JP2012159788A - Electronic shelf label management device, electronic shelf label management method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a wider display screen without preparing an electronic shelf label with a wide display screen.SOLUTION: An electronic shelf label management device for managing multiple electronic shelf labels comprises: a designation acceptance part for accepting designation of multiple electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display; an enlargement processing part for generating display data to be displayed on each of the electronic shelf labels so as to enlarge and display the display data, which is originally displayed on one electronic shelf label, on the electronic shelf labels in a sharing manner; and a transmission part for transmitting the display data generated by the enlargement processing part to each of the electronic shelf labels accepted by the designation acceptance part.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling display of an electronic shelf label.

  Electronic shelf labels are used in various places such as retail stores. The display contents vary greatly depending on the goods or services that are the subject of the price tag, the display status of the goods in the store, and the like. For example, there has been proposed an electronic shelf label that can be switched freely between a horizontally long display (horizontal arrangement) and a vertically long display (vertical arrangement) according to the situation (see Patent Document 1). In this electronic shelf label, when the arrangement direction of the electronic shelf label is a vertical arrangement, character strings indicating selling prices are arranged in the vertical direction, and the characters are displayed in an enlarged manner as compared with the horizontal arrangement.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-230566

  However, for example, when making it visible from a distance or displaying a lot of information, it is necessary to make the display screen of the electronic shelf label wider. Such cases have been dealt with by purchasing an electronic shelf label having a wider display screen, and there has been a problem that the cost increases.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for realizing a wider display screen without preparing an electronic shelf label having a wide display screen.

  One aspect of the present invention is an electronic shelf label management apparatus that manages a plurality of electronic shelf labels, and includes a designation receiving unit that accepts designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display, and originally one electronic shelf. A display processing unit for generating display data to be displayed on each electronic shelf label so that the display data to be displayed on the tag is divided and enlarged by a plurality of electronic shelf labels, and is generated by the expansion processing unit. A transmission unit that transmits the display data to each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving unit.

  One aspect of the present invention is the above-described electronic shelf label management apparatus, wherein the designation receiving unit receives designation of positions where the plurality of electronic shelf labels are respectively arranged, and the expansion processing unit is configured to perform the designation. The destination of the divided display data is determined according to the position received by the receiving unit.

  One aspect of the present invention is the above-described electronic shelf label management apparatus, wherein the enlargement processing unit originally receives display data to be displayed on one electronic shelf label by the designated reception unit. The display data after the enlargement is divided into the sizes displayed on one electronic shelf label, and the display data displayed on each electronic shelf label is generated.

  One aspect of the present invention is an electronic shelf label management method performed by an electronic shelf label management apparatus that manages a plurality of electronic shelf labels, wherein the electronic shelf label management apparatus includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display. A specification receiving step for receiving a specification, and the electronic shelf label management apparatus shares and enlarges the display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label by a plurality of electronic shelf labels. An enlargement processing step for generating display data to be displayed on the shelf label, and the electronic shelf label management device displays the display data generated by the enlargement processing step for each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving step. And a transmitting step for transmitting.

  One aspect of the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to operate as an electronic shelf label management apparatus that manages a plurality of electronic shelf labels, and accepts designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display Step and enlargement processing for generating display data to be displayed on each electronic shelf label so that display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label is shared and enlarged by a plurality of electronic shelf labels A computer program for causing a computer to execute a step and a transmission step of transmitting display data generated by the enlargement processing step to each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving step.

  According to the present invention, a wider display screen can be realized without preparing an electronic shelf label having a wide display screen.

It is a system configuration figure showing the system configuration of an electronic shelf label system. It is a figure showing the external appearance of an electronic shelf label. It is a figure showing the outline of the display by an electronic shelf label. It is a figure showing the outline of the information memorize | stored in an enlarged display information storage part. It is a figure showing the specific example of a display size expansion screen. It is a figure showing the outline of the input to a display size expansion screen. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process at the time of setting an enlarged display. It is a figure showing the specific example of the display by an electronic shelf label. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process at the time of changing a template in the existing display expansion group. It is a figure showing the specific example of an expansion cancellation screen. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of expansion cancellation.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of the electronic shelf label system 1. First, the outline of the system configuration of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be described. The electronic shelf label system 1 includes an electronic shelf label management device 10, a plurality of relay devices 20, a plurality of electronic shelf labels 30, a terminal device 40, and an access point 50. The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10, each relay machine 20, and the access point 50 are connected by a wired network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 and the relay device 20 may be connected wirelessly via the access point 50 or the like. One or more electronic shelf labels 30 are installed in the communication range of each repeater 20, and each repeater 20 communicates with the electronic shelf label 30 wirelessly. The terminal device 40 communicates with the electronic shelf label management device 10 via the access point 50.

