JP2007319522A - Electronic shelf label and electronic shelf label system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic shelf label which can prevent a member price from being shown to a customer other than a member. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic shelf label 5 usually displays only a prevailing price and even the member cannot see the member price without do anything. However, when a device signal sent from a member card 7 which the member possesses, is received, the member price is displayed. Further, the electronic shelf label 5 the member price is undisplayed after a reference time passes from starting display of the member price. Thereby, only the member can see the member price and the member price is prevented from from being provided to the customer other than the member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information related to the corresponding product.

  In general, in retail stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, the selling prices of products in the store are centrally managed by a product master stored in a POS system or the like. On the other hand, the selling price is often transmitted to customers (consumers) using paper medium shelf labels placed at the positions of the products. When such a paper medium shelf label is adopted, the management of the shelf label must be relied upon manually, and thus human error such as a mistake in selling price tends to occur. For this reason, there is a possibility that an incorrect selling price different from the selling price at the time of settlement by the register of the POS system is transmitted to the customer.

  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, portable electronic shelf labels that display product data such as selling prices are arranged corresponding to each product. Then, product data including the selling price based on the product master is transmitted from the distribution side device to each electronic shelf label, and the selling price is displayed on each electronic shelf label. As a result, the correct selling price that matches the selling price at the time of settlement is displayed on the electronic shelf label, and the correct selling price is transmitted to the customer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As prior art documents disclosing techniques related to the present invention, there are the following documents.

JP 2004-265196 A JP 2005-301030 A

  By the way, in retail stores, a sales method called FSP (Frequent Shoppers Program) may be adopted in order to maintain and expand excellent fixed customers. This FSP is a sales method for providing various preferential services to a specific customer who becomes a member. For example, products are sold to members at a member price lower than a general price.

  When using this sales method at a store where an electronic shelf label system has been introduced, both the general price for non-member customers and the member price, which is specific customer information for members, are stored in the electronic shelf label. Will be displayed. However, if both the general price and the member price are displayed in such a way that anyone can view them, customers other than the member who cannot receive the member price may receive a rebellion against the preferential treatment of the member. is there. As a result, there is a possibility of giving a bad impression about the store to customers other than the members, so a solution has been demanded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic shelf label technology capable of preventing specific customer information from being provided to customers other than a specific customer.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information related to the corresponding product, and is transmitted by a portable device that moves with a specific customer. Receiving means for receiving a device signal; and display means capable of displaying specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer, wherein the display means displays the specific customer information in response to receiving the device signal. When the reference time elapses from the display start of the specific customer information, the specific customer information is not displayed.

  The invention of claim 2 is an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information related to the corresponding product, and receives a device signal transmitted by a portable device that moves with a specific customer. Receiving means, and display means capable of displaying specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer, the display means displaying the specific customer information when the device signal can be received, When the apparatus signal cannot be received, the specific customer information is not displayed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label according to the second aspect, the receiving means receives the device signal actively transmitted by the portable device.

  The invention of claim 4 is the electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the specific customer is divided into a plurality of groups, and the device signal transmitted by the portable device is It includes customer information that can specify a group to which a customer related to a portable device belongs, and the display means displays specific customer information corresponding to a group specified based on the customer information included in the received device signal.

  The invention of claim 5 is an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information related to the corresponding product, and the customer distance to the portable device that moves with the specific customer is a reference distance. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the specific customer information is to be displayed, and display means capable of displaying the specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer, the display means when the customer distance is equal to or less than the reference distance Customer information is displayed, and when the customer distance is not less than or equal to the reference distance, the specific customer information is not displayed.

  The invention of claim 6 is an electronic shelf label system, wherein the information to be displayed is distributed to the plurality of electronic shelf labels according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the plurality of electronic shelf labels. And a server device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the specific customer information is not displayed when the reference time elapses from the display start of the specific customer information. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the specific customer information from being provided to customers other than the specific customer. .

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the specific customer information is not displayed when the device signal cannot be received, the specific customer information is prevented from being provided to customers other than the specific customer. it can.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the device signal actively transmitted by the portable device is received, it is not necessary for the electronic shelf label to actively transmit the signal to the portable device. For this reason, the power consumption in an electronic shelf label can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the specific customer information corresponding to the group specified based on the customer information is displayed, it is possible to provide detailed information according to the customer.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the specific customer information is not displayed when the customer distance is not equal to or less than the reference distance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the specific customer information from being provided to customers other than the specific customer.

