Shelf lighting system and procedures for locating goods and managing price information

Abstract

Lighting system (10), in particular shelf lighting system, for locating products (40, 41, 42), comprising: - at least two lighting units (24-31), wherein one lighting unit (24-31) or a defined group of lighting units (24-31) is assigned to a different spatial area, in particular a shelf area, - a control unit (51) for controlling the lighting units (24-31), wherein each lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) is assigned a different lighting address, wherein the lighting address is in each case linked to a product assignment that is uniquely assigned to a product (40, 41, 42) provided in the assigned spatial area, and - a user interface (54) for displaying the product assignment and selecting the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled via the displayed product assignment, wherein the user interface (54) comprises a mobile control unit (13), and wherein the mobile control unit (51) is configured to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled via the displayed product assignment, wherein the control unit (51) is configured to send information by means of modulated light signals to the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), wherein the mobile control unit (13) is designed to receive the modulated light signals and to recover the information contained therein.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting system, a method for providing a lighting system and a method for locating a product.

[0002] Locating products in larger shopping areas, such as supermarket shelves, is often very confusing due to the sheer variety of products on display. Even if customers are already in the right aisle and on the right shelf, they may struggle to find the product. This creates a negative shopping experience and also ties up staff time, which is spent answering customers' questions about product locations.

[0003] The international patent application WO 2006 / 126114 A1 shows a conventional shelf lighting system which is suitable for clearly illuminating the products displayed on the shelves, but does not contribute to a better findability of the products beyond that.

[0004] The document DE 10 2013 104 365 A1 shows a refrigerated cabinet for a supermarket with integrated lighting devices.

[0005] The document DE 197 56 705 C2 shows a lighting system from the technical field of event technology.

[0006] The document US 2012 / 0 000 974 A1 shows an electronic label that has solar cells.

[0007] The document DE 195 38 115 A1 shows an electronic price information system which has lighting devices and at least one electronic label.

[0008] The document WO 2012 / 123 352 A1 shows a luminaire with communication means.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a lighting system and a method for providing a lighting system which enable desired products to be easily found.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] A lighting system according to the invention, in particular a shelf lighting system, serves to locate products. It comprises at least two lighting units, each of which is assigned to a different spatial area, in particular a shelf area. Furthermore, the lighting system includes a control unit for controlling the lighting units, each of which is assigned a different luminaire address. The luminaire address is linked to a product assignment, which is uniquely assigned to a product provided in the assigned spatial area.In addition, the lighting system has a user interface which is used to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled via the displayed product assignment. By selecting the product to be found using the user interface, it is thus possible to light up the lighting unit arranged next to the product and thus to find the product with very little effort. The user interface has a mobile control unit, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The mobile control unit is used to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled via the displayed product assignment. The control unit is designed to transmit information to at least one lighting unit or defined group of lighting units using modulated light signals.The mobile control unit is designed to receive the modulated light signals and recover the information they contain.

[0012] The user interface preferably has a stationary control unit. The stationary control unit is used to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled based on the displayed product assignment. A stationary control unit can thus be used by store customers without any additional requirements. While a mobile control unit creates additional overhead, this is not critical, as most store visitors already have a mobile phone. Furthermore, the mobile control unit enables simultaneous operation by multiple users and operation from different locations.

[0013] Preferably, the control unit is configured to, upon selection of a product via the user interface, control the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units assigned according to the product assignment and lighting addressing such that it illuminates for a predetermined period of time in a predetermined color and / or intensity and / or a flashing pattern and / or with a change in intensity and / or with a change in color. This ensures very easy retrieval of the product.

[0014] In an advantageous development, the user interface is designed to process, simultaneously or sequentially, a selection of a first product by a first user and a selection of a second product by a second user, etc. Thus, any number of users can select any number of products.The control unit is preferably designed to control the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units assigned to the first product according to the product assignment and lighting addressing such that it lights up with a first intensity and / or a first flashing pattern and / or in a first color and / or with a first intensity change and / or with a first color change for a first predetermined period of time, and to control the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units assigned to the second product according to the product assignment and lighting addressing such that it lights up with a second intensity and / or a second flashing pattern and / or in a second color and / or with a second intensity change and / or with a second color change for a second predetermined period of time. The colors, intensities, flashing patterns, intensity changes, color changes, etc. are different.The lighting system makes it possible to display the product they are looking for to more than one user simultaneously; thus, the first, second, etc., predetermined time periods can overlap. Of course, more than two different products can also be displayed simultaneously using different colors, flashing patterns, etc. It is also conceivable that, when an identical light signal is emitted, the predetermined time periods only run one after the other. It is also conceivable that the visual signals are accompanied by acoustic signals.

