JP2013165972A - Display controller and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic shelf label device and an electronic shelf label system that detect mounting of a display unit at a prescribed position of a merchandise display shelf.SOLUTION: An electronic shelf label device includes: a display unit 10; and a mounting unit 20 capable of attachably and detachably mounting the display unit 10. The display unit 10 has a light guide plate for guiding light emitted from the mounting unit 20. Further, the mounting unit 20 has a light emitting part 12 and makes the light emitting part emit light. When the display unit 10 is mounted on the mounting unit 20, the light emitted from the light emitting part 12 of the mounting unit 20 is received by the mounting unit 20 through the light guide plate of the display unit 10, and it can be detected that the display unit 10 is mounted on the mounting unit 20 by the light reception thereof.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label apparatus and an electronic shelf label system that are arranged on a commodity display shelf and display a price or the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art An electronic shelf label device that is installed near a product on a product display shelf in a supermarket or the like and displays product information such as a product name and a sales price on a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is known. The display content displayed on the display device is linked to a POS (Point Of Sales system) or the like via wireless or infrared communication, and the display content such as the price is automatically updated and changed.

  As a technique of this electronic shelf label apparatus, a technique for improving work productivity by displaying a work content of a worker on a display device (for example, refer to Patent Document 1), and a mounting member on the front surface of a merchandise display shelf There is known a technique of an electronic shelf label mounting apparatus in which an electronic shelf label is mounted via the electronic shelf label (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3670508 Japanese Patent No. 3614083

  In order to display product information, etc., this display device is required to be installed (attached) at a predetermined position on the product display shelf. In the conventional technology, a display device is attached at a predetermined position on the product display shelf. It was not possible to detect what was being done.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic shelf label device and an electronic shelf label system that detect that a display device is mounted at a predetermined position of a product display shelf. It is to be.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic shelf label device including a display device and an attachment device to which the display device can be detachably attached. A receiving unit configured to receive information; a display unit configured to display the information received by the receiving unit; and a light guide unit configured to guide light emitted from the light emitting unit of the mounting device. A light-emitting unit that emits light from the light-emitting unit, and light received from the light-emitting unit when the display device is mounted on the attachment device via the light guide unit of the display device And a first detecting means for detecting that the display device is mounted on the attachment device by receiving light from the light receiving portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic shelf comprising a display device, a mounting device on which the display device can be detachably mounted, and a server device connected via communication means capable of communicating with the mounting device. In the bill system, the display device includes a receiving unit that receives information, a display unit that displays the information received by the receiving unit, and a light guide that guides light emitted by the light emitting unit of the mounting device. And the server device includes a light emission control unit that performs light emission control on the light emission unit of the attachment device. The attachment device includes a light emission unit, and the light emission unit is connected to the light emission control unit. A light emitting unit that emits light based on light emission control, and a light receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit via the light guide unit of the display device when the display device is mounted on the attachment device; The light received by this light receiving unit Te, first detecting means for detecting the that the display device is attached to the mounting apparatus, characterized by having a.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the second aspect, the attachment device includes a plurality of the corresponding light emitting units and the light receiving unit, and the server device includes the light emission control unit. A light source identifier storage unit that stores an identifier of the light emitting unit of the attachment device that emits light, and the light emission control unit emits the light emitting unit based on the identifier of the light emitting unit stored by the light source identifier storage unit. It is characterized by making it.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the second to third aspects, the server device is an error notification unit that notifies an error when the server device is not detected by the first detection unit of the mounting device. It is characterized by having.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the error notification unit notifies the mounting device of an error.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to any of the second to fifth aspects, the server device stores product information storage means for storing product information relating to a product, and the product information storage means. The apparatus has a transmitting means for transmitting the product information to the mounting device, the mounting device receiving the product information transmitted by the transmitting means of the server device, and the receiving means received by the receiving means. Commodity information transmission control means for performing control to transmit commodity information to the display device by blinking the light emitting unit by the light emitting means of the attachment device, and the receiving means of the display device includes the commodity information The product information transmitted by the transmission control means is received by the light receiving portion of the display device, and the display means of the display device is received by the light receiving portion of the display device. Characterized in that for displaying the commodity information.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the second to sixth aspects, the display device further includes a light emitting unit, and the commodity information is received by the light receiving unit of the display device. A light emitting unit that emits light from the light emitting unit of the display device, the light receiving unit of the mounting device receives light emitted by the light emitting unit of the display device, and the mounting device It has a 2nd detection means which detects that the said merchandise information was transmitted to the said display apparatus, when the said light-receiving part of an attachment apparatus receives light, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the electronic shelf label system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display device includes a solar cell, and the solar cell emits light emitted by the light emitting unit of the mounting device. Is converted into electric power, and the electric power is supplied to the display device.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic shelf label system according to the eighth aspect, the light emitted from the light emitting portion of the mounting device and guided to the light guide portion of the display device is displayed on the display device. It is used as a backlight of a part.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic shelf label apparatus and electronic shelf label system which detect that the display apparatus is mounted | worn at the predetermined position of the goods display shelf can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the electronic shelf label system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of an attachment apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a server apparatus. It is the figure which showed the structure side view of a display apparatus and an attachment apparatus. It is the figure which showed the schematic of the mounting state. It is the figure which showed the light source management table. It is the figure which showed the goods master. It is a flowchart which shows a server apparatus process. It is a flowchart which shows response confirmation processing: SA. It is a flowchart which shows mounting | wearing confirmation processing: SB. It is a flowchart which shows an attachment apparatus process. It is a flowchart which shows a display apparatus process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an electronic shelf label system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic shelf label system 1 includes a plurality of display devices 10,..., A plurality of attachment devices 20,. Here, it is assumed that the electronic shelf label device 2 includes a display device 10 and an attachment device 20.