  According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to prevent the specific customer information from being provided to customers other than the specific customer.

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

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. Overview of using electronic shelf labels>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an electronic shelf label 5 provided in the electronic shelf label system according to the present embodiment is arranged on a product shelf 60 in a store. A large number of product shelves 60 shown in FIG. 1 are arranged along the customer's passage in the sales space of the 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. A bar code indicating a product code for identifying the type of product is attached to each product 6 by printing or labeling.

  An electronic shelf label 5, which is a portable small communication device, is attached to the product shelf 60 corresponding to each face 61. Each of these electronic shelf labels 5 is associated with one product 6 (more precisely, one product type), and is disposed on a frame 62 below the face 61 of the corresponding product 6. Each electronic shelf label 5 is provided with a display unit, on which product data such as a selling price related to the corresponding product 6 is displayed. The customer (consumer) of the store recognizes the selling price of the product 6 by such display of the electronic shelf label 5.

  In addition, in this store, FSP, which is a sales method that preferentially treats a specific customer who becomes a member of the store, is adopted. For one product 6, a member price that is a selling price for the member and a customer other than the member are used. The general price, which is the selling price for the The electronic shelf label 5 normally displays the general price of the product 6. On the other hand, when the electronic shelf label 5 receives a predetermined wireless signal transmitted from the member card 7 possessed by each member, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the member price for a certain period. As a result, the member price is provided to the member, and the general price is provided to the customer other than the member. Hereinafter, such an electronic shelf label system will be described in detail.

<1-2. Store Information System>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a store information system 100 including the electronic shelf label system 1 applied to a store. 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 information related to the sale of products at the time of sale, and a plurality of registers that perform settlement of merchandise sales transactions together with a POS server 31 that manages the POS system 3 in an integrated manner. 32. 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. The hard disk of the POS server 31 stores a product master 301 indicating product data such as the selling price of a product, and a customer master 302 indicating member data such as a member's name. Product data related to all products in the store is centrally managed by the product master 301, and member data related to all members of the store is managed centrally by the customer master 302. The contents of the product master 301 and the customer master 302 are changed by an instruction from the computer at the headquarters center (information received by the store controller 2) or by a direct operation of the POS server 31.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the product master 301. As shown in the figure, the product master 301 has a table format, and one record R1 corresponds to one product, and shows product data related to the product. Specifically, data items such as “product code”, “product name”, “general price”, “rank A price”, “rank B price”, and “rank C price” are registered for each record R1. Yes. “Product code” is identification information of the product, and “Product name” is the name of the product.

  Further, “general price”, “rank A price”, “rank B price” and “rank C price” indicate the selling price of the product. As described above, the commodity has a general price and a member price, and “general price” indicates a general price for non-members, and “rank A price”, “rank B price”, and “rank “C price” indicates the member price for the member.

  In the store according to the present embodiment, members are classified into three member ranks (groups) of ranks A, B, and C according to past transaction results. More specifically, the members are classified in the order of rank C, rank B, and rank A from members having a relatively large number of past transaction results. “Rank A price”, “Rank B price”, and “Rank C price” of the product master 301 indicate selling prices for members belonging to rank A, rank B, and rank C, respectively. As shown in the figure, the inexpensive price setting most favored for members of rank C is performed, and then the inexpensive prices are set in order of rank B and rank A.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the customer master 302. As shown in the figure, the customer master 302 is in the form of a table, and one record R2 corresponds to one member and indicates member data relating to the member. Specifically, data items such as “membership code”, “name”, “address”, “phone number”, “point”, and “rank” are registered for each record R2. “Member code” indicates identification information of the member, “Name” indicates the name of the member, “Address”, and “Telephone number” indicate contact information of the member. “Point” indicates the number of points given according to the past transaction performance of the member, and “Rank” indicates the member rank (any one of ranks A, B, and C) to which the member belongs. The member rank is determined based on the number of points indicated by “point”.

