JP7743122B2 - Electronic shelf label management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label management system that manages electronic shelf labels used in supermarkets and other places.

In stores such as mass retailers, supermarkets, and drugstores, POP (Point of purchase advertising, paper-based product shelf labels) is used to advertise new products, special offers, and sales. In recent years, a system known as electronic shelf labels has also come into practical use. Electronic shelf labels are small displays that can wirelessly communicate and display prices, product information, inventory, and other information in real time. They are highly useful because the display on the shelf labels can be easily changed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-146555

However, unless electronic shelf labels are attached to every product in a store, it is not easy to make appropriate decisions about which products to attach electronic shelf labels to and under what conditions to change the products to which electronic shelf labels should be attached in order to make effective use of the limited number of electronic shelf labels. In the following explanation, shelf labels made of paper or other sheets will be referred to as "product shelf labels."

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to provide an electronic shelf label management system that can maximize the effectiveness of electronic shelf labels and increase investment efficiency.

The present invention is an electronic shelf label management system having electronic shelf labels that display display information related to products for sale, and a shelf label management computer that communicates with the electronic shelf labels and determines, from among the products for sale, products that are candidates for attaching the electronic shelf labels and products that are candidates for attaching product shelf labels, wherein the computer is characterized by having a determination means that determines the products that are candidates for attaching electronic shelf labels in accordance with a change state of origin information of the products for sale .
This determination means makes it possible to maximize the effectiveness of electronic shelf labels and improve investment efficiency.

This invention maximizes the effectiveness of electronic shelf labels.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a product sales data processing system 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of a management device 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a POS device 30. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a shelf label management device 50. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of an electronic shelf label 90. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a shelf label management screen G1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an output content screen G3. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a switching progress screen G5. FIG. 1 is an operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic shelf label 90. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a POP advertisement 75. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an attachment/detachment screen G7 of the shelf label management device 50. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen G9 of a handheld terminal 85. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a linking operation screen G11 of a handheld terminal 85. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 of the handheld terminal 85. FIG. 10 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. FIG. 10 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. FIG. 10 is an operational flow diagram of a method for determining how to handle the electronic shelf label 90 depending on whether or not there is a sales plan.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a block diagram showing an example of a merchandise sales data processing system 100 having an electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the merchandise sales data processing system 100 is configured by connecting a management device (store controller) 10, multiple POS devices 30 (30-1, ..., n), and the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to this embodiment so that they can communicate with each other via a LAN 25. The LAN 25 may be either wired or wireless.

The management device 10 is a host computer with server functionality that stores product files and other data, and controls the entire product sales data processing system 100. Product files are updated as appropriate. The management device 10 transmits the latest product information to the POS device 30, electronic shelf label management system 1-1, and other systems as appropriate.

Figure 2 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the management device 10. As shown in the figure, the management device 10 has a CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, display unit 14, hard disk 15, operation unit 16, and communication unit 17, with these components connected to each other via a communication line 18 such as a bus. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the management device 10 by executing a control program stored in ROM 12. The ROM 12 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 13 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 14 is, for example, an LCD display, and displays information to the store clerk operating the management device 10. The hard disk 15 is a storage means for storing the product file and various information described below. The operation unit 16 has various keys for receiving various instructions from the store clerk operating the management device 10. The communication unit 17 is a communication interface for communicating with various devices via the LAN 25. The management device 10 may also be connected to a headquarters computer or cloud system via the communication unit 17, for example, via a network.

Figure 3 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the POS device 30. This POS device 30 is an example of a normal POS device in which product registration and settlement are performed by a store clerk. As shown in the figure, the POS device 30 includes a CPU 31 that controls its operation; a hard disk 32 that stores customer purchase information; a ROM 33 that stores programs executed by the CPU 31; a RAM 34 that temporarily stores various information (e.g., product files obtained from the management device 10); a scanner 35 that optically reads barcodes attached to products; a clerk display 36 that displays the product name and price when a customer purchase is registered; a customer display 37; a receipt printer 38; a drawer 39 (or automatic change dispenser 39) that stores cash and coupons; a communications unit 40 that communicates with external devices such as the management device 10 via a wireless or wired LAN 25; and an operation unit 41 with various buttons for performing various processes such as product registration and payment on the POS device 30. These components are connected to each other via a communications line 42 such as a bus.

The above POS device 30 shows an example of a normal system in which product registration (product registration processing) and settlement (payment processing) are performed by a store clerk, but various other types of POS devices may also be used, such as a semi-self-service POS system device in which product registration (product registration processing) is performed by a store clerk and settlement (payment processing) is performed by the customer themselves, or a full-self-service POS device in which registration and settlement are performed by the customer themselves.

Returning to Figure 1, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 is configured with a shelf label management device 50, a printing device 70, multiple electronic shelf labels 90 (90-1 to 90-q) connected via one or more transceivers 80 (80-1 to 80-e), and multiple handheld terminals 85 (85-1 to 85-f) connected via one or more transceivers 80 (80-f).

Figure 4 shows an example of a functional block diagram of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 has a CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, a display unit 54, a hard disk 55 (or solid state drive 55), an operation unit 56, and a communication unit 57. These components are connected to each other via a communication line 58 such as a bus. The CPU 51 controls the operation of the shelf label management device 50 by executing a control program stored in ROM 52. The ROM 52 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 53 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 54 is, for example, an LCD display, and displays information to the store clerk operating the shelf label management device 50. The hard disk 55 is a storage means for storing a product master for shelf label management and various other information. The operation unit 56 has various keys and the like for receiving various instructions from the store clerk operating the shelf label management device 50. The communication unit 57 is a communication interface for communicating with various other devices such as the management device 10, POS device 30, printing device 70, handheld terminal 85, and electronic shelf label 90 via the LAN 25 or the like.

