JP5497876B2 - Electronic shelf label - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays product information relating to the corresponding product.

  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.

  In order to solve such a problem, as described in Patent Document 1, an electronic shelf label system (ESL system / Electronic Shelf Label System) has been put into practical use in recent years. In the electronic shelf label system, a portable electronic shelf label that displays product information related to a product such as a selling price is arranged corresponding to each product. And the communication signal containing the information which shows the selling price based on a goods master is transmitted to each electronic shelf label from the delivery side apparatus which distributes information, and the selling price is displayed on each electronic shelf label. Thus, the correct selling price that 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.

JP 2004-265195 A

  As described in Patent Document 1 described above, in the conventional electronic shelf label, an overlay label on which a barcode as product identification information for identifying a corresponding product is printed is attached. When ordering a product, a barcode printed on the overlay label of the corresponding electronic shelf label is used.

  On the other hand, when sales of products are sluggish or when seasonal products are replaced, it may be prohibited to place orders for those products, and it is necessary to prevent products that have been banned from being ordered by mistake. is there.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when using the information displayed on the electronic shelf label to place an order for the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label, An object is to provide a technique that can be prevented.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is an electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays product information relating to the corresponding product, and corresponds to the display unit and the electronic shelf label. The display unit simultaneously displays product identification information for identifying the product and product information other than the product identification information related to the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label, which is used when placing an order for the product. A display control unit, and the display control unit displays the product information other than the product identification information on the display unit when a specific signal is input from the outside of the electronic shelf label, and the product identification The display of information is erased on the display unit.

  The invention of claim 2 is the electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the specific signal is input from a portable display switching device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a specific signal is input from the outside, the product identification information is erased from the display of the display unit, so that the product is erroneously ordered using the product identification information. Can be prevented.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the product identification information can be erased from the display of the display unit by a specific signal output from the portable display switching device, the operator confirms the product. While ordering can be prohibited. Therefore, working efficiency is improved.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the electronic shelf label with which the electronic shelf label system which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided is arrange | positioned. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the goods management system containing the electronic shelf label system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the order processing terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the ESL server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a goods file. It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the remote control which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order prohibition screen of the electronic shelf label which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the order processing terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

<Outline of electronic shelf label>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an electronic shelf label 5 provided in the electronic shelf label system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged on a product shelf 60 of a store. In the electronic shelf label system 1, a portable electronic shelf label 5 that displays product information related to a product such as a selling price is arranged corresponding to each product 6. And the communication signal containing the information which shows the selling price based on a goods master is transmitted to each electronic shelf label 5 from the delivery side apparatus which distributes information, 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, a plurality of product shelves 60 as shown in FIG. 1 are arranged in a sales space in the store.

<Commodity management system configuration>
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.

  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.

  The POS system 3 is a system that collects and analyzes information related to the sale of products at the time of sale, and includes a plurality of registers 32 that perform product settlement together with a POS server 31 that collectively manages the POS system 3. ing. 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 products such as selling prices. In each of the plurality of registers 32, the product is settled based on the selling price described in the product master 301.

  Information related to all products in the store is centrally managed by the product master 301. Information described in the product master 301 includes a product identification code for identifying a product, a product name that is the name of the product, a normal price that is a normal selling price, a special price that is a selling price in a special sale, and a period during which the special sale is performed Special sales period, number of sales, number of stocks, number of orders delivered as a single order, and the like.

  The LAN 21 is connected to an access point (AP) 170 that is a radio relay for a wireless LAN. A portable ordering processing terminal 180 used for ordering goods 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. is there. When a predetermined operation is executed by the store staff, the order processing terminal 180 outputs ordering instruction information for instructing ordering of goods to the store controller 2 using the wireless LAN. The ordering instruction information includes, for example, a product identification code for identifying a product to be ordered, the quantity for ordering the product, and the like. The store controller 2 notifies the headquarters center of the input ordering instruction information, and the headquarters center places an order for goods to the server of the ordering supplier 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.

  The electronic shelf label system 1 is used when switching the display screen of the electronic shelf label 5 and the distribution side device 40 that distributes the selling price of the commodity to be displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 and the electronic shelf label 5 described above. And a portable remote controller 160.

