SK6527Y1 - Electrical equipment for requesting of the person, primarily vendor or consultant in a supermarket or department store - Google Patents

Abstract

Technical solution describes the electrical equipment for requesting the person, especially vendor or consultant in a supermarket or a department store with a telephone unit, which is equipped with a combined input and output unit, especially touch screens, to launch the requirements by touching combined input and output unit, whereby the combined input and an output unit is connected to a telephone unit. Equipment enables, in the case of requirements, automatically generated connection, especially bidirectional voice connection via telephone unit with a telephone device of the vendor or the consultant.

Description

Technical field

The technical solution relates to electrical equipment on request of a person, in particular a salesman or a consultant in a supermarket or department store.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such an electrical device is known from German utility model DE 20 2004 010 11 U1. There is described an electrical device having a trigger device by which a customer can initiate a request for a consultant or a salesman. When the customer actuates the triggering device, not only an optical and possibly an acoustic signal is triggered, but a request for a telephone device is also transmitted from the electrical device.

The task of the technical solution is to create an electrical device on request of a person, which can be even easier for the customer to operate and thus has more comfort.

The essence of the technical solution

This task is accomplished in an electrical device of the kind mentioned at the outset by the electrical device being equipped with a telephone unit which is connected to a combined input and output unit, in particular a touch monitor, and that a telephone connection is automatically established via the telephone unit. salesman or advisor.

By means of a telephone unit, a two-way voice connection can be established between the seller and the customer. The customer can then direct his question to the sales person or advisor via this voice link. This means a significant improvement in customer advice and care.

Furthermore, the operation of the device according to the invention is extremely simple. The customer only needs to touch the combined I / O unit to trigger the request. Then she can voice her question or her problem in a known way. The answer gets - just like on the phone - the same voice from the salesman or advisor. Likewise, the design of the electrical device is simplified because other input units such as keyboards or the like are eliminated. This additionally saves design space, which extends the application possibilities of the electrical device. For example, electrical equipment can be installed directly on the rack where the product specifically requiring advice lies.

In particular, the incorporation of a combined input and output unit, which already contains a built-in programmable processor unit, simplifies the assembly and configuration of electrical equipment, since no other processing units need to be planned outside the electrical equipment.

In a preferred embodiment, the selection, in particular the selection of a product group or a specific product, can be made, in particular by means of a combined input and output unit, before the request is triggered. This improves counseling because the salesman or counselor already knows what advice the customer wants.

In a further preferred embodiment, depending on the selection, the identification of the terminal apparatus, in particular the telephone number of the telephone apparatus, can be determined. Thus, for example, a consultant assigned to a product group or his telephone apparatus may be selected, thereby specifically improving the guidance provided by specially trained salesmen or consultants.

In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, a one-sided or two-sided video connection with a sales person or advisor can be made via the telephone unit if required. In this way, it is possible for the customer question to be answered in more detail by means of a visual connection. The convenience of operating the device according to the invention is thereby further enhanced.

In a preferred embodiment, the information on the combined input and output unit is indicative, depending on the signal, in particular the depressed button coming from the telephone. In this way, the sales person or advisor can provide the customer with additional information, for example regarding product alternatives, if necessary. The advice is thus substantially improved because the customer receives additional information only when asked for it. Especially for products that are not easy to understand, especially with regard to their use or operation, the consultant can in this way control the flow of information from his telephone to avoid overloading the customer with information.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a connection to the central database is made via the telephone unit. Using the appropriate input devices, the customer can then direct queries to this database. For example, the customer might ask where the product he is looking for is located within the supermarket. In response, the customer then receives, for example, a graphical representation of the location of the product from the central database.

