JP2007066143A - Display information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display information management system capable of correctly and efficiently executing rewrite of display to a number of display storage media. <P>SOLUTION: In the management system for rewriting the display content of a display storage medium 100 including a display element capable of rewriting a display content and having a memory characteristic capable of retaining the display content without supply of power and a storage medium storing an individual identification code, a reader/writer 400 for rewriting the display storage medium 100 comprises a power transmission means 405 giving power and display information to the display storage medium 100 and reading the identification code from the display storage medium 100, and the identification code and display information to be rewritten related to this code are collectively managed by a server 500. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display information management system, and more particularly to an information management system for a display recording medium such as a price tag in a relatively large store such as a supermarket or a home appliance store.

  In recent years, for the purpose of preventing wasteful use of resources, display recording media such as name tags, price tags, and product plates that can be rewritten by repetitively displaying contents have been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In addition, a system has been proposed in which these rewritable display recording media and a server that centrally manages a rewrite history are combined (see Patent Document 2).

  In this type of display recording medium and management system, for example, in the case of a price tag system, a price tag (display recording medium) including a display element in which price information can be rewritten and a recording medium in which an identification code is recorded, and display on the display element , A reading means for reading the identification code, and a storage means for storing the display contents and the identification code in association with each other.

  By storing display contents and identification codes in association with each other in the storage means, a history of what price tag and what price is written is centrally managed. Such centrally managed data can be linked to a point-of-sale (POS) system that centrally manages product price information, sales volume, etc. in order to be useful for inventory management and marketing linked with cashier payments. For example, it is easy to display a cheap price as a special price item when, for example, the stock is low.

  In the management system, in order to rewrite information such as the price on the price tag, the worker goes in front of the price tag with a writing machine and gives the price tag an instruction to rewrite. However, in such a rewriting work, since there are a large number of price tags to be rewritten in a large store, human error often occurs.

The patent documents 1 and 2 do not describe the problem of which price tag should be rewritten among a number of price tags. In general, the price tag to be rewritten is printed out from a printer connected to the server before opening the store, for example, so that the operator carries it as a paper list and whether the operator has rewritten the list. It is estimated that the above check will be performed. When rewriting work is performed in this way, the information of the rewritten price tag is transmitted to the server. However, extra time is taken to contact and correct mistakes. Moreover, in fact, the check on the paper list is mistaken, so that it is wasted time to rewrite the price tag that does not need to be rewritten, or the price tag that has not been rewritten has been mistaken for rewriting. Problems remain.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-24567 JP 2002-203213 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display information management system that can efficiently rewrite a display on a number of display recording media without error.

In order to achieve the above object, a display information management system according to the present invention includes:
A display recording medium including a display element having a memory characteristic capable of rewriting display contents and capable of holding the display contents without supplying power; and a recording medium in which individual identification information is recorded;
Writing means for giving display information to be written to the display recording medium;
Reading means for reading the identification information recorded on the recording medium;
Work instruction information transmission means for transmitting work instruction information to an operator;
A server that centrally manages the display information and the identification information;
It is provided with.

  In the display information management system according to the present invention, the display recording medium is, for example, a product price tag, a product plate, etc., and the server performs display on a large number of display recording media by centrally managing the display information and identification information. Therefore, it is possible to instruct accurate and appropriate work, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of display work.

  In the display information management system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the server determines the display information and the work instruction information based on the identification information read by the reading unit. Centralized management is performed by the server, and there is no risk of sending wrong display information or work instruction information.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the display recording medium has a power receiving unit that receives power in a non-contact manner, and includes a power transmission unit that supplies power to the power receiving unit. As the power transmission means and the power reception means, those using an electromagnetic induction method can be preferably used.

  The writing unit, the reading unit, and the work instruction information transmission unit may be integrated. In addition, at least one of the writing unit, the reading unit, and the work instruction information transmission unit may include a communication unit for communicating with the server. This communication means may be either wired or wireless. Further, the work instruction information transmission means may be provided with a rewritable image display section, or may transmit voice.

