut-off character selection display, and any display means such as a dot display may be used. Further, the point display for each payment condition is not switched by the shelf label display itself by using a timer, but the display data for each payment condition or the display surface is displayed from the management device (electronic shelf label controller) at predetermined time intervals. The number may be received and displayed.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. included.

[0035]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, since the point information is displayed on the shelf label display for displaying the price of the product, the point information can be easily changed. In addition, the effect that the configuration is simple and can be realized at low cost is obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the point information is displayed on the shelf label display for each payment condition, it is easy to change the display of the point information, and the customer can check the payment information for each payment condition. You can tell that it is a service without misunderstanding.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the display of the point information of each payment condition is switched at every predetermined time, it is not necessary to provide a display section for each payment condition, and an inexpensive electronic shelf label is used. be able to.

According to the invention described in claim 4, since the point information for each payment condition is displayed at the same time, the point information for each payment condition can be compared and viewed, which may mislead the customer. Can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic shelf label system 1 connected to a POS system 10 via a LAN according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an electronic shelf label 5 shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric circuit of the electronic shelf label 5 shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage area of a RAM 33 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a display surface table 41.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a sales promotion table 42.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by CPU 31 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a first diagram showing a display example of an electronic shelf label 5.

FIG. 9 is a second diagram showing a display example of the electronic shelf label 5.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an electronic shelf label 5 according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic shelf label system, 2 ... Electronic shelf label controller (management device), 3 ... Transmission part, 4 ... Infrared signal radiating means, 5 ...
Electronic shelf label (shelf label display), 6 ... Infrared signal light receiving sensor,
7 ... Screen switching remote controller, 10 ... POS system, 11
... store controller (SC), 12 ... ECR (electronic cash register), 20 ... product information label, 22 ... shelf label ID, 23 ... bar code, 26 ... display part a, 27 ... display part b, 28 ... display part c , 31 ... CPU, 32 ... RO
M, 33 ... RAM, 34 ... Receiving part, 36 ... LCD display part, 37 ... LED lamp, 38 ... Solar battery, 39 ... Button battery, 41 ... Display surface table, 42 ... Sales promotion table,
LAN: Local area network.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshinori Takizawa             5-13-12, Kugahara, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Teraoka Seiko F term (reference) 3B118 FA11                 3E042 BA05 CB07 CC04 CD07 CE07                       EA01                 5C080 AA07 AA10 BB02 BB05 CC01                       CC09 DD21 EE01 EE05 EE26                       GG02 GG12 JJ02 JJ07 KK31                 5G435 BB12 CC06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic shelf label system for displaying at least the price of a product on a shelf label display installed for each type of product on a product display shelf based on product information received from a management device, wherein the product information is An electronic shelf label system characterized in that the corresponding shelf label display also displays point information, including point information. 2. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1, wherein the point information is set for each payment condition and a corresponding shelf label display displays the point information for each payment condition. 3. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, wherein the display of the point information of each payment condition by the shelf label display is switched every predetermined time. 4. The point information for each payment condition is simultaneously displayed on a plurality of display units.
Electronic shelf label system described in.