JP2008023108A - Electronic inventory tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic inventory tag with which a display area of commodity information at a commodity display rack can easily be changed on site of a store such as a super market where the commodity display rack is installed. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic inventory tag 1 is provided with: a display means 16 which is provided on the front end face of the commodity display rack and provided with a belt-like display surface where a display area for displaying information of commodities can be formed along the front end face; a touch panel input means 17 for performing input operation by manual contact operation to a touch surface which is provided superposed on the display surface while the information of the commodities is seen through; and control means 11 and 12 which perform division of the display area of the display surface of the display means, movement of a boundary line between adjacent two display areas, deletion of one of the adjacent two display areas and expansion of the other when the input operation by the contact operation to the touch surface is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label that is provided on a front end surface of a merchandise display shelf for displaying merchandise in a store and displays information related to the merchandise.

  In stores such as supermarkets and retail stores, it is common to display products for sale on product display shelves. In the display of products using such product display shelves, it is convenient to display product information such as names and prices of products displayed on the product display shelves on the product display shelves. ing. However, the operation of displaying the product information on the product display shelf has been conventionally performed manually by hand, which has been problematic in terms of work efficiency and work cost.

Therefore, an electronic shelf label that electronically performs product information on the product display shelf has been devised and attracted attention. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). The system described in Patent Document 1 is an electronic shelf label system in which display means for electronically displaying label information is provided on the front surface of a product display shelf. Since this electronic shelf label system can display label information electronically, improvements are made in terms of work efficiency and work cost.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-17608

  By the way, when the amount or position of the product displayed on the product display shelf is changed, it is necessary to change the position and range for displaying the label information as the product information. In the above electronic shelf label system, this label information is displayed. It is necessary to change the position and range for displaying the symbol on a computer to which a display means for electronically displaying the label information is connected. For this reason, in stores such as supermarkets and retail stores, there is a problem that it is difficult to deal with at the site where the product display shelf is installed, and it is difficult to use in operation.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and changes in the position and range for displaying the product information on the product display shelf, that is, changes in the display area of the product information, The present invention intends to provide an electronic shelf label that can be easily performed at the site of a store such as a supermarket or a retail store where shelves are installed.

  The electronic shelf label of the present invention includes display means, touch panel input means, and control means. Among these, the display means includes a display surface provided on the front end surface of the commodity display shelf. On this display surface, a plurality of display areas delimited by boundary lines can be formed along the front end surface, and this display area is used to display information on products displayed on the product display shelf. Used. The touch panel input means includes a touch surface that is provided on the display surface so as to allow the product information and boundary lines displayed on the display surface of the display means to be seen through. An input operation is performed on the touch surface by a manual contact operation. The control means has a function of controlling the display means and the touch panel input means.

  In the above electronic shelf label, by performing an input operation by a different contact operation on the touch surface of the touch panel input means on the display area formed on the display surface of the display means, the control means, Dividing the display area by creating a new boundary line, moving the boundary line between two adjacent display areas, or deleting one of the display areas by deleting the boundary line between two adjacent display areas It is characterized by performing expansion.

  Therefore, according to the electronic shelf label, the display area of the product information in the product display shelf can be changed using the touch panel input means provided in the electronic shelf label. This can be done easily at the site of a store such as a supermarket or retail store.

  In the above electronic shelf label, a touch pen may be used for input operation by contact operation. Moreover, it is preferable to display the product information displayed in the display area in the center of the display area.

  In the above-described electronic shelf label, the above-described “division of the display area by creating a new boundary line” is specifically performed as follows. That is, in the above electronic shelf label, as the above touch operation, on the touch surface of the touch panel input means through which the display area formed on the display surface of the display means is seen, along the new boundary line to be established When the contact operation is continuously performed on the assumed line, the above-described “division of the display area by creation of a new boundary line” is performed.

  This is because the control means divides the display area where the assumed line is located with respect to the display area formed on the display surface of the display means by the assumed line, and two new areas are displayed on the display surface of the display means. The display area is formed and the assumed line is formed as a boundary line.

  In the above case, when the product information is already displayed in the display area where the assumed line is located before the display area is divided, the following measures are taken. That is, in such a case, after the contact operation is finished, the control means allocates the display area before the division to the inherited display area which is one of the two new display areas formed after the division. The selection guide is displayed on the display surface of the display means together with the two representation displays representing the two display areas.

  Then, when one of the expression displays is touched on the touch surface of the touch panel input means through which the selection guide and the expression display are seen through, the control means displays a display area represented by the expression display subjected to the contact operation. As the inheritance display area, the product information is displayed in the inheritance display area.

  In the electronic shelf label, the above-described “movement of the boundary line between two adjacent display areas” is specifically performed as follows. That is, in the above electronic shelf label, as a touch operation, two display areas that are formed on the display surface of the display unit and are adjacent to each other through the boundary line are displayed on the touch panel input unit. When the touch operation is continuously performed from the position of the boundary line between the display areas to the position where the boundary line is moved on the touch surface, the above-mentioned “movement of the boundary line between two adjacent display areas” is performed. Done.

  This is because the control unit moves the boundary line between two display areas adjacent to each other via the boundary line to the planned movement position, expands one of the display areas and reduces the other, and displays the display unit. Two new display areas are formed on the surface, and the moved boundary line is formed as a new boundary line.

  In the above case, when the product information is already displayed in at least one of the two adjacent display areas before the boundary line is moved, the following measures are taken. That is, in such a case, after the contact operation is completed, the control means displays the product information after the boundary line is moved, and the display area where the product information is displayed before the boundary line is moved is the boundary line. They are displayed in a new display area formed by being expanded or reduced by movement.

  Further, in the above electronic shelf label, the above-mentioned “deletion of one of the display areas and expansion of the other by deleting the boundary line between two adjacent display areas” is specifically performed as follows. Is called. That is, in the above electronic shelf label, as a touch operation, two display areas that are formed on the display surface of the display unit and are adjacent to each other through the boundary line are displayed on the touch panel input unit. On the touch surface, when a contact operation is continuously performed from the position of the boundary line between the display areas to the position of the other boundary line other than the boundary line in the display area to be deleted among the two adjacent display areas. The above-mentioned “deletion of one display area and expansion of the other by deleting the boundary line between two adjacent display areas” is performed.

  This is because the control means deletes one of the display areas by deleting the boundary line between two adjacent display areas and expands the other, and the control means creates a boundary line between the two adjacent display areas. In addition to deleting, the display area including the other boundary line that has been continuously touched is deleted from the two display areas to expand the other adjacent display area and display the display means. This is done by forming one new display area on the surface.

  In the above case, if the product information has already been displayed in the display area where the display area is expanded among the two adjacent display areas before the boundary line is deleted, the control means The product information is displayed in a new display area formed by expanding the boundary line after deletion.

