JP5394153B2 - Electronic shelf label system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a plurality of electronic shelf labels, each of which is arranged corresponding to a product and displaying product information relating to the corresponding product, and a server that provides the product information to the plurality of electronic shelf labels. The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label system (ESL system / Electronic Shelf Label System).

  The electronic shelf label system will be briefly described. Generally, in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores, the selling prices of products in the store are managed centrally by a product master stored in a POS system or the like. On the other hand, the selling price is often transmitted to customers (consumers) using paper medium shelf labels placed at the positions of the products. When such a paper medium shelf label is adopted, the management of the shelf label must be relied upon manually, and thus human error such as a mistake in selling price tends to occur. For this reason, there is a possibility that an incorrect selling price different from the selling price at the time of settlement by the register of the POS system is transmitted to the customer.

  The electronic shelf label system is a system that has been put into practical use to solve such problems. The electronic shelf label system includes an “electronic shelf label” that is a kind of electronic display device, and an “information distribution device” that is a server that provides information to each of the electronic shelf labels. The information distribution device transmits a communication signal including information indicating a selling price based on the product master to each electronic shelf label (for example, infrared transmission). The electronic shelf label is arranged corresponding to each product in the store, and displays product information such as the selling price of the corresponding product on the display based on the communication signal received from the information distribution device. When the information stored in the product master is updated, for example, when the selling price of the product is changed, the information distribution device transmits a communication signal including information indicating the new selling price to each electronic shelf label, The shelf label updates the display on the display based on the received communication signal. As a result, the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label is updated. In this way, when the electronic shelf label system is used, the correct selling price that always matches the selling price at the time of settlement is displayed on the electronic shelf label, and the correct selling price is transmitted to the customer.

  By the way, in order to provide portability so as to cope with the change in the arrangement of products, the drive source of the electronic shelf label is often a battery. In order to extend the battery life as much as possible, it is necessary for the electronic shelf label to have a configuration in which the amount of electricity consumed is kept as low as possible. In view of this point, the display of the electronic shelf label is often composed of electronic paper. Electronic paper is characterized by the fact that it requires driving power only to change the display content (display update), and does not require driving power to maintain the display content, making it very suitable for electronic shelf label displays. -ing The basic technology of electronic paper is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  In an electronic shelf label whose display is composed of electronic paper, when the remaining capacity of the battery decreases, the voltage drops during the display update process and the display is updated, causing the display update to fail. The possibility increases. When display update fails in such a situation, in many cases, the screen before update (that is, the selling price before update) remains displayed on the display. As a matter of course, the store staff is not easily aware of the fact that the price before the update is still displayed on the display. Therefore, there is a high risk that an incorrect price will be transmitted to customers for a long time.

  In order to avoid such a situation, a technique has been proposed in which the price displayed on the display is voluntarily deleted on the electronic shelf label when the battery capacity is low (Patent Document 2). reference).

JP 2005-331904 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-91984

  If the technique described in Patent Document 2 is applied, the worst situation in which an incorrect price is continuously displayed on the electronic shelf label can be avoided. However, with this technology, the store staff must constantly monitor the store in order to find out the electronic shelf label whose display update has failed from the store. In general, the number of electronic shelf labels placed in a store is very large, and the timing at which each electronic shelf label is updated is not always the same. It is not easy. If an electronic shelf label that has failed to update the display is left unattended for a long time, the customer will be confused and the store image will be worse.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when there is an electronic shelf label that has failed to update the display in the store, the store staff assists in quickly and surely knowing it. The purpose is to provide technology.

  The invention of claim 1 is a plurality of electronic shelf labels, each of which is arranged corresponding to a product and displaying product information relating to the corresponding product, and a server for providing the product information to the plurality of electronic shelf labels. , And each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels returns an ACK signal to the server when the product information on the product corresponding to the device is received from the server. Communication processing means; display processing means for performing display update processing for updating display on the basis of product information received from the server; storage means for storing a status flag indicating an update state of the display; and the display update Flag management means for updating the status flag to an affirmative value when the processing is normally completed and the display is properly updated. Means, said even when receiving the product information from the server, if the status flag is not set to the positive value does not return an ACK signal.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the electronic shelf label system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels performs an error display process for displaying a predetermined error screen on the display. And error processing control means for performing predetermined error processing when the status flag is set to a negative value, and the error processing control means is configured to perform error display processing in the predetermined error processing. The means is caused to perform the error display process.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the electronic shelf label system according to claim 2, wherein the error display processing that the error processing control unit causes the error display processing unit to perform in the predetermined error processing has failed. In such a case, the error display process is not performed again.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the electronic shelf label system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the error processing control means has a predetermined time elapsed since the display update processing was performed in the predetermined error processing. After that, the error display processing means is caused to start the error display processing.

  Invention of Claim 5 is the electronic shelf label system in any one of Claim 1 to 4, Comprising: Although the said server transmitted the merchandise information regarding the goods corresponding to a predetermined | prescribed electronic shelf label When the ACK signal from the predetermined electronic shelf label is not received, a confirmation signal transmitting means for transmitting a confirmation signal to the predetermined electronic shelf label, and based on the presence or absence of the ACK signal for the confirmation signal, the predetermined signal Update state determination means for determining whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label has been properly updated, and each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels has received the confirmation signal for its own device from the server A reply means for sending back an ACK signal to the server, even if the reply means receives the confirmation signal for the own device from the server. If the flag is set to the affirmative value, an ACK signal is not returned, and if the update state determination means does not receive an ACK signal for the confirmation signal, the display of the predetermined electronic shelf label is properly Judge that it has been updated.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the electronic shelf label receives the product information related to the product supported by the device itself from the server, the status flag indicates that the display is properly updated. If the value is not set, no ACK signal is returned to the server. According to this configuration, the server can detect whether or not the display is properly updated in the electronic shelf label from the presence or absence of the ACK signal. Therefore, when there is an electronic shelf label whose display update has failed in the store, the store staff can quickly and surely know the presence of the electronic shelf label based on information from the server.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the status flag is set to a negative value (that is, when the display is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label), the error processing control means displays an error on the error display processing means. Let the process do. Therefore, a predetermined error screen is displayed on the display of the electronic shelf label whose display has not been properly updated. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which erroneous information is given to the customer by continuously displaying the screen before the update (that is, the selling price before the update) on the electronic shelf label.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the display is not properly updated on the electronic shelf label, the error processing control means causes the error display processing means to perform the error display processing. Even if the predetermined error screen is not displayed on the display, the error process control means does not perform the error display process again. If the error display process has failed once, there is a high possibility that a significant voltage drop has occurred due to battery shortage, and it is highly likely that the error display process will fail even if the error display process is executed again. Since the error display process is not performed, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the process that is likely to fail is repeated many times and the power of the electronic shelf label is wasted.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when the display is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label, the error processing control means causes the error display processing means to perform error display processing. It is started after a predetermined time has passed since then. When the display update process has failed, there is a high possibility that a voltage drop has occurred due to the display update process, and even if the error display process is immediately executed in this state, there is a high possibility of failure. According to the above configuration, the error display process is started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the failure of the display update process, so voltage recovery can be expected during that time, and the error display process should be performed in a stable voltage state. Is possible. Therefore, the possibility of failure in the error display process is reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the server can determine whether or not the display of the electronic shelf label is properly updated based on whether or not the ACK signal is received with respect to the confirmation signal. Therefore, if an ACK signal for the transmission of product information cannot be received on the server side, it may be due to the display not being properly updated in the electronic shelf label or due to other reasons. It is possible to correctly determine whether or not the electronic shelf label has failed to update the display.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the electronic shelf label with which an electronic shelf label system is provided is arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the goods management system containing an electronic shelf label system. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an order processing terminal. It is a figure which shows the structure of an ESL server. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a goods file, an apparatus ID file, and a link table. It is a figure which shows the structure of an electronic shelf label. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure regarding the display update of a display. It is a figure which shows the whole flow of the process regarding the display update of a display. It is a figure which shows the flow of a display update process. It is a figure which shows the flow of an error process. It is a figure for demonstrating waiting for voltage recovery. It is a figure which shows the flow of a selling price display update process. It is a figure which shows the flow of an error display process. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure regarding confirmation communication. It is a figure for demonstrating confirmation communication. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd modification. It is a figure which shows the flow of the process which the electronic shelf label which concerns on a 2nd modification performs.