  The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 communicates with the electronic shelf label 30 via the relay device 20 to control the display contents of each electronic shelf label 30. The relay machine 20 relays communication between the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 and the electronic shelf label 30. The electronic shelf label 30 is installed on a shelf on which products are displayed, and displays the name, price, etc. of the displayed products. The terminal device 40 is operated by an administrator of the electronic shelf label 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as “manager”), and transmits data to the electronic shelf label management device 10 based on the operation content. Further, the terminal device 40 receives data from the electronic shelf label management device 10 and performs display based on the received data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of the electronic shelf label 30. Next, the electronic shelf label 30 will be described in detail. The electronic shelf label 30 includes a display unit 31 and a barcode display unit 32 on the surface thereof. Display data transmitted from the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 is displayed on the display unit 31. The display data includes information such as the product name, price, and product weight. The barcode display unit 32 displays a barcode representing identification information (electronic shelf label ID) allocated without overlapping the electronic shelf label 30. The administrator inputs the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 to the terminal device 40 by reading the barcode displayed on the barcode display unit 32 using the barcode reader provided in the terminal device 40. be able to.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of display by the electronic shelf label 30. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an outline of normal display using one electronic shelf label 30. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an outline of an enlarged display using four electronic shelf labels 30. In the normal display, one display data is displayed on one electronic shelf label 30. On the other hand, in the enlarged display, the display data displayed on one electronic shelf label 30 in the normal display is enlarged and displayed on a plurality of (four in the case of FIG. 3B) electronic shelf labels 30. In the case of FIG. 3B, the display data displayed on one electronic shelf label 30 in FIG. 3A is doubled vertically and horizontally, respectively, and is displayed by a total of four electronic shelf labels 30 in two columns and two rows. Is displayed. A group of a plurality of electronic shelf labels 30 that perform one enlarged display is referred to as a “display enlarged group”. For example, four electronic shelf labels 30 shown in FIG. 3B form one display expansion group.
One display expansion group includes one reference shelf label and other electronic shelf labels 30 (hereinafter referred to as “additional shelf labels”). In the present embodiment, the shelf label located at the upper left is the reference shelf label. When the enlarged display is performed, the display data set for the reference shelf label is enlarged and displayed.

  Next, the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 is configured using an information processing apparatus such as a mainframe, a workstation, or a personal computer. The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, an auxiliary storage device, and the like connected by a bus, and executes an electronic shelf label management program. The electronic shelf label management device 10 functions as a device including a communication unit 101, a designation receiving unit 102, an enlargement processing unit 103, and an enlarged display information storage unit 104. All or some of the functions of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 are realized by using hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Also good. The electronic shelf label management program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is, for example, a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in the computer system.

  The communication unit 101 communicates with the electronic shelf label 30 via the relay device 20 and communicates with the terminal device 40 via the access point 50. The communication unit 101 may communicate with the terminal device 40 without using the access point 50. Hereinafter, a specific example of communication by the communication unit 101 will be described. The communication unit 101 has a LAN port, and is connected to the LAN network by a cable connected to the LAN port. Each relay machine 20 and the access point 50 also have a LAN port, and are connected to the LAN network by a cable connected to the LAN port. The communication unit 101 communicates with each relay device 20 and the access point 50 via a LAN network.

  The designation receiving unit 102 receives an instruction from the administrator. For example, the designation receiving unit 102 receives designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display. In addition, the designation receiving unit 102 receives an instruction regarding reduction of the enlarged display. The designation accepting unit 102 may accept the designation or instruction input by the administrator operating the input device provided in the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10, or may be input by the administrator operating the terminal device 40. The above designations and instructions may be accepted. Hereinafter, description will be made assuming that the administrator operates the terminal device 40.

  The enlargement processing unit 103 generates display data (post-division display data) displayed on each electronic shelf label 30 when enlarged display using a plurality of electronic shelf labels 30 is performed. Specifically, the enlargement processing unit 103 selects a template stored in the enlargement display information storage unit 104 in accordance with the arrangement of the electronic shelf labels 30 on which enlargement display is performed (hereinafter referred to as “enlargement arrangement”). The display data generated based on the product code is enlarged to generate post-enlargement display data. The enlargement processing unit 103 divides the display data after enlargement into a size displayed on one electronic shelf label according to the arrangement at the time of enlargement. By this division, display data after division is generated for the number of electronic shelf labels 30 used for enlarged display. The enlargement processing unit 103 determines the destination of each divided display data in accordance with the position of each electronic shelf label 30 in the enlargement array.