  Each of the display devices 10,... Is a device that is installed (mounted) at a predetermined shelf position where each product on the product display shelf is displayed and displays product information such as a sales price.

  One mounting device 20 is provided for each product display shelf for displaying products, for example, and communicates with the server device 30 via the access point AP and the communication network N, respectively. In this communication, for example, the attachment device 20 receives product information transmitted from the server device 30 and displayed on the display device 10. The mounting device 20 is provided with a plurality of light emitting units 22,... And a plurality of corresponding light receiving units 23, etc., and product information received from the server device 30 by causing the light emitting units 22 to emit light. Can be transmitted to a predetermined display device 10 by an optical signal. The light receiving unit 23 can receive, for example, information transmitted from the display device 10 by an optical signal.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the display device 10. The display device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a light emitting unit 12, a light receiving unit 13, a solar cell 14, a display unit 15, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16, a storage unit 17, and a light guide. A portion 18 is provided.

  The CPU 11 expands a program designated from the system program and various application programs stored in the storage unit 17 in the RAM 16 and executes various processes in cooperation with the program expanded in the RAM 16. The CPU 11 is connected to the light emitting unit 12, the light receiving unit 13, the solar cell 14, the RAM 16, and the storage unit 17.

  The light emitting unit 12 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an LD (LASER Diode), and the like. For example, when the product information is received by an optical signal to the light receiving unit 13 of the display device 10 via the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20, the light emitting unit 12 is used to notify that the product information has been received. Light is emitted toward the light receiving unit 23 of the mounting device 20.

  The light receiving unit 13 is configured by, for example, a phototransistor, and receives optical signal information such as product information emitted from the light emitting unit 22 of the attachment device 20.

  The solar cell 14 includes a solar cell that converts light energy into electrical energy. The solar cell 14 emits light from the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20, converts the light guided by the light guide plate 18 of the display device 10 into electrical energy (electric power), and supplies the electric power to each part of the circuit.

  The display unit 15 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays product information received by the light receiving unit 13. The display memory 15 </ b> A stores information such as product information to be displayed on the display unit 15. Specifically, the display unit 15 displays product information and the like stored in the display memory 15 </ b> A in accordance with a display instruction from the CPU 11. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 and guided by the light guide unit 18 of the display device 10 is used as a backlight of the display unit 15. Accordingly, when the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 emits light, the display unit 15 is brightly lit by the backlight, while the display unit 15 when the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 is not emitting light is dark.

  The RAM 16 is a volatile memory, has a work area for storing various programs to be executed and data related to these various programs, and temporarily stores the information.

  The storage unit 17 is configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and stores various programs and various data.

  The light guide unit 18 reciprocates the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 along the light guide route (light guide route C of FIG. 5 described later) while repeating total reflection, and the light receiving unit of the mounting device 20 Lead to 23. Further, the light guided by the light guide unit 18 is used as the backlight of the display unit 15 as described above, and is further supplied to the solar cell 14.

  In the conventional display device, an identifier is stored in the display device in order to associate the display device with the product information, but the identifier is not stored in the display device 10 of the present invention. In the present invention, an identifier is given to the light source 22 of the mounting apparatus 20, and as shown in FIG. 7, the light source identifier 362 is associated with a product code 363 indicating product information.