  Returning to FIG. 2, in each of the plurality of registers 32, the purchase and sale of the product is settled based on the data described in the product master 301 stored in the POS server 31. At the time of this transaction, the member presenting the membership card 7 is settled at the member price, and the non-member customer is settled at the general price.

  Each of the plurality of registers 32 includes a reader / writer 321 capable of writing and reading an IC card (RFID card) having an electromagnetic recording element. The member card 7 possessed by the member has a function as an IC card. Therefore, the register 32 can read data from the member card 7 and write data to the member card 7.

  The register 32 records the contents of the record R2 related to the member of the customer master 302 on the member card 7 presented by the member for every settlement of the sales transaction. Accordingly, the “rank” to which the member possessing the member card 7 belongs at that time is also recorded in the member card 7. The “rank” recorded on the member card 7 in this way is acquired by the register 32 at the start of the settlement of the next sale transaction, and thus, the sale / purchase of the product at the member price corresponding to the member rank to which the member belongs. Transactions are settled.

<1-3. Membership card>
Here, the member card 7 will be described. The membership card 7 is a portable device that moves together with the member carrying the membership card 7.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the member card 7. As described above, the membership card 7 has a function as an IC card (RFID card), and includes a control unit 71 configured by an IC chip, a communication unit 73 that transmits and receives radio signals using radio waves, and a user operation. The switch 74 is mainly provided. The control unit 71 includes a memory 72 that is a nonvolatile recording element, and can record various data. As described above, the memory 72 stores member data (“member code”, “name”, “address”, “phone number”, “point”, “rank”, etc.) relating to the member possessing the member card 7. ) Is recorded.

  Further, the membership card 7 includes a battery 75 that supplies driving power to each unit, and an active IC card that can actively transmit a radio signal from the communication unit 73 without receiving a control signal from an external device. Function as.

  In the present embodiment, when the switch 74 is operated once, a radio signal is transmitted once from the communication unit 73 in response to the operation. Hereinafter, the radio signal transmitted from the member card 7 is referred to as “device signal”. This device signal includes member data recorded in the memory 72. The distance that the device signal reaches from the member card 7 (reachable distance) is limited to a predetermined distance (for example, 1 m).

<1-4. Configuration of electronic shelf label system>
Next, returning to FIG. 2, the configuration of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be described. The electronic shelf label system 1 is broadly divided into a plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 described above and a distribution side device 40 that distributes product data to be displayed on the electronic shelf labels 5. The distribution side device 40 includes the ESL server 10, a base station 41, and a plurality of transceivers 42.

  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 space 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 using wireless communication such as infrared communication. More specifically, the transceiver 42 has a function of transmitting to the electronic shelf label 5 a data signal that is a radio signal including product data to be displayed by the electronic shelf label 5. The transceiver 42 is fixedly arranged on the ceiling at almost constant distances over the entire sales space. Thereby, the delivery side apparatus 40 can deliver a data signal to all the electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in the sales space of the store.

  The configuration of the ESL server 10 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the ESL server 10. As shown in the figure, 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 various displays. A display 15 to be performed, an input unit 16 including a keyboard and a mouse, and a data communication unit 17 having a data communication function via the LAN 21 are provided.

  Further, the ESL server 10 includes an interface 18 for communicating with the base station 41. A control signal for controlling the electronic shelf label 5 and a data signal including product data to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 are transmitted to the base station 41 via the interface 18, and further from the base station 41 via the transceiver 42. To the electronic shelf label 5.

  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 the program. The hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 stores a product file 101 and a link file 102 that are data files used for distributing product data to the electronic shelf label 5.

  The product file 101 is a data file having the same format and the same content as the product master 301 stored in the POS server 31 (see also FIG. 3). The product file 101 always has the same content as the product master 301 by data communication between the ESL server 10 and the POS server 31.

  The link file 102 is a data file that associates the electronic shelf label 5 with the product in terms of data. The link file 102 has a table format, and a product code and a device code are associated with each record. Here, the device code is identification information (hardware ID) of the electronic shelf label 5. The link file 102 associates the electronic shelf label 5 with the product in terms of data, and product data relating to a product is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product.

<1-5. Structure of electronic shelf label>
Next, the electronic shelf label 5 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the electronic shelf label 5, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the electronic shelf label 5.