[0015] The lighting system further comprises at least one electronic label which is mounted within a line of sight of at least one lighting unit or defined group of lighting units. The electronic label is designed to receive modulated light signals from the (assigned) lighting unit or defined group of lighting units. The electronic label is designed to retrieve the information based on the modulated light signals from the at least one lighting unit or defined group of lighting units. In this case, the electronic label is designed to display the information. This enables interaction with the electronic label without the need for cabling of the electronic label. Furthermore, price information, ingredient information, or expiration date information, for example, can be transmitted to the electronic label and output by the electronic label.

[0016] Preferably, the electronic label is further equipped with a solar cell designed to receive light emitted by the at least one lighting unit or defined group of lighting units and convert it into electrical current. The label preferably has no further external power source. This makes it possible to power the electronic label using the remaining lighting system without wiring the electronic label.

[0017] Preferably, the mobile operating unit is designed to determine, based on the information, whether the mobile operating unit has reached a product of a selected product assignment. The mobile operating unit is then designed to indicate that the mobile operating unit has reached the selected product and / or to transmit to the control unit that the mobile operating unit has reached the selected product. The control unit is designed to terminate control of the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled when the mobile operating unit reports that it has reached the selected product. Thus, as soon as a user has been successfully guided to their selected product, the display function of the lighting system can be used by another user without delay.

[0018] The mobile control unit is preferably designed to determine the direction and / or position of the selected product based on the received information and to display route guidance to the selected product. This can further facilitate locating the product.

[0019] Preferably, the lighting system has at least one sensor configured to determine whether a user has reached a spatial area of ​​a product of a selected product assignment and to report this to the control unit. The control unit is then configured to terminate control of the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled when the sensor reports that the user has reached the spatial area. This allows the duration of targeted illumination of a product for a requesting user to be further reduced. This increases the availability of the system.

[0020] Preferably, the control device is configured to perform the product assignment based on a manual user input via the user interface and / or based on reading a barcode affixed to the product and / or a barcode affixed to the lighting system and / or based on reading an RFID transponder affixed to the product and / or an RFID transponder affixed to the lighting system. This allows for product assignment to be established very flexibly and easily.

[0021] A method according to the invention serves to provide a lighting system, in particular a shelf lighting system, for locating products. The method comprises the following steps: - Providing at least two lighting units, wherein each lighting unit or a defined group of lighting units is assigned to a different spatial area, in particular a shelf area, - Assigning a luminaire address to a luminaire unit or defined group of luminaire units in a control unit for controlling the luminaire units, - Linking the luminaire addressing with a product assignment, which is clearly assigned to a product intended for the assigned spatial area, and - Displaying product assignment via a user interface.

[0022] This makes it possible to access the products available on the corresponding shelf via the user interface.

[0023] The user interface comprises a mobile control unit, preferably a mobile phone or tablet. The mobile control unit displays the product assignment. Using the mobile control unit, the lighting unit or defined group of lighting units to be controlled is selected based on the displayed product assignment. Information is transmitted via modulated light signals by the at least one lighting unit or defined group of lighting units. The mobile control unit receives the modulated light signals and retrieves the information contained therein.

[0024] Advantageously, the method is used to locate a product and involves selecting a lighting unit or defined group of lighting units using the displayed product assignment and controlling the selected lighting unit or defined group of lighting units using the control unit. This allows easy access to a desired product via the user interface, which is then highlighted by illuminating the corresponding area of ​​the shelf.

[0025] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings, which illustrate an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The drawings show: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the lighting system according to the invention in two different views; Fig. 2 a second embodiment of the lighting system according to the invention in a block diagram, and Fig. 3 an embodiment of the method according to the invention in a flow chart.

