JPH07271862A - Commodity information display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve practicability by quickly coping with a change in the price display of each commodity and performing a display of sufficiently appealing each commodity. CONSTITUTION:This system is provided with a storage controller 11 for managing a series of information such as commodity information of a commodity price, etc., and address information, etc., a radio transmitter 14 for wirelessly transmitting the information managed by the controller 11, plural rack tag display devices 17 arranged on a display rack correspondingly to respective commodities, comparing information transmitted from the transmitter 14 with a self-address, receiving the information and displaying a sales price and a unit price and information input device arranged independently of a display rack, inputting information of a function for comparing the information from the transmitter 14 with the self-address and receiving the information and an IC card and a CPU for editing the received information from the transmitter 14 and the stored input information. An information display device 16 is provided for displaying the edited information on a display part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product information display system provided with a shelf label display arranged on a product display shelf and an information display device arranged independently of the display shelf.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are shelf labels on the display shelves of products, in which product information such as product name, product code, standard (amount), unit price, price, special sale display, etc. is described corresponding to each type of product. It is set so that customers can easily check it.

In such a case, for example, when the price or the like is changed from tomorrow, after the store is closed, a clerk must replace the shelf label corresponding to the product to be changed with a new shelf label, and the price is changed. If the number is large, a lot of labor and time will be spent. In addition, when a time zone is set and a special sale is made only in that time zone, it cannot be dealt with if the number of products is large.

In order to deal with such a problem, an electronic shelf label system for remotely rewriting the product information of the shelf label has been proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-87145.

As shown in FIG. 9, this is because the store computer 2 connected to the central computer 1
A plurality of POS terminals 3, a remote code reader 4, and a plurality of electronic price display devices 5 are connected, different addresses are set for each electronic price display device 5, and the store controller 2 that manages product information specifies the addresses. The specific electronic price display device 5 is called, and the store controller 2 transmits the product information to the called display device 5 for display. As shown in FIG. 10, each electronic price display device 5 displays the price, unit price, price unit, product code, etc. of the product as product information and arranges it on the display shelf of the product.

[0006] Further, in a supermarket or the like, various advertisement displays are pasted at predetermined positions in stores and sales floors. This advertisement is called a POP advertisement and provides information to customers by describing advertisements of products and various kinds of information.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-12 discloses a method of electronically controlling such a POP advertisement using a POP display device.
There is an 8371 publication. As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of electronic cash registers (ECR) 7 are connected to the store controller 6 and a plurality of POP display devices 8 are provided.
Are connected. Each POP display device 8 is arranged at a predetermined position in the sales floor. Then, the store controller 6 manages the POP advertisement displayed on each POP display device 8 and designates the POP display device 8 to display the POP advertisement. Further, the POP display device 8 is provided with an operation section, and the operation result of the operation section allows the store controller 6 to call up and display sales record data.

[0008]

In the former electronic shelf label system, only an electronic price display device having a small display area is provided on the display shelf, and it is insufficient as a display to appeal to the customer that it is a special sale product, for example. There was a problem that it was difficult for customers to understand.

In the latter case, since all the information displayed by the POP display device is transmitted from the store controller, all the display information must be input and edited as the store controller, and the burden increases and the display is increased. There is a problem that the amount of information is large and it takes time to transmit.

Further, there is a problem that it is impossible to deal with the change of the price of each product.

Therefore, the present invention provides a product information display system which can promptly deal with a price display change corresponding to a price change of each product and can sufficiently display a product appeal to a customer, thereby improving the practicality. .

Further, the present invention provides a product information display system capable of promptly dealing with a change in display for product appeal without imposing a heavy burden on a central control unit for managing information and further improving the practicality. .

[0013]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A central control device that manages a series of information such as product information such as product name and product price, and address information, a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits a series of information managed by this central control device, and a shelf on a product display shelf. It is arranged for each product or product category and has a function to receive the information sent by the transmitter directly or indirectly via a relay, and at least the product price is displayed based on the received information. A shelf label display and a display shelf for goods are arranged independently of each other, and a function of receiving information transmitted by a transmitter directly or indirectly via a relay is provided,
The information display device displays information on a display unit, and the information display device includes information input means for inputting information by an external operation, information storage means for storing the information input by the information input means, and a wireless transmitter. The information received from the device and the information editing means for editing the input information stored in the information storage means into the display information are provided, and the edited display information is displayed on the display unit.