  The enlarged display information storage unit 104 is configured using a storage device such as a semiconductor storage device or a magnetic hard disk device. The enlarged display information storage unit 104 stores an enlarged display information table.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of information stored in the enlarged display information storage unit 104. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an outline of the enlarged display information table. The enlarged display information table has one record 114 for each electronic shelf label ID. The record 114 includes information such as an electronic shelf label ID, display expansion group information, a product code, a product name, and a template in association with each other. The electronic shelf label ID is identification information assigned to each electronic shelf label 30 without duplication. The display enlargement group information is information assigned to the electronic shelf label 30 used for enlargement display, and is information related to enlargement display. Hereinafter, the record 114 is simply referred to as “record” except for the reference numeral. The display expansion group information is not given to the record of the electronic shelf label 30 used for normal display. In the case of FIG. 4A, for example, the electronic shelf label 30 whose electronic shelf label ID is “C2215571” performs normal display, and thus display enlarged group information is not recorded. The product code and the product name are as described above. The template defines a layout (display position) such as names and prices of products displayed on the electronic shelf label 30.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an outline of the display expansion group information. The display expansion group information includes a group ID, a column number, and a row number. The enlarged display group information is represented by, for example, a 9-digit number. The left three digits represent the group ID. The group ID is identification information assigned to the display expansion group without duplication. A common group ID is assigned to the electronic shelf labels 30 belonging to the same display expansion group. The three digits to the right of the group ID represent the column number. The column number represents the number of the column counted from the left among the positions of the electronic shelf labels 30 in the enlarged arrangement. The three digits to the right of the column number represent the row number. The line number represents the number of the line counted from the top among the positions of the electronic shelf labels 30 in the arrangement at the time of expansion.

  4C and 4D are diagrams showing an outline of column numbers and row numbers. FIG. 4C shows a specific example of display enlargement group information when enlargement display is performed using a total of four electronic shelf labels 30 in two columns and two rows. Since the upper left electronic shelf label 30 is located in the leftmost column, the column number is “000”, and because it is located in the uppermost row, the row number is “000”. Since the upper right electronic shelf label 30 is located in the second column from the left, the column number is “001”, and because it is located in the top row, the row number is “000”. Since the lower left electronic shelf label 30 is located in the leftmost column, the column number is “000”, and since it is located in the second row from the top, the row number is “001”. Since the lower right electronic shelf label 30 is located in the second column from the left, the column number is “001”, and since it is located in the second row from the top, the row number is “001”.

  FIG. 4D shows a specific example of display enlargement group information when enlargement display using a total of nine electronic shelf labels 30 in three columns and three rows is performed. For example, the bottom right electronic shelf label 30 is positioned in the third column from the left, so the column number is “002”, and is positioned in the third row from the top, so the row number is “002”. About FIG. 4D, description of display expansion group information for every one is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a display size enlargement screen. The display size enlargement screen is a screen that is operated when the administrator performs setting of enlargement display, and is a screen displayed on the display of the terminal device 40. A reference shelf label input frame 401, a horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402, a vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403, an additional shelf label input frame 404, and an execution button 405 are displayed on the display size expansion screen. The display size enlargement screen has a message display area 406, and a message is displayed in the message display area 406 in a predetermined situation.

  The reference shelf label input frame 401 is a frame for inputting the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label, and accepts input of only one electronic shelf label ID. The laterally expanded shelf label input frame 402 is a frame for inputting the electronic shelf label IDs of the second and subsequent electronic shelf labels arranged in the top row, and accepts the input of a plurality of electronic shelf label IDs. In the order of input to the horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402, the positions are set at the positions of the second column, the third column,..., The nth column (n = integer). The vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 is a frame for inputting the electronic shelf label IDs of the second and subsequent electronic shelf labels arranged in the leftmost column, and accepts the input of a plurality of electronic shelf label IDs. In the order of input in the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403, the positions are set at the positions of the second row, the third row,..., The nth row (n = integer). The additional shelf label input frame 404 is an electronic shelf that is not input to any of the reference shelf label input frame 401, the horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402, and the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 among the electronic shelf labels 30 used for the enlarged display. This is a frame for inputting the electronic shelf label ID of the tag 30.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an outline of input to the display size enlargement screen. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an outline of input to a display size enlargement screen at the time of initial setting of enlargement display. In FIG. 6A, each of the nine rectangles represents one electronic shelf label 30. That is, FIG. 6A shows a specific example when performing enlarged display of 3 columns and 3 rows. The rectangle described as “reference” represents the electronic shelf label 30 that is input to the reference shelf label input frame 401, that is, the reference shelf label. The rectangles described as “horizontal 1” and “horizontal 2” represent the electronic shelf label 30 that is input to the laterally expanded shelf label input frame 402. The electronic shelf label ID of the “horizontal 1” electronic shelf label 30 is input to the laterally expanded shelf label input frame 402 before the electronic shelf label ID of the “horizontal 2” electronic shelf label 30. The rectangles described as “vertical 1” and “vertical 2” represent the electronic shelf label 30 that is input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403. The electronic shelf label ID of the “vertical 1” electronic shelf label 30 is input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 before the electronic shelf label ID of the “vertical 2” electronic shelf label 30.