  In FIG. 3, the internal structure of the attachment apparatus 20 is shown. The mounting device 20 includes a CPU 21, a plurality of light emitting units 22,..., A plurality of light receiving units 23,..., A communication unit 24, a RAM 25, a storage unit 26, and a rail 27.

  The CPU 21 receives the light received by the light receiving unit 23 in cooperation with the attachment device program, and the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20 and the display information such as product information is transmitted (updated) to the display device 10. Is detected. When the CPU 21 detects that the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20 or display information is transmitted (updated) to the display device 10, the CPU 21 indicates that the attachment or display information is transmitted (updated). Information is transmitted from the communication unit 24 to the server device 30. The CPU 21 causes the light emitting unit 22 to emit light based on the light emission control of the server device 30. Further, the CPU 21 performs control to transmit the product information received from the server device 30 to the display device 10 as an optical signal by blinking the light emitting unit 22.

  The light emitting units 22, ... emit light upon receiving a light emission instruction from the server device 30 to the light emitting unit 22 at a position where the display device 10 is to be mounted. Further, when the mounting device 20 receives display content from the server device 30, the product information as the display content is emitted by an optical signal.

  The light receiving units 23,... Receive light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 via the light guide unit 18 of the display device 10 when the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20. In addition, light emitted from the light emitting unit 12 of the display device 10 is received in order to notify the server device 30 that the product information or the like has been received by the display device 10.

  The communication unit 24 includes a modem, a TA (Terminal Adapter), a router, a network card, and the like, and transmits and receives information to and from the server device 30 on the connected communication network N.

  A plurality of light emitting units 22,... And a plurality of corresponding light receiving units 23,... Are attached to the rail 27 at a predetermined interval, and a plurality of display devices 10 can be mounted. One display device 10 is mounted so as to cover one light emitting unit 22 on the rail 27 and the corresponding light receiving unit 23.

  FIG. 4 shows the internal configuration of the server device 30. The server device 30 includes a CPU 31, an input unit 32, a display unit 33, a communication unit 34 as communication means, a RAM 35, a storage unit 36, and an RTC (Real Time Clock) 37.

  The CPU 31 performs light emission control on the CPU 21 of the attachment device 20. Further, the CPU 31 causes the light emitting unit 22 of the attachment device 20 to emit light based on the light source identifier 362 stored in the light source management table 36 </ b> A of the storage unit 36. Further, the CPU 31 notifies an error when it is not detected that the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20. For example, the light emitting unit 22 of the attachment device 20 is blinked. Further, the CPU 31 performs control to transmit the product information stored in the product master 36 </ b> B to the attachment device 20 via the communication unit 34.

  The input unit 32 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, characters, numeric input keys, various function keys, and the like, and outputs an operation signal to the CPU 31 when each key is pressed by the operator. The input unit 32 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and receives a position input signal and transmits it to the CPU 31.

  The display unit 33 is composed of an LCD, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like, and performs screen display according to a display signal from the CPU 31.

  The communication unit 34 includes a modem, a TA (Terminal Adapter), a router, a network card, and the like, and transmits and receives information to and from the attachment device 20 on the connected communication network N.

  The storage unit 36 is configured by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and stores various programs and various data. The storage unit 36 stores a light source management table 36A and a product master 36B.

  The RTC 37 outputs current date information and time information to the CPU 31.

  In FIG. 5, the structure side view of the display apparatus 10 and the attachment apparatus 20 is shown. FIG. 5A shows a configuration before the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20, and FIG. 5B shows a configuration when the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20. . As shown in FIG. 5A, the light emitting unit 22 and the light receiving unit 23 are provided on the mounting surface S <b> 1 with the display device 10. The light guide 18 has a light introduction end D1 for introducing light emitted from the light emitting portion 22 and a light introduction end D2 for emitting light introduced from the light introduction end to the light receiving portion 23. Arranged in S2.

  When the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20, the claw A of the display device 10 is fitted into the recess B of the attachment device 20. The spring SP is pushed down by the bottom of the mounting device 20 and contracts, and the mounting device 20 is pushed upward and held by the biasing force of the spring SP (state shown in FIG. 5B).

