WO2022050294A1

WO2022050294A1 - Commodity management system and electronic tag

Info

Publication number: WO2022050294A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/032061
Authority: WO
Inventors: 忠司小山; 孝幸根橋
Original assignee: 京セラ株式会社
Priority date: 2020-09-02
Filing date: 2021-09-01
Publication date: 2022-03-10
Also published as: JP7492592B2; JPWO2022050294A1

Abstract

In the present invention, an electronic tag 100 attached to a commodity P has: a first display 111 provided to one surface of the electronic tag 100; a second display 112 provided to the other surface of the electronic tag 100; a sensor for detecting the obverse/reverse inversion of the electronic tag 100; and a tag controller 170 for executing, on the basis of the obverse/reverse inversion, a display switching process for causing prescribed commodity information to be displayed on only the reverse-side display that faces the commodity P among the first display 111 and the second display 112.

Description

Product management system and electronic tags

The present invention relates to a product management system and an electronic tag.

Patent Document 1 describes a product management system for grasping the degree of customer interest in a product by using a tag attached to the product. In this merchandise management system, the tag is suspended from the merchandise by four threads attached to the four corners of the tag so that the tag is kept parallel to the floor.

This tag is equipped with two sensors and radio wave transmission modules that detect movement. To see the tag when one sensor / radio wave transmission module moves upward and the other sensor / radio wave transmission module moves downward when the customer tilts the tag to read the characters on the tag. It is determined that it is the behavior of the customer.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-62564

The product management system according to the first aspect is a system provided with an electronic tag attached to the product. The electronic tag includes a first display provided on one surface of the electronic tag, a second display provided on the other surface of the electronic tag, and a sensor for detecting the flipping of the front and back of the electronic tag. A tag controller that executes a display switching process of displaying predetermined product information only on the back side display facing the product among the first display and the second display based on the front / back inversion.

The electronic tag according to the second aspect is an electronic tag attached to a product, and is a first display provided on one surface of the electronic tag and a second display provided on the other surface of the electronic tag. And, based on the sensor for detecting the front / back inversion of the electronic tag and the front / back inversion, the predetermined product information is displayed only on the back side display of the first display and the second display facing the product. It includes a tag controller that executes display switching processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the product management system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the product handled by the product management system which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display example in the electronic tag which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the electronic tag which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the appliance communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the electronic tag which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the appliance communication apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure which concerns on the modification 2 of embodiment.

In the product management system described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to hang the tag from the product so that the tag is kept parallel to the floor, so that there is a problem that the mounting structure for attaching the tag to the product becomes complicated.

Further, for example, in an apparel store, a product is hung on a hanger, and one side of the tag is generally in a vertical state in contact with the product. Therefore, the product management described in Patent Document 1 Difficult to apply the system.

Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to make it possible to efficiently grasp the customer's interest in the product while adopting a general tag attachment structure.

The product management system according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Structure of product management system)
First, the configuration of the product management system according to the embodiment will be described. The product management system is a system for managing products using electronic tags. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a product management system 1 according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product management system 1 includes an electronic tag 100 (100a, 100b, 100c ...), an instrument communication device 200 (200a, 200b, 200c ...), a reading device 300, and a management device 400. Have.

In one embodiment, the electronic tag 100, the instrument communication device 200, and the reading device 300 are provided in the store. In the following, an example in which the store is an apparel store and the product P is clothing will be mainly described. However, the store may be any store as long as it sells the product P, and may be, for example, a supermarket or the like.

The electronic tag 100, the instrument communication device 200, and the reader 300 may be in the display zone Z in which at least one set of the product P and the instrument H is arranged. In one embodiment, the display zone Z is configured by a hanger rack 600 (see FIG. 8). Hereinafter, an example in which the display zone Z is composed of the hanger rack 600 will be mainly described, but the display zone Z may be any zone as long as it is a zone for displaying the product P, for example, a display shelf or a show. It may be a case or the like.

