JP2009131373A - Electronic shelf label, markdown system, markdown method and merchandise replenishment ordering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a merchandise replenishment ordering system, which are capable of making a label printer 4 receive markdown information in the electronic shelf label 3 installed on a display shelf 6, printing and issuing a markdown label on the spot, and executing the markdown work of merchandise at excellent timing. <P>SOLUTION: Attention is paid to that markdown information is transmitted from the electronic shelf label 3 on the spot (display shelf 6) to the label printer 4 and the label printer 4 prints and issues the markdown label 16 on the spot on the basis of the markdown information received from the electronic shelf label 3. The electronic shelf label 3 receives and preserves the markdown information for changing the price of the merchandise M from a store computer 2 managing merchandise information relating to the merchandise M and transmits the markdown information to the label printer 4 capable of printing a price tag label 15 to be stuck to the merchandise M. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system, and in particular, displays a change (price reduction) of a product price using an electronic shelf label installed in a retail store. The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label, a mark-down system, a mark-down method, and a product replenishment ordering system that enable replenishment ordering of commodities.

Conventionally, in retail stores such as food supermarkets, markdown work (price reduction work) for reducing the price of a product at a necessary timing has been performed as necessary.
As the markdown operation, for example, the name of the product displayed on the display shelf of the product is confirmed, the product code such as the barcode on the price tag label attached to the product is read with a scanner, and a predetermined printer is used. Issue a price-reduction label (mark-down label) that changes the price of the product, and attach it to the target product to be reduced.

  Further, an electronic shelf label that can be electronically displayed on a liquid crystal display or other devices is used to display the price reduction information together with the name of the product, its price, etc. to the customer (for example, Patent Document 1).

However, conventional electronic shelf labels passively display price reduction information from the central product information management device (for example, store computer) (such as the type or name of the product to be reduced, the price reduction price, or the rate of reduction) as necessary. It's just what you do.
Therefore, as a markdown person who performs price reduction or price reduction work on the display shelf of the product, although the work of price change notifying the customer that the product displayed on the display shelf will be reduced is unnecessary, Actually, for example, in the price display of the non-PLU method, it is not possible to grasp the changed price (reduction price) only with the product code at the cash register, and as a result, the price is reduced to each reduction target product on the display shelf. It is necessary to display the price reduction information with a label attached, and the operator at the site can perform markdown work reliably and quickly at the necessary timing according to the display of the price reduction information on the electronic shelf label. In addition, there is a problem that it may be difficult to perform the pasting operation.
That is, there is a problem that the product information management system including the cash register and the store computer may not be able to cope with the price change display only by the electronic shelf label.

  Furthermore, it takes some time (the staying time in the store until the picked-up product is brought into the cash register) from when the customer picks up the price-reduced product from the display shelf to the settlement at the cash register. The time itself varies depending on the customer or the time of the day, and there is a possibility that the purchase information at the display shelf (electronic shelf label) and the cash register will be different, resulting in lack of accuracy in product information management. There is also a problem.

In addition, in order to perform replenishment order processing for products on display shelves, it is necessary to grasp the stock quantity or inventory information of products on each display shelf, but conventionally, the person in charge determines the number of products on each display shelf. Data is entered into a store computer or the like via a portable data processor after confirmation, or data is created for replenishment orders based on sales information at the cash register.
However, there is a problem in that the above data processor is required separately for data collection at the site (display shelf), and sales information from the cash register is used in that the inventory information at the site is immediately transmitted to a store computer or the like. There is a problem of lack of immediacy when waiting.

JP 2005-270558 A

  The present invention has been considered in view of the above-mentioned problems. An electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system that can display price reduction information on products at an appropriate time using an electronic shelf label. The issue is to provide.

  Further, the present invention provides an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system that can display a price reduction of a product on a display shelf and can also perform the markdown operation of the product in a timely manner. The issue is to provide.

  The present invention also provides an electronic shelf label, a mark-down system, and a mark-down method in which a label printer receives mark-down information in an electronic shelf label installed on a display shelf and can print a mark-down label on the spot. It is another object of the present invention to provide a product replenishment ordering system.

  The present invention also provides an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system that eliminates the need for devices such as a barcode reading scanner that were conventionally required for markdown operations. Let it be an issue.

  The present invention also provides an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product that can be executed in a state in which the display of the change in the product price and the actual issuance of the markdown label are eliminated as much as possible. An object is to provide a replenishment ordering system.