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 is transmitted to the light receiving unit 23 of the mounting device 20 via the light guide route C of the light guiding unit 18 of the display device 10. In addition, light is also guided as a backlight to the solar cell 14 and the display unit 15 through the light guide route C. An optical signal including product information emitted from the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 is received by the light receiving unit 13 of the display device 10, and light is emitted from the light emitting unit 12 of the display device 10 when received. And is received by the light receiving unit 23 of the mounting device 20. Thereby, it can be detected that the product information is transmitted to the display device 10.

  FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a state (mounted state) when the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20. The rail 27 is provided in a commodity display shelf, and the rail 27 is provided with a plurality of light emitting units 22A to 22C and corresponding light receiving units 23A to 23C at predetermined intervals. That is, the light receiving unit 23A receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22A, the light receiving unit 23B receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22B, and the light receiving unit 23C receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22C. Note that a plurality of light emitting units 22 and a plurality of light receiving units 23 corresponding to the portions not shown in FIG. 6 are also present. The user only needs to mount the arbitrary display device 10 so that the light receiving unit 13 of the display device 10 comes to the position of the light source 22 that emits light on the rail 27. Not all the light emitting units 22 of the attachment device 20 emit light, but only the light emitting units 22 at positions where the display device 10 is to be attached emit light.

  For example, it is assumed that the light emitting unit 22B emits light among the plurality of light emitting units 22 of the attachment device 20. The user attaches the display device 10 to the position of the light emitting unit 22B of the attachment device 20. When the display device 10 is attached to the mounting device 20, the light emitted by the light emitting unit 22B is received by the light receiving unit 23B via the light guide unit 18 of the display device 10 (not shown). The display unit 15 of the display device 10 shines brightly because the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22B is used as a backlight. When the light receiving unit 23B receives the light, mounting information indicating that the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20 is transmitted to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24 under the control of the CPU 21 of the mounting device 20, and the server Product information (in the case of FIG. 6, ◯ × chocolate, 120 yen) is transmitted from the device 30 and displayed on the display unit 35. Note that when the display device 10 is removed, power is not supplied from the plurality of light emitting units 22 of the mounting device 20, and the display content displayed on the display unit 15 disappears. Therefore, it can be said that the system is secure.

  FIG. 7 shows a light source management table 36 </ b> A stored in the storage unit 36 of the server device 30. The light source management table 36A includes an attachment device identifier 361, a light source identifier 362, a product code 363, an attachment confirmation flag 364, a display confirmation flag 365, a previous transmission price 371, and a transmission flag 372.

  The attachment device identifier 361 is information for identifying the attachment device 20. The light source identifier 362 is information for identifying the light emitting unit 22 of the attachment device 20. The product code 363 is a code number assigned to each product in order to identify the product. The attachment confirmation flag 364 is a flag indicating whether or not the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20. For example, the attachment confirmation flag 364 “1” indicates that the display device 10 is attached to the attachment device 20. Further, the mounting confirmation flag 364 “0” indicates that the display device 10 is not mounted on the mounting device 20. The display confirmation flag 365 is a flag indicating that product information has been updated on the display unit 15 of the display device 10. For example, the display confirmation flag 365 “1” indicates that the product information displayed on the display unit 15 has been updated. The display confirmation flag 365 “0” indicates that the product information displayed on the display unit 15 has not been updated. The previous transmission price 371 indicates price information displayed on the display unit 15 of the display device 10. The transmission flag 372 is a flag indicating that price information has been transmitted from the server device 30 to the mounting device 20. For example, the transmission flag 372 “1” indicates that the price information is transmitted from the server device 30 to the mounting device 20, and the transmission flag 372 “0” is the price information transmitted from the server device 30 to the mounting device 20. Indicates that it has not been.

  FIG. 8 shows the product master 36B. The product master 36 </ b> B includes a product code 363, a product name 366, a normal price 367, a special sale price 368, a special sale start time 369, and a special sale end time 370.

  For example, the normal price 367 of the product name 366 “A lunch box” with the product code 363 “11” is “500 yen”, and from the special sale start time 369 “20:00” to the special sale end time 370 “21:00” The special price 368 indicates “350 yen”. That is, the display unit 15 of the display device 10 indicates that “350 yen” is displayed from 20:00 to 21:00, which is the sale time, and “500 yen” is displayed when the time is not the sale time.

Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 shows the flow of server device processing. FIG. 10 shows the flow of response confirmation processing: SA. FIG. 11 shows the flow of the attachment confirmation process: SB. FIG. 12 shows the flow of the attachment device process. FIG. 13 shows the flow of display device processing.