<1. Electronic shelf label system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an electronic shelf label 5 included in the electronic shelf label system 1 is arranged on a product shelf 60 in a store. In the electronic shelf label system 1, a portable electronic shelf label 5 that displays product information related to the product 6 such as a selling price is arranged corresponding to each product 6. Then, a communication signal including information indicating the selling price based on the product master is transmitted from the information distribution device to each electronic shelf label 5, and the selling price is displayed on each electronic shelf label 5. Thereby, the correct selling price that matches the selling price at the time of settlement is displayed on the electronic shelf label 5, and the correct selling price is transmitted to the customer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the product shelf 60 is divided into a space called a face 61, and the same type of products 6 are collected and placed on each face 61. 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, each electronic shelf label 5 is associated with one product 6 (more precisely, one product type), and a frame 62 in the vicinity of the corresponding product 6 (generally, the lower side of the product 6). Placed in. Each electronic shelf label 5 is provided with a display, on which the selling price of the corresponding product 6 is displayed. The customer (consumer) of the store recognizes the selling price of the product 6 by such display of the electronic shelf label 5.

  The electronic shelf label 5 is a portable device, and can be removed from the frame 62 and rearranged at another position so as to cope with the change in the arrangement of the product 6. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of product shelves 60 as shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in a sales space in the store.

<2. Product management system>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a commodity management system 100 including the electronic shelf label system 1 applied to a store. As shown in FIG. 2, the merchandise management system 100 includes a store controller 2 and a POS system 3 in addition to 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 enabled among the store controller 2, the POS system 3, and the electronic shelf label system 1.

<2-1. Store Controller>
The store controller 2 is composed of a general computer, and functions as a device that comprehensively manages the merchandise management system 100. In addition, the store controller 2 is connected to an external network such as the Internet, and can communicate with a computer such as a server device disposed in a headquarter center that manages the store through the external network.

<2-2. POS system>
The POS system 3 is a system that collects and analyzes information related to the sale of the product 6 at the time of sale, and a plurality of registers 32 that perform settlement of the product 6 together with a POS server 31 that manages the POS system 3 in an integrated manner. It has. The POS server 31 and the register 32 are connected by a dedicated communication cable.

  The POS server 31 is composed of a general computer, and the hard disk stores a product master 301 indicating various information related to the product 6 such as selling price. In each of the plurality of registers 32, the product 6 is settled based on the selling price described in the product master 301.

  Information related to all products 6 in the store is centrally managed by the product master 301. The information described in the product master 301 includes a product code for identifying the product 6, a product name that is the name of the product 6, a normal price that is a normal selling price, a special selling price that is a selling price in a special sale, and a special sale. The period includes a special sales period, the number of sales, the number of stocks, the number of orders that are delivered in one order, and the like.

<2-3. Order processing terminal>
Connected to the LAN 21 is an access point (AP) 170 which is a radio wave relay for the wireless LAN. A portable order processing terminal 180 used when ordering the product 6 can be connected to the LAN 21 through the access point 170 and can communicate with the store controller 2, the POS server 31, and the ESL server 10. It is. When a predetermined operation is executed by the store staff, the order processing terminal 180 outputs order instruction information for instructing the order of the product 6 to the store controller 2 using the wireless LAN. The ordering instruction information includes, for example, a product code for identifying the product 6 to be ordered, the number of orders for the product 6, and the like. The store controller 2 also functions as an ordering server that receives an ordering instruction from the ordering processing terminal 180, and notifies the headquarter center of the input ordering instruction information. The headquarter center places an order for the product 6 with respect to the server of the supplier of the ordering party based on the ordering instruction information from each store.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the order processing terminal 180. As shown in FIG. 3, the order processing terminal 180 is a portable business terminal called “handy terminal”, and includes a display 181 for displaying various information, a barcode reader 182 for reading barcodes, and store staff. And an operation unit 183 that accepts various operations. The order processing terminal 180 includes a communication unit 184 that performs wireless communication with the access point 170. With the function of the communication unit 184, the order processing terminal 180 can communicate with the store controller 2, the POS server 31, and the ESL server 10 through the access point 170. The order processing terminal 180 is provided with a control unit 185 that comprehensively manages its operation. The control unit 185 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like.

<2-4. Electronic shelf label system>
<2-4-1. Constitution>
When switching the display screen of the electronic shelf label 5, the electronic shelf label system 1 switches the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5, the information distribution device 40 that distributes the selling price of the product 6 to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5, and the like. And a portable remote controller 160 to be used.

<Information distribution device>
The information distribution device 40 includes an ESL server 10 that is a server device that centrally manages the electronic shelf label system 1, a plurality of communication devices 4, and a signal repeater between the ESL server 10 and the plurality of communication devices 4. As a base station 41. The ESL server 10 and the plurality of communication devices 4 can perform data communication with each other through the base station 41. Each communication device 4 performs infrared communication with the electronic shelf label 5. The plurality of communication devices 4 are arranged at substantially constant distances on the ceiling of the sales space 90 so as to be able to communicate with all the electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in the sales space 90.

  The configuration of the ESL server 10 as hardware is the same as that of a general computer. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the ESL server 10. The ESL server 10 includes a CPU 11 that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 12 that stores a boot program, a RAM 13 that serves as a work area for the arithmetic processes, a hard disk 14 that stores programs and various data files, a display 15 that performs various displays, and a keyboard. And an input unit 16 including a mouse, a data communication unit 17 having a data communication function via the LAN 21, and an interface 18 for communicating with the base station 41. Data to be transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 (“sale price distribution data” to be described later) is transmitted to the communication device 4 through the interface 18 and the base station 41.

  The hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 stores an operation program in advance, and various functions as the ESL server 10 are realized by the CPU 11 performing arithmetic processing according to the operation program. The hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 stores a product file 101, a device ID file 102, and a link table 103.

  The product file 101, the device ID file 102, and the link table 103 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the product file 101. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the device ID file 102. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the link table 103.

  The product file 101 is a data file indicating various types of information related to the product 6. The product file 101 has a table format, and each record 112 indicates information related to one product 6. Specifically, for each record 112, a product code, a product name, a normal price, a special sale price, a special sale period, the number of sales, the number of inventory, and the like are registered. These pieces of information are the same information as the product master 301 stored in the POS system 3 described above, and are registered based on the information in the product master 301 through communication between the ESL server 10 and the POS system 3. For this reason, the information in the product file 101 and the information in the product master 301 match.

  The device ID file 102 is a file for storing “device codes” of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 provided in the electronic shelf label system 1. However, the “device code” is a unique hardware ID registered in each of the electronic shelf labels 5.

  The link table 103 is a table that associates the product 6 stored in the product file 101 with the device code stored in the device ID file 102 on a one-to-one basis. By the link table 103, the product 6 and the electronic shelf label 5 are associated with each other in a one-to-one relationship (linked).

  The ESL server 10 having the above configuration generates “selling price distribution data” to be transmitted to each electronic shelf label 5 by the CPU 11 and outputs the generated selling price distribution data to each communication device 4 through the interface 18 and the base station 41. Each communication device 4 outputs the input selling price distribution data in the form of an infrared signal to each electronic shelf label 5 with which it can communicate. Thereby, the same selling price distribution data is input from the information distribution apparatus 40 to each electronic shelf label 5 arranged in the sales space 90. As will be described later, the selling price distribution data includes one device code and one selling price display image data (image data to be displayed by the electronic shelf label 5 attached with the device code).

