JP4685148B2 - Method for associating electronic shelf label with product and electronic shelf label system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for associating an electronic shelf label that displays information about a product with the product.

  In general, in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, the selling price of products is managed centrally by a product master stored in a POS system or the like. On the other hand, the selling price is transmitted to the consumer by a paper medium shelf label placed at the position of the product. However, management of such paper-based shelf labels must be relied upon manually, and human errors such as incorrect sales prices are likely to occur, and the selling price may differ from the product master. There is.

  In order to solve such a problem, an electronic shelf label system (ESL system / Electronic Shelf Label System) has been put into practical use in recent years. In the electronic shelf label system, an electronic shelf label provided with a display is attached to the position of each product, and the selling price based on the product master is transmitted to each electronic shelf label and displayed on the display of the electronic shelf label. As a result, the correct selling price can be transmitted to the consumer (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The server device of the electronic shelf label system stores a link file that associates the device code unique to the electronic shelf label with the product code of the product. The link file associates the electronic shelf label with the product in terms of data, and the electronic shelf label displays the selling price of the product associated with the own device. In addition, a label called an overlay label that describes the product name of the product associated with the own device on the electronic shelf label so that the store worker can recognize which product the electronic shelf label is associated with. Is affixed.

JP 2001-222632 A

  By the way, when the electronic shelf label system is introduced or when a product to be sold is changed, a process (association process) for associating the electronic shelf label with the product is required. In the associating process, the worker obtains the device code and the product code for generating the link file data and the operation of printing the overlay label of the product to be matched on the printer and pasting it on the electronic shelf label. Do work.

  Conventionally, since these operations have required direct operation of the server device of the electronic shelf label system, workers have been working in the backyard of the store where the server device is located. For this reason, it is necessary to transport the product to be matched from the product shelf to the backyard and to rearrange it to the original position. If there are a large number of products to be matched, Was supposed to spend time. In addition, since the attachment of the electronic shelf label that has been matched to the product shelf is a manual operation, when an unfamiliar worker performs it, the position of the corresponding product cannot be grasped, and the work takes time and There was also a possibility that a mounting error such as mounting the shelf label in the wrong position occurred.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and makes it the 1st objective to improve the work efficiency of the operation | work which concerns on a matching process.

  It is a second object of the present invention to prevent an electronic shelf label attachment error in the work related to the association process.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is a method of associating an electronic shelf label for displaying information related to a product with the product, and (a) a target product to be associated is placed. A step of acquiring product identification information for identifying the product from the target product in the vicinity of the product position by a portable information acquisition device; and (b) product information including the product identification information in the vicinity of the product position. Printing on a label by a portable printing device, (c) pasting the label on a target electronic shelf label to be associated with the target product in the vicinity of the product position, and (d) the product position In the vicinity, the hardware identification information unique to the electronic shelf label from the target electronic shelf label, and the product identification information from the label on which the product information related to the target product is printed, respectively. (E) a step of generating link information associating the product identification information acquired in step (d) with the hardware identification information, and (f) associating with the target electronic shelf label. When the product to be changed is changed, the step of acquiring the hardware identification information from the target electronic shelf label by the information acquisition device in the vicinity of the product position where the changed product is placed, and (g) the step ( and deleting the link information corresponding to the hardware identification information acquired in f), and the steps (a) to (e) are executed with the changed product as a new target product. The

  The invention according to claim 2 is the association method according to claim 1, wherein in each of the steps (d) and (f), the target electronic shelf label is associated with the target electronic shelf label. The hardware identification information is acquired from the target electronic shelf label by the information acquisition device in a state of being attached to the product position where the product is placed.

