JP2006092121A - Electronic shelf tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic shelf tag system allowing a change of commercial information displayed by an electronic shelf tag at prescribed time even if a communication failure occurs. <P>SOLUTION: In this electronic shelf tag system, an information signal instructing the change of a display selling price is transmitted to the electronic shelf tag from a distribution side device in advance time (14:30) 30 minutes before change scheduled time (15:00) for changing the display selling price. After 30 minutes are clocked by the electronic shelf tag, the display selling price of the electronic shelf tag is changed in the changed scheduled time. Thus, because the information signal is transmitted to the electronic shelf tag in advance, the communication failure can be grasped at the time point before the change scheduled time even when the communication failure occurs. As a result, the communication failure can be coped with by the change scheduled time, and the display selling price can be changed at the change scheduled time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label system including a plurality of electronic shelf labels that are arranged corresponding to products and display product information related to the corresponding products.

  In general, in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, the selling price of the product in the store is centrally managed by a product master stored in a POS system or the like. On the other hand, the selling price is transmitted to the consumer by a paper medium shelf label placed at the position of the product. Since management of such a paper medium shelf label must be relied upon manually, human error such as a mistake in selling price tends to occur. For this reason, there is a possibility that a selling price different from the settlement selling price by the register of the POS system is transmitted to the consumer.

  In order to solve such a problem, an electronic shelf label system (ESL system / Electronic Shelf Label System) has been put into practical use in recent years. In the electronic shelf label system, a portable electronic shelf label having a display for displaying product information such as selling price is arranged corresponding to each product. Then, an information signal including a selling price based on the product master is transmitted to each electronic shelf label from a distribution-side device that distributes information, and the selling price is displayed on each electronic shelf label. As a result, a correct selling price that matches the settlement selling price can be transmitted to the consumer.

  Each electronic shelf label of the electronic shelf label system transmits a reception confirmation signal indicating that the information signal has been received when receiving the information signal related to its own device. The distribution-side apparatus confirms whether or not the information signal is normally received by the electronic shelf label based on the presence or absence of the reception confirmation signal transmitted from the electronic shelf label. Infrared light is usually used for communication between the device on the distribution side and the electronic shelf label, such as transmission and reception of information signals and reception confirmation signals, so that the arrangement of the electronic shelf label can be easily changed. Wireless communication such as infrared communication is employed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-5872 A

  By the way, in stores where electronic shelf label systems are introduced, in order to increase consumers' willingness to purchase products, limited-time special sales (time service) where the selling price of products is lower than the normal price for a limited time only. ) Is frequently performed. Conventionally, when such a limited time sale is performed, it is necessary to simultaneously change both the settlement sale price by the register and the display sale price by the electronic shelf label, so the time when the sale price should be changed (the start time of the limited sale) And an end time), a signal instructing a change in selling price is transmitted to both the register and the electronic shelf label.

  However, as described above, since the communication adopted in the electronic shelf label system is wireless communication such as infrared communication, communication failure is likely to occur as compared with wired communication adopted for communication to the register. For this reason, the display price of the electronic shelf label does not change from the normal price even after the start time of the limited time sale, or the display price of the electronic shelf label does not change from the normal price. May be maintained at the sale price. If the display price of the electronic shelf label is not changed at the time when the selling price should be changed, the settlement price of the register and the display price of the electronic shelf label will not match, which will reduce consumer confidence in the store. Problems arise.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an electronic shelf label system that can change product information displayed on an electronic shelf label at a predetermined time even if a communication failure occurs. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of claim 1 is an electronic shelf label system, which is arranged corresponding to a product and displays a plurality of electronic shelf labels displaying product information related to the corresponding product, and the electronic shelf Information distribution means for transmitting product information to be displayed on the bill to the electronic shelf label by wireless communication, and a first time at which the product information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label is to be changed is determined. The information distribution means transmits the changed product information to the electronic shelf label at a second time that is a predetermined time before the first time.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the first aspect, the wireless communication is infrared communication.

