JP2009253680A - Communication system and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system that performs communication by selecting a radio having good communication conditions among a number of radios, and to provide a communication method. <P>SOLUTION: The system includes: a wireless terminal; a plurality of radios capable of performing wireless communication with the wireless terminal; a communication condition determining unit for determining communication conditions with respect to the plurality of radios in the vicinity of the wireless terminal; a radio selecting section for selecting at least one radio having better communication conditions among a plurality of the communication conditions determined by the communication condition determining unit; and a setting section for setting the radio selected by the radio selecting section as a communication source for the wireless terminal, wherein communication with the wireless terminal is performed using the set radio. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system and a communication method, and more particularly to a communication system and a communication method for communicating with a radio having good communication conditions in a communication system including a plurality of radios.

  The communication system of the present invention is used for an electronic shelf label device, for example. In recent years, stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores have placed electronic shelf labels on the shelves on which products are displayed, and electronic shelf label systems (Electronic Shelf Label Systems) that display product prices are displayed using these electronic shelf labels. System) has been put into practical use.

The electronic shelf label system is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.
Patent Document 1 includes a shelf label arranged in the vicinity of each product, a transceiver that communicates wirelessly with the shelf label, and a server connected to the transceiver, and further temporarily causes poor communication between the shelf label and the transceiver. A transmission / reception assisting device is provided for the area where the alarm occurs. As a result, even if the shelf label and the transmitter / receiver temporarily become poor in communication due to a store redesign or decoration, it is possible to secure communication by installing a transmission / reception auxiliary device.
Patent Document 2 is a method of associating an electronic shelf label with a product, acquires unique hardware information of the electronic shelf label and product identification information attached to the product in the vicinity of the product position where the target product is placed, The link information that associates the unique hardware information with the product identification information is generated. And product specific information (price etc.) with which the electronic shelf label was matched by link information is displayed.
JP 2001-5872 A JP 2004-265196 A

In general, an electronic shelf label system includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels and a plurality of wireless devices arranged in a store, and a server selects and communicates one wireless device among the plurality of wireless devices. At this time, the server selects a plurality of wireless devices in a predetermined order or randomly selects them, and when communication is established, the server is set to communicate using the wireless devices.
However, since multiple wireless devices are selected in order or at random and communication is established, the wireless device is set to be used, so there may be wireless devices with better communication conditions than the set wireless device. is there. There is also a problem that it takes time to determine whether communication has been established.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system and a communication method for performing communication by selecting a radio having a good communication status from among a plurality of radios.

In order to solve the above problems, a communication system according to the present invention includes a wireless terminal, a plurality of wireless devices capable of wireless communication with the wireless terminal, and a communication status between the wireless devices in the vicinity of the wireless terminal. As a communication source for the wireless terminal, a wireless device selection unit for selecting at least one wireless device having a good communication state among a plurality of communication states measured by the communication state measuring device, and a communication source for the wireless terminal And a setting unit that sets a radio selected by the radio selection unit, and causes a radio terminal to communicate with the set radio.
According to this configuration, it is possible to establish a communication by selecting a wireless device having a good communication status, and therefore it is possible to perform a good communication. In addition, communication establishment can be achieved in a short time. Thus, since the communication state is good, the number of retries is reduced, and the power consumption of the wireless terminal can be reduced.

Further, in the communication system of the present invention, in the embodiment, the setting unit includes a temporary connection unit that establishes a temporary connection with a connectable wireless device, and a wireless device that is connected with the temporary connection unit. The wireless device selected by the wireless device selection unit is set as a communication source.
Thereby, communication can be established by selecting a radio having a good communication status.

In the embodiment, the communication system of the present invention further includes a storage unit that stores communication status data measured by the communication status measuring device.
This makes it possible to use previously measured communication status data without having to measure the communication status again.

In the embodiment, the communication system of the present invention further includes a server connected to the plurality of wireless devices, the server including the storage unit and the wireless device selection unit, and the wireless device selection unit includes the storage device. A radio having a good communication status is selected based on the communication status data stored in the unit.
As a result, the server can select a radio having a good communication status using the measurement result of the communication status.