<Electronic shelf label>
The configuration of the electronic shelf label 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electronic shelf label 5. On the front surface of the electronic shelf label 5, a display 51 for displaying product information and a communication unit 54 responsible for communication with the information distribution device 40 are arranged. A label printed with a character string indicating a device code of the device itself and a barcode is attached to the back surface of the electronic shelf label 5.

  The communication unit 54 receives the infrared light signal from the light emitting unit 52 that outputs an infrared signal, the infrared signal from the communication device 4 and the infrared signal from the remote controller 160, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to the control unit 57 described later. Part 53. The light emitting unit 52 that functions as a transmitting unit that transmits data is configured by, for example, an LED, and the light receiving unit 53 that functions as a receiving unit that receives data is configured by, for example, a photodiode and an amplifier.

  The display 51 is a dot matrix non-volatile display unit, and is composed of electronic paper. Since the display 51 is a dot matrix type display unit, it can display not only numerical values indicating the selling price of the product 6 but also characters, symbols, figures, and the like. Further, since the display 51 is composed of electronic paper, driving power is required only for changing display contents (display updating), and driving power is not required for holding display contents.

  In addition, the display 51 according to the present embodiment can switch and display a plurality of display screens. For example, the display 51 includes a display screen (front screen) mainly displaying information used by customers who purchase the product such as the selling price of the product, and information (number of sales) used by the store clerk such as the number of products sold. The display screen (back screen) on which product information such as the number of orders, sale period, etc., the device code assigned to itself, etc.) is displayed can be switched.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the front screen includes a product name 51 b and a product code 51 d (specifically, a product code 51 d), which is information that can identify the product, together with the selling price 51 a of the product associated with the device. Bar code indicating the code) is displayed. When only the selling price 51a is displayed on the display 51 without displaying the product specifying information, it is difficult to grasp which product the electronic shelf label 5 is associated with. Is displayed, the electronic shelf label 5 and the product are visually associated with each other. Moreover, the character string 51c which represents the product code of the product 6 with which the own apparatus was matched with a number, and the barcode 51d which shows the said product code may be displayed along with the direction where the said barcode 51d extends.

  Inside the electronic shelf label 5, there are provided a small battery 56 that supplies power to the electronic shelf label 5 and a control unit 57 that comprehensively controls the operation of the electronic shelf label 5. The control unit 57 includes a CPU, a memory, and the like. Various types of data (image data to be displayed on the display 51, status flag indicating the update state of the display 51, device code of the own device, etc.) are stored in this memory. That is, the infrared signal (sale price distribution data) output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 and input to the control unit 57, and the control unit 57 includes image data (sell price) included in the input price distribution data. Display image data) is stored in the memory.

  The control unit 57 functions as a display control unit that controls display on the display 51. That is, the control unit 57 reads out any of image data (sales price display image data, error image data to be described later, etc.) stored in the memory at a predetermined timing, controls the display 51, and reads the read image. Data is displayed on the display 51. Further, the control unit 57 switches the display on the display 51 according to the infrared signal output from the remote controller 160. As will be described later, the remote controller 160 has an operation button (not shown), and can transmit an infrared signal in accordance with an external operation on the operation button. When the operation button of the remote controller 160 is pressed and an infrared signal from the remote controller 160 is input to the light receiving unit 53, the light receiving unit 53 converts the infrared signal into an electrical signal and inputs it to the control unit 57. Then, the control unit 57 changes the display on the display 51 from, for example, a front screen to a back screen. In this state, when the operation button of the remote controller 160 is pressed again and an infrared signal from the remote controller 160 is input to the light receiving unit 53, the light receiving unit 53 converts the infrared signal into an electrical signal and inputs it to the control unit 57. To do. Then, the control unit 57 changes the display on the display 51 from the back screen to the front screen.

<Remote controller>
The remote controller 160 is a remote control device that transmits a signal for switching the display screen of the electronic shelf label 5. The remote controller 160 includes a light emitting unit that outputs an infrared signal, a control unit that controls the light emitting unit, and an operation button that receives an instruction to transmit an infrared signal (all not shown). When the operation button is pressed, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to output a predetermined infrared signal from the light emitting unit. In the electronic shelf label 5 that has received the infrared signal from the remote controller 160, the display on the display 51 is switched as described above.

<2-4-2. Basic operation of electronic shelf label system>
Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label system 1 until the selling price is displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 will be described. In the electronic shelf label system 1, the selling price is distributed from the information distribution device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 when the system is activated and when the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 is updated. Here, when the selling price is updated, the normal price of the product master 301 is changed, or when the selling price is changed from the normal price to the special selling price in executing the special sale. When the system is activated, the selling price is distributed for all the products 6 in the store. On the other hand, when the selling price is updated, the selling price is distributed only for the target product 6. Thereby, the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 and the selling price at the time of settlement by the register 32 are always matched. Below, the operation | movement which concerns on distribution of the selling price regarding the one goods 6 is demonstrated. In the following description, the product 6 for which the selling price is to be distributed is referred to as “target product 6”.

  First, the ESL server 10 of the information distribution device 40 includes data (this is the device code of the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the target product 6 and image data (selling price display image data) to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5. "Selling price distribution data"). Specifically, first, the device code linked to the target product 6 is acquired with reference to the link table 103. Further, referring to the record 112 related to the target product 6 in the product file 101, the selling price and the product name to be distributed among the normal price and the special sale price are acquired, and various kinds of the acquired selling price and product name are acquired. An image displaying information is generated and acquired as selling price display image data. Then, one piece of data including the acquired device code and the generated selling price display image data is generated and acquired as selling price distribution data. The selling price display image data included in the selling price distribution data is displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5, whereby the selling price of the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label 5 is displayed (see FIG. 6).

  When the selling price distribution data is generated, the ESL server 10 transmits the generated selling price distribution data to each communication device 4 through the base station 41 as an electrical signal.

  The selling price distribution data transmitted from the ESL server 10 is received by the communication device 4. When the communication device 4 receives the selling price distribution data, it outputs it in the form of an infrared signal.

  The infrared signal output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 of the electronic shelf label 5. The communication unit 54 converts the received infrared signal into an electrical signal and inputs it to the control unit 57. The control unit 57 acquires data (device code and sales price display image data) included in the sales price distribution data from the input electric signal.

  Next, the control unit 57 determines whether or not the acquired device code matches the device code of the own device stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 57. If the acquired device code does not match that of its own device, the control unit 57 determines that the received selling price distribution data is information for another electronic shelf label 5 and ends the process. On the other hand, if the acquired device code matches that of the own device, the control unit 57 determines that the received selling price distribution data is information for the own device and indicates that the selling price distribution data has been received normally. The light emitting unit 52 is caused to output an infrared signal (ACK signal) including information. Then, the obtained selling price display image data is displayed on the display 51. As a result, a new selling price is displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5. That is, the selling price is updated.

  The ACK signal transmitted from the electronic shelf label 5 is received by the communication device 4, and information included in the ACK signal is transmitted to the ESL server 10. If the ESL server 10 does not receive the ACK signal from the electronic shelf label 5, it determines that the selling price distribution data has not been normally received by the electronic shelf label 5, and until it receives the ACK signal from the electronic shelf label 5. Processing to repeatedly distribute the selling price (recovery communication). Thereby, the display of the electronic shelf label 5 can be reliably updated, and the reliability of the system can be greatly improved.

  The selling price is distributed from the information distribution device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 by the operation as described above.

<3. Electronic shelf label>
As described above, the electronic shelf label 5 updates the display on the display 51 of the own device when receiving the selling price distribution data including the device code of the own device. The display update of the display 51 will be described in detail.

<3-1. Constitution>
A functional configuration relating to display update of the display 51 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration.

  The control unit 57 of the electronic shelf label 5 includes an image memory 71 and a flag memory 72. Each of these memories 71 and 72 is constituted by a nonvolatile memory. The CPU of the control unit 57 includes a communication processing unit 81, a display processing unit 82, a flag management unit 83, an error processing control unit 84, a voltage detection unit 85, and an initialization processing unit 86. Has been.