  As shown in FIG. 7, on the front surface of the electronic shelf label 5, it is possible to receive a display 51 for displaying product data such as the selling price of the corresponding product and a data signal transmitted from the transceiver 42 of the distribution side device 40. The first communication unit 52 is arranged.

  The display unit 51 is composed of a dot matrix type display device composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in an orthogonal two-dimensional array, such as a liquid crystal display or electronic paper, and includes not only numerical values indicating the selling price of products, but also letters, symbols, and graphics. Various information can be displayed. Here, the “electronic paper” is a non-volatile display device that can electrically rewrite the display content and can maintain the display content even when the drive power is not supplied. Such “electronic paper” is disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the electronic shelf label 5 includes therein a control unit 54 for controlling each part of the device and a second communication unit 53 capable of receiving a device signal transmitted from the member card 7. ing. The second communication unit 53 receives a device signal from the member card 7 and acquires member data included in the device signal, and functions as a reader device that reads an IC card. Further, the electronic shelf label 5 includes a battery 57, and each part of the electronic shelf label 5 is driven by driving power supplied from the battery 57.

  The control unit 54 is composed of an IC chip having various functions, and controls the operation of each unit of the electronic shelf label 5. The first communication unit 52, the second communication unit 53, and the display unit 51 described above are electrically connected to the control unit 54. Accordingly, each unit operates under the control of the control unit 54, and the data signal received by the first communication unit 52 and the device signal received by the second communication unit 53 are input to the control unit 54.

  The control unit 54 is provided with a nonvolatile memory 56 for storing various information and a timer 55 having a timekeeping function. In the memory 56, the device code of the device itself is stored in advance. Further, the product data included in the data signal received from the transceiver 42 is received by the first communication unit 52 and once stored in the memory 56, and then displayed on the display unit 51 under the control of the control unit 54. ing.

<1-6. Basic operation of electronic shelf label system>
Next, the basic operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be described. The basic operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 is to distribute product data from the distribution side device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 and display the product data on the display unit 51. Distribution of such product data is performed when the system is started up, when the selling price of the product is updated, and the like. Here, when the selling price is updated, the general price or the member price described in the product master 301 is changed, or the selling price is changed when special sale is performed.

  When the system is activated, the product data is distributed to the electronic shelf labels 5 corresponding to all the products in the store. On the other hand, when the selling price is updated, the product data is only applied to the electronic shelf labels 5 corresponding to the target products. be delivered. In this way, by distributing the product data as necessary, the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 and the selling price at the time of settlement of the sales transaction by the register 32 are always matched.

  When distributing the product data, first, the product file 101 is referred to by the CPU 11 of the ESL server 10, and the product data (“product code”, “product name”, “general price”, “ Rank A price ”,“ Rank B price ”,“ Rank C price ”, etc.) are acquired. Further, the link file 102 is referred to, and the “device code” associated with the “product code” of the product to be distributed is acquired. Then, a data signal including the acquired product data and “device code” is transmitted from the transceiver 42.

  The transmitted data signal is received by the first communication unit 52 of the electronic shelf label 5, and the product data included in the data signal is displayed on the display unit 51. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the electronic shelf label 5 performed in response to reception of the data signal.

  First, the control unit 20 determines whether or not the “device code” included in the received data signal matches the “device code” stored in the memory 56 (step S11). At this time, if the “device code” included in the data signal does not match that of the own device, the data signal is not a data signal for the own device, and thus the processing ends as it is (No in step S11).

  On the other hand, when the “device code” included in the data signal matches that of the own device (Yes in step S11), the product data (“product code”, “product name”, “general” included in the data signal) Price ”,“ Rank A Price ”,“ Rank B Price ”,“ Rank C Price ”, etc.) are stored in the memory 56 (step S12).

  A part of the product data is displayed on the display unit 51. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the product name 51a and the general price 51b are displayed on the display unit 51, and the member price is not displayed (step S13).