  In addition, when the product information is already displayed in the display area where the display area is deleted from the two adjacent display areas before the boundary line is deleted, after the above contact operation is finished, the control means Delete the information after deleting the border.

  In the above electronic shelf label, the product display shelf is generally installed horizontally.

  According to the electronic shelf label of the present invention, the display area of the product information in the product display shelf can be changed using the touch panel input means provided in the electronic shelf label, so that the product display shelf is installed. It can be easily performed at the site of a store such as a supermarket or a retail store.

  Hereinafter, an electronic shelf label according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic shelf label system using an electronic shelf label 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, an electronic shelf label system using an electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment is a system used in a store such as a supermarket or a retail store, and includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1, a shelf label server 2, and The mobile terminal 3 is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment is provided on the front end face of a product display shelf 10a provided horizontally on a product display stand 10 installed in a store such as a supermarket or a retail store. It has been. The electronic shelf label 1 includes one electronic shelf label 1 for each commodity display shelf 10a. Accordingly, the same number of electronic shelf labels 1 as the number of product display shelves 10a are used in the entire store such as a supermarket and a retail store.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, a wireless communication unit 13, an operation unit 14, and a shelf label unit 15. These units are connected to each other via a control line 18 including a data bus and an address bus connected to the CPU 11.

  FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the electronic shelf label 1, and a shelf label portion 15 is provided on the surface. As will be described later, the shelf label unit 15 includes an LCD 16 and a touch panel 17. The electronic shelf label 1 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, and a wireless communication unit 13 including an antenna.

  In FIG. 3, the CPU 11 is constituted by a microcomputer. The memory 12 includes a flash memory, a RAM, and the like, and stores software such as an OS and various processing programs necessary to control the electronic shelf label 1. The CPU 11 performs various processes using software installed in the memory 12.

  The wireless communication unit 13 includes an antenna, and transmits and receives various types of information to and from the shelf label server 2. The wireless communication unit 13 transmits and receives information to and from the portable terminal 3 indirectly via the shelf label server 2. The operation unit 14 includes a keyboard such as a numeric keypad, and is used to perform various settings related to the control of the electronic shelf label 1.

  As described above, the shelf label unit 15 includes the LCD 16 and the touch panel 17. The LCD 16 includes a strip-shaped display surface along the product display shelf 10a. The display surface has a height of 50 mm and a length of 1000 mm. In addition, a display area for displaying information on products displayed on the product display shelf 10a is formed on the display surface. The touch panel 17 includes a touch surface, and this touch surface is provided so as to overlap the display surface of the LCD 16 so that a display displayed on the display surface of the LCD 16 can be seen through.

  From the touch panel 17, a coordinate data signal is output as shown in FIG. This coordinate data signal is a signal of coordinate data at a point on the touched surface while the touch surface of the touch panel 17 is touched with the touch pen.

  Similar to the display surface of the LCD 16, the touch surface of the touch panel 17 has a belt-like shape along the product display shelf 10a. The height is 50 mm and the length is 1000 mm, and the resolution is 1 mm in both the height direction and the length direction. is there. On the touch surface of the touch panel 17, the height direction is the Y axis and the length direction is the X axis, and the coordinate data signal includes the X axis coordinate value and the Y axis coordinate value at the point on the touch surface touched. Is a combination. In the touch panel 17, as shown in FIG. 6, the X-axis coordinate value is 0 at the left end of the touch surface of the touch panel 17 and 1000 is the right end, and the Y-axis coordinate value is 0 at the upper end of the touch surface of the touch panel 17. The lower end is 50.

  As described above, in the shelf label unit 15, the touch surface of the touch panel 17 is provided so as to overlap the display surface of the LCD 16 so that the display displayed on the display surface of the LCD 16 can be seen through. Therefore, hereinafter, the display surface of the LCD 16 and the touch surface of the touch panel 17 are collectively referred to as the display surface of the shelf label unit 15. In addition, in the figure showing the display surface of the shelf label 15 shown below, as shown in FIG. 10, the related X-axis coordinate value shall be written together.

  As an operation for touching the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 with a touch pen, a contact operation for moving from the top to the bottom as shown in FIG. ), A contact operation for moving from right to left as shown in FIG. 7B (hereinafter referred to as right-left drag), and a contact operation for moving from left to right as shown in FIG. And a contact operation (hereinafter referred to as “put”) for contacting one point as shown in FIG.

  Next, a display mechanism in the shelf label unit 15 and an output signal fetching mechanism by a contact operation will be described. In order to perform display on these shelf label sections 15 and capture of output signals by contact operations, the memory 12 of the electronic shelf label 1 has a drag data memory area for recording the drag data shown in FIG. A shelf label identification data memory area for recording the shelf label identification data shown in FIG. 11 and a shelf label display data memory area for recording the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 11 are provided.

  Among these, the drag data shown in FIG. 8 is coordinate data of a coordinate data signal output by an operation of touching the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 with a touch pen. This coordinate data is composed of an X-axis coordinate value and a Y-axis coordinate value, and when coordinate data in which either the X-axis coordinate value or the Y-axis coordinate value is different is output, the drag data memory is in the output order. Recorded in the area. Of the coordinate data recorded in this drag data memory area, the X-axis coordinate value of the first output coordinate data is referred to as head data H, and the X-axis coordinate value of the last output coordinate data is referred to as end data. Called E. However, in the case of a put, the X-axis coordinate value of the first output coordinate data is added as a put data and recorded after the last data E of the drag data performed before that.

  The shelf label identification data shown in FIG. 9 recorded in the shelf label identification data memory area of the memory 12 includes data representing a shelf label identification number and data representing the number of display areas. Among these, the shelf label identification number is a number for identifying each electronic shelf label. As described above, in the electronic shelf label system using the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment, since a plurality of electronic shelf labels are used, it is necessary to identify each of these electronic shelf labels, and the shelf label server 2 Under the management, a shelf label identification number is assigned to each electronic shelf label.

  In the present embodiment, as the shelf label identification number, for convenience of explanation, the shelf label identification number of the electronic shelf label 1 provided in the upper product display shelf 10a in the product display stand 10 of FIG. Assume that the shelf label identification number of the electronic shelf label 1 provided in the middle product display shelf 10a is 2, and the shelf label identification number of the electronic shelf label 1 provided in the lower product display shelf 10a is 3. The shelf label identification data shown in FIG. 9 indicates the shelf label identification data of the electronic shelf label 1 provided in the upper product display shelf 10a in the product display stand 10 of FIG. Are listed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, a display area for displaying information on products to be displayed is formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1. At least one such display area is formed on each electronic shelf label. In addition, since this display area is formed for each product to be displayed, if there are a plurality of products to be displayed, the same number of display areas are formed. The number of display areas formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of this one electronic shelf label 1 is the number of display areas described above in the shelf label identification data.

