JP2009104549A - Electronic bin tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic bin tag system which enables a user to easily know when description of an electronic bin tag showing commodity display information of a commodity is updated at a glance. <P>SOLUTION: In the electronic bin tag system, an electronic bin tag 1 for showing commodity display information and a bin tag server 2 communicate with each other. The electronic bin tag 1 receives updated commodity display information and displays the number of update times showing how many times the commodity display information has been updated, together with updated commodity display information every time the bin tag server 2 updates commodity display information to transmit the updated commodity display information to the electronic bin tag 1 through communication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label system using an electronic shelf label that is installed near a product displayed in a store and displays product display information related to the product.

  In stores such as supermarkets and retail stores, it is necessary to display product display information such as names and prices of products to be sold, and the operation of displaying this product display information on products has been performed manually by hand. This is a problem in terms of work efficiency and work cost.

  Therefore, an electronic shelf label system that electronically displays product display information for this product has been proposed. This system is composed of a plurality of electronic shelf labels and shelf label servers provided in the vicinity of the products displayed in the store connected by a wireless communication line. This product display information is transmitted to the electronic shelf label, and this product display information is displayed on the electronic shelf label.

  Further, in this electronic shelf label system, the product display information may be changed by a time service, a discount immediately before closing, etc., even after being transmitted to the electronic shelf label. Therefore, in general, after the product is once transmitted from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label, the product display information is updated as necessary, and when the product display information is updated, the updated new product display is displayed. Information is displayed on the electronic shelf label.

In this case, when the time service price or the like is displayed as update information, it may be forgotten to return to the original product display information after the time service time has elapsed. For this reason, various measures for preventing this forgotten return have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The shelf label system described in Patent Document 1 is a mechanism that displays that the electronic shelf label that has been forgotten to return is blinked, thereby indicating that it has been forgotten to return, and is considered effective from the viewpoint of preventing forgetting to return. .
JP 2002-304673 A

  By the way, in the above electronic shelf label system, when the product display information is transmitted from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label and displayed on the electronic shelf label, the state of the wireless communication line is bad and the electronic shelf label cannot be received. There is.

  In the above electronic shelf label system, a system is adopted in which product display information is transmitted from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label, and when the electronic shelf label is normally received, the normal reception is transmitted to the shelf label server. There are many cases. In this case, the shelf label server may not be able to receive information that the electronic shelf label has been normally received due to a poor wireless communication line.

  In these cases, whether or not the content displayed on the electronic shelf label has been updated normally or whether it has been displayed before the update can be determined simply by looking at the display on the electronic shelf label. I couldn't do it and it was a problem. This point cannot be a solution even if the forgotten return prevention measure described above is used.

In addition, in a store such as a supermarket, it is generally not uncommon to update product display information a plurality of times for the same electronic shelf label for a certain period, for example, one day. In such a case, it is impossible to determine when the display of the electronic shelf has been updated only by looking at the display of the electronic shelf label.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to improve the situation as described above, and when the display of the electronic shelf label displaying the product display information of the product is updated, It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic shelf label system that can be easily judged just by looking at the display of the electronic shelf label.

  The electronic shelf label system of the present invention is an electronic shelf label system in which an electronic shelf label that displays product display information and a shelf label server communicate with each other. In the above electronic shelf label system, every time the shelf label server updates the product display information to the electronic shelf label and transmits it via communication, the electronic shelf label receives the updated product display information. At the same time, the display representing the number of updates indicating how many times the update is performed is performed together with the display of the updated product display information.

  According to the electronic shelf label system described above, the electronic shelf label is displayed so as to indicate the number of updates indicating the number of update transmissions from the initial transmission of the shelf label server. Whether or not it has been updated can be easily determined simply by looking at the display on the electronic shelf label. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label is normally updated.

  In the electronic shelf label system described above, when the electronic shelf label updates the display expressing the update count, the display completion information indicating that the display expressing the update count is performed is sent to the shelf label via communication. You may make it transmit to a server. In this case, the shelf label server receives the display completion information and displays the reception.

  By doing so, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the display update of the electronic shelf label is normally performed by viewing the display completion information displayed on the shelf label server.

  In the above electronic shelf label system, it is preferable to use the same display that is used in common for the electronic shelf label as the display that represents the same number of updates.

  By doing so, the display of the electronic shelf label is compared with the display of the electronic shelf label existing around the electronic shelf label, and whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label is normally performed. Can be easily confirmed.

  In the electronic shelf label system described above, the electronic shelf label may be configured to hold regulation information that defines a correspondence between the number of updates described above and a display expressing the number of updates.

  In this case, when the electronic shelf label receives the updated product display information, the electronic shelf label counts the number of updates, and based on the regulation information, displays the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates. This is performed together with the display of product display information.

  By doing in this way, based on the same predetermined prescription information, a display expressing the number of updates is performed for each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the same standard of the same prescription information. . Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not the display update of the electronic shelf label is normally performed for a plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the same standard, and this confirmation can be easily performed. Can do.

Further, the process of counting the number of updates and selecting a display expressing the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates based on the regulation information is performed only with the electronic shelf label. Therefore, the load on the shelf label server can be reduced.

  In the above case, the regulation information may be stored in the electronic shelf label by transmitting it from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label. By doing in this way, management with respect to the display of the electronic shelf label using the shelf label server can be easily performed.

  In the electronic shelf label system described above, the electronic shelf label regards the initial update as a reference time for counting the number of updates, and electronically stores information on a specified period for the electronic shelf label that is a fixed period from the reference time. You may make it hold | maintain on a shelf label. In this case, when the specified period for the electronic shelf label elapses from the reference time point, the electronic shelf label becomes the reference time point of the new count when it has passed.