<1-7. Member price display operation>
Thus, in the electronic shelf label 5, normally, only the general price is displayed, and the member price is not displayed. However, when the device signal transmitted from the member card 7 is received by the second communication unit 53 of the electronic shelf label 5, the member price is displayed on the display unit 51 in response to this reception. For this reason, the member who wants to view the member price depresses the switch 74 of the member card 7 possessed by the member near the desired electronic shelf label 5 (within the reachable range of the device signal), and The member price is displayed on the bill 5.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of operations of the electronic shelf label 5 performed in response to reception of the device signal. First, the “rank” of the member data included in the received device signal is referred to by the control unit 54. Thereby, the member rank to which the member carrying the member card 7 that has transmitted the device signal belongs is specified by the control unit 54 (step S21).

  Next, the member price corresponding to the specified member rank is acquired from the product data stored in the memory 56. Then, the acquired member price is displayed on the display unit 51. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state of the electronic shelf label 5 displaying the member price. As shown in the figure, the display unit 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 displays a member price 51c having a relatively large size together with a product name 51a and a general price 51b having a relatively small size. At this time, if the specified member rank is rank A, “rank A price”, if rank B is “rank B price”, if rank C, “rank C price” is displayed as member price 51c. (Step S22).

  When the member price 51c is displayed, the timer 55 starts measuring time from the start of the display (step S23). The display state of the member price 51c is maintained until the time measured by the timer 55 passes a predetermined reference time (for example, 8 seconds).

  Then, when the measured time has passed the reference time (Yes in step S24), as shown in FIG. 7, the member price 51c is hidden again, and the display section 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 displays the product name 51a and the general price. It returns to the state which displays only 51b (step S25).

<1-8. Summary>
As described above, the electronic shelf label 5 of the present embodiment normally displays only the general price, and the member price cannot be viewed even if it is a member in the state as it is. However, when the electronic shelf label 5 receives the device signal, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the member price in response thereto. Since the device signal is transmitted by operating the switch 74 of the member card 7 possessed only by the member, only the member can view the member price. Furthermore, since the electronic shelf label 5 hides the member price when a certain reference time has elapsed from the start of displaying the member price, it is possible to effectively prevent the member price from being provided to customers other than the member.

  The members of the store are classified into a plurality of member ranks, and the device signal transmitted by the member card 7 includes customer data that can identify the member card to which the member related to the member card 7 belongs. The display unit 51 displays the member price corresponding to the member rank specified based on the customer data. Therefore, it is possible to set a member price according to the transaction performance of each member, and to provide a detailed service according to each member.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Since the electronic shelf label 5 and the electronic shelf label system 1 of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the following description will focus on differences. Also in the present embodiment, the configuration of the member card 7 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, and the member card 7 functions as an active IC card that can actively transmit a radio signal. However, the member card 7 of the first embodiment is configured to send a device signal only once in response to a single depression of the switch 74. When the switch 74 is pressed once, the card 7 always transmits a device signal (more accurately, continuously), and when the switch 74 is pressed once, the card 7 stops transmitting the device signal. ing.

  FIG. 12 is a view of the state in which the electronic shelf label 5 is arranged on the product shelf 60 as viewed from above. As shown in the figure, when the switch 74 is pressed, the membership card 7 of the present embodiment has a predetermined radius (= device signal reachable distance: 1 m, for example) in the direction around 360 degrees (hereinafter referred to as “arrival”). It is referred to as “range”.) In A1, the apparatus signal is always transmitted. When the member visits the store, the member presses the switch 74 to shift the state of the member card 7 to a state in which a device signal is always transmitted.

  The reach range A1 is a range centering on the member card 7, and the member card 7 moves together with the member. Therefore, the position of the reach range A1 also moves with the movement of the member. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, when the electronic shelf label 5 is included in the reach range A1, the electronic shelf label 5 (the electronic shelf label indicated by reference numeral 5a in the figure) receives the device signal from the member card 7. Receive. As a result, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the member price on the display unit 51. Further, when the reach A1 further moves and the electronic shelf label 5 deviates from the reach A1 and cannot receive the device signal, the electronic shelf label 5 hides the member price and displays the general price on the display unit 51. Will do.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when a member approaches the electronic shelf label 5, the member price is automatically displayed on the electronic shelf label 5, and when the member leaves the electronic shelf label 5, the general price is displayed on the electronic shelf label 5. Is automatically displayed.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation flow in response to reception of the apparatus signal by the electronic shelf label 5 of the present embodiment. First, based on the member data included in the received device signal, the member rank to which the member carrying the member card 7 that transmitted the device signal belongs is specified (step S31). Next, a member price corresponding to the specified member rank is acquired and displayed on the display unit 51 (step S32).