  The invention of claim 3 is an electronic shelf label system comprising a server device that manages electronic shelf labels, a portable information acquisition device, and a portable printing device that prints labels. The apparatus includes: a first processing mode for printing by the printing apparatus; a second processing mode for associating a product with an electronic shelf label; and releasing the association between the product and an electronic shelf label. A third processing mode, wherein the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode includes means for acquiring product identification information for identifying the target product from the target product to be matched, and the server device. , A means for transmitting the product identification information by wireless communication, and a print instruction means for instructing the printing to print, wherein the server device receives the product from the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode. Wireless identification information In response to reception of the product identification information from the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode, the product information including the product identification information is acquired according to the first processing mode. Means for replying to the apparatus by wireless communication, wherein the printing instruction means instructs the printing apparatus to print the product information returned from the server apparatus, and the printing apparatus instructs the printing instruction from the printing instruction means. The product information received is printed on a label, and the information acquisition device according to the second processing mode acquires hardware identification information specific to the electronic shelf label from the target electronic shelf label to be associated with the target product; From the means for acquiring the product identification information from the label on which the product information related to the target product is printed, from the hardware identification information acquired from the target electronic shelf label and the label Means for transmitting the obtained product identification information to the server device by wireless communication, and the server device transmits the hardware identification information by wireless communication from the information acquisition device according to the second processing mode. And means for generating link information that associates the product identification information with each other, and the information acquisition device according to the third processing mode includes means for acquiring the hardware identification information from a target electronic shelf label, The server device further includes means for deleting the link information corresponding to the hardware identification information transmitted by wireless communication from the information acquisition device according to the third processing mode.

  According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the acquisition of the product identification information, the printing of the product information on the label, the sticking of the label on the target electronic shelf label, the acquisition of the hardware identification information and the product identification information Since it is made in the vicinity of the position where the item is placed, it is not necessary to convey the product for the association process. Therefore, work efficiency is improved. In addition, it is possible to prevent an attachment error such that the electronic shelf label is erroneously attached to a position of a product different from the product associated with the link information. Furthermore, since the process of canceling the association is also performed in the vicinity of the product position, the work efficiency is further improved.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the hardware identification information is acquired with the target electronic shelf label attached to the product position, the electronic shelf label can be prevented from being lost, and an attachment error can be further prevented. Efficiency is improved.

  Moreover, according to the invention of Claim 3, it can be used for the matching method of Claim 1, and work efficiency can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an electronic shelf label system applied to a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store will be described as an example.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1-1. Overview of electronic shelf label system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which electronic shelf labels included in the electronic shelf label system according to the present embodiment are arranged on a product shelf. As shown in the figure, the product shelf 60 is divided into spaces called faces 61, and the same type of products 6 are collected and placed on each face 61. A bar code indicating a product code (product identification information) for identifying the type of product is attached to each product 6 by a label or printing.

  The electronic shelf label 5 is attached to the frame 62 of the product shelf 60 at a position corresponding to each face 61. That is, one electronic shelf label 5 corresponds to one commodity 6 (more precisely, one commodity type), and each electronic shelf label 5 is arranged at the position of the commodity 6 to which the device itself corresponds. Each electronic shelf label 5 is provided with a display, on which the selling price of the product corresponding to the device is displayed. Thereby, the selling price of the product 6 is transmitted to the consumer.

  When the rearrangement of the product 6 occurs, the position and size of the face 61 also change. In order to cope with such a change in the face 61, the position of the electronic shelf label 5 is not fixed, and the electronic shelf label 5 can be detached from the frame 62 and rearranged at another position. . In the present embodiment, a plurality of product shelves 60 as shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in a sales space in the store.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a store information system including an electronic shelf label system applied to the store of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the store information system 100 includes a store controller 2 and a POS system 3 along with the electronic shelf label system 1. The POS server 31 included in the POS system 3 and the ESL server 10 included in the electronic shelf label system 1 are connected to the store controller 2 via the LAN 21. Thereby, data communication is possible among the store controller 2, the POS system 3, and the electronic shelf label system 1.

  The store controller 2 is composed of a general computer and functions as a device that manages the store information system 100 in an integrated manner. The store controller 2 is connected to an external network such as the Internet, and can communicate with a computer or the like disposed in a headquarter center that manages the store via the external network.

