JP2998269B2 - Product information display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to product information such as product names and prices on a plurality of shelf labels arranged on a product display shelf of a retail store or the like and displaying product information such as product names and prices. The present invention relates to a product information display device for transferring and displaying a product.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a retail store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, an electronic cash register (hereinafter, referred to as ECR) is connected by a communication line to manage data used in these ECRs and to store sales data. POS (Point-
Of-sales (point-of-sale information management) systems are often used. The POS system includes a so-called parent-child type (master / slave type) POS system and a store controller type POS system.
The slave-type POS system manages a plurality of ECRs (slaves) that perform calculation processing such as registration and settlement of products purchased by a customer and display calculation results, and data used and data generated therein. One centralized management device (master unit: master), which also has an ECR function, is connected by a signal line.

In a POS system of the store controller type, a plurality of ECRs and one centralized management device (store controller) for managing data used in the POS system and generated data are connected by signal lines. Then, in the master / slave type POS system, the master, in the store controller type POS system, the store controller totals data transmitted from a plurality of ECRs in online real time.

In this POS system, since a bar code (product code) can be registered by causing a bar code scanner to read a bar code (product code) from a bar code printed portion of the product, it is necessary to attach a price tag to each product. Absent. For this reason, in a retail store that employs the POS system, the price of the product is notified to the customer by placing a shelf label indicating the product name, price, and the like on the product display shelf on which the product is displayed. Like that.

[0005] In retail stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores that handle fresh foods such as fish and shellfish, meat, vegetables, fruits, etc., seasonal fluctuations in purchase prices, special sales days (service days), special sales hours (services) time)
Alternatively, the price of the product is often changed due to a special sale of the closing product, or the like. For this reason, every time the price of a product is changed, the clerk must change the notation on the shelf label, which is very troublesome and requires manual labor.

[0006] Further, there is a risk that the user may forget to change the shelf label or cause a typographical error. When such a situation occurs, the price of the product that the customer has checked by looking at the shelf label at the product display area does not match the price actually registered in the ECR, and a trouble occurs between the clerk and the customer. And the reliability of the POS system is reduced.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks,
A product information display device (see JP-A-57-105076 and JP-A-61-45396) has been proposed.
Some have been put to practical use. This product information display device is arranged on a product display shelf, and a plurality of shelf label devices for displaying product information such as product names and prices are connected to a store controller (or master) of a POS system.

On the other hand, in the internal memory or the like of the store controller (or master), the product name and price (unit price in the case of weighed product) corresponding to the product code (or product number) as shown in FIG. A product file (PLU (PriceLook Up) file) for storing product information is stored, and a shelf number is set in this PLU file. The shelf number is the number of the shelf label device arranged on the product display shelf.

The user of this POS system is:
In the store controller (or master), a shelf number is set for each product code (or product number), and the product data (product name, price, etc.) corresponding to this product code (or product number) The product is transmitted to the shelf label device, and the name, price, and the like of the product are displayed on the corresponding shelf label device.

[0010] According to these product information display devices, there is no inconsistency between the price etc. of the product displayed on the shelf label device and the price etc. of the product registered in the ECR. In the case where the price of the product is changed in (1), there is an advantage that the price of the product displayed on the shelf label device is changed in real time.