  The distribution-side device 40 that is an information distribution unit includes an ESL server 10 that is a server device that collectively manages the electronic shelf label system 1 and a plurality of communication devices 4. The ESL server 10 and the plurality of communication devices 4 are connected to each other via a dedicated communication cable 22 so that data communication is possible between them. Each communication device 4 performs infrared communication with the electronic shelf label 5. The communication device 4 is arranged at substantially constant distances on the ceiling of the sales space 90 so that it can 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 basic programs, 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, a keyboard, An input unit 16 composed of a mouse or the like, a data communication unit 17 having a data communication function via the LAN 21, and an interface 18 for communicating with the communication device 4 are provided. A signal indicating the selling price to be transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 is transmitted to the communication device 4 via the interface 18.

  A dedicated program is stored in advance in the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10, and various functions as the ESL server 10 are realized by the CPU 11 performing arithmetic processing according to the program. In addition, the hard disk 14 of the ESL server 10 stores a product file 101 that is a data file indicating various information related to the product.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the product file 101. As shown in FIG. 5, the product file 101 has a table format, and each of the records 102 indicates information related to one product. Specifically, for each record 102, a product identification code, a product name, a normal price, a special sale price, a special sale period, a sales quantity, a stock quantity, an order quantity, 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.

  Further, in each record 102 of the product file 101, one “device code”, which is a hardware ID unique to each of the plurality of electronic shelf labels 5 included in the electronic shelf label system 1, is registered. Thereby, the product and the electronic shelf label 5 are associated with each other in a one-to-one relationship (linked). By using this device code, the selling price of a certain product is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product.

  The ESL server 10 having the above configuration generates transmission data to be transmitted to each electronic shelf label 5 by the CPU 11 and outputs the transmission data to each communication device 4 through the interface 18. Each communication device 4 outputs a communication signal including the input transmission data to each electronic shelf label 5 with which it can communicate. As a result, the same transmission data is input from the distribution side device 40 to each electronic shelf label 5 arranged in the sales space 90. The transmission data transmitted from the ESL server 10 includes product information such as a normal price and a sale price in the product file 101, a device code, and the like.

  Next, the configuration of the communication device 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication device 4. As illustrated in FIG. 6, each communication device 4 includes a control unit 41, a light emitting unit 42 configured by, for example, an LED, and a light receiving unit 43 configured by, for example, a photodiode and an amplifier.

  The control unit 41 controls the light emitting unit 42 based on the transmission data input from the ESL server 10. Thus, the light emitting unit 42 outputs an infrared signal modulated with transmission data.

  The light receiving unit 43 receives an infrared signal output from the electronic shelf label 5. This infrared signal is modulated by transmission data from the electronic shelf label 5 to the ESL server 10. The light receiving unit 43 converts the received infrared signal into an electrical signal and outputs it to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 performs a detection process or the like on the electric signal input from the light receiving unit 43 to reproduce the transmission data generated by the electronic shelf label 5. Then, the control unit 41 outputs the reproduced transmission data to the ESL server 10. The transmission data from the electronic shelf label 5 is also encoded, and the ESL server 10 performs a decoding process on the transmission data received from the communication device 4.

  Next, the configuration of the remote controller 160 serving as a display switching device will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the remote controller 160. As shown in FIG. 7, the remote controller 160 includes a light emitting unit 161 that outputs infrared signals, a control unit 162 that controls the light emitting unit 161, and operation buttons 163, which are configured by LEDs, for example. When the operation button 163 is pressed, the control unit 162 controls the light emitting unit 161 to output a predetermined infrared signal from the light emitting unit 161. When the store staff operates the operation button 163 with the light emitting area of the light emitting unit 161 facing the electronic shelf label 5, the infrared signal output from the light emitting unit 161 is transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 facing the light emitting unit 161. The display screen is switched in the electronic shelf label 5.

  Next, the configuration of the electronic shelf label 5 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electronic shelf label 5. As shown in FIG. 8, on the front surface of the electronic shelf label 5, a display 51 that displays product information and a communication unit 54 that is responsible for communication with the distribution side device 40 are arranged.