SK 6527 Υ1

In a particularly preferred further embodiment of the invention, the telephone unit is connectable via a WLAN connection or a LAN connection (LAN = Local Area Network) to a telephone device. By using a WLAN connection or a LAN connection, it is achieved that high volumes of data can be transmitted quickly. In this way, it is possible not only to establish a two-way voice connection between the customer and the vendor via a WLAN connection or a LAN connection, but also to provide an existing video connection as well as possible accesses to the central database.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the telephone unit is connectable via a DECT connection (DECT) to a telephone device. In this case, the two-way voice connection between the customer and the vendor can be made via a DECT connection. Optionally, the existing video connection and / or access to the central database can be additionally realized via a cable connection, for example a coaxial cable.

Further features, possibilities of use and advantages of the technical solution are evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the technical solution, which are shown in the drawings. All the features described or illustrated in themselves or in any combination are subject to the invention, irrespective of their summary in the claims or their interrelationship, and independently of their formulation or representation in the drawing or in the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical device according to the technical solution at the request of a person, and Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a telephone device according to the technical solution with the device of Figure L

EXAMPLES

Figure 1 shows an electrical device 1 that is intended to allow a customer, for example in a food store or other department store, to ask a sales person or an advisor.

The device 1 may be formed as a panel or other poster-shaped object. The device 1 may be described by texts that alert the customer that he may request advice here.

The device 1 is equipped with a combined input and output unit 2, which may in particular be a touch monitor. The combined I / O unit 2 is intended to be actuated by a customer wishing to advise the seller, in particular by touching the area of the combined I / O unit 2.

The combined input and output unit 2 comprises a touch-sensitive surface behind which the monitor is located. In addition, the combined input and output unit 2 may comprise a control unit (not shown) that receives the touch signals from the touch-sensitive surface and sends the graphic signals to the monitor. To control the combined input and output unit 2, for example, a control area is indicated on the monitor by a certain area. The touch of the area of the touch-sensitive surface corresponding to this particular area on the monitor by the customer is then recorded by the combined input and output unit 2.

The device 1 is equipped with a telephone unit 3 which is connected or coupled to the combined input and output unit 2. The device 1 furthermore comprises a microphone 4 and a loudspeaker 8 and can be equipped with a scanner 5 and a video camera. An identification code, in particular a bar code, can be recorded by means of the scanner 5. For example, the identification code may be assigned to a product, a product group or a customer.

In addition, the device 1 has a light indicator 7 which is connected or coupled to the combined input and output unit 2. The light indicator 7 is switched on exactly after the combined input and output unit 2 is operated by the customer. With the indicator light 7 on, it is indicated that a request for advice has been triggered by the customer 1.

The device 1 is equipped with a loudspeaker 8, which is connected or coupled via an acoustic output means 9 to a combined input and output unit 2. The acoustic output means 9 stores predetermined texts which may read as follows: "Dear customer, please wait, If the combined input and output unit 2 is operated or touched by the customer, for example, the aforementioned text is emitted via the acoustic output means 9 via the speaker 8 per customer.

The loudspeaker 8 and the loudspeaker of the telephone unit 3 may be combined with each other.

Finally, the device 1 is provided with a reset device 10, which may be, for example, a push button switch. The reset device 10 is a telephone unit 3, a light indicator 7 and an acoustic output

The device 9 has been restored to its original state. This means that after the customer has controlled the combined input and output unit 2 and the subsequent customer advice by the salesman or consultant, the entire device can be restored to its original state by means of the reset device 10. Thereafter, another customer may be recalled by a salesman or consultant through the L device

The device 1 is connected to the mains voltage UV. The combined input and output unit 2, the telephone unit 3, the light indicator 7, the acoustic output means 9 and the loudspeaker 8 are supplied with the necessary power by this UV mains voltage. If present, the scanner 5 and / or the video camera are also connected to the mains voltage of UV.

Figure 2 shows the overall device 11, which may be, for example, a larger extension telephone device. The overall device 11 has a telephone device 12 to which, for example, a telephone exchange 13 is connected via a cable. As an example, other telephone devices 14 via a cable as well as other wireless telephone devices 15 are connected to or connected to the telephone device 12. in Figure 2, it can be completely located inside a building with sales premises. Also, parts of the system, such as other or additional telephones, may be arranged together with corresponding other telephones in one central advisory facility for multiple points of sale. In this case, other or other telephone sets are connected to the telephone device 12, for example, via a telephone exchange 13.