[0011]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional product information display device, although the demand for displaying the price of the sales price changed product accurately and promptly is satisfied, conventionally, the shelf displayed by the store clerk has been satisfied. The advantage of the bill, that is, the advertising function of the bargain (bargain sale) product, which is performed by writing the price of the bargain product in red or uppercase, is ignored. The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a product information display device capable of displaying the price of a bargain product separately from the price of a normal product.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A management device including a product data storage unit in which product data such as a product name and a price of the product is stored in advance in accordance with a product identification code that is product identification data, and a plurality of shelves arranged on a product display shelf A product information display device for displaying product information on the shelf label device based on the product data stored in the storage means, wherein the price of the product displayed on the shelf label device is a normal price. Determining means for determining whether the price is a bargain price, and display control means for selecting a display form of the product information to be displayed on the shelf label device based on the determination result of the determining means , wherein the shelf label device is quotient
Input means for inputting a product identification code;
Store the product identification code and input the product
The product data corresponding to the identification code is
The product identification code is read from the storage means and stored.
On the shelf label device based on the product data
The product information is displayed .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the display form selected in the case of a special sale price is:
It is characterized in that it attracts the viewer's attention as compared with the display mode selected in the case of the normal price. A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect of the invention, a display form selected in the case of a special sale price is red.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the display form selected in the case of a special sale price is:
It is characterized by uppercase letters. The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 2, in the case of a special sale price, an advertisement text is also written.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the management device stores the product in the shelf label device.
When sending data, the data on the price will be sold
The feature is that data indicating whether it is a price or not is also transmitted.
are doing.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the judging means judges whether the price of the front item displayed on the shelf label device is a normal price or a special sale price. Thereby, the display control means selects the display mode of the product information to be displayed on the shelf label device based on the determination result of the determination means. In addition, the shelf label device is input by the input means.
Memorized product identification code, and
Is the product data corresponding to the different code stored in the storage device of the management device?
Label device that stores the product identification code
Displays product information based on this product data. According to the second to fifth aspects of the present invention, in the case of the first aspect, in the case of a special sale price, a person who looks at the product information displayed on the shelf label device is alerted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the merchandise data is transmitted to the shelf label device, the data indicating whether the price data is a bargain price or not is also displayed. Also transmitted.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a store controller type POS system to which a product information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, 1 is a store controller, 2 ₁ to 2 _n are ECs respectively.
R, 3 ₁ ~3 _{n + 1} is respectively store controller 1 EC
And R2 ₁ to 2 _n is a signal line such as an optical fiber cable to be connected in a loop.

The store controller 1 is a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer, and has signal lines 3 _{1 to} 3.
By communicating with ECR2 ₁ to 2 _n and online real-time via the _{n + 1,} to control the ECR2 ₁ to 2 _n, it manages the data of the data and generation used in these. The store controller 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for controlling each unit of the apparatus, a ROM storing a control program used in the CPU,
It comprises a RAM for loading each processing program and storing data while the program is being executed, and a floppy disk drive for driving a floppy disk storing application programs and storing various data.

Here, FIG.
4 shows an example of the configuration of a PLU file stored in an AM or the like. The PLU file of FIG. 2 is different from the PLU file of FIG. 14 in that a shelf number corresponding to a product code (or a product number) is not stored. In addition to the PLU file, the RAM and the like of the store controller 1
A special sale product file as shown in FIG. 3 is stored.
This bargain sale product file sets and stores bargain sale conditions indicating when bargain sale (bargain sale period) is performed according to the bar code (or bar number) of the bargain sale item, and the bargain sale price. (Or unit price) is set and stored. As a sale condition, for example, every Saturday or every day from 5:00 pm
6:00 pm, every Saturday from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, or from March 3 to 4 days (in this case, after the bargain period elapses, it is automatically deleted from the bargain product file).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a hard disk device, which drives a hard disk as an external storage device in which application programs are stored and various data are stored. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display such as a CRT display on which total data and the like are displayed. Reference numeral 6 denotes a printer that prints total data and the like on paper. Reference numeral 7 denotes a keyboard including ten keys and function keys.

Further, 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ,... Are shelf label devices, respectively, and 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ ,... Are store controller 1 and shelf label devices 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 _{3 respectively.} ,... Are connected in a multi-drop manner, such as an optical fiber cable, and the store controller 1 includes signal lines 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9
_3. Online and real-time communication with the shelf labels 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ ,.

Here, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an electrical configuration of the shelf label device 8, and FIG. 5 shows a front view and a side view of the same external configuration. In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a CPU for controlling each unit of the shelf label device 8, and reference numeral 11 denotes a communication interface.
Exchange of data with the store controller 1 via the. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit, as shown in FIG. 6, a liquid crystal display 12a capable of displaying a product name, various messages, and the like, and a 4-digit 7-segment LED 12b displaying a unit price per 100 g. It is composed of a 4-digit 7-segment LED 12c on which a selling price is displayed.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation unit, which is a [Inventory] key for designating an inventory mode, a [Sale Change] key for designating a selling price change mode, and a 4-digit number displayed on the 7-segment LEDs 12b and 12c of the display unit 12. It is composed of four increment keys for incrementing the number of each digit. The operation unit 13 is provided with a cover so as not to be touched by a customer, and is usually covered with a cover.
Make it invisible to customers. Reference numeral 14 denotes a ROM in which control programs and character patterns used in the CPU 10 are stored, and reference numeral 15 denotes a RAM in which various flags, registers, and buffers are secured.