[0026] First, the Fig. 1-2 the structure and general functioning of different embodiments of the lighting system according to the invention are explained. Fig. 3 discusses the operation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Identical elements were sometimes not shown and described repeatedly in similar figures.

[0027] In Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the lighting system 10 according to the invention. The lighting system 10 here includes a control unit 11, which is mounted on the front of a shelf 12. The shelf 12 preferably has electronic labels 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, each of which is attached in specific areas of the shelf 12. In addition, the shelf 12 has lighting units 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31, which are also each assigned to one of these areas and illuminate this area. Each individual lighting unit 24-31 or defined groups of lighting units 24-31 is assigned a lighting address. Each lighting address is assigned to a product by means of a link to a product assignment. DMX addressing can be used to address the lighting units.This has the advantage that only an initial address needs to be assigned and the remaining addresses are generated automatically.

[0028] It's not necessary to assign a separate lighting unit to each individual product. Rather, larger areas can be illuminated with a single lighting unit. Even displaying the approximate area where the desired product is located is a significant aid for the customer.

[0029] In the upper Fig. In the view shown in Figure 1, goods 40, 41, and 42 are also shown in individual areas. One of the goods 41 is equipped with a barcode 44. Furthermore, a barcode 43 is attached to the shelf 12 next to the operating device 11. The lighting system 10 shown here also has a mobile radio device 13 that communicates wirelessly with the operating device 11. Mobile radio device 13 and operating device 11 can both be designed as a user interface within the scope of the invention.

[0030] A user who wishes to find a product on shelf 12 interacts with operating device 11. They can display the goods 40-42 available on the respective shelf 12 on a screen of operating device 11. By selecting the product using operating device 11, the lighting unit or group of lighting units to be controlled is determined and controlled based on the product assignment. The control is carried out using the previously defined lighting addressing. By selecting one of the products 40-42 using the previously defined product assignment, which is displayed on operating device 11, the user triggers a defined illumination of a lighting unit 24-31 in an area assigned to the corresponding product 40-42. The illumination can occur in a predetermined color or with a lighting intensity that can be adjusted by the user.It can be set to illuminate continuously for a predetermined period of time, or to illuminate with a flashing pattern. The color, intensity, duration, and flashing pattern can be preset or user-adjustable.

[0031] Alternatively, instead of a single lighting unit, a plurality of lighting units and thus a plurality of lighting addresses can be assigned to a product. This is particularly relevant when a large quantity of an identical product occupies a larger section of a shelf 12. In this case, a defined group of lighting units can be controlled in response to the selection of a product. For this purpose, the corresponding product assignment is linked to the corresponding number of lighting addresses in a control unit and provided accordingly.

[0032] When the lighting system 10 is operated directly using the control device 11, the control device 11 has a stationary control unit. Fig. 2 in more detail.

[0033] Alternatively or in addition to direct operation via the operating device 11, operation via a mobile operating unit 13, such as a mobile phone or tablet, is also possible. In this case, the products are displayed on a screen of the mobile operating unit 13 and can be selected. If a product is selected, this is communicated to the operating device or control unit 11, which controls the lighting in the area of ​​the corresponding product in a similar way to the process described above. Communication between the mobile phone 13 and the operating device 11 can take place either directly via a wireless radio network installed in the store, e.g. WLAN. Communication via Bluetooth or NFC is also conceivable.

[0034] Since a mobile device 13 is typically not equipped with the special software required for this purpose, a barcode 43 is additionally attached to the shelf 12. This barcode serves as a link to corresponding software, for example, an application for a mobile phone. By reading the barcode 43 using the mobile phone 13, the mobile phone 13 is enabled to download and execute the corresponding software, for example, from the Internet.

[0035] Barcodes 43 and 44 can be linear or two-dimensional barcodes, such as QR codes. Instead of a barcode 43, a textual hyperlink can also be provided at this location. Furthermore, it is conceivable to provide the software directly at this location using Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC).

[0036] Product assignment, which corresponds to the assignment of the corresponding products to the luminaire addresses, can be performed manually. However, this requires a significant amount of personnel. Alternatively, the barcode 44 on items 40, 41, and 42 can be scanned using a barcode reader, mobile phone, or tablet to select the corresponding product. After such a product selection, a corresponding shelf position or luminaire address can be entered manually to link the luminaire address(es) and product assignment(s).