  By doing in this way, the update management of the display of the electronic shelf label can be performed in a certain period called the electronic shelf label specified period, for example, in units of 24 hours. It can be done uniformly. In addition, the update management of the display of the electronic shelf label in units of a fixed period of the electronic shelf label is performed only by the electronic shelf label. Therefore, the load on the shelf label server can be reduced.

  In the above case, the specified period for the electronic shelf label may be held on the electronic shelf label by transmitting it from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label. By doing in this way, management with respect to the display of the electronic shelf label using the shelf label server can be easily performed.

  In the electronic shelf label system described above, the shelf label server may be configured to hold regulation information that defines a correspondence between the number of updates and a display expressing the number of updates.

  In this case, when the shelf label server transmits the updated product display information, the shelf label counts the number of updates, and display information that represents the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates based on the regulation information. Is transmitted together with the product display information. Then, the electronic shelf label receives the display information expressing the number of updates together with the product display information, and performs the display expressing the number of updates together with the display of the product display information.

  By doing in this way, based on the same predetermined prescription information, a display expressing the number of updates is performed for each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the same standard of the same prescription information. . Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not the display update of the electronic shelf label is normally performed for a plurality of electronic shelf labels based on the same standard, and this confirmation can be easily performed. Can do.

  Further, the process of counting the number of updates and selecting a display expressing the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates based on the regulation information is performed only by the shelf label server. Therefore, the load on the electronic shelf label can be reduced.

  In the electronic shelf label system described above, the shelf label server regards the initial update as a reference time for counting the number of updates, and stores information on a specified period for the shelf label server that is a fixed period from the reference time. You may make it hold | maintain at a tag server. In this case, when the specified period for the electronic shelf label elapses from the reference time point, the electronic shelf label becomes the reference time point of the new count when it has passed.

By doing in this way, the update management of the display of the electronic shelf label can be performed in a certain period called the electronic shelf label specified period, for example, in units of 24 hours. It can be done uniformly. In addition, the update management of the display of the electronic shelf label in units of a certain period, which is a specified period for the shelf label server, is performed only by the shelf label server. Therefore, the load on the electronic shelf label can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, since the display expressing the number of updates indicating the number of update transmissions from the initial transmission of the shelf label server is performed on the electronic shelf label, when the display of the electronic shelf label is updated Can be easily determined by simply looking at the display on the electronic shelf label. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label is normally updated.

  When the electronic shelf label displays the number of updates, the electronic shelf label transmits display completion information indicating that the display expressing the number of updates has been performed to the shelf label server. Is displayed on the shelf label server. Therefore, by looking at the display on the shelf label server, it can be easily confirmed whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label has been updated normally.

  Next, an electronic shelf label system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As description in embodiment of this invention, it divides into Embodiment 1-Embodiment 4, and demonstrates.

<Embodiment 1>
First, the electronic shelf label system according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, an electronic shelf label system according to 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 installed in the vicinity where products are displayed, and a shelf label server. It consists of two. The shelf label server 2 and the plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 are connected by a wireless LAN.

  In the electronic shelf label system according to the present embodiment, for a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 installed in the vicinity where products are displayed, information on the products displayed in the vicinity of the electronic shelf labels 1 The system is a system that is transmitted from the server 2 and displayed on the electronic shelf label 1. Information relating to the product, which is transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1 and displayed on the electronic shelf label 1, is referred to as product display information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the shelf label server 2. 2, the shelf label server 2 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22, an HDD 23, a wireless communication unit 24 including an antenna 24a, a display unit 25, and an operation unit 26. These units are connected to each other via a control line 27 including a data bus and an address bus connected to the CPU 21. Further, the shelf label server 2 is provided with a power supply not shown in FIG.

  The CPU 21 is composed of a microprocessor, and the memory 22 is composed of RAM, flash memory, or the like. The HDD 23 stores software such as an OS and various processing programs necessary for controlling the shelf label server 2. The CPU 21 performs various processes in the shelf label server 2 by software installed in the memory. The wireless communication unit 24 communicates with the electronic shelf label 1 via the wireless LAN. The display unit 25 displays various information. The operation unit 26 is used for inputting information and various instructions to the shelf label server 2.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the electronic shelf label 1, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic shelf label 1. 3 and 4, the electronic shelf label 1 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12, a wireless communication unit 13 including an antenna 13 a, and a display unit 14. These units are connected to each other via a control line 15 including a data bus and an address bus connected to the CPU 11.

  The CPU 11 is composed of a microprocessor. The memory 12 is composed of a RAM or a flash memory, and the memory 12 stores an OS and various software. The CPU 11 performs various processes using software installed in the memory 12. The memory 12 stores a shelf label ID that is a unique ID for identifying the electronic shelf label 1 in a nonvolatile state.

  The wireless communication unit 13 communicates with the shelf label server 2 via the wireless LAN. The antenna 13 a of the wireless communication unit 13 is provided on the upper part of the casing of the electronic shelf label 1. The display unit 14 is composed of an LCD, and displays information such as product information.

  As described above, in the electronic shelf label system described above, the product display information of the products to be displayed by the electronic shelf label 1 is displayed for a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 installed in the vicinity where the products are displayed. , A system that is transmitted from the shelf label server 2 and displayed on the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, the HDD 23 of the shelf label server 2 is provided with a product registration information database in which product registration information necessary for displaying product information on the electronic shelf label 1 is accumulated. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of product registration information included in the product registration information database.

  In FIG. 5, the product registration information is formed for each electronic shelf label 1 for all the electronic shelf labels used in the electronic shelf label system, and identifies the electronic shelf label 1. The electronic shelf label 1 having the shelf label ID includes a commodity ID of a commodity to be displayed, and commodity display information of the commodity. This product display information includes a product name, a price, and the like.

