JP2011096039A - Information display system, management server, and electronic bin tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display system for effectively using a restricted-size of display screen when displaying information concerning multiple display targets, and also to provide a management server and an electronic bin tag. <P>SOLUTION: The display area of a large electronic bin tag is virtually divided in response to the number of articles to be displayed in a plurality of small electronic bin tags through the use of a link state between the small electronic bin tag and the large electronic bin tag which are previously related in article management information. Besides, a display position to be displayed in the screen of the large electronic bin tag is determined based on position information which expresses mutual position relation for the arrangement of the respective small electronic bin tags. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a plurality of information display devices each including a display unit, a management server that manages image data displayed on the information display device, and an information display system that includes the information display device and the management server.

As an information display device, for example, there is an electronic shelf label used for the purpose of providing a user with information on products such as names and prices of products that are sorted for each product and provided in a product shelf and displayed on the product shelf. . This electronic shelf label is used in a store such as a supermarket for the purpose of reducing labor for changing the shelf label when changing the information to be displayed.
In addition, when a store such as a supermarket handles a large number of products, and the information display device is used as an electronic shelf label in this store, there is a large amount of information to be displayed on one electronic shelf label. In addition, the size of the display screen of the display unit mounted on the electronic shelf label is limited. Therefore, there is a demand for information that can effectively display information related to a large number of products on a limited display screen of an electronic shelf label.

For example, there is an information display panel in which two electronic shelf labels are combined back to back, and the contents displayed on the two electronic shelf labels are changed according to the displayed products (for example, patents). Reference 1).
In addition, there is one that divides a display area of one screen of an electronic shelf label and displays a plurality of advertisement images related to products simultaneously in each of the divided display areas (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2009-58804 A JP 2006-343380 A

However, as described above, when information related to a large number of products is displayed on the electronic shelf label, the display screen of the electronic shelf label is limited in size, so the information related to each product must be omitted or the display size must be reduced. In this case, it is difficult to display sufficient information.
Therefore, it is difficult for the user who views the electronic shelf label to display the displayed information, and there is a problem that the display screen may not be used effectively.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display system, a management server, and an electronic device that effectively use a display screen of a limited size when displaying information on a large number of display objects. It is to provide a shelf label.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention includes a plurality of information display devices including a display unit that displays an image represented by display image data, and a management server that transmits the display image data to the plurality of information display devices. The plurality of information display devices receive first display image data representing at least one display target information related to a predetermined display target from the management server and receive the first display image. A plurality of first information display devices each including a first display unit for displaying an image based on the data, and second display image data created by the management server in accordance with an arrangement relationship between the plurality of first information display devices. A second information display device including a second display unit that receives and displays an image based on the second display image data, wherein the management server Information in which second identification information for identifying each of the second information display devices among the information display devices is associated with position information representing a mutual positional relationship in the plurality of first information display devices. The second display that displays the display target information at the display position is determined by determining a display position at which the image represented by the display target information is displayed within the screen of the second display unit. It is characterized by creating image data.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the management server is configured to display the display position according to a display maximum number that is determined in advance as the number of the target information that is simultaneously displayed in one screen of the second display unit. And the second display image data is created.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the management server has a larger number of objects than a maximum display number that is predetermined as the number of the object information that is simultaneously displayed in one screen of the second display unit. When the second display image data is created based on information, second display image data including a plurality of image data displayed on the second information display device is created at different timings.

  Further, the present invention provides the second display image data, wherein the second information display device includes the plurality of image data created by the management server based on the target information more than the maximum display number. Is received from the management server, the second display image is shorter than the time for displaying an image based on the second display image data representing the target information equal to or less than the maximum display number on the second display unit. Each image data included in the data is displayed.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the management server identifies first identification information for identifying each first information display device among the plurality of information display devices, the second identification information, The first display including the display target information associated with the first identification information with reference to the storage unit that stores management information in which position information and the display target information are associated with each other. Creating image data and creating the link information including at least one of the first identification information and the display target information associated with the second identification information with reference to the management information It is characterized by.

  In the invention described above, the screen of the first display unit is smaller than the screen of the second display unit.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the plurality of first information display devices are arranged on a merchandise shelf where a plurality of sorted merchandise are displayed for each merchandise, and the merchandise information about the arranged merchandise is displayed. The display target information is displayed on the first display unit.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the management server performs the second display on the first display image data including the display target information different from the display target information displayed on the second information display device. Generating the first display image data represented by different expressions so as to distinguish the first display image data including the same display target information as the display target information displayed in the information display device; To do.

  Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the first information display device includes a first operation unit that receives an operation input from a user, and the operation information representing the operation input received through the first operation unit is When the operation information is transmitted to the management server and the management server receives the operation information indicating that the display target information associated with the first information display device is displayed on the second information display device, Either the first identification information representing the first information display device that transmitted the information, or the display target information associated with the first information display device, and the operation information transmitted. The position information of the first information display device is associated with the second identification information in the link information.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is different from the first information display device, which is a plurality of information display devices including a display unit that displays an image represented by display image data, and the first information display device. In the management server connected to be communicable with the second display device, second identification information for identifying each of the plurality of information display devices, and the plurality of first information In the display device, a storage unit that stores information associated with positional information representing the mutual positional relationship, and the display target information is represented in the screen of the second display unit with reference to the storage unit And a control unit that determines a display position at which an image is displayed and creates the second display image data representing the display target information at the display position.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention is an electronic shelf label including any one of the information display devices described above.

  According to the present invention, the information display system can display information by effectively utilizing a display screen of a limited size when displaying information on a large number of display objects on the information display device.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an information display system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure explaining a mode that the several information display apparatus utilized for the information display system by 1st Embodiment is attached to the goods shelf. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the small electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the ESL server in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the merchandise management information utilized in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the information display system by 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the link list utilized in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the production method of the link list of the ESL server in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the division | segmentation display method of the ESL server in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the image displayed on the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the image displayed on the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the image displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal and large electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the external appearance of the small electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the image displayed on the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the other example of the image displayed on the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the article management information utilized in 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the link list utilized in 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the image displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal in 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows an example of the image displayed on the large sized electronic shelf label terminal in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an information display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a store system including an electronic shelf label system (information display system) of the present embodiment. Here, an example in which this information display system includes an electronic shelf label terminal used in a store such as a supermarket as an information display device will be described.