[0037] Alternatively, similar barcodes can also be attached to the shelf positions. The operating procedure for assigning a luminaire address to a product would thus be a sequential scanning of the barcode of the shelf area 12 and the barcode 44 of the product 41. RFID tags can also be used instead of barcodes.

[0038] If multiple customers want to use the lighting system simultaneously, the difficulty arises of the ambiguity of the illuminated product. This can be resolved by assigning different lighting colors or flashing patterns to the products selected by the respective users. Alternatively, the lighting system 10 can ignore further inputs from other users as long as one user is using it.

[0039] Furthermore, prioritizing customer queries for product locating is conceivable. For example, customers could be prioritized based on their order of use. Alternatively, they could be prioritized based on their past purchasing behavior. Prioritization based on need is also conceivable. For example, visually impaired customers could be given preferential treatment by the system.

[0040] Furthermore, the lighting system 10 is not limited to a single shelf 12. For example, a separate control unit 11 could be provided for each aisle in a store. A central control unit, which indicates the aisle to be visited after the customer has selected a product, is also conceivable as an additional extension of the lighting system 10.

[0041] As a further embodiment, it is conceivable, for example, that mobile control elements, such as smartphones, in particular, could also be used to geographically assign the customer to the product they are looking for. For example, pulsating signals emitted by the lighting units can be detected by the mobile control device and thus a spatial assignment of the person in the supermarket in relation to the shelf can be determined. Based on this, the customer can be guided to the product, for example, by visual or acoustic output. Other geographical assignment options are also conceivable, such as motion sensors, which detect the customer's exact position in the supermarket and then guide the customer to the previously mentioned product or product group.

[0042] In a further embodiment of the lighting system 10, the electronic labels 14-21 are arranged in the individually illuminated areas of the shelf 12. This means that each lighting unit 24-31 is assigned an electronic label 14-21. The electronic labels 14-21 are preferably not wired to the lighting system 10, but are only in contact with the lighting system 10 via the light emitted by the lighting units 24-31. This means that information is transmitted from the lighting system 10 to the electronic labels 14-21 via visible light communication by means of the lighting units 24-31. For this purpose, each electronic label has a light receiver. The information is, for example, product information and / or price information and / or ingredient information and the like.

[0043] Furthermore, the electronic labels 14-21 can be powered by the lighting units 24-31. In this case, the electronic labels 14-21 each have a solar cell that supplies them with energy. An additional power supply in the form of a wired or battery is therefore unnecessary. To bridge power outages or while the lighting is switched off overnight, the electronic labels can also be equipped with a rechargeable battery.

[0044] If a low data transmission rate is accepted, the solar cell can be used as a light sensor.

[0045] In this way, price information, expiration date information, ingredient information, etc., for products 40, 41, and 42 can be displayed on the electronic labels 14-21. Since the spatial assignment of products 40-42 to the areas of the lighting system is already available, the additional information concerning the individual products can be displayed on the electronic labels 14-21 without any further operator effort.

[0046] In a further advantageous embodiment, the products have transponders, e.g., RFID tags. In this case, the lighting system 10, in particular the shelf 12, also has corresponding receivers in the individual areas, which are assigned to the lighting units 24-31. This allows the products to be automatically assigned to the corresponding areas in the shelf 12. Manually linking the product and the area is no longer necessary in this case. By using the RFID tags, incorrectly sorted goods, in particular, can be found very easily.

[0047] Furthermore, the lighting system according to the invention can be used to simplify stock management on shelves 12. Thus, a user, e.g., the operating personnel, can use the operating device 11 or a mobile phone 13, since the allocation of goods to individual areas is already available, to display products whose expiration date has almost expired or has expired. This significantly simplifies the sorting of corresponding goods. The system can also be used to simplify stocking of shelves 12. Thus, the operating personnel can select the corresponding product on the operating device 11 or mobile phone 13 and is shown where replenishment of the corresponding product must be placed on shelf 12.

[0048] In Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the lighting system 10 according to the invention, which also relates to the first embodiment according to Fig. 1. The lighting system 10 has an operating device 11, which has a control unit 51, a stationary operating unit 50, for example a touch-sensitive screen, and a database 52.