  Moreover, in the electronic shelf label system in Embodiment 1, it is necessary to change and update the display of the electronic shelf label 1 a plurality of times due to factors such as time service. In such a case, in order to check whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 correctly reflects these changes and updates, the display update count is the number of times the display of the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated. Is displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 that is displayed together with the product display information. This display update count display of the electronic shelf label 1 corresponds to the above-described display expressing the update count.

  Therefore, in order to realize this mechanism, the shelf label server 2 includes a plurality of types of processing functions for each electronic shelf label 1 in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 for each electronic shelf label 1. It has elements. These processing function elements are provided with a transmission necessity flag Fs, a processing flag Fp, an update count counter Ca, a specified period timer Ta, and a specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area for each electronic shelf label. ing. FIG. 6 is a table showing these processing function elements.

  In FIG. 6, the transmission necessity flag Fs indicates whether or not the product display information to be displayed on each electronic shelf label is newly created or updated to display on the electronic shelf label. . Fs = 0 indicates that transmission is not required, and Fs = 1 indicates that transmission is necessary. The in-process flag Fp indicates whether or not the execution of the above mechanism is being processed. Fp = 0 indicates that processing is not in progress, and Fp = 1 indicates that processing is in progress.

  The update count counter Ca is a counter that counts how many times the display update of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated from the first transmission of the product display information. In the first embodiment, the first transmission of the product display information itself is the first update.

The specified period timer Ta is a timer for measuring the specified period. The specified period is a period for counting the number of updates of the display of the electronic shelf label 1 from the first transmission of the product display information for each electronic shelf label 1. When this stipulated period elapses, the update count counter Ca is reset at the lapse of time and a new stipulated period is started again, and the display update of the electronic shelf label 1 is counted from the first transmission of the product display information. This is a mechanism that recounts the number of updates from the beginning.

  The specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area is an area for recording the time-up value of the specified period timer Ta. The time-up value of the specified period timer Ta corresponds to the information on the specified period for the shelf label server described above. The time-up value of the specified period timer Ta is, for example, 24 hours (1 day). The time-up value of the specified period timer Ta can be changed at any time by the operator of the shelf label server 2 operating the operation unit 26 of the shelf label server 2. Setting the time-up value of the specified period timer Ta to the specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area is performed by the operator of the shelf label server 2 by operating the operation unit 26 of the shelf label server 2.

  Further, in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2, when displaying the display update number, which is the number of times the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated, separately from the processing function elements shown in FIG. A display mark registration table used to express a specific display update count is provided. In this display mark registration table, display marks associated with the count values of the update number counter Ca are registered.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the display mark registration table. In the example of FIG. 7, the count value of the update counter Ca is a diamond mark for Ca = 1, a heart mark for Ca = 2, a spade mark for Ca = 3, and Ca = 4. Is associated with a clover mark. Note that nothing is associated with the count value of the update count counter Ca, Ca = 0. Registration of the display mark in the display mark registration table is performed by an operator of the shelf label server 2 by operating the operation unit 26 of the shelf label server 2.

  In the above electronic shelf label system, product display information and display marks are transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1. When the electronic shelf label 1 receives and displays the product display information and the display mark, the electronic shelf label 1 displays the display mark to notify the shelf label server 2 that the reception and display have been normally performed. Send completion information to the shelf label server. This display mark display completion information corresponds to the display completion information described above.

  Therefore, the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 is provided with an electronic shelf label display state recording table for recording the display update state of the electronic shelf label 1 based on the display mark display completion information. . FIG. 8 shows an example of the electronic shelf label display state recording table. The electronic shelf label display state recording table is displayed on the display unit 25 of the shelf label server 2. Therefore, the operator of the shelf label server 2 can know the display state on the electronic shelf label 1 by looking at the electronic shelf label display state recording table displayed on the display unit 25 of the shelf label server 2.

  In FIG. 8, the electronic shelf label display state recording table has an electronic shelf label display state column for each electronic shelf label 1. In this column, a serial number starting from 1 is attached, and the display state of the electronic shelf label 1 is recorded along the serial number in accordance with the order received from the electronic shelf label 1 by the shelf label server 2. .

Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system in Embodiment 1 will be described. 9 to 13 are flowcharts showing the operation of the electronic shelf label system in the present embodiment. 9 to 12 are flowcharts showing the operation of the shelf label server 2, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic shelf label 1. In the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 13, R1 and R2 indicated by dotted lines indicate that there is a relationship between each other connected by dotted lines.

  9 to 12 showing the operation of the shelf label server 2, FIG. 9 is a procedure for newly creating or updating the product display information in the product registration information provided in the shelf label server 2. It is the flowchart which showed. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the shelf label server 2 for displaying the display update count on the electronic shelf label 1. In the flowchart showing the procedure for newly creating or updating the product display information in FIG. 9, the double-frame process is a process including a manual operation performed by the operator of the shelf label server 2. .

  Then, next, based on FIGS. 9-13, operation | movement of the electronic shelf label system in Embodiment 1 is demonstrated concretely. First, a procedure for newly creating or updating product display information in the product registration information will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the transmission necessity flag Fs of all the electronic shelf labels 1 is reset to Fs = 0 (S1).

  Next, the operator of the shelf label server 2 checks whether or not the electronic shelf label 1 to be updated is selected by manual operation in the operation unit 26 of the shelf label server 2 (S2). If so (S3), the product display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is newly created or updated by the operator of the shelf label server 2 (S4).

  This new creation or update process is performed on the product display information included in the product registration information shown in FIG. 5 in the product registration information database provided in the HDD 23 of the shelf label server 2.

  When the product display information update processing or the like is completed (S5), the transmission necessity flag Fs of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is set to Fs = 1 (S6), and the process returns to S2 to return to the next electronic shelf. It prepares for the update process etc. with respect to the merchandise display information of the tag 1.