  The image memory 71 is a memory in which various image data to be displayed on the display 51 is stored. The image memory 71 stores the selling price display image data received from the ESL server 10. The image memory 71 stores in advance image data for an error screen (hereinafter referred to as “error image data”) displayed on the display 51 when a trouble occurs in the electronic shelf label 5. The error screen may be a white screen or a screen (see FIG. 12) on which information (for example, an error number) suggesting the type of error is displayed.

  The flag memory 72 is a memory for storing a flag (hereinafter referred to as “status flag F”) indicating the state of the electronic shelf label 5, particularly the updated state of the display 51. The status flag F indicates the update state of the display 51 by one of an affirmative value “F = 0”, a first negative value “F = 2”, and a second negative value “F = 1”. However, an affirmative value “F = 0” indicates a state in which a selling price display update process, which will be described later, is completed normally and the display 51 is properly updated, and the first negative value “F = 2” and the second negative value The value “F = 1” indicates the other state (a state in which the selling price display update process is not normally completed and the display 51 is not properly updated). The value of the status flag F is managed by a flag management unit 83 described later.

  The communication processing unit 81 is a functional unit that performs various processes related to communication with the ESL server 10. The communication processing unit 81 receives the selling price distribution data received from the ESL server 10 (that is, transmitted from the ESL server 10 and received by the light receiving unit 53 in the form of an infrared signal via the communication device 4. The device code and the sales price display image data are acquired from the electrical signal that has been converted into an electrical signal and then output to the control unit 57. If the acquired device code matches that of the own device, the communication processing unit 81 stores the acquired selling price display image data in the image memory 71 (reception command processing). In this case, the communication processing unit 81 causes the light emitting unit 52 to output an ACK signal (ACK reply processing). However, as will be described later, the communication processing unit 81 determines whether or not to perform the ACK reply process according to the state of the status flag F. That is, the ACK reply process is performed only when the status flag F is an affirmative value “F = 0” (that is, when the display 51 is properly updated), and otherwise (that is, the display 51 is appropriate). ACK reply processing is not performed in the case of not being updated.

  The display processing unit 82 is a functional unit that performs various processes related to display on the display 51, and includes a selling price display processing unit 821 and an error display processing unit 822. When the communication processing unit 81 stores new selling price display image data in the image memory 71, the selling price display processing unit 821 displays the new selling price display image data on the display 51 and updates the display on the display 51 ( Sales price display update process). Further, the error display processing unit 822 displays the error image data stored in the image memory 71 on the display 51 when receiving a predetermined instruction from the error processing control unit 84 (error display processing).

  The flag management unit 83 is a functional unit that manages the status flag F, and sets the value of the status flag F according to the update state of the display 51. That is, the flag management unit 83 temporarily sets the value of the status flag F to a negative value (specifically, the first negative value “F = 2”) before executing the selling price display update process, and displays the selling price display. When the update process is normally completed, the value of the status flag F is updated to an affirmative value “F = 0” (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the selling price display update process is not normally completed, the value of the status flag F remains the first negative value “F = 2”. In this case, predetermined error processing is performed (see FIG. 8). Further, the flag management unit 83 updates the value of the status flag F from the first negative value “F = 2” to the second negative value “F = 1” before executing the error display processing in the error processing (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the value of the status flag F is set to the second negative value “F = 1” after the error display process is executed and before the next selling price display update process is executed.

  The error processing control unit 84 is a functional unit that gives an instruction to the display processing unit 82 and the initialization processing unit 86 at a predetermined timing to execute a series of error processing when the display processing unit 82 fails in the selling price display update processing. It is. That is, when the display processing unit 82 fails in the selling price display update process, the error processing control unit 84 causes the error display processing unit 822 to perform error display processing after waiting for voltage recovery (see FIG. 10). The error processing flow will be specifically described later.

  The voltage detection unit 85 is a functional unit that detects the voltage of the battery 56. When the voltage detection unit 85 detects that the voltage of the battery 56 has become equal to or lower than the lower limit value of the operating voltage of the electronic shelf label 5 (hereinafter referred to as “minimum operating voltage”), Execute the conversion process.

  The initialization processing unit 86 is a functional unit that performs initialization processing of the electronic shelf label 5. The initialization processing unit 86 performs initialization processing when the electronic shelf label 5 is activated or when an instruction from the voltage detection unit 85 is received.

<3-2. Process flow>
Next, the flow of processing related to display update on the display 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an overall flow of processing related to display update on the display 51. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of the display update process. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of error processing.

<3-2-1. Display processing>
Please refer to FIG. When the electronic shelf label 5 is activated, the initialization processor 86 performs initialization processing (step S1). When the initialization process is performed, the electronic shelf label 5 waits for transmission of an infrared signal from the communication device 4 (that is, transmission of selling price distribution data from the ESL server 10) (step S2).

  When the selling price distribution data including the device code of the own device is received (YES in step S2), the communication processing unit 81 determines whether or not the status flag F is an affirmative value “F = 0” (step S3). ).

  When the status flag F is an affirmative value “F = 0” (YES in step S3), the communication processing unit 81 performs ACK reply processing (step S4), and then receives command processing (the selling price received in step S2). Processing to store selling price display image data included in the distribution data in the image memory 71) is performed (step S5). On the other hand, when the status flag F is not an affirmative value “F = 0” (NO in step S3), the communication processing unit 81 performs reception command processing without performing ACK reply processing (step S5).

  When the reception command process is performed, a display update process is subsequently performed (step S6). The display update process will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  In the display update process, first, the flag management unit 83 updates the status flag F to the first negative value “F = 2” (step S61).

  Subsequently, the selling price display processing unit 821 reads the selling price display image data stored in the image memory 71 in step S5 and displays the selling price display image data on the display 51 (sell price display update process) (step S62).

  When it is confirmed that the process of step S62 is successful and the display on the display 51 is properly updated (YES in step S63), the flag management unit 83 sets the status flag F to the first negative value “F = 2”. To affirmative value “F = 0” (step S64). In this case, the display update process ends with the status flag F set to an affirmative value “F = 0”.

  On the other hand, when the process of step S62 fails and the display on the display 51 is not properly updated (NO in step S63), the flag management unit 83 does not update the status flag F. In this case, the display update process is ended while the status flag F remains in the first negative value “F = 2”. The situation in which the selling price display update process fails is specifically the case where the supply voltage from the battery 56 has become equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage in the selling price display update process. As described above, the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 is configured by electronic paper. As will be described later, in electronic paper, a considerable amount of peak current is required when rewriting the display. Therefore, for example, when the selling price display update process is performed in a situation where the remaining battery level of the battery 56 is low, a considerable amount of peak current is consumed, so that the supply voltage from the battery 56 may be lower than the minimum operating voltage. High nature. When the voltage detection unit 85 detects that the supply voltage from the battery 56 is equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage, the voltage detection unit 85 causes the initialization processing unit 86 to perform initialization processing. In this case, since the selling price display update process is interrupted, the display on the display 51 is not properly updated, and the selling price display update process has failed.

<3-2-2. Error handling>
When the selling price display update process fails, the error process control unit 84 causes the error process to be performed. Error processing will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when the supply voltage from the battery 56 is equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage in the selling price display update process, the program is automatically restarted, and the initialization process by the initialization processing unit 83 is performed (step S81).

  When the initialization process is completed, the error process control unit 84 determines whether or not the status flag F is the first negative value “F = 2” (step S82). Here, the status flag F being the first negative value “F = 2” means that the error display process has never been executed in the error process. That is, in this error process, it is determined whether or not an error display process has already been executed. Now, it is assumed that the status flag F is the first negative value “F = 2” (in this error process, the error display process has not been executed yet).