Figure 5 shows an example of a functional block diagram of an electronic shelf label 90, and Figure 10 is a front view of an example of an electronic shelf label 90. As shown in both figures, the electronic shelf label 90 has a CPU 91, ROM 92, RAM 93, display unit 94, and communication unit 95. These components are connected to each other via a communication line 96 such as a bus, and a separate battery 97 is also built in. The CPU 91 controls the operation of the electronic shelf label 90 by executing a control program stored in ROM 92. The ROM 92 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 93 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 94 is, for example, an LCD display, and displays information such as the price of products placed on a shelf on which the electronic shelf label 90 is installed to customers. The communication unit 95 is a communication interface for communicating with the shelf label management device 50 and the like via the transceiver 80. For example, infrared communication is used as the communication means between the communication unit 95 and the transceiver 80, but various other communication means may also be used. As shown in FIG. 10 , the display screen 94 of the electronic shelf label 90 displays a "SALE" message for promotional purposes, as well as the product name and current price. This display screen 94 is preferably color-coded for effective promotional purposes. A lamp 99 is provided in a designated position (top corner) on the display screen 94, which can be turned on when a store clerk wants to replace the electronic shelf label 90 with a product shelf label, facilitating the replacement. An identification code (barcode) 98 is displayed in a designated position (bottom center) to distinguish this electronic shelf label 90 from other electronic shelf labels 90. The electronic shelf label 90 can be identified by an electronic tag or the character string or numbers themselves. In this case, the handheld terminal 85 can be equipped with an electronic tag reader or imaging means such as a CCD camera. Vertical and horizontal configurations, as well as multiple sizes, are available depending on the display space and face.

Although not shown, the handheld terminal 85 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, a display/operation unit, and a communication unit. These components are connected to each other via a communication line such as a bus, and also have a separate built-in battery. The CPU controls the operation of the handheld terminal 85 by executing a control program stored in the ROM. The ROM stores various information such as the control program. The RAM temporarily stores various information. The display/operation unit is, for example, an LCD display, and is used to display various instructions to the worker carrying the handheld terminal 85 and to link the electronic shelf labels 90 with product or shelf locations, etc. The communication unit is a communication interface for communicating with the shelf label management device 50 and the like via the transceiver 80. Note that the communication method used by the communication unit of the handheld terminal 85 may be any method, such as wireless LAN or infrared communication, and may use a different communication method and communication band than the electronic shelf labels 90. Furthermore, the handheld terminal 85 may perform batch processing rather than real-time processing.

Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described, starting with the prerequisite work.
When introducing electronic shelf labels (ESLs) 90, purchasing the same number of electronic shelf labels 90 as the number of products handled in a store would require a huge investment, so generally, a store does not purchase all of them. For example, suppose 3,500 electronic shelf labels 90 are purchased. Then, a surplus is set aside for new products, etc. For example, 100 units are set aside as surplus, and the remaining 3,400 units are allocated to each department, etc.

The person in charge determines the sales price change history (hereinafter referred to as "sales change history") and the change history of required display information other than the sales price (hereinafter referred to as "required display information change history") for any past period from the sales management system, sales planning management data, etc. Based on the results, the product on which the electronic shelf label 90 is to be installed is selected. The electronic shelf labels 90 may be automatically allocated based on the number of electronic shelf labels 90 allocated to each department/category, starting with the top products that have been changed the most frequently based on the sales change history and required display information change history.

Next, the person in charge installs electronic shelf labels 90 on the shelves where the selected target products are placed. This installation is done by category, by rail of the product shelf, or by face. Each electronic shelf label 90 has a shelf label identification number, and can be identified by affixing an identification code 98 or attaching an electronic tag. Specifically, the installation work of the electronic shelf labels 90 is carried out as follows.
(1) The product identification number (barcode such as EAN, UPC, ITF, or electronic tag) data is read and input using a handheld terminal 85 or the like.
(2) The identification number of the electronic shelf label 90 is read from the identification code 98 (or electronic tag, character string, or number) using the handheld terminal 85 or the like, and input.
(3) An operation for linking the product with the electronic shelf label 90 is performed. The linking operation is performed by pressing the confirmation button on the operation surface of the handy terminal 85, for example.

In order to confirm the linking operation between the above-mentioned products and electronic shelf labels 90, for example, the shelf label management device 50 may acquire the status of each electronic shelf label 90 via a transceiver 80 (a relay device such as an access point, and any communication means such as Wi-Fi, infrared communication, or beacons) that communicates with the electronic shelf labels 90, and compare the acquired status of the electronic shelf labels 90 with the linking confirmation information acquired from the handheld terminal 85.

On the other hand, in the case of a new store (a newly opened store), product shelf tags (also known as price cards) are issued and placed near each product. New stores also run special events such as grand opening sales or special giveaways, so POP advertisements are issued and posted in the sales locations of the products. Figure 11 shows an example of a POP advertisement 75. As shown in the figure, the POP advertisement 75 is printed on a sheet (paper medium) and displays a promotional message such as "SALE! Our store's top pick!" as well as the product name and current price. This POP advertisement 75 is preferably displayed in color for effective promotion. The POP advertisement 75 printed in this manner is placed, for example, in a designated position on a display shelf near the product. It is desirable to display an identification code 76 on the POP advertisement 75 so that the POP advertisement can be distinguished from other POP advertisements. In this way, electronic shelf tags and product shelf tags (including POP advertisements) are prepared.

In the above example, electronic shelf tags 90 or product shelf tags are issued by linking them to products and assigning them to each product. However, when multiple identical products are displayed, such as in a sales area within a store, the product and its display location (location) may also be linked and matched. The location may be determined using location information from the handheld terminal 85, a barcode or character string affixed to the product shelf in advance, or by selecting the display location from a pull-down menu on the handheld terminal 85, or by manually entering the location.