  The POS system 3 is a system that collects and analyzes information related to sales at the point of sale or for each product, and includes a plurality of registers 32 that perform product settlement together with a POS server 31 that manages the POS system 3 in an integrated manner. ing. The POS server 31 is composed of a general computer, and the hard disk stores a product master 301 indicating various information related to products such as “product code”, “product name”, and “sale price”.

  The selling price of the product in the store is centrally managed by the product master 301, and in each of the plurality of registers 32, the product is settled based on the selling price described in the product master 301. The selling price described in the product master 301 is normally changed based on an instruction from the computer at the headquarters center (information received by the store controller 2), but the selling price is changed by directly operating the POS server 31. It is also possible.

  The electronic shelf label system 1 includes a base station 41 and a plurality of transceivers 42 together with the ESL server 10 and the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5. The transceiver 42 transmits an infrared signal to the electronic shelf label 5, and is arranged at a substantially constant distance on the ceiling of the sales space so that it can communicate with all the electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in the sales space. Placed in. The base station 41 is connected to the ESL server 10 and each transceiver 42 and functions as a signal repeater between the ESL server 10 and each transceiver 42.

  The ESL server 10 is a server device that manages the electronic shelf label system 1 in an integrated manner, and is arranged in a backyard separate from the sales space in the store. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the ESL server 10. The configuration of the ESL server 10 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. That is, the ESL server 10 includes a CPU 11 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 that stores basic programs, a RAM 13 that serves as a work area for arithmetic processes, a hard disk 14 that stores programs and various data files, a display 15 that displays various displays, An input unit 16 composed of a keyboard and a mouse and a data communication unit 17 having a data communication function are provided. The data communication unit 17 has not only a wired data communication function via the LAN 21 but also a data communication function using a wireless LAN. As a result, the ESL server 10 can transmit and receive data to and from the store controller 2 and the POS server 31, and can also transmit and receive data by wireless communication with an external device having a data communication function using a wireless LAN. It is said that. Further, the ESL server 10 is connected to the base station 41 via the interface 18, and various signals for controlling the electronic shelf label 5 are transmitted via the interface 18.

  A dedicated program is stored in advance in the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10, and various functions as the ESL server 10 are realized by the CPU 11 performing arithmetic processing according to the program. A product file 101 and a link file 102 are stored in the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10.

  The product file 101 is a data file indicating various information related to the product, and this information is mainly used for display on the electronic shelf label 5. The electronic shelf label 5 of the present embodiment can display not only the selling price of the product but also various information related to the product such as the number of sales, the number of orders, the time of final sale, and the last sale date. This information is described in. Specifically, the product file 101 has a table format in which one record indicates information related to one product. For each record, “product code”, “product name”, “selling price”, “sale” “Number”, “Number of orders”, “At the time of final sale”, “Last sale date”, etc. are registered.

  The link file 102 is a data file that associates the electronic shelf label 5 with the product in terms of data. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the link file 102. As shown in the figure, the link file 102 has a table format, and each record 102a is link information for associating a product code with a device code. Here, the device code is a hardware ID (hardware identification information) unique to each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 included in the electronic shelf label system 1. With such a link file 102, the electronic shelf label 5 and the product are associated in terms of data.

  When information related to a certain product is transmitted from the ESL server 10 to the electronic shelf label 5, the link file 102 is referred to, and the device code associated with the product code of the product is specified. Then, by transmitting an infrared signal including the device code from the transceiver 42, only the electronic shelf label 5 of the device code (that is, the electronic shelf label 5 associated with the product) is information on the product. Is sent.

  Next, the electronic shelf label 5 will be described. FIG. 5 is a view of the electronic shelf label 5 as viewed from the front side (the surface that is visible when attached to the product shelf 60). FIG. 6 illustrates the electronic shelf label 5 on the back side (the surface that is attached to the product shelf 60). It is the figure seen from the side.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic shelf label 5 is provided with a display 51 for displaying information such as the selling price of a product and an infrared communication unit 52 for receiving an infrared signal on the front surface. The display 51 is composed of, for example, a segment type liquid crystal display capable of displaying a 4-digit numerical value.