  When the status flag F is the first negative value “F = 2” (YES in step S82), the error processing control unit 84 passes a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) after the initialization processing is completed. (Waiting for voltage recovery) (step S83). That is, the error process control unit 84 does not start the display update process until a predetermined time has elapsed since the sale price display update process failed. The elapsed time is counted using the timer 841 (see FIG. 7), and the specific value of the standby time can be arbitrarily set.

  The reason for waiting for voltage recovery is to increase the possibility of success of the error display process to be performed next. As described above, the situation in which the selling price display update process has failed has occurred because the selling price display update process has been attempted in a state where the battery power of the electronic shelf label 5 is low, as schematically shown in FIG. It can be considered that the supply voltage from 56 has fallen below the minimum operating voltage. In this case, the supply voltage recovers to the minimum operating voltage by performing the initialization process, but further voltage recovery from there is gradually performed, so that the voltage is still sufficient when the initialization process is completed. Recovery cannot be expected.

  As described above, when the display 51 is rewritten, a considerable amount of peak current is required. (As will be described later, the error display process according to this embodiment is devised so as to be less than the selling price display update process, but still requires a certain amount of peak current). If the error display process is to be performed immediately after the conversion process is completed (that is, before sufficient voltage recovery has not been performed), the supply voltage from the battery 56 becomes the lowest again due to the peak current consumed in the process. There is a high possibility that the voltage is lower than the operating voltage (broken line in FIG. 11). When the supply voltage from the battery 56 becomes equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage, the initialization processing unit 86 performs the initialization process. In this case, the error display process is interrupted, so the display on the display 51 is appropriate. In other words, the error display process ends in failure.

  On the other hand, when waiting for voltage recovery, that is, when waiting for a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) after the initialization process is completed, voltage recovery can be expected during this period. Therefore, the possibility of the supply voltage from the battery 56 being equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage due to the peak current consumed in the error display process is reduced (solid line in FIG. 11). That is, the possibility that the error display process will fail is reduced.

  When the voltage recovery wait is completed, the display update process is started (step S84). In the display update process in the error process, first, the flag management unit 83 updates the status flag F from the first negative value “F = 2” to the second negative value “F = 1” (step S841). Subsequently, the error processing control unit 84 instructs the error display processing unit 822 to display an error screen. In response to an instruction from the error processing control unit 84, the error display processing unit 822 reads the error image data stored in the image memory 71 and displays the error image data on the display 51 (error display processing) ( Step S842).

  The image memory 71 stores in advance a plurality of types of error image data (for example, image data displaying error numbers (see FIG. 13)) corresponding to various errors that may occur in the electronic shelf label 5. It may be. In this case, the error processing control unit 84 selects one error image data corresponding to the error that the selling price display update process has failed, and instructs the error display processing unit 822 to display the selected error image data. give. When the error display processing unit 822 receives an instruction from the error processing control unit 84, the error display processing unit 822 reads out the specified error image data from among the plurality of error image data stored in the image memory 71, and the error image data. Data is displayed on the display 51. According to this configuration, since an error screen indicating the failure of the selling price display update process is displayed on the display 51, not only the fact that an error has occurred but also that the selling price display update process has failed. The staff can be surely known.

  When the error display process (step S842) performed in the display update process (step S84) is successful and it is confirmed that the error screen is properly displayed on the display 51 (YES in step S85), the error process control unit 84 ends the error processing.

  On the other hand, when the error display process (step S842) performed in the display update process (step S84) has failed and the display on the display 51 has not been updated properly (NO in step S85), the initialization processing unit 86 again returns. Initialization processing is performed (step S81). That is, the situation where the error display process fails is specifically a case where the supply voltage from the battery 56 has become equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage in the error display process because the battery 56 is low. is there. When the voltage detection unit 85 detects that the supply voltage from the battery 56 is equal to or lower than the minimum operating voltage, the voltage detection unit 85 causes the initialization processing unit 86 to perform initialization processing. In this case, since the error display process is interrupted, the display on the display 51 is not properly updated.

  When the initialization process ends, the error process control unit 84 subsequently determines whether or not the status flag F is the first negative value “F = 2” (step S82). If the status flag F is not the first negative value “F = 2” (NO in step S82), the error processing control unit 84 ends the error processing without performing the processing in steps S83 to S85. As described above, when the error display process is performed once, the value of the status flag F is set to the second negative value “F = 1” regardless of whether or not the process is successful. Yes. Therefore, the status flag F is the second negative value “F = 1” (not the first negative value “F = 2”) at the time after the initialization processing in step S81 is performed. This means that the error display process has already been executed and the error display process has failed. In such a situation, it is presumed that the remaining amount of the battery 56 is low enough that the error display process cannot be performed properly, and even if the error display process is performed again in such a situation, there is a possibility of failure. Is expensive. Therefore, in this case, the error process is terminated without performing the display update process again (that is, without performing the error display process again).

<3-3. Sales price display update processing and error display processing>
As described above, in the processing related to display display update, the selling price display processing unit 821 performs selling price display update processing (step S62 in FIG. 9), whereby a new selling price is displayed on the display 51. If the selling price display update process fails, the error display processing unit 822 performs an error display process (step S842 in FIG. 10), and an error screen is displayed on the display 51. Hereinafter, each process of the selling price display update process and the error display process will be specifically described.

  Before describing each process, the display principle of electronic paper will be briefly described. As is well known, electronic paper is between two opposing substrates (a substrate disposed on the front side is hereinafter referred to as a “first substrate”, and a substrate disposed on the back side is hereinafter referred to as a “second substrate”). It has a configuration in which a black electro-powder fluid that is blacked out positively and a white electro-powder fluid that is negatively charged are enclosed. In addition, electrodes are arranged in a matrix on the two substrates, and an arbitrary voltage difference can be formed at an arbitrary position in the display area. When a voltage difference is formed between the substrates, the encapsulated electronic powder fluids move in different directions, thereby displaying white or black at that position. For example, when a pixel position on the display is displayed in white, a voltage is applied from the electrode at the position to the first substrate so that the voltage of the first substrate is higher than the voltage of the second substrate (hereinafter “white voltage addition”). Called). Then, the white electron powder fluid moves to the first substrate side, and the black electron powder fluid moves to the second substrate side. As a result, the pixel position is displayed in white. Conversely, when the position is displayed in black, a voltage is applied from the electrode at the position to the second substrate to make the voltage of the second substrate higher than the voltage of the first substrate (hereinafter referred to as “black voltage addition”). . Then, the black electron powder fluid moves to the first substrate side, and the white electron powder fluid moves to the second substrate side. As a result, the pixel position is displayed in black.

<3-3-1. Price display update processing>
The selling price display update process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of selling price display update processing. FIG. 12 schematically shows the state of the display 51 at each processing stage.

  The selling price display processing unit 821 first deletes the currently displayed screen (pre-update screen) (erase processing) (step S621). Specifically, the erasing process is performed by alternately performing “black erasing” and “white erasing” a plurality of times. Here, for example, it is assumed that black erasure (step S6211), white erasure (step S6212), and black erasure (step S6213) are performed in this order.

  However, “black erasure” is a process of simultaneously applying a black voltage to all of the electrodes arranged on the substrate constituting the display 51. If a black voltage is applied to all the electrodes simultaneously, the entire area of the display 51 is instantaneously displayed in black. “White erasure” is a process of applying white voltage to all electrodes simultaneously. If a white voltage is applied simultaneously to all the electrodes, the entire area of the display 51 is instantly displayed in white.

  Since the black electro-powder fluid and the white electro-powder fluid are opposite to each other, they are fixed to each other in the drawing state. Therefore, the electronic powder fluid is not sufficiently loosened only by performing black erasing (or white erasing) once, and the pre-update screen is not completely erased. If the electronic powder fluid is not sufficiently loosened, the updated screen becomes a blurred screen without contrast. Here, black erasing and white erasing are alternately performed a plurality of times (that is, black voltage addition and white voltage addition are alternately performed a plurality of times for all the electrodes). The electronic powder fluid is well agitated and the electronic powder fluid is sufficiently loosened. As a result, the pre-update screen displayed on the display 51 can be completely erased. In addition, the updated screen can be drawn with good contrast.