The electronic tag 100 is a tag attached to the product P and displaying product information indicating the attributes of the product P. The attribute of the product P includes at least one of the price of the product P, the name of the product P, the raw material of the product P, and the barcode related to the product P. A product identifier indicating the corresponding product P is written in the electronic tag 100. The electronic tag 100 may be called an electronic price tag. The details of the electronic tag 100 will be described later.

The appliance communication device 200 is a device provided in the appliance H for displaying the product P and communicates with the corresponding electronic tag 100. The instrument communication device 200 may be incorporated in the instrument H or may be attached to the surface of the instrument H. In one embodiment, the appliance H is a hanger on which the product P is hung. In the following, an example in which the instrument H is a hanger will be mainly described, but the instrument H may be any instrument for hanging or holding the product P, for example, a tray or a product fixative. It may be. The details of the instrument communication device 200 will be described later.

The reading device 300 is a reader or reader / writer provided in the display zone Z. The reading device 300 reads the product identifier from the electronic tag 100 attached to each of the products P by wireless communication. The reading device 300 is connected to the network NW via a wired line or a wireless line, and communicates with the management device 400 via the network NW.

In the reading operation by the reading device 300, first, the tag reader / writer 220 transmits radio waves. Second, the electronic tag 100 receives radio waves from the tag reader / writer 220 to generate electricity, and uses the generated power to transmit the product identifier to the tag reader / writer 220. Third, the tag reader / writer 220 receives the product identifier from the electronic tag 100. In this way, the reading device 300 reads the product identifier of the electronic tag 100.

The management device 400 is a device that manages the product P based on the reading result of the reading device 300. The management device 400 is connected to the network NW via a wired line or a wireless line, and communicates with the reading device 300 via the network NW. The management device 400 may be a server provided outside or inside the store. The management device 400 may be integrally configured with the reading device 300.

For example, the management device 400 can specify the product P taken out from the display zone Z or the product P returned to the display zone Z based on the reading result of the reading device 300. If the product P is returned to the display zone Z after the product P is taken out from the display zone Z, it can be considered that the customer is interested in the product P but did not purchase it. It is difficult to understand the reason why the product was not reached and / or the degree of interest.

The product management system 1 according to the embodiment makes it possible to grasp the behavior of the customer to confirm the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100. The predetermined product information may be any information as long as it is attribute information related to the product P, and is, for example, price information. If the product P is not purchased even though the customer has confirmed the price information of the product P many times, the price setting of the product P may be too high. If such information can be collected, it becomes easy to optimize the price setting of the product P. Alternatively, if the customer frequently confirms the price information of the product P, it can be considered that the customer is highly interested in the product P, so that efficient inventory management such as increasing the inventory of the product P can be easily performed. Become.

(Example of product)
Next, an example of the product P handled by the product management system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of product P.

In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the product P is a short-sleeved shirt, in the example shown in FIG. 2B, the product P is a hooded coat, and in the example shown in FIG. 2C, the product P is long. These are trousers. Each product P is hung on an instrument H (hanger).

The instrument H is provided with an instrument communication device 200. The instrument communication device 200 performs wireless communication with the electronic tag 100 of the product P hung on the instrument.

An electronic tag 100 is attached to the product P by a thread. For example, the electronic tag 100 is attached to the button portion of the product P. Although FIG. 2 shows an example in which the electronic tag 100 has a substantially rectangular shape (card shape), the electronic tag 100 may have a circular shape or the like.

One side of the electronic tag 100 is in contact with the product P and is in a vertical state. In the following, the surface of the electronic tag 100 facing the product P, that is, the surface that cannot be seen by the customer as it is, may be referred to as a “back surface”. On the other hand, the surface opposite to the back surface, that is, the surface of the electronic tag 100 that does not face the product P may be referred to as "front surface".

(Display example in electronic tag)
Next, a display example in the electronic tag 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example in the electronic tag 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic tag 100 has displays (111, 112) on both sides thereof. Specifically, the electronic tag 100 has a first display 111 provided on one surface and a second display 112 provided on the other surface.