  In the illustrated example, the information display system includes an electronic shelf label system, a POS (Point of sales) server 7, and a POS register 8. The electronic shelf label system includes a plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1 (1-1 to 1-n), a plurality of large electronic shelf label terminals 2 (2-1 and 2-2), and an ESL (Electronic Shelf). Label) server 3 (management server), access point 4, a plurality of relay devices 5 (5-1 to 5-3), and a handy terminal 6. The ESL server 3 and the POS server 7 are installed in the backyard terminal 100. The small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2, the access point 4, the repeaters 5-1 to 5-3, and the POS register 8 are stores. It is installed in the terminal 200.

  The ESL server 3, the access point 4, the relay devices 5-1 and 5-2, the POS server 7, and the POS register 8 are connected via a wired network and can perform data communication with each other. The access point 4 is connected to the relay device 5-3 and the handy terminal 6 through a wireless network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and can perform data communication with each other. The small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 and the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3 are connected to each other by a short-range wireless system (for example, IEEE 802.15). .4) are connected by a wireless network and can perform data communication with each other. Thereby, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 and the ESL server 3 can perform data communication with each other. Further, the ESL server 3 and the handy terminal 6 can perform data communication with each other via the access point 4.

  Note that a short-range wireless system is used in a wireless network between the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 and the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3. Thus, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 can be reduced in size and extended in battery life. The communication speed between the 1-n and large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 and the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3 can be increased.

  The small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n display prices and explanations of individual products. The large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 include a large liquid crystal display, a touch panel, and the like, and display information for sales promotion of products. In addition, since the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 include a large liquid crystal display, a touch panel, and the like, a large amount of information such as information on a plurality of products can be displayed at a time. In the present embodiment, the plurality of large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 are associated with the plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n.

  The ESL server 3 manages the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2. The access point 4 and the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3 relay data communication. The handy terminal 6 receives information input to the ESL server 3 and transmits this information to the ESL server 3. The POS server 7 manages product information, sales information, and the like. The POS register 8 performs a checkout process for products purchased by the customer.

  Next, the configuration of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 in the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, a storage unit 13, a wireless communication unit 14, a battery 15, and an input unit 16.

  The control unit 11 controls each unit included in the small electronic shelf label terminal 1. The display unit 12 is a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays a product name, a product price, and the like. The storage unit 13 temporarily stores data used by each unit of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 during processing. The wireless communication unit 14 transmits / receives data to / from the ESL server 3 via the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3. The battery 15 supplies power to each unit included in the small electronic shelf label terminal 1. The input unit 16 includes a switch and receives an input from an operator.

  Next, the configuration of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 in the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 includes a control unit 21, a display input unit 22, a storage unit 23, a wireless communication unit 24, and a battery 25.

The control unit 21 controls each unit included in the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. The display input unit 22 is, for example, a touch panel constituted by a liquid crystal display device, and displays an image based on display image data transmitted from the ESL server 3 such as information for sales promotion of goods, and inputs from the operator. Accept. The memory | storage part 23 memorize | stores temporarily the data which each part of the large sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 uses in the middle of a process. The wireless communication unit 24 transmits / receives data to / from the ESL server 3 via the relay devices 5-1 to 5-3. The battery 25 supplies power to each unit included in the large electronic shelf label terminal 2.
The display input unit 22 of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 has a wider display screen than the display unit 12 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and can display more information than the display unit 12 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1. It is an electronic shelf label.

  Next, the configuration of the ESL server 3 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ESL server 3 in the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, the ESL server 3 includes a management device control unit 31, a management device storage unit 33, a management device communication unit 34, an input unit 35, and a display unit 36.

The management device control unit 31 controls each unit included in the ESL server 3. When the management device control unit 31 generates information to be displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 (or the large electronic shelf label terminal 2), the information acquired from the POS server 7 and the pre-registered small electronic shelf Display screen data to be displayed is generated with reference to the product management information of the tag terminal 1 (or the large electronic shelf label terminal 2). For example, the management device control unit 31 reads product information predetermined as display information to be displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 from the product management information, and displays the product information on the display screen of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1. Display image data is generated by pasting it on template information determined in advance as an image to be displayed.
The management device storage unit 33 stores product management information and a link list. The product management information and the link list will be described later.
The management device communication unit 34 transmits / receives data to / from the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 via the relay units 5-1 to 5-3. The management device communication unit 34 uses the information input to the input unit 16 (or the display input unit 22) of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 (or the large electronic shelf label terminal 2) as the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 (or the large size electronic shelf label terminal 1). Received from the electronic shelf label terminal 2). Further, the information generated by the management device control unit 31 is transmitted to the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 (or the large electronic shelf label terminal 2) via the management device communication unit 34.
The input unit 35 includes a key mode, a mouse, and the like, and receives input from the operator. The display unit 36 is a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays information stored in the management device storage unit 33 and an operation screen.

  The handy terminal 6 displays the barcode displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, the barcode printed on the printed matter attached to the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, and the like. A storage unit that detects and stores the information represented by the detected barcode is internally provided and transferred to the ESL server 3 collectively. The barcode displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n is not limited to a one-dimensional barcode, but may be other geometric information such as a two-dimensional barcode. The barcode is not limited to the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, but is also displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2, and the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-1. It is also displayed on the product associated with -n. Further, the barcodes of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n include identification information (for example, small ESL codes) of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. The barcodes of the shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 include identification information (for example, large ESL codes) of the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2. Information such as product name and product code is included.

The POS server 7 includes a storage unit that stores information such as unit price information, inventory information, and sales information for each product as product management information. The POS server 7 is communicably connected to the POS register 8, and the sales acquired from the POS register 8 based on the server function (POS server function) of the point-of-sale management system that manages the sales amount of the product in real time. The information is totaled in real time, and the unit price information stored in the POS register 8 is updated.
The POS register 8 is a register terminal used for sales processing. The POS register 8 includes a storage unit that stores unit price information of each product. With reference to this storage unit, the sales information representing the sales price of the accounted product is calculated. , To the POS server 7.

  Next, the shelf on which the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 are installed will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a shelf on which the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 are installed in the present embodiment.

  As illustrated, the plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n are attached to, for example, a product shelf on which a plurality of products sorted for each product are displayed, and are provided in the vicinity of each product. Yes. In the present embodiment, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n will be described below using an example of displaying information related to one product. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n may display information on two or more products.

Among the plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-14 are the product shelf T1, and the small electronic shelf label terminals_n-21 to 1-34 are the product shelf T2. Are attached to each.
More specifically, the product shelves T1 and T2 are five-tier shelves, and if assigned to the first to fifth tiers from the top, the first and third tiers are assigned to three products and each product. Each of the three small electronic shelf labels, four products in the second and fifth stages, and four small electronic shelf labels assigned to the respective products. In each of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n, the number of rows that are the order (number of stages) in the vertical direction from the top of the product shelves T1 and T2, and the number of columns that are the order in the horizontal direction of the same stage, respectively. Are allocated to the product shelves T1 and T2 as position information representing the arrangement positions in the respective shelves.