  When the pre-update screen is deleted, the selling price display processing unit 821 subsequently scans and writes (writes) selling price display image data on the display 51 (step S622). That is, black voltage addition or white voltage addition is performed on each electrode in accordance with each pixel value of selling price display image data. However, the drawing process is not performed by applying voltage to all the electrodes at the same time as in the erasing process, but is performed by sequentially applying voltage to each electrode. That is, when the erasing process is completed, the display 51 is black on the front surface. First, of the electrodes arranged in the uppermost row line, the electrodes corresponding to the pixels to be displayed in white are sequentially arranged from the left, for example. White voltage will be added. Subsequently, white voltage is sequentially applied to the electrodes corresponding to the pixels to be displayed in white among the electrodes arranged in the second row line. Such processing is performed for all the line lines line by line. When such a process is performed for all the line lines, the drawing process is completed. In this way, when the screen is drawn while sequentially applying a voltage to each electrode (scanning drawing), the time required to complete the drawing process is increased, but the instantaneous voltage load is reduced, so erasing is performed. Compared with processing, the peak current becomes smaller, and reset due to voltage drop is less likely to occur.

  More specifically, the black voltage addition and the white voltage addition are performed by performing a process of applying a predetermined voltage for a predetermined time a plurality of times. The voltage application time and the number of times of voltage application can be arbitrarily set. However, the longer the time is, and the greater the number of times, the higher the contrast of the display. In general, a single voltage addition time for black / white voltage addition in the erasing process is set longer than the voltage addition time for the drawing process. Further, the number of black / white voltage additions in the erasing process is set to be larger than the number of voltage additions related to the drawing process. In other words, a single black / white voltage addition related to the drawing process requires less electricity than a single black / white voltage addition related to the erasure process. Even from this point, in the drawing process, the peak current is smaller than that in the erasing process, and the reset due to the voltage drop is less likely to occur.

<3-3-2. Error display processing>
Next, the error display process will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the flow of error display processing. FIG. 13 schematically shows the state of the display 51 at each processing stage.

  The error display processing unit 822 first causes the display 51 to scan and write (write) a white screen (white drawing process) (step S84211). That is, when the error display process is started, the pre-update screen is displayed on the display 51. First, among the electrodes arranged in the uppermost row line, the electrode corresponding to the pixel displayed in black The white voltage is added in order. Subsequently, white voltage is sequentially applied to the electrodes corresponding to the pixels displayed in black among the electrodes arranged in the second row line. Such processing is performed for all the line lines line by line. When such processing is performed for all the line lines, the white drawing processing is completed. As described above, according to the configuration in which the voltage is sequentially applied to each electrode in this way, the peak current is smaller than that in the erasing process, and the reset due to the voltage drop is less likely to occur.

  Further, as described above, a single black / white voltage application relating to the drawing process requires less electricity than a single black / white voltage application relating to the erasing process. In image processing, reset due to a voltage drop is less likely to occur than in erasure processing.

  In the error display processing, the error display processing unit 822 repeatedly executes the above-described white drawing processing a plurality of times (here, three times) (steps S8421 to S8423). The number of times to repeat the white rendering process can be set arbitrarily, but at least 3 times or more to erase the pre-update screen to some extent (to the extent that the customer does not recognize that it is a screen displaying the selling price) It is preferable to set to.

  When the three white rendering processes are completed, the error display processing unit 822 causes the display 51 to perform scanning rendering (write) of the error image data (step S854). That is, black voltage addition or white voltage addition is performed on each electrode according to each pixel value of the error image data. Again, the voltage load on each electrode is performed one electrode at a time. That is, when the white drawing process is completed, the display 51 is white on the entire surface. First, among the electrodes arranged in the uppermost row line, black is sequentially applied to the electrodes corresponding to the pixels to be displayed in black. Apply voltage. Subsequently, black voltage is sequentially applied to the electrodes corresponding to the pixels to be displayed black among the electrodes arranged in the second row line. Such processing is performed for all the line lines line by line. When such a process is performed for all the line lines, the drawing process is completed.

  This drawing process is performed by applying a black voltage to the electrode corresponding to the pixel to be displayed in black. Therefore, in order to reduce the voltage load, the error image data is image data with as few black pixels as possible. (That is, image data based on white) is preferable. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, an error number (an error number indicating an error that the selling price display update process has failed) may be displayed in a small size on the screen.

<4. effect>
In the conventional electronic shelf label system, the electronic shelf label always returns an ACK signal when receiving product information (sale price distribution data) related to the product supported by the electronic shelf label from the ESL server. In such a configuration, even when the electronic shelf label has failed in the process of updating the display based on the received product information, the ESL server side is not aware of the fact and continues to add new ones. Keep sending product information. On the other hand, on the electronic shelf label side, an ACK signal is returned and display contents are updated every time new product information is received. When the remaining capacity of the battery 56 is small, the ACK signal return process with a small amount of electricity required succeeds, but the display update process with a large amount of electricity eventually fails. Therefore, the old selling price that does not reflect the updated content continues to be displayed on the display of the electronic shelf label 5. However, since the ESL server receives the ACK signal, the change cannot be detected. Therefore, it is highly likely that such a state will continue for a long period of time without being noticed by the store staff.

  According to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to quickly detect the occurrence of such a situation and to make the store staff know this quickly and reliably.

  That is, according to the electronic shelf label system 1, even when the electronic shelf label 5 receives product information (sale price distribution data) related to the product 6 to which the device itself corresponds from the ESL server 10, the status flag F is If the affirmative value “F = 0” indicating that the display has been properly updated is not set, an ACK signal is not returned to the server. According to this configuration, the ESL server 10 can detect whether or not the display 51 is properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5 from the presence or absence of the ACK signal. That is, when the display 51 is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5 due to some trouble (for example, a voltage drop due to battery shortage), this can be detected on the ESL server 10 side. Further, even when the trouble is recovered and the display 51 is properly updated, this can be detected on the ESL server 10 side. That is, the ESL server 10 can collectively manage whether or not each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in the store properly updates the display.

  Accordingly, when there is an electronic shelf label 5 that has failed to update the display 51 in the store, the store staff can quickly and reliably confirm the presence of the electronic shelf label 5 by looking at the information held by the ESL server 10. You can know. When the store staff takes appropriate measures (such as replacing the battery of the electronic shelf label 5 that has failed to update the display 51), there is an electronic shelf label 5 that does not display the correct selling price in the store. The situation can be improved quickly.

  Further, according to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the status flag F of the electronic shelf label 5 is set to a negative value “F = 1” indicating that the display 51 is not properly updated. However, although the ACK reply process is not performed, the reception command process and the display update process are to be performed (see FIG. 8). Even with the electronic shelf label 5 that has failed in the previous display update process, there is a possibility that the voltage is recovered due to a change in the ambient environmental temperature and the next display update process is successful. For example, since fruits and vegetables such as supermarkets and the vicinity of refrigerators in meat shops are cold, voltage drops are likely to occur in the electronic shelf labels 5 arranged in such corners, and resetting is likely to occur. However, even if the electronic shelf label 5 that is reset at the low temperature corner is moved to the normal temperature corner, there is a high possibility that the display update process can be performed again. In the above embodiment, when the electronic shelf label 5 succeeds in the display update process, the status flag F is set to an affirmative value “F = 0” again (see FIG. 9). It will be in the state to perform. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic shelf label 5 can be automatically restored to normal operation in such a situation.

  Further, according to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment, when the display 51 is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5, the error processing control unit 84 performs error display processing on the error display processing unit 822. Let it be done. Therefore, an error screen is displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 whose display 51 has not been updated properly. According to this configuration, since the screen before update (that is, the selling price before update) is continuously displayed on the electronic shelf label 5, it is possible to prevent a situation in which erroneous information is given to the customer.