Furthermore, linking with the management number of a promotional plan may be performed using a promotion master or sales plan master. By using the promotion number or promotional plan name, multiple electronic shelf labels 90 and POP advertisements can be assigned and created for the same product. This allows for speedy and accurate preparation and installation of electronic shelf labels 90, product shelf labels, promotional POP advertisements, etc. within the store. Note that the linking operation using the handheld terminal 85 may be performed in multiple operating methods depending on the work purpose, such as by product specification or display location.

Next, we will explain how to switch between electronic shelf tags 90 and product shelf tags in an operating store. The product sales change history, required display information change history, and sales promotion plan history mentioned above are stored and managed as data on the hard disk 55 of the shelf tag management device 50.

Figure 6 shows an example of the shelf label management screen G1 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management screen G1 displays a department setting field G11, an electronic shelf label usage count display field G12, a period setting field G13, a shelf label condition setting field G15, a judgment target selection field G17, a display target selection field G19, a display method selection field G21, a product field G23, an output button G25, a confirm button G27, and a switch product count field G29.

The department setting field G11 is a field for selecting the department to be displayed in the product field G23. For example, departments classified according to the nature of the product and sales format, such as the produce department, fresh fish department, meat department, prepared food department, and daily necessities department, are selected and displayed. In the example shown, the produce department is selected. The electronic shelf tag usage display field G12 displays the number of electronic shelf tags 90 currently in use (67 in the figure) out of the total number of electronic shelf tags 90 allocated to each department (120 in the figure). The period setting field G13 is a field for setting the period for determining whether to install or remove. For example, the start date and time of the period is entered in the left field G131 and the end date and time of the period in the right field G133. The display target setting field G15 is a field for specifying the display target to be displayed in the product field G23. This field is a field for setting one of the following: fixed product shelf tag, fixed electronic shelf tag, fixed unspecified product (new products, products not on display, etc.), or normal (the target item for which installation or removal is determined). In the figure, normal is selected.

The judgment target selection field G17 is a field for selecting whether to extract targets for installation/removal using only price changes, whether to extract targets for installation/removal using factors other than price changes, or whether to extract targets for installation/removal using both. In the figure, the selection is made to extract targets for installation/removal using price changes. The display target selection field G19 is a field for selecting whether to display mutual changes between electronic shelf labels 90 and product shelf labels (ALL), whether to display only changes from electronic shelf labels 90 to product shelf labels (ESL ⇒ POP), or whether to display only changes from product shelf labels to electronic shelf labels 90 (POP ⇒ ESL). In the figure, the selection is made to display mutual changes. The display method selection field G21 is a field for selecting whether to display (sort) in ascending or descending order when sorting by the highest or lowest installation/removal conditions. In the figure, the selection is made to display in ascending order. The product field G23 is a list of products calculated according to the above conditions. The product field G23 has fields for number (No.), PLU, product name (product name), specifications, sales change (number of times the selling price has been changed), change (attach/remove), and confirmation. The confirmation field indicates whether the product is subject to change or not, and confirmed products are subject to update. Confirmed or unconfirmed can be selected by pressing the confirmation field corresponding to each product. Pressing the confirmation button G27 switches all products in the product field G23 displayed as a list to confirmed. Pressing the output button G25 outputs (transmits) change data for confirmed products to the handheld terminal 85 or the printer 70 via the output content screen G3 shown in FIG. 7 (described below). This allows changes to be made to the electronic shelf tag 90 or the product shelf tag using the display screen of the handheld terminal 85 or the form output from the printer 70.
Furthermore, even if this operation is not performed, if the conditions for the change are set in advance, for example, when a menu is selected and the screen is displayed, if the initial value is set in advance, such as when the initial value of a selection field other than the display content that determines the display data based on the department setting, specifically the initial value of the judgment target selection field G17 is set to the selling price change, then once the department is selected, the judgment can be automatically made for a period of one month from the current day and one month from the previous month.

Note that if the quantity of electronic shelf labels 90 used by a department can be changed at any time, it is convenient when adjusting surpluses or when adjusting quantities between departments. Furthermore, when calculating the top list displayed in the above-mentioned product column G23, it is also possible to set it for each product, such as not allocating an electronic shelf label 90 or using only product shelf labels. In this case, the product in question will be excluded when generating the top list. Furthermore, by setting specific conditions, it is also possible to switch from electronic shelf labels 90 to product shelf labels. For example, it is possible to set conditions such as forcibly allocating electronic shelf labels 90 that have been allocated to a department that has not changed its sales price within a certain period of time to another department, or to allocate them for surplus use. Note that while we use departments here, this could also be a medium or small classification.

6, only price changes are used in the determination target selection field G17 to extract targets for installation and removal. However, other factors, or both, may be used. For example, factors other than price changes may be used to determine the need for electronic shelf labels 90 based on product characteristics. For bare-sold products such as fresh produce and fish, information other than the selling price (essential display information), such as place of origin and producer, frequently changes, so it is more useful to use electronic shelf labels 90. This is because issuing POP advertisements or product shelf labels every time the place of origin or other information changes is inefficient in terms of both labor and cost. On the other hand, for departments such as stationery and general merchandise, neither price changes nor other essential display information change much, so these departments can be excluded from the scope of electronic shelf labels 90 from the start, so that electronic shelf labels 90 are not assigned to them.
Furthermore, products whose display information has been changed may also be considered as target products. Specifically, when an allergy mark is added to the electronic shelf tag 90, or when a POP larger than a regular price card is used to particularly increase customer appeal, the opposite condition to the above may be met, and the electronic shelf tag 90 may be considered as a target for removal.

In addition, products that are the subject of a sales promotion plan may be forced to be the subject of POP advertisements. However, electronic shelf tags 90 may be installed in normal display areas, and separate POP advertisements may be issued in sales or promotional sales areas. In this case, the need for electronic shelf tags 90 may be determined by the combination of the product and the sales promotion plan, or the combination of the product and the location.