  Below the display 51, an overlay label 56 printed with a product name 6a and a product code 6b (more precisely, a bar code indicating the product code) is attached. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, on the back of the electronic shelf label 5, an ID label 55 printed with a device code 5b of the device itself (more precisely, a barcode indicating the device code) is attached. The overlay label 56 indicates information related to the product associated with the electronic shelf label 5. If the electronic shelf label 5 is not attached with labels, it is difficult to determine which product the electronic shelf label 5 is associated with. However, the overlay label 56 allows the electronic shelf label 5 to be associated with the product. Are visually associated with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic shelf label 5 includes therein a control unit 53 configured by a microcomputer or the like, and a memory 54 for storing various kinds of information. The memory 54 stores information such as the selling price to be displayed on the display 51, the device code of the own device, and the like. Information such as selling price transmitted as an infrared signal from the transceiver 42 is received by the infrared communication unit 52, temporarily stored in the memory 54, and then displayed on the display 51 under the control of the control unit 53.

  In the normal display state, the selling price of the product is displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5, but the electronic shelf label 5 can switch the information displayed on the display 51, and as described above, the selling price of the product. In addition, it is possible to display the number of sales, the number of orders, the last sales, the last sales date, and the like. Information displayed on the display 51 is switched according to an infrared signal received by the infrared communication unit 52. For such switching of information, a remote controller 43 (see FIG. 2) capable of transmitting a plurality of infrared signals corresponding to information that can be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 is used.

  The display of various information other than the selling price of the electronic shelf label 5 contributes to the efficiency of the store business. On the other hand, the display of such information leaks confidential business information to non-store personnel. there is a possibility. In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment, the information switching operation is restricted based on the access code transmitted from the remote controller 43.

  Specifically, an access code unique to each remote controller 43 used in the store is stored. The access codes of these remote controllers 43 are registered in advance in the ESL server 10 by a store system person or the like. The registered access code is transmitted to all the electronic shelf labels 5 in the store and stored in the memories 54 of all the electronic shelf labels 5.

  When the remote control 43 transmits an infrared signal, the remote control 43 transmits an infrared signal including an access code of the own device. When receiving the infrared signal from the remote controller 43, the electronic shelf label 5 compares the access code stored in the memory 54 in advance with the access code included in the received infrared signal. Only when the access codes match by comparison, the electronic shelf label 5 switches the display 51 to display information corresponding to the infrared signal. By such processing, switching of information using a remote controller that is not registered can be avoided, and unauthorized information leakage can be prevented. Such an access code can be changed, and information leakage can be more effectively prevented if a store system person changes the access code periodically.

  Next, the normal operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 will be briefly described. In this description, only the case where the electronic shelf label 5 displays the selling price will be referred to for the sake of simplicity.

  When the electronic shelf label system 1 is activated, first, one record of the product file 101 is referred to by the ESL server 10, and the selling price related to one product is acquired. Next, the link file 102 is referred to, the device code associated with the product code of the one product is specified, and the selling price is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 of the device code. The transmitted selling price is stored in the memory 54 of the electronic shelf label 5 and displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5. Such processing is performed for all records (all products) included in the product file 101. Thereby, all the electronic shelf labels 5 in a store display the selling price of the goods corresponding to each. Since the selling price included in the product file 101 matches the selling price of the product master 301 of the POS server 31 before the store is opened, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the selling price that matches the product master 301.

  When the selling price of one product described in the product master 301 is changed in the POS server 31, a signal including the product code of the product and the changed selling price is sent from the POS server 31 to the ESL server 10. Sent. When the ESL server 10 receives this signal, the selling price of the product code in the product file 101 is changed based on the received selling price. At the same time, the device code associated with the product code is specified based on the link file 102, and the changed selling price is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 of the device code. As a result, the changed selling price is displayed on the electronic shelf label 5. By such processing, the selling price changed in the product master 301 is reflected on the display of the electronic shelf label 5 in real time. As a result, the selling price used for the settlement of the register 32 and the selling price transmitted to the consumer are always matched.