  The communication unit 54 includes a light emitting unit 52 that outputs an infrared signal, and a light receiving unit 53 that receives the infrared signal from the communication device 4 and the infrared signal from the remote controller 160, converts the signal into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal. Yes. 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 non-volatile display unit of a dot matrix system, and is composed of, for example, electronic paper. In a non-volatile display unit such as electronic paper, display contents can be held without applying driving power. Since the display 51 is a dot-matrix display unit, it can display not only numerical values indicating the selling price of goods but also characters, symbols, figures, and the like. In addition, the display 51 according to the present embodiment can switch and display a plurality of display screens. For example, the display 51 displays a normal screen SC1 displayed when an order for a product corresponding to the own device is not prohibited, and an order prohibition screen displayed when an order for a product corresponding to the own device is prohibited. SC2 can be switched and displayed. A normal screen SC1 is displayed on the display 51 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, on the normal screen SC1, the product name 51a of the product is displayed together with the selling price 51b of the product associated with the device itself. Furthermore, on the normal screen SC1, a character string 51c that represents a product identification code in numbers and a barcode 51d that represents the product identification code are displayed side by side in the direction in which the 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 57a, and the like. The memory 57a stores various information such as the selling price and product name to be displayed on the display 51, and the device code of the device itself. Information such as the selling price included in the infrared signal output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 and then input to the control unit 57. The control unit 57 temporarily stores the input information in the memory 57a. Then, the control unit 57 controls the display 51 to display various information in the memory 57a on the display 51. Thus, the control unit 57 functions as a display control unit that controls display on the display 51.

  When the operation button 163 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 electric signal and inputs it to the control unit 57. Then, control unit 57 changes the display on display 51 from normal screen SC1 to order prohibition screen SC2. When the operation button 163 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 the electrical signal to the control unit 57. . Then, control unit 57 changes the display on display 51 from order prohibition screen SC2 to normal screen SC1. The order prohibition screen SC2 will be described in detail later.

<Basic operation of the 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 distribution side device 40 to the electronic shelf label 5 when the system is activated, when the selling price displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 is updated, and the like. 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, selling prices are distributed for all products in the store. On the other hand, when the selling price is updated, the selling price is distributed only for the target product. 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 one goods is demonstrated. In the following description, a product for which selling price is distributed is referred to as “target product”.

  First, in the ESL server 10 of the distribution side device 40, the record 102 related to the target product in the product file 101 is referred to, and the selling price to be distributed and the device code out of the normal price and the special sale price are acquired. The device code acquired here is the device code of the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the target product, and the acquired selling price is the selling price that the electronic shelf label 5 should display. These selling prices and device codes are transmitted to the communication device 4 via the communication cable 22 as electrical signals. And the communication apparatus 4 outputs the infrared signal containing the information of a sales price and an apparatus code.

  The infrared signal output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 of the electronic shelf label 5 and converted into an electrical signal. The control unit 57 acquires the selling price and the device code from the electrical signal obtained by the communication unit 54.

  Next, the control unit 57 determines whether or not the obtained device code matches the device code of its own device stored in advance in the memory 57a. When the acquired device code does not match that of its own device, the control unit 57 determines that the received infrared signal is a signal for another electronic shelf label 5 and ends the process. On the other hand, when the acquired device code matches that of the own device, the control unit 57 determines that the received infrared signal is a signal for the own device, and displays the obtained selling price on the display 51, The selling price displayed on the display 51 is updated.

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

  When the display unit 51 updates the display 51, the control unit 57 causes the light emitting unit 52 to output an infrared signal including information indicating that the selling price has been normally received. The infrared signal is received by the communication device 4, and information included in the infrared signal is transmitted to the ESL server 10. Thereby, the ESL server 10 of the delivery side apparatus 40 can confirm whether the delivered selling price was normally received by the electronic shelf label 5 or not. Therefore, for example, when an infrared signal is not output from the electronic shelf label 5, it is determined that the distributed selling price has not been normally received by the electronic shelf label 5, and the ESL server 10 increases the selling price until the infrared signal is returned. Processing such as repeated delivery becomes possible. Thereby, the display of the electronic shelf label 5 can be reliably updated, and the reliability of the system can be greatly improved.

<How to order products>
In the merchandise management system 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to place an order for merchandise corresponding to the electronic shelf label 5 using information displayed on the electronic shelf label 5. Below, the ordering method of goods is demonstrated.