  Further, the communication means transmits the identification information read by the reading means to the server, the server transmits display information corresponding to the transmitted identification information to the writing means, and the writing means transmits the transmitted display information to the display element. You may make it write.

  If the identification information corresponds to a display recording medium that does not need to be rewritten, the server warns the operator through the work instruction information transmission means and / or prohibits writing through the writing means. Also good. Alternatively, when all the scheduled work is completed, the server may notify the worker of the work completion through the work instruction information transmission unit.

  Furthermore, the display information management system according to the present invention controls temporary storage means for temporarily storing a plurality of sets of display information and identification information, and temporary storage means, writing means, reading means, and work instruction information transmitting means. Control means, and the control means may determine the display information and the work instruction information based on the identification information read by the reading means and the information stored in the temporary storage means.

  In this case, if the identification information read by the reading means is not included in the identification information stored in the temporary storage means, the control means gives a warning to the worker through the work instruction information transmission means and / or through the writing means. Prohibit writing. Further, it is preferable that the server transmits a set of display information and identification information to the temporary storage means so as not to overlap with other temporary storage means. Further, when all the scheduled work is completed, the control means may notify the worker of the work completion through the work instruction information transmission means.

  Embodiments of a display information management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Display recording medium, see FIGS. 1 to 3)
An example of a display recording medium used in the display information management system according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The display recording medium 100 is configured as a price tag for displaying product contents and prices, and includes a display element 101 and a recording medium 102 on which individual identification information (identification code) is recorded. The display recording medium 100 further includes a drive circuit 103 for applying a rewrite signal to the display element 101 and a power receiving unit 104 for receiving power from the outside in a non-contact manner.

  The display element 101 has a memory characteristic that can hold display contents without supplying power. As the display element 101, for example, a chiral nematic liquid crystal display element, an electrochromic display element, a thermochromic display element, an electrophoretic display element, an electrolytic deposition display element, or the like can be used.

  In the recording medium 102, an identification code for identifying the display recording medium 100 itself is recorded. As the recording medium 102, a commonly used barcode is used. In addition, a two-dimensional barcode, RFID, or the like can be used. In particular, RFID can be read and used easily even if the positional relationship between the recording medium 102 and the reader / writer 400 described below is not strict.

  The drive circuit 103 is for applying a rewrite signal to the display element 101 and is essential when the display element 101 is an element that can be rewritten by an electrical signal. For example, when the power receiving unit 104 receives power with an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 1 MHz or less, an electromagnetic induction method using a coil can be preferably used.

  The electric circuits of the recording medium 102, the drive circuit 103, and the power receiving means 104 can be obtained in the form of an IC chip. Also, it can be obtained at low cost by printing using organic TFT technology.

  A chiral nematic liquid crystal display element 200 used as the display element 101 is shown in FIG. In this liquid crystal display element 200, a slit-shaped scanning electrode 203 disposed on an upper substrate 201 and a slit-shaped signal electrode 204 disposed on a lower substrate 202 face each other in a direction orthogonal to each other, and between the electrodes 203, 204. Further, a chiral nematic liquid crystal 205 is sandwiched between the electrodes, and the intersections of both electrodes 203 and 204 are configured as pixels arranged in a matrix.

  The scanning electrode 203 and the signal electrode 204 are connected to the driving circuit 103, respectively, and by applying an appropriate driving waveform to these electrodes 203 and 204, the state of the chiral nematic liquid crystal 205 is controlled, so that a desired one is obtained. The display state can be obtained. Here, an example in which the liquid crystal 205 is driven in a matrix by the intersecting electrodes 203 and 204 is shown, but the liquid crystal 205 may be driven in a segment. A display method using this type of liquid crystal 205 is well known, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 3 shows a circuit configuration of the power receiving means 104. This circuit includes a resonance circuit 301, a rectifier circuit 304, a Zener diode 308, a demodulation circuit 309, and an oscillation circuit 310, to which an electric circuit 320 (meaning the recording medium 102 and the drive circuit 103) is connected. The resonance circuit 301 includes a coil 302 for receiving a magnetic field and a capacitor 303, and separately detects a magnetic field component of the resonance frequency. The rectifier circuit 304 includes a diode 305, a resistor 306, and a capacitor 307.