  When the transmission necessity flag Fs of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is set to Fs = 1 in S6 described above (S6), the product display information included in the product registration information for which the update processing or the like is completed is displayed. Therefore, it is recognized as an object to be transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1.

  Next, the basic operation of the shelf label server 2 for displaying the display update count on the electronic shelf label 1 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The shelf label server 2 first resets the processing flags Fp of all the electronic shelf labels 1 and sets Fp = 0 (S11).

  Next, the first one of the electronic shelf labels 1 is selected (S12), and this "transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)" (S20) is performed. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are flowcharts showing the “transmission / reception processing (1) to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20). Next, the operation of the “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) will be described.

  11 and 12, first, the processing flag Fp for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is checked (S21). If the processing flag Fp is not reset (Fp = 0), that is, if Fp = 1, the process proceeds to S28.

When the processing flag Fp for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S21 is checked and the processing flag Fp remains reset and Fp = 0 (S22), next, the selected A processing flag Fp for the electronic shelf label 1 is set and Fp = 1 is set (S23).
.

  Next, the update count counter Ca for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is reset to Ca = 0 (S24). Further, the column for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 is cleared (S25).

  Next, the specified period timer Ta time-up value recorded in the specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area is set in the selected specified period timer Ta for the electronic shelf label 1 (S26). After the specified period timer Ta is started (S27), the process proceeds to S28.

  In S28, it is checked whether or not the specified period timer Ta has timed up. If the time has expired, the process returns to S23, and the processes in and after S23 are repeated. This is because the update count counter Ca is reset at the elapse of the specified period, and the specified period is started again, and the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated by the product display information. This is to count the number of updates counted from the first transmission of, from the beginning.

  If it is checked in S28 whether or not the specified period timer Ta has timed up, if the specified period timer Ta has not timed out, the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is then set. Check (S29).

In the check of the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S29, if this transmission necessity flag Fs is not Fs = 1 (S30), that is, it remains reset (Fs = 0). The product display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 has not been updated by the manual operation performed by the operator of the shelf label server 2, and the electronic shelf label 1 from the shelf label server 2 has been completed. Not sent to Therefore, the process proceeds to S34. In the check of the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S29, this transmission necessity flag Fs is set, and if Fs = 1 (S30), it is selected. Further, the product display information of the electronic shelf label 1 has been subjected to the manual update operation performed by the operator of the shelf label server 2 and has been subjected to transmission from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1. ing.

  Therefore, next, the update count counter Ca for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is counted up to Ca = Ca + 1 (S31). Then, the merchandise display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 and the display mark corresponding to the count value of the update number counter Ca are transmitted to the selected electronic shelf label 1 (S32).

  FIG. 14 shows a format of transmission information at the time of transmission from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1, and this transmission information includes the shelf label ID of the selected electronic shelf label 1, product display information, and It consists of display marks corresponding to the count value of the update count counter Ca shown in FIG. For example, if the count value of the update count counter Ca for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is Ca = 1, a diamond mark is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1. Further, as the product display information transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1, the product display information included in the product registration information shown in FIG. 5 in the product registration information database provided in the HDD 23 of the shelf label server 2 is extracted. Used.

  Next, the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is reset to Fs = 0 (S33). This is to prevent the same information from being transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1 again since the transmission of the merchandise display information for which the updating process or the like for the electronic shelf label 1 has been completed in S32. When the reset of the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S33 is completed, the process proceeds to S34.

  On the other hand, the selected electronic shelf label 1 that has received the transmission of the product display information and the display mark from the shelf label server 2 performs processing in the electronic shelf label 1 by receiving these. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing in the electronic shelf label 1. In FIG. 13, the selected electronic shelf label 1 checks whether or not it has been received from the shelf label server 2 (S41), and if received (S42), the received product display information and display mark are displayed as follows: As shown in FIG. 16, it is displayed on the display unit 14 of the selected electronic shelf label 1 (S43).

  Then, the displayed display mark is included in the display completion information and transmitted to the shelf label server 2 (S44). FIG. 15 shows a format of transmission information at the time of transmission from the electronic shelf label 1 to the shelf label server 2. The transmission information includes the shelf label ID of the selected electronic shelf label 1, a display completion report, and And it is comprised by the display mark displayed on the said electronic shelf label 1. FIG. These display completion reports and the displayed display marks constitute display completion information.

  For example, if a diamond mark is transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1 together with the product display information, the diamond mark is displayed together with the product display information on the electronic shelf label 1. Display completion information is constituted by the display completion report and transmitted from the electronic shelf label 1 to the shelf label server 2.

  Then, in the shelf label server 2, whether or not there is reception from the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S34 in the flowchart of "transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)" (S20) shown in FIG. If there is no reception from the electronic shelf label 1 (S35), the processing of “transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) is terminated.

  If there is reception from the electronic shelf label 1 in the check of reception from the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S34 (S35), the display mark included in the received display completion information is displayed on the shelf label server. 2 is entered in the column of the selected electronic shelf label 1 of the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 as shown in FIG. 8 (S36). The transmission / reception process (1) "(S20) to the bill is ended.

  When this “transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) is completed, the shelf label server 2 proceeds to S13 in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not the “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) is completed. If not (S14), one next electronic shelf label is selected, The above-described “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) is repeated.

  If it is checked in S13 whether or not the “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) for all the electronic shelf labels 1 has been completed (S14), the process proceeds to S12. Returning again, it starts from the point where the first one of the electronic shelf labels 1 is selected (S12), and the above-mentioned "transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)" (S20) is repeated.

  In the operation of the shelf label server 2 of the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment, as can be seen from the flowchart of the basic operation of the shelf label server 2 shown in FIG. Then, “transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) is performed.