  Each rectangle described as “1”, “2”, “3”, “4” represents the electronic shelf label 30 that is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404. Each number written in the rectangle represents the order of input to the additional shelf label input frame 404. That is, the electronic shelf label 30 in which the electronic shelf label ID is first input in the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “1”, and the column number “001” and the row number “ 001 "is given. The electronic shelf label 30 in which the second electronic shelf label ID is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “2”, and has the column number “002” and the row number “001”. "Is given. The electronic shelf label 30 in which the third electronic shelf label ID is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “3”, and the column number “001” and the row number “002” are set. "Is given. The electronic shelf label 30 in which the fourth electronic shelf label ID is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 in the rectangular position “4”, and the column number “002” and the row number “002” are set. "Is given. As described above, the position of each additional shelf label in which the electronic shelf label ID is input in the additional shelf label input frame 404 is determined according to the order in which the electronic shelf label ID is input.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an outline of input to the display size enlargement screen when the electronic shelf label 30 is added to the existing display enlargement group. In this case, first, on the display size enlargement screen, the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label of the display enlargement group that has already been enlarged is input to the reference shelf label input frame 401. In the case of FIG. 6B, the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 set as the reference shelf label in FIG. 6A is input. By this input, the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 recognizes that the processing is for the display expansion group shown in FIG. 6A. Next, electronic shelf label IDs corresponding to the number of columns to be increased are input to the horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402. In the case of FIG. 6B, one electronic shelf label ID is input to the laterally expanded shelf label input frame 402 in order to expand one column horizontally. The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 recognizes that the electronic shelf label 30 of the input electronic shelf label ID is an electronic shelf label 30 positioned in a rectangle described as “horizontal 3”. In addition, electronic shelf label IDs corresponding to the number of lines to be increased are input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403. In the case of FIG. 6B, two electronic shelf label IDs are input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 in order to expand two rows vertically. The electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 recognizes that the electronic shelf label 30 of the two input electronic shelf label IDs is an electronic shelf label 30 that is positioned in a rectangle labeled “Vertical 3” and “Vertical 4” in order. To do.

  Each rectangle described as “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8” is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404. The shelf label 30 is represented. Each number written in the rectangle represents the order of input to the additional shelf label input frame 404. That is, the electronic shelf label 30 in which the electronic shelf label ID is first input in the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “1”, and the column number “003” and the row number “ 001 "is given. Secondly, the electronic shelf label 30 in which the electronic shelf label ID is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “2”, and the column number “003” and the row number “002” are set. "Is given. The electronic shelf label 30 in which the third electronic shelf label ID is input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 is set as the electronic shelf label 30 at the rectangular position “3”, and the column number “001” and the row number “003” are set. "Is given. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6B, the electronic shelf label 30 is set at each position according to the order of input in the additional shelf label input frame 404, and a column number and a row number are given.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when setting enlarged display. In FIG. 7, the left flowchart (S101 to S105) is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the administrator. The flowcharts on the right side (S201 to S209) are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10. First, the administrator operates the terminal device 40 to instruct display of a display size enlargement screen (step S101). The terminal device 40 transmits this instruction to the electronic shelf label management device 10. The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 displays a display size enlargement screen on the terminal device 40 (step S201).

  The administrator selects the electronic shelf label 30 as the reference shelf label. Then, the administrator operates the terminal device 40 to input the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label into the reference shelf label input frame 401 (step S102). The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 receives the electronic shelf label ID input in the reference shelf label input frame 401 as the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label (step S202). Next, the administrator determines the number of columns and the number of rows in the enlarged display, inputs the number of electronic shelf label IDs corresponding to (number of columns-1) into the horizontal enlarged shelf label input frame 402, The number of electronic shelf label IDs corresponding to (-1) is input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 (step S103). The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 receives the electronic shelf label ID input to the horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402 and the electronic shelf label ID input to the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403 (step S203). ). When there are three or more columns or three or more rows, all the electronic shelf label IDs may be input at a time for each input frame, or may be input in a plurality of times.