  FIG. 10 shows a display surface of the shelf label unit 15 in the electronic shelf label 1 having the shelf label identification number of 1. The display surface of the shelf label unit 15 has three display areas. In FIG. 9 showing the shelf label identification data of the electronic shelf label 1 with the shelf label identification number 1, 3 is described as the number of display areas.

  The shelf label display data shown in FIG. 11 recorded in the shelf label display data memory area of the memory 12 includes shelf label information related to the display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1, and the display area. And product information displayed on the screen. These shelf label information and product information are configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 10, generally, a display area number starting from 1 is assigned to the display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1, and the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 is displayed. When a plurality of display areas are formed, display area 1, display area 2, display area 3,... From the display area located on the left of the display surface of shelf label 15 to the display area located on the right. Are given in the order. FIG. 10 shows the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 in the electronic shelf label 1 with the shelf label identification number 1, and in this case, three display areas are formed. The product information is displayed in this display area. This merchandise information is information relating to merchandise displayed on the merchandise display shelf 10a, and in the present embodiment, the merchandise information is composed of a merchandise name and a price.

  In addition, as described above, when a plurality of display areas are formed on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15, a boundary line is formed between adjacent display areas as shown in FIG. Accordingly, one display area is surrounded by a left boundary line that is a left boundary line and a right boundary line that is a right boundary line. In this case, the X-axis coordinate value of the left boundary line is referred to as a left boundary value L, and the X-axis coordinate value of the right boundary line is referred to as a right boundary value R. Further, in the center of the display area, product information is displayed as described above. The X-axis coordinate value at the center of the position where the product information is displayed is referred to as a median value C. The shelf label information includes the left boundary value L, the right boundary value R, the median value C, and the like of each display area.

  As described above, a boundary line is formed between a plurality of adjacent display areas. However, in the actual product display shelf 10a, this boundary line on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is shown in FIG. The product partition plate 10b is arranged on the product display shelf 10a at the same position as the position where the product is formed, and the correspondence between the displayed product and the display area for displaying information on the product is performed accurately. .

  The above shelf label information will be described in more detail. FIG. 10 shows the state of the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 in the electronic shelf label 1 with the shelf label identification number 1 as described above. In this case, the display area 1 is displayed on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15. Three display areas of display area 3 are formed. A boundary line is formed at points where the X-axis coordinate values of the display surface of the shelf label 15 between the display areas are 300 and 700. Looking at this state for each display area, in display area 1 with area number 1, the left boundary value L = 0, the right boundary value R = 300, and the median value C = 150. In the display area 2 with the area number 2, the left boundary value L = 300, the right boundary value R = 700, and the median value C = 500. In the display area 3 with the area number 3, the left boundary value L = 700, the right boundary value R = 1000, and the median value C = 850.

  FIG. 11 shows the shelf label information and the product information described above. That is, in FIG. 11, as the shelf label information, the area number of the formed display area, the left boundary value L, the right boundary value R, and the median value C in each display area are described as the shelf label information. . In addition, the shelf label information includes product information presence / absence D indicating whether or not the product information including the product name and the price constituting the shelf label display data actually exists. The product information presence / absence D is the product information presence / absence D = 1 when the product information actually exists, and the product information presence / absence D = 0 when the product information does not actually exist. Actually, in FIG. 10, since no product information exists in any display area, presence / absence of product information D = 0 is described for all display areas. Moreover, neither the product name nor the price is described in the product information of FIG.

  The case where the product information is displayed in the display area of the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 shows the state of the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 shown in FIG. 12 and the shelf label display data shown in FIG. It is. That is, the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 13 includes product information presence / absence D = 1 in all display areas and product information. In FIG. 12, product information is displayed in each display area.

  In the above description, the contents of the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 11 have been described from the state of the display surface in the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 shown in FIG. The display of the surface is performed based on the shelf label display data. This also applies to the state of the display surface in the shelf label section 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 shown in FIG. 12 and the shelf label display data shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, when the shelf label display data is changed and changed, the display on the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 also changes. Further, the number of lines in the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 11 increases or decreases depending on the number of display areas which is the number of display areas to be formed. Further, the number of display areas of the shelf label identification data is changed accordingly. The shelf label display data is transmitted from the shelf label server 2 and recorded in the shelf label display data memory area of the memory 12 of the electronic shelf label 1, but the shelf recorded in the shelf label display data memory area. The shelf label information of the tag display data can be changed by the above-described up / down drag, right / left drag, left / right drag, or the like on the display surface of the shelf label section 15 of the electronic shelf label 1. And according to this change, the display of the display surface in the shelf label part 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 is changed.

  Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 when the above-described up / down drag, right / left drag, left / right drag, or the like is performed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 will be described. To do. In this description, the following case is used as a state before each drag described above is performed.

  First, assuming that product information is not displayed in the display area, the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 shown in FIG. 14 in which only one display area is formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1. And the shelf label display data shown in FIG. This case is referred to as Case 1. Moreover, as a case where product information is not displayed in the display area, three display areas are formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 described above, and the shelf label portion 15 shown in FIG. The state of the display surface and the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 11 are used. This case is referred to as Case 2. Moreover, as a case where product information is displayed in the display area, the same three three display areas are formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 described above, and the shelf label portion 15 shown in FIG. And the shelf label display data shown in FIG. 13 are used. This case is referred to as Case 3. In this description, the following definitions are made.

  That is, the display area with the display area number n formed on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is represented as a display area (n). Accordingly, the display area (n−1) represents a display area adjacent to the left side of the display area (n), and the display area (n + 1) represents a display area adjacent to the right side of the display area (n).

  Then, the left boundary value L of the display area (n) is equal to the right boundary value R of the display area (n−1), and the right boundary value R of the display area (n) is the left boundary value of the display area (n + 1). It becomes equal to the value L. The number of display areas described above, which is the number of display areas formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1, is represented by m. Therefore, the display area (m) represents the display area located on the rightmost side of the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1.

  In addition, a display area number of a display area that satisfies a certain condition is represented by h (h represents hit), and a display area with a display area number h is represented as a display area (h). Then, the display area adjacent to the left side of the display area (h) is represented as a display area (h-1), and the display area adjacent to the right side of the display area (h) is represented as a display area (h + 1). The display area (h) before the left boundary value L, the right boundary value R, and the median value C of the display area (h) are changed is simply referred to as a display area (h), and these values The display area (h) after at least one of the above has been changed is referred to as a new display area (h).

  In the following description, between the display area having the same display area number and the new display area, the shelf label information and product information used in the display area, except for those specifically mentioned in the description, As it is, it is used for the new display area. If at least either the left boundary value L or the right boundary value R is different between the display area having the same display area number and the new display area, the median value C of the new display area is recalculated. .