  Also, the present invention provides an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product that can utilize the difference in product sales information in a display shelf (electronic shelf label) and a cash register for product information management in a store computer. It is an object to provide a replenishment ordering system.

  In addition, the present invention provides an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product which can immediately send inventory information of products on display shelves to a store computer so that replenishment order processing of products can be performed quickly. An object is to provide a replenishment ordering system.

  That is, according to the present invention, markdown information can be transmitted to the label printer from the electronic shelf label of the site (display shelf), and the label printer can mark the site based on the markdown information received from the electronic shelf label. Focusing on printing and issuing a down label, the first invention is an electronic shelf label capable of displaying at least the price of a product, from a store computer that manages product information related to the product, An electronic shelf label characterized in that it can receive and save markdown information for changing prices, and can transmit this markdown information to a label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product. It is.

  2nd invention is a markdown system provided with the electronic shelf label which can display the price of a goods at least, Comprising: The merchandise information regarding the said goods containing the markdown information for changing the said price of the said goods is managed A store computer, and a label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product. The electronic shelf label can receive and store the markdown information from the store computer. The markdown system is capable of transmitting the markdown information to a printer, and the label printer is capable of printing a markdown label that changes the price of the product based on the markdown information.

  A third invention is a markdown method using an electronic shelf label capable of displaying at least the price of the product, wherein the electronic shelf label includes the markdown information for changing the price of the product. A label printer that can receive and store the markdown information from a store computer that manages product information about the product, and that can send the markdown information to the label printer and print a price tag label to be attached to the product. The markdown method is characterized in that, based on the markdown information, a markdown label for changing the price of the product is printed and affixed to the product.

  A fourth invention is a replenishment ordering system for commodities provided on a display shelf with an electronic shelf label capable of displaying at least the price of the commodity, a store computer for managing commodity information relating to the commodity, and a price tag to be attached to the commodity A label printer capable of printing a label, and the label printer is capable of transmitting the current storage information of the product on the display shelf to the electronic shelf label, and the electronic shelf label is sent to the store computer at the present time. The product information can be transmitted, and the store computer is a product replenishment ordering system characterized in that the product is replenished based on the current product information.

  Transmission and reception of the markdown information and the inventory information between the electronic shelf label and the label printer can be performed by wireless communication of an arbitrary form or frequency such as an infrared method or a Bluetooth method.

  The label printer can transmit markdown result information about the price changed for the product to the electronic shelf label.

  The label printer can transmit the stock quantity (current stock information) of the product to the electronic shelf label.

  In the electronic shelf label, the markdown system, the markdown method, and the product replenishment ordering system according to the present invention, the markdown information created by the store computer is transmitted to the label printer through the electronic shelf label. Since this markdown information is received from the electronic shelf label of the (display shelf) and the markdown label is printed and issued based on this markdown information, the price reduction display by the electronic shelf label and the label printer The actual price tag label can be issued and pasted in a timely manner so that markdown operations can be performed smoothly and quickly, display deviations to customers are eliminated, and price reductions at the cash register. Account processing can be performed reliably.

  In particular, according to the first invention, the electronic shelf label itself is provided with a display function for markdown information, and the markdown information can be transmitted to and received from the label printer. Timely markdown work can be realized.

In particular, according to the second invention, markdown information can be transmitted and received between the store computer, the electronic shelf label, and the label printer. It is possible to grasp the product purchase information of more accurately and utilize it organically.
Furthermore, if the price reduction result information can be transmitted from the label printer to the electronic shelf label, the store computer can grasp the time lag between the markdown information on the electronic shelf label and the actual purchase information at the cash register, Data on customer purchases can be obtained and used for subsequent sales activities.

  In particular, according to the third invention, the electronic shelf label receives the markdown information from the store computer and transmits the markdown information to the label printer, and the label printer changes the price of the product based on the markdown information. Since the down label is printed, the mark down worker can bring the label printer to the site of the electronic shelf label and perform the mark down work at the necessary timing, which can improve the work efficiency of the worker. It is.

In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transmit and receive the current storage information of the product on the display shelf between the label printer and the electronic shelf label, so that the store computer receives the current storage information received via the electronic shelf label. Based on the information, it is possible to make a replenishment order for the goods in accordance with the situation on the spot and to eliminate the need for a portable data processor that has been required conventionally.