Further, reference numeral 16 denotes a light receiving terminal portion, and 17 denotes an optical input interface. In this embodiment, a product code is input as an optical signal using a barcode scanner 18 having an optical transfer function. The bar code scanner 18 is a pen type having a function of outputting a read bar code (product code) as an optical signal.
That is, the clerk reads the barcode (product code) from the barcode printed portion of the product using the barcode scanner 18, presses the reading portion 18b against the light receiving terminal portion 16 and presses the communication switch 18a, so that the barcode is read. An optical signal corresponding to the product code output from the scanner 18 is input from the light receiving terminal unit 16 and transferred to the CPU 10 via the optical input interface 17. The barcode scanner 18 having the above-described optical transfer function has a different shape, but includes a handy data terminal RZ-5510 manufactured by Sharp Corporation and a data wand III manufactured by Symbol Technology Inc.

In addition, in FIG. 5, reference numeral 19 denotes a communication connector plug, and reference numeral 20 denotes a communication connector socket into which the communication connector plug 19 is fitted. The shelf label device 8 is shown in FIG. 8 by a connection unit 22 (see FIG. 7) in which the communication connector plug 19 and the communication connector socket 20 are connected by the signal line 21 in the same shape as the shelf label device 8. As shown in FIG. 9, it is attached to the front frame of the product display shelf 23 as shown in FIG.

[0027] In such a configuration, in the normal registration settlement process, the clerk that is assigned to each ECR2 ₁ to 2 _n, each E
The barcode (product code) is read from the barcode printed portion of the product using the barcode scanner connected to CR2 _{1 to} 2 _n and transmitted to the store controller 1.
The store controller 1 updates (registers) the sales record file stored in the RAM or the like using the transmitted product code as a search key, calls product data corresponding to the product code from the PLU file, and The product code is transmitted to the transmitted ECR. As a result, the corresponding ECR performs a settlement process based on the received product data.

Next, in the shelf label device 8 having the product display shelf 23 shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 1 of the shelf label device 8 in the case where the clerk inputs the product code using the bar code scanner 18.
0 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The clerk reads the product code from the barcode printed portion of the product using the barcode scanner 18, presses the reading section 18 b against the light receiving terminal section 16 and presses the communication switch 18 a, thereby outputting the data from the barcode scanner 18. When an optical signal corresponding to the product code is input from the light receiving terminal unit 16 and transferred to the CPU 10 via the optical input interface 17, the CPU 10 proceeds to the process of step SA1, and stores the input product code in the RAM.
15 product code registers and the display unit 1
After the display on the liquid crystal display 12a of Step 2
Proceed to A2.

At step SA2, a counter C for counting the number of data transmission requests to the store controller 1
Is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step SA3. This process is performed because a data transmission request is issued to the store controller 1 up to five times when communication is impossible. In step SA3, after transmitting the product code and the data transmission request signal to the store controller 1, the process proceeds to step SA4.

Upon receiving the product code and the data transmission request signal transmitted from the shelf label device 8, the store controller 1 proceeds to step SB1 in FIG. In step SB1, after reading the product data (product name, price) corresponding to the corresponding product code from the PLU file stored in the above-mentioned RAM or the like, the process proceeds to step SB2.

In step SB2, after searching for the bargain product file stored in the above-mentioned RAM or the like, the process proceeds to step SB3. In step SB3, it is determined whether or not the product code transmitted from the shelf label device 8 exists in the bargain product file. If the result of this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SB4.

In step SB4, data (sale condition, price) corresponding to the corresponding product code is read from the bargain product file, and the process proceeds to step SB5. In step SB5, the time (current time) of the internal clock with a calendar function is compared with the special sale condition, and it is determined whether or not the current time satisfies the special sale condition. If the result of this determination is "NO", the flow proceeds to step SB6. Also,
If the result of the determination in step SB3 is "NO", that is, if there is no product code transmitted from the shelf label device 8 in the bargain product file, the process proceeds to step SB6.

At step SB6, the product code and P
After transmitting the product name and price read from the LU file to the shelf label device 8, a series of operations is completed. On the other hand, step S
If the determination result of B5 is “YES”, that is, if the current time satisfies the bargain sale condition, the process proceeds to step SB7. In step SB7, after transmitting the product code, the product name read from the PLU file, the special price read from the special product file, and the flag indicating the special price to the shelf label device 8, a series of operations is ended.