  Further, according to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the error processing control unit 84 causes the error display processing unit 822 to perform error display processing only once. That is, even if this error display process is not completed normally and an error screen is not displayed on the display 51, the error display process is not performed again. If the error display process has failed once, there is a high possibility that a significant voltage drop has occurred due to battery shortage, and even if the error display process is executed again, there is a high possibility of failure. According to the above configuration, since the error display process is not performed again, it is possible to avoid a situation where the process that is likely to fail is repeated many times and the power of the electronic shelf label 5 is wasted. It becomes.

  Further, according to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment, when the display 51 is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5, the error processing control unit 84 performs error display processing on the error display processing unit 822. In other words, this process is started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the initialization process was completed (that is, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the selling price display update process was performed). If the selling price display update process has failed, there is a high possibility that a voltage drop has occurred due to the selling price display update process, and even if the error display process is immediately executed in this state, there is a high possibility of failure. According to the above configuration, the error display process is started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the failure of the selling price display update process, so that voltage recovery can be expected during that time, and the error display process is performed in a stable voltage state. It becomes possible. Therefore, the possibility of failure in the error display process is reduced.

  In the electronic shelf label system according to the above-described embodiment, a process of displaying an update screen on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 (sale price display update process), a process of displaying an error screen (error display process), Are implemented in different ways. Specifically, the selling price display update process performs the erasing process, but the error display process does not perform the erasing process, and the process of scanning and drawing the white screen is performed a plurality of times to replace the erasing process. As a result, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, in the selling price display update process, it is possible to completely erase the screen before updating (that is, the selling price before updating) by performing the erasing process, and the screen after updating (that is, selling price after updating) has a good contrast. It becomes possible to draw with. In other words, the updated screen can be displayed in a clear state with no afterimage.

  On the other hand, as described above, since the instantaneous voltage load is large in the erasing process, resetting due to a voltage drop is likely to occur when the remaining capacity of the battery 56 of the electronic shelf label 5 is small. In the error display process, the white screen is scanned. Since the display on the pre-update screen is erased by performing drawing a plurality of times, the instantaneous voltage load is small, and the probability of occurrence of such a reset is reduced. In addition, as described above, since the drawing process requires less electricity than the erasing process when viewed in a short time, according to the configuration in which the screen before update is erased by performing the white light process a plurality of times, the erasing process is performed. The peak current consumed is smaller than in the configuration to be performed. From this point of view, the probability of occurrence of reset can be suppressed. In other words, since the error screen can be updated without applying an electrical burden, there is a high possibility that the error screen can be successfully displayed even if the display update of the display 51 has failed. If the possibility of failing to display the error screen is reduced, the screen before update remains displayed on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5, and it is difficult for a situation in which erroneous information is transmitted to the customer. .

  Disadvantages of replacing the erasure process with the white light process are that an afterimage of the screen before the update is likely to remain, and that contrast is difficult to appear on the screen after the update. However, the purpose of the error display process is to prevent the pre-update screen (that is, the pre-update selling price) from being displayed and to prevent erroneous information from being transmitted to the customer. It does not have to be completely erased, and it is sufficient if it is difficult to see to the extent that the customer does not recognize that it is a screen displaying the selling price (white light processing multiple times (preferably three times or more) This is enough to keep the screen between updates so difficult to see). Further, it is sufficient that the error screen is displayed with a contrast that allows the store staff to recognize the error number. Therefore, these disadvantages are not a problem in the error display process.

<5. Modification>
<5-1. First Modification>
A first modification will be described. The electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment has a feature that the electronic shelf label 5 does not send back an ACK signal when the display 51 fails to be updated (FIG. 15A). reference). Therefore, the ESL server 10 can detect that the display 51 is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5 when the ACK signal is not received.

  However, in some cases, the display 51 is properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5, that is, the ACK signal is received on the ESL server 10 side even though the ACK signal is returned from the electronic shelf label 5. It can also be assumed that no is received (see FIG. 15B). For example, this corresponds to a case where an infrared signal emitted from the light emitting unit 52 of the electronic shelf label 5 is blocked by a person or a product shelf and does not reach the communication device 4. In such a situation, the ESL server 10 misidentifies that the electronic shelf label 5 has failed to update the display 51 even though the display 51 has been appropriately updated in the electronic shelf label 5. Resulting in.

  In order to avoid such a situation, the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment may be further added with a function of performing confirmation communication described below.

<5-1-1. Constitution>
The function of performing confirmation communication will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to confirmation communication. FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining confirmation communication.

  The ESL server 10 according to this modification includes a confirmation signal transmission unit 91 and an update state determination unit 92 as functional units for performing confirmation communication. These functional units may be realized by the CPU 11 performing arithmetic processing according to an operation program stored in advance in the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 or may be realized by dedicated hardware.

  The confirmation signal transmission unit 91, when the selling price distribution data is transmitted but the ACK signal is not received from the electronic shelf label 5, the device code included in the selling price distribution data for which the ACK signal was not obtained (that is, A confirmation signal including the device code of the electronic shelf label 5 that should transmit the ACK signal is generated and transmitted.

  The update state determination unit 92 determines the update state of the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 based on the presence or absence of an ACK signal with respect to the confirmation signal. That is, when an ACK signal for the confirmation signal is obtained from the electronic shelf label 5, it is determined that the display 51 is not normally updated in the electronic shelf label 5 (FIG. 15A). On the other hand, when the ACK signal for the confirmation signal is not obtained from the electronic shelf label 5, it is determined that the display 51 is normally updated in the electronic shelf label 5 (FIG. 15B).

  On the other hand, the electronic shelf label 5 according to this modification includes a confirmation signal reply unit 93 as a functional unit for performing confirmation communication. This functional unit is realized by the control unit 57.

  When the confirmation signal reply unit 93 receives a confirmation signal addressed to the own device from the ESL server 10 (that is, a confirmation signal including the device code of the own device), the update state of the display 51 of the own device is determined from the value of the status flag F. The ACK reply process is performed only when the status flag F is not an affirmative value “F = 0” (that is, when the display 51 is not properly updated).

<5-1-2. Process flow>
The flow of confirmation communication processing performed in each of the functional units will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the ACK signal is not received from the electronic shelf label 5 even though the selling price distribution data is transmitted, the confirmation signal transmitting unit 91 generates a confirmation signal including the device code included in the selling price distribution data, Send. The confirmation signal transmitted from the ESL server 10 is transmitted to each communication device 4 through the base station 41 and is output from the communication device 4 in the form of an infrared signal. The infrared signal output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 of the electronic shelf label 5.

  When the communication unit 54 receives a confirmation signal addressed to the own device (that is, a confirmation signal including the device code of the own device), the confirmation signal reply unit 93 refers to the status flag F stored in the flag memory 72. Then, it is determined whether or not the display 51 is being updated normally.

  When the value of the status flag F is not an affirmative value “F = 0”, the confirmation signal reply unit 93 performs an ACK reply process (FIG. 15A). When the ACK signal for the confirmation signal is received on the ESL server 10 side, the update state determination unit 92 determines that the display 51 is not properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5 that has transmitted the confirmation signal. In this case, the ESL server 10 performs a process for notifying the store staff to that effect. For example, a warning screen indicating that the battery of the electronic shelf label 5 should be replaced is displayed on the display 15.

  On the other hand, when the value of the status flag F is an affirmative value “F = 0”, the confirmation signal reply unit 93 does not perform the ACK reply process (where the ACK signal may not reach the ESL server 10 as well). Is high) (FIG. 15B). When the ACK signal from the electronic shelf label 5 that has transmitted the confirmation signal is not received on the ESL server 10 side, the update state determination unit 92 determines that the display 51 is properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5. In this case, the notification process as described above is not performed.