The communication system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the embodiment, the communication status includes electric field strength or S / N communication speed.
Thereby, it is possible to establish good communication by selecting from electric field strength or S / N. Alternatively, the communication status may be determined based on the reception status of the test pattern by the server transmitting the test pattern and the wireless terminal receiving it.

In a communication system according to the present invention, in the embodiment, the wireless terminal includes a display unit, and the display unit is an electronic shelf label that displays product information.
As a result, the present invention can be used for an electronic shelf label device, and the electronic shelf label device can establish communication with good communication status, thereby preventing erroneous display of the electronic shelf label.

In the embodiment, the communication system of the present invention further includes a server connected to the plurality of transceivers, and the communication status measuring device is attached to a product code attached to a target product and an electronic shelf label. A code reading unit that reads a device code, and a transmission unit that transmits the read product code and device code to the server are provided.
Thereby, the product code of the target product and the device code of the electronic shelf label can be linked.

In the embodiment, the communication system of the present invention further includes a POS server and is linked to the server.
As a result, the server of the electronic shelf label apparatus can display and tabulate sales product data in conjunction with the POS server.

In the embodiment, the electronic shelf label device of the present invention further includes a store controller, and is linked to the server.
Therefore, it is possible to display and tabulate sales merchandise data.

In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect, the present invention is a communication method, comprising a wireless terminal and a plurality of wireless devices that wirelessly communicate with the wireless terminal, in the vicinity of the wireless terminal. A step of measuring communication states with the plurality of wireless devices, a step of selecting at least one wireless device having a good communication state based on a result of the measurement, and a communication source of the selected wireless device with the wireless terminal And a step of setting as follows.
As a result, communication with good communication status can be established, and therefore good communication can be performed. In addition, communication establishment can be achieved in a short time.

In the communication method of the present invention, in the embodiment, the setting step includes the temporary connection step for establishing a temporary connection with a connectable wireless device, and the selection via the wireless device selected in the temporary connection step. The wireless device selected in the step is set as a connection source for the wireless terminal.
Thereby, communication with good communication status can be established.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server, the server being connected to a plurality of transceivers that wirelessly communicate with an electronic shelf label, and a transceiver having a good communication condition measured in the vicinity of the electronic shelf label. Select to communicate.
As a result, the server can select and communicate with a transceiver having a good communication status.

  According to the communication system of the present invention, it is possible to establish communication with a radio having a good communication condition, and therefore good communication can be performed. In addition, communication establishment can be achieved in a short time.

  The communication system of the present invention includes a wireless terminal, a plurality of wireless devices that wirelessly communicate with the wireless terminal, and a communication state measuring device that measures a communication state with the plurality of wireless devices in the vicinity of the wireless terminal. And a radio selection unit that selects and communicates with a radio having a good communication status among a plurality of communication statuses measured by the communication status measuring device.

The communication system of the present invention is realized, for example, as an electronic shelf label device, an inventory management device for an automatic warehouse, or a production management device for a production process. When implemented in an electronic shelf label device, the wireless terminal is installed on a shelf near the target product, and displays the price, product name, place of origin, ingredient, time service period, special price, ingredient, calories, and promotional message of the target product. An electronic shelf label that includes a display unit and communicates with a server via a wireless device.
The plurality of wireless devices are relay communication devices that relay a wireless terminal and a server. When implemented in an electronic shelf label device, the plurality of wireless devices are referred to as access points and are installed on the ceiling of a store or the like, and the plurality of wireless devices and the plurality of wireless terminals form a plurality of communication paths. The communication system of the present invention selects a good communication path from among a plurality of communication paths and establishes communication.

In the present invention, when the communication status measuring device is realized in an electronic shelf label device, it is attached to a handy terminal (portable terminal), and in the vicinity of the electronic shelf label, which is a wireless terminal, a plurality of wireless devices (acense points). When the wireless terminal wirelessly communicates with a plurality of wireless devices, such as the electric field strength, S / N, and communication waveform, the communication status is measured with which wireless device should be wirelessly communicated. Here, the communication status includes electric field strength, S / N, and communication waveform, and the radio selection unit selects a radio having a good communication status among these communication statuses. In addition, the handy terminal reads the product code attached to the target product and the device code of the electronic shelf label that displays the price of the target product in the electronic shelf label device, and generates the association information.
In the embodiment, the communication system of the present invention is an electronic shelf label device, and is linked to a POS server and a store controller. Data is managed and aggregated by the POS server and the store controller, and the POS system and the store controller. To provide information to electronic shelf labels.