  First, server device processing executed by the server device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the server device 30, for example, when a server device processing execution instruction is input via the input unit 32, the CPU 31 cooperates with the server device program read from the storage unit 36 and appropriately expanded in the RAM 35. In operation, server device processing is executed.

  First, in step S1, a light emission instruction is transmitted to all light sources in which the product code 363 is stored with reference to the light source management table 36A. Then, a response confirmation process is started (step SA). This response confirmation process refers to a process executed when a response from the attachment device 20 is received. As shown in FIG. 10, when a mounting confirmation response is received from the mounting device 20 (step SA1; YES), “1” is set to the received light source mounting confirmation flag 364 (step SA2). When the display confirmation response is received from the mounting apparatus 20 (step SA1; YES), “1” is set to the display confirmation flag 364 of the received light source (step SA4). This response confirmation process is executed until it ends in step S13. The mounting confirmation response is received by the light receiving unit 23 of the mounting device via the light guide unit 18 of the display device 10 when the display device 10 is mounted on the mounting device 20. This is a response transmitted from the attachment device 20 to the server device 10 when detecting this. Further, the display confirmation response means that when the display device 10 receives information such as a display price transmitted from the server device 30 to the display device 10 via the mounting device 20, the light emitting unit 12 of the display device 10 emits light. This is a response transmitted from the mounting device 20 to the server device 10 when the mounting device 20 detects that the display device 10 has received information such as a display price.

  Next, in step SB, the mounting confirmation process is started. This attachment confirmation process refers to a process for confirming whether or not the display device 10 is attached to a predetermined position of the attachment device 20. As shown in FIG. 11, it is determined by referring to the light source management table 36A whether or not all the predetermined mounting confirmation flags 364 in which the product code 363 is stored are “1” (step SB1), and the product code 363 is stored. If all the mounting confirmation flags 364 of all the light sources are not “1” (step SB1; NO), an error is notified (step SB2). In this error notification, the product code 363 is stored in the light source management table 36A, and the light emission of each of the light sources of the attachment device 20 for the light source identifier 362 in which the attachment confirmation flag 364 remains “0” is flashed. Thereby, the user can notice more clearly the light source to which the display device 10 is not mounted. In this error notification, an error may be displayed on the display unit 33 of the server device 30.

  Thereafter, until the end instruction input from the user is accepted (step S2; NO), the processing from step S3 to step S12 for transmitting the display information to the display device 10 is repeatedly performed at a predetermined timing, for example, every one minute. Is done. Note that the user inputs an end instruction, for example, when the store is closed.

  In order to determine whether or not the display content needs to be changed over time, all records in the light source management table 36A and the product master 36B related to the product code 363 stored in the light source management table 36A are displayed. The normal price 367, the special sale price 368, the special sale start time 369, and the special sale end time 370 are read. Until the process of reading each record of the light source management table 36A and changing the display content is completed (step S3; NO), the processes from step S4 to step S9 are repeated. Based on the product code 363 of the light source management table 36A, the product master 36B is referred to, and it is determined whether or not the current time acquired from the RTC 37 is within the sale time (step S4). The special sale time means a special sale start time 369 and a special sale end time 370.

  If it is within the special sale time (step S4; YES), the previous transmission price 371 of the light source management table 36A and the special sale price 368 of the product master 36B are compared to determine whether they are the same (step S5). If they are the same, they do not need to be sent again and are not sent. If it is not the same as the previous transmission price 371 (step S5; NO), the sale price 368 is transmitted to the light source identifier 362 (step S6). At the time of the first execution, since the value is not stored in the previous transmission price 371 of the light source management table 36A, the sale price 368 is always transmitted.

  If it is not within the special sales time (step S4; NO), the previous transmission price 371 of the light source management table 36A and the normal price 368 of the product master 36B are compared to determine whether they are the same (step S7). If it is not the same as the previous transmission price 371 (step S7; NO), the normal price 367 is transmitted to the light source identifier 362 (step S8). At the time of the first execution, since the value is not stored in the previous transmission price 371 of the light source management table 36A, the normal price 367 is always transmitted.

  In step S9, the transmitted price is stored in the previous transmission price 371 of the light source management table 36A, then “1” is stored in the transmission flag 372, and the process returns to step S3.

  When it is determined that the price to be transmitted to the display device 10 is the same as the previous transmission price 371 (step S5; YES, step S7; YES), the process returns to step S3.