  By the way, it is preferable to install a POP advertisement in which the selling price of a product is conspicuous in a special product corner where products to be sold are placed. However, since management of such POP advertisements depends on human resources, human error such as a mistake in selling price may occur, and the wrong selling price may be transmitted to consumers. On the other hand, if the POP advertisement is abolished and only the electronic shelf label 5 is installed, the selling price of the product cannot be conspicuous, and the original purpose of directing the consumer's interest to the special sale cannot be achieved.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, both the POP advertisement 63 and the electronic shelf label 5 are installed at the position where the commodity 6 that is the special sale item is placed, such as a special sale corner. You may make it use the tag 5 together. According to this, the selling price of the product can be made conspicuous by the POP advertisement 63, and it is described in the POP advertisement 63 by visual comparison between the selling price described in the POP advertisement 63 and the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label 5. Since it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the sold price is correct, it is possible to prevent the wrong price from being transmitted to consumers.

<1-2. Correspondence between electronic shelf labels and products>
When the electronic shelf label system 1 as described above is introduced into a store or when a product to be sold is changed, the electronic shelf label 5 and the product are visually and dataally connected by an association process described later. It is necessary to associate. In the present embodiment, the portable information acquisition terminal 7 and the portable printer 8 capable of printing the overlay label 56 are used for the work related to the association processing (see FIG. 2).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the information acquisition terminal 7. As shown in the figure, the information acquisition terminal 7 includes a CPU 71 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 72 that stores basic programs, a RAM 73 that serves as a work area for arithmetic processes, and a nonvolatile storage unit that stores programs and various data files. 74, a display 75 for performing various displays, an input key 76 for receiving input, a bar code reader 77 for acquiring information indicated by a bar code, and a data communication unit 78 having a data communication function by wireless communication using a wireless LAN. ing. The information acquisition terminal 7 can transmit and receive data by wireless communication with the ESL server 10 by the function of the data communication unit 78. Further, the information acquisition terminal 7 is connected to the printer 8 via the interface 70 and can issue a print instruction to the printer 8. Such an information acquisition terminal 7 may be configured as a dedicated portable device, or may be configured by a general-purpose portable computer such as a notebook computer or a PDA to which a barcode reader is connected.

  A dedicated program is stored in advance in the storage unit 74 of the information acquisition terminal 7, and a function for associating the electronic shelf label 5 with the product is realized by the CPU 71 performing arithmetic processing according to this program.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the electronic shelf label system 1 related to a process (association process) for associating the electronic shelf label 5 with the product 6. In the figure, the print instruction unit 711 is a function realized by the CPU 71 of the information acquisition terminal 7, and the product information acquisition unit 110 and the link unit 111 are functions realized by the CPU 71 of the ESL server 10.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the association process. Hereinafter, associating the electronic shelf label system 1 with a store as an example, an association process for associating one electronic shelf label 5 with one commodity 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

  Prior to this association process, the product 6 to be associated is placed on each face 61 of the product shelf 60 as in the state of sale as shown in FIG. In addition, as the electronic shelf labels 5, the same number as the number of types of the products 6 to be associated (the number of the faces 61) that are not compatible with the products is prepared. An ID label 55 is attached to these electronic shelf labels 5, but an overlay label 56 is not attached. The prepared plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 are placed on a carriage so that they can be easily transported.

  The worker who performs the work related to the associating process transports the cart on which the electronic shelf label 5 is placed, the information acquisition terminal 7, and the printer 8 while transporting one product (hereinafter referred to as “target product”) to be associated. It moves to the vicinity of the position (hereinafter referred to as “product position”) where 6 is placed. Then, in the vicinity of the product position, the worker performs the work described below.