In addition, the communication system of the present invention includes a radio selection unit, selects a radio with good communication status, and performs radio communication with the radio terminal. The communication system of the present invention includes a setting unit, and sets the radio selected by the radio selection unit as a communication source for the radio terminal. The wireless selection unit and the setting unit may be provided in the wireless terminal or the server. Further, when the storage unit is provided in the wireless terminal or the server and the communication status data is stored in the storage unit, it is possible to perform communication by selecting a good communication status using the communication status data.
In the present invention, the server is a computer that is installed in a backyard of a store and controls and manages the entire communication system of the present invention. It also manages data such as product price, product name, place of origin, ingredients, time service period, special price, ingredients, calories, and promotional messages, and provides data to electronic shelf labels.

Hereinafter, the communication system of the present invention will be described using an electronic shelf label device as an embodiment. However, the electronic device of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and an electronic POP, an inventory management device or an inventory management device of an automatic warehouse, It can also be applied to production management devices for production processes.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic shelf label device of the present invention.
The electronic shelf label 1 is installed in the vicinity of a shelf (not shown) on which many products 2 are displayed or an exhibition stand, and the price, product name, place of production, ingredients, time service period, special price, ingredients, calories, A display unit 1a for displaying contents such as a sales promotion message and video is provided. An audio output unit may be provided in addition to the display unit. The display unit 1a uses a cholesteric liquid crystal having a memory function and extremely low power consumption. It is desirable to prepare two or more types of electronic shelf labels 1 depending on the product, display contents, display form, and the like. The electronic shelf label 1 has a device code 1b unique to the electronic shelf label on the front surface or the back surface thereof. The device code 1b is, for example, a barcode, and is displayed by printing the barcode directly on the electronic shelf label 1 or attaching a barcode label printed with the barcode to the electronic shelf label 1. The barcode may be a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode as shown in FIG. 1, or may be a code such as an IP address. The device code 1b includes, for example, a unique code of the electronic shelf label, and includes information such as a serial number of the electronic shelf label, an installation location, an installation time, and a battery replacement time.

As will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, the electronic shelf label 1 is a 2.4 GHz band bidirectional radio system, includes a wireless module with a communication speed of 250 kbps, and includes a transmission / reception communication antenna 1c. As the antenna 1c, a loop antenna, a bar antenna, or the like is used. In addition to communication using radio waves, communication using infrared rays is also possible. Here, communication using radio waves and communication using infrared rays are collectively referred to as wireless communication.
The target product 2 is also displayed by directly printing a barcode for displaying the target product code 2a or by attaching a barcode label on which the barcode is printed. This barcode may also be a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, or a code such as an IP address. The target product code 2a displays information such as a product name, a store name, and a price.

  One access point 3 is installed for each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 1, and communicates with the plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 using a 2.4 GHz band bidirectional radio system with a communication speed of 250 kbps, and a line of sight of about 40 m. Wireless communication is possible. The access point 3 is a relay device that communicates wirelessly with a plurality of electronic shelf labels 1 and communicates with the server 4 via a wired LAN 5. The access point 3 is installed on the ceiling of a store, for example, and is connected to the server 4 via a wired LAN 5, receives an instruction signal and information from the server 4 via the wired LAN 5, and transmits them to the electronic shelf label 1 by wireless communication. The ACK, temperature information, and battery voltage information received from the electronic shelf label 1 by wireless communication are transmitted to the server 4 via the wired LAN 5. In this way, in addition to transmission / reception, it also has a function of distributing to other access points and a router function. In the present invention, the communication status measured by the handy terminal 6 is received by wireless communication and transmitted to the server 4.