  For example, in the description, “the display area (h) is changed to the new display area (h), and in this new display area (h), the first data H is used for the right boundary value R” is actually used. "Uses the left boundary value L of the display area (h) as the left boundary value L of the new display area (h) and the first data H as the right boundary value R of the new display area (h). The median value C of (h) is recalculated using the left boundary value L of the new display area (h) and the right boundary value R of the new display area (h), and the presence or absence of product information in the new display area (h) The product information presence / absence D of the display area (h) is used for D, and the product information of the display area (h) is used for the product information of the new display area (h).

  In addition, when the shelf label information and the product information in the display area are inherited as they are, and only the display area number is changed by adding or subtracting one, the display area number of the display area is changed. Only 1 is added or subtracted to give a new display area number. In a specific situation, when there is no product information, it is expressed as “no product information”.

  Based on the above, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 in the above-described embodiment will be described. 16 to 19, FIGS. 27 to 29, and FIGS. 34 to 36 are flowcharts showing the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment. In these flowcharts, the following abbreviations are used. That is, the top data H of the drag data stored in the drag data memory area of the memory 12 is H, the end data E is E, the shelf label of the shelf label display data stored in the shelf label display data memory area of the memory 12 In the information, the left boundary value L of the display area is represented as L, the right boundary value R is represented as R, the median value C is represented as C, and the product information presence / absence D is represented as D.

  In this embodiment, as described above, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is performed using up / down drag, right / left drag, or left / right drag as a trigger. In the flowchart of FIG. The operation includes an operation for determining which of the above operations is performed.

  Of these, the vertical drag is performed when the display area is divided. In addition, right / left drag or left / right drag deletes one of the adjacent display areas and deletes it when moving the boundary line of the adjacent display area or by deleting the boundary line of the adjacent display area. This is performed when the other display area is expanded to the display area side.

  In the following explanation, when the display area is divided, the point at which a new boundary line is formed is not directly touched, but the display area before the division is changed to a new display area and the next display area is changed. In addition to forming and adding a new display area, a new boundary line is included. Also, when moving the boundary line between adjacent display areas, the points that move the boundary line are not touched directly, but changing each of the adjacent display areas to a new display area also moves the boundary line. include. Also, when deleting one of the adjacent display areas by deleting the boundary line of the adjacent display area, and extending the other display area to the deleted display area side, the boundary line between the adjacent display areas is displayed. Although the point to be deleted is not directly touched, deleting one of the adjacent display areas includes the deletion of the boundary line between the adjacent display areas.

  First, a flowchart showing the basic operation of the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 16 will be described. In FIG. 16, first, it is checked whether or not the leading data H of the drag data stored in the drag data memory area of the memory 12 is 0 or 1000 (S1). This is because the X-axis coordinate values 0 and 1000 on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 are both ends of the display surface of the shelf label unit 15, but in this embodiment, such both ends are used as the starting points of various drags. Because it is not the target, it is for removing such a case. If the head data H is 0 or 1000 (S2), this is the case and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. If the head data H is not 0 or 1000 in S2, the process proceeds to S3.

  In S3, the head data H of the drag data is compared with the right boundary value R of the display area 1 to the display area (m) to check whether there is a matching right boundary value R (S102). This is to determine whether or not the drag operation is a vertical drag. If the right boundary value R that coincides with the leading data H does not exist in the check of S3 (S4), the drag operation is an up-and-down drag, and an up-and-down drag process described later is performed (S100), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is performed. finish.

  If it is determined in S3 that there is a right boundary value R that matches the leading data H of the drag data (S4), the process proceeds to S5.

  In S5, the head data H and the tail data E are compared in size. This is to determine whether the drag operation is right-left drag or left-right drag. If the top data H> the end data E (S6), it is a right-left drag dragged from right to left, so a right-left drag process (to be described later) is performed (S200), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. If the head data H is not the end data E (S6), the head data H is less than the end data E, so the left-right drag is dragged from the left to the right. Then, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is finished.

  Next, the vertical drag process (S100) will be described. 17 to 19 are flowcharts showing the operation of the up / down drag process (S100). First, in the case 1 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a case is considered where dragging up and down is performed at a point of the X-axis coordinate value 400 on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 as shown in FIG. In this case, the top data H is 400. This up / down drag is performed when the display area 1 is divided.

  In this case, the up / down drag process (S100) is instructed by the process according to the flowchart showing the basic operation shown in FIG. In this up / down drag process (S100), in FIG. 17 to FIG. 19, first, the merchandise information movement required flag F = 0 is set (S101), the top data H> the left boundary value L, and the top data H <right. A display area (h) having a boundary value R is found from the display areas 1 to (m) (S102).

  In the case 1, since the top data H = 400, the left boundary value L = 0 of the display area 1, and the right boundary value L = 1000 of the display area 1, the display area (h) = the display area 1 If so, the first data H> the left boundary value L and the first data H <the right boundary value R are satisfied. Therefore, display area (h) = display area 1.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the display area (h) (S103). If the product information presence / absence D = 1 is not satisfied (S104), the process proceeds to S108. In case 1, since display area (h) = display area 1 and product information presence / absence D = 0 in display area 1, product information presence / absence D = 1 is not established, and the process proceeds to S108.

  In S108, the display area (h) is changed to the new display area (h). In the new display area (h), the head data H is used as the right boundary value R, and the process proceeds to S109. In S109, a new display area (h + 1) is formed and added next to the new display area (h). In this new display area (h + 1), the head boundary H is used as the left boundary value L, and the right boundary value is set. The right boundary value R of the display area (h) is used as R, the product information presence / absence D = 0, and the product information is absent, and the process proceeds to S110.

  In case 1, display area (h) = display area 1, leading data H is 400, and display area 1 is changed to new display area 1. As a result of this change, the new display area 1 is different from the display area 1 in that the right boundary value R = 400 and the median value C = 200. Also, a new display area 2 is newly formed. In this new display area 2, the left boundary value L = 400, the right boundary value R = 1000, the median value C = 700, the product information presence / absence D = 0, and the product information is absent. , Go to S110.

  In S110, it is checked whether or not another display area exists after the display area (h). If not, the process passes S112 and proceeds to S113. In case 1, since there is only one display area, there is no other display area, and the process proceeds to S113. In S113, it is checked whether or not the commodity information movement required flag F = 1, but since the commodity information movement necessary flag F is not set, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 21, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG.

  As described above, when only one display area is formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1, by dragging up and down on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 at a point where the display area is to be divided. The display area of the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 can be divided.

  Next, in the case 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a case is considered where dragging is performed up and down at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 600 on the display surface of the shelf label 15 as shown in FIG. This case is referred to as case 2A. In this case, the display area number m = 3. The leading data H is 600. This up-and-down drag is performed when the display area is divided as in the case 1.