The telephone device 12 is intended to make telephone calls between the connected telephone devices and / or the connected public telephone network. The telephone exchange 13 may, for example, be a telephone device which is always occupied by a person and to which it is therefore assigned central switching tasks or the like.

The telephone sets 14, 15 may be conventional cable or wireless telephone sets.

The telephone device 12 is connected, for example, to three electrical devices L Two of these electric devices 1 are connected to a telephone device 12 via a wireless connection. The third of the devices 1 is connected to a telephone device 12 via a cable connection.

The connection of the telephone device 12 to the cable telephone devices 14 is a conventional telephone connection. The same applies to the connection between the telephone device 12 and the telephone exchange 13. The connection of the telephone device 12 to the cordless telephone devices 15 is primarily a connection according to the so-called DECT (DECT) standard. The wireless connection of the telephone device 12 to the electrical device 1 is a so-called WLAN (WLAN = wireless local area network) connection, and finally, the cable connection of the telephone device 12 to the corresponding electrical device 1 is a so-called LAN connection (LAN = local area network) .

For example, it is also possible for the telephone device 12 to be formed as a so-called DECT telephone device into which a so-called WLAN access point is integrated. Such a combined DECT-WLAN telephone device is suitable for communicating via wireless and / or cable connections with DECT telephone devices and / or WLAN telephone devices or other end devices.

The telephone unit 3 of the electrical device 1 is designed in such a way that it can communicate with the telephone device 12 via a wireless or wired WLAN or LAN connection 12. For example, it is possible for the telephone unit 3 to be a so-called IP telephone (IP = Internet Protocol). Such an IP telephone essentially has the function of a conventional telephone, but the telephone connection is made via the Internet. Such an IP telephone is therefore also not directly connected to a conventional telephone network, but to a computer network, for example a WLAN connection or a LAN connection. In general, the transmission of video, audio and / or data or remote control of the electrical unit 1 is possible via the Internet or a peer-to-peer network connection (one on one). Thereby, the central advisory device can take care of several electrical devices 1 in different stores at different locations.

If the customer wishes to be the advice of a sales person or other assistance of an advisor or the like, the customer actuates the combined input and output unit 2 of the electrical device 1 by touch. This has the effect that the light indicator 2 is switched on to thereby visually notify the customer of the wish.

In addition, the customer is notified via the loudspeaker 8 that the advisor or salesperson is promptly registered.

In an alternative embodiment, the light indicator 7 can be omitted and the combined input and output unit 2 takes over its function, in particular an optical indication of the customer's wishes. In this case, the combined input and output unit 2 is also suitable for giving the customer the opportunity to interrupt the request for advice. Thereafter, the combined input and output unit 2 provides an area of a touch-sensitive surface to a customer's touch and stores this area through a monitor with corresponding graphics.

In addition, the control or contact of the combined input and output unit 2 results in a connection being made from the telephone unit 3 to the telephone device 12. This is done via a wireless LAN connection or a wired LAN connection. The telephone 12 is then automatically selected by the salesman or advisor via the telephone 14 or 15. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the body

In this way, a telephone connection is finally established between the telephone unit 3 of the electric unit 1 and one of the telephone sets 14 or 15 or the telephone exchange 13.

The electrical device 1 is thus suitable so that, if required, a connection via the telephone unit 3 to one of the telephone devices 13, 14, 15 is automatically established.

Through this existing connection, the customer can then speak to the salesman or advisor. For this purpose, a microphone 4 and a loudspeaker 8 are used in the electric unit 1 by the customer, while the salesman or advisor uses his telephone set 14 or 15 or the telephone exchange 13 for this purpose.

Prior to initiating a consultant request, the customer may, through the combined input and output unit 2, make a selection to which product or product group he wishes to advise. In this way, the consultant can be informed of the customer's wishes before direct voice guidance. The counselor can better prepare counseling in this way.