  When the number of products in the product shelf 60 decreases, the store staff reads the barcode 51d displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product with the barcode reader 182 of the order processing terminal 180. As a result, in the order processing terminal 180, the product identification code indicated by the barcode 51 d read by the barcode reader 182 is input to the control unit 185. The control unit 185 sets the product specified by the input product identification code as an order target.

  Next, when the store staff performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 183, the order quantity of the product is input to the control unit 185. The control unit 185 generates ordering instruction information instructing to place an order for the product specified by the input product identification code by the input quantity. The order instruction information includes a product identification code and an order quantity.

  Next, when the store staff performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 183, the communication unit 184 transmits a wireless signal including the order instruction information generated by the control unit 185 to the access point 170.

  The radio signal transmitted from the order processing terminal 180 is received by the access point 170, and the order instruction information included in the radio signal is input to the store controller 2 through the LAN 21. The store controller 2 notifies the headquarters center of the input ordering instruction information, and the headquarters center places an order for goods to the server of the supplier of the orderer based on the notified ordering instruction information.

  The product identification code is input to the order processing terminal 180 not only by reading the barcode 51d with the barcode reader 182 but also by inputting the number indicated by the character string 51c by operating the operation unit 183. be able to.

<Example of order prohibition screen display>
Next, the order prohibition screen SC2 will be described in detail.

<First Display Example: Simultaneous Display of Product Identification Information and Order Prohibition Information>
FIG. 9 shows a display example of the order prohibition screen SC2. As shown in FIG. 9, on the order prohibition screen SC2 of the display 51, in addition to the product name 51a, the selling price 51b, the character string 51c, and the barcode 51d displayed on the normal screen SC1, the product corresponding to the device itself is displayed. Order prohibition information 51e indicating that the order is prohibited is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the order prohibition information 51e is displayed with a symbol “x”. The order prohibition information 51e is displayed around a character string 51c and bar code 51d as product identification information for identifying a product.

  When the store manager notifies the store manager that the ordering of a certain product is prohibited due to sluggish sales or replacement of the product, the store staff uses the remote control 160 for the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the certain product. The operation button 163 of the remote controller 160 is pressed with the light emitting area of the light emitting unit 161 facing. Then, the display on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 is switched from the normal screen SC1 to the order prohibition screen SC2, and the order prohibition information 51e indicating prohibition of ordering of the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label 5 is displayed on the display 51. Become so.

  In this way, when ordering of a product is prohibited, displaying the order prohibition information 51e on the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product makes it easy to understand that the product is prohibited from being ordered. Can do. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the product from being ordered incorrectly by using the character string 51c and the barcode 51d displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 on which the order prohibition information 51e is displayed.

  Further, by displaying the order prohibition information 51e around the character string 51c and the bar code 51d used when ordering the product, the ordering of the product using the character string 51c and the bar code 51d is prohibited. Is easier to understand visually.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the order prohibition information 51e is displayed as a symbol, but may be displayed as a graphic or a character. FIG. 10 shows an ordering prohibition screen SC2 when the ordering prohibition information 51e is displayed as a rectangular figure, and FIG. 11 shows an ordering prohibition screen SC2 when the ordering prohibition information 51e is displayed with the characters “ordering prohibition”. ing. In the example shown in FIG. 10, a square indicating the order prohibition information 51e is displayed so as to surround the character string 51c and the barcode 51d. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the character string “prohibited ordering” indicating the ordering prohibition information 51e is displayed in the lower right corner when the ordering prohibition screen SC2 is viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 11, displaying the ordering prohibition information 51e in characters makes it easy to understand that ordering of products is prohibited.

  In the example of FIGS. 9 to 11, the order prohibition information 51e is displayed around the barcode 51d. However, at least one of a character, a figure, and a symbol is displayed as the order prohibition information 51e on the barcode 51d. May be. 12 to 14 are diagrams showing an order prohibition screen SC2 in the case where a graphic is displayed on the barcode 51d as the order prohibition information 51e. In the example of FIG. 12, a single straight line extending in the horizontal direction is displayed as the order prohibition information 51e so as to overlap the barcode 51d. In the example of FIG. In the example of FIG. 14, a graphic “×” is displayed as the order prohibition information 51 e so as to be superimposed on the barcode 51 d.