The electronic tag 100 causes the predetermined product information to be displayed only on the back side display (that is, the display on the back side surface of the electronic tag 100) facing the product P among the first display 111 and the second display 112. In one embodiment, the predetermined product information includes price information indicating the price of the product P (see FIG. 3 (b)). In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the second display 112 is the back side display and displays "¥ 12,000" as price information.

Since the price information is displayed on the back side display, the customer needs to turn over the electronic tag 100 (that is, turn the electronic tag 100 upside down) in order to see the price of the product P. By detecting such a flip, it can be considered that the customer has confirmed the price information. As a result, the degree of customer interest in the product P can be grasped.

The electronic tag 100 may display information related to the product P, which is different from the price information, on the front side display of the first display 111 and the second display 112, which does not face the product P. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the first display 111 is a front side display and displays product name information and bar code information. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the two displays (111, 112).

(Example of electronic tag configuration)
Next, a configuration example of the electronic tag 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the electronic tag 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic tag 100 includes a first display 111, a second display 112, an acceleration sensor 121, a temperature sensor 122, a geomagnetic sensor 130, an RF ID chip 140, and a wireless communication device 150. , A battery 160, and a tag controller 170.

Each of the first display 111 and the second display 112 displays information under the control of the tag controller 170. For example, each of the first display 111 and the second display 112 is configured to include electronic paper. Electronic paper has low power consumption because it does not consume power during display but consumes power only at the time of rewriting. However, instead of the electronic paper, the first display 111 and the second display 112 may be configured by a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, or the like.

The acceleration sensor 121 is an example of a sensor for detecting a state in which a customer is touching the electronic tag 100 (hereinafter referred to as a "contact state"). The acceleration sensor 121 measures the acceleration and outputs information indicating the measured acceleration to the tag controller 170. The accelerometer 121 is used to identify whether the electronic tag 100 is stationary or not. When the acceleration sensor 121 is not stationary, it can be considered that the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100. The acceleration sensor 121 may be a multi-axis acceleration sensor.

The temperature sensor 122 is another example of a sensor for detecting a contact state in which a customer is touching the electronic tag 100. The temperature sensor 122 measures the temperature (for example, the surface temperature of the electronic tag 100) and outputs information indicating the measured temperature to the tag controller 170. The temperature sensor 122 is used to identify whether or not the temperature of the electronic tag 100 has risen. When the temperature of the electronic tag 100 rises, it can be considered that the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100 (contact state). It should be noted that it is not always necessary to provide both the acceleration sensor 121 and the temperature sensor 122 as the sensor for detecting the contact state, and only one of them may be provided.

The geomagnetic sensor 130 is an example of a sensor for detecting the front-back inversion of the electronic tag 100. The geomagnetic sensor 130 measures the geomagnetism and outputs information indicating the measured geomagnetism to the tag controller 170. The geomagnetic sensor 130 is used to specify the direction (direction) in which one surface of the electronic tag 100 faces. Hereinafter, an example of specifying the direction in which the surface of the electronic tag 100 provided with the first display 111 faces is described using the geomagnetic sensor 130.

The RF ID chip 140 is connected to the antenna 141 and performs wireless communication via the antenna 141. The RF ID chip 140 operates using the electromotive force generated by the radio waves received by the antenna 141. The RF ID chip 140 may transmit a radio wave including a product identifier stored in advance to the reading device 300 according to the radio wave received from the reading device 300 by the antenna 141.

The RF ID chip 140 outputs information contained in the received radio wave to the tag controller 170 according to the radio wave received by the antenna 141 from the instrument communication device 200. For example, the RF ID chip 140 receives information instructing display switching between the first display 111 and the second display 112 from the instrument communication device 200, and outputs the received information to the tag controller 170.

The wireless communication device 150 communicates with the instrument communication device 200 by short-range wireless communication using the antenna 151 under the control of the tag controller 170. The method of short-range wireless communication may be, for example, wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark; the same shall apply hereinafter). In one embodiment, the wireless communication device 150 operates as a transmitter that only transmits to the instrument communication device 200. For example, the wireless communication device 150 may be a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) transmitter.