[0049] The database 52 stores the assignments of lighting units to products or areas. Operating processes can be initiated using the stationary operating unit 50. The products arranged in the respective shelf are shown on a display of the stationary operating unit 50. One of the products can be selected using the stationary operating unit 50. The corresponding assignment of the product to the area within the shelf and thus to the lighting address linked to the product assignment is then read from the database 52. The control unit 51, in turn, is connected to lighting units 24-28, in this example LED modules. Each lighting unit is, as can be seen from Fig. 1, a luminaire address is assigned. In response to the selection of a product, the corresponding luminaire unit or group of luminaire units is thus controlled. Also shown here are electronic labels 14-18, each of which is arranged within the field of view of one of the luminaire units 24-28.

[0050] The stationary control unit 50 can, for example, be a touch-sensitive screen. Alternatively, a trackball, a mouse, or gesture recognition can be used in conjunction with a (non-touch-sensitive) screen.

[0051] The database 52 does not need to be located within the operating device 11. A central database that supplies multiple shelves and is thus connected to multiple operating units can also be used. The same applies to the control unit 51.

[0052] Instead of or in addition to operation via the stationary control unit 50, operation can also be performed via a mobile control unit 13, for example, a mobile phone or a tablet. The stationary control unit 50 and the mobile control unit 13 are referred to collectively here as the user interface 54. The user interface 54 does not have to include both options. The user interface can have a stationary control unit 50 and / or a mobile control unit 13.

[0053] In Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In a first step 100, at least two lighting units are provided. In a second step 101, each lighting unit is assigned a lighting address. Alternatively or additionally, a lighting address can also be assigned to a group of lighting units. In a third step 102, the lighting addresses are linked to product (assignments). This means that there is now a clear assignment between the lighting addresses and the products. Since the lighting addresses are clearly assigned to the respective lights or groups of lights, and the positions of the lights or groups of lights are fixed, the assignment thus corresponds to an assignment of the products to their locations.

[0054] In a fourth step 103, the product assignment is displayed via a user interface. This allows a user to view the products available on a particular shelf. In a fifth step 104, the user selects a product and thus selects the lighting unit or group of lighting units based on the link between the product assignment and the luminaire addressing. In a sixth step 105, the selected lighting unit or group of lighting units is controlled, thus visually highlighting the corresponding product on the shelf.

[0055] Regarding the detailed function, please refer to the explanations on Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0056] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. As already indicated, the lighting system can extend across multiple shelves. Even an entire store can be encompassed by the lighting system. A separate control unit is not necessary for each shelf. Rather, control units can be arranged at a variety of locations. In addition to LED modules, various types of lighting units can also be used. All features described above or shown in the figures can be advantageously combined with one another as desired within the scope of the invention.