  As described above, by displaying at least one of characters, figures and symbols on the barcode 51d as the order prohibition information 51e, it becomes easy to visually understand that the order of the product is prohibited.

  The bar code 51d may be read by the bar code reader 182 of the ordering processing terminal 180 by displaying at least one of characters, figures and symbols superimposed on the end of the bar code 51d. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 described above, at least one of a character, a figure, and a symbol is displayed superimposed on the center of the barcode 51d so that the barcode 51d cannot be read by the barcode reader 182. May be. When the barcode 51d cannot be read as in the latter case, it is possible to reliably prevent an erroneous order for a product using the barcode 51d.

<Second display example: deletion of display of product identification information>
In the display examples of FIGS. 9 to 14 described above, the product identification information used for ordering products, such as the character string 51c and the bar code 51d, is displayed on the order prohibition screen SC2. Product identification information may not be displayed. That is, when a specific signal is input to the electronic shelf label 5 from the remote controller 160, the display of the product identification information on the display 51 of the electronic shelf label 5 may be deleted.

  15 to 17 are diagrams showing an order prohibition screen SC2 when product identification information is not displayed. In the example of FIG. 15, both the character string 51c and the barcode 51d are not displayed. In the example of FIG. 16, only the barcode 51d is not displayed. In the example of FIG. 17, only the character string 51c is displayed. It is not displayed.

  Thus, in the electronic shelf label 5, when a specific signal is input from the remote controller 160, the display on the display 51 is switched from the normal screen SC1 to the order prohibition screen SC2, and at least one of the character string 51c and the barcode 51d. By erasing the display, it can be understood that the ordering of the product is prohibited, and it is possible to prevent the product from being ordered incorrectly using the character string 51c or the barcode 51d.

  The order prohibition screen SC2 in FIGS. 15 to 17 is obtained by simply deleting the product identification information on the normal screen SC1, but displays the order prohibition information 51e instead of the product identification information on the normal screen SC1. May be. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an order prohibition screen SC2 when the character string 51c and the barcode 51d are switched to the order prohibition information 51e and displayed. In the example of FIG. 18, the character string “order prohibited” is displayed as the order prohibition information 51e. However, as described above, a symbol or a graphic may be displayed as the order prohibition information 51e.

  In this way, when a specific signal is input from the remote controller 160 in the electronic shelf label 5, the ordering of the product is prohibited by switching the product identification information such as the barcode 51d to the ordering prohibition information 51e and displaying it. Can be surely understood, and the product identification information can be used to prevent the product from being ordered incorrectly.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of the order prohibition screen SC2 when the character string 51c and the barcode 51d are switched to the order prohibition information 51e and displayed. In the example of FIG. 19, a character string 51f and a barcode 51g indicating a code that is not used as a product identification code, that is, a code that does not correspond to any product handled in the store, are displayed as the order prohibition information 51e. In the order prohibition screen SC2 of FIG. 19, the character string 51f is displayed at the position where the character string 51c was displayed, and the barcode 51g is displayed at the position where the barcode 51d was displayed.

  When the product identification information and the order prohibition information 51e are displayed on the order prohibition screen SC2 as in the examples of FIGS. 9 to 14 described above, the display mode of the electronic shelf label 5 is usually the one that the customer often sees. This is very different from the display mode of the screen SC1, and the customer who sees the order prohibition screen SC2 may feel unnatural on the display of the electronic shelf label 5 and may be confused when purchasing a product. When the display of the product identification information is simply deleted as in the examples of FIGS. 15 to 17 described above, or instead of the product identification information as in the example of FIG. 18, a character string is displayed as the order prohibition information 51e. The same applies to the case.

  On the other hand, as shown in the example of FIG. 19, when switching the display of the product identification information to the display of the order prohibition information 51e by switching the code to be displayed, the display mode of the electronic shelf label 5 is changed by the customer. Since it is not so different from the display mode of the normal screen SC1 that is often seen, it is possible to prevent erroneous ordering of merchandise without giving the customer much unnaturalness regarding display.