  Reading is confirmed for all the records in the light source management table 36A (step S3; YES), and if there is a response from all the light sources, a response is received from all the light sources that have transmitted price information after a lapse of a predetermined receivable time. It is determined whether or not it has been received (step S10). Specifically, when the response is received, “1” is set in the display confirmation flag 365 of the light source management table 36A, so that the price information is transmitted and “1” is set in the transmission flag 372. When “1” is not set in the display confirmation flag 365, it is determined that no response is received from the light source. If no response has been received from all the light sources that have transmitted price information (step S10; NO), an error is notified (step S11). In this error notification, notification by retransmitting price information to the light source 22 that has not received the display confirmation response, or the light source 22 that has not received the display confirmation response on the display unit 33 of the server device 30 is specified. By displaying, information for prompting the user to confirm is notified. The processes in steps S10 to S12 notify that the display device 10 has been removed for some reason.

  If it is determined that responses have been received from all target light sources that have transmitted price information (step S10; YES), an error is notified (step S11), and then the display confirmation flag 365 is set to "0" and initialized ( Step S12), the process returns to Step S2, and until the end instruction input from the user is accepted (Step S2; NO), for example, every one minute, the display information to the display device 10 is transmitted from Step S3 to Step S12. Is repeatedly performed.

  When an input of an end instruction from the user is accepted (step S2; YES), the response confirmation process is terminated (step S13), the attachment confirmation process is terminated (step S14), and an extinction instruction is given to the light source emitting light. Is transmitted (step S15), the all-mounting confirmation flag 364 is initialized to “0”, and the server apparatus processing ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the attachment apparatus process performed with the attachment apparatus 20 is demonstrated. In the mounting device 20, for example, in response to the start of reception of the light emission instruction via the communication unit 24, the CPU 21 cooperates with the mounting device program read from the storage unit 26 and appropriately expanded in the RAM 25. The mounting device process is executed.

  In step S <b> 41, it is determined whether a light emission instruction is received from the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. The light emission instruction in this step corresponds to the light emission instruction transmitted in step S1 of the server apparatus process. If it is determined in step S41 that a light emission instruction has been received (step S41; YES), the corresponding light source is emitted (step S42). For example, in the case of FIG. 7, the corresponding light source corresponds to the light source identifiers 362 “A1”, “A3”, and “B2” associated with the product codes 363 “11”, “12”, and “13”.

  When an error notification corresponding to step SB2 of the server device processing is received after step S41; YES, the light emitting unit 22 of the mounting device 20 to which the display device 10 is not mounted is flashed as an error notification. The

  After execution of step S42, it is determined whether or not light is received from the corresponding light source (step S43). For example, in the case of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the light receiving unit 23B has received the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22B.

  If it is determined in step S43 that light has been received from the corresponding light source (step S43; YES), the attachment device identifier 361, the light source identifier 362, and the attachment confirmation flag 364: “1” are sent to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. A response is transmitted (step S44).

  Then, it is determined whether or not all the corresponding light sources have been received (step S45). If it is determined in step S45 that all the corresponding light sources have been received (step S45; YES), the process returns to step S41. If it is determined in step S45 that all the corresponding light sources are not received (step S45; NO), the process proceeds to step S46 described later.

  When it is determined in step S43 that no light is received from the corresponding light source (step S43; NO), it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed (step S46), and it is determined that a certain time has not elapsed. (Step S46; NO), the process returns to Step S43.

  If it is determined in step S46 that a certain time has elapsed (step S46; YES), an error notification is made (step S47). Error notification refers to, for example, transmitting information indicating that the display device 10 has not been attached to the attachment device 20 to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. When the information is transmitted to the server device 30, the information is displayed on the display unit 33. At this time, an extinction instruction for extinguishing the light may be transmitted to the light emitting unit 22 provided at the position where the display device 10 is not mounted. After execution of step S47, the process returns to step S41.

  If it is determined in step S41 that the light emission instruction has not been received (step S41; NO), it is determined whether or not display content has been received (step S48). The display content corresponds to the information transmitted in step S6 or step S8 of the server device process.

  If it is determined in step S48 that the display content has been received (step S48; YES), the display content is transmitted to the corresponding light source (step S49). Here, the corresponding light source corresponds to the light emitting unit 22 provided at a predetermined position on the rail 27, and display content is transmitted to the display device 10 attached to the light emitting unit 22.