  In the present invention, since the electronic shelf label is used not only as a passive price change display function device but also as an active transmitting / receiving device for markdown information and current stock information, a timely and efficient mark is provided. An electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system that enable down processing and product replenishment ordering processing have been realized.

Next, an electronic shelf label, a markdown system, a markdown method, and a product replenishment ordering system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the markdown system 1. The markdown system 1 functions as a product information management system or a product replenishment ordering system, and includes a store computer 2, an electronic shelf label 3, It has a label printer 4 and a cash register 5.

  The store computer 2 controls the entire markdown system 1, and various information about the product M (product name, product code, price, advertisement information, markdown information for changing the product price, and other products) (Information) can be created, stored, managed, supplied to the electronic shelf label 3, and various information (for example, markdown result information and current stock information) from the electronic shelf label 3 described later can be received.

The electronic shelf label 3 is provided on the display shelf 6 and has a shelf label controller 7 and a plurality of electronic display boards 8.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic shelf label 3 and the label printer 4. The electronic shelf label 3 includes a CPU 9, a ROM 10, a RAM 11, a LAN transmission / reception unit 12, a Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13, and the electronic display board. 8 are connected to the data bus 14 respectively.
The shelf label controller 7 includes the CPU 9, the ROM 10, the RAM 11, the LAN transmission / reception unit 12, and the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13, and controls display and transmission / reception of necessary product information including markdown information.

The LAN transmission / reception unit 12 connects the shelf label controller 7 to the store computer 2 via a wired or wireless LAN, and can receive necessary product information or markdown information from the store computer 2 and a label described later. Markdown result information received from the printer 4 and current store information can also be transmitted to the store computer 2.
The Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13 wirelessly connects the shelf label controller 7 and the respective electronic display boards 8 to transmit / receive markdown information and markdown result information.
That is, the electronic shelf label 3 can receive and store markdown information for changing the price of the product M from the store computer 2 via the LAN transmission / reception unit 12 and can store the label via the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13. This markdown information can be transmitted to the printer 4, and at least the price or price reduction information of each product M can be electronically displayed on the electronic display board 8 of the display shelf 6.

The label printer 4 is a portable printer of an arbitrary format, and can print and issue the price tag label 15 to be attached to the product M and the necessary markdown label 16 (both see FIG. 1), and the following Bluetooth transmission / reception Data communication is possible with the electronic shelf label 3 (Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13) via the unit 20.
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the label printer 4 includes a CPU 17, a ROM 18, a RAM 19, a Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 20, a label transfer unit 21, a label position detection unit 22, a label printing unit 23, and various types. And an operation unit 24 using a touch panel, which are connected to a data bus 25, respectively.
The label printer 4 can transmit the markdown result information regarding the price reduction of the product M changed based on the markdown information to the electronic shelf label 3 as the actual data of the markdown, and the inventory quantity of the product M on the display shelf 6. (Current warehouse information) can be transmitted to the electronic shelf label 3.

  Note that data transmission / reception between the electronic shelf label 3 and the label printer 4 is not limited to being performed by the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13, but can be performed by wireless communication using an arbitrary frequency and system.

  The cash register 5 accounts for the product M purchased by the customer, and supplies the store computer 2 with markdown result information based on the markdown information, together with sales information based on the product name, number of items, and normal price.

An example of an operation for performing a markdown process in the markdown system 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of work for performing markdown processing. In step S1, the electronic shelf label 3 receives markdown information from the store computer 2 via the LAN transmission / reception unit 12 and stores and stores it.
In step S <b> 2, markdown information is transmitted to the label printer 4 via the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13.
Actually, the markdown operator at the site of the display shelf 6 operates the operation unit 24 of the label printer 4 to request the electronic shelf label 3 to download the markdown information to the label printer 4, get information.
In step S3, the label printer 4 prints and issues a markdown label 16 for changing the price of the product based on the markdown information by the label printing unit 23, and affixes the markdown label 16 to each predetermined product M.
Therefore, a device such as a scanner for reading a barcode, which has been conventionally required for carrying the mark-down operation, becomes unnecessary.

In step S <b> 4, the markdown result information is uploaded from the label printer 4 to the electronic shelf label 3 via the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 20 and the Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 13.
In step S5, the markdown result information is further periodically uploaded from the electronic shelf label 3 to the store computer 2.
In step S6, the store computer 2 uses it for loss management or merchandise information management by, for example, putting out a form based on the markdown result information.