  In this case, the up / down drag process (S100) is instructed by the process according to the flowchart showing the basic operation of FIG. In the up-and-down drag process (S100), as in the case 1 in FIGS. 17 to 19, first, the product information movement required flag F = 0 is set (S101), the top data H> the left boundary value L, and A display area (h) that satisfies the first data H <right boundary value R is found from the display areas 1 to (m) (S102). In case 2A, the top data H = 600, the left boundary value L of the display area 2 is 300, and the right boundary value R is 700. Therefore, if the display area (h) = the display area 2, the top data H > Left boundary value L and top data H <right boundary value R are satisfied. Therefore, display area (h) = display area 2.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the display area (h) (S103). If the product information presence / absence D = 1 is not satisfied (S104), the process proceeds to S108. In case 2A, since display area (h) = display area 2 and product information presence / absence D = 0 in display area 2, product information presence / absence D = 1 is not established, and the process proceeds to S108.

  In S108, the display area (h) is changed to the new display area (h). In the new display area (h), the head data H is used as the right boundary value R, and the process proceeds to S109. In S109, a new display area (h + 1) is formed and added next to the new display area (h). In this new display area (h + 1), the head boundary H is used as the left boundary value L, and the right boundary value is set. The right boundary value R of the display area (h) is used as R, the product information presence / absence D = 0, and the product information is absent, and the process proceeds to S110.

  In case 2A, the display area (h) = the display area 2, the head data H is 600, and the display area 2 is changed to the new display area 2. By this change, the new display area 2 is different from the display area 2 in that the right boundary value R = 600 and the median value C = 450. Also, a new display area 3 is newly formed. In this new display area 3, the left boundary value L = 600, the right boundary value R = 700, the median value C = 650, the product information presence / absence D = 0, and the product information is not present. , Go to S110.

  In S110, it is checked whether or not another display area exists after the display area (h). If it exists, the process proceeds to S112. In case 2A, since display area (h) = display area 2, and display area 3 exists after display area 2, the process proceeds to S112. In S112, 1 is added to the display area numbers of all the display areas existing after the display area (h), and the process proceeds to S113 as a new display area number. In case 2A, 1 is added to the display area number of the display area 3 existing next to the display area 2 to obtain a new display area number 4, and the process proceeds to S113.

  In S113, it is checked whether or not the commodity information movement required flag F = 1. If the commodity information movement necessary flag F = 1 is not satisfied, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. In case 2A, since the product information movement required flag F = 0 remains, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated instead of the product information movement required flag F = 1. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 23, and the display on the display screen of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG. 22 (b).

  Next, in the case 3 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a case is considered in which dragging is performed at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 600 on the display surface in the shelf label section 15 as shown in FIG. This case is referred to as case 3A. In this case, the number m of display areas is 3 as in the case 2A. The leading data H is 600. This vertical drag is performed when the display area is divided, as in the case 2A. The case 3A is different from the case 2A, as can be seen from the shelf label display data of the case 3 shown in FIG. 13, the product information presence / absence D = 1 in each display area, and the display of the shelf label portion 15 shown in FIG. The product information is displayed in each display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label 15 like the surface.

  In this case, by the processing according to the flowchart showing the basic operation shown in FIG. 16, the up and down drag processing (S100) shown in FIG. In this up-and-down drag process (S100), the processes of S101 and S102 are exactly the same as in case 2A, and will be described from S103.

  In S103, it is checked whether or not the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the display area (h) (S103). If the product information presence / absence D = 1, the process proceeds to S105. In case 3A, since display area (h) = display area 2 and product information presence / absence D = 1 in display area 2, the process proceeds to S105.

  In S105, the commodity information movement required flag F = 1 is set. Then, as shown in FIG. 24 (b), a guidance for selecting whether to newly provide a new display area (h + 1) to be formed on the left or right side is displayed (in FIG. 24 (b), "Do you want to add?"), And the buttons for touch input displayed as "Left" and "Right" are displayed (S106). This touch input button corresponds to the expression display described above. The process waits for the put operation on the touch input button to be completed (S107), and proceeds to S108.

  Next, the processing of S108 to S112 is performed. Since this processing is also exactly the same as Case 2A, the processing will be described from S113. However, in S108, the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the new display area 2 which is the new display area (h) is used, and the product information in the display area 2 is used as the product information in the new display area 2. In S109, the new display area Product information presence / absence D = 0 in the new display area 3 which is (h + 1), and no product information in the new display area 3 is present.

  In S113, it is checked whether or not the merchandise information movement required flag F = 1. If the merchandise information movement required flag F = 1, the process proceeds to S114. In case 3A, the merchandise information movement flag F = 1 is set in S105, and the process proceeds to S114.

  In S114, it is determined from the put data recorded in the drag data memory area of the memory 12 whether the new display area is provided on the left or right side. If this determination is on the right side, the process proceeds to S116, and if this determination is on the left side, the process proceeds to S117. In the case 3A, when “right” is put in FIG. 24B, the process proceeds to S116, and when “left” is put, the process proceeds to S117.

  In S116, the product information in the display area (h) is used as it is as product information in the new display area (h). Then, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is finished. In this case, the new display area (h) corresponds to the above-described inherited display area.

  In the case 3A, when “right” is put in FIG. 24B, the product information in the display area 2 is used as it is as the product information in the new display area 2. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 25, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15 is as shown in FIG.

  In S117, the product information in the display area (h) is moved to the newly formed new display area (h + 1), and the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the new display area (h + 1) is set. Further, in the new display area (h), the product information presence / absence D = 0 is changed to the product information is not present, and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is finished. In this case, the new display area (h + 1) corresponds to the above-described inherited display area.

  In case 3A, since display area (h) = display area 2, when “left” is put in FIG. 24 (b), the product information in display area 2 is transferred to the newly formed new display area 3. At the same time, the product information presence / absence D = 1 in the new display area 3 is set. In the new display area 2, the product information presence / absence D = 0, and the product information in the new display area 2 is absent. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 26, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG.

  Next, the right / left drag process (S200) will be described. 27 to 29 are flowcharts showing the operation of the right / left drag process (S200). This right / left drag process (S200) relates to a process when dragging toward the left starting from the boundary of adjacent display areas. That is, the drag end point is located on the left side of the drag start point.

  First, in case 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 30A, the display area 2 and the display area existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 700 on the display surface in the shelf label 15. Let us consider a case where the start point is on the boundary line with 3 and the right / left drag is performed toward the point of the X-axis coordinate value 500. This case is referred to as case 2B. In this case, the display area number m = 3. The leading data H is 700, and the trailing data E is 500. This right / left drag is performed when the boundary line of the display area is moved.

  In the flowchart of the right / left drag process (S200) shown in FIG. 27, first, the head data H is compared with the right boundary value R of the display area 1 to the display area (m) to find a matching display area (h). (S201), the process proceeds to S202.