The invention according to claim 2 includes a central control device for managing a series of information such as product information such as product price, information regarding product advertisement, and address information, and a series of information managed by the central control device. A wireless transmitter that transmits wirelessly, and a function that arranges each shelf or product category on the display shelf of the product and receives the information transmitted by the transmitter directly or indirectly via a relay based on a preset address And a shelf label display for displaying at least a product price based on the received information, and a shelf display unit for the product, which is arranged in a shelf unit or in a shelf block unit composed of a plurality of shelves and is transmitted by a transmitter. An information display device having a function of receiving information directly or indirectly via a relay based on a preset address and provided with an information display device for displaying at least information regarding an advertisement of a product on a display unit is provided. It is.

[0015]

In the invention according to claim 1, a series of information managed by the central control unit is transmitted from the wireless transmitter, and the shelf label display arranged on each shelf or each product category on the display shelf of the product is the shelf label display device. Based on the address set for the transmission information, it is judged whether or not it is own information, and if it is information for itself, it is received. And at least the product price is displayed.

Thus, the price change of the corresponding product can be dealt with promptly.

Further, a series of information managed by the central control unit is transmitted from the wireless transmitter, and the information display device arranged independently of the display rack of the merchandise is based on the address to which the transmission information is set. It is judged whether or not it is own information, and if it is information to oneself, it is received. The information display device also stores the information input by the information input means in the information storage means.
Then, the information display device edits the received information and the input information stored in the information storage means into display information and then displays the information on the display unit.

As a result, a part of the display information can be input from the information input means, and the burden on the central control unit is lightened. Also,
It is possible to promptly deal with changes in display content.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the information display device arranged in a shelf unit or in a shelf block unit composed of a plurality of shelves independently of the display shelves of the products sets information from the wireless transmitter. Based on the address that exists, it is judged whether or not it is own information, and if it is information to itself, it is received. Then, at least information regarding the advertisement of the product is displayed on the display unit.

With this, it is possible to promptly deal with the change of the display contents.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire system. Reference numeral 11 is a store controller as a central control unit for managing a series of information such as product information such as product name and product price, and address information. When the amount of management information is enormous, a host computer may be further connected to the store controller 11 to share the management.

A label printer 12 for printing and issuing price tags and the like, a plurality of electronic cash registers (hereinafter referred to as ECR) 13, and a plurality of wireless transmitters 14 are connected to the store controller 11 by wires.

The store controller 11 and the wireless transmitter 14 may be connected by a wireless system using infrared rays, electromagnetic waves, sound waves or the like.

The wireless transmitter 14 transmits a series of information managed by the store controller 11 to a plurality of information display devices 1 via a plurality of relays 15 by radio using electromagnetic waves.
6 and a plurality of shelf label indicators 17 are transmitted.

The radio transmission from the radio transmitter 14 to the repeater 15 and the radio transmission from the repeater 15 to the information display device 16 and the shelf label display 17 are performed by infrared rays, sound waves or the like in addition to electromagnetic waves. It may be.

The number of radio transmitters 14 to be used is limited by the frequency and intensity of the electromagnetic waves or the structure of the building, and therefore the number of radio transmitters 14 may be set so that the electromagnetic waves can be reliably reached. Absent.

The repeater 15 may not be used depending on the environment, but may be constructed so that the wireless transmission from the wireless transmitter 14 is directly performed to the information display device 16 and the shelf label display 17.

Further, the store controller 11 is a means for receiving product information such as a product code, a product name, and a unit price transmitted from the outside such as a head office, a product information file for storing a large number of received product information, and each ECR 13 There is a totalization file for totaling registration information.

The ECR 13 is provided with, for example, a scanner for reading a product code, and has a function of reading the product code attached to the product by the scanner and inquiring the store controller 11 for the product code.