  The zener diode 308 functions as a regulator, and clips the output from the rectifier circuit 304 to a predetermined value suitable for the electrical circuit 320 at the subsequent stage. In general, 5V or 3.3V is desirable.

  The output voltage from the resonance circuit 301 is affected by the distance from the power transmission means 405 (described with reference to FIG. 4). When this distance is large, the output voltage of the resonance circuit 301 is low because the magnetic field coupling is weak. The electric circuit 320 can operate when the voltage higher than the breakdown voltage of the Zener diode 308 is output from the resonance circuit 301. When the distance is small, the magnetic field coupling is strong, so that the output voltage of the resonance circuit 301 is higher than the voltage for driving the electric circuit 320. In this case, the Zener diode 308 regulates to a voltage necessary for the electric circuit 320.

  The power receiving means 104 is also used for transmission / reception of display information given to the display element 101 and identification information read from the recording medium 102. That is, the demodulation circuit 309 demodulates the target signal from the signal received by the coil 302. The transmission circuit 310 transmits the identification information to the reader / writer 400 (described with reference to FIG. 4). In this case, by setting the display information and identification information to different frequencies, it is possible to transmit and receive these pieces of information separately.

(Reader / writer, see Fig. 4)
As shown in FIG. 4, the reader / writer 400 is one in which writing means, reading means, and work instruction information transmission means are integrated. That is, the reader / writer 400 includes a CPU 401, a memory 402, a work instruction information transmission unit 403, a communication unit 404, a power transmission unit 405, a power storage unit 406, a data bus 407, and a system bus 408.

  The CPU 401 controls the respective components via the data bus 407 and the system bus 408. The memory 402 is used as a temporary storage of display information given to the display element 101 and identification information read from the recording medium 102 and as a work area of the CPU 401.

  The work instruction information transmission unit 403 transmits work instruction information to the worker based on information from the server 500. As the work instruction information transmission unit 403, for example, a display device is used. The work instruction information is displayed as an image on the display, and the worker visually checks the display, so that the server 500 gives the work instruction to the worker. give. Further, the work instruction information transmission unit 403 may be a device that emits sound. In this case, the work instruction information is transmitted to the worker as sound.

  The communication unit 404 is for performing communication with the server 500, and for example, a wireless communication unit such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth can be used. Of course, the communication means 404 may be wired.

  The power transmission means 405 is for transmitting power to the power reception means 104 by electromagnetic induction. The power storage unit 406 supplies power to each component of the reader / writer 400, and specifically includes a battery and a power supply circuit.

  In the server 500, the identification information of the display recording medium 100, the display information on the display element 101, the work management information indicating whether the work is completed, and the physical position information of each display recording medium 100 are stored as a set. ing. Since the display information and the work management information are updated many times, the history may be stored.

(Refer to the first example of rewriting work, Fig. 5)
Here, a first example of the rewriting operation for the display recording medium 100 performed using the display information management system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this example, it is assumed that a large number of display recording media 100 as price tags are arranged on the product shelf 50. When the reader / writers 400A and 400B possessed by the workers A and B are brought close to the respective display recording media 100A and 100B, power is transmitted from the power transmission means 405, and the power is received by the power reception means 104. The circuit 320 (the recording medium 102 and the drive circuit 103) starts operation. First, the recording medium 102 responds and returns an individual identification code to the reader / writer 400. This identification code is transmitted to the power transmission unit 405 as a signal having a predetermined frequency, and is temporarily stored in the memory 402 via the CPU 401.

