Electronic shelf label positioning system and method, electronic shelf label and guide rail

Abstract

This invention discloses an electronic shelf label positioning system and method, electronic shelf labels, and guide rails. The electronic shelf label positioning system includes electronic shelf labels, guide rails, a PDA, and a backend server. Each electronic shelf label includes a main control SoC, a card reader IC, a screen, and a power supply. The main control SoC controls the screen display and performs communication with the access point (AP). The card reader IC reads the wireless tags. The power supply provides power to the electronic shelf labels. The guide rail includes a guide rail marking area and a label area. The label area contains multiple wireless tags, each with a unique ID number. The guide rail marking area contains an identification device, which includes a guide rail ID, formed by sequentially arranging and summarizing the wireless tag ID numbers. This invention, through the proposed electronic shelf label and guide rail, achieves accurate positioning of electronic price tags and goods, with stable and reliable performance unaffected by the wireless environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic price tag technology, and more particularly to an electronic shelf label positioning system and method, electronic shelf labels and guide rails. Background Technology

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context for the embodiments of the invention set forth in the claims. The description herein is not an admission that it is prior art simply because it is included in this section.

[0003] Electronic shelf labels (ESCs) enable flexible price management in retailers and supermarkets, and retailers have a clear need for location tracking functionality for ESCs. Accurate location information is valuable to both retailers and consumers. From a retailer's management perspective, accurate location information allows for the generation of optimized picking and replenishment routes, improving operational efficiency. Consumers benefit from optimized shopping paths, enhancing their shopping experience.

[0004] Existing positioning methods include triangulation. Access points (APs) are deployed at three fixed locations (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3). An electronic price tag receives wireless signals from three APs (BS1, BS2, and BS3) at location E. The distances r1, r2, and r3 from the electronic price tag to BS1, BS2, and BS3 are estimated using the received signal strength (RSSI). The distances are then calculated. Figure 1 The location of point E can be obtained from the area where the three circles intersect.

[0005] Triangulation has the following drawbacks: In real-world environments, wireless signals are unpredictable; multipath propagation and fading cause significant variations in RSSI, making it difficult to obtain accurate distance values. In retail scenarios, the complexity of the wireless environment is exacerbated by signal obstruction and attenuation from shelves and customers, greatly impacting positioning accuracy, typically limiting it to only a few meters. In supermarkets and shopping malls, distances exceeding 80cm can lead to incorrect aisle positioning, making this level of accuracy unacceptable for retailers.

[0006] Existing positioning methods also include UWB positioning. UWB positioning uses the TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) principle. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the electronic price tag continuously broadcasts data frames to surrounding modules using nanosecond-level narrow pulses. Each positioning module uses a highly sensitive receiver to measure the time it takes for the data frame to reach the receiver antenna. By utilizing the time difference in radio signal propagation between different positioning base stations, the distance difference between the electronic price tag and multiple positioning modules can be calculated. Based on the time difference of signal arrival between two modules, the positioning tag can be determined to be located on a hyperbola with those two modules as its foci. If there are three or more base stations, multiple hyperbolic equations can be established, and the intersection of these hyperbolic equations is the two-dimensional coordinate position of the price tag.

[0007] UWB positioning has the following drawbacks:

[0008] 1. UWB systems require separate deployment, and UWB signals attenuate faster, requiring a dense increase in the number of positioning base stations, which increases the equipment investment costs for retailers.

[0009] 2. UWB has high requirements for deployment and implementation. Concrete walls or metal have a strong attenuation effect on UWB signals, which can lead to poor positioning accuracy or failure to locate.

[0010] 3. The UWB solution consumes a lot of power on the label side, which cannot meet retailers' requirements for a 5-10 year lifespan for electronic shelf labels. Summary of the Invention

[0011] This invention provides an electronic shelf label, including: a main control SoC, a card reader IC, a screen, and a power supply device;

[0012] The main control SoC is used to: control the screen display and complete the communication function with the AP;

[0013] The card reader IC is used to: read wireless tags;

[0014] The power supply equipment is used to: supply power to the electronic shelf labels.

[0015] This invention also provides a guide rail for mounting the electronic shelf labels described above, comprising: a guide rail marking area and a label area;

[0016] The tag area contains multiple wireless tags, each with a unique ID number.

[0017] The guide rail marking area is equipped with an identification device, which includes a guide rail ID, which is composed of wireless tag ID numbers arranged in sequence.

[0018] This invention also provides an electronic shelf label positioning system, comprising: the electronic shelf label described above, the guide rail described above, a PDA, and a back-end server; wherein the guide rail is installed on the merchandise shelf;

[0019] The PDA is used to: scan the shelf ID and guide rail ID to form a binding relationship between the shelf and guide rail IDs; scan the electronic shelf label ID and product ID to form a binding relationship between the electronic shelf label and the product; and transmit the binding relationship to the backend server.