Figure 7 shows an example of the output content screen G3 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the output content screen G3 displays a department column G31, a display location to be switched column G33, an output target column G35, a send button G37, and an issue button G39.

The department field G31 displays the department of the product to be replaced; in this example, it displays the produce department. The target display location field G33 displays the first and last display locations for the replacement. Note that the 99th row of the 99th shelf on line 04 of the 11th line refers to the last row and column of the 11th line of the 04th shelf. The output target field G35 allows the user to select whether to output only the unupdated data or all of the updated and unupdated data. Although not shown, the output target field G35 may also display a "difference" in addition to the unupdated data and all of the updated data. The "difference" field is used to output not only the unupdated data but also new unupdated data generated during the replacement work. The send button G37 enables the handheld terminal 85 to receive the data and sends it to the database in the shelf label management device 50, the store controller 10, or a separate file server (including the cloud). The issue button G39 outputs the data to the printer 70.
This allows for efficient use of the instruction list output from the handheld terminal 85 and the printer 70, or allows for switching between them independently. The instruction list also allows for determining the output range, making it useful when multiple people are working simultaneously. Multiple ranges of display locations may be selected. When specifying multiple ranges, for example, by adding an input field, operability improves if the location number in the upper end field is automatically entered in the start field. Data may also be made receivable by the handheld terminal 85 when the confirm button G27 in Figure 6 is pressed, without using Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows an example of a switching progress screen G5 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the switching progress screen G5 displays a department field G51, a switching target field G53, a progress percentage display field G55, a progress display target selection field G57, and a product information display field G59. The department field G51 displays the department of the product for which progress is being displayed; in this example, it displays the produce department. The switching target field G53 displays whether to switch from electronic shelf labels 90 to product shelf labels, from product shelf labels to electronic shelf labels 90, or to attach new shelf labels; in this example, a product is selected for switching from product shelf labels to electronic shelf labels 90. The progress percentage display field G55 displays the switching progress percentage as a percentage. The progress display target selection field G57 allows you to select whether the products to be displayed in the product information display field G59 are those that have been switched, those that have not been switched, or both; in this example, it is selected to display both. The product information display field G59 displays the display location, PLU, product name, person in charge, installation, and communication information for each product selected according to the various conditions above. "Installation" here indicates whether installation of the electronic shelf label 90 in the display location has been completed, regardless of whether communication with the transceiver 80 has been completed. "Communication" indicates whether communication between the electronic shelf label 90 and the transceiver 80 has been completed.

When switching shelf tags, various conditions such as the department and an arbitrary (predetermined) period are entered on the shelf tag management screen G1 shown in Figure 6 above. Next, by pressing the output button G25 on the shelf tag management screen G1, the output content screen G3 shown in Figure 7 is displayed. After confirming the department and display location for the replacement on this output content screen G3, the data is sent to the handheld terminal 85 or printer 70 so that it can be used.

Then, using the display screen of the handheld terminal 85 or an instruction sheet (document) printed by the printer 70, the person in charge can replace the product shelf tag with an electronic shelf tag 90, or replace the electronic shelf tag 90 with a product shelf tag, or in the case of a new product, attach a new product shelf tag or electronic shelf tag 90. At this time, by dividing the number of shelf tags to be replaced and setting multiple locations, multiple workers can be involved in the replacement work. Specific details are explained below.

First, we will explain the case where an electronic shelf label 90 is switched to a product shelf label. In this case, a product shelf label (including price cards and POP advertisements) is issued for the product to be switched to. The issuing unit may be per department, display location, etc.

The issued product shelf tag is attached at the store's sales floor, and the electronic shelf tag 90 is collected. In the case of an instruction sheet (document), the electronic shelf tag 90 is removed and attached at the display location of the product. When using a handheld terminal 85 or the like, the process can be completed by comparing the identification information (such as identification code 98) of the electronic shelf tag 90 with the identification information (such as identification code 76) on the product shelf tag. Alternatively, if a location barcode or the like is present at the display location, the process can be completed by reading it. Furthermore, if the replacement operation needs to be performed quickly, such as after closing time, the display section 94 of the electronic shelf tag 90 can be blanked (erased) in advance, or a character string or mark can be displayed to indicate that the electronic shelf tag 90 is to be replaced. If the electronic shelf tag 90 is equipped with a lamp 99, the lamp 99 can be turned on if it is equipped with two or more colors. If the lamp 99 can be switched between two or more colors, or if two or more lamps 99 are installed, the color and mode of the light can be changed to indicate a sale, or the light can be turned on or flashed to make it easier to identify.

When performing the switching work as described above, for example, by using a switching progress screen G5 as shown in Figure 8 (the screen in Figure 8 shows the state when switching from product shelf labels to electronic shelf labels 90, but the opposite state is also possible), it is possible to check the progress of the electronic shelf label 90 collection operation and prevent forgetting to perform the work. It is also possible to know the identification information of the collected electronic shelf labels 90, and it is also possible to select the electronic shelf label 90 to use next based on the remaining battery power of each electronic shelf label 90, etc.

Next, we will explain how to switch from a product shelf label to an electronic shelf label 90. In this case, the electronic shelf label 90 to be installed is taken to the product display location specified in the instruction manual or on the handheld terminal 85. At this time, the electronic shelf label 90 may be switched to new product information in advance, or may be in its initial state.

Next, the product shelf labels in the designated product display locations are removed and electronic shelf labels 90 are installed. Then, the identification information (such as the identification code 98) of the electronic shelf labels 90 and the product or location identification information are entered to complete the replacement operation. The display information on the electronic shelf labels 90 can be updated after all electronic shelf labels 90 have been installed, or it can be updated each time an electronic shelf label 90 is installed. Once the display information on all electronic shelf labels 90 has been rewritten, the work is complete.