  When the reading of the identification code is completed, the identification code information is transmitted to the server 500 via the communication unit 404. The server 500 determines display information to be written on the display recording media 100A and 100B based on the identification code information. Thereafter, the display information is transmitted from the reader / writers 400A and 400B to the display recording media 100A and 100B, and the rewriting is automatically completed. The display information to be written on the individual display recording media 100A and 100B is input to the server 500 in advance in combination with the identification code.

  In this way, the identification code information of the individual display recording media 100A and 100B is transferred to the server 500, and the server 500 determines the display information based on the identification code information, whereby incorrect display information is displayed on the display recording medium 100A. , 100B is eliminated.

  If the read identification code corresponds to a display recording medium that does not need to be rewritten, the server 500 gives a warning to the worker through the work instruction information transmission means 403 and / or writes to the display recording medium. Is prohibited.

  Further, the server 500 determines, for example, information on the physical positions of the display recording media 100A ′ and 100B ′ to be rewritten next to the display recording media 100A and 100B as instructions to the workers A and B. This position information is, for example, the installation location of the display recording medium 100 to be rewritten that is closest to the current position in consideration of the positions of the display recording media 100A and 100B that are currently rewritten. It determines so that each worker can work efficiently for a plurality of workers.

  Display information and physical position information are stored in the memory 402 from the server 500 via the communication means 404 and the CPU 401. In addition, information on completion of rewriting regarding the individual display recording medium 100 is transmitted to the server 500 and managed by the server 500. In this way, by managing rewriting completion information in the server 500, work is not lost.

  Thereafter, the physical position information to be worked next is sequentially instructed to the worker via the work instruction information transmission means 403. The worker moves to the designated location based on the position information and performs the next rewriting work. As described above, the server 500 centrally manages the identification information of the display recording medium 100, the display information, whether or not the rewriting is completed, and the physical position information, and gives an appropriate instruction to the operator. There is no mistake, and efficient rewriting work becomes possible.

  The above description shows an example in which the physical position information of the display recording medium 100 to be rewritten next is given to the worker as the work instruction information. Alternatively, when the operator tries to rewrite the display recording medium 100 different from the work instruction, a warning may be issued to the worker and / or writing may be prohibited. Further, when all scheduled rewriting operations are completed, the end of the operation may be notified.

(Refer to the second example of rewriting work, Fig. 6)
Next, a second example of rewriting work will be described with reference to FIG. In the first example, the server 500 grasps the identification information, display information, work instruction information, and work management information in real time. Therefore, there is an advantage that an optimal work instruction can always be performed. However, the reader / writer 400 must always communicate with the server 500, and the power consumption of the reader / writer 400 increases.

  Therefore, in the second example, the identification information, display information, work management information indicating whether the work has been completed, and physical position information managed by the server 500 are actually used for the work. Copy to the memory 402 of the used reader / writer 400A, 400B. The basic information necessary for the rewriting work is only one communication at the start of the work. Then, the CPU 401 of the reader / writers 400A and 400B performs the work performed by the server 500 instead. That is, the CPU 401 instructs the display recording medium 100 to transmit display information corresponding to the identification information, and stores rewriting completion information in the memory 402. Next, the point which designates the display recording medium 100 used as work object is the same as that of the said 1st example. Then, when all the scheduled work copied in advance in the memory 402 is completed, the operator is notified of the end of the rewriting work.

  After the work is completed, the reader / writer 400A, 400B notifies the server 500 that the work has been completed. As a result, the communication between the reader / writer 400A, 400B and the server 500 can be done only once for the first time, once at the end of the work, and twice for convenience. This communication does not need to be wireless, and if it is wired, the cost of the reader / writer is reduced.