Even the selection can be made by recording the identification code. For example, the selection may include a special product identified by an identification code. Another example involves recording a customer ID. In doing so, it can access the central database for the purchases or special customer needs recorded there.

In addition, after the selection has been completed, the request can be triggered automatically by the electrical equipment. L The selection can be terminated, for example, after the identification code has been recorded.

Depending on the selection, the identification of the terminals, in particular the subscriber number, can be determined for one of the telephone sets. The identification of the terminal devices can be carried out by the electrical device 1 or the telephone device 12, in which case the selection can be transferred to the telephone device 12. In this way, for example, telephone devices 13, 14, 15 can be advantageously assigned. product group. Also, representation can be realized in a simple way when, for example, a counselor is not reachable for a certain period of time, for example due to consultation or a lunch break.

The reset device 10 may, if necessary, be replaced by a combined input and output unit 2, and thus be omitted. After the vendor's advice, the advisor can use the combined input and output unit 2 to return the entire device 1 to its original state.

In a further embodiment, the entire device 1 can be restored to its original state by means of the telephone of the consultant. For example, if the customer is no longer interested in consulting and moves away from the device 1 after the request is triggered, then the consultant can restore the device 1 to its original state by a predetermined push button on the phone 13, 14, 15th Thereafter, the actuation of the button, in the sense of the signal coming from the telephone 13, 14, 15, is received either by the telephone 12 and / or the electrical device 1 and evaluated accordingly, to initiate this resetting procedure. As an alternative, the counseling situation, the interview or the video transmission may be terminated by the counselor by folding the telephone receiver of the telephone 13, 14.15. The information that the telephone handset has been folded out, from the telephone set 13, 14, 15, is sent via the telephone device 12 to the electrical device 1 so that the electrical device 1 is reset to its original state. The resetting process may include that the device 1 is set to its original state optically, i. j. in its optical exterior effect, such as by switching off the signaling bulb, and / or acoustically, such as by background music.

In addition, it is also possible for a video connection to be established via a WLAN connection or a LAN connection. In this case, the electrical equipment has a video camera. Corresponding components then also exist in the telephone sets 14 or 15 or in the telephone exchange 13, in particular each time a monitor and / or a video camera. With these video cameras and monitors, it is possible for the customer and the advisor to see each other on the monitors.

The image connection described above may also exist only one-sided so that, in particular, only the customer can look at the consultant on the monitor of the combined input and output unit 2 of the electrical device 1. but that the electrical device 1 does not have a video camera.

Advantageously, by means of the combined input and output unit 2, no other input devices, such as a keyboard, need to be integrated into the arrangement 1. Thus, for example, the keyboard may be omitted. The request is then entered by the customer via the combined input and output unit 2. The electrical device 1 can then forward this request via a WLAN connection or a LAN connection to the central database. From here, the exact location of the product sought can be delivered to the electrical device 1 in response. This station can be delivered by the electrical device 1 to the combined input and output unit 2, for example in the form of graphical representations, and thus communicated to the customer.

The customer can then transfer the product or its identification field via the scanner 5. The identification code scanned by the scanner 5 can be further transmitted via a WLAN or LAN connection.

651 to the central database. In response, for example, price or other detailed product information can be sent back from the central database to the electrical device 1. This information may be provided or indicated to the customer by the electric device 1 on the combined input and output unit 2. Alternatively, this sendable or indicator information may also be stored on the electric device 1, in particular a memory element (not shown).

The telephone device 12 and / or the electrical device 1 are configured such that, depending on the signal, in particular the push button, coming from the telephone device 13, 14, 15 of the vendor or the advisor, the information indicated on the combined input and output unit 2 is explained. a voice connection for a counseling conversation is already established, the salesman or counselor during a conversation by pressing a predetermined button can show the customer on the combined input and output unit 2 alternatives to the product already found.

As an alternative, it is possible for a DECT connection to exist instead of a WLAN or LAN connection between the telephone device 12 and the electrical device 1. In this case, it is not possible to establish a video connection or communication with the central database via a DECT connection. In this case, the camcorder in the electrical apparatus 1 may be dropped.