  In the case 2B, since the top data H = 700, the right boundary value R = 700 of the display area 2, the top data H matches the right boundary value R. Display area (h) = display It is area 2, and the process proceeds to S202.

  In S202, it is checked whether or not the tail data E is less than or equal to the left boundary value L of the display area (h) (S202). When the end data E is not less than or equal to the left boundary value L of the display area (h) (S203), the end point of the right / left drag does not reach the left boundary line of the display area (h). Therefore, the right / left drag boundary line moving process described later is performed (S210), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated.

  In case 2B, tail data E = 500, display area (h) = display area 2, and left boundary value L = 300 of display area 2, so tail data E is the left border of display area (h). Instead of the value L or less (S203), as described above, the right / left drag boundary moving process described later is performed (S210).

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the right / left drag boundary moving process. In FIG. 28, first, in S211, the display area (h) is changed to the new display area (h). In this new display area (h), the tail data E is used as the right boundary value R, and the process proceeds to S212. In S212, the display area (h + 1) is changed to the new display area (h + 1). In this new display area (h + 1), the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated using the end data E as the left boundary value L.

  In case 2B, display area (h) = display area 2, display area (h + 1) = display area 3, end data E = 500, display area 2 is changed to new display area 2, and display area 3 is new. The display area 3 is changed. With this change, the new display area 2 differs from the display area 2 in that the right boundary value R = 500 and the median value C = 400. The new display area 3 differs from the display area 3 in that the left boundary value R = 500. The value L = 500 and the median value C = 750. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 31, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG. 30 (b).

  Next, in case 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 32A, the display area 2 and the display area existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 700 on the display surface in the shelf label unit 15 are displayed. Consider a case where the start point is on the boundary line 3 and the right-left drag is performed toward the boundary line between the display area 1 and the display area 2 existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 300. This case is referred to as Case 2C. In this case, the display area number m = 3. The leading data H is 700, and the tail data E is 300. This right / left drag is performed when the display area 2 is deleted and the display area 3 is expanded to the display area 2 portion.

  In the flowchart of the right / left drag process (S200) shown in FIG. 27, first, as in the case 2B, the head data H is compared with the right boundary value R of the display area 1 to the display area (m) to match the display area ( h) is searched (S201), and the process proceeds to S202.

  In the case 2C, as in the case 2B, the head data H = 700, whereas the right boundary value R = 700 of the display area 2, the head data H matches the right boundary value R. (h) = Display area 2, and the process proceeds to S202.

  In S202, it is checked whether or not the tail data E is less than or equal to the left boundary value L of the display area (h) (S202). When the end data E is less than or equal to the left boundary value L of the display area (h) (S203), the end point of the right / left drag reaches the left boundary line of the display area (h). In this case, the display area ( h) is deleted, right / left drag display area deletion processing described later is performed (S220), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated.

  In case 2C, tail data E = 300, display area (h) = display area 2, and left boundary value L = 300 of display area 2, so tail data E is the left border of display area (h). The value is equal to or smaller than the value L (S203), and as described above, the right / left drag display area deletion process described later is performed (S220).

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing right / left drag display area deletion processing. In FIG. 29, first, in S221, the display area (h) is deleted. In S222, the display area (h + 1) is changed to the new display area (h). In the new display area (h), the right boundary value R of the display area (h + 1) is used as the right boundary value R, and the display area The product information presence / absence D and product information of (h + 1) are moved to the new display area (h), and the process proceeds to S223.

  In case 2C, display area (h) = display area 2, display area (h + 1) = display area 3, right boundary value R = 1000 of display area 3, display area 2 is deleted, and display area 3 Is changed to the new display area 2. As a result of this change, the new display area 2 differs from the display area 2 in that the right boundary value R = 1000, the median value C = 650, and the product information presence / absence D in the display area 3 is used as the product information. The product information in the display area 3 is used. Then, the process proceeds to S223.

  In S223, it is checked whether another display area exists after the display area (h + 1) (224), and if not, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. When it exists, it progresses to S225. In S225, 1 is subtracted from the display area numbers of all the display areas existing after the display area (h + 1), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is ended as a new display area number.

  In case 2A, display area (h + 1) = display area 3, and since there is no display area next to display area 3, from the display area numbers of all display areas existing after display area (h + 1). The operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated without performing the process of subtracting 1. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 33, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG.

  In the above-described right / left drag process (S200), in the case 3 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the shelf label of the electronic shelf label 1 before dragging is compared with the case 2 shown in FIGS. Product information presence / absence D = 1 of the shelf label display data of each display area in the display data is different except that product information is displayed in each display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15. Yes, the processing flow of the right / left drag processing (S200) is exactly the same as in the case 2 and will not be described.

  Next, the left / right drag process (S300) will be described. 34 to 36 are flowcharts showing the operation of the left-right drag process (S300). This left-right drag process (S300) relates to a process when dragging to the right starting from the boundary line between adjacent display areas. That is, the drag end point is on the right side of the drag start point.

  First, in the case 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 37A, the display area 1 and the display area 2 existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 300 on the display surface in the shelf label unit 15. Let us consider a case in which the position is dragged left and right toward the point of the X-axis coordinate value 400, starting from the boundary line with. This case is referred to as case 2D. In this case, the display area number m = 3. The leading data H is 300, and the trailing data E is 400. This left / right drag is performed when the boundary line of the display area is moved.

  In the flowchart of the left-right drag process (S300) shown in FIG. 34, first, the head data H is compared with the left boundary value L of the display area 1 to the display area (m) to find a matching display area (h). (S301), the process proceeds to S302.

  In the case 2D, since the top data H = 300, the left boundary value L = 300 of the display area 2, the display area (h) = display where the top data H matches the left boundary value L It is area 2, and the process proceeds to S302.

  In S302, it is checked whether or not the end data E is equal to or greater than the right boundary value R of the display area (h) (S302). When the end data E is not greater than or equal to the right boundary value R of the display area (h) (S303), the end point of the left and right drag does not reach the right boundary line of the display area (h). In this case, the display area In this case, the left and right drag boundary line movement processing described later is performed (S310), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated.

  In the case 2D, since the end data E = 400, the display area (h) = the display area 2, and the right boundary value R = 700 of the display area 2, the end data E is the right boundary of the display area (h). If it is not equal to or greater than the value R (S303), as described above, the left and right drag boundary line moving process described later is performed (S310).

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing left-right drag boundary line movement processing. In FIG. 35, first, in S311, the display area (h) is changed to the new display area (h). In this new display area (h), the end data E is used as the left boundary value L, and the process proceeds to S312. In S312, the display area (h-1) is changed to the new display area (h-1). In this new display area (h-1), the end data E is used as the right boundary value R, and the electronic shelf label 1 is used. End the operation.