For example, since the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 is arranged second from the left of the first (top) paper shelf of the product shelf T1, “position (vertical direction): 1”, “ Column (horizontal direction): 2 ”is assigned.
This position information represents the mutual positional relationship between the plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n arranged in each of the product shelves T1 and T2, and the plurality of information arranged in the same product shelf. This is information for identifying the position of each of the small electronic shelf labels 1-1 to 1-n.

A large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 is attached to the upper part of the product shelf T1, and a large electronic shelf label terminal 2-2 is attached to the upper part of the product shelf T2. These large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 include a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the display image data, and the display image data transmitted from the ESL server 3 is transmitted to the wireless LAN access point 4 and the repeater 5. -1 to 5-3, and an image corresponding to the display image data is displayed on the display unit. The large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 communicates wirelessly with the repeater 5-1, and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-2 communicates wirelessly with the repeater 5-2.
In addition, although the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 demonstrates below the example provided with each goods shelf, this invention is not restricted to this, At least 2 or more small electronic shelf label terminals are attached. Any device may be used as long as it is arranged in the vicinity of a product shelf or the like and displays information related to the image displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal.

Next, an example of product management information stored in the management device storage unit 33 of the ESL server 3 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration and a data example of the product management information included in the information stored in the management device storage unit 33. The merchandise management information may be information input from the user via the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3, and the information stored in the storage unit of the POS server 7 is transmitted via the management device communication unit 34. May be received from the POS server 7. Alternatively, it may be created by the ESL server 3 based on information received from the handy terminal 6.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of product management information. As shown in FIG. 6, the merchandise management information is two-dimensional tabular data consisting of rows and columns, and includes “small ESL (Electronic Shelf Label) information”, “product information”, “position information”, “large ESL. The column of each item of “information” is associated with each other.

The “small ESL information” is identification information for identifying individual small electronic shelf label terminals among the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2. “Small ESL Code”, “Size” indicating the size of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1, and “Color” indicating the color (color or monochrome) of the image displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 are included.
“Product information” indicates “product code” that is identification information for identifying individual products among a plurality of products, “product name” that indicates the name of the product, and a place where the product is manufactured or produced. “Production location”, “Price” indicating the price of the product, and detailed information about the product “Description (1)” and “Description (2)” are included. Here, “explanation (1)” includes information relating to the production area of the product, and “explanation (2)” is an advertisement message to the consumer for encouraging the purchase of the product.

“Position information” is assigned to “product shelf number” which is identification information for identifying individual product shelves among a plurality of product shelves and small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. “Row (vertical direction)” and “column (horizontal direction)”. Here, the product shelf number 101 is assigned to the product shelf T1, and the product shelf number 102 is assigned to the product shelf T2.
“Large ESL information” is for identifying individual large electronic shelf label terminals among the plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n and the plurality of large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2. "Large ESL code" which is identification information, "Size" representing the size of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2, "Color" representing the color (color or monochrome) of the image displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2, “Display data” representing the type of information displayed on the display input unit 22 of the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 is included. Here, “display data” is an item selected in advance from among a plurality of items “product name”, “origin”, “price”, “explanation (1)”, and “explanation (2)” included in “commodity information”. Including.

Next, an example of an information display method in the information display system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the information display method of the information display system according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ESL server 3 refers to the management device storage unit 33 and acquires “small ESL code” and “large ESL code” associated with each other in the product management information (step ST1). That is, the ESL server 3 detects the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 that are associated in advance in the commodity management information as the commodity shelf to which the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 is attached. Then, “position information” represented by the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 associated with the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 and “large ESL code” and “small ESL code” associated with each other are read from the product management information. Create a link list (link information). Details of step ST1 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list created in step ST1, and detects “product information” associated with the “large ESL code” representing the same large electronic shelf label terminal 2. Then, the ESL server 3 displays the display displayed on the display input unit 22 of the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 according to the detected number of “product information” and “position information” associated with the link list. The display area of image data is virtually divided. The ESL server 3 determines a display position for displaying the image represented by the “product information” according to the virtually divided display area, and creates display image data for displaying the “product information” at the display position. (Step ST2). Details of step ST2 will be described later with reference to FIG.
Further, when creating the display image data in the above, the ESL server 3 virtually sets the display area of the display image data according to the number of “product information” included in the display image data according to the template information determined in advance. To divide. According to the template information according to the present embodiment, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, the display image data is divided into four display areas, the upper part being divided into two parts and the lower part being divided into two parts. The shape of the area is divided so as to correspond to the display screen of the rectangular large electronic shelf label terminal 2 that is long in the horizontal direction. By doing in this way, it can be set as the shape corresponding to the display screen of the rectangular small-sized electronic shelf label terminal 1 which is long in the horizontal direction, and it can be set as the display which wrote the horizontal writing sentence long in the horizontal direction. .

Here, the link list will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a table showing an example of a link list according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, the link list is two-dimensional tabular data composed of rows and columns, and includes “large ESL code”, “small ESL code”, “product information”, and “position information”. , “Non-display flag” are associated with each other.

The “product information” included in the link list is information included in “display data” determined in advance in the product management information as display contents displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 represented by the large ESL code. For example, it includes “product name”, “price”, and “description (1)”.
The “non-display flag” is information indicating whether or not “product information” included in the “display data” is displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. For example, the non-display flag “0” indicates that the associated “product information” is displayed information, and the non-display flag “1” is the information on which the associated “product information” is not displayed. Represents that.

  Here, the ESL server 3 uses the small ESL codes “1001” to “1001” associated with the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 having the large ESL codes “101001” and “101002” based on the product management information. “Commodity information” and “position information” regarding the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-14 and 1-21 to 1-24 of “1018” are read out and a link list is created. The ESL server 3 then displays, for example, a “non-display flag” indicating whether or not display data is displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 20 in accordance with an operation from the user input from the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3. Is associated with the “small ESL code” and stored in the link list.

Next, an example of a method for creating a link list of the ESL server 3 shown in step ST1 shown in FIG. 7 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a link list creation method of the ESL server 3.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the ESL server 3 reads the large ESL codes “101001” and “101002” registered as the “large ESL code” with reference to the product management information (step ST11). Then, the ESL server 3 obtains the “small ESL code”, “product information”, and “position information” associated in the product management information for each of the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2. Read out and create a linked list as shown in FIG.
Here, the ESL server 3 displays “product name”, “price”, and “description (1)”, which are display contents displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 determined in advance in the “display data” of the product display information. Read and associate with “large ESL code” as “product information” in the link list.