The battery 160 supplies electric power for driving each part of the electronic tag 100. The battery 160 is, for example, a primary battery. When the RF ID chip 140 receives power from the appliance communication device 200, the battery 160 need only supply power that is insufficient due to the power supply from the appliance communication device 200. The battery 160 may be a secondary battery in which the RF ID chip 140 can store the electric power supplied from the appliance communication device 200.

The tag controller 170 controls each part of the electronic tag 100. For example, the tag controller 170 has at least one memory and at least one processor electrically connected to the memory. The memory includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and stores information used for processing in the processor and a program executed by the processor. The processor performs various processes and controls by executing a program stored in the memory.

The tag controller 170 executes a display switching process of displaying predetermined product information only on the back side display facing the product P among the first display 111 and the second display 112 based on the front / back inversion of the electronic tag 100. As described above, the predetermined product information includes price information indicating the price of the product P (see FIG. 3 (b)).

For example, in the display switching process, in a state where the first display 111 displays the predetermined product information as the back side display, the display for displaying the predetermined product information is displayed from the first display 111 in response to the detection of the front / back inversion. The process of switching to the second display 112 is included. Further, in the display switching process, in a state where the second display 112 displays the predetermined product information as the back side display, the display for displaying the predetermined product information is displayed from the second display 112 in response to the detection of the front / back inversion. The process of switching to the first display 111 is included. As a result, even if the electronic tag 100 is turned upside down, predetermined product information can be displayed on the back surface of the electronic tag 100.

As described above, the acceleration sensor 121 and / or the temperature sensor 122 is used to detect the contact state in which the customer is touching the electronic tag 100. The tag controller 170 executes the display switching process after the contact state ends. As a result, the display switching process is not executed while the customer holds the electronic tag 100, so that the customer can easily confirm the predetermined product information.

In a configuration in which each of the first display 111 and the second display 112 includes electronic paper, the tag controller 170 generates electric power supplied from the instrument communication device 200 (that is, the RF ID chip 140) in the display switching process. The electronic paper may be rewritten using the electromotive force). As a result, the electric power of the battery 160 can be saved and the driveable time of the battery 160 can be extended.

(Configuration example of equipment communication device)
Next, a configuration example of the instrument communication device 200 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the equipment communication device 200.

As shown in FIG. 5, the instrument communication device 200 includes a geomagnetic sensor 210, a tag reader / writer 220, a wireless communication device 230, an interface 240, a battery 250, and an instrument controller 260.

The geomagnetic sensor 210 is an example of a sensor for detecting the front-back inversion of the electronic tag 100. The geomagnetic sensor 210 measures the geomagnetism and outputs information indicating the measured geomagnetism to the instrument controller 260. The geomagnetic sensor 210 is used to specify the direction in which a predetermined surface of the product P faces. The predetermined surface of the product P may be the surface to which the electronic tag 100 is attached in the product P (see FIG. 2). The direction in which the predetermined surface of the product P faces may be synonymous with the direction in which the predetermined surface of the instrument H faces. The predetermined surface of the instrument H may be, for example, the front surface of the instrument H.

The tag reader / writer 220 is connected to the antenna 221 and performs wireless communication via the antenna 221. Specifically, the tag reader / writer 220 transmits radio waves from the antenna 221 to the electronic tag 100 under the control of the instrument controller 260. For example, the tag reader / writer 220 transmits a radio wave including information instructing display switching between the first display 111 and the second display 112 of the electronic tag 100 to the electronic tag 100.

The wireless communication device 230 communicates with the electronic tag 100 by short-range wireless communication using the antenna 231 under the control of the instrument controller 260. The method of short-range wireless communication may be, for example, wireless LAN or Bluetooth. In one embodiment, the wireless communication device 230 operates as a receiver that only receives from the electronic tag 100. For example, the wireless communication device 230 may be a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) receiver.