  First, the worker performs a predetermined operation on the information acquisition terminal 7 to set the processing mode of the information acquisition terminal 7 to “print mode” for printing the overlay label 56. Subsequently, the barcode attached to the target product 6 placed on the product shelf 60 is read by the barcode reader 77 provided in the information acquisition terminal 7, and the product code 6b is acquired from the target product 6 (step S1). .

  The read product code 6b is transmitted from the data communication unit 78 of the information acquisition terminal 7 to the ESL server 10 by wireless communication and received by the data communication unit 17 of the ESL server 10 (step S2).

  In response to this reception, the product information acquisition unit 110 of the ESL server 10 refers to the product file 101 in the hard disk 14 and acquires the “product name” associated with the received product code 6b. The acquired “product name” is returned together with the product code 6b from the data communication unit 17 of the ESL server 10 to the information acquisition terminal 7 by wireless communication. Hereinafter, the “product name” and the product code 6b returned from the ESL server 10 are collectively referred to as “product information”.

  The returned merchandise information is received by the data communication unit 17 of the information acquisition terminal 7. In response to this reception, the print instructing unit 711 transmits a signal instructing printing of the received merchandise information on the label to the printer 8. As a result, the product name and the product code 6b (that is, product information) are printed on the label in the printer 8, and the overlay label 56 is generated. The product code 6b is printed as a barcode. The conversion of the product code 6b into a barcode may be performed in any of the ESL server 10, the information acquisition terminal 7, and the printer 8. Since the printer 8 is transported to the worker and disposed near the product position, the overlay label 56 is also printed near the product position (step S3).

  When the overlay label 56 is generated, the worker places one electronic shelf label (hereinafter referred to as “target electronic shelf label”) 5 that should associate the generated overlay label 56 with the target product 6 in the vicinity of the product position. Affix to Thereby, the target electronic shelf label 5 and the target product 6 are visually associated (step S4).

  Next, the worker performs a predetermined operation on the information acquisition terminal 7 in order to associate the target electronic shelf label 5 to which the overlay label 56 is pasted with the target product 6 in a data manner. The processing mode is set to “link mode” for generating the record 102 a of the link file 102.

  Next, the barcode of the ID label 55 on the back side of the target electronic shelf label 5 is read by the barcode reader 77, and the device code 5b is acquired from the target electronic shelf label 5 (step S5). Further, the barcode of the overlay label 56 affixed to the target electronic shelf label 5 is read by the barcode reader 77, and the product code 6b is acquired from the overlay label 56 (step S6). Such acquisition of the device code 5b and the product code 6b is also performed in the vicinity of the product position. The order in which the device code 5b and the product code 6b are acquired is not particularly limited, and the device code 5b may be acquired after the product code 6b is acquired in advance.

  The acquired device code 5b and product code 6b are transmitted by wireless communication from the data communication unit 78 of the information acquisition terminal 7 to the ESL server 10, and are received by the data communication unit 17 of the ESL server 10 (step S7). .

  In response to this reception, the link unit 111 of the ESL server 10 generates one record 102a of the link file 102 so as to associate the received device code 5b with the product code 6b. Thereby, the target electronic shelf label 5 and the target product 6 are associated in terms of data, and the correlation between the target electronic shelf label 5 and the target product 6 is completed (step S8). The target electronic shelf label 5 completed in this way is attached to the position where the target product 6 is placed by the worker.

  The series of association processes as described above is performed for each of all the products arranged in the store. As a result, all the products in the store are finally associated with the electronic shelf label 5.

  In the above-described series of association processing, acquisition of the product code 6b for visual association (step S1), printing of the overlay label (step S3), and pasting of the overlay label to the target electronic shelf label 5 (step) S4) and acquisition of the device code 5b and the product code 6b for data association (steps S5 and S6) are all performed in the vicinity of the product position. That is, the worker performs all the operations related to the association processing in the vicinity of the product position without performing a direct operation on the ESL server 10. From this, it is not necessary for the worker to carry the target product 6 to the backyard where the ESL server 10 is arranged or to rearrange the target product 6 to the original position for the association processing. For this reason, the work time of the work | work which concerns on a matching process can be shortened, and work efficiency can be improved.