[0020] Electronic shelf labels are used to: read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmit it to the back-end server;

[0021] The backend server is used to: push product and price information to be displayed on electronic shelf labels; determine the rail ID based on the wireless tag ID; determine the shelf information based on the binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs and the rail ID; and obtain the position of the corresponding electronic shelf label based on the shelf information.

[0022] This invention also provides an electronic shelf label positioning method, comprising:

[0023] The PDA scans the shelf ID and rail ID to establish a binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs; it scans the electronic shelf label ID and product ID to establish a binding relationship between the electronic shelf label and the product; the binding relationship is then transmitted to the backend server.

[0024] The electronic shelf labels read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmit it to the backend server;

[0025] The backend server pushes product and price information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label; the guide rail ID is determined based on the wireless tag ID; the shelf information is determined based on the binding relationship between the shelf and guide rail IDs and the guide rail ID; and the position of the corresponding electronic shelf label is obtained based on the shelf information.

[0026] The electronic shelf label is the same as described above, and the guide rail is the same as described above; the guide rail is installed on the merchandise shelf.

[0027] This invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0028] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0029] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0030] In this embodiment of the invention, compared with the existing triangulation and UWB positioning technologies, an electronic shelf label positioning system is proposed, comprising electronic shelf labels, guide rails, a PDA, and a backend server. The electronic shelf label includes a main control SoC, a card reader IC, a screen, and a power supply. The main control SoC is used to control the screen display and complete communication with the access point (AP). The card reader IC is used to read the wireless tags. The power supply provides power to the electronic shelf labels. The guide rail includes a guide rail marking area and a label area. The label area has multiple wireless tags installed, each with a unique ID number. The guide rail marking area has an identification device, which includes a guide rail ID, formed by sequentially arranging and summarizing the wireless tag ID numbers. This invention, through the proposed electronic shelf label and guide rail, achieves accurate positioning of electronic price tags and goods, with stable and reliable performance unaffected by the wireless environment. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic shelf label structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the guide rail structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic shelf label positioning system in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the guide rail structure prepared in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a shelf in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the binding of shelf ID and wireless tag in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the binding of shelf ID, wireless tag, product, and electronic shelf tag in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a product display diagram in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 9The flowchart of the electronic shelf label positioning method in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 ;

[0041] Figure 10 The flowchart of the electronic shelf label positioning method in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the illustrative embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0043] This invention proposes an electronic shelf label, the structure of which is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes: main control SoC, card reader IC, screen and power supply (i.e., battery);

[0044] The main control SoC is used to: control the screen display and complete the communication function with the AP;

[0045] The card reader IC is used to: read wireless tags;

[0046] The power supply equipment is used to: supply power to the electronic shelf labels.

[0047] Specifically, AP (Access Point) refers to a wireless access point. SoC (System on Chip) is generally referred to as a system-on-a-chip, or a dedicated integrated circuit that contains a complete system and all embedded software.

[0048] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, it also includes: a displacement sensor, used to detect whether the electronic shelf labels have moved.

[0049] Specifically, electronic shelf tags can use displacement sensors to determine if they have moved. The system can be set to read tag information (wireless tag information) only after movement has occurred and the tag has come to a stop again, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0050] Based on this, the main control SoC is also used to: control the card reader IC based on the displacement signal detected by the displacement sensor.

[0051] This invention proposes a guide rail, the structure of which is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the device for installing the electronic shelf labels described above includes: a guide rail marking area and a label area;

[0052] The tag area contains multiple wireless tags, each with a unique ID number.

[0053] The guide rail marking area is equipped with an identification device, which includes a guide rail ID, which is composed of wireless tag ID numbers arranged in sequence.

[0054] Specifically, the identification device uses a rail label; wherein the rail label contains a rail ID. The identification device also uses a QR code; wherein the QR code is generated from the rail ID.

[0055] Specifically, the guide rail label and multiple wireless tags are fixed to the guide rail by pasting or side insertion.

[0056] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the guide rail also includes graduations to assist in product alignment. This helps store clerks align the products.

[0057] This invention also proposes an electronic shelf label positioning system, such as... Figure 3 As shown, it includes: the electronic shelf label mentioned above, the guide rail mentioned above, the PDA, and the back-end server; wherein the guide rail is installed on the merchandise shelf.

[0058] The rail position can be obtained by binding the rail ID and shelf ID, and the binding relationship is stored in the backend server. Price tags are installed on the rails, the wireless tag IDs on the rails are read and uploaded to the server, and the position of the corresponding rail and shelf is obtained by comparing the wireless tag IDs.

[0059] Specifically, the PDA is used to: scan the shelf ID and guide rail ID to form a binding relationship between the shelf and guide rail IDs; scan the electronic shelf label ID and product ID to form a binding relationship between the electronic shelf label and the product; and transmit the binding relationship to the backend server.