  The invention of claim 3 further comprises a confirmation means for confirming completion of transmission of the product information from the information distribution means to the electronic shelf label in the electronic shelf label system according to claim 1 or 2, The information distribution means, when the transmission of the product information is not confirmed within a predetermined reference time after transmitting the product information to the electronic shelf label, until the transmission completion of the product information is confirmed. The product information is repeatedly transmitted to the tag.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the third aspect, the transmission of the commodity information is completed within a predetermined reference time after the information distribution means transmits the commodity information to the electronic shelf label. Is further provided with a warning means for outputting a warning when the error is not confirmed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the product information includes a selling price of the product.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the invention, the product information to be displayed is transmitted in advance to the electronic shelf label at the second time before the first time when the product information to be displayed is to be changed. The presence of a communication failure can be confirmed by the first time when the information is to be changed. As a result, it is possible to cope with a communication failure by the first time and change the product information displayed at the first time.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, when infrared communication is used for transmitting product information, a communication failure occurs due to the presence of a non-transparent shield between the information distribution means and the electronic shelf label. Thus, it is possible to cope with such a communication failure by the first time.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, since the transmission of the merchandise information to the electronic shelf label is repeated until the completion of the transmission of the merchandise information is confirmed, the electronic shelf label can be quickly transmitted after the cause of the communication failure is eliminated. Product information.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, a communication failure can be easily grasped by outputting a warning.

  In particular, according to the invention of claim 5, the selling price can be reliably changed at the first time when the selling price should be changed. As a result, store credit can be maintained and improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an electronic shelf label system applied to a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store will be described as an example.

<1. Configuration of electronic shelf label system>
<1-1. Overview of electronic shelf labels>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which electronic shelf labels included in the electronic shelf label system according to the present embodiment are arranged on a product shelf in a store. As shown in the figure, the product shelf 60 is divided into spaces called faces 61, and the same type of products 6 are collected and placed on each face 61.

  The electronic shelf label 5 is attached to the frame 62 of the product shelf 60 at a position corresponding to each face 61. That is, each electronic shelf label 5 is associated with one product 6 (more precisely, one product type), and is arranged at the position of the corresponding product 6. Each electronic shelf label 5 is provided with a display, on which the selling price of the product corresponding to the device is displayed. Hereinafter, the selling price of the product displayed on the display of the electronic shelf label 5 is referred to as “display selling price”. The consumer recognizes the selling price of the product 6 based on the displayed selling price of the electronic shelf label 5.

  The electronic shelf label 5 is a portable device, and can be removed from the frame 62 and rearranged at another position so as to cope with the change in the arrangement of the product 6. In the present embodiment, a plurality of product shelves 60 as shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in the sales area in the store.

<1-2. Related System>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a store information system including an electronic shelf label system applied to the store of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the store information system 100 includes a store controller 2 and a POS system 3 along with the electronic shelf label system 1. The POS server 31 included in the POS system 3 and the ESL server 10 included in the electronic shelf label system 1 are connected to the store controller 2 via the LAN 21. Thereby, data communication is enabled among the store controller 2, the POS system 3, and the electronic shelf label system 1.

  The store controller 2 is composed of a general computer and functions as a device that manages the store information system 100 in an integrated manner. The store controller 2 is connected to an external network such as the Internet, and can communicate with a computer or the like disposed in a headquarter center that manages the store via the external network.

  The POS system 3 is a system that collects and analyzes product sales information at the time of sale of the product, and includes a plurality of registers 32 that perform product settlement together with a POS server 31 that manages the POS system 3 in an integrated manner. Yes. The POS server 31 and the register 32 are connected by a dedicated communication cable.

  The POS server 31 is composed of a general computer, and the hard disk stores a product master 301 indicating various information related to the product such as the selling price of the product. In each of the plurality of registers 32, the product is settled based on the selling price described in the product master 301. Hereinafter, the selling price of a product used for register settlement is referred to as “settlement selling price”.