The interface 240 stores information stored in the instrument controller 260, specifically, information on the number of times the electronic tag 100 is turned upside down (that is, the number of times the customer confirms the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100). Output to the outside. The interface 240 may be a wired interface such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The interface 240 may be a wireless LAN interface or a wireless interface such as an LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) interface.

The battery 250 supplies electric power for driving each part of the equipment communication device 200. The battery 250 may be a primary battery or a secondary battery.

The instrument controller 260 controls each part of the instrument communication device 200. For example, the instrument controller 260 has at least one memory and at least one processor electrically connected to the memory. The memory includes a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, and stores information used for processing in the processor and a program executed by the processor. The processor performs various processes and controls by executing a program stored in the memory.

In one embodiment, the instrument controller 260 functions as a counting unit that counts the number of confirmations indicating the number of times the customer has confirmed the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100. Specifically, the instrument controller 260 counts the number of times of flipping the front and back of the electronic tag 100 as the number of confirmations, and stores the count result.

The instrument controller 260 executes an inversion detection process for detecting the inversion of the front and back of the electronic tag 100 based on the outputs of the geomagnetic sensor 130 of the electronic tag 100 and the geomagnetic sensor 210 of the instrument communication device 200. For example, the inversion detection process is performed according to the transition of the electronic tag 100 from the first state to the second state, or the transition of the electronic tag 100 from the second state to the first state. Includes processing to detect the flipping of the front and back. Here, the first state is a state in which the direction in which one surface of the electronic tag 100 faces and the direction in which a predetermined surface of the product P faces substantially coincide with each other. The second state is a state in which the direction in which one surface of the electronic tag 100 faces and the direction in which the predetermined surface of the product P faces are substantially opposite.

(Operation example of product management system)
Next, an operation example of the product management system 1 according to the embodiment will be described.

(1) Operation Example of Electronic Tag 100 FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation example of the electronic tag 100 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step S101, the tag controller 170 determines whether or not the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100 based on the acceleration information output by the acceleration sensor 121. For example, the tag controller 170 determines that it is in a contact state when an acceleration equal to or higher than a threshold value is detected for a certain period of time. The tag controller 170 may determine whether or not the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100 based on the temperature information output by the temperature sensor 122.

When it is determined that the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100 (step S101: Yes), in step S102, the tag controller 170 starts acquiring the direction information (geomagnetic information) output by the geomagnetic sensor 130. .. That is, the tag controller 170 detects the direction in which one surface of the electronic tag 100 faces.

In step S103, the tag controller 170 transmits the direction information acquired in step S102 to the instrument communication device 200 via the wireless communication device 150.

In step S104, the tag controller 170 determines whether or not the contact state in which the customer is touching the electronic tag 100 has ended based on the acceleration information output by the acceleration sensor 121. For example, the tag controller 170 determines that the contact state has ended when a state in which the acceleration is less than the threshold value is detected for a certain period of time. The tag controller 170 may determine whether or not the contact state in which the customer is touching the electronic tag 100 has ended based on the temperature information output by the temperature sensor 122.

When it is determined that the contact state has not ended (that is, the contact state continues) (step S104: No), the tag controller 170 reacquires the direction information from the geomagnetic sensor 130 and acquires the acquired direction information. It is transmitted to the instrument communication device 200 (steps S102 and S103). In this way, while the contact state continues, transmission from the electronic tag 100 to the instrument communication device 200 is performed intermittently.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the contact state has ended (step S104: Yes), in step S105, the tag controller 170 ends the transmission of the direction information to the instrument communication device 200.

In step S106, the tag controller 170 determines whether or not the RF ID chip 140 has received the display switching instructions of the first display 111 and the second display 112 from the instrument communication device 200.

When it is determined that the RF ID chip 140 has received the display switching instruction from the instrument communication device 200 (step S106: Yes), in step S107, the tag controller 170 is the product P of the first display 111 and the second display 112. The display switching process for displaying the predetermined product information only on the back side display facing the device is executed.