  Next, the designation receiving unit 102 determines whether or not the necessary number of electronic shelf label IDs have been input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 (step S204). The required number is a value obtained by multiplying the number of electronic shelf label IDs input in the horizontally expanded shelf label input frame 402 by the number of electronic shelf label IDs input in the vertically expanded shelf label input frame 403. When the necessary number of electronic shelf label IDs are not input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 (step S204—NO), the designation receiving unit 102 sets the necessary number of electronic shelf label IDs to the additional shelf label input frame 404. It is displayed in the message display area 406 that it has not been input (step S205). At this time, the designation receiving unit 102 may display the number of electronic shelf label IDs that need to be input in the additional shelf label input frame 404. After the process of step S <b> 203, the designation receiving unit 102 receives an input of an electronic shelf label ID for the additional shelf label input frame 404. During this period, the administrator inputs electronic shelf label IDs corresponding to the required number in the additional shelf label input frame 404 (step S104).

  When the required number of electronic shelf label IDs are input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 (step S204—YES), the designation receiving unit 102 inputs the required number of electronic shelf label IDs to the additional shelf label input frame 404. The message display area 406 displays that the enlarged display is possible (step S206). And the designation | designated reception part 102 waits until the execution button 405 is pressed down (step S207 -NO). When the administrator presses the execute button 405 (step S105), the designation receiving unit 102 generates a group ID. Further, the designation receiving unit 102 generates a column number and a row number for each electronic shelf label 30 according to the input so far. The designation receiving unit 102 generates display expanded group information for each electronic shelf label 30 using the group ID, the column number, and the row number. Then, the designation receiving unit 102 generates a record for each electronic shelf label 30 and writes it in the enlarged display information storage unit 104. At this time, the designation receiving unit 102 sets information (for example, product code, product name, and template) assigned to the reference shelf label for all electronic shelf labels 30 belonging to the same display expansion group.

  Next, the designation receiving unit 102 notifies the enlargement processing unit 103 of a group ID common to the newly generated record. The enlargement processing unit 103 searches the enlarged display information table for a record corresponding to the notified group ID. The enlargement processing unit 103 determines the number of columns and the number of rows in the enlarged display based on the column number and row number of each record of the search result. Further, the enlargement processing unit 103 reads the product code and template of the search result record from the enlarged display information storage unit 104. The enlargement processing unit 103 generates display data based on the template and the product code, and enlarges the display data according to the determined number of columns and rows. For example, when the determined number of columns is m and the number of rows is n, the enlargement processing unit 103 enlarges the horizontal width of the display data to m times and enlarges the vertical width to n times. Next, the enlargement processing unit 103 divides the horizontal width of the enlarged display data into m pieces, and divides the vertical width into n pieces, so that display data corresponding to the number of electronic shelf labels 30 included in the display enlarged group is displayed. Generate (step S208). The display data for one unit after the division is referred to as “enlargement display data” in the following description. The enlargement processing unit 103 adds the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 corresponding to the position to each enlargement display data as a destination. At this time, the enlargement processing unit 103 determines the position of each electronic shelf label 30 according to the column number and row number of the display enlargement group information of each record.

  The communication unit 101 transmits each display data for enlargement to which a destination is added (step S209). A specific example of the transmission process will be described. The communication unit 101 transmits each enlargement display data to all the electronic shelf labels 30. Each time the electronic shelf label 30 receives the display data for enlargement, the electronic shelf label 30 determines whether or not the attached electronic shelf label ID matches the electronic shelf label ID of its own device. If they match, the electronic shelf label 30 displays the received display data for enlargement on the display unit 31. When all the display data for enlargement is transmitted by the communication unit 101 and is displayed by all the electronic shelf labels 30 that perform the enlarged display, the enlarged display as shown in FIG. 3B is performed. Each electronic shelf label 30 needs to be installed at a position corresponding to the column number and the row number.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of display by the electronic shelf label 30. Since FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration, FIG. 8 shows an example of a display closer to the actual situation. FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating a specific example of normal display by one electronic shelf label 30. FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a display example when the display data displayed in FIG. 8A is enlarged and displayed in two rows and two columns. In FIG. 8A, “Italian spaghetti”, “500 g”, “6”, “48”, “104”, “2250”, “560”, “80”, “286” displayed on one electronic shelf label 30. The character strings "" and "yen" are displayed separately on four electronic shelf labels 30 in FIG. 8B. The three characters “286” are displayed with the upper half and the lower half divided into two electronic shelf labels 30.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when changing a template in an existing display expansion group. In FIG. 9, the flowcharts on the left side (S301 to S302) are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the administrator. The flowcharts on the right side (S401 to S406) are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10. First, the administrator operates the terminal device 40 to select one electronic shelf label 30 from among a plurality of electronic shelf labels 30 used for enlarged display, and reads the electronic shelf label ID (step S301). . The terminal device 40 transmits this electronic shelf label ID to the electronic shelf label management device 10.