  Information related to all products in the store is centrally managed by the product master 301. The information described in the product master 301 includes a “product code” that is product identification information, a “product name” that is the name of the product, a “normal price” that is a normal selling price, and a selling price in a limited time sale. "Special price", "Special sale start time" which is the start time of limited sale, "Special sale end time" which is the end time of limited sale, and the like. “Special sale start time” and “Special sale end time” are expressed in absolute time. Here, the limited time sale is a sales method called a time service in which the sale price of a product is reduced to a sale price lower than a normal price only for a limited period.

<1-3. Distribution side device>
The electronic shelf label system 1 includes an ESL server 10, a base station 41, and a plurality of transceivers 42 as well as a plurality of electronic shelf labels 5. The ESL server 10, the base station 41, and the plurality of transceivers 42 realize a function of distributing the selling price of a product to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 to each electronic shelf label 5. Hereinafter, the ESL server 10, the base station 41, and the plurality of transceivers 42 are collectively referred to as “distribution-side devices” 40.

  The ESL server 10 is a server device that manages the electronic shelf label system 1 in an integrated manner, and is arranged in a backyard or the like separate from the sales area in the store. The base station 41 is connected to the ESL server 10 and each transceiver 42, and functions as a signal relay between the ESL server 10 and each transceiver 42.

  The transceiver 42 transmits and receives signals to and from the electronic shelf label 5 in the store by infrared communication that is wireless communication using infrared light. More specifically, the transceiver 42 transmits an information signal, which is an infrared signal including a selling price to be displayed by the electronic shelf label 5, to the electronic shelf label 5, and transmits from the electronic shelf label 5 as a response signal. A reception confirmation signal which is an infrared signal to be received. The transceiver 42 is fixedly arranged at substantially constant distances on the ceiling of the sales area so that it can communicate with all the electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in the sales area.

  Each electronic shelf label 5 of the electronic shelf label system 1 receives an information signal related to its own device, and in response to this, transmits an acknowledgment signal indicating that the information signal has been received. The reception confirmation signal transmitted from the electronic shelf label 5 in this way is received by the transceiver 42. By receiving the reception confirmation signal by the transceiver 42, the ESL server 10 which is the main device of the distribution side device 40 confirms that the information signal is normally received by the electronic shelf label 5, that is, the transmission of the information signal is completed. It becomes.

  In infrared communication between the transceiver 42 and the electronic shelf label 5, the infrared signal is allowed to be reflected once. In other words, if there is no reflection or a single reflection before the infrared signal arrives from the transmitting device to the receiving device, the infrared signal is normally transmitted.

  The configuration of the ESL server 10 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the ESL server 10. That is, the ESL server 10 includes a CPU 11 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 that stores basic programs, a RAM 13 that serves as a work area for arithmetic processes, a hard disk 14 that stores programs and various data files, and a clock that can count absolute time. A clock 19 as a circuit, a display 15 for performing various displays, an input unit 16 including a keyboard and a mouse, a data communication unit 17 having a data communication function via the LAN 21, and an interface for communicating with the base station 41 18 is provided. Various signals for controlling the electronic shelf label 5 are transmitted to the base station 41 via the interface 18.

  A dedicated program is stored in advance in the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10, and various functions as the ESL server 10 are realized by the CPU 11 performing arithmetic processing according to this program. In addition, the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 stores a product file 101 that is a data file indicating various information related to the product.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the product file 101. As shown in the figure, the product file 101 has a table format in which one record 102 indicates information related to one product. For each record 102, information similar to that of the product master 301 described above, such as “product code”, “product name”, “regular price”, “sale price”, “sale start time”, and “sale end time”, is provided. It is registered. Since these pieces of information are registered based on the information of the product master 301, the information matches the information of the product master 301.

  In each record 102 of the product file 101, one “device code”, which is a hardware ID specific to each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 included in the electronic shelf label system 1, is registered. As a result, one product and one electronic shelf label 5 are associated in terms of data. When the distribution-side device 40 displays the “sale price” of a certain product on the electronic shelf label 5, the “device code” corresponding to the product is acquired, and information including this “device code” and “sell price” A signal is generated and transmitted from transceiver 42. As a result, an information signal is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 on which the “selling price” of the product is to be displayed.