  After execution of step S49, it is determined whether or not a signal is detected from the corresponding light source (step S50). The corresponding light source refers to the light emitting unit 12 of the display device 10 to which the display content is transmitted in step S49. For example, in the case of FIG. 6, light including display content is emitted from the light emitting unit 22 </ b> B of the attachment device 20, and the light is received by the light receiving unit 13 </ b> B (not shown) of the display device 10. When the light is received by the light receiving unit 13B, the display content included in the received light is displayed on the display unit 15. Then, in order to notify the server device 30 that the display content has been transmitted to the display device 10, the light emitting unit 12B (not shown) of the display device emits light, and the light is received by the light receiving unit 23B of the mounting device 20. That is, in step S50, the display content is transmitted to the display device 10, and a signal that has received a confirmation response from the display device 10 is detected.

  If it is determined in step S50 that a signal has been detected from the corresponding light source (step S50; YES), the mounting device identifier 361, the light source identifier 362, and the display confirmation flag 365: “1” are sent to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. "Is transmitted as a response (step S51). Specifically, when the product information including the product name 366 and the sale price 368 is displayed on the display unit 15, the attachment device identifier 361, the light source identifier 362, and the display confirmation flag 365: “1” are transmitted as a response. Then, it is determined whether or not all the corresponding light sources have been received (step S52).

  If it is determined in step S52 that all the corresponding light sources have been received (step S52; YES), the process returns to step S41. If it is determined in step S52 that all the corresponding light sources are not received (step S52; NO), the process proceeds to step S53 described later.

  If it is determined in step S50 that no signal is detected from the corresponding light source (step S50; NO), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S53). Specifically, it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed by comparing a time elapsed after the light reception unit 23 starts light reception with a predetermined time. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S53; NO), the process returns to step S50. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S53; YES), an error notification is given (step S54). Here, the error notification means that, for example, information indicating that the display content is not displayed on the display unit 15 is transmitted to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. When the information is transmitted to the server device 30, the information is displayed on the display unit 33. After executing step S54, the process returns to step S41.

  If it is determined in step S48 that display content has not been received (step S48; NO), it is determined whether or not the predetermined light receiving unit 23 continues to receive light (step S55). The predetermined light receiving unit 23 refers to the light receiving unit 23 corresponding to each of the light emitting units 22 that has received a light emission instruction.

  In step S55, when it is determined that the predetermined light receiving unit 23 does not continue to receive light (step S55; NO), the mounting device identifier 361, the light source identifier 362, and the mounting confirmation flag are transmitted to the server device 30 via the communication unit 24. 364: “0” is transmitted as a response (step S56). After executing step S56, the process returns to step S41.

  If it is determined in step S55 that the predetermined light receiving unit 23 continues to receive light (step S55; YES), it is determined whether or not to end the mounting device process (step S57). In this step, for example, based on whether or not an end instruction is received from the server device 30, it is determined whether or not to end the attachment device process. If it is determined that the attachment device process is not to be ended (step S57; NO), the process returns to step S41. If it is determined that the attachment device process is to be ended (step S57; YES), the attachment device process is ended.

  Next, display device processing executed by the display device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In the display device 10, for example, with the start of light reception of display data via the light receiving unit 12, the display device program read from the storage unit 17 and appropriately developed in the RAM 16 is used in cooperation with the CPU 11. The display device process is executed.

  First, in step S61, it is determined whether display data (display contents) has been received. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the light receiving unit 12 has received light including display data emitted by the light emitting unit 22. The display data corresponds to the display content transmitted in step S49 of the attachment device process. When it is determined that the display data has been received (step S61; YES), the received display data is displayed on the display unit 15 (step S62). Specifically, when the display data included in the received light is display data including a special price, the display data including the special price is displayed on the display unit 15, and when the display data includes a normal price, the normal price is displayed. Is displayed on the display unit 15.

  After execution of step S62, an optical signal is emitted from the light emitting unit 12 (step S63), and this display device process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present invention, when the display device is mounted on the mounting device, the light emitted from the light emitting unit of the mounting device is received by the mounting device via the light guide plate of the display device. The electronic shelf label device and the electronic shelf label system that detect that the display device is mounted at a predetermined position of the commodity display shelf are provided because it is possible to detect that the display device is mounted on the mounting device by this light reception. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the light emitting unit 22 is provided below the mounting device 20, the light receiving unit 23 is provided above, the light receiving unit 13 is provided below the display device, and the light emitting unit 12 is provided above. The light receiving unit may be arranged upside down, and may be provided at any position such as left and right.