(2) Operation Example of Instrument Communication Device 200 FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation example of the instrument communication device 200 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step S201, the instrument controller 260 starts acquiring the direction information (geomagnetic information) output by the geomagnetic sensor 210. That is, the instrument controller 260 detects the direction in which the predetermined surface of the product P faces.

In step S202, the instrument controller 260 determines whether or not the wireless communication device 230 has received the direction information from the electronic tag 100.

When it is determined that the wireless communication device 230 has received the direction information from the electronic tag 100 (step S202: Yes), in step S203, the instrument controller 260 receives the direction information acquired in step S201 and the direction information from the electronic tag 100 in step S202. Based on the received direction information, it is determined whether or not the electronic tag 100 is turned upside down, that is, whether or not the predetermined product information (price information) displayed by the electronic tag 100 is on the front side. When it is determined that the electronic tag 100 is not inverted (step S203: No), the instrument controller 260 returns the process to step S202.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the electronic tag 100 is turned upside down (step S203: Yes), in step S204, the instrument controller 260 indicates the number of confirmations indicating the number of times the customer has confirmed the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100. Is counted so as to increase once, and the counting result of the number of confirmations is stored.

In step S205, the instrument controller 260 determines whether or not the reception of the direction information from the electronic tag 100 has been completed. As described above, since the electronic tag 100 intermittently transmits direction information to the instrument communication device 200 in a contact state in which the customer is in contact with the electronic tag 100, the instrument controller 260 performs such intermittent transmission. Determine if it has finished.

When it is determined that the reception of the direction information from the electronic tag 100 has been completed (step S205: Yes), in step S206, the instrument controller 260 has the direction information acquired in step S201 and the direction last received from the electronic tag 100. Based on the information, it is determined whether or not the electronic tag 100 is in an inverted state, that is, whether or not the predetermined product information (price information) displayed by the electronic tag 100 is on the front side.

When it is determined that the electronic tag 100 is turned upside down (step S206: Yes), in step S207, the instrument controller 260 issues a display switching instruction of the first display 111 and the second display 112 via the tag reader / writer 220. It is transmitted to the electronic tag 100.

(Change example 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the direction information of the electronic tag 100 is transmitted from the electronic tag 100 to the instrument communication device 200, and the instrument communication device 200 (apparatus controller 260) transmits the direction information of the electronic tag 100 and the direction information of the instrument communication device 200. An example of detecting the front-back inversion of the electronic tag 100 has been described based on the above.

However, the direction information of the device communication device 200 is transmitted from the device communication device 200 to the electronic tag 100, and the electronic tag 100 (tag controller 170) is based on the direction information of the electronic tag 100 and the direction information of the device communication device 200. The flipping of the front and back of the electronic tag 100 may be detected. In this case, the tag controller 170 of the electronic tag 100 may function as a counting unit that counts the number of confirmations indicating the number of times the customer has confirmed the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100.

(Change example 2)
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the device on which the device communication device 200 is provided is a hanger has been described. However, the appliance on which the appliance communication device 200 is provided may be a hanger rack. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration according to this modified example.

As shown in FIG. 8, the display zone Z for displaying the product P is composed of the hanger rack 600. A plurality of hangers H are hung on the upper column 600T of the hanger rack 600, and the product P is hung on each hanger H.

The reading device 300 is installed on the upper part of the support 600L of the hanger rack 600. The reading device 300 grasps each product P in the display zone Z by reading the product identifier from the electronic tag 100 attached to each product P. In this modification, the instrument communication device 200 is integrated with the reading device 300. The instrument communication device 200 counts the number of confirmations indicating the number of times the customer has confirmed the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag 100 for each product P.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, an example in which the electronic tag 100 has the RFID chip 140 and the instrument communication device 200 has the tag reader / writer 220 has been described. However, the electronic tag 100 does not have to have the RFID chip 140. The instrument communication device 200 does not have to have the tag reader / writer 220. In this case, the above-mentioned display switching instruction is transmitted from the wireless communication device 230 of the instrument communication device 200 to the wireless communication device 150 of the electronic tag 100.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the sensor for detecting the front-back inversion of the electronic tag 100 is a geomagnetic sensor has been described. However, the sensor for detecting the front-back inversion of the electronic tag 100 may be another sensor (for example, an acceleration sensor or an illuminance sensor).