<1-4. Electronic shelf label>
Next, the electronic shelf label 5 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the electronic shelf label 5. As shown in the figure, on the front surface of the electronic shelf label 5, a display 51 for displaying the selling price of a product and an infrared communication unit 54 including a receiving unit 52 and a transmitting unit 53 are arranged. The display 51 is composed of, for example, a segment type liquid crystal display capable of displaying a 4-digit numerical value. The receiving unit 52 receives an infrared signal such as an information signal from the transceiver 42, and the transmitting unit 53 transmits an infrared signal such as a reception confirmation signal.

  Below the display 51, an overlay label 55 printed with a barcode indicating “product name” and “product code” related to the product associated with the electronic shelf label 5 is attached. If the electronic shelf label 5 is not attached with labels, it is difficult to grasp which product the electronic shelf label 5 is associated with. However, the overlay label 55 causes the electronic shelf label 5 and the product to be connected to each other. Visually associated.

  In addition, the electronic shelf label 5 includes therein a small battery 56 that supplies driving power, and a control unit 57 that includes an integrated circuit that controls the operation of the apparatus. The control unit 57 includes a memory 58 that stores various types of information and a timer 59 that is a timer circuit. The memory 58 stores the selling price to be displayed on the display 51, the device code of the device itself, and the like. The timer 59 does not measure the absolute time, but has only a relatively simple function of measuring a set time (time as a length between two points in the time flow) in order to reduce power consumption. (Details will be described later).

<2. Operation of the electronic shelf label system>
Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be described. In the electronic shelf label system 1 of the present embodiment, an information signal is transmitted from the distribution side device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 when the system is activated and when a limited time sale is performed.

<2-1. At system startup>
First, the operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 when the system is activated will be described. When the electronic shelf label system 1 is activated, an information signal is transmitted from the distribution side device 40 to all the electronic shelf labels 5 in the store.

  First, in the ESL server 10, one record of the product file 101 is referred to, and “sell price (normal sell price)” and “device code” related to one product are acquired. Next, an information signal including the acquired “selling price” and “device code” is generated by the ESL server 10 and transmitted from the transceiver 42.

  When receiving the information signal from the transceiver 42, the electronic shelf label 5 confirms the “device code” included in the information signal in response to the information signal. If the “device code” matches that of the device itself, the received information signal is recognized as a signal for the device itself, and a reception confirmation signal indicating that the information signal has been received is transmitted from the transmitter 53. To do. This reception confirmation signal is received by the transceiver 42, whereby the ESL server 10 confirms the completion of transmission of one information signal. Then, the electronic shelf label 5 that has received the information signal for the device itself displays the “selling price” included in the information signal on the display 51. As a result, the “selling price” is displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the “device code”.

  When the electronic shelf label system 1 is activated, such information signals are transmitted for all records (all products) included in the product file 101. As a result, the “selling price” of the corresponding product is displayed on all the electronic shelf labels 5 in the store. As described above, the information in the product file 101 matches the information in the product master 301 of the POS server 31. For this reason, the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 is matched with the settlement selling price of the register 32.

<2-2. Limited time sale>
Next, operation | movement of the electronic shelf label system 1 at the time of performing limited time special sale is demonstrated. In the limited-time special sale, it is necessary to change both the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 and the settlement selling price of the register 32 from the normal price to the special sale price at the moment of the limited-time special sale start time. It is necessary to change from the special price to the normal price at the moment of the end time. That is, it is necessary to change both the display selling price and the settlement selling price at the moment of the start time and end time of the limited time limited sale (hereinafter collectively referred to as “scheduled change time”).