  It should be noted that the processing of the server device 30 and the mounting device 20 described in the above embodiment, and the processing shown in the display device 10, that is, the flowcharts of FIGS. 26, stored in the storage unit 17, but also on a recording medium such as a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), magnetic disk (hard disk, etc.), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. You may remember.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment or some constituent features are combined, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved. When the effect described in the column of effect is obtained, a configuration in which these constituent requirements are deleted or combined can be extracted as an invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic shelf label system 2 Electronic shelf label apparatus 10 Display apparatus 11, 21, 31 CPU
12, 22, 32 Light emitting unit 13, 23, 33 Light receiving unit 14 Solar cell 15, 33 Display unit 16, 25, 35 RAM
17, 26, 36 Storage unit 18 Light guide unit 20 Mounting device 24, 34 Communication unit 27 Rail 30 Server device 32 Input unit N Communication network

The present invention relates to a display control device that transmits display information to a display device that can be installed at an arbitrary position for display .

The subject of this invention is enabling it to confirm installation of a display apparatus in several positions .

The invention described in 請 Motomeko 1 is a display control device for displaying by sending display information to the display device capable be installed at an arbitrary position, the specified position in the plurality of locations When a position to which display information is to be transmitted is designated from among the plurality of positions, a display unit that determines whether the display apparatus is installed, and a display apparatus that is installed at the designated position. And transmitting means for transmitting the display information peculiar to the designated position .

According to the present invention, installation of a display device can be confirmed among a plurality of positions .

Claims (9)

An electronic shelf label device composed of a display device and an attachment device that can be detachably attached to the display device,
The display device
Receiving means for receiving information;
Display means for displaying the information received by the receiving means;
Having a light guide for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting means of the mounting device;
The mounting device is
A light-emitting means having a light-emitting portion and emitting the light-emitting portion;
A light receiving portion that receives light emitted from the light emitting portion via the light guide portion of the display device when the display device is attached to the attachment device;
First detection means for detecting that the display device is mounted on the attachment device by receiving light of the light receiving unit;
An electronic shelf label device comprising: An electronic shelf label system comprising a display device, a mounting device in which the display device can be detachably mounted, and a server device connected via communication means capable of communicating with the mounting device,
The display device
Receiving means for receiving information;
Display means for displaying the information received by the receiving means;
Having a light guide for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting means of the mounting device;
The server device
Having light emission control means for performing light emission control on the light emission means of the mounting device;
The mounting device is
A light-emitting unit having a light-emitting unit and causing the light-emitting unit to emit light based on the light emission control of the light-emission control unit;
A light receiving portion that receives light emitted from the light emitting means via the light guide portion of the display device when the display device is mounted on the attachment device;
First detection means for detecting that the display device is mounted on the attachment device by receiving light of the light receiving unit;
An electronic shelf label system comprising: The mounting device is
A plurality of corresponding light emitting units and light receiving units,
The server device
Having a light source identifier storage means for storing an identifier of a light emitting part of the attachment device that emits light by the light emission control means;
The light emission control means includes
3. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit is caused to emit light based on the identifier of the light emitting unit stored by the light source identifier storage unit. The server device
4. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, further comprising error notifying means for notifying an error when not detected by the first detecting means of the attachment device. The error notification means includes
The electronic shelf label system according to claim 4, wherein an error is notified to the attachment device. The server device
Product information storage means for storing product information about the product;
Having transmission means for transmitting the product information stored in the product information storage means to the attachment device;
The mounting device is
Receiving means for receiving the product information transmitted by the transmitting means of the server device;
Commodity information transmission control means for performing control to transmit the product information received by the receiving means to the display device by blinking the light emitting unit by the light emitting means of the mounting device,
The receiving means of the display device includes:
The product information transmitted by the product information transmission control means is received by a light receiving unit of the display device,
The display means of the display device includes:
6. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, wherein the product information received by the light receiving unit of the display device is displayed. The display device further includes a light emitting unit,
When the product information is received by the light receiving unit of the display device, the light emitting unit for emitting light from the light emitting unit of the display device,
The light receiving portion of the mounting device is
Receiving light emitted by the light emitting means of the display device;
The mounting device is
Second detection means for detecting that the product information is transmitted to the display device by the light receiving unit of the mounting device receiving light;
7. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, further comprising: The display device
With solar cells,
The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell converts light emitted by the light emitting unit of the attachment device into electric power and supplies the electric power to the display device. 9. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 8, wherein light emitted from the light emitting unit of the attachment device and guided to the light guide unit of the display device is used as a backlight of the display unit of the display device. .

Images