The handy terminal 6 includes a field strength meter 61. In addition, an S / N measuring device, a waveform measuring device, a communication quality measuring device, and the like may be provided. Alternatively, the server 4 may transmit a test pattern, and the handy terminal 6 may receive the test pattern and measure the shape of the test pattern. Since the communication system of the present invention is implemented in an electronic shelf label device, the handy terminal 6 includes a barcode scanner for reading the barcode 1b attached to the electronic shelf label 1 and the barcode 2a attached to the target product. . When the barcode 1b or 2a is read by the barcode scanner, the handy terminal 6 measures the electric field strength in the vicinity of the electronic shelf label 1. Furthermore, the handy terminal 6 includes a wireless LAN for transmitting data of the measurement result to the server 4 via the access point 3.
In the embodiment of the electronic shelf label device of the present invention, the store controller 7 and the POS server 8 are connected to the wired LAN 5, and the electronic shelf label device of the present invention is linked to the store controller 7 and the POS server 8. In addition, a printer and a magnetic card reader may be connected as necessary.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic shelf label 1, and the electronic shelf label 1 is installed in the vicinity of a shelf or display stand for displaying the target product. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic shelf label 1 includes a display unit 11, a wireless module 12, a temperature sensor 13, and a battery 14.
The wireless module 12 includes a CPU 121, a ROM 122, a RAM 123, an RTC (real-time clock) 124, an I / O 125, an RF unit 126, a control IC 120 having an ADC (analog-digital converter) 127, and an antenna 128.
The display unit 11 indicates the same part as the display unit 1a of FIG. 1, and a liquid crystal having a memory property such as a cholesteric liquid crystal is used. By utilizing the memory property of the display unit, no driving current is required, and the battery life of the electronic shelf label 1 can be extended. The display unit 11 is not limited to a cholesteric liquid crystal, and a TN liquid crystal may be used, and an organic EL display device, a plasma display device, or the like may be used. In order to display a product price, a product name, etc. on the display unit 11, that is, for rewriting, rewriting information is provided from the I / O 125, and a common driver 15, a segment driver 16, and an LCD power supply circuit 17 are provided.

  The CPU 121 is a part that controls the overall processing operation of the electronic shelf label 1, and operates according to the electronic shelf label control program stored in the ROM 122. The ROM 122 stores a control program for the electronic shelf label 1. The electronic shelf label control program is read by the CPU 121, and the electronic shelf label control operation is sequentially executed. The RAM 123 is a work memory and is used as a work memory when the electronic shelf label 1 operates. When the electronic shelf label 1 displays a product price or a special price, the price information is stored. Alternatively, the product name, sales time, number of sales, component display, production area information, illustration, and sales promotion message of the target product are stored. Furthermore, employee information such as inventory, ordering unit, number of orders, last ordering date, person in charge name is stored. The RTC 124 is a part that generates an operation clock for the electronic shelf label 1. The I / O 125 is an input / output unit that provides display information to the display unit 11. The RF unit 126 is connected to the antenna 128, and is a high-frequency signal generation unit for performing communication with the electronic shelf label 1 and the access point 3 in a 2.4 GHz band bidirectional radio system with a communication speed of 250 kbps.

  The electronic shelf label 1 receives the display information from the server 4 and transmits an ACK signal when the reception is completed. At the time of reception, it is stored with which access point has been communicated, and the control unit has a radio selection function for selecting an access point and a setting function for setting the selected access point as a communication source. Also good. The ADC 127 is a part that converts the humidity near the electronic shelf label 1 measured by the temperature sensor 13 into a digital signal. Further, the voltage value of the battery 14 is converted into a digital signal. These temperature information and battery voltage information are transmitted to the server 4 via the access point 3 in response to a request or instruction from the server 4.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the server 4.
The server 4 includes a control unit 41, a RAM 42, a display unit 43, a LAN 44, an input device 45, a storage device 46, and a power supply unit 47. The server is a so-called computer and may have other parts.
The control unit 41 is a CPU, and controls the entire electronic shelf label device and the server 4 according to a program. The RAM 42 has a storage unit for a target product code 42a and an electronic shelf label table 42b. The display unit 43 is a screen for the user to confirm input contents, operation contents, stored contents, and instruction contents of the server 4. The LAN 44 is a wired LAN that is connected to the access point 3. For example, the LAN 44 has 4 ports, and 15 access points 3 can be connected. The input device 45 is a mouse, a keyboard, a pointer, etc., and the user inputs product information such as product price, special price, product name, product information, sales time, number of sales, component display, production area information, illustration, sales promotion message to the server 4. input. In addition, information such as inventory, order unit, number of orders, last order date, person in charge, etc. are entered as employee information. The product information and employee information may be acquired from the store controller 7 or the POS server 8. Also, an instruction for the server 4 is input. The storage device 46 includes a linking table 46a, a connection information table 46b, and a POS information table 46c. The storage device 46 stores the entire electronic shelf label device and the control program for the server 4, read by the control unit 41, and causes the server to sequentially execute control operations. In addition to the control program, the storage unit 46 may store a program such as a computer OS, a document creation program, and an application program such as a graphic program.