  Further, since the worker performs the work for data association (acquisition of the device code 5b and the product code 6b) in the vicinity of the product position, the association can be performed without moving from the place where the work is performed. The completed target electronic shelf label 5 can be attached to the position of the target product 6. For this reason, even an inexperienced worker can attach the electronic shelf label 5 that has been associated to the correct product position without taking time. As a result, it is possible to prevent a mounting error such as erroneously mounting the electronic shelf label 5 at a position of a product different from the product associated in terms of data.

  Further, in the association processing of the present embodiment, since direct operation to the ESL server 10 is not necessary, a plurality of information acquisition terminals 7 (and printers 8) are prepared, and all items in the store are stored. It is also possible to perform work related to the associating process by a plurality of workers. According to this, the work time of work can be significantly shortened.

<2. Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the electronic shelf label system 1 has been introduced. However, after the electronic shelf label system 1 has been introduced, the series of the above items can be used even when a product to be sold is changed. Similar to the association process, the electronic shelf label 5 and the product 6 can be associated with each other. However, in this case, the target electronic shelf label 5 is not compatible with the product, but is already compatible with the product before the change. Therefore, in this case, the unlink that cancels the association of the target electronic shelf label 5 with the product before the series of association processes so that the target electronic shelf label 5 is temporarily returned to a state incompatible with the product. It is necessary to perform processing.

  In the present embodiment, the work related to the unlink process is also performed near the position (product position) where the changed product (product to be matched) is placed using the information acquisition terminal 7. I have to. Hereinafter, this unlink process will be described.

  First, the worker removes the target electronic shelf label 5 to be released from the product shelf 60 and peels the overlay label 56 relating to the product before change from the target electronic shelf label 5. Next, a predetermined operation is performed on the information acquisition terminal 7 to set the processing mode of the information acquisition terminal 7 to “unlink mode” for releasing the association. Subsequently, the barcode of the ID label 55 on the back side of the target electronic shelf label 5 is read by the barcode reader 77, and the device code 5 b is acquired from the target electronic shelf label 5.

  The acquired device code 5b is transmitted from the data communication unit 78 of the information acquisition terminal 7 to the ESL server 10 by wireless communication, and is received by the data communication unit 17 of the ESL server 10. In response to this reception, one record 102 a corresponding to the received device code 5 b is deleted in the link file 102. As a result, the association of the target electronic shelf label 5 with the product before the change is released. Thereafter, the association process similar to the above is performed.

  More generally speaking, the unlink process includes a step of acquiring hardware identification information from the target electronic shelf label in the vicinity of the product position and a link information related to the acquired hardware identification information before the association process. And a step of deleting.

  As described above, the work related to the unlinking process is also performed in the vicinity of the product position, so that the worker can continuously perform the work related to the association process without moving from the place where the work is performed. For this reason, work efficiency about all work including work concerning unlink processing can be improved.

<3. Other variations>
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  For example, as the electronic shelf label 5, as shown in FIG. 11, an electronic label with an ID label 55 attached on the front surface is adopted, and the electronic shelf label 5 is attached in advance to the position of the target product 6. In step S 5 of FIG. In the state where the electronic shelf label 5 is attached, the barcode of the ID label 55 may be read by the barcode reader 77 to obtain the device code 5b from the electronic shelf label 5.

  In this way, before performing the associating process, the unsupported electronic shelf label 5 is attached in advance to the position of the target product 6 and the electronic shelf label 5 is attached to the target product 6 with the electronic shelf label 5 attached. The product 6 can be associated. Thus, if the electronic shelf label 5 is attached in advance to the position of the target product 6 and then associated with each other, it is possible to prevent an attachment error itself.

  Further, when the product to be sold is changed, the unlink process may be performed with the electronic shelf label 5 attached to the product position. According to this, when there is no change in the position or size of the face 61, all operations necessary for the unlink process and the association process are performed without removing the electronic shelf label 5 from the product shelf 60. Therefore, loss of the electronic shelf label 5 can be prevented, the work of the worker can be simplified, and work efficiency can be further improved.