Next, the description returns to the flowchart of FIG. In step SA4 of FIG.
10 judges whether or not the product code and the product data transmitted from the store controller 1 have been received. If this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SA5.
At step SA5, the received product code is stored in RAM1.
It is determined whether the product code matches the product code stored in the product code register of No. 5. If the result of this determination is "YES"
In the case of, the process proceeds to Step SA6.

In step SA6, the received product name, price or special price and the flag indicating the special price are stored in the register of the RAM 15, and then the flow proceeds to step SA7. In step SA7, display processing of the product data is performed. FIG. 12 shows this processing routine. In this routine, in step SC1, it is determined whether or not the price stored in the register of the RAM 15 is a bargain price.
This is performed by determining whether or not the above-mentioned flag indicating the sale price has been received. If the result of the determination in step SC1 is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SC2.

At step SC2, the price stored in the register of the RAM 15 is displayed on the 7-segment LED of the display unit 12.
After displaying the product name on the liquid crystal display 12a of the display unit 12 and displaying the product name in red, the process returns to the routine of FIG. On the other hand, if the decision result in the step SC1 is "NO", that is, if the price stored in the register of the RAM 15 is not a bargain price, the process proceeds to a step SC3. Step SC3 displays the bargain price stored in the register of the RAM 15 on the 7-segment LED 12c of the display unit 12, and displays the product name in black, that is, the normal color on the liquid crystal display 12a of the display unit 12, and then returns to FIG. Return to the routine and end the series of operations.

In the routine of FIG. 10, step SA
If the determination result of step 5 is "NO", that is, if the received product code does not match the product code stored in the product code register of the RAM 15, step SA4
Return to If the determination result of step SA4 is "NO", that is, if the product code and the product data transmitted from the store controller 1 are not received, the process proceeds to step SA8.

In step SA8, it is determined whether two seconds have elapsed since the transmission of the data transmission request signal to the store controller 1. If the result of this determination is "NO",
It returns to step SA4. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step SA8 is "YES", that is, if two seconds have elapsed since the transmission of the data transmission request signal to the store controller 1, the process proceeds to step SA9.

At Step SA9, the value of the counter C becomes 5
Is determined. If this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SA10. Step SA10
Then, after a communication error is displayed on the liquid crystal display 12a of the display unit 12, a series of operations is completed. On the other hand, if the decision result in the step SA9 is "NO", that is, if the value of the counter C is not 5, the step SA9 is executed.
Proceed to 11. At Step SA11, the value of the counter C is incremented by 1, and then the process proceeds to Step SA3.

By the way, the price of the product displayed on the shelf label device 8 is automatically changed from the normal price to the special price when the current time satisfies the special sale condition (at the time of the special sale period). Is automatically changed to the normal price when the time has passed. Hereinafter, the process in which the store controller 1 transmits the product data to the shelf label device 8 in the case described above will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the setting of the special sale period is performed in units of hours, when the time of the clock with the calendar function inside the store controller 1 changes, for example, when the time changes from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, The store controller 1 proceeds to the process of step SD1, reads data for each product from the bargain product file stored in the RAM or the like, and then proceeds to step SD2.

In step SD2, the time (current time) of the internal clock with a calendar function is compared with the bargain sale conditions to determine whether or not the current time is the bargain start. If this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SD3. In step SD3, the product code and the product name read from the PLU file, the special price read from the special product file, and the flag indicating the special price are transmitted to the shelf label device 8, and then the process proceeds to step SD6.

On the other hand, if the result of the judgment in step SD2 is "N
If "O", that is, if the current time is not the start of bargain sale, the process proceeds to step SD4. At step SD4, the internal clock with a calendar function (current time) is compared with the bargain sale conditions to determine whether or not the current time is the bargain sale end. If this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step SD5.

In step SD5, the product code and P
After transmitting the product name and price (normal price) read from the LU file to the shelf label device 8, the process proceeds to step SD6. In step SD6, it is determined whether or not the processing in steps SD1 to SD5 described above has been completed for all products stored in the bargain product file. The result of this determination is "N
In the case of "O", the process returns to step SD1, and the above-described processing is repeated for the next product.