  In case 2D, display area (h) = display area 2, display area (h−1) = display area 1, end data E = 400, display area 2 is changed to new display area 2, and display area 1 Is changed to the new display area 1. With this change, the new display area 2 differs from the display area 2 in that the left boundary value L = 400 and the median value C = 550. The new display area 1 differs from the display area 1 in that the right boundary value The value R = 400 and the median value C = 200. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 38, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG.

  Next, in the case 2 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 39A, the display area 1 and the display area existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 300 on the display surface in the shelf label unit 15. Let us consider a case where the image is dragged left and right toward the boundary line between the display area 2 and the display area 3 existing at the point of the X-axis coordinate value 700, starting from the boundary line with 2. This case is referred to as Case 2E. In this case, the display area number m = 3. The leading data H is 300, and the trailing data E is 700. This left-right drag is performed when the display area 2 is deleted and the display area 1 is expanded to the display area 2 portion.

  In the flowchart of the left-right drag process (S300) shown in FIG. 34, first, as in case 2D, the head data H is compared with the left boundary value L of the display area 1 to the display area (m) and matches the display area ( h) is searched (S301), and the process proceeds to S302.

  In the case 2E, as in the case 2D, the top data H = 300, whereas the left boundary value L of the display area 2 is 300, so that the top data H matches the left boundary value L. (h) = Display area 2, and the process proceeds to S302.

  In S302, it is checked whether or not the end data E is equal to or greater than the right boundary value R of the display area (h) (S302). When the end data E is greater than or equal to the right boundary value R of the display area (h) (S303), the end point of the left-right drag reaches the right boundary line of the display area (h). In this case, the display area ( Since h) is to be deleted, left / right drag display area deletion processing described later is performed (S320), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated.

  In case 2E, tail data E = 700, display area (h) = display area 2, and right boundary value R = 700 of display area 2, so tail data E is the right border of display area (h). The value is equal to or greater than the value R (S303), and as described above, the left / right drag display area deletion process described later is performed (S320).

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing left-right drag display area deletion processing. In FIG. 36, first, in S321, the display area (h) is deleted. In S322, the display area (h-1) is changed to the new display area (h-1). In the new display area (h-1), the right boundary value R of the display area (h) is changed to the right boundary value R. Use R to proceed to S323.

  In case 2E, display area (h) = display area 2, display area (h−1) = display area 1, right boundary value R = 700 of display area 2, and display area 1 is changed to new display area 1. Is done. With this change, the new display area 1 differs from the display area 1 in that the right boundary value R = 700 and the median value C = 350. Then, the process proceeds to S323.

  In S323, it is checked whether another display area exists after the display area (h) (324). If there is no other display area, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. When it exists, it progresses to S325. In S325, 1 is subtracted from the display area numbers of all the display areas existing after the display area (h), and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is ended as a new display area number.

  In case 2E, since display area (h) = display area 2 and display area 3 exists after display area 2, display area numbers 3 to 1 of display area 3 existing after display area 2 are displayed. Is subtracted to obtain a new display area number 2, and the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 is terminated. Accordingly, the shelf label display data is as shown in FIG. 40, and the display on the display surface of the shelf label 15 is as shown in FIG. 39 (b).

  In the above left and right drag processing (S300), the case 3 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 has the shelf label of the electronic shelf label 1 before dragging, as compared to the case 2 shown in FIGS. Product information presence / absence D = 1 of the shelf label display data of each display area in the display data is different except that product information is displayed in each display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15. Yes, the processing flow of the left-right drag processing (S300) is exactly the same as in case 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment is connected to the shelf label server 2 via radio and indirectly via the shelf label server 2 wirelessly with the portable terminal 3. It is connected. Therefore, the shelf label information of the shelf label display data recorded in the shelf label display data memory area of the memory 12 of the electronic shelf label 1 is changed by the above-described vertical drag processing, right / left drag processing, or left / right drag processing. Then, the changed information is immediately transmitted to the shelf label server 2, and the shelf label server data included in the shelf label server 2 is updated. Therefore, by transmitting information from the portable terminal 3 to the updated shelf label server data, for example, a product name and a price can be set for a newly provided display area.

  According to the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment described above, this display can be performed simply by dragging the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 provided on the front end surface of the product display shelf 10a of the product display stand 10. Since the display area of the product information on the product display shelf formed on the surface can be changed, it can be easily performed at the site of a store such as a supermarket or a retail store where the product display shelf is installed.

  In the electronic shelf label 1 in the above embodiment, a boundary line is formed between adjacent display areas formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1, and this boundary line is visible. Although displayed, this boundary line may not be displayed on the display surface of the shelf label unit 15.

  In the electronic shelf label 1 according to the present embodiment, the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 is dragged using a touch pen. However, the display is performed with a human finger without using the touch pen. You may do it.

  In the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment, the LCD 16 and the touch panel 17 of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1 have a height of 50 mm and a length of 1000 mm. The size is not limited to this, and may be any size as long as it matches the product display shelf 10a of the product display stand 10.

  Further, in the electronic shelf label 1 in the above-described embodiment, only the product name and price are listed as the product information of the shelf label display data recorded in the shelf label display data memory area of the memory 12. Other information such as a product ID such as a barcode, a catch phrase for the product, a sales period, and the like may be added. Further, a shelf label ID or the like may be added as the shelf label information of the shelf label display data. In the electronic shelf label 1 according to the present embodiment, only the product name and the price are displayed in the display area formed on the display surface of the shelf label portion 15 of the electronic shelf label 1. As the information other than the above, the above catch phrase or the like may be displayed.

  Further, in the electronic shelf label 1 in the present embodiment, one electronic shelf label 1 is provided in one stage of the product display shelf 10a of the product display stand 10 installed horizontally. When the table 10 is large and the one-stage product display table 10a is long, a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 may be provided. FIG. 41 shows an example of such a case, and three electronic shelf labels 1 are provided in a one-stage product display stand 10a.