Next, we will explain sales promotion plans (sales promotion plans). Sales can be set by product, category, or department. When setting sales by category or department, you can set units such as excluded products or sub-categories. For example, you could set a 10% discount on all produce, but excluding Chinese cabbage. A period (start and end dates) must be set. When multiple sales promotion plans apply, you can consider methods such as prioritizing each plan, or prioritizing plans with similar start dates, or if the start dates are the same, plans with similar end dates (shortest) or the lowest price.

Even if it is not a special sale, if the price changes over a long period such as one month, the period price can be set in the sales planning master or product master. In the case of monthly special offers, if the product is subject to a sales plan it will not be subject to electronic shelf tags 90, but since this cannot be checked in the period price setting in the product master or the like, it is also possible to determine whether it is subject to pricing based on the period (even a single day). It is easy to see that products with prices that do not change over the month do not require electronic shelf tags 90, so this can be incorporated into the logic used when generating the top list.

Next, if the electronic shelf tag 90 does not have an identification code, the following operation is performed. First, the shelf tag management device 50 sets the allocated number and spare number of electronic shelf tags 90 for each department and category. The spare number is the number of electronic shelf tags 90 that are manually allocated to new products, etc.

The installation/removal screen G7 of the shelf label management device 50 in FIG. 12 is a screen for understanding the product master registration status for each intermediate category and the number of installation/removal tasks. This installation/removal screen G7 displays a number of installed electronic shelf labels field G71, a number of allocations for each intermediate category field G73, a number of displayed products field G75, and a number of products to be installed/removed field G77. The maximum number of electronic shelf labels to be installed is the number displayed in the number of installed electronic shelf labels field G71 minus the number of spares. This installation/removal screen G7 has a function for printing product shelf labels (POP) for products to be removed by pressing the number of products to be installed/removed field G77 for each intermediate category. After issuing a product shelf label (POP), the electronic shelf label 90 for the target product is removed according to the issued product shelf label (POP).
In actual operation, there may be cases where multiple products are displayed, or multiple electronic shelf tags 90 are used for one product due to display face and space constraints. Therefore, the removal work is not a one-to-one operation for one product. Note that since two identification numbers of the electronic shelf tags 90 are linked and managed to the product, the number of operations is two.
When attaching electronic shelf labels 90, if the worker can arbitrarily decide the number of electronic shelf labels 90 to attach, it is possible to set multiple electronic shelf labels for one product. Specifically, the barcode of the product and the identification information of the electronic shelf label 90 are scanned, and if the product code and the electronic shelf label identification information are the same, an error is reported, and if the electronic shelf label identification information is different, a message such as "A second electronic shelf label will be attached to this product. Is this OK?" is displayed, and additional settings can be made.
At this time, the number of units allocated to a department may be automatically changed by scanning (inputting) the electronic shelf label identification information that was allocated to a spare in another department. If the department plans to use the unit in advance, by setting the start date of use or prohibiting transfer between departments, it is possible to prevent the impact on other departments by notifying them of this.

Next, operations on the handheld terminal 85 will be described. Figure 13 shows an example of the installation/removal operation screen G9 displayed on the display operation unit of the handheld terminal 85 during electronic shelf label installation/removal work. This installation/removal operation screen G9 displays a list of products for which electronic shelf labels 90 are to be installed/removed, categorized by medium category. This installation/removal operation screen G9 displays a manufacturer name (supplier) display field G91, a product identification code/product name field G93, a display standard field G95, and a work check field G97. The work check field G97 indicates whether installation or removal is being performed and whether the installation/removal work has been completed; a check mark ("R") indicates that the installation/removal work has been completed (checked). This makes installation/removal work easy and reliable.

This installation/removal operation screen G9 may also display other information useful for the replacement work, such as the selling price. If the electronic shelf label 90 does not have an identification code, the user can confirm by pressing the operation check field G97 on the installation/removal operation screen G9 or by moving the cursor. Also, if the product has a product code (barcode), scanning the product code will mark the product as checked. If the electronic shelf label 90 has an identification code 98, reading the identification code 98 will mark the product as checked. Checking "Removal" (not shown) in the operation check field G97 or scanning the target product code clears the display on the electronic shelf label 90. This allows for compatibility with electronic shelf labels 90 introduced at different times. Furthermore, if a unique identification code is affixed, the replacement work can be carried out even if there are electronic shelf labels 90 without an affixed identification code, and progress and completion can be managed, ensuring error-free operation. As described above, anyone can easily switch between electronic shelf labels 90 and product shelf labels without error.

In addition, the handheld terminal 85 can perform a linking operation (linking operation) by entering the product code and the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. FIG. 14 shows an example of a linking operation screen G11 for linking a product code with the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. As shown in the figure, information is entered into the display location field G111, product code field G113, and electronic shelf label 90 identification code field G115 to perform the linking operation and send it to the shelf label management device 50. Once linked, the electronic shelf label 90 communicates with the transceiver 80. The electronic shelf label 90 periodically communicates with the transceiver 80, thereby updating the display content of the electronic shelf label 90. In other words, once a linking operation is performed, the electronic shelf label 90 automatically connects to the transceiver 80 and displays data corresponding to the newly linked product information. The timing of communication can also be controlled by operating the transceiver 80 from the handheld terminal 85.

If the display shelf (display location) has an identification code and the electronic shelf label 90 and POP are managed in association with the product code, the display can be updated in the same way by linking the identification code of the display location with the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. Furthermore, the linking operation between the product and the electronic shelf label 90 can also be performed on a separate screen. The electronic shelf label 90 can also be removed (the linking operation is cleared) and used as a spare electronic shelf label 90.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 displayed on the display operation section of the handheld terminal 85. As shown in the figure, the electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 displays an electronic shelf label creation field G131, an electronic shelf label deletion field G133, and the like, and by pressing one of the fields, it is possible to link the electronic shelf label 90 when it is set up (such as by displaying and linking using the linking operation screen G11 described above), or delete it when it is removed.