  Note that the store computer 2 is also supplied with markdown result information as purchase information (product sales information) by the customer via the cash register 5, so that the information from the electronic shelf label 3 and the cash register 5 is stored in the store computer 2. By comparing, it is possible to calculate information about the time spent in the store until the purchased merchandise M is actually brought from the display shelf 6 to the cash register 5, and can be used for managing merchandise information.

Next, in the present invention (fourth invention), as a replenishment ordering system for commodities, a replenishment ordering operation for the product M can be performed at the time of a price change (markdown) operation for the product M.
That is, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the replenishment ordering process for the product M. In step S11, based on the product information from the store computer 2, the electronic shelf label 3 has the product name of the product M displayed on the display shelf 6, Product information such as the number (original inventory number), price, display shelf 6 distinction, and markdown information is stored and managed.
In step S12, markdown information is downloaded from the electronic shelf label 3 to the label printer 4. In step S13, the markdown process as described above is performed, and the markdown label 16 is printed.

In step S <b> 14, the current stock status (current stock information) is input to the label printer 4, and the current stock information is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 3. However, the current stock information itself is the markdown processing quantity for the product M that has undergone the markdown process, and the product M that has undergone the markdown process need not be counted as an inventory quantity. Of course, for the products M that are not subjected to the markdown process, the number of the products M in the predetermined display shelf 6 is counted and input as current store information.
In step S <b> 15, the electronic shelf label 3 transmits the current store information to the store computer 2.
In step S <b> 16, the store computer 2 places a replenishment order for the necessary product M by comparing and examining the original inventory number and the current store information.
Of course, the store computer 2 can also receive the product storage information from the cash register 5 together with the current store information from the electronic shelf label 3, and performs replenishment ordering processing of more detailed products in consideration of the product sales information. You can also.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the markdown system 1 by the Example of this invention. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic shelf label 3 and the label printer 4. FIG. It is a flowchart figure of the work example which performs a markdown process similarly. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the replenishment ordering process for the product M. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Markdown system (Example, Fig. 1)
2 Store computer 3 Electronic shelf label (Example, Fig. 2)
4 Label printer 5 Cash register 6 Display shelf 7 Shelf label controller 8 Multiple electronic display boards 9 CPU of electronic shelf label 3 (FIG. 2)
10 ROM
11 RAM
12 LAN transceiver 13 Bluetooth transceiver 14 Data bus 15 Price tag label (Fig. 1)
16 Markdown label (Figure 1)
17 CPU of the label printer 4 (FIG. 2)
18 ROM
19 RAM
20 Bluetooth transmission / reception unit 21 Label transfer unit 22 Label position detection unit 23 Label printing unit 24 Operation unit 25 Data bus M Product (FIG. 1)

Claims (7)

An electronic shelf label that can display at least the price of the product,
It is possible to receive and save markdown information for changing the price of the product from a store computer that manages product information related to the product,
An electronic shelf label characterized in that the markdown information can be transmitted to a label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product. 2. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein transmission / reception of the markdown information between the electronic shelf label and the label printer is performed by wireless communication. A markdown system with an electronic shelf label capable of displaying at least the price of a product,
A store computer that manages product information about the product, including markdown information for changing the price of the product;
A label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product;
And having
The electronic shelf label can receive and store the markdown information from the store computer, and can transmit the markdown information to the label printer,
The mark-down system, wherein the label printer is capable of printing a mark-down label that changes the price of the product based on the mark-down information. The markdown method according to claim 3, wherein the label printer is capable of transmitting markdown result information regarding the changed price of the product to the electronic shelf label. The markdown system according to claim 3, wherein the label printer is capable of transmitting an inventory quantity of the product to the electronic shelf label. A markdown method using an electronic shelf label that can display at least the price of a product,
The electronic shelf label is capable of receiving and storing the markdown information from a store computer that manages product information about the product including markdown information for changing the price of the product, and further, the label printer Send the markdown information to
A label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product, based on the markdown information, prints a markdown label for changing the price of the product and attaches it to the product Down way. A replenishment ordering system for commodities having at least an electronic shelf label capable of displaying the price of the commodity on a display shelf,
A store computer for managing product information related to the product;
A label printer capable of printing a price tag label to be attached to the product;
And having
The label printer is capable of transmitting the current storage information of the product in the display shelf to the electronic shelf label,
The electronic shelf label can transmit the current storage information to the store computer, and
The product replenishment ordering system, wherein the store computer performs replenishment ordering of the product based on the current stock information.

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