  However, since communication with the electronic shelf label 5 is infrared communication, communication failure is likely to occur compared to communication with the register 32 via a dedicated communication cable. As a case where a communication failure occurs, there are a case where an infrared signal passage route is blocked by a non-transparent material such as a consumer (a shopper), or a case where a device failure of the distribution side device 40 or the electronic shelf label 5 occurs. Conceivable. For this reason, if the transmission of the information signal from the distribution side device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 is executed at the moment of the scheduled change time, if a communication failure occurs at that time, the display selling price will not change even after the scheduled change time. It will not be changed. When the settlement price of the register 32 is changed as scheduled, a situation occurs in which the display selling price and the settlement selling price are different in the store.

  In order to cope with this, in the electronic shelf label system 1 of the present embodiment, the electronic shelf label 5 from the distribution side device 40 at a time before the scheduled change time (hereinafter referred to as “preliminary time”). An information signal is transmitted. The details will be described below.

  Note that when a limited time sale is performed, an information signal is transmitted from the distribution side device 40 only to the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product for which the limited time sale is performed. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, a case will be described in which the selling price is scheduled to be changed for only one product in the limited time limited sale.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of operations of the distribution side device 40 when the limited time sale is performed. This operation is performed before the start time of the limited time limited sale and before the end time, respectively. Before performing this operation, the ESL server 10 grasps in advance the scheduled change time (the start time or end time of the limited time special sale) at which the display selling price should be changed based on the description in the product file 101. Yes.

  First, the current time (absolute time at that time) measured by the clock 19 is confirmed by the ESL server 10 (step S11), and it is confirmed whether or not the current time is a prior time (step S12). In the present embodiment, the advance time is 30 minutes before the scheduled change time. This process is repeated until the current time reaches the prior time.

  When the current time becomes the advance time, the ESL server 10 calculates (derived) the time from the current time to the scheduled change time in units of seconds, and the calculated (derived) value is It is set as “count value” (step S13).

  Next, an information signal including the changed “sale price (sale price at the start of limited-time special sale, normal price at the end)”, “device code” and “count value” of the electronic shelf label 5 whose display should be changed. Is generated by the ESL server 10 (step S14). The generated information signal is transmitted from the transceiver 42 to the electronic shelf label 5 (step S15).

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the transmission of the information signal is completed, that is, whether or not a reception confirmation signal is returned from the electronic shelf label 5 (step S16). When the reception confirmation signal is received by the transceiver 42, the ESL server 10 determines that the transmission of the information signal to the electronic shelf label 5 has been normally completed (step S17), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the reception confirmation signal is not received by the transceiver 42 within a predetermined reference time (for example, 0.5 seconds) after transmitting the information signal, the ESL server 10 determines that a communication failure has occurred. (Step S18). Then, a warning indicating that a communication failure has occurred is displayed on the display 15 of the ESL server 10 (step S19). Subsequently, the process returns to step S13, the count value is recalculated (re-derived) and reset, and an information signal including this count value is generated and transmitted again. Such transmission of the information signal is repeated until reception of the reception confirmation signal is confirmed. In other words, the information signal is repeatedly transmitted to the electronic shelf label until the completion of transmission of the information signal is confirmed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of the operation of the electronic shelf label 5 when the limited time sale is carried out.

  The electronic shelf label 5 is normally in a state of waiting for reception of an information signal from the transceiver 42 (step S21). When the receiving unit 52 receives the information signal, the control unit 57 then determines whether or not the “device code” included in the received information signal matches the device code of the own device in the memory 58 ( Step S22). If the “device code” included in the information signal does not match that of the own device, the process returns to step S21 and again waits for reception of the information signal.

  On the other hand, if the “device code” included in the information signal matches that of the own device, a reception confirmation signal indicating that the information signal related to the own device has been received is transmitted from the transmitter 53 (step S23). At the same time, the “selling price” included in the received information signal is stored in the memory 58.