Next, an example of the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. Figure 9 is a flow diagram of the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically determines whether the selling price of a product (i.e., display information related to the product) has been changed (step 1-1). If a change has been made, the change is stored in RAM 53 or hard disk 55 as a change history (step 1-2). Next, it determines whether the product is an excluded product based on its product characteristics (step 1-3). Here, the product characteristics correspond to the aforementioned department. For example, if the aforementioned stationery or household goods are set as an excluded department, the electronic shelf label 90 will not be used for these products, and step 1-4 is skipped. On the other hand, if the product is not in the excluded department, the process proceeds to step 1-4, where the number of changes in the change history is counted and stored. In Figure 6, for example, the value in the selling price (number of changes) column for the corresponding product is incremented by one.

Furthermore, if the selling price of the product has not been changed in step 1-1, the system proceeds to step 1-12, where it determines whether any mandatory display information other than the selling price (i.e., display information related to the product), such as the place of origin or producer, has been changed. If so, the details of the change are stored in RAM 53 or hard disk 55 as the changed mandatory display information (step 1-13). Next, it determines whether the product is an excluded product based on its product characteristics (step 1-14). If it is an excluded product, the electronic shelf label 90 will not be used, and step 1-15 is skipped. On the other hand, if the product is not an excluded product, the system proceeds to step 1-15, where the number of changes to the mandatory display information is counted and stored.

Next, a ranking (priority) is generated from the total number of changes to the selling price and the required display information, in descending order of the number of changes (step 1-5). Note that, depending on the settings made in advance, the ranking may be generated from the number of changes to only the selling price change history, or from the number of changes to only the required display information change history.

Next, proceed to step 1-6, where it is determined whether the product is a target product of a sales promotion, such as a special sale item. If the product is not a target product of the sales promotion, there is a possibility that an electronic shelf label 90 will be used, so steps 1-7 and 1-8 are skipped. On the other hand, if the product is a target product of the sales promotion, proceed to step 1-7, where it is determined whether the product is authorized to use an electronic shelf label 90, i.e., whether the electronic shelf label 90 is currently in use. If authorized (in use), an instruction to collect the electronic shelf label 90 is issued (step 1-8). When changing the sales floor (display location) or space for a sale or event, if POP advertising is used, a collection instruction is issued even if the product uses an electronic shelf label and is not subject to switching. The collection instruction is issued, for example, by displaying a message to that effect on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50, and simultaneously displaying the content on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the content using the printer 70. At this time, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 as shown in Figure 10 in order to perform the switching operation. For example, the lamp 99 may be turned on, or the display on the display unit 94 may be changed (for example, to red, or the entire surface may be white or black, etc.).

Next, in step 1-9, it is determined whether or not the product in question is permitted to use an electronic shelf label 90. This determination is made by granting permission to use electronic shelf labels 90 to the number of products available in that department, in descending order of rank (priority) determined from the total number of changes in the selling price and the number of changes in the required display information (or, as described above, the number of changes in either one). In other words, the product is determined to be eligible for the attachment of an electronic shelf label 90.

If it is determined that permission to use an electronic shelf label 90 has been granted for the product in question ("Y" in step 1-9), the process proceeds to step 1-10. If permission to use the product has already been granted, i.e., if an electronic shelf label 90 is already being used, the current situation is maintained ("Y" in step 1-10). On the other hand, if an electronic shelf label 90 is not currently being used, an instruction to install a new electronic shelf label 90 is issued (step 1-11). The instruction to install is given, for example, by displaying a message to that effect on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50, and simultaneously displaying the content on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the content using the printing device 70. At this time, as in step 1-8 above, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 shown in FIG. 10 in order to perform the switching operation.

Next, if it is determined in step 1-9 above that the product is not authorized to use the electronic shelf label 90 ("N" in step 1-9), the process proceeds to step 1-16. If the product is currently authorized to use the electronic shelf label 90, i.e., if the electronic shelf label 90 is currently being used, an instruction to collect the electronic shelf label 90 is issued (step 1-17). The instruction to collect is issued, for example, by displaying a message to that effect on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50, and simultaneously displaying the instruction on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the instruction using the printing device 70. At this time, as in step 1-8 above, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 shown in FIG. 10 in order to perform the switching work. On the other hand, if the electronic shelf label 90 is not currently being used, the current status is maintained ("N" in step 1-16).

The method described above makes it possible to easily and reliably generate rankings based on the number of changes to a product's selling price or the number of changes to required display information other than the product's selling price, and to issue instructions for installing and removing electronic shelf labels 90 based on the generated rankings. In other words, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention includes a determination means (such as a CPU 51 that executes steps 1-1 to 1-17) that determines which products are eligible for electronic shelf labels 90 according to predetermined conditions.

The electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention also includes a counting means (e.g., a CPU 51 that executes steps 1-4 and 1-15) that counts the number of changes to display information related to products for sale (such as the selling price and other required display information), and the determining means determines targets for attaching electronic shelf labels 90 based on the number of changes to the display information related to the products counted by the counting means (e.g., a CPU 51 that executes step 1-9). This allows the determination of targets for attaching electronic shelf labels 90 based on the number of changes to the display information related to the products, making it possible to clearly identify products for which electronic shelf labels 90 should be attached. For example, electronic shelf labels 90 can be easily and smoothly attached preferentially to products that have been changed frequently. This allows the limited number of electronic shelf labels 90 to be used effectively.