As shown in FIG. 3, the product code 42 a and the electronic shelf label table 42 b stored in the RAM 42 associate one type of target product 2 with the electronic shelf label 1. That is, by associating the product code 42a with the device code in the electronic shelf label table 42b, the price of the target product 2 is displayed on the electronic shelf label 1. The electronic shelf label table 42 b is a table that stores the device code of one electronic shelf label 1 and the electric field strength of each access point 3. This table has columns of Ch-1Ch-2... Ch-MAX, and the electric field strength measured by the electric field strength meter is entered. Therefore, the electronic shelf label table 42b stores the electric field strength between one electronic shelf label 1 and a plurality of the sense points 3. The electronic shelf label table 42b shown in FIG. 3 indicates that Ch-3 has the largest electric field strength of 80%.
The association table 46a is a table that lists the device code of the electronic shelf label 1 and the electric field strength of each access point. The association table 46a can be created by arranging the electronic shelf label table 42b in the order of the device codes.
The connection information table 46b represents a connection destination of the electronic shelf label 1 and the access point 3, and represents which access point 3 the electronic shelf label 1 is currently connected to. When the server 4 communicates with the electronic shelf label 1 or communication failure occurs, an access point with a good communication status is selected with reference to the electronic shelf label table 42b or the association table 46a. Specifically, selection is made in descending order of electric field strength. Alternatively, an access point with a certain electric field strength greater than a certain level is selected. In addition, an access point with a good S / N or communication waveform may be selected. Accordingly, the control unit 41 operates as a radio selection unit that selects an access point with good communication status with reference to the electronic shelf label table 42b or the association table 46a. And the access point selected by this radio | wireless machine selection part is set as a communication origin with respect to the said electronic shelf label.
The POS information table 46c is information supplied from the POS server 8, and here is a table listing product codes, prices, and product names. Other information may be stored as a table.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the handy terminal 6.
The handy terminal 6 includes a control unit 61, a RAM 62, a ROM 63, a display unit 64, an input device 65, a barcode scanner 66, a wireless LAN 67, an electric field strength meter 68, a battery 70 that supplies power to these, and a power generation unit 69. The handy terminal 6 is a portable terminal and is provided with a barcode scanner 66 and an electric field strength meter 68 for use in an electronic shelf label device.
The control unit 61 controls the processing operation of the handy terminal 6, reads a handy terminal control program stored in the ROM 63, and operates according to the program. The RAM 62 stores an electric field strength table 62a, a product code 62b, and an electronic shelf label table 62c. The electric field strength table 62 a is a table listing the electric field strengths of the access points 3 measured by the electric field strength meter 68. The product code 62b is obtained by reading a barcode attached to the target product. The electronic shelf label table 62c is the same as the electronic shelf label table 42b described in FIG. That is, it is a list obtained by reading the device code attached to the electronic shelf label by the handy terminal 6 and measuring the electric field strength of each access point, and this list is transmitted to the server 4 via the wireless LAN and the wired LAN 5. .

  The ROM 63 stores a control program for the handy terminal 6. The display unit 64 is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays a barcode reading result, a field strength meter measurement result, and the like. The input device 65 includes a numeric keypad, a switching key, etc., and operates the handy terminal 6. The barcode scanner 66 reads a device code printed on the front or back surface of the electronic shelf label 1. Also, the barcode printed on the front or back surface of the product is read. The barcode scanner 66 is a laser scanner using a semiconductor laser, and the reading codes are JAN / EAN, UPC, CODE39, ITF, CODE128, EAN-128, and the like.