  Subsequently, the “count value” included in the received information signal is confirmed by the control unit 57, and this “count value” is set to a “timer variable” that is a variable handled by the timer 59 (step S24). Subsequently, the timer 59 is started (step S25). Thereafter, the timer 59 performs a process of decrementing the “timer variable” every second which is a predetermined time period. That is, “timer variable” is subtracted by “1” every second (step S27) until “timer variable” becomes “0” (step S26). By such processing, the time corresponding to the count value is counted, and the processing of the electronic shelf label 5 is waited until the time has elapsed. For example, if the count value is “1800”, the processing of the electronic shelf label 5 is waited until 1800 seconds have elapsed.

  As described above, the count value is a value in seconds indicating “time from the current time to the scheduled change time”. For this reason, the time when the time corresponding to the count value has elapsed coincides with the “scheduled change time”. Therefore, the processing of the electronic shelf label 5 is put on standby until the scheduled change time is reached by the time measuring process by the timer 59 as described above.

  When the “timer variable” becomes “0” (that is, when the scheduled change time is reached), the “sale price” stored in the memory 58 is called by the control unit 57 and displayed on the display 51. Thereby, at the moment of the scheduled change time when the display is to be changed, the display selling price of the display 51 is correctly changed to the “sale price” to be changed (step S28). When the display selling price is changed, the process returns to step S21 and again waits for reception of the information signal.

  As described above, in the electronic shelf label system 1 of the present embodiment, when performing the limited time sale, the display price of the electronic shelf label 5 is changed from the scheduled change time to be changed by a predetermined time (in the present embodiment, 30 minutes) At the previous time before, an information signal including the changed selling price is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5. Therefore, even if a communication failure occurs, the communication failure can be grasped at a time before the scheduled change time. As a result, a communication failure can be dealt with by the scheduled change time, and the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 can be reliably changed at the scheduled change time.

  When the transmission completion of the information signal is not confirmed after the transmission of the information signal, the information signal is repeatedly transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 until the transmission completion of the information signal is confirmed. Therefore, an information signal can be immediately transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 when the cause of the communication failure is eliminated. For example, even if an infrared signal passage route is blocked by a consumer or the like, an information signal is immediately transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 when the consumer moves and the infrared signal passage route is secured. Will be. Many of the communication troubles of the electronic shelf label system 1 are caused by the interruption of the passage of the infrared signal by the consumer. In the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically resolve a problem associated with a communication failure that occurs due to this cause.

  Further, after the transmission of the information signal, when the completion of the transmission is not confirmed, a warning indicating that is displayed on the display 15 of the ESL server 10. For this reason, the store worker can quickly grasp the presence of the communication failure, and can investigate the cause of the communication failure by the scheduled change time. As a result, even if a communication failure occurs due to a device failure of the distribution side device 40 or the electronic shelf label 5, it is possible to cope with the communication failure by the scheduled change time.

  In addition, the settlement sale price and the display sale price can always be matched. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a transition example of the adjustment sale price and the display sale price when a limited time limited sale is performed in a store where the electronic shelf label system 1 is arranged. The horizontal axis in the figure indicates time (absolute time). In this example, the start time of the limited time sale is set to 15:00 and the end time is set to 18:00.

  Based on the signal from the POS server 31, the settlement sale price of the register 32 is changed from the normal price to the special sale price at 15:00 as scheduled, and from the special sale price to the normal price at 18:00.

  On the other hand, when the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 is changed, an information signal including “sale price” and “count value” is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 at 14:30, 30 minutes before the start time. From this point in time, the time corresponding to the “count value” (30 minutes) is counted in the electronic shelf label 5. Then, at the moment of the start time, the display selling price is changed to “sale price”. Similarly, an information signal including “normal price” and “count value” is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 at 17:30, which is 30 minutes before the end time. From this point in time, the time corresponding to the “count value” (30 minutes) is counted in the electronic shelf label 5. Then, at the moment of the end time, the display selling price is changed to “normal price”.

  Even if a communication failure occurs at 14:30, an information signal is repeatedly transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 and a warning is output. As a result, it is possible to cope with a communication failure by 15:00 of the start time, and as a result, the display selling price can be changed to “sale price” at the starting time. The same applies to the end time. That is, even if a communication failure occurs at the time of 17:30, it is possible to cope with the communication failure by 18:00 of the end time, and as a result, the display selling price can be changed to “normal price” at the end time. .