Next, an example of the split display method of the ESL server 3 shown in step ST2 shown in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the split display method of the ESL server 3.
As shown in FIG. 10, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the small ESL code “101001” associated with the large ESL code “101001” and the non-display flag “0”. 1002 ”,“ 1004 ”,“ 1007 ”,“ 1010 ”,“ 1012 ”,“ 1013 ”are detected. That is, small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2, 1-4, 1-7, 1-10, 1-12, 1-13 associated with the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 in the link list are detected. The number “6” of the associated small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2, 1-4, 1-7, 1-10, 1-12, and 1-13 is detected as the actual link number. Then, the ESL server 3 compares the actual number of links with a predetermined maximum number of links, and determines the number of screens to be created (step ST201).

  More specifically, the ESL server 3 calculates the solution and the remainder by dividing the actual link number by the maximum link number. Here, the actual link number is “6”, the maximum link number is “4”, the solution is “1”, and the remainder is “2”. Therefore, the ESL server 3 arranges images related to four products on one screen (hereinafter referred to as the first screen), and images related to two products on the other image (hereinafter referred to as the second screen). Decide to create two screens. That is, the number of screens to be created is determined as “2”.

  In this embodiment, since one product information is associated with one small electronic shelf label terminal, the number of small electronic shelf label terminals 1 and the number of product information associated with the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 are used. Are the same. In this case, the ESL server 3 detects the number of associated small electronic shelf label terminals 1 as the actual number of links. On the other hand, when a plurality of product information is associated with one small electronic shelf label terminal 1, the ESL server 3 detects the number of the plurality of product information associated with the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 as the actual link number. To do.

Next, the ESL server 3 determines the number of display area divisions in each screen according to the number of screens determined in step ST201 (step ST202). For example, when the number of actual links is larger than the maximum number of links, the ESL server 3 displays the screen with the maximum number of links “4” by the number of solutions “1” obtained by the actual number of links / the maximum number of links. Split. Then, the display screen is divided by the remaining number “2” for only one screen.
In the example shown in FIG. 8, since the solution is “1” and the remainder is “2”, the six small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2, 1-4, 1-7, 1-10 detected in step ST201. , 1-12, and 1-13, the first screen is created by dividing the screen into four parts with the product information of the small ESL codes “1002”, “1004”, “1007”, “1010”, and the small ESL code is created. A second screen is created by dividing the screen into two pieces of product information of codes “1012” and “1013”. Here, an example will be described in which the ESL server 3 determines the product information that configures the first screen and the second screen in the order of increasing the small ESL code from the smallest one. However, in the present invention, the product information allocated to each screen can be changed randomly, and for example, the “priority level” indicating the priority as the recommended product of the day corresponds to each “product information” in the linked list. If assigned, the allocation may be determined according to the “priority level”.

The ESL server 3 displays an image representing each product information on each screen based on the position information associated with the “product information” arranged on the first screen and the second screen in the link list. The display position to be determined is determined (step ST203).
For example, small electronic shelf label terminals with small ESL codes “1002,” “1004,” “1007,” and “1010” associated with the product information determined to be displayed on the first screen in step ST202. 1-2, 1-4, 1-7, and 1-10 refer to the respective “position information”, and the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 with the small ESL code “1002” is the center of the first stage, the small The small electronic shelf label terminal 1-4 with the ESL code “1004” is on the left side of the second page, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-7 with the small ESL code “1007” is on the right side of the second page, and the small ESL code “1010”. "Small electronic shelf label terminals 1-10 are respectively arranged on the right side of the third level of the drawing.
Therefore, the ESL server 3 analyzes the positional relationship where these four small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2, 1-4, 1-7, and 1-10 are arranged based on the “position information” in the link list. Then, the display position of each “product information” on the first screen is “product information (product name: Soka brewed rice cake)” of the small ESL code “1002” in the upper left, “product information of the small ESL code“ 1004 ”( "Product name: Kakuburi buns""on the lower left," Product information (product name: 笹 飴) "for small ESL code" 1007 "on the upper right," Product information (product name: chocolate) "on small ESL code" 1010 " The display position of each product information is determined at the lower right.

An example of the display image data of the first screen created at the display position determined in this way is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the ESL server 3 creates display image data for displaying the product content (product name, price, description (1)) of the product for which the display position is determined at a predetermined position.

Similarly, the ESL server 3 creates display image data for the second screen. That is, referring to the “position information”, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-12 with the small ESL code “1012” is the left center of the fifth page, and the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-13 with the small ESL code “1013” is They are arranged on the right side of the center of the fifth level paper.
Therefore, the ESL server 3 analyzes the positional relationship where the two small electronic shelf label terminals 1-12 and 1-13 are arranged based on the “position information”, and displays “product information on the second screen”. "" Product information (product name: Yatsuhashi) "with small ESL code" 1012 "on the left," Product information (product name: candy cake) "with small ESL code" 1013 "on the right, The display position of each product information is determined.
Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the ESL server 3 displays a second screen for displaying the product content (product name, price, description (1)) of the product for which the display position is determined at a predetermined position. Create image data.

Next, the ESL server 3 determines a display time during which an image is displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 according to the number of screens determined in step ST201 (step ST204).
For example, when there are a plurality of screens, the ESL server 3 divides a predetermined period display time as a time for displaying all the images of the number of screens, and all the images are displayed within the period display time. It is displayed at least once on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. On the other hand, when the number of screens is singular, the ESL server 3 continuously displays one screen data on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 without dividing the period display time.

As described above, when the number of screens is determined to be “2” and the period display time is 30 seconds, the ESL server 3 continues the first screen for 15 seconds with respect to the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. The second screen is continuously displayed for 15 seconds, and the first screen and the second screen are alternately displayed continuously for 15 seconds.
When the number of screens is “3”, the ESL server 3 continuously displays the first screen, the second screen, and the third screen on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 in this order for 10 seconds each. To display.
That is, the display time of each screen is the time obtained by dividing the period display time by the number of screens.
In addition, when the maximum number of screens determined in advance as the number of screens that can be displayed is “5”, for example, when the number of screens determined in step ST201 exceeds this maximum screen, the display time of one screen In this case, the ESL server 3 may increase the period display time and may not display image data exceeding the maximum number of screens.