  The wireless LAN 67 is a communication unit for communicating with the server 4 via the access point 3. As the handy terminal 6, for example, optical communication IrDA-SIR1.2 compliant (2.4 to 115.2 Kbps) or Bluetooth Ver1,1 is used. The data read by the handy terminal 6, that is, the product code 62b and the electronic shelf label table 62c are transmitted. Here, the product code 62b and the electronic shelf label table 62c are transmitted as linking information. The electric field strength meter 68 measures the electric field strength in the vicinity of each electronic shelf label 1. In this embodiment, the electric field strength is measured, but at least one or all of S / N, communication waveform, communication quality and the like are measured together with the electric field strength, and these are measured in the electric field strength table 62a and the electronic shelf label table 62c. May be included.

The electronic shelf label apparatus is configured as described above and operates as follows.
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the electronic shelf label 1. Here, the processing of the electronic shelf label A will be described.
First, when the processing flow of the electronic shelf label A starts, step S1 turns on the electronic shelf label A. Specifically, the power is turned on by removing the insulating sheet attached to the button battery and connecting it to the power supply terminal. In the next step S2, an access point for wireless communication is set. The first access point is Ch-1, that is, j = 1. In step S3, the electronic shelf label A performs wireless communication with the access point Ch-1. In step S4, it is determined whether or not communication with the set access point, i.e., j = 1, has been established. If communication is not possible, the next access point is set in step S5 (j = j + 1), and the process returns to step S3. Steps S3 to S5 are repeated until communication is possible. If communication is possible in step S4, the access point is temporarily connected in step S6. The connection at this time is made by communicating in a predetermined order, and is not necessarily connected to an access point with the best communication conditions. In step S7, connection information of the access point connected to the electronic shelf label A is transmitted to the server 4. The connection information includes the device code of the electronic shelf label A and the channel information of the currently connected access point.

When the server 4 receives the connection information from the electronic shelf label A, it transmits a command to the electronic shelf label A, and the electronic shelf label A receives this (step S8). If the received command is a product information display command, a product information display process is performed in step S9. In step S10, the product information A received from the server 4 (including contents such as price, product name, place of production, ingredient, time service period, special price, ingredient, calorie, promotional message, video, etc.) is displayed on the electronic shelf label. Display on A cholesteric liquid crystal. Thereafter, the process returns to step S8 to enter a standby state in order to receive the next command.
If the received command in step S8 is a connection access point change command, connection destination access point change processing is performed in step S11. In step S12, the channel of the access point to which the electronic shelf label A is connected is changed to Ch-k instructed by the server. In step S13, the fact that the connection destination has been changed is transmitted to the server 4 as connection information (ACK). The connection information in this case includes the device code of the electronic shelf label A and the channel information (Ch-k) of the access point. Thereafter, the process returns to step S8.
Further, when the received command in step S8 is other processing, for example, display processing for employee information, the stock, order unit, order quantity, previous order date, etc. transmitted from the server are displayed. In the case of pop control of the display screen, the display screen is popped. In the case of a time service notification alarm, an alarm is generated at a predetermined time.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the electric field strength measurement process of the handy terminal 6.
When the handy terminal starts processing, first, in step 21, the electronic shelf label flag is set to zero. In step 22, the product information flag is set to zero. That is, the electronic shelf label flag and the product information flag of the handy terminal 6 are initialized. Next, in step 23, the channel k of the access point is set to 1. In step S24, the electric field strength of the access point of channel k is measured with a field strength meter according to the above setting. The measured electric field strength is stored in the electric field strength table 62 a in the RAM 62 of the handy terminal 6.
In step S26, it is determined whether k is the maximum number of channels. That is, it is determined whether or not the electric field strength has been measured for all access points. If k is not the maximum number of channels, channel k is incremented by one, and the process returns to step S23, and the electric field strengths of all access points are measured. If k is the maximum number of channels, the process returns to step S23, and k = 1 is measured.
As described above, the handy terminal 6 always measures the electric field strength of all access points, and updates the electric field strength table 62a to the latest value.