  The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 receives the electronic shelf label ID of the selected electronic shelf label 30 (step S401). Next, the designation receiving unit 102 searches the enlarged display information storage unit 104 for a record corresponding to the electronic shelf label ID. The designation receiving unit 102 searches for the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label belonging to the same group based on the group ID of the search result record (step S402). When the reference shelf label is searched, the designation receiving unit 102 causes the terminal device 40 to display a screen for selecting a template. The administrator operates the terminal device 40 to select a template to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 30 performing the enlarged display (step S302). The terminal device 40 transmits the selected template to the electronic shelf label management device 10.

  The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 receives a template selection result (template) (step S403). The designation receiving unit 102 applies the template received in the process of step S403 to the reference shelf label searched in the process of step S402 (step S404). Specifically, the designation receiving unit 102 rewrites the template of the record of the reference shelf label with the template received in the process of step S403. And the designation | designated reception part 102 updates the record regarding all the additional shelf labels which belong to the same display expansion group as the reference | standard shelf label which updated the record similarly.

  Next, the designation receiving unit 102 notifies the enlargement processing unit 103 of a group ID common to the updated record. The enlargement processing unit 103 searches the enlarged display information table for a record corresponding to the notified group ID. The enlargement processing unit 103 determines the number of columns and the number of rows in the enlarged display based on the column number and row number of each record of the search result. Further, the enlargement processing unit 103 reads the product code and template of the search result record from the enlarged display information storage unit 104. The enlargement processing unit 103 generates display data based on the template and the product code, and enlarges the display data according to the determined number of columns and rows. For example, when the determined number of columns is m and the number of rows is n, the enlargement processing unit 103 enlarges the horizontal width of the display data to m times and enlarges the vertical width to n times. Next, the enlargement processing unit 103 divides the horizontal width of the enlarged display data into m pieces, and divides the vertical width into n pieces, so that display data corresponding to the number of electronic shelf labels 30 included in the display enlarged group is displayed. Generate (step S405). The enlargement processing unit 103 adds the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 corresponding to the position to each enlargement display data as a destination. At this time, the enlargement processing unit 103 determines the position of each electronic shelf label 30 according to the column number and row number of the display enlargement group information of each record. The communication unit 101 transmits each enlargement display data to which the destination is added (step S406). In FIG. 9, the product displayed on the electronic shelf label 30 may be changed by selecting and processing the product code instead of the template.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the enlarged cancellation screen. The enlargement cancellation screen is a screen that is operated when the administrator performs the setting for enlargement cancellation, and is a screen displayed on the display of the terminal device 40. The enlargement cancellation is to reduce the number of electronic shelf labels 30 belonging to the display enlargement group in the display enlargement group performing the enlarged display. In other words, by setting enlargement / cancellation, the enlargement ratio of the display data is reduced and the display size is reduced. On the enlarged cancellation screen, a processing target shelf label input frame 411, a horizontally reduced shelf label input frame 412, a vertically reduced shelf label input frame 413, an enlarged all cancel button 414, and an execute button 415 are displayed. The enlarged cancellation screen has a message display area 416, and displays a message in the message display area 416 in a predetermined situation.

  The processing target shelf label input frame 411 is a frame for inputting the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 belonging to the display expansion group to be expanded and canceled, and accepts the input of one electronic shelf label ID. The horizontal reduced shelf label input frame 412 is a frame for inputting the number of columns on which enlarged display is not performed after reduction. The vertically reduced shelf label input frame 413 is a frame for inputting the number of lines on which enlarged display is not performed after reduction. The enlarged all cancel button 414 is a button for instructing execution of the enlarged all cancel process. The enlarged all cancellation process is a process of stopping the enlarged display and starting normal display on the reference shelf label. The execution button 415 is a button for instructing execution of enlargement cancellation.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of enlargement cancellation processing. In FIG. 11, the flowcharts on the left side (S501 to S506) are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the administrator. The flowcharts on the right side (S601 to S610) are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed by the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10. First, the administrator operates the terminal device 40 to instruct the display of the enlarged cancellation screen (step S501). The terminal device 40 transmits this instruction to the electronic shelf label management device 10. The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 displays an enlarged cancellation screen on the terminal device 40 (step S601).