As described above, the information display system according to the present embodiment uses a link state between the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 that are associated in advance in the product management information, and thereby uses a plurality of small electronic shelf labels. According to the number of products displayed on the tag terminal 1, the display area of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 is virtually divided and the positional information representing the mutual positional relationship where the small electronic shelf label terminals 1 are arranged Based on the above, the display position displayed on the screen of the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 is determined.
Thereby, when displaying the image showing each product information according to the number of a plurality of products on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2, the image representing each product information is determined in advance as a size that is easy to see for the user. The information displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 can be displayed in a size that can be easily understood by the user.
This minimum display area is determined according to the size and arrangement position of the screen of the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2, and is a size obtained by dividing the screen into four in this embodiment. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, even when a large number of product information is associated with the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 by displaying four items of product information in one screen at the maximum, the user A display size that is easy to see can be secured.

  Further, when the number of product information is larger than the maximum number of links for determining the minimum divided area, as shown in FIG. 12, product information more than the maximum number of links can be displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal by further creating different images. When displaying a large number of product information on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2, a display screen having a limited size can be effectively used.

Further, by determining the display position displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 according to the position information determined in advance in the product management information, the position corresponding to the placement position of the product placed on the product shelf In relation, each product information can be displayed on the screen of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. Therefore, for example, when the user is interested in information displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 and searches for an actual product displayed on the commodity shelf to which the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 is attached, When the product A is displayed on the upper part of the screen and the product B is displayed on the lower part of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2, the product A is arranged above the product B in the product shelf. The user can easily find the products A and B displayed on the product shelf.
In addition, when each product is arranged in a close positional relationship rather than in a vertical and horizontal positional relationship on the product shelf, it may be displayed vertically and horizontally on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. Even in this case, since the product shelves are close to each other, the user can easily search for the products displayed on the product shelves based on the information of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2.

On the other hand, when the user views the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 while recognizing the products in the upper row and the products in the lower row among the products displayed on the product shelf, Also on the electronic shelf label terminal 2, it is displayed at the upper part and the lower part of the screen. Thereby, the relevance between the product information displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 and each product displayed on the product shelf can be emphasized.
When a plurality of screens for a large number of product information are alternately displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2, the user displays all the product information displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 and the product shelf. Since it is cumbersome to recognize existing products in association with each other, the information displayed by the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 may not be sufficiently recognized by the user. However, according to the present embodiment, even when a large amount of product information is displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2, the display position is a positional relationship corresponding to the product shelf while ensuring a sufficient display size. Therefore, it is possible to provide easy-to-understand information to the user.

In addition, the information display system according to the present embodiment creates display image data of a plurality of screens and divides a predetermined periodic display time according to the number of screens when the actual number of links is larger than the maximum number of links. And displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2.
Thereby, it is possible to display a plurality of product information within a limited time of the periodic display time, and to avoid that the time for the user to view the plurality of product information becomes very long according to the number of product information Can do. Therefore, even if the user stops by the vicinity of the product shelf for only a short time, more product information can be viewed.

  When the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 are associated in advance in the product management information, the ESL server 3 can easily create a link list by referring to the product management information. Can do. Therefore, only for the purpose of creating this link list, the dealer's capacity creates data representing the correspondence between the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2, and the small electronic shelf label terminal is created. 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 need not be associated with each other, and the labor for creating a link list can be reduced.

  The large electronic shelf label terminal 2 has a larger screen than the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and is often attached to the upper part of the product shelf, so that it is an information display device that is relatively easy for the user to find. On the other hand, many items are displayed on the product shelf without any gaps, and the user searches for a specific product from among the many items displayed on the product shelf or attaches a headline. It is difficult to make it stand out. On the other hand, according to the information display system according to the present embodiment, information related to a specific product displayed on the product shelf is displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 according to the positional relationship of the displayed product. Therefore, the above problem can be solved.

The large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 according to the present embodiment may display the same product information as the product information displayed on the small-sized electronic shelf label terminal 1. It may be displayed.
For example, an example of displaying the same product information as the product information displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic views showing images displayed on, for example, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2 and 1-4, and FIG. 13C shows the small electronic shelf label terminal 1- 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on a large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 associated with 1-4.
As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-2 and 1-4 have “product name” in the upper center of the screen, “price” in the lower right corner of the screen, and this “product”. “Description (1)” is displayed on the right side of the screen between the “name” and “price”. The text size of “Description (1)” is smaller than “Product name” and “Price”.

Here, in the link list, the “non-display flag” is set to “0” only for the small ESL codes “1002” and “1004”, and the product information to be displayed is “product name: Soka Senju” and “product”. In the case of “Name: Kakuburi Pier”, the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 displays an image corresponding to the positional relationship arranged in the product shelf T1, as shown in FIG.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the position information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 with the small ESL code “1002” indicates “center of the first stage”, and the small ESL code “1004”. The position information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-4 indicates that it is “left side on the second level paper surface”. Therefore, the ESL server 3 displays the product information of “product name: Soka Sendon” associated with the small ESL code “1002” in the upper part of the screen “product name” associated with the small ESL code “1004”. Display screen data for displaying the product information of “: Kakuburi bun” at the bottom of the screen, and transmits it to the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 20.
Thereby, the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 20 can display a screen as shown in FIG.13 (c).

Next, an example of a method for changing information described in the link list will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description using the link list shown in FIG. 8, information after the small ESL code “1005” is not considered.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1. As shown in FIG. 14, the display unit 12 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 displays an image representing “product name”, “price”, and “explanation (1)” as product information. The small electronic shelf label terminal 1 shown in FIG. 14 will be described below by taking the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-3 to which “1003” is assigned as the small ESL code as an example.

Here, when the input unit 16 attached above the display unit 12 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-3 is pressed by the user, the control unit 11 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-3 displays the operation information. Is stored in the storage unit 13. Next, the control unit 11 reads the recorded operation information, associates the small ESL code “1003” assigned to the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-3 with the operation information, and repeats it via the wireless communication unit 14. Send to 5-3. Thereby, the repeater 5-3 transmits the operation information to the ESL server 3 via the access point 4.
When receiving the operation information, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list stored in the management device storage unit 33 and detects the small ESL code “1003” associated with the operation information. Then, the ESL server 3 changes the value of the “non-display flag” associated with the small ESL code “1003”.
That is, when the read link list is information as shown in FIG. 8, since the “non-display flag” associated with the small ESL code “1003” is “1”, the ESL server 3 Is changed to “0”.

  On the other hand, although not shown, when operation information is input through the input unit 16 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 to which the small ESL code “1002” is assigned, the wireless communication unit of the small electronic shelf label terminal 102 14 transmits the operation information to the ESL server 3. The ESL server 3 that has received this operation information changes “1” of the “non-display flag” associated with the small ESL code “1002” to “0” as shown in the link list of FIG. .