  In the electronic shelf label 1 according to the present embodiment, the product display shelf 10a provided with the electronic shelf label 1 has a long shape in the horizontal direction, and the electronic shelf label 1 has a longitudinal direction that is horizontal. However, as shown in FIG. 42, the electronic shelf label 1 may be used with its longitudinal direction being vertical.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the electronic shelf label system using the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is an external view of the goods display stand in which the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment is used. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is an external view of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the output signal of the touchscreen of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the coordinate structure of the touchscreen of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. (a), (b), (c) and (d) is explanatory drawing which showed the kind of contact operation with respect to the display surface of the shelf label part of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the drag data of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the shelf label identification data of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a state figure (case 2) of the display surface of the shelf label part of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram (case 2) of the shelf label display data of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a state figure (case 3) of the display surface of the shelf label part of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram (case 3) of the shelf label display data of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a state figure (case 1) of the display surface of the shelf label part of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram (case 1) of the shelf label display data of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the basic operation | movement of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart (the 1) which showed the up-and-down drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart (the 2) which showed the up-and-down drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart (the 3) which showed the up-and-down drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. In case 1 of the electronic shelf label up-and-down drag processing of the present embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label at the start of processing, and (b) is the display of the shelf label at the end of processing. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of the end of processing in case 1 of the vertical drag processing of the electronic shelf label of the present embodiment. In case 2A of the electronic shelf label up-and-down drag process of the present embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label part at the start of the process, and (b) is a display of the shelf label part at the end of the process. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the end of the process in case 2A of the vertical drag process of the electronic shelf label of the present embodiment. In case 3A of the vertical drag processing of the electronic shelf label of this embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label portion at the start of processing, and (b) is a display of the shelf label portion during the processing. (C) is the state diagram of the display screen of the shelf label section at the end of processing when the right is selected, and (d) is the display of the shelf label section at the end of processing when the left is selected. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of completion | finish of a process at the time of selecting the right in case 3A of the up-and-down drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of completion | finish of a process when the left in case 3A of the up-and-down drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment is selected. It is the flowchart which showed the right-left drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the right-left drag boundary movement process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the right-left drag display area deletion process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. In case 2B of the right and left drag processing of the electronic shelf label of this embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label portion at the start of processing, and (b) is a display of the shelf label portion at the end of processing. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of the end of processing in case 2B of the right and left drag processing of the electronic shelf label of the present embodiment. In case 2C of the right / left drag process of the electronic shelf label of this embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label part at the start of the process, and (b) is a display of the shelf label part at the end of the process. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the end of the process in case 2C of the right / left drag process of the electronic shelf label of the present embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the right-and-left drag process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the right-and-left drag boundary movement process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the left-right drag display area deletion process of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. In case 2D of the left and right drag processing of the electronic shelf label according to the present embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label portion at the start of processing, and (b) is a display of the shelf label portion at the end of processing. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of completion | finish of processing in case 2D of the right-and-left drag processing of the electronic shelf label of this Embodiment. In case 2E of the left and right drag processing of the electronic shelf label according to the present embodiment, (a) is a state diagram of the display surface of the shelf label portion at the start of processing, and (b) is a display of the shelf label portion at the end of the processing. FIG. It is a block diagram of the shelf label display data at the time of the end of processing in case 2E of the left and right drag processing of the electronic shelf label of the present embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the other usage example of the electronic shelf label in a goods display stand (the 1). It is the perspective view (the 2) which showed the other usage example of the electronic shelf label in a goods display stand.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic shelf label 2 Shelf label server 3 Portable terminal 10 Product display stand 10a Product display shelf 10b Product partition plate 11 CPU
12 memory 13 wireless communication unit 14 operation unit 15 shelf label unit 16 LCD
17 Touch panel 18 Control line

Claims (10)

A display area that is provided on the front end surface of the product display shelf and displays information on the products displayed on the product display shelf, and is formed along the front end surface by a boundary line Display means with possible strip-shaped display surface;
The product information displayed on the display surface of the display means and the boundary line are provided so that they can be seen through, and a touch surface is provided on the display surface, and an input operation is performed by a manual contact operation on the touch surface. Touch panel input means,
Control means for controlling the display means and the touch panel input means,
The control means performs the display by creating a new boundary line by performing an input operation by a touch operation on the touch surface of the touch panel input means with respect to a display area formed on the display surface of the display means. Divide the area, move the boundary line between two adjacent display areas, or delete one of the display areas and expand the other by deleting the boundary line between the two adjacent display areas. Features electronic shelf label.   The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein a touch pen is used for an input operation by the contact operation.   The electronic shelf label according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the product information displayed in the display area is displayed in the center of the display area. The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
As the contact operation, on the touch surface of the touch panel input means through which the display area formed on the display surface of the display means is seen, it continues on the assumed line along the new boundary line to be established. Touch operation,
As the division of the display area due to the creation of a new boundary line, the control means sets the display area where the assumption line is located relative to the display area formed on the display surface of the display means as the assumption line. The electronic shelf label which is divided by the above and forms two new display areas on the display surface of the display means and forms the assumed line as a boundary line. When product information is already displayed in the display area where the assumed line is located before the display area is divided, after the contact operation is completed, the control means
Two representation displays that represent the two display areas, respectively, as a selection guide for assigning the display area before the division to the inherited display area that is one of two new display areas formed after the division. And displaying on the display surface of the display means,
Inheriting the display area represented by the expression display that has been touched by touching any one of the expression displays on the touch surface of the touch panel input means through which the selection guide and the expression display are seen through The electronic shelf label according to claim 4, wherein the product information is displayed in the inheritance display area as a display area. The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
On the touch surface of the touch panel input means, the two display areas that are adjacent to each other through the boundary line as a display area formed on the display surface of the display means as the contact operation, When the contact operation is continuously performed from the position of the boundary line between the display areas to the position where the boundary line is moved,
As the movement of the boundary line between the two adjacent display areas, the control means moves the boundary line of the two adjacent display areas to the planned movement position via the boundary line, and performs the display. An electronic shelf label in which one of the areas is expanded and the other is reduced to form two new display areas and a moved boundary line as a new boundary line on the display surface of the display means.   When product information is already displayed in at least one of the two adjacent display areas before the boundary line is moved, after the contact operation is completed, the control means The product information is displayed in a new display area formed by expanding or reducing the display area in which the product information is displayed before the boundary line is moved by moving the boundary line. Electronic shelf label. The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
On the touch surface of the touch panel input means, the two display areas that are adjacent to each other through the boundary line as a display area formed on the display surface of the display means as the contact operation, When the contact operation is continuously performed from the position of the boundary line between the display areas to the position of the other boundary line other than the boundary line in the display area to be deleted among the two adjacent display areas,
As one deletion of the display area and the other extension by the deletion of the boundary line between two adjacent display areas, the control means deletes the boundary line between two adjacent display areas, Of the two display areas, the display area including the other boundary line that has been touched in succession is deleted to expand the other display area adjacent to the display area of the display means. An electronic shelf label that forms a new display area. Before the boundary line is deleted, if product information is already displayed in the display area where the display area is expanded among the two adjacent display areas, the control means, after the contact operation ends, The product information is displayed in a new display area formed by expanding after deleting the boundary line,
When product information has already been displayed in the display area where the display area is deleted, of the two adjacent display areas before the boundary line is deleted, after the contact operation ends, the control means, The electronic shelf label according to claim 8, wherein the product information is deleted after the boundary line is deleted.   The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the commodity display shelf is installed horizontally.

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