Therefore, for one and the same electronic shelf label 1, a series of S23 to S27 in the “transmission / reception process (1) to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. , The series of processes of S31 to S33, and the process of S36 are repeated a plurality of times for the same electronic shelf label 1, “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (
In any of S20), it is usually executed separately.

  FIGS. 16 to 18 show examples of product display information displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 and display mark display examples by the operation of the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment. An electronic shelf label 1 having an ID is shown.

  Among these, FIG. 16 shows a case where the count value of the update count counter Ca in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs provided in the shelf label server 2 is Ca = 1. On the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, a diamond mark associated with the count value Ca = 1 of the update counter Ca shown in FIG. 7 is displayed as a display mark. Therefore, just by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 is the first update, that is, the display by the first transmission.

  Similarly, FIG. 17 shows a case where the count value of the update count counter Ca is Ca = 2 in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs included in the shelf label server 2 as described above. The heart mark is displayed as a display mark on the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, only by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 is updated twice.

  Similarly, FIG. 18 shows a case where the count value Ca of the update count counter Ca is 3 in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs included in the shelf label server 2 as described above. A spade mark is displayed as a display mark on the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, only by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated three times.

  According to the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment, the electronic shelf label 1 is displayed with a display mark representing the number of updates indicating the number of update transmissions from the initial transmission of the shelf label server 2. . Therefore, it is possible to easily determine when the display on the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated simply by looking at the display on the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is normally updated.

  When the display of the display mark is completed, the electronic shelf label 1 transmits display completion information indicating that the display mark has been displayed to the shelf label server 2, and the shelf label server 2 displays the display completion information. Is recorded in the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2. The electronic shelf label display state recording table is displayed on the display unit 25 of the shelf label server 2. Therefore, by looking at the electronic shelf label display state recording table displayed on the shelf label server 2, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated normally. .

  Further, the same display mark used in common for all the electronic shelf labels 1 is used as the display mark expressing the same number of updates. Therefore, the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is compared with the display of the electronic shelf label 1 existing around the electronic shelf label 1, and whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is normally updated. Can be easily confirmed.

The shelf label server includes regulation information that defines the association between the update count of the product display information displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 and a display mark expressing the update count. Based on this regulation information, processing for all electronic shelf labels 1 is performed. Therefore, display marks are displayed on each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 based on the same standard of the same specified information based on the same specified information defined in advance. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether or not the display of these electronic shelf labels 1 has been normally updated for a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 based on the same criteria. It can be done easily.

  In addition, the shelf label server 2 sets a specified period timer Ta that measures a specified period, which is a period for counting the number of times the display update of the electronic shelf label 1 is counted from the initial transmission of the product display information. I have. When the specified period elapses, the update count counter Ca is reset at the elapsed time, and the specified period starts again, and the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated from the initial transmission of the product display information. A system is used to recount from the beginning how many times the update is counted.

  For this reason, the display update management of the electronic shelf label 1 can be performed in a certain period of the electronic shelf label specified period, for example, in units of 24 hours. Can be done. In addition, the update management of the display of the electronic shelf label 1 in units of a certain period of a specified period is performed only by the shelf label server 2. Therefore, the load on the electronic shelf label 1 can be reduced.

  In the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment described above, a display mark is entered in the product display information column of the electronic shelf label display state recording table. The display mark display completion information is displayed together with this display mark. The time received by the shelf label server 2 may be entered.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, an electronic shelf label system according to Embodiment 2 will be described. The configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment is exactly the same as the configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment. The operation of the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment is also exactly the same as that in the first embodiment except for the points described below. Therefore, the effect of the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment is exactly the same as the effect of the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment.

  The electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment is different from the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment in the following points. That is, in the first embodiment, display marks having different shapes are used as information associated with each count value of the update count counter Ca. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, one specific type of display mark is used, and when the display mark is displayed on the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, the display screen for displaying the electronic shelf label 1 is displayed. Are used as information associated with each count value of the update count counter Ca.

  Therefore, the shelf label server 2 includes a display mark registration table shown in FIG. 19 in place of the display mark registration table shown in FIG. 7 used in the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. In the example of FIG. 19, a star mark is used as one specific type of display mark, and the position on the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1 that displays this star mark is the count of the update number counter Ca. The values are associated as follows.

  That is, for the count value of the update count counter Ca, Ca = 1, the right center of the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, and for Ca = 2, the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1. The lower center of the display screen, for Ca = 3, the left center of the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, and the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1 for Ca = 4. Are respectively associated with the upper center. Note that nothing is associated with the count value of the update count counter Ca, Ca = 0.

Further, the product display information, the specific display mark, and the information on the display position of the mark are transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the selected electronic shelf label 1. FIG. This is the format of transmission information at the time. This transmission information includes the shelf label ID of the selected electronic shelf label 1, product display information, a specific display mark, and the display position of the mark corresponding to the count value of the update count counter Ca shown in FIG. Consists of information.

  For example, when the count value of the selected update count counter Ca for the electronic shelf label 1 is Ca = 1, a star mark and a right center are transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1. Further, the product display information transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1 is included in the product registration information shown in FIG. 5 in the product registration information database provided in the HDD 23 of the shelf label server 2 as in the first embodiment. The displayed product display information is used.

  FIG. 21 shows a format of transmission information of display completion information transmitted from the selected electronic shelf label 1 to the shelf label server 2. The transmission information includes a shelf label ID of the selected electronic shelf label 1, a display completion report, and a display mark displayed on the electronic shelf label 1.

  In addition, the electronic shelf label display status recording table provided in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 stores the display information of the electronic shelf label 1 based on the display mark display completion information transmitted from the electronic shelf label 1 to the shelf label server 2. Although the display update state is recorded, in the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment, a display mark is recorded as the display update state. On the other hand, in the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment, the position on the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1 of the specific mark is used. FIG. 22 shows this state.