  When a plurality of workers A and B perform rewriting work at the same time, when the reader / writers 400A and 400B first copy the information of the server 500, the display recording medium 100 that is the work target for each reader / writer 400A and 400B is appropriate. To be distributed. That is, only information necessary for the workers A and B in charge is copied. This eliminates duplication of work by multiple people. If the wrong display recording medium 100 is to be rewritten, the CPU 401 knows that the identification information is not stored in the memory 402, and therefore issues a warning via the work instruction information transmission means 403, and / or Rewrite is prohibited.

  As described above, also in the second example, by giving an appropriate instruction to the worker, there is no mistake and efficient rewriting work can be performed.

(Other examples)
It should be noted that the display information management system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified within the scope of the gist thereof.

It is a top view which shows an example of the display recording medium used with the display information management system which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the display element used with the display information management system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric power receiving means incorporated in the said display recording medium. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the reader / writer used with the display information management system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st example of the rewriting work by the display information management system which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of the rewriting work by the display information management system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Display recording medium 101 ... Display element 102 ... Recording medium 104 ... Electric power receiving means 400 ... Reader / writer 401 ... CPU
402 ... Memory 403 ... Work instruction information transmission means 404 ... Communication means 405 ... Power transmission means 500 ... Server

Claims (17)

A display recording medium including a display element having a memory characteristic capable of rewriting display contents and capable of holding the display contents without supplying power; and a recording medium in which individual identification information is recorded;
Writing means for giving display information to be written to the display recording medium;
Reading means for reading the identification information recorded on the recording medium;
Work instruction information transmission means for transmitting work instruction information to an operator;
A server that centrally manages the display information and the identification information;
A display information management system characterized by comprising:   The display information management system according to claim 1, wherein the server determines display information and work instruction information based on the identification information read by the reading unit.   The display according to claim 1, wherein the display recording medium has power receiving means for receiving power in a non-contact manner, and further includes power transmitting means for supplying power to the power receiving means. Information management system.   The display information management system according to claim 3, wherein the power transmission unit and the power reception unit are based on an electromagnetic induction method.   5. The display information management system according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit, the reading unit, and the work instruction information transmitting unit are integrated.   6. At least one of the writing unit, the reading unit, and the work instruction information transmitting unit includes a communication unit for communicating with the server. Display information management system described.   The display information management system according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is wired.   The display information management system according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit is wireless.   9. The display information management system according to claim 1, wherein the work instruction information transmission means includes a rewritable image display unit.   9. The display information management system according to claim 1, wherein the work instruction information transmission means transmits voice. The communication means transmits the identification information read by the reading means to the server,
The server transmits display information corresponding to the transmitted identification information to the writing means,
The writing means writes the transmitted display information to the display element;
The display information management system according to claim 1, wherein the display information management system is a display information management system.   When the identification information corresponds to a display recording medium that does not need to be rewritten, the server gives a warning to the worker through the work instruction information transmission means and / or prohibits writing through the writing means. 12. The display information management system according to claim 11, wherein the display information management system is a display information management system.   13. The display information management system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein when all scheduled operations are completed, the server notifies the operator of the completion of the operation through the operation instruction information transmission unit. Temporary storage means for temporarily storing a plurality of sets of the display information and the identification information;
Control means for controlling the temporary storage means, the writing means, the reading means and the work instruction information transmission means,
The control means determines display information and work instruction information based on identification information read by the reading means and information stored in the temporary storage means;
The display information management system according to claim 1.   If the identification information read by the reading means is not included in the identification information stored in the temporary storage means, the control means gives a warning to the operator through the work instruction information transmission means and / or the writing 15. The display information management system according to claim 14, wherein writing through means is prohibited.   16. The display information management system according to claim 14, wherein the server transmits a set of the display information and the identification information so as not to overlap with the temporary storage unit. The display information management system according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein when all scheduled work is completed, the control means notifies the worker of the work completion through the work instruction information transmission means. .

Images