Telephone equipment 12 may also include a central database. However, the sendable or indicative information may also be stored on the device 1 so that it can be retrieved by the customer via the combined input and output unit 2.

However, it is possible to establish a two-way voice connection by means of a DECT connection between the telephone device 12 and the electric device 1. In this case, the telephone unit 3 with the microphone 4 and the loudspeaker 8 is comparable to a wireless telephone which is connected to the telephone 12 via said DECT connection.

If such a DECT connection exists between the telephone device 12 and the electrical device 1, the video connection and / or access to the central database may be established by means of an additional cable connection, for example a coaxial cable.

As a further alternative, instead of a WLAN connection or a LAN connection between the telephone device 12 and the electrical device (s), there is a cable connection. If this is a normal telephone connection, then only a two-way voice connection can be realized. The video connection and / or access to the central database must then be realized separately, for example by an additional cable connection.

Claims (20)

PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS An electrical device (1) for requesting a person, in particular a vendor or a consultant in a supermarket or a department store, with a telephone unit (3), characterized in that it is equipped with a combined input and output unit (2), in particular a touch monitor. the requirement of contacting the combined input and output unit (2) that the combined input and output unit (2) is connected to a telephone unit (3) to automatically establish a connection, in particular a two-way voice connection, via the telephone unit (3) to the telephone , 14, 15) salesman or advisor. Electrical device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is adapted to make a selection before triggering a requirement, in particular a selection of a product group or a particular product. Electrical device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the input and output units (2) are adapted for controlled selection. Electrical apparatus (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a scanner (5) for recording an identification code, in particular a bar code, for controlling the selection in dependence on the identification code. Electrical device (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it is adapted to automatically trigger a request, in particular at the end of the selection. Electrical device (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it is adapted to determine the identification of the terminal devices, in particular the subscriber number of the telephone device (13, 14, 15) of the vendor or advisor, depending on the selection. Electrical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, if desired, a one-sided or two-sided video connection with the telephone (13, 14, 15) of the vendor or advisor can be established via the telephone unit (3). Electrical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, depending on the signal, in particular a depressed button, coming from the telephone (13, 14, 15) of the vendor or advisor, the information is on the combined input and output. unit (2). SK 6527 Υ1 Electrical device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the indicator information is stored on the electrical device (1), in particular a memory element of the electrical device (υ-ό). Electrical device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the indicator information is stored in a central database and that a connection to the central database is made via the telephone unit (3). Electrical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the telephone unit (3) is connected to a telephone device (12) via a WLAN connection or a LAN connection. Electrical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the telephone unit (3) can be connected to a telephone device (12) via a DECT connection. Electrical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the telephone unit (3) can be wired to the telephone device (12). A telephone device (12) with a plurality of telephone devices (13, 14, 15) as well as an electric device (1), characterized in that the electric device (1) is equipped with a combined input and output unit (2), in particular by a touch monitor, to trigger a request when the combined input and output unit (2) touches, that the combined input and output unit (2) is connected to the telephone unit (3) to establish a connection automatically through the telephone unit (3) voice communication, with a telephone (13, 14, 15) of a sales person or an advisor. Telephone device (12) according to claim 14, characterized in that the electrical device (1) is adapted to make a selection, in particular a selection of a product group or a particular product, before triggering a request, and to determine the identification of terminals, in particular a subscriber number. one of the telephone sets (13, 14, 15) depending on the selection. A telephone device (12) according to claim 15, characterized in that automatic selection of the electrical device is received upon request. The telephone device (12) according to one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the telephone device (12) comprises a central database. The telephone apparatus (12) according to any one of claims 14 to 16, adapted to automatically establish a connection to the central database upon request. Telephone device (12) according to one of Claims 14 to 18, characterized in that it forms a WLAN access point and / or a LAN access point. Telephone device (12) according to one of Claims 14 to 19, characterized in that it is a DECT telephone device.