The store controller 11 uses the ECR 13
Search the product information file by inquiring from, read the product name and unit price corresponding to the applicable product code, and
It has a function of transmitting to the CR 13.

The ECR 13 is the store controller 1
Received the product name, unit price, etc. from 1 and registered by department based on the inquired product code and received product name, unit price, etc., displayed on the display unit, and printed out with a printer, and further registered data Is transmitted to the store controller 11.

The store controller 11 uses the ECR 13
It has the function of accumulating the registration data from the.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of the display shelves 18 and the information display device 16 on which products are arranged side by side.
The repeater 15 is arranged on one end side of the upper surface of the top part of the.
Further, the display shelf 18 is provided with a large number of commodity display compartments 19, and the shelf label indicators 17 are arranged on the respective compartments 19 corresponding to the compartments 19.

The information display device 16 is provided with a display portion 20 having a large display screen, such as an LED display or a liquid crystal display, a slot 21 into which an IC card can be externally inserted and removed, and an upper portion of the other side. Is provided with a receiver 22. Color display is desirable for the display unit 20 in order to improve the appeal.

The information display device 16 is mounted on a cart 23 which is movable by casters. The cart 23
Further, a rechargeable battery 24 serving as a driving power source of the information display device 16 is mounted on the computer.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shelf label display 17 is a liquid crystal display for displaying a selling price and a fixed price on the right side, for example, by attaching or inserting a label 17a having a product name, a bar code or the like printed on the left side. 17b is arranged. The display may be a liquid crystal display, an LED display, an EL display, or the like. Further, liquid crystal display may be performed including the label.

The shelf label display 17 has a display function, a reception function and a comparison function, and sets the address data unique to itself in the internal memory, and receives the data via the repeater 15. The destination address data included in the product information from 14 is compared with the address data set for itself, and when they match, the selling price (selling price) and unit price (fixed price) are displayed on the liquid crystal display 17b. There is. In this case, the previously displayed contents are cleared and new contents are displayed. The shelf label display 17 may be monochrome display or color display.

When the same product information is received more than once, the shelf label display 17 judges that the product information is valid and displays it. When the same merchandise information cannot be received more than once, a message such as "---" is displayed to inform that the merchandise information cannot be received normally.

The shelf label display 17 is removable so that the products can be rearranged freely, and has a primary battery built therein as a power source. A solar cell, a supercapacitor, or the like may be used instead of the primary battery.

As shown in FIG. 4, the information display device 16 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2 which constitutes the main body of the control unit.
5. ROM (Read Only Memory) 26 storing a control program for controlling each unit by the CPU 25, character patterns, etc., various flag memories, registers,
A RAM (random access memory) 27 that forms a buffer, a product information storage unit 28 that stores product information such as address data, and an I inserted from the slot 21.
An information input device 29, which is an IC card reader that takes in information from a C card, and an input information storage section 30 that stores information taken in by this information input device 29 are provided.

Further, the information display device 16 is provided with an operation unit 31 including switches such as a keyboard for performing various settings and inputs of display contents, and a voice output unit 32 for audibly appealing the display contents to the customer. The operation unit 31 is arranged on the lower portion of the back surface of the information display device 16 as shown in FIG.

CPU 25, ROM 26, RAM 2
7, the product information storage unit 28, the information input device 29, the input information storage unit 30, the operation unit 31, and the voice output unit 32 are electrically connected by a bus line 33.

The information input device 29 takes in image data from an IC card which stores image (image or graphic) data created in advance (backyard, etc.) in advance, and stores it in the input information storage section 30. Has become.

Therefore, it is possible to input image data to a plurality of information display devices 16 using the same IC card.

As the information input device 29, in addition to an IC card reader, a magnetic storage medium reading device such as a floppy disk drive device, an optical storage medium reading device such as a CDROM, a magneto-optical storage medium reading device such as an MO drive, and the like. May be an optical reading device such as an image scanner.

When the CPU 22 of the information display device 16 receives the product information transmitted by the wireless transmitter 14 through the relay 15 or directly by the receiver 22, the destination address data included in the product information. Is compared with the address data stored in the product information storage unit 28, and the product information received when the two match is stored in the product information storage unit 28.