  When the member price is displayed, the reception state of the device signal in the second communication unit 53 is repeatedly determined by the control unit 54 (step S33). In this determination, when the apparatus signal can be received, the member card 7 (that is, the member) is present in the vicinity, so that the member price display state is maintained.

  On the other hand, when the device signal cannot be received, the member card 7 (that is, the member) does not exist in the vicinity, so the member price is not displayed and the electronic shelf label 5 is displayed. The unit 51 enters a state in which only the product name and the general price are displayed (step S34).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the display unit 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 displays the member price when the device signal can be received, and the member price when the device signal cannot be received. Is hidden. For this reason, since the display state of the member price is changed in accordance with the actual movement of the member, it is possible to effectively prevent the member price from being provided to customers other than the member. Further, it is not necessary for the member to operate the member card 7 every time to display the member price.

  When the reachable distance of the device signal is a reference distance, the operation of the electronic shelf label 5 according to the present embodiment is as follows: the distance from the electronic shelf label 5 to the member card 7 (that is, the distance to the customer: "Customer distance") is detected based on whether or not the device signal can be received based on whether or not the device distance is received. When the customer distance is less than the reference distance, the member price is displayed. It can be said that it is what hides.

<3. Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. Since the electronic shelf label 5 and the electronic shelf label system 1 of the present embodiment are substantially the same as those of the second embodiment, the following description will focus on differences. Although the member card 7 of the second embodiment has been described as an active IC card that can actively transmit radio signals, the member card 7 of the present embodiment is a radio wave for reading from a reader device. A passive IC card that returns a device signal in response to a signal (hereinafter referred to as a “read signal”) is employed. For this reason, the membership card 7 of the present embodiment does not require the battery 75 shown in FIG. On the other hand, the second communication unit 53 of the electronic shelf label 5 of the present embodiment is configured to transmit a reading signal at all times (more accurately, periodically continuously).

  FIG. 15 is a top view of the electronic shelf label 5 placed on the product shelf 60. As shown in the figure, each of the electronic shelf labels 5 of the present embodiment has a range (hereinafter referred to as “peripheral range”) of a predetermined radius (= readable signal reachable distance: 1 m, for example) in the direction of 180 degrees on the front side. .) A reading signal is always sent to A2. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, when the membership card 7 is included in the peripheral range A2 related to a certain electronic shelf label 5, reading from the electronic shelf label 5 (the electronic shelf label indicated by 5b in the figure) is performed. The signal is received by the member card 7, and in response to this, the device signal is returned from the member card 7 to the electronic shelf label 5.

  The electronic shelf label 5 of the present embodiment changes the display state of the member price based on whether or not the device signal returned in this way can be received. The operation of the electronic shelf label 5 is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In other words, when the device signal can be received, the member price display state is maintained, and when the device signal cannot be received, the member price is not displayed. Thereby, also in the present embodiment, the display state of the member price is changed in accordance with the actual movement of the member, and it is possible to effectively prevent the member price from being provided to customers other than the member.

  Compared with the second embodiment, in this embodiment, the membership card 7 does not require a battery, so the cost of the membership card 7 can be reduced. On the contrary, in the second embodiment, although the cost of the membership card 7 is high, it is not necessary for the electronic shelf label 5 to constantly transmit a read signal, so that the power consumption in the electronic shelf label 5 is greatly suppressed. It will be possible.

  When the reachable distance of the read signal is set as the reference distance, the operation of the electronic shelf label 5 according to the present embodiment also determines whether the customer distance from the electronic shelf label 5 to the member card 7 is equal to or less than the reference distance. The member price is displayed when the customer distance is less than the reference distance, and the member price is not displayed when the customer distance is not less than the reference distance.

<4. Other embodiments>
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. Hereinafter, such other embodiments will be described. Of course, you may combine the form demonstrated below suitably.

  In the above embodiment, the specific customer information to be shown to the member who is the specific customer is described as the member price, but other information such as cooking recipes and allergy information may be indicated as the specific customer information.