  As shown in the example of FIG. 19, when displaying a predetermined code as the order prohibition information 51e on the order prohibition screen SC2, the code displayed on the order prohibition screen SC2 and the product identification displayed on the normal screen SC1. It is difficult to visually distinguish the code from the code, and it may be difficult for the store staff who has seen the order prohibition screen SC2 to understand the prohibition of ordering commodities.

  Therefore, when the code displayed on the ordering prohibition screen SC2 is input to the ordering processing terminal 180, as shown in FIG. 20, it is displayed on the display 181 of the ordering processing terminal 180 that the ordering of goods is prohibited. Is desirable. In the example of FIG. 20, the character string 181 a “Order prohibited” is displayed, but other characters may be displayed, and symbols or figures may be displayed.

  As a method of inputting the code displayed on the ordering prohibition screen SC2 to the ordering processing terminal 180, the bar code 51g displayed on the ordering prohibition screen SC2 may be read by the bar code reader 182 of the ordering processing terminal 180, or ordering prohibited. The character string 51f displayed on the screen SC2 may be input by operating the operation unit 183.

  As described above, when the code displayed on the order prohibition screen SC2 is input to the order processing terminal 180, the code is changed by displaying that the ordering of the product is prohibited on the order processing terminal 180. Even if it is not understood that the display of the electronic shelf label 5 cannot understand that the ordering of the product is prohibited, the erroneous ordering of the product can be surely prevented.

<Modification of display screen switching method>
In the above example, the electronic shelf label 5 switches the display from the normal screen SC1 to the order prohibition screen SC2 by receiving a specific signal from the remote controller 160, but by receiving a specific signal from the ESL server 10. The display may be switched from the normal screen SC1 to the order prohibition screen SC2. Hereinafter, an operation example of the electronic shelf label system 1 in this case will be described.

  When the store staff performs a predetermined operation on the input unit 16 of the ESL server 10, the CPU 11 of the ESL server 10 is input with specific information for specifying a product for which ordering is prohibited. The CPU 11 generates transmission data including notification information for notifying the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product specified by the input specific information that ordering of the product is prohibited, The transmission data is output to the communication device 4 through the interface 18. This transmission data includes the device code of the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product specified by the specific information. And the communication apparatus 4 outputs the infrared signal containing the input transmission data.

  The infrared signal output from the communication device 4 is received by the communication unit 54 of the electronic shelf label 5 and converted into an electrical signal. The control unit 57 acquires notification information and a device code from the electrical signal obtained by the communication unit 54. The control unit 57 determines whether or not the obtained device code matches the device code of its own device stored in advance in the memory 57a. If they match, the control unit 57 controls the display 51 to display the same. Is switched from the normal screen SC1 to the order prohibition screen SC2. As a result, the order prohibition screen SC2 is displayed on the electronic shelf label 5 corresponding to the product that is the target of order prohibition.

  The notification information may be transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 together with the selling price. In this case, the notification information may be transmitted to the electronic shelf label 5 by using an empty bit of the data indicating the selling price as a control flag and inverting the bit of the control flag.

  Further, instead of generating the notification information and transmitting it to the electronic shelf label 5, the ESL server 10 may generate the display data of the order prohibition screen SC2 itself and transmit it to the electronic shelf label 5. In this case, when the electronic shelf label 5 receives the display data from the ESL server 10, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the order prohibition screen SC2 on the display 51 based on the display data. That is, when the display data of the order prohibition screen SC2 is input from the ESL server 10, the electronic shelf label 5 displays the order prohibition information 51e on the display 51.

5 Electronic shelf label 6 Product 51 Display 51a Product name 51b Price 51c Character string 51d Bar code 57 Control unit 160 Remote control

Claims (2)

An electronic shelf label that is arranged corresponding to a product and displays product information relating to the corresponding product,
A display unit;
Product identification information for identifying the product used when ordering a product corresponding to the electronic shelf label, and product information other than the product identification information related to the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label A display control unit for simultaneously displaying on the display unit,
When a specific signal is input from the outside of the electronic shelf label, the display control unit displays the product information other than the product identification information on the display unit, and the product identification information on the display unit. Electronic shelf label that erases the display. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1,
The specific signal is an electronic shelf label input from a portable display switching device.

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