Further, the CPU 25 of the information display device 16
Has a function of performing an editing process, and includes the product information storage unit 2
8 and new information is stored in the input information storage unit 30,
Information is read from the storage devices 28 and 30 and edited, and the edited information is displayed on the display unit 20.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, the store controller 11 externally outputs information obtained by adding destination address data for designating the shelf label display 17 to product information such as product codes, unit prices, and selling prices of various products. It is input by operation or received from a host computer installed in the head office or the like and stored in a product information file.

Then, according to the arrangement of the products arranged on the display shelves 18, the destination address data is attached to each shelf label display 17 and the product information of the unit price and the selling price is sequentially transmitted by the transmitter 1.
4 via.

Each shelf label display 17 compares the destination address data included in the information received from the repeater 15 with the address data set for itself, and if they match, the information is fetched and the unit price and LCD display 17b
Are displayed as a list price and a selling price respectively.

In this way, each shelf label display 17 has a display shelf 18
The list price and selling price corresponding to the products placed in are displayed. Further, the product name and product code of the corresponding product are displayed on the shelf label display 17 by the label 17a.

Further, when performing a special sale of selling a product at a low selling price in a specific time zone, the store controller 11 designates the shelf label indicator 17 corresponding to the product at the start of the specific time zone. The sale price of the special sale is sent with the destination address data. As a result, the price display on the shelf label display 17 corresponding to the product for sale is easily changed.

Also, the shelf label display 1 for the product for sale
The appeal to customers is extremely weak only by changing the price of 7. Therefore, the store controller 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the product information A for promoting the product name, price, etc. of the product for sale is sent to specify the information display device 16 arranged near the display shelf that sells the product. Send with destination address data.

As a result, the information display device 16 arranged in the vicinity of the product for sale sells the product information A directly from the transmitter 14 or via the relay device 15, and receives the product information storage unit 2.
Store in 8.

Further, the information display device 16 reads the image information B stored in the IC card by the information input device 29 and stores it in the input information storage section 30.

In this way, the information display device 16 has the product information A stored in the product information storage unit 28 and the input information storage unit 3
The image information B stored in 0 is edited and the combined information is displayed on the display unit 20.

In this way, information about the product for sale can be displayed on the information display device 16 having a large display screen, and the appeal to the customer can be improved.

The information displayed on the display section 20 of the information display device 16 can be changed by actions such as scrolling, rotating, blinking, and discoloration. Can be improved.

The change operation procedure in this case may be set in advance, or may be set each time by an instruction from the operation unit 31 or information input from the outside.

Further, in the case of further changing the price of the special sale product, the store controller 11 operates as shown in FIG.
(B), the product information A ′ to be changed is transmitted with the destination address data designating the information display device 16 displaying the product information A attached.

As a result, the information display device 16 receives the product information A'and stores it in the product information storage unit 28. Then, the image information B already stored in the input information storage unit 30 and the product information A ′ newly stored in the product information storage unit 28 are edited, and the combined information is displayed on the display unit 20.

Thus, only the price information to be changed can be instantly changed and displayed.

As described above, since the contents of the shelf label display 17 can be quickly changed to deal with the change of the product price, and the appeal of the special sale product can be dealt with by the information display device 16, the price change of the product can be made. The display can be easily changed, and the appeal of the special sale product to the customer can be improved and the practicality can be improved.

Further, the information display device 16 is configured to edit the product information stored in the product information storage unit 28 and the image information stored in the input information storage unit 30 and display it on the display unit 20. Therefore, as the store controller 11, the information to be transmitted to the information display device 16 is only the same information as the product information to be transmitted to each shelf label display 17, and the image information that requires a relatively long time to edit or transmit is transmitted. There is no need, and the load on the store controller 11 can be reduced. Therefore, in the case of the information display device 16 as well as in the case of the shelf label display 17, changes in product information can be dealt with swiftly and the practicability can be further improved.

Further, since the information display device 16 is equipped with the battery 24 as a power source and is movable by the cart 23, there is no restriction on the installation position and it can be moved to any position as needed.