<5-1-3. effect>
According to the above modification, when the ACK signal for the selling price distribution data is not received by the ESL server 10, is it due to the display 51 not being properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5? It is possible to correctly determine whether it is caused by other reasons. Therefore, even though the display 51 is properly updated in the electronic shelf label 5, the ESL server 10 misidentifies that the electronic shelf label 5 has failed to update the display 51. Can be avoided. That is, it is possible to accurately identify the electronic shelf label 5 that has failed to update the display 51.

<5-2. Second Modification>
A second modification will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, when the control unit 57 of the electronic shelf label 5 receives the selling price distribution data A addressed to itself from the ESL server 10, the control unit 57 transmits an infrared signal (ACK signal) including information indicating that the signal has been normally received. Then, the display unit 51 outputs the data to the light emitting unit 52, and then performs display update A on the display 51 to display the display price display image data newly obtained on the display 51 (FIG. 16A).

  By the way, the ESL server 10 receives the ACK signal transmitted from the electronic shelf label 5 via the communication device 4. If the ACK signal cannot be received, the ESL server 10 distributes the distributed selling price. It is determined that the data has not been normally received by the electronic shelf label 5, and recovery communication is performed. That is, the selling price distribution data A is repeatedly transmitted until the ACK signal from the electronic shelf label 5 is received.

  As also mentioned in the above modification, the case where the ESL server 10 cannot receive the ACK signal is because the transmitted selling price distribution data A is not normally received by the electronic shelf label 5, Of course, a situation in which updating of the display 51 has failed is conceivable. However, there may be a situation in which the ACK signal returned from the electronic shelf label 5 is not received by the ESL server 10 for some reason.

  The electronic shelf label 5 that has received the recovery communication performs display update A on the display 51 again based on the received selling price distribution data A. In the latter situation, the electronic shelf label 5 has already completed the display update A. However, the same display update processing A is repeatedly performed (FIG. 16B). Since the recovery communication is repeatedly performed until the ESL server 10 receives the ACK signal from the electronic shelf label 5, such a useless display update process may be repeatedly performed.

  As described above, the electronic paper used in the electronic shelf label 5 has a feature that driving power is required only for changing display contents (display updating), and driving power is not required for holding display contents. Yes. Therefore, if the number of display updates is small, the battery life of the battery 56 of the electronic shelf label 5 can be kept long. However, if such useless display update processing is performed, the battery 56 is not expected. It will be exhausted quickly. In order to avoid such a situation, the following functions may be further added to the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment.

  The electronic shelf label system according to this modification has the same configuration as the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 2). In the following, only differences from the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the above embodiment will be described. The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The ESL server 10 according to this modified example assigns identification information unique to the image data (for example, identification information by checksum or electronic message) to the selling price display image data included in the selling price distribution data. Then, selling price distribution data including one selling price display image data to which identification information is added and one device code is transmitted to each communication device 4 through the base station 41 as an electrical signal.

  On the other hand, when the electronic shelf label 5 according to this modification receives the selling price distribution data addressed to its own device (that is, selling price distribution data including the device code of its own device) from the ESL server 10, the electronic shelf label 5 performs the following processing.

  A flow of processing executed by the electronic shelf label 5 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a flow of processing executed by the electronic shelf label according to this modification.

  When the electronic shelf label 5 is activated, first, an initialization process is performed (step S101). Subsequently, the electronic shelf label 5 receives an infrared signal from the communication device 4 (that is, selling price distribution data from the ESL server 10). (S102).

  When an infrared signal including the device code of its own device is received (YES in step S102), the electronic shelf label 5 performs an ACK return process (step S103).

  Subsequently, the control unit 57 of the electronic shelf label 5 stores the identification information given to the selling price display image data included in the selling price distribution data obtained in step S102 in a predetermined memory (hereinafter referred to as “identification information”) of the control unit 57. It is determined whether or not it matches the identification information stored in the memory (step S104). However, as will be described later, identification information assigned to the selling price display image data currently displayed on the display 51 is stored in the identification information memory.

  When the identification information given to the selling price display image data received in step S102 does not match the identification information stored in the identification information memory (NO in step S104), the control unit 57 determines that the received selling price display image data is The selling price display image data currently displayed on the display 51 is determined to be different. In this case, the control unit 57 first stores the received command processing (the selling price display image data received in step S102 in the image memory and the identification information given to the selling price display image data in the identification information memory). Process) (step S105). Subsequently, the selling price display image data stored in the image memory in step S105 is read, and the selling price display image data is displayed on the display 51 (selling price display update process) (step S106).

  On the other hand, when the identification information given to the selling price display image data received in step S102 matches the identification information stored in the identification information memory (YES in step S104), the control unit 57 receives the selling price display image. It is determined that the data is the same as the selling price display image data currently displayed on the display 51. In this case, the control unit 57 again waits for the transmission of the infrared signal from the communication device 4 without performing the reception command process and the selling price display update process (step S102).

  According to the above modification, it is possible to avoid that the electronic shelf label 5 performs a useless update process (a process of updating the display of the same image data as the image data currently displayed on the display 51). As a result, wasteful consumption of the battery 56 can be suppressed. In addition, the rewrite life of the display 51 can be extended.

<5-3. Other variations>
In the above embodiment, when the ESL server 10 detects that an electronic shelf label 5 that has failed to update the display 51 has occurred in the store, the device code of the electronic shelf label 5 is, for example, It is good also as a structure which notifies to the store staff that generation | occurrence | production of the electronic shelf label 5 which failed to update the display 51 is transmitted to the order processing terminal 180. According to this configuration, the store staff can know the occurrence of the electronic shelf label 5 in the store.

1 Electronic shelf label system 5 Electronic shelf label 10 ESL server 71 Image memory 72 Flag memory 81 Communication processing unit 82 Display processing unit 83 Flag management unit 84 Error processing control unit 85 Voltage detection unit 86 Initialization processing unit 821 Price display processing unit 822 Error display processing section

Claims (5)

An electronic shelf label system comprising: a plurality of electronic shelf labels, each of which is arranged corresponding to a product, and displaying product information relating to the corresponding product; and a server that provides the product information to the plurality of electronic shelf labels. Because
Each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is
Communication processing means for returning an ACK signal to the server when product information related to the product corresponding to the device is received from the server;
Display processing means for performing display update processing for updating display on the basis of the product information received from the server;
Storage means for storing a status flag indicating an update state of the display;
Flag management means for updating the status flag to an affirmative value when the display update process is normally completed and the display is properly updated;
With
The communication processing means is
Even when product information is received from the server, an ACK signal is not returned if the status flag is not set to the positive value. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is
Error display processing means for performing error display processing for displaying a predetermined error screen on the display;
An error processing control means for performing predetermined error processing when the status flag is set to a negative value;
With
The error handling control means is
An electronic shelf label system that causes the error display processing means to perform the error display processing in the predetermined error processing. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2,
The error handling control means is
An electronic shelf label system, wherein the error display process is not performed again when the error display process performed by the error display processing unit in the predetermined error process fails. The electronic shelf label system according to claim 2 or 3,
The error handling control means is
In the predetermined error processing, the electronic shelf label system causes the error display processing means to start the error display processing after a predetermined time has elapsed since the display update processing was performed. The electronic shelf label system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The server is
When an ACK signal is not received from the predetermined electronic shelf label even though product information relating to the product corresponding to the predetermined electronic shelf label is transmitted, a confirmation signal is transmitted to the predetermined electronic shelf label Confirmation signal transmission means;
Update state determination means for determining whether or not the display of the predetermined electronic shelf label is properly updated based on the presence or absence of an ACK signal with respect to the confirmation signal;
With
Each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels is
Reply means for returning an ACK signal to the server when the confirmation signal for the own device is received from the server;
With
The reply means
Even when the confirmation signal for the device itself is received from the server, if the status flag is set to the positive value, an ACK signal is not returned,
The update state determination means is
An electronic shelf label system that determines that the display of the predetermined electronic shelf label is properly updated when an ACK signal corresponding to the confirmation signal is not received.

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