In addition, in the electronic shelf label management system 1-1, the counting means counts the number of times the selling price of the product has changed (e.g., CPU 51 executing step 1-4), and the determining means determines the target for attaching the electronic shelf label 90 based on the count result of the number of times the selling price has changed counted by the counting means (e.g., CPU 51 executing step 1-9). This makes it possible to accurately detect products on which electronic shelf labels 90 should be attached.

The electronic shelf label management system 1-1 also includes a collection instruction means (such as the CPU 51 that executes step 1-17) that instructs the collection of electronic shelf labels 90 for products that have been excluded from the list of products to which electronic shelf labels 90 are attached by the determination means, so that collection of electronic shelf labels 90 that need to be collected can be instructed as needed. This prevents collection from being delayed or forgotten.

The electronic shelf label management system 1-1 also includes an attachment instruction means (such as the CPU 51 that executes step 1-11) that instructs the attachment of electronic shelf labels to products that have been designated as targets for attachment of electronic shelf labels 90 by the determination means, so that installation instructions can be issued appropriately for electronic shelf labels 90 that need to be installed. This prevents installation from being delayed or forgotten.

The electronic shelf label management system 1-1 also includes a storage means for storing products to be excluded from the judgment of the judgment means (such as the CPU 51 that executes steps 1-3 and 1-14). This allows products whose sales price and required display information generally do not change to be excluded from the start from products for which electronic shelf labels 90 are used, making it possible to use electronic shelf labels 90 more efficiently.

Furthermore, in the electronic shelf label management system 1-1, if the determination means determines that the product is a product subject to a sales promotion, the storage means determines that the product excluded from the determination means's determination as a product subject to the collection instruction means (e.g., the CPU 51 executing steps 1-6, 7, and 8). Products that are subject to a sales promotion are displayed for a certain period of time in a corner other than their usual display location, for example, a special sale corner. In such cases, it is better to use POP advertising, which is a type of product shelf tag, rather than electronic shelf tags 90, because POP advertising is more effective as it is only used for a short period of time and has a high customer-attracting effect. Therefore, by excluding products subject to a sales promotion from the products subject to the use of electronic shelf tags 90, it is possible to use electronic shelf tags 90 more efficiently.

Next, another example of the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. Figure 16 is another operational flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which electronic shelf labels 90 are switched simply in response to a change in the selling price of a product. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically determines whether the selling price of a product has changed (step 2-1). If the price has not changed ("N" in step 2-1), the process returns to step 2-1. On the other hand, if the price has changed ("Y" in step 2-1), the process next determines in step 2-2 whether the product is an excluded product. An excluded product in this case refers to a product for which the use of an electronic shelf label 90 or product shelf label (POP advertising) is fixed, regardless of the number of times the selling price of the product has changed.

If the product is excluded ("Y" in step 2-2), the process returns to step 2-1. On the other hand, if the product is not excluded ("N" in step 2-2), the process proceeds to step 2-3, where the number of changes to the product is calculated and a ranking is generated based on the number of changes (step 2-4).

Next, based on the generated ranking, it is determined whether the product should be excluded from the list of products eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use, or whether it should be newly included in the list of products eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use (step 2-5). If it is determined that the product should be excluded from the list of products eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use, an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90, and an instruction is given to attach the collected electronic shelf label to a new product eligible for display (step 2-6).

Next, another example of the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. FIG. 17 is another operational flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which electronic shelf labels 90 are switched based only on changes to display information other than the product's selling price. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically determines whether display information other than the product's selling price has been changed (Step 3-1). If no changes have been made ("N" in Step 3-1), the process returns to Step 3-1. If changes have been made ("Y" in Step 3-1), the process next determines whether the product is an excluded product in Step 3-2. If the product is an excluded product ("Y" in Step 3-2), the process returns to Step 3-1. If the product is not an excluded product ("N" in Step 3-2), the process proceeds to Step 3-3, where the number of changes to the product is calculated and a ranking based on the number of changes is generated (Step 3-4). Next, based on the generated ranking, it is determined whether the product will be excluded from the list of products eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use, or whether it will be newly eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use (step 3-5). If it is determined that the product will be excluded from the list of products eligible for electronic shelf label 90 use, an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90, and an instruction is given to attach the collected electronic shelf label to a new product eligible for display (step 3-6).

In the above operational examples, the installation or removal of electronic shelf labels 90 is instructed based on the number of changes in the product's selling price and/or the number of changes in other display information, but the conditions for the installation or removal instructions may be set in more detail. For example, for products in the fresh produce section, the number of changes in display information such as origin may be given priority over the selling price, while for other products, the number of changes in selling price may be given priority. Another method of prioritization may involve weighting the number of changes, for example. For example, the number of changes in selling price may be weighted (number of changes x 1.0), while the number of changes in other display information may be weighted (number of changes x 0.6).

In the case of the operational flow described in Figures 16 and 17, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention is configured to include storage means for storing in advance the products to be fitted with electronic shelf labels 90 (electronic shelf label fixed products), and to exclude these products from being counted by the counting means (e.g., the CPU 51 executing steps 2-2 and 3-2). This ensures that products for which electronic shelf labels 90 are to be used are included as targets, regardless of the number of times the display information has been changed.