  In the above embodiment, the device that transmits the device signal is described as the membership card 7. However, any device may be used as long as it is a portable device that can move with a member as a specific customer. Also good. For example, a member-only shopping cart, a member-only shopping cart, a mobile phone owned by the member, and the like may function as a device that transmits a device signal. Since these devices can be equipped with a battery having a larger electric capacity than the small membership card 7, in the second embodiment in which the portable device needs to always transmit a device signal. It can be suitably employed.

  In the first embodiment, an infrared signal may be employed as the device signal.

  In the third embodiment, whether or not the customer distance is equal to or less than the reference distance is detected based on whether or not the apparatus signal can be received. However, the electronic shelf label 5 detects the actual customer distance. The detected customer distance may be compared with the reference distance. For example, if FMCW radar that can measure the distance to the target object by transmitting and receiving frequency-modulated continuous wave signals is adopted, it is possible to easily detect the customer distance to the portable device that moves with the member. is there.

  In the third embodiment, a reading signal is also transmitted to the face 61 side to which the electronic shelf label 5 corresponds, and an IC tag (RFID tag) in which a product code is recorded is attached to each product. The product code of each product displayed on the face 61 corresponding to the shelf label 5 may be read. If the read product code and the product code stored in the memory 56 of the own device do not match, the electronic shelf label 5 determines that the actually displayed product and the product corresponding to the own device are different. it can. In this case, if the electronic shelf label 5 displays a warning, it is possible to prevent the product from being displayed on the wrong face 61 or the electronic shelf label 5 being attached to the wrong face 61.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the electronic shelf label was arrange | positioned on the goods shelf of a store. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a shop information system. It is a figure which shows an example of a goods master. It is a figure which shows an example of a customer master. It is a block diagram which shows typically the structure of a membership card. It is a figure which shows the basic composition of an ESL server. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an electronic shelf label. It is a block diagram which shows typically the internal structure of an electronic shelf label. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the electronic shelf label in response to reception of a data signal. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the electronic shelf label in response to reception of an apparatus signal. It is a figure which shows the mode of the electronic shelf label which displayed the member price. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of an electronic shelf label and a membership card. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of an electronic shelf label and a membership card. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement of the electronic shelf label of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of an electronic shelf label and a membership card. It is a figure explaining the positional relationship of an electronic shelf label and a membership card.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic shelf label system 3 POS system 5 Electronic shelf label 7 Member card 10 ESL server 40 Distribution side apparatus 51 Display part 51b General price 51c Member price 60 Merchandise shelf

Claims (6)

An electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information relating to the corresponding product,
Receiving means for receiving a device signal transmitted by a portable device moving with a specific customer;
Display means capable of displaying specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer;
With
The display means includes
In response to receiving the device signal, displaying the specific customer information,
An electronic shelf label, wherein the specific customer information is not displayed when a reference time elapses from the display start of the specific customer information. An electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information relating to the corresponding product,
Receiving means for receiving a device signal transmitted by a portable device moving with a specific customer;
Display means capable of displaying specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer;
With
The display means includes
When the device signal can be received, the specific customer information is displayed,
The electronic shelf label, wherein the specific customer information is not displayed when the device signal cannot be received. The electronic shelf label according to claim 2,
The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the receiving means receives the device signal actively transmitted by the portable device. The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The specific customer is divided into a plurality of groups,
The device signal transmitted by the portable device includes customer information that can identify a group to which the customer related to the portable device belongs,
The electronic shelf label, wherein the display means displays specific customer information corresponding to a group specified based on the customer information included in the received device signal. An electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays information relating to the corresponding product,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not a customer distance to a portable device moving with a specific customer is a reference distance or less;
Display means capable of displaying specific customer information to be shown to the specific customer;
With
The display means includes
When the customer distance is less than or equal to the reference distance, the specific customer information is displayed,
The electronic shelf label, wherein the specific customer information is not displayed when the customer distance is not less than the reference distance. An electronic shelf label system,
A plurality of electronic shelf labels according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A server device for distributing information to be displayed to the plurality of electronic shelf labels;
An electronic shelf label system comprising:

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