Next, a process in which the handy terminal 6 associates a product with an electronic shelf label will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the middle of the above steps S21 to S27, for example, if the linking process interrupts between steps S25 and S26, the bar code interrupt process is started. Here, when the barcode scanner 66 of the handy terminal 6 is brought close to the barcode of the target product and the electronic shelf label and the barcode is read, the process proceeds to the barcode interruption process of FIG. In step S31, barcode determination is performed. If the read barcode is a product code, for example, if it is determined that it is a JAN code, the process proceeds to step S32 and the product information flag is set to 1. Next, in step S33, the acquired barcode is stored in the product code 62b of the RAM 62. In the next step S35, it is determined whether the electronic shelf label flag is 0 or 1. If it is 0, this interrupt flow is terminated. If it is 1, the process proceeds to step S35, and the product code 62b and the electronic shelf label table 62c (including the apparatus code and the electric field strength) are transmitted from the handy terminal 6 to the server 4 of the electronic shelf label apparatus.

If it is determined in step S32 that the device code is used, the process proceeds to step S36 where the electronic shelf label flag is set to 1. In step S37, the acquired barcode is stored in the device code of the electronic shelf label table 62c of the RAM 62. Thereby, the electronic shelf label table 62c which measured the electric field strength of the vicinity of the electronic shelf label 1 can be made. In the next step S38, the electric field strength data stored in the electric field strength table 62a in step S25 is stored in the electronic shelf label table 62b. Next, in step S39, it is determined whether the product information flag is 0 or 1. If it is 0, this flow is terminated. If it is 1, the process proceeds to step S35, the product code and the electronic shelf label table 62c are transmitted to the server 4 of the electronic shelf label apparatus, and then this interruption flow is terminated.
In the linking process illustrated in FIG. 7, the case where the interruption process is performed between steps S <b> 25 and S <b> 26 of the electric field strength measurement process illustrated in FIG. 6 has been described. However, the linking process illustrated in FIG. You may interrupt in the middle. In addition to interrupting in this way, the electric field strength measurement process of FIG. 6 and the tying process of FIG. 7 can be separated and executed as separate processes. In addition, before step S35 in FIG. 7, the measurement step in FIG. 6 can also be taken in as an interrupt process. In this case, the processing may be returned to FIG. 7 by reaching the maximum number of channels in step S26 of FIG.
As described above, since the handy terminal 6 measures the electric field strength at the same time when reading the device code of the electronic shelf label 1, the electric field strength in the vicinity of the electronic shelf label 1 can be measured.

The server 4 performs an electronic shelf label connection destination storage process shown in FIG. 8, an electronic shelf label-product linking process shown in FIG. 9, and an electronic shelf label communication signal transmission process shown in FIG.
In step S51, the electronic shelf label connection destination storage process shown in FIG. 8 is performed at the access point where the electronic shelf label A communicates with the device code of the electronic shelf label A from the electronic shelf label A as described in FIG. Connection information including channel information is received. The received connection information is stored in the connection information table 46b of the storage device 46 of the server 4 in step S52, and this flow ends.

In the electronic shelf label-product association process shown in FIG. 9, the product code 62a and the electronic shelf label table 62b are received from the handy terminal 6 in step S61. In step S62, the received product code 62a and electronic shelf label table 62b are temporarily stored in the product code 42a and electronic shelf label table 42b of the server 4, and then, based on the device code, stored in the association table 46a of the server 4. Store. In step S63, price and product name information are loaded from the POS system 8 as product information corresponding to the product code. In step S64, the channel with the maximum electric field strength is acquired from the electronic shelf label table 42b. In step S65, the connection channel Ch-j to which the electronic shelf label A is currently connected is acquired from the connection information table 46b. Next, in step S66, it is determined whether or not the channel Ch-k having the maximum electric field intensity matches the connection channel Ch-j of the electronic shelf label A. If there is a match, the flow is complete.
Here, the channel having the maximum electric field strength is selected, but a channel having a certain electric field strength or more may be selected. If the channel with the maximum electric field strength is poor in communication, the channel with the next highest electric field strength is selected. However, if they do not match, an electronic shelf label connection destination change process is performed in step S67. That is, in step S68, a command for changing the connection channel to the maximum electric field strength channel Ch-k using the connection channel Ch-j acquired in step S65 is transmitted to the electronic shelf label A, and the connection information table 46b is updated. The connection channel Ch-j is updated to the connection channel Ch-k. The electronic shelf label A that has received the channel change command changes the channel by performing processing in steps S11 to S13 in the flowchart of FIG.