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the predetermined product information to be displayed only on the back side display portion of the electronic tag 100 is the price information has been described. However, the predetermined product information displayed only on the back side display portion of the electronic tag 100 may be any information that is the target of marketing research, and may be, for example, raw material information or manufacturer information (brand information).

A program for causing a computer to execute each process according to the above-described embodiment may be provided. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media can be used to install programs on a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient recording medium. The non-transient recording medium is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings above, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made within a range that does not deviate from the gist.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-147648 (filed on September 2, 2020), the entire contents of which are incorporated in the specification of the present application.

1: Product management system 100: Electronic tag 111: First display 112: Second display 121: Acceleration sensor 122: Temperature sensor 130: Geomagnetic sensor 140: RF ID chip 141: Antenna 150: Wireless communication device 151: Antenna 160: Battery 170: Tag controller 200: Equipment communication device 210: Geomagnetic sensor 220: Tag reader / writer 221: Antenna 230: Wireless communication device 231: Antenna 240: Interface 250: Battery 260: Equipment controller 300: Reader 400: Management device 600: Hanger rack

Claims

A product management system equipped with an electronic tag that can be attached to a product.
The electronic tag is
A first display provided on one surface of the electronic tag and
A second display provided on the other side of the electronic tag,
A sensor for detecting the flipping of the front and back of the electronic tag, and
A product management system including a tag controller that executes a display switching process for displaying predetermined product information only on the back side display facing the product among the first display and the second display based on the front-to-back inversion. ..
A counting unit for counting the number of confirmations indicating the number of times the customer has confirmed the predetermined product information displayed on the electronic tag is provided.
The product management system according to claim 1, wherein the counting unit counts the number of times of flipping the front and back as the number of confirmations.
In the display switching process, in a state where the first display displays the predetermined product information as the back side display, the display for displaying the predetermined product information is displayed in response to the detection of the front / back inversion. The product management system according to claim 1 or 2, which comprises a process of switching from one display to the second display.
An instrument communication device provided in the instrument for displaying the product and communicating with the electronic tag is further provided.
The sensor provided on the electronic tag is a first geomagnetic sensor for specifying a direction in which one surface of the electronic tag faces.
The instrument communication device is
A second geomagnetic sensor for specifying the direction in which a predetermined surface of the product faces, and
With an instrument controller,
3. The product management system described in.
The inversion detection process is performed according to the transition of the electronic tag from the first state to the second state, or the transition of the electronic tag from the second state to the first state. Includes processing to detect inversion
The first state is a state in which the direction in which one surface of the electronic tag faces and the direction in which a predetermined surface of the product faces substantially coincide with each other.
The product management system according to claim 4, wherein the second state is a state in which the direction in which one surface faces and the direction in which the predetermined surface faces are substantially opposite.
The electronic tag has an acceleration sensor and / or a temperature sensor for detecting a contact state in which the customer is touching the electronic tag.
The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tag controller executes the display switching process after the contact state is completed.
The device communication device provided in the device for displaying the product and communicating with the electronic tag has a tag reader / writer.
Each of the first display and the second display includes electronic paper.
The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tag controller rewrites the electronic paper using electric power supplied from the tag reader / writer in the display switching process.
The product management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the predetermined product information includes price information indicating the price of the product.
The tag controller causes the front side display provided on the front side surface of the first display and the second display, which is a surface not facing the product, to display information about the product but different from the price information. , The product management system according to claim 8.
An electronic tag that can be attached to products
A first display provided on one surface of the electronic tag and
A second display provided on the other side of the electronic tag,
A sensor for detecting the flipping of the front and back of the electronic tag, and
An electronic tag comprising a tag controller that executes a display switching process of displaying predetermined product information only on the back side display of the first display and the second display facing the product based on the front-to-back inversion.