  23 to 25 show four examples of display of product display information and display positions of display marks displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 by the operation of the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment. An electronic shelf label 1 having a different shelf label ID is shown.

  Among these, FIG. 23 shows a case where the count value of the update count counter Ca in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs provided in the shelf label server 2 is Ca = 1. On the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, the right center associated with the count value Ca = 1 of the update number counter Ca shown in FIG. Therefore, just by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 is the first update, that is, the display by the first transmission.

  Similarly, FIG. 24 shows a case where the count value of the update count counter Ca is Ca = 2 in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs included in the shelf label server 2 as described above. The lower center is shown as the front position of the display mark on the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, only by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 is updated twice.

  Similarly, FIG. 25 shows a case where the count value Ca of the update count counter Ca is 3 in each of the electronic shelf labels 1 having four different shelf label IDs included in the shelf label server 2 as described above. On the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, the left center is shown as the display position of the display mark. Therefore, only by looking at the display screen of the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, it can be seen that the display on the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated three times.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, an electronic shelf label system according to Embodiment 3 will be described. The configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment is exactly the same as the configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment. The operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment except for the points described below.

  In the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment, the shelf label server 2 performs a function of counting the number of times the display update of the electronic shelf label 1 is counted from the initial transmission of the product display information. . On the other hand, in the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment, this function is performed by the electronic shelf label 1. This point is different from the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, in the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment, as described above, the processing function elements provided in the shelf label server 2 are the transmission necessity flag Fs, the processing flag Fp, the update count counter Ca, the specified period. This is a timer Ta and a specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area.

  On the other hand, in the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment, the processing function elements provided in the shelf label server 2 are only the transmission necessity flag Fs and the processing flag Fp as shown in FIG. It is. Further, the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 is provided with an electronic shelf label display state recording table for recording the display update state of the electronic shelf label 1 as in the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 27, the memory 22 of the electronic shelf label 1 includes, as processing function elements, an update count counter Cb, a specified period timer Tb, and a specified period timer Tb time-up value recording area. . In the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment, the display mark registration table shown in FIG. 7 provided in the shelf label server 2 is the memory of the electronic shelf label 1 in the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment. 22 is provided.

  Setting the time-up value of the specified period timer Tb in the specified period timer Tb time-up value recording area provided in these electronic shelf labels 1 and registering the display marks in the display mark registration table are performed by the shelf label server. 2 by the operation of the operation unit 26 of the shelf label server 2 being transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1 by transmitting the time-up value of the specified period timer Tb or the display mark registration input. Is called.

  The functions of the transmission necessity flag Fs and the processing flag Fp provided in the shelf label server 2 are the transmission necessity information provided in the shelf label server 2 of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. The functions of the flag Fs and the processing flag Fp are exactly the same.

  The functions of the update count counter Cb, the specified period timer Tb, and the specified period timer Tb time-up value recording area provided in the electronic shelf label 1 are the same as the update of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. This is the same function as the number counter Ca, the specified period timer Ta, and the specified period timer Ta time-up value recording area.

  Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to Embodiment 3 will be described. The operation of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment relates to the flowchart showing the operation of the shelf label server 2 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 in the operation of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment. The flowchart of FIG. 9 is applied as it is. Further, the flowchart of FIG. 10 is replaced with “selected electronic shelf label” shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 29 and 30 instead of “transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20). The flowchart of FIG. 10 is applied except that the transmission / reception process (2) ”(S70) to the bill is used.

  Further, the flowchart shown in FIG. 28 is applied to the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment. In the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment, the shelf label server 2 starts the specified period described above for each electronic shelf label 1 from the electronic shelf label 1. This is done by receiving information.

  Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment will be specifically described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 9, 10, and 28 to 30. First, the procedure for newly creating or updating the product display information in the product registration information is as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 and is exactly the same as in the first embodiment as described above. Since there is, explanation is omitted.

  Next, a flowchart shown in FIG. 28 is applied to the operation of the electronic shelf label 1. Also, as described above, the basic operation of the shelf label server 2 is replaced with “transmission / reception processing (1) to the selected electronic shelf label (1)” (S20) in the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 10 is applied except that the “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) shown in the flowchart of 30 is used. Also, the operation of the electronic shelf label 1 and the basic operation of the shelf label server 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 28, 10, 29, and 30.

  In FIG. 28, the electronic shelf label 1 first resets the update number counter Cb to set Cb = 0 (S51), and transmits specified period start information to the shelf label server 2 (S52). The transmission of the specified period start information to the shelf label server 2 is performed with the shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 1. Then, in the specified period timer Tb, the specified period timer Tb time-up value recorded in the specified period timer Tb time-up value recording area is set in the specified period timer Tb (S53), and this specified period timer Ta is started. (S54), the process proceeds to S55.

  In S55, it is checked whether or not the specified period timer Ta has timed up. If the time has expired, the process returns to S51 and repeats the processes from S51 onward. This is because when the specified period elapses, the update count counter Cb is reset at the elapsed time, and the specified period is started again, and the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated. This is to count the number of updates counted from the first transmission of, from the beginning.

  If it is determined in S55 whether or not the specified period timer Tb has expired, and if the specified period timer Tb has not expired, the presence / absence of reception from the shelf label server 2 is checked (S56).

  On the other hand, in the shelf label server 2, in the basic flowchart of the shelf label server 2 shown in FIG. 10, first, the processing flags Fp of all the electronic shelf labels 1 are reset to Fp = 0 (S11). Then, the first one of the electronic shelf labels 1 is selected (S12), and this “transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) is performed. FIGS. 29 and 30 are flowcharts showing the “transmission / reception process (2) to the selected electronic shelf label” (S70). Next, the operation of the “transmission / reception process (2) to / from the selected electronic shelf label” (S70) will be described.