  As described above, when the handy terminal 6 reads the product code of the target product and the device code of the electronic shelf label, the electric field strength of each access point in the vicinity thereof is measured, and the access point having a strong electric field strength is selected and wirelessly transmitted. connect. In the embodiment, the electric field strength of each access point is transmitted to the server together with the association information of the product code and the device code, and the server selects the access point based on the electric field strength information. In addition, the S / N, communication waveform, and communication quality may be measured and selected based on these. Accordingly, wireless communication is performed by selecting an access point with a good communication condition, so that good communication can be performed. For this reason, wireless communication can be established in a short time, and since there are few communication failures, retries can be reduced.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the electronic shelf label communication signal transmission processing. First, in step S71, the channel s (s = 1) is set. In step S72, an electronic shelf label communication signal is transmitted to channel s. In step S73, it is determined whether s is the maximum number of channels. If Yes, the process returns to step S71. However, if No, the process returns to step S72, and an electronic shelf label communication signal is transmitted on the next channel. FIG. 11 shows a timing chart of the electronic shelf label communication signal. As the electronic shelf label communication signal, polling signals from channel 1 to the maximum channel are transmitted within an interval of 2 seconds. Regardless of the number of channels, the electronic shelf label communication signal is set to transmit polling signals for all channels within an interval of 2 seconds. Therefore, the polling interval is displayed as asynchronous.

It is a block diagram of the electronic shelf label apparatus of this invention. It is a figure of the electronic shelf label used for the electronic shelf label apparatus of this invention. It is the block diagram of the server used for the electronic shelf label apparatus of this invention, and a table. It is the block diagram and table of a handy terminal used for the electronic shelf label apparatus of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of the electronic shelf label of this invention. It is a flowchart figure of the handy terminal of this invention. It is a flowchart figure when the handy terminal of this invention links | relates a goods and an electronic shelf label. It is a flowchart figure when the server of this invention implements an electronic shelf label connection destination memory | storage process. It is a flowchart figure when the server of this invention implements an electronic shelf label-goods link process. It is a flowchart figure when the server of this invention implements an electronic shelf label communication signal transmission process. It is a timing chart figure of the electronic shelf label apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electronic shelf label 1a Display unit 1b Device code 1c Antenna 2 Target product 2a Product code 3 Access point 4 Server 5 LAN
6 Handy terminal 61 Field strength meter 41a Electronic shelf label table 42b Linking table 42c Connection information table 42d POS information table 62a Field strength table 62b Electronic shelf label table

Claims (5)

A wireless terminal,
A plurality of wireless devices capable of wireless communication with the wireless terminal;
A communication status measuring device for measuring a communication status with the plurality of radios in the vicinity of the radio terminal;
A radio selection unit that selects at least one radio having a good communication status among a plurality of communication statuses measured by the communication status measuring device;
A communication system comprising: a setting unit that sets a radio selected by the radio selection unit as a communication source for the radio terminal, and communicates with the radio terminal using the set radio.   The setting unit includes a temporary connection unit that establishes a temporary connection with a connectable wireless device, and a wireless device selected by the wireless device selection unit via a wireless device connected by the temporary connection unit. The communication system according to claim 1, set as: The wireless terminal includes a display unit,
The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is an electronic shelf label that displays product information. A wireless terminal and a plurality of wireless devices that wirelessly communicate with the wireless terminal;
Measuring communication status with the plurality of radios in the vicinity of the radio terminal;
Selecting at least one radio having good communication status from the result of the measurement;
A step of setting the selected wireless device as a communication source with the wireless terminal.   The setting step includes a temporary connection step for establishing a temporary connection with a connectable wireless device, and the wireless device selected in the selection step via the wireless device selected in the temporary connection step. The communication method according to claim 4, wherein the communication method is set as a connection source for a wireless terminal.

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