Furthermore, when promoting a product, even if the electronic shelf label is fixed (a setting that uses the electronic shelf label regardless of the number of times the display information is changed), if the sales floor (display location/space) changes, the product may be subject to POP advertising, i.e., product shelf labeling. In other words, sales promotions such as "special sales" may be given priority over other promotions. Figure 18 is an operational flow diagram of a method for determining how to handle an electronic shelf label 90 depending on whether or not there is a sales promotion. In this figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 determines whether it has received notification that the product has become the subject of a sales promotion (such as an expansion of display space or a relocation of display location) (step 4-1). If the product is not subject to such a promotion, it proceeds to step 4-5, where the electronic shelf label 90 is subject to normal collection or installation. In this case, the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50 may display this information. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 4-1 that the target product has become the subject of a sales promotion or the like, an instruction to collect the electronic shelf label 90 is displayed, for example, on the display unit 54 (step 4-2). Furthermore, if a condition for re-attaching (reusing) the electronic shelf label 90 after the sales promotion or the like has ended has not been set ("N" in step 4-3), the electronic shelf label 90 is returned to the subject of collection or attachment as a normal electronic shelf label 90. On the other hand, if a condition for re-attaching (reusing) the electronic shelf label 90 after the sales promotion or the like has ended has been set ("Y" in step 4-3), the process proceeds to step 4-4, where the electronic shelf label 90 is stored as is and is not subject to switching to an electronic shelf label 90 for a new product. In this case, a message to that effect may be displayed on the display unit 54.

In the case of the operational flow described in Figure 18, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention is configured such that when a product becomes a target product of a sales promotion, the collection instruction means issues an instruction to collect the electronic shelf label 90 even for products that have been previously designated for use with an electronic shelf label 90 (steps 4-1 and 4-2). In this case, the collected electronic shelf label 90 may be stored so that it can be reattached to the product after the sales promotion is completed (steps 4-3 and 4-4).

As mentioned above, electronic shelf labels are usually more expensive than paper-based product shelf labels such as POPs and price cards, so if electronic shelf labels were to be adopted for all products handled, the investment amount would balloon. Therefore, it is considered preferable to use both product shelf labels and electronic shelf labels in parallel.
On the other hand, the products for which product shelf labels and electronic shelf labels are effective change depending on the situation, so it becomes necessary to switch between electronic shelf labels and product shelf labels.
For example, new products, special sale items, and other products on sale will use POP advertising, and for products with infrequent price fluctuations, there is little need to use electronic shelf tags, which can easily accommodate frequent changes to the display of product information (such as place of origin, selling price, and sale name), so a switch will be made to paper product shelf tags.On the other hand, for products with frequent price fluctuations, a switch to electronic shelf tags, which allow for easy price changes, will be necessary.
However, in the past, if the switching was left to the experience of store staff, there was a risk that the appropriate timing for switching between electronic shelf labels and product shelf labels would be off, or that operational errors would occur during the switching. For this reason, there was a need to make it possible to accurately execute the timing and switching work for switching between electronic shelf labels and product shelf labels, taking into account factors such as sales plans, price changes, and the frequency of updates to product information, such as changes to product locations.

The above problems can be solved by adopting the electronic shelf label management system of the present invention. There are also multiple types of electronic shelf labels depending on the face. Vertical types can be used for products with very narrow display faces, such as toothbrushes and ballpoint pens, while large electronic shelf labels similar to POP advertisements can be used for products with relatively large display spaces, such as produce. When determining which electronic shelf labels to attach or remove, in addition to the number allocated by department or category, it is also possible to add the condition of electronic shelf label type in association with product or display information. This can further improve efficiency and increase investment effectiveness.

In addition, while the programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment are provided pre-installed in ROM 52 or the like, this is not limiting and the programs may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment may also be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment may also be provided or distributed via a network.

Although the above describes an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical concept described in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, any configuration not directly described in the specification or drawings is within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention as long as it achieves the functions and effects of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above and shown in the figures may be combined with each other as long as there is no contradiction in their purpose, configuration, etc. Furthermore, even a portion of the contents described above and shown in the figures can be independent embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to a single embodiment combining the above description and figures.

100 Product sales data processing system 1-1 Selling price display management device 10 Management device 11 CPU
12 ROM 13 RAM
14 Display unit 15 Hard disk 16 Operation unit 17 Communication unit 18 Communication line 25 LAN
30 POS device 31 CPU
32 Hard disk 33 ROM
34 RAM 35 Scanner unit 36 Display unit for store clerks 37 Display unit for customers 50 Shelf label management device 51 CPU
52 ROM 53 RAM
54 Display unit 55 Hard disk 56 Operation unit 57 Communication unit 58 Communication line 70 Printing device 75 POP advertisement 76 Identification code 80 Transceiver 85 Handy terminal 90 Electronic shelf label 91 CPU
92 ROM 93 RAM
94 Display unit 95 Communication unit 96 Communication line 97 Battery 98 Identification code 99 Lamp G1 Shelf tag management screen G11 Department setting field G12 Electronic shelf tag usage number display field G13 Period setting field G15 Shelf tag condition setting field G17 Judgment target selection field G19 Display target selection field G21 Display method selection field G23 Product field G25 Output button G27 Confirm button G3 Output content screen G31 Department field G33 Display location to be changed field G35 Output target field G37 Send button G39 Issue button G5 Switching progress screen G51 Department field G53 Change target field G55 Progress rate display field G57 Progress display target display field G59 Product information display field G7 Installation/removal screen G71 Number of installed electronic shelf tags field G73 Allocation number per medium category G75 Number of products on display G77 Number of products to be installed/removed field G9 Installation/removal operation screen G91 Manufacturer name (supplier) display field G93 Product identification code/product name field G95 Display specifications field G97 Work check field G11 Linking operation screen G111 Display location field G113 Product code field G115 Identification code field G13 Electronic shelf label management menu display field G131 Electronic shelf label creation field G133 Electronic shelf label deletion field

Claims (1)

an electronic shelf label that displays display information related to the product for sale;
a shelf label management computer that communicates with the electronic shelf labels and determines, from among the products for sale, which products are to be fitted with the electronic shelf labels and which products are to be fitted with product shelf labels;
An electronic shelf label management system having:
The electronic shelf label management system is characterized in that the computer comprises a determination unit that determines which products are to have electronic shelf labels attached depending on whether the origin information of the products to be sold has changed.