  29 and 30, first, the processing flag Fp for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is checked (S71). If the processing flag Fp is not reset (Fp = 0), that is, if Fp = 1, the process proceeds to S77.

  When the processing flag Fp for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is checked in S71, the processing flag Fp remains reset. If Fp = 0 (S72), the process proceeds to S73.

In S73, it is checked whether or not the specified period start information has been received from the selected electronic shelf label 1. If not received (S74), the "transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (2)" (S70) is terminated as it is.

  As described above, the electronic shelf label 1 transmits the specified period start information to the shelf label server 2 in S52 of the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, if the specified period start information is received from the shelf label server 2 in the check of the presence / absence of reception of the specified period start information from the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S73 (S74), it is selected. A processing flag Fp for the electronic shelf label 1 is set and Fp = 1 is set (S75). Next, the column for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2 is cleared (S76), and the process proceeds to S77.

  In S77, the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is checked. If the transmission necessity flag Fs is not Fs = 1 (S78), that is, if it remains reset (Fs = 0), the product display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is stored in the shelf label server 2 The update process by the manual operation performed by the operator is not completed, and is not a target to be transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, the process proceeds to S81.

  In the check of the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S77, if this transmission necessity flag Fs is set and Fs = 1 (S78), the selected electronic shelf label is selected. The merchandise display information 1 has been updated by the manual operation performed by the operator of the shelf label server 2 and is transmitted from the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, next, the product display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is transmitted to the selected electronic shelf label 1 (S79).

  Next, the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 is reset to Fs = 0 (S80). This is to prevent the same information from being transmitted to the electronic shelf label 1 again since the transmission of the merchandise display information for which the update processing or the like for the electronic shelf label 1 has been completed in S79. When the reset of the transmission necessity flag Fs for the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S80 is completed, the process proceeds to S81.

  On the other hand, in the electronic shelf label 1, the presence / absence of reception from the shelf label server 2 is checked in S56 of the flowchart of the electronic shelf label 1 shown in FIG. On the other hand, as described above, the shelf label server 2 performs the transmission / reception process (2) ”(S70) to the selected electronic shelf label in the basic flowchart of the shelf label server 2 shown in FIG. 10 (FIGS. 29 and 30). The product display information of the selected electronic shelf label 1 is transmitted to the selected electronic shelf label 1 in S79 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Therefore, in the electronic shelf label 1, when the product display information is received in S57 of the flowchart of the electronic shelf label 1 shown in FIG. 28, the update number counter Cb is counted up to Cb = Cb + 1 (S58). Then, the received product display information and the display mark corresponding to the count value of the update counter Cb are displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 (S59).

  When the display of the product display information and the display mark is completed on the electronic shelf label 1 in S59, the electronic shelf label 1 then includes the displayed display mark in the display completion information and sends it to the shelf label server 2. Transmit (S60), return to S55, and repeat the processing after S55.

Then, the shelf label server 2 performs the transmission / reception process (2) ”(S70) (the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 29 and 30) to the selected electronic shelf label in the basic flowchart of the shelf label server 2 shown in FIG. In S81, the presence / absence of reception from the selected electronic shelf label 1 is checked. If there is reception from the electronic shelf label 1 (S82), the display mark included in the received display completion information is displayed as a shelf label. Fill in the column of the selected electronic shelf label 1 of the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 of the server 2 (S83), and "transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label" (2) "(S70) is ended.

  When this “transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) is completed, the shelf label server 2 proceeds to S13 in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not the “transmission / reception process (2) to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) is finished. If not (S14), one next electronic shelf label is selected ( S15), “Transmission / reception process to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) is repeated.

  If it is determined in S13 whether or not the “transmission / reception process (2) to the selected electronic shelf label (2)” (S70) for all the electronic shelf labels 1 has been completed (S14), the process proceeds to S12. Returning again, starting from selecting the first one of the electronic shelf labels 1, the above-mentioned "transmission / reception processing to the selected electronic shelf label (2)" (S70) is repeated.

  As an example of the display of product display information and display marks displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 by the operation of the electronic shelf label system in the above-described Embodiment 3, Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. Exactly the same example as the electronic shelf label system can be used.

  According to the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment, the number of update transmissions from the initial transmission of the shelf label server 2 to the electronic shelf label 1 is the same as in the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment described above. A display mark representing the number of times of updating is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine when the display on the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated simply by looking at the display on the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is normally updated.

  When the display of the display mark is completed, the electronic shelf label 1 transmits display completion information indicating that the display mark has been displayed to the shelf label server 2, and the shelf label server 2 displays the display completion information. Is recorded in the electronic shelf label display state recording table provided in the memory 22 of the shelf label server 2. The electronic shelf label display state recording table is displayed on the display unit 25 of the shelf label server 2. Therefore, by looking at the electronic shelf label display state recording table displayed on the shelf label server 2, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 has been updated normally. .

  Further, the same display mark used in common for all the electronic shelf labels 1 is used as the display mark expressing the same number of updates. Therefore, the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is compared with the display of the electronic shelf label 1 existing around the electronic shelf label 1, and whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is normally updated. Can be easily confirmed.

  Further, the electronic shelf label 1 is provided with regulation information that defines the association between the update count of the product display information displayed on the electronic shelf label 1 and a display mark expressing the update count. Performs processing based on this regulation information. Therefore, display marks are displayed on each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 based on the same standard of the same specified information based on the same specified information defined in advance. Accordingly, it is possible to confirm whether or not the display of these electronic shelf labels 1 has been normally updated for a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 based on the same standard. It can be done easily.