[0060] Electronic shelf labels are used to: read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmit it to the back-end server;

[0061] The backend server is used to: push product and price information to be displayed on electronic shelf labels; determine the rail ID based on the wireless tag ID; determine the shelf information based on the binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs and the rail ID; and obtain the position of the corresponding electronic shelf label based on the shelf information.

[0062] Among them, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

[0063] In this embodiment of the invention, the specific positioning process is as follows:

[0064] 1. Rail Preparation: Secure the wireless tags sequentially to the rail label area using either affixed or side-inserted. Read the wireless tag IDs sequentially using a PDA, summarize them to generate a rail ID, and write this rail ID to the rail label. Alternatively, the summarized rail IDs can be generated as a QR code and affixed or side-inserted to the rail label area. This stage establishes the binding relationship between the rail ID and each wireless tag ID. To achieve better positioning accuracy, each wireless tag should be 3cm-5cm in size.

[0065] Figure 4 The content of R101 is T101T102T103T104T105T106T107T108. You can obtain all the tag IDs arranged in order on the rail by reading or scanning once.

[0066] 2. Affix a unique barcode (1D, 2D, or RFID tag) to the shelf as a shelf ID. (See also...) Figure 5 S001 in the middle.

[0067] 3. Rail Binding: Install the prepared rails onto the shelf. The PDA first scans the shelf ID, then sequentially scans the IDs of each rail, establishing a binding relationship between the shelf and the rail IDs. As shown above, the binding relationship between the rail ID and each wireless tag is established, thus creating a binding relationship between the shelf ID and the wireless tag, as shown in Table 1. Figure 6 As shown.

[0068] Table 1. Binding Relationship between Shelf ID and Wireless Tag

[0069] Location Guide rail ID Wireless Tag ID S001 Shelf, fourth level R104 T401T402T403T404T405T406T407T408 S001 Shelf, third level R103 T301T302T303T304T305T306T307T308 S001 Shelf, Second Tier R102 T201T202T203T204T205T206T207T208 S001 Shelf, First Floor R101 T101T102T103T104T105T106T107T108

[0070] 4. Install electronic shelf labels, ensuring the labels and product positions are aligned from the left. Scan the electronic shelf label ID and product ID separately to establish a binding relationship between the label and the product. After the binding information is uploaded to the server, the server will push product and price information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label, such as... Figure 7 As shown in Table 2.

[0071] Table 2. Binding Relationship between Products and Electronic Shelf Labels

[0072]

[0073]

[0074] 5. The backend server initiates positioning, and the electronic shelf labels read the wireless tags on the guide rails and report the information. The server obtains the accurate guide rail ID by comparing the binding relationship between the guide rail ID and the wireless tag ID, and then obtains the shelf information by binding the guide rail ID to the shelf. This allows for precise determination of the location information of the corresponding products.

[0075] For example Figure 7 The fifth electronic shelf label, ESL5, reads the label ID T204 on the guide rail. By looking up Table 1, it can be accurately determined that this shelf label is located in the fourth label area of ​​the second-level guide rail of shelf S001.

[0076] In this embodiment of the invention, the backend server is further configured to: generate a product display diagram based on the binding relationship between electronic shelf labels and products, and the position of the electronic shelf labels, such as... Figure 8 As shown.

[0077] Figure 9 The flowchart of the electronic shelf label positioning method in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 ,like Figure 9 As shown, the method includes:

[0078] Step 901: The PDA scans the shelf ID and rail ID to establish a binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs; it scans the electronic shelf label ID and product ID to establish a binding relationship between the electronic shelf label and the product; the binding relationship is transmitted to the backend server.

[0079] Step 902: The electronic shelf label reads the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmits it to the backend server;

[0080] Step 903: The backend server pushes product and price information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label; the guide rail ID is determined based on the wireless tag ID; the shelf information is determined based on the binding relationship between the shelf and guide rail IDs and the guide rail ID; and the corresponding electronic shelf label position is obtained based on the shelf information.

[0081] The electronic shelf label is the same as described above, and the guide rail is the same as described above; the guide rail is installed on the merchandise shelf.

[0082] In embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 10 As shown, it also includes:

[0083] Step 1001: The backend server generates a product display image based on the binding relationship between electronic shelf labels and products, and the position of electronic shelf labels.

[0084] This invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0085] This invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0086] This invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described electronic shelf label positioning method.