  The administrator selects the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 belonging to the display expansion group to be expanded and canceled, and inputs the electronic shelf label ID into the processing target shelf label input frame 411 (step S502). The designation receiving unit 102 of the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 receives the electronic shelf label ID input in the processing target shelf label input frame 411 (step S602). The designation receiving unit 102 searches the enlarged display information table for a record corresponding to the input electronic shelf label ID, and determines whether or not the electronic shelf label 30 is an electronic shelf label 30 belonging to the display expansion group. (Step S603). If the selected electronic shelf label 30 does not belong to the display expansion group (step S603—NO), the designation receiving unit 102 causes the terminal device 40 to display an error screen (step S604).

  On the other hand, when the selected electronic shelf label 30 belongs to the display expansion group (step S603: YES), the designation receiving unit 102 acquires the number of columns and the number of rows in the processing target enlarged display ( Step 605). At this time, the designation receiving unit 102 searches the enlarged display information table for the record of the electronic shelf label 30 belonging to the display enlarged group, and in the enlarged display based on the column number and the row number of each record of the search result. Determine the number of columns and rows. And the designation | designated reception part 102 calculates the number of columns and rows which can be reduced according to a determination result, and displays it on the terminal device 40 (step S606). The number of columns that can be reduced is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of columns in the current enlarged display. The number of lines that can be reduced is a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of lines in the current enlarged display. And the designation | designated reception part 102 waits until a button is pressed in the terminal device 40 (step S607-NO).

  The administrator continues the operation with reference to the number of columns and rows that can be reduced displayed on the terminal device 40 (step S503). If the administrator wishes to execute the enlargement all cancellation process (step S503-enlargement all cancellation), the administrator presses the enlargement all cancellation button 414 (step S504). When the enlargement all cancel button 414 is pressed (step S607-enlargement cancel button), the designation receiving unit 102 and the enlargement processing unit 103 perform processing so as to perform normal display only with the reference shelf label (step S608). Specifically, for example, the following processing is performed. The designation receiving unit 102 searches the enlarged display information table for the record of the reference shelf label in the target display enlarged group. The designation receiving unit 102 deletes the display expansion group information from the record of the reference shelf label. In addition, the designation receiving unit 102 deletes all the records of the additional shelf labels included in the target display expansion group. Next, the designation receiving unit 102 notifies the enlargement processing unit 103 of the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label and the electronic shelf label ID of the additional shelf label. The enlargement processing unit 103 searches for records from the enlarged display information table based on the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label. The enlargement processing unit 103 reads the product code and template of the search result record from the enlarged display information storage unit 104. Then, the enlargement processing unit 103 adds the electronic shelf label ID of the reference shelf label as the destination to the display data generated based on the template and the product code. At this time, the enlargement processing unit 103 does not enlarge the display data. Further, the enlargement processing unit 103 generates data for instructing to stop displaying the display data for all the additional shelf labels. The communication unit 101 transmits display data to the reference shelf label and data for all additional shelf labels. By this transmission, only the reference shelf label performs normal display, and all the additional shelf labels stop displaying.

  When the administrator wishes to delete some columns or rows (step S503-column / row number designation), the administrator designates the number of columns and the number of rows to be reduced (step S505). This designation is performed by inputting the number of columns in the horizontal reduced shelf label input frame 412 and the number of rows in the vertical reduced shelf label input frame 413. Thereafter, the administrator presses the execution button 415 (step S506). When the execute button 415 is pressed (step S607—execute button), the designation receiving unit 102 receives an input of a reduced size (step S609). That is, the designation receiving unit 102 receives the number of columns and the number of rows to be deleted. Then, the designation receiving unit 102 and the enlargement processing unit 103 perform a reduction process (step S610). The reduction process is executed as follows, for example. The designation receiving unit 102 deletes the record of the electronic shelf label 30 included in the deleted column and the record of the electronic shelf label 30 included in the deleted row from the display expansion group information table. The enlargement processing unit 103 performs enlargement display using the electronic shelf label 30 that has not been deleted. That is, the enlargement processing unit 103 generates enlargement display data according to the number of columns and the number of rows constituted by the electronic shelf labels 30 that have not been deleted, and transmits the enlargement display data to each electronic shelf label 30. .