  Accordingly, in the link list as shown in FIG. 8, if the information after the small ESL code “1005” is not considered, the position information “row (vertical direction): 1”, “column (horizontal) as shown in FIG. Product information (product name: Soka rice cracker) of the small ESL code “1002” that is “direction”: 2 ”is displayed at the top of the screen, and position information“ row (vertical direction): 2 ”,“ column (horizontal direction): 1 ” Product information of the small ESL code “1004” (product name: Kakuburi bun) is displayed at the bottom of the screen.

In this state, as described above, when the input unit 16 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 and the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-3 is pressed by the user, operation information is transmitted to the ESL server 3 from each, and ESL The server 3 changes the “non-display flag” in the link list shown in FIG.
Therefore, the ESL server 3 refers to the changed link list, and stores the product information of the small ESL code “1003” having the position information “row (vertical direction): 1” and “column (horizontal direction): 3” ( Product information (product name: Kaku-ni) with small ESL code “1004” whose product name: tomato sauce basil is in the upper part of the screen, position information “row (vertical direction): 2”, “column (horizontal direction): 1” The display position where the wharf is at the bottom of the screen is determined, and display image data is created. Therefore, the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 that has received this display image data from the ESL server 3 displays an image as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 associated in the link list, the operation information indicating whether or not to display on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 is small. It was made to transmit from the electronic shelf label terminal 1. Thus, the product information associated with the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 is transferred from the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 to the large electronic shelf label terminal without changing the information of the link list using the operation means of the ESL server 3. It is possible to change whether or not to display in 2 and to reduce the burden on the store clerk and the like.

  In the above description, the input unit 16 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 has been described as changing the “non-display flag” in the link list by being pressed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, An input such as a change in position information or a change in product information may be received and transmitted to the ESL server 3. The ESL server 3 may receive the operation information transmitted from the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and change the link list and the product management information stored in the management device storage unit 33.

In the above description, the ESL server 3 has been described using an example in which a link list is created based on product management information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a link list is created using the following method. It may be a thing.
For example, after the handy terminal 6 detects the barcode displayed (or attached) on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 in the barcode reading mode for associating the small electronic shelf label terminal with the product, Subsequently, the barcode printed on the product associated with the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 is detected. Next, the handy terminal 6 collectively transfers the detected barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 and the barcode information of the product to the ESL server 3.
The ESL server 3 associates the barcode information (for example, small ESL code) of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 with the barcode information (for example, product name) of the product, and manages the product management information. And create a linked list.

The handy terminal 6 temporarily stores the barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n according to the order of reading the barcodes of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. The barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 and the barcode information of the product are associated with each other and transferred to the ESL server 3 in the order read.
Thereby, the ESL server 3 assigns position information to each of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n according to the read order, and assigns the position information to the bar of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1. Product management information is created in association with code information (for example, a small ESL code), and a link list is created.

Next, in the barcode reading mode in which the handy terminal 6 associates the small electronic shelf label terminal with the large electronic shelf label terminal, the barcode displayed (or attached) on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 is displayed. After the detection, the bar code displayed (or attached) on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 associated with the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 is detected. Then, the handy terminal 6 collectively transfers the barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 and the barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 to the ESL server 3.
Then, the ESL server 3 uses the barcode information of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 (for example, small ESL code) and the barcode information of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 (for example, large ESL code). In addition to creating product management information and creating a linked list. When creating the link list, the ESL server 3 associates a non-display flag with each of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. For example, the ESL server 3 associates a non-display flag “0” with all the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n at the time of creating a link list, and from the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3 The non-display flag may be changed to “1” or “0” according to the input operation from the user.

  Thereby, the ESL server 3 can create a linked list in which at least the small ESL code, the large ESL code, the product name, the position information, and the non-display flag are associated with each other.

Here, when the input unit 12 attached above the display units 12 of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n is pressed by the user, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. The control unit 11 records this operation information in the storage unit 13. Next, the control unit 11 reads the recorded operation information, associates the small ESL code assigned to the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n with the operation information, and relays it via the wireless communication unit 14. To the device 5-3. Thereby, the repeater 5-3 transmits the operation information to the ESL server 3 via the access point 4.
When receiving the operation information, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list stored in the management device storage unit 33 and detects a small ESL code associated with the operation information. Then, the ESL server 3 changes the value of the “non-display flag” associated with the small ESL code.
Further, as described above, after creating a link list as shown in FIG. 8 by associating the small electronic shelf label terminal with the product based on the barcode read from the handy terminal 6, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1- 3 may be configured to change the value of the “non-display flag” associated with the small electronic shelf label terminal when the input unit 16 is pressed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an example of an information display system according to another embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The main configuration of the information display system according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The information display system according to the present embodiment is an article shelf that stores articles that are in stock as a place where a plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1 are attached, and management in which inventory is managed by a user who mainly uses the article shelf. It differs greatly in that it is a person. The article shelf has the same basic configuration as the commodity shelf as shown in FIG. 2, and here, a plurality of small electronic shelf label terminals 1 are attached as shown in FIG.

Further, the ESL server 3 according to the present embodiment includes a management device storage unit 33 that stores the inventory management information shown in FIG. 17 instead of the product management information. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of inventory management information.
As shown in FIG. 17, the inventory management information is two-dimensional tabular data composed of rows and columns, and items of “small ESL information”, “article information”, “position information”, and “large ESL information”. And these are associated with each other.

The “small ESL information” includes “small ESL code”, “size”, and “color”.
The “article information” is an “article code” that is identification information for identifying individual articles among a plurality of articles, an “article name” that represents the name of the article, and a “model number” that is allocated in advance to the article. Are associated with “stock quantity” representing the stock quantity of the article. The “stock quantity” is a variable to which the number of goods to be delivered is subtracted when the article is delivered, and the number of goods to be received is added when the article is received.

“Position information” is assigned to “article shelf number” which is identification information for identifying individual article shelves among a plurality of article shelves and small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n. “Row (vertical direction)” and “column (horizontal direction)”. Here, an article shelf number 1101 is assigned to the article shelf T11, and an article shelf number 1102 is assigned to the article shelf T12.
The “large ESL information” includes “large ESL code”, “size”, “color”, “display data (1)”, and “display data (2)”.
Here, “display data (1)” includes a plurality of items “article name”, “model number”, and “stock quantity” included in “article information”. In addition to the plurality of items “article name” and “model number” included in the “article information”, the “display data (2)” includes, for example, “shipping” input from the user via the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3. Number ".