[0087] In this embodiment of the invention, compared with the existing triangulation and UWB positioning technologies, an electronic shelf label positioning system is proposed, comprising electronic shelf labels, guide rails, a PDA, and a backend server. The electronic shelf label includes a main control SoC, a card reader IC, a screen, and a power supply. The main control SoC is used to control the screen display and complete communication with the access point (AP). The card reader IC is used to read the wireless tags. The power supply provides power to the electronic shelf labels. The guide rail includes a guide rail marking area and a label area. The label area has multiple wireless tags installed, each with a unique ID number. The guide rail marking area has an identification device, which includes a guide rail ID, formed by sequentially arranging and summarizing the wireless tag ID numbers. This invention achieves the following beneficial effects:

[0088] (1) The proposed electronic shelf labels and guide rails enable precise positioning of electronic price tags and merchandise, with stable and reliable performance unaffected by wireless environments. Precise positioning optimizes picking and replenishment routes, improving operational efficiency by 30%.

[0089] (2) Automatic generation of display diagrams has been achieved, which has enabled the retailer headquarters to manage the display of each store and reduced management costs.

[0090] (3) Adding a displacement sensor will prevent the wireless tag from being read frequently when the price tag is stationary, reducing overall power consumption by 25%.

[0091] (4) In terms of hardware investment, only wireless tags are added to the guide rails, and in terms of usage, only the binding operation between the shelves and the guide rails is added, which greatly reduces the investment cost for retailers.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present invention can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present invention can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0093] This invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0094] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0095] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0096] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic shelf label, characterized in that, include: Main control SoC, card reader IC, screen, power supply equipment and displacement sensor; The main control SoC is used to: control the screen display and communicate with the AP; and control the card reader IC based on the displacement signal detected by the displacement sensor. The card reader IC is used to: read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail; wherein, each wireless tag has a unique and non-repeating ID, and the wireless tag IDs are arranged in order to form the guide rail ID; the binding relationship between the guide rail ID, the shelf, and the guide rail ID is used to determine the shelf information, and the shelf information is used to obtain the position of the electronic shelf tag; The power supply equipment is used to: supply power to the electronic shelf labels; Displacement sensors are used to detect whether the labels on electronic shelves have moved; The electronic shelf label is set to read the wireless tag ID only after it has moved and then come to a stop again.

2. The electronic shelf label as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply device is a battery.

3. A guide rail, characterized in that, For installing the electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 2, comprising: a guide rail marking area and a label area; The tag area contains multiple wireless tags; The guide rail marking area is equipped with an identification device, which includes the guide rail ID; The identification device uses a rail label; wherein the rail label contains a rail ID.

4. The guide rail as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The identity recognition device uses a QR code; the QR code is generated by the guide rail ID.

5. The guide rail as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The guide rail label and multiple wireless tags are fixed to the guide rail by adhesive or side insertion.

6. The guide rail as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The guide rail also includes a scale to help align the products.

7. An electronic shelf label positioning system, characterized in that, include: The electronic shelf label according to any one of claims 1 to 2, the guide rail, the PDA, and the back-end server according to any one of claims 3 to 6; The guide rails are installed on the merchandise shelves; The PDA is used to: sequentially read wireless tag IDs, summarize them to generate rail IDs; scan product shelf IDs and rail IDs to form a binding relationship between shelf and rail IDs; scan electronic shelf tag IDs and product IDs to form a binding relationship between electronic shelf tags and products; and transmit the binding relationship to the backend server. Electronic shelf labels are used to: read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmit it to the back-end server; The backend server is used to: send product and price information displayed on the electronic shelf labels; determine the rail ID based on the wireless tag ID; determine the shelf information based on the binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs and the rail ID; and obtain the position of the corresponding electronic shelf label based on the shelf information.

8. The electronic shelf label positioning system as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The backend server is also used to generate product display diagrams based on the binding relationship between electronic shelf labels and products, and the location of electronic shelf labels.

9. A method for positioning electronic shelf labels, characterized in that, include: The PDA scans the shelf ID and rail ID of the goods to establish a binding relationship between the shelf and rail IDs; Scan the electronic shelf label ID and product ID to establish a binding relationship between the electronic shelf label and the product; the binding relationship is then transmitted to the backend server. The electronic shelf labels read the wireless tag ID on the guide rail and transmit it to the backend server; The backend server pushes product and price information to be displayed on the electronic shelf label; the guide rail ID is determined based on the wireless tag ID; the shelf information is determined based on the binding relationship between the shelf and guide rail IDs and the guide rail ID; and the position of the corresponding electronic shelf label is obtained based on the shelf information. Wherein, the electronic shelf label is the electronic shelf label as described in any one of claims 1 to 2, and the guide rail is the guide rail as described in any one of claims 3 to 6; the guide rail is installed on the merchandise shelf.

10. The electronic shelf label positioning method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, Also includes: The backend server generates a product display image based on the binding relationship between electronic shelf labels and products, and the location of electronic shelf labels.

11. A computer device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the electronic shelf label positioning method according to any one of claims 9 to 10.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the electronic shelf label positioning method of any one of claims 9 to 10.

13. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the electronic shelf label positioning method of any one of claims 9 to 10.

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