In the electronic shelf label system 1 configured as described above, a plurality of electronic shelf labels 30 can be arranged vertically or horizontally to display one enlarged display data as a whole. Therefore, it is possible to realize a wider display screen without preparing an electronic shelf label having a wide display screen.
Further, the content of the display data to be enlarged is determined based on the setting for the reference shelf label. Therefore, when changing the template, it is not necessary to perform the template changing process for all the additional shelf labels belonging to the display expansion group, and the setting may be changed for the reference shelf label. Therefore, it is possible to easily change and manage the template. The setting change may be performed not on the reference shelf label but on one electronic shelf label 30 among the plurality of electronic shelf labels 30 belonging to the display expansion group.

Further, when setting the enlargement display, the administrator may input the electronic shelf label ID of the electronic shelf label 30 arranged as he / she thinks on the display size enlargement screen. Therefore, without being conscious of the number of electronic shelf labels 30 and the like, an enlarged display can be realized by arranging the electronic shelf labels 30 and inputting the electronic shelf label ID in a sense. That is, it becomes possible to realize enlarged display more intuitively.
Further, when the administrator wants to return the enlarged display to the normal display, the administrator only has to press the cancel before enlarge button 414 on the administrator enlargement cancel screen. Therefore, the enlarged display can be returned to the normal display by an easy operation.

  When the administrator wants to increase the number of electronic shelf labels 30 used for the enlarged display, he / she inputs the electronic shelf label ID into the additional shelf label input frame 404 in consideration of the order shown in FIG. 6B. do it. In addition, when the administrator wants to reduce the number of electronic shelf labels 30 used for the enlarged display, the administrator designates the number of columns and the number of rows to be reduced according to the processing shown in FIG. do it. In this way, the number of electronic shelf labels 30 used for enlarged display can be easily increased or decreased.

<Modification>
The reference shelf label does not necessarily need to be the shelf label positioned at the upper left. For example, the shelf label located at the uppermost right, the shelf label located at the ath from the left, and the bth from the top (a and b are both integers) may be set as the reference shelf label.
The column and row positions according to the order of the electronic shelf label IDs input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 need not be limited to the specific examples shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
The operation performed by the administrator on the terminal device 40 may be performed on the electronic shelf label management device 10. In this case, the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 includes an input device, and the administrator operates the electronic shelf label management apparatus 10 by operating the input device.
In the above-described enlarged display setting process flow (FIG. 7), when the necessary number of electronic shelf label IDs are input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 in step S204, an execution button is displayed after displaying a message in step S206. Waiting until 405 is pressed. On the other hand, when the necessary number of electronic shelf label IDs are input to the additional shelf label input frame 404 in step S204, the subsequent processing may be executed without waiting for the execution button 405 to be pressed. In this case, the message display in step S206 may or may not be executed.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic shelf label management apparatus, 101 ... Communication part, 102 ... Designation reception part, 103 ... Expansion processing part, 104 ... Expansion display information storage part, 20 ... Relay machine, 30 ... Electronic shelf label, 40 ... Terminal device

Claims (5)

An electronic shelf label management device for managing a plurality of electronic shelf labels,
A designation receiving unit that accepts designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display;
An enlargement processing unit for generating display data to be displayed on each electronic shelf label so that display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label is divided and displayed on a plurality of electronic shelf labels;
A transmission unit that transmits display data generated by the enlargement processing unit to each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving unit;
An electronic shelf label management device comprising: The designation accepting unit accepts designation of a position where each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is arranged;
The electronic shelf label management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement processing unit determines a destination of the divided display data according to a position received by the designation receiving unit.   The enlargement processing unit enlarges the display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label according to the arrangement of the electronic shelf labels received by the designation receiving unit, and displays the enlarged display data on one electronic shelf label. The electronic shelf label management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein display data displayed on each electronic shelf label is generated by being divided into sizes displayed on the shelf label. An electronic shelf label management method performed by an electronic shelf label management apparatus that manages a plurality of electronic shelf labels,
The electronic shelf label management apparatus receives a designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display;
Display data displayed on each electronic shelf label so that the electronic shelf label management device displays the display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label in a shared manner with a plurality of electronic shelf labels. An enlargement processing step to generate
The electronic shelf label management device transmits the display data generated by the enlargement processing step to each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving step;
An electronic shelf label management method. A computer program for operating a computer as an electronic shelf label management apparatus for managing a plurality of electronic shelf labels,
A designation receiving step for accepting designation of a plurality of electronic shelf labels used for enlarged display;
An enlargement processing step for generating display data to be displayed on each electronic shelf label so that display data originally displayed on one electronic shelf label is shared and enlarged by a plurality of electronic shelf labels;
A transmission step of transmitting the display data generated by the enlargement processing step to each electronic shelf label received by the designation receiving step;
A computer program for causing a computer to execute.

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