Also, the electronic shelf label 1 is a specified period timer Tb that measures a specified period, which is a period for counting how many times the display update of the electronic shelf label 1 is counted from the initial transmission of the product display information. It has. When the specified period elapses, the update counter Cb is reset at the elapsed time, the specified period starts again, and the display of the electronic shelf label 1 is updated from the initial transmission of the product display information. A system is used to recount from the beginning how many times the update is counted.

  For this reason, the display update management of the electronic shelf label 1 can be performed in a certain period of the electronic shelf label specified period, for example, in units of 24 hours. Can be done. In addition, the display update management of the electronic shelf label 1 in units of a fixed period of a specified period is performed only by the electronic shelf label 1. Therefore, the load on the electronic shelf label 1 can be reduced.

<Embodiment 4>
Next, an electronic shelf label system according to Embodiment 4 will be described. The configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the fourth embodiment is exactly the same as the configuration of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment. The operation of the electronic shelf label system in the fourth embodiment is also exactly the same as that in the third embodiment except for the points described below. Therefore, the effect of the electronic shelf label system in the fourth embodiment is exactly the same as the effect of the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment.

  The electronic shelf label system in the fourth embodiment is different from the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment in that the electronic shelf label system in the second embodiment is completely different from the electronic shelf label system in the first embodiment. The same.

  That is, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, display marks having different shapes are used as information associated with each count value of the update count counter Cb. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, as in the second embodiment, one specific type of display mark is used, and when the display mark is displayed on the display unit 14 of the electronic shelf label 1, the electronic shelf is displayed. Different display positions on the display screen of the display of the bill 1 are used as information associated with each count value of the update number counter Cb. Therefore, description of the details of the difference between the electronic shelf label system in the fourth embodiment and the electronic shelf label system in the third embodiment is omitted.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the electronic shelf label system in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a shelf label server in the first embodiment. 1 is an external view of an electronic shelf label according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic shelf label according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a table showing a configuration of product registration information in the first embodiment. 3 is a table showing processing functional elements of a shelf label server in the first embodiment. 4 is a display mark registration table in the first embodiment. 3 is an electronic shelf label display state recording table in the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (part 4) illustrating the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (part 5) illustrating the operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the first embodiment. It is a format figure of the transmission information from the shelf label server in Embodiment 1 to an electronic shelf label. 3 is a format diagram of transmission information from an electronic shelf label to a shelf label server according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a display screen diagram (No. 1) of an electronic shelf label according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a display screen diagram (No. 2) of the electronic shelf label according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a display screen diagram (No. 3) of the electronic shelf label according to the first embodiment. 10 is a display mark registration table in the second embodiment. It is a format figure of the transmission information from the shelf label server in Embodiment 2 to an electronic shelf label. It is a format figure of the transmission information from the electronic shelf label in Embodiment 2 to a shelf label server. It is an electronic shelf label display state recording table in Embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is a display screen diagram (No. 1) of an electronic shelf label according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a display screen diagram (part 2) of the electronic shelf label according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a display screen diagram (No. 3) of the electronic shelf label according to the second embodiment. 10 is a table showing processing functional elements of a shelf label server in the third embodiment. 10 is a table showing processing functional elements of an electronic shelf label according to Embodiment 3. 12 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating an operation of the electronic shelf label system according to the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic shelf label 2 Shelf label server 11 CPU
12 Memory 13 Wireless Communication Unit 13a Antenna 14 Display Unit 15 Control Line 21 CPU
22 Memory 23 HDD
24 Wireless communication unit 24a Antenna 25 Display unit 26 Operation unit 27 Control line

Claims (9)

The electronic shelf label system that displays product display information and the shelf label server are electronic shelf label systems that perform communication,
Each time the shelf label server updates product display information to the electronic shelf label and transmits it via the communication,
The electronic shelf label receives the updated product display information and performs a display expressing the number of updates indicating how many times the update is performed together with the display of the updated product display information. Electronic shelf label system to do. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1,
When the electronic shelf label updates the display representing the number of updates, the electronic shelf label transmits display completion information indicating that the display representing the number of updates has been performed to the shelf label server via the communication. ,
The shelf label server receives the display completion information and displays the received information. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1 or 2,
The display representing the same number of times of updating is an electronic shelf label system which is the same display used in common for the electronic shelf label. In the electronic shelf label system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The electronic shelf label holds regulation information in which an association between the number of updates and a display expressing the number of updates is prescribed, and when the updated product display information is received, An electronic shelf label system that counts the number of times and displays the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates based on the regulation information together with the display of the product display information. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 4,
The regulation information is transmitted from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label, thereby being held on the electronic shelf label system. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 4 or 5,
The electronic shelf label regards the first update as a reference time for counting the number of updates, and holds information on a specified period for the electronic shelf label that is a fixed period from the reference time. An electronic shelf label system in which when the specified period for the electronic shelf label elapses, the elapsed time is set as a new count reference time. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 6, wherein
The electronic shelf label system in which the information of the specified period for the electronic shelf label is held on the electronic shelf label by being transmitted from the shelf label server to the electronic shelf label. In the electronic shelf label system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The shelf label server holds regulation information in which a correspondence between the number of updates and a display expressing the number of updates is prescribed, and when the updated product display information is transmitted, Count the number of times, and based on the regulation information, send the display information expressing the number of updates associated with the counted number of updates, together with the product display information,
The electronic shelf label system receives display information representing the number of updates together with the product display information, and performs display representing the number of updates together with the display of the product display information. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 8,
The shelf label server regards the initial update as a reference time for counting the number of updates, and holds information on a specified period for the shelf label server that is a fixed period from the reference time. An electronic shelf label system in which, when the specified period for the shelf label server has elapsed, the elapsed time becomes a new reference time.

Images