Next, an example of a link list created by the ESL server 3 based on the inventory management information shown in FIG. 17 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a link list in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 18, the link list is two-dimensional tabular data composed of rows and columns, and includes “large ESL code”, “small ESL code”, “article information”, and “position information”. , “Non-display flag” are associated with each other.

The “article information” included in the link list includes “display data (1)” and “display” predetermined in the inventory management information as display contents displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 represented by the large ESL code. The information included in the data (2) includes, for example, “article name”, “price”, “stock quantity”, and “number of goods issued”. The information corresponding to the “number of goods issued” is information written by the ESL server 3 when the number of goods delivered for each article is input from the user via the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3.
The “non-display flag” is information indicating whether or not “article information” included in the “display data” is displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2. For example, the non-display flag “0” indicates that the associated “article information” is displayed, and the non-display flag “1” is information that does not display the associated “article information”. Represents that.

  Here, the ESL server 3 uses the small ESL codes “1001” to “1001” associated with the large electronic shelf label terminals 2-1 and 2-2 of the large ESL codes “101001” and “101002” based on the article management information. “Article information” and “position information” relating to the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-14 and 1-21 to 1-24 of “1018” are read out and a link list is created. Then, the ESL server 3 displays, for example, a “non-display flag” indicating whether or not display data is displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 in response to an operation from the input / output unit 54 of the ESL server 3 from the user. Is associated with the “small ESL code” and stored in the link list.

  Next, after the ESL server 3 creates the link list shown in FIG. 18 based on the inventory management information shown in FIG. 17, the display of the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 and the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 is changed based on this link list. An example will be described. The link list creation method is the same as in the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, the ESL server 3 refers to the inventory management information shown in FIG. 17, and displays display image data to be transmitted to each of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-n based on the display data (1). It is created and transmitted to each small electronic shelf label terminal 1-1 to 1-n.
For example, for the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 with the small ESL code “1002”, the ESL server 3 has “article name” as “ballpoint pen (red)” and “model number” as shown in FIG. Display image data with “700-00811” and “stock quantity” “528” is created and transmitted. Thereby, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 displays an image as shown in FIG.

Here, when the operation information for displaying the number of shipments is input from the user via the input unit 35 of the ESL server 3, the ESL server 3 is referred to the link list as shown in FIG. Such display image data is created and transmitted to the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1, and display image data as shown in FIG. 19B is created and transmitted to the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2.
Specifically, the ESL server 3 refers to a link list (not shown) and, for example, the small ESL code “1001” associated with the large ESL code “101001” and the non-display flag “0”. , “1002”, “1003” are detected, and “3” is set as the actual link number which is the number of the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-3 associated with the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1. To detect. Then, the ESL server 3 compares the actual link number “3” with a predetermined maximum link number (for example, “4”) to determine the number of screens to be created. Here, the number of images is determined as “1”.

  Next, the ESL server 3 determines the number of divisions of the display area on one screen as “3” according to the determined number of screens “1”.

Then, the ESL server 3 determines a display position where an image representing each item information is displayed on the screen based on the position information associated with the “item information” arranged on the first screen in the link list. .
For example, the small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-3 with the small ESL codes “1001”, “1002”, and “1003” refer to the respective “position information”, and the small electronic shelf labels with the small ESL code “1001”. The shelf label terminal 1-1 is on the left side of the first page, the small ESL code “1002” small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 is the center of the first level, and the small ESL code “1003” small electronic shelf label terminal 1 -3 are arranged on the right side of the first-stage sheet.

  Therefore, the ESL server 3 analyzes the positional relationship where the three small electronic shelf label terminals 1-1 to 1-3 are arranged based on the “position information”, and stores each “article information” on the screen. As for the display position, “article information (article name: ballpoint pen (black))” of small ESL code “1001” is left on the paper surface, and “article information (article name: ballpoint pen (red))” of small ESL code “1002” In the center, “article information (article name: ballpoint pen (blue))” of the small ESL code “1003” is set to the right in the drawing, and the display position of each article information is determined.

  Then, the ESL server 3 displays the contents (article name, model number, number of goods) included in the “display data (2)” of the inventory management information at the predetermined position at the display position thus determined. Display image data to be created. In the display image data, as shown in FIG. 20, each item information is displayed side by side.

  Next, the ESL server 3 determines the display time during which an image is displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 20 according to the number of screens determined in the above, and when there are a plurality of screens, the ESL server 3 periodically displays according to the number of screens. Divide time. Here, since the number of screens is “1”, the ESL server 3 continuously displays one screen data as shown in FIG. 20 on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 20 without dividing the periodic display time. .

  The ESL server 3 refers to the link list, creates display image data to be transmitted to the large electronic shelf label terminal 20 and displays the item information displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 20. Display image data to be transmitted to the electronic shelf label terminal is created.

More specifically, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list and transmits the small ESL codes “1001” to “1003” associated with “0” of the “large ESL code” and the “non-display flag”. When detected, display image data is created for each of the small electronic shelf labels 1-1 to 1-3 represented by the small ESL code.
For example, the display image data to be transmitted to the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 with the small ESL code “1002” will be described. The ESL server 3 has the large electronic shelf label terminal 2-1 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 19B, display image data as shown in FIG. 19B, which is expressed in a different expression so as to be distinguished from an image that is not displayed at the same time, is created. In this case, an image displayed by reversing the colors of display areas representing “article name” and “model number” is displayed so as to be distinguished from “article name” and “article number” as shown in FIG. I made it. Further, in FIG. 19A, “stock quantity” is displayed, and in the display area, “number of goods issued” is displayed, so that the same information as the article information displayed on the large-sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 can be obtained. Displayed on the shelf label terminal.

  Here, for example, 24 ballpoint pens (red) are taken out by the administrator, and operation information indicating that the delivery is completed is input by the administrator via the input unit 16 of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2. In this case, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 transmits this operation information to the ESL server 3.

Thereby, the ESL server 3 refers to the link list and calculates the current “stock quantity” by subtracting the “number of goods issued” from the “stock quantity”. Here, the current inventory quantity of 504 is calculated by subtracting the delivery quantity of 24 from the inventory quantity of 528.
Then, as shown in FIG. 19C, the ESL server 3 creates display image data representing the “article name”, the “model number”, and the calculated “stock quantity (504)”, and the small electronic shelf label. It transmits to the terminal 1-2. Thereby, the small electronic shelf label terminal 1-2 displays an image as shown in FIG.
When an image representing “stock quantity” is created in this way, the display area for displaying “article name” and “model number” displays the contents representing the latest stock quantity as shown in the figure.