It is a figure which shows a mode that an electronic shelf label is arrange | positioned at a goods shelf. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the shop information system containing an electronic shelf label system. It is a figure which shows the basic composition of an ESL server. It is a figure which shows the example of a link file. It is the figure which looked at the electronic shelf label from the front side. It is the figure which looked at the electronic shelf label from the back side. It is a figure which shows the example which installed the electronic shelf label with the POP advertisement. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an information acquisition terminal. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the electronic shelf label system which concerns on a matching process. It is a figure which shows the flow of a matching process. It is a figure which shows the electronic shelf label with which the ID label was stuck on the front.

Explanation of symbols

5 Electronic shelf label 5b Device code 6 Product 6b Product code 7 Information acquisition terminal 8 Printer 10 ESL server 55 Overlay label

Claims (3)

A method of associating an electronic shelf label that displays information related to a product with the product,
(A) in the vicinity of the product position where the target product to be matched is placed, obtaining product identification information for identifying the product from the target product with a portable information acquisition device;
(B) printing product information including the product identification information on a label by a portable printing device in the vicinity of the product position;
(C) pasting the label on a target electronic shelf label to be associated with the target product in the vicinity of the product position;
(D) In the vicinity of the product position, the hardware identification information unique to the electronic shelf label from the target electronic shelf label, and the product identification information from the label on which the product information related to the target product is printed, Acquiring with an acquisition device;
(E) generating link information in which the product identification information acquired in the step (d) is associated with the hardware identification information;
(F) When the product to be associated with the target electronic shelf label is changed, the hardware information is acquired from the target electronic shelf label by the information acquisition device in the vicinity of the product position where the changed product is placed. Process,
(G) deleting the link information corresponding to the hardware identification information acquired in the step (f),
The association method in which the steps (a) to (e) are executed with the changed product as a new target product. The association method according to claim 1, comprising:
In each of the steps (d) and (f), the target electronic shelf label is attached to the product position where the product associated with the target electronic shelf label is placed, from the target electronic shelf label. An association method in which the hardware identification information is acquired by the information acquisition device. An electronic shelf label system comprising a server device that manages an electronic shelf label, a portable information acquisition device, and a portable printing device that prints a label,
The information acquisition device includes: a first processing mode for printing on the printing device; a second processing mode for associating products with electronic shelf labels; and releasing the association between products and electronic shelf labels. A third processing mode for
The information acquisition apparatus according to the first processing mode is
Means for acquiring product identification information for identifying the target product from the target product to be matched;
Means for transmitting the product identification information to the server device by wireless communication;
The printing apparatus includes a printing instruction unit that instructs printing,
The server device
Means for receiving the product identification information by wireless communication from the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode;
In response to receiving the product identification information from the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode, product information including the product identification information is returned to the information acquisition device according to the first processing mode by wireless communication. Means and
The printing instruction means instructs the printing apparatus to print the product information returned from the server apparatus;
The printing apparatus prints the product information received a print instruction from the print instruction unit on a label,
The information acquisition apparatus according to the second processing mode is
Means for acquiring hardware identification information specific to the electronic shelf label from the target electronic shelf label to be associated with the target product;
Means for acquiring the product identification information from the label on which the product information relating to the target product is printed;
Means for transmitting the hardware identification information acquired from the target electronic shelf label and the product identification information acquired from the label to the server device by wireless communication;
The server device
Means for generating link information associating the hardware identification information and the product identification information transmitted by wireless communication from the information acquisition apparatus according to the second processing mode;
The information acquisition apparatus according to the third processing mode is
Means for obtaining the hardware identification information from the target electronic shelf label;
The server device
The electronic shelf label system further comprising means for deleting the link information corresponding to the hardware identification information transmitted by wireless communication from the information acquisition device according to the third processing mode.

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