On the other hand, if the result of the judgment in step SD6 is "YE
S ", that is, steps SD1 to SD5 described above for all products stored in the bargain product file.
Is completed, a series of operations ends.
Note that the processing of the shelf label device 8 that has received the data transmitted from the store controller 1 is the same as the processing of steps SA5 to SA7 in the flowchart of FIG. 12 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the color of only the liquid crystal display 12a of the display unit 12 on which the product name is displayed is changed, but a four-digit seven-segment LED 12c on which the selling price (unit price) is displayed. Only change color or liquid crystal display 12a and 7 segment LED
The color of both 12c may be changed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the color of the liquid crystal display 12a is changed to indicate that the product is a bargain product, but the present invention is not limited to this. In short, since it is sufficient to make the customer pay attention to the special sale item, the size of the character may be changed, or the size of the character may be changed together with the color. Further, not only the product name, but also an advertisement sentence indicating that the product is a bargain product, for example, a “bargain product” or an “advertisement product” may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 12a. Also,
Along with the change of the display described above, a sound generating device may be incorporated in the shelf label device 8 so as to notify that the product is a bargain product by sound.

Further, in one embodiment described above, P
Although the example using the LU file and the bargain product file has been described, when displaying the barcode data on the shelf label device 8 described above, it is sufficient if it is possible to determine whether or not the barcode data is a bargain product. The specific configuration of the file and the bargain product file is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, during the bargain sale period, the product data in the PLU file may be automatically rewritten to the bargain product data. In this case, the product data at the normal time is stored in the store controller 1
Temporarily saved in a RAM or the like, and automatically returned to the original state after the elapse of the special sale period.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the store controller 1 controls the display of the shelf label device 8 has been described. However, the shelf label device 8 is provided with operating means for changing the display color, May be used to change the display color. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the shelf label device 8 including the input unit such as the operation unit 13, the light receiving terminal unit 16, and the light input interface 17 is used is shown, but the input unit is not provided. The same effect can be obtained by using a conventional shelf label device.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. In addition to having all the advantages of the conventional shelf label device, product data of special sale products
Since it is distinguished from the commodity data of the normal price and is displayed in a form that draws the viewer's attention, the advertising effect of the special sale commodity can be expected. Since the display mode is automatically selected, no extra work is required. Input that shelf label device has
Memorize the identification code input from the
Read the product data corresponding to the identification code from the storage means
This product is a shelf label device that stores the identification code
Product information of the shelf label device and the product
After placing each shelf label device on the product display shelf,
It can be carried out. It is also located near the shelf label device
Even if the product type is changed, the shelf label
Change display contents (product change) at the product display location
And can be done easily. Furthermore, correspondence with products
After that, if the price of the product changes
Can display the changed price in real time
You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a store controller type POS system to which a product information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a PLU file stored in a RAM or the like of a store controller 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a bargain product file stored in a RAM or the like of a store controller 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the shelf label device 8;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view and a side view showing an external configuration of the shelf label device 8. FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an external configuration of a display unit 12 of the shelf label device 8;

7A and 7B are a front view and a side view showing an external configuration of the connection unit 22.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of connection between the shelf label device 8 and a connection unit 22.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which the shelf label device 8 and the connection unit 22 are attached to a product display shelf.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the CPU 10;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the store controller 1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the CPU 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the store controller 1.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a PLU file of a conventional product information display device.

[Description of Signs] 1 Store Controller 2 ECR 8 Shelf Label Device 12 Display Unit 13 Operation Unit 18 Barcode Scanner 23 Product Display Shelf

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A management device having a product data storage means in which product data such as a product name and a price of the product is stored in advance in correspondence with a product identification code which is product identification data; Consisting of a plurality of shelf label devices,
In a product information display device that displays product information on the shelf label device based on the product data stored in the storage unit, it is determined whether a price of a product displayed on the shelf label device is a normal price or a bargain price. Determining means; and display control means for selecting a display mode of the product information to be displayed on the shelf label device based on the determination result of the determining device , wherein the shelf label device inputs the product identification code. Input hand
It has a step to store the entered product identification code.
The product corresponding to the input product identification code
Reading data from the storage means of the management device,
The shelf label device in which the product identification code is stored.
A product information display device for displaying the product information based on data . 2. The display form selected in the case of the bargain price, which draws the viewer's attention as compared with the display form selected in the case of the normal price. Product information display device. 3. The merchandise information display device according to claim 2, wherein the display mode selected in the case of the special sale price is red. 4. The merchandise information display device according to claim 2, wherein the display form selected in the case of the special sale price is a capital letter. 5. The merchandise information display device according to claim 2, wherein an advertisement text is also written in the case of the special sale price. Wherein said management apparatus, when transmitting the product data to the shelf label device, according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting together also data indicating whether the data relating to the price or bargain price Product information display device.