In the above embodiment, the input image information and the received product information are edited inside the information display device 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the input information display section and the product information are not limited thereto. A display unit may be provided to individually control, edit, and display.

In the above embodiment, the information display device 16 is one-way communication that only receives the product information from the store controller 11. However, the information display device 16 is not limited to this. The controller 11 may be provided with a receiver for two-way communication, which improves the reliability of communication. In addition, by performing bidirectional communication, the operation unit 31 of the information display device 16 is
It is possible to input product information from the above and notify the store controller 11, and it is possible to change or set the product information by the information display device 16. Further, it is possible to change or set the product information of the other information display device 16 or the shelf label display device 17.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

This is the information display device 16 as shown in FIG.
Instead, a plurality of POP display devices 36 are arranged.
That is, the POP display device 36 is arranged in units of shelves or in units of shelving blocks composed of a plurality of shelves, independently of the display shelves 18 for products.

As shown in FIG. 8, the POP display device 36 is of a stand type and can be easily carried by a color display composed of LEDs and liquid crystals. The receiver 3 is provided at one end of the top of the POP display device 36.
7, and a power source 38 is attached to the other end of the bottom.

The store controller 11 transmits to the POP display devices 36 product information such as special sale product name, price, inventory information, location information, etc., regarding the special sale product. The inventory information is stored in the store controller 11
The store controller 11 receives from the host computer, which is a higher-level device of the above, and then transmits.

The POP display device 36 that has received the product information stores it in the internal storage unit and then displays it on the display unit 39. The display at this time is, for example, scrolling display of product information such as special sale product name, price, inventory information, and location information for each special sale product, or switching display in units of several seconds. POP
The number of special sale products displayed at the same time on the display device 36 is not particularly limited.

The display contents may be switched by providing a changeover switch of the POP display device 36 and operating the changeover switch by the customer.

As described above, even if the POP display device is used as the information display device, the display of the price change of the product can be easily changed with the shelf label display 17, and the appeal of the special sale product to the customer can be improved. , The practicality can be improved.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to promptly deal with the price display change corresponding to the price change of each product, and it is possible to sufficiently display the product appeal to the customer, thereby improving the practicality of the product information. A display system can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, a product information display system capable of promptly dealing with a change in the display for product appeal without imposing a heavy burden on the central control unit for managing the information and further improving the practicality is provided. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an entire system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the main parts of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display configuration of a shelf label indicator of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the back surface side of the information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining display control of the information display device of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the entire system showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the main parts of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an electronic price display device of the conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Store controller 14 ... Transmitter 16 ... Information display device 17 ... Shelf label display 18 ... Display shelf 25 ... CPU (central processing unit)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A central control device for managing a series of information such as product information such as a product name and product price, and address information, a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a series of information managed by the central control device, and a product. It is provided with a function of arranging for each shelf or for each product category on the display shelf and receiving the information transmitted by the transmitter directly or indirectly via a relay, based on the received information. A shelf label display for displaying at least the product price and a display shelf for the product independently of each other, and the information transmitted by the transmitter is directly or indirectly transmitted through a relay device based on a preset address. And an information display device for displaying information on a display unit, the information display device having information input means for inputting information by an external operation, and the information input means for inputting the information. Information storage means for storing information, and information editing means for editing received information from the wireless transmitter and input information stored in the information storage means into display information, and the edited display information is displayed on the display unit. A product information display system characterized by being displayed on. 2. A central control device that manages a series of information such as product information such as a product price, information about product advertisements, and address information, and a wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits a series of information managed by the central control device. And a function of arranging each of the shelves or each of the product categories on the display shelf of the product and receiving the information transmitted by the transmitter directly or indirectly through a relay based on a preset address, A shelf label display for displaying at least the product price based on the information and a display shelf for the product are arranged independently in a shelf unit or in a shelf block unit composed of a plurality of shelves, and the information transmitted by the transmitter is previously set. An information display device that has a function of receiving directly or indirectly through a relay based on a set address, and is provided with an information display device that displays at least information related to product advertisements on a display unit. Product information display system.