  By such processing, the settlement selling price and the display selling price always coincide with each other, and the trust in the store can be maintained and improved.

<3. Modification>
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible.

  For example, in the electronic shelf label system 1 of the above embodiment, infrared communication is employed for wireless communication, but other wireless communication methods such as wireless LAN may be employed. Regardless of what wireless communication system is adopted, by sending a signal containing information after the display change before the scheduled change time, it is possible to grasp the communication failure in advance, until the scheduled change time. Can handle communication failures.

  Further, in the electronic shelf label 5 of the above embodiment, the segment type liquid crystal display is adopted, but not only the numerical value indicating the selling price of the product but also various kinds of information such as characters, symbols and figures can be displayed. A dot matrix type liquid crystal display may be employed. When the dot matrix method is employed, the amount of information to be transmitted from the distribution side device 40 to the electronic shelf label is greatly increased as compared with the case where the segment method is employed. For this reason, the probability of occurrence of a communication failure is also dramatically increased. However, by applying the technology according to the present application, even if a communication failure occurs, the information displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 at the instant of the scheduled change time can be reliably obtained. It can be changed to.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the display contents of the electronic shelf label 5 are changed at the time-limited sale has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The technique according to the present application can be applied in any case as long as it is determined.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 is changed has been described. However, the information of the electronic shelf label 5 whose display is changed includes the corresponding product such as a character string, a symbol, or a figure. Any information may be used as long as the product information is related to the item. However, since the display selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 is correctly changed at a predetermined time as in the above embodiment, the reliability to the store can be effectively maintained and improved, so the electronic shelf whose display is to be changed The information on the bill 5 preferably includes “sale price”.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the timer 59 employ | adopted as the electronic shelf label 5 measured only the set period, it may be able to time an absolute time. In this case, the information signal transmitted from the distribution-side device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 can include “scheduled change time” itself instead of “count value”.

  In the above embodiment, the advance time is 30 minutes before the scheduled change time. However, the advance time is not limited to this, and the advance time is one hour before the scheduled change time or 15 minutes before the scheduled change time. It may be arbitrarily determined depending on the form.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the electronic shelf label with which an electronic shelf label system is provided is arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the shop information system containing an electronic shelf label system. It is a figure which shows the basic composition of an ESL server. It is a figure which shows the example of a goods file. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an electronic shelf label. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the delivery side apparatus. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of an electronic shelf label. It is a figure which shows the example of a settlement sales price and a display sales price.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic shelf label system 5 Electronic shelf label 10 ESL server 40 Distribution side apparatus 51 Display 54 Infrared communication part 58 Memory 59 Timer

Claims (5)

An electronic shelf label system,
A plurality of electronic shelf labels arranged corresponding to the products and displaying product information related to the corresponding products;
Product distribution information to be displayed by the electronic shelf label, information distribution means for transmitting to the electronic shelf label by wireless communication;
With
When the first time when the product information displayed on the electronic shelf label is to be changed is determined,
The information distribution means transmits the changed product information to the electronic shelf label at a second time that is a predetermined time before the first time. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1,
The electronic shelf label system, wherein the wireless communication is infrared communication. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1 or 2,
Confirmation means for confirming completion of transmission of the product information from the information distribution means to the electronic shelf label;
Further comprising
The information distribution means includes
When the completion of transmission of the product information is not confirmed within a predetermined reference time after transmitting the product information to the electronic shelf label, the product is sent to the electronic shelf label until the completion of transmission of the product information is confirmed. An electronic shelf label system characterized by repeatedly transmitting information. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 3,
Warning means for outputting a warning when transmission completion of the product information is not confirmed within a predetermined reference time after the information distribution means transmits the product information to the electronic shelf label;
An electronic shelf label system further comprising: The electronic shelf label system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The electronic shelf label system, wherein the product information includes a selling price of the product.

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