As described above, the information display system according to the present embodiment creates display image data to be displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 with reference to the link list, and when the display image data is displayed, Display image data displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 that displays the same information as the article information displayed on the electronic shelf label terminal 2 is created. As a result, the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 displays information related to a plurality of article information, and the small electronic shelf label terminal attached in the vicinity where each article is displayed is also different from other small electronic shelf label terminals. Can display different screens.
Therefore, the display position displayed on the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 is made to correspond to the arrangement position of the article on the article shelf, and the display in the vicinity of each article is also changed, whereby the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 and the large electronic shelf label The bill terminal 2 can realize a display that is easy for the user to understand.
Further, as described above, by changing the screen shown in FIG. 19 (a) to the screen shown in FIG. 19 (b), the operator can easily confirm the article to be delivered in front of the article shelf. . Further, after the goods are delivered, the fact that the inventory has been updated to the latest information is transmitted to the ESL server 3 via the input unit 16, and the small electronic shelf label as shown in FIG. It can be displayed on the terminal 1.
For example, when a plurality of article shelves arranged in a warehouse are arranged in a row, it is preferable to attach the large electronic shelf label terminal 2 to the side of the article shelf facing the passage side through which the worker passes. . Thus, the worker can check the large electronic devices attached to the side of the article shelf on the passage side while passing through the passage without checking each place where the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 of the article shelf is attached. By simply checking the shelf label terminal 2, it is possible to determine whether or not an article to be delivered is placed on the article shelf.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a small electronic shelf label terminal attached to a product shelf of a retail store such as a supermarket or a convenience store has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an electronic shelf label, and is sold at a retail store. You may use as an information display device which displays information other than information, such as goods.
For example, as described in the second embodiment, in a warehouse or the like, the contents of the stored items are electronically attached to a shelf for storing the stored items, a box for storing the stored items, or the stored items themselves. It may be used as a label or tag for displaying information.

  Further, in the business of handling documents such as a bank, it may be arranged in a paper storage area and used as a display device for displaying a description of the paper and the remaining number of sheets. Further, in a factory or the like, it may be attached to a panel on which a work instruction to a worker is displayed or a shelf on which a part is placed, and may be used as a label or a tag for electronically displaying information such as part classification.

  The ESL server 3, the small electronic shelf label terminal, and the large electronic shelf label terminal 20 described above have a computer system therein. The process of changing the information displayed on the small electronic shelf label terminal and the large electronic shelf label terminal 20 in the information display system described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program. The above processing is performed by the computer reading and executing. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although demonstrated using the example with which the large sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 was provided with the large sized liquid crystal display, the touch panel, etc., this invention is not limited to this, The large sized electronic shelf label terminal 2 is Any device can be used as long as it can simultaneously display a large amount of information including information on a plurality of products. For example, a device such as a projector or a head-mounted display that is not physically larger than the display screen of the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 but has a larger amount of information that can be displayed than the small electronic shelf label terminal 1 is used. The large electronic shelf label terminal 2 may be used.

1 Small electronic shelf label 2 Large electronic shelf label 3 ESL server (management server)
4 access point 5 repeater 6 handy terminal 7 POS server 8 POS register

Claims (11)

An information display system including a plurality of information display devices including a display unit that displays an image represented by display image data, and a management server that transmits the display image data to the plurality of information display devices,
The plurality of information display devices include:
A plurality of first display units each receiving first display image data representing at least one display target information related to a predetermined display target object from the management server and displaying an image based on the first display image data. A first information display device;
A second display unit configured to receive a second display image data created by the management server according to an arrangement relationship of the plurality of first information display devices and to display an image based on the second display image data; An information display device,
The management server
Second identification information for identifying each of the plurality of information display devices among the plurality of information display devices is associated with position information representing a mutual positional relationship in the plurality of first information display devices. A display position for displaying an image represented by the display target information in the screen of the second display section is determined with reference to a storage section for storing the stored information, and the display target information is represented by the display position. An information display system characterized by creating second display image data. The management server
Determining the display position in accordance with a maximum display number determined in advance as the number of the target information displayed simultaneously on one screen of the second display unit, and creating the second display image data. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein The management server
Different when creating the second display image data based on more target information than the maximum display number that is determined in advance as the number of target information displayed simultaneously in one screen of the second display unit 3. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein second display image data including a plurality of pieces of image data displayed on the second information display device is created at a timing. The second information display device includes:
When the second display image data including the plurality of image data created by the management server based on the target information more than the maximum display number is received from the management server, the target information equal to or less than the maximum display number The image data included in the second display image data is displayed in a time shorter than a time for displaying an image based on the second display image data representing the second display image data on the second display unit. Information display system described in 1. The management server
First identification information for identifying each first information display device among the plurality of information display devices, the second identification information, the position information, and the display target information are associated with each other. The first display image data including the display target information associated with the first identification information is created with reference to the storage unit that stores the management information, and the management information is referred to 5. The link information including at least one of the first identification information and the display target information associated with second identification information is created. The information display system described.   The information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a screen of the first display unit is smaller than a screen of the second display unit.   The plurality of first information display devices are arranged on a product shelf in which a plurality of sorted products are displayed for each product, and the first display unit uses the product information related to the nearby products as the display target information. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the information display system is displayed. The management server
For the first display image data including the display target information different from the display target information displayed on the second information display device, the same display target information displayed on the second information display device The information according to claim 1, wherein the first display image data represented by different expressions is created so as to distinguish the first display image data including display target information. Display system. The first information display device includes:
A first operation unit that receives an operation input from a user, and transmits operation information representing the operation input received through the first operation unit to the management server;
The management server
When the operation information indicating that the display target information associated with the first information display device is displayed on the second information display device is received, the first information display device that has transmitted the operation information is Either the first identification information to be represented or the display target information associated with the first information display device, and the position information of the first information display device that has transmitted the operation information. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the information is associated with the second identification information in the link information. Management that is communicably connected to a first information display device that is a plurality of information display devices including a display unit that displays an image represented by display image data, and a second display device that is different from the first information display device. On the server,
Second identification information for identifying each of the plurality of information display devices among the plurality of information display devices is associated with position information representing a mutual positional relationship in the plurality of first information display devices. A storage unit for storing the information being stored;
The second display image data representing the display target information at the display position is determined with reference to the storage unit by determining a display position at which the image represented by the display target information is displayed on the screen of the second display unit. And a control unit that creates the management server.   An electronic shelf label system comprising the information display system according to claim 1.

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