Claims

[1] Lighting system (10), in particular shelf lighting system, for locating products (40, 41, 42), comprising: - at least two lighting units (24-31), wherein each lighting unit (24-31) or a defined group of lighting units (24-31) is assigned to a different spatial area, in particular a shelf area, - a control unit (51) for controlling the lighting units (24-31), wherein each lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) is assigned a different lighting address, wherein the lighting address is linked in each case to a product assignment which is uniquely assigned to a product (40, 41, 42) provided in the assigned spatial area, and - a user interface (54) for displaying the product assignment and selecting the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled via the displayed product assignment, wherein the user interface (54) has a mobile operating unit (13), and wherein the mobile operating unit (51) is designed to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled via the displayed product assignment, wherein the control unit (51) is designed to transmit information by means of modulated light signals of the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), wherein the mobile operating unit (13) is designed to receive the modulated light signals and to recover the information contained therein. [2] Lighting system (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the mobile control unit (13) is a mobile phone or tablet. [3] Lighting system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the user interface (54) has a stationary operating unit (50), and that the stationary operating unit (50) is designed to display the product assignment and to select the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled via the displayed product assignment. [4] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the control unit (51) is designed to control, upon selection of a product by means of the user interface (54), the lighting unit (24-31) assigned according to the product assignment and lighting addressing or the defined group of lighting units (24-31) so that it lights up for a predetermined period of time with an intensity and / or a flashing pattern and / or in a color and / or with a change in intensity and / or with a change in color. [5] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the user interface (54) is designed to process simultaneously or sequentially a selection of a first product (40, 41, 42) by a first user and a selection of a second product (40, 41, 42) by a second user, etc., that the control unit (51) is preferably designed for this purpose, - to control the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) assigned to the first product (40, 41, 42) according to the product assignment and lighting addressing in such a way that it lights up with a first intensity and / or a first flashing pattern and / or in a first color and / or with a first intensity change and / or with a first color change for a first predetermined period of time, and - to control the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) assigned to the second product (40, 41, 42) according to the product assignment and lighting addressing such that it lights up with a second intensity and / or a second flashing pattern and / or in a second color and / or with a second intensity change and / or with a second color change for a second predetermined period of time, such that the first color and the second color are different, and / or that the first intensity and the second intensity are different, and / or that the first flashing pattern and the second flashing pattern are different, and / or that the first intensity change and the second intensity change are different, and / or that the first color change and the second color change are different, and / or that the first and second and possibly further predetermined periods may overlap or run consecutively. [6] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the lighting system (10) has at least one electronic label (14-21) which is attached in a line of sight to at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), that the electronic label (14-21) is designed to receive light signals modulated by the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), that the electronic label (14-21) is designed to recover the information based on the modulated light signals of the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), and that the electronic label (14-21) is designed to display the information. [7] Lighting system (10) according to claim 6, characterized by that the electronic label (14-21) has a solar cell which is designed to receive light emitted by the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) and to convert it into electrical current, wherein the electronic label (14-21) preferably has no further external energy source. [8] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the mobile operating unit (13) is designed to determine on the basis of the information whether the mobile operating unit (13) has reached a product of a selected product assignment, that the mobile operating unit (13) is designed to indicate that the mobile operating unit (13) has reached the selected product and / or to transmit to the control unit (51) that the mobile operating unit (13) has reached the selected product, and that the control unit (51) is designed to terminate control of the lighting unit (24-31) to be controlled or defined group of lighting units (24-31) when the mobile operating unit (13) reports that it has reached the selected product. [9] Lighting system (10) according to claim 7 or 8 characterized by that the mobile operating unit (51) is designed to determine a direction and / or position of the selected product on the basis of the received information and to display a route guidance to the selected product. [10] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the lighting system (10) has at least one sensor which is designed to determine whether a user has reached a spatial area of ​​a product of a selected product assignment and to report this to the control unit (51), that the control unit (51) is designed to terminate control of the lighting unit (24-31) to be controlled or defined group of lighting units (24-31) when the sensor reports that the user has reached the spatial area. [11] Lighting system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the control device is designed to carry out the product assignment based - on a manual user input via the user interface, and / or - on a reading of a barcode affixed to the product and / or a barcode affixed to the lighting system, and / or - by reading an RFID transponder attached to the product and / or an RFID transponder attached to the lighting system. [12] Method for providing a lighting system (10), in particular a shelf lighting system (10), for locating products, comprising the steps: - Providing (100) at least two lighting units (24-31), wherein in each case one lighting unit (24-31) or a defined group of lighting units (24-31) is assigned to a different spatial area, in particular a shelf area, - Assigning (101) a luminaire address to each luminaire unit (24-31) or defined group of luminaire units (24-31) in a control unit (51) for controlling the luminaire units (24-31), - linking (102) the luminaire addressing with a product assignment which is uniquely assigned to a product provided in the assigned spatial area, and - display (103) of the product assignment via a user interface (54), wherein the user interface (54) has a mobile operating unit (13), and wherein the mobile operating unit (13) displays the product assignment, wherein the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled is selected by means of the mobile control unit (13) via the displayed product assignment, wherein information is transmitted by means of modulated light signals by means of the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), wherein the mobile control unit (13) receives the modulated light signals and recovers the information contained therein. [13] Method according to claim 12, characterized by that the mobile control unit (13) is a mobile phone or tablet. [14] A method for finding a product, wherein the method, in addition to the method steps according to claim 12 or 13, further comprises the following steps: - Selection (104) of a lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) via the displayed product assignment, and - Control (105) of the selected lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) by means of the control unit (51). [15] Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by , that the user interface (54) has a stationary operating unit (50), and that the stationary operating unit (50) displays the product assignment, that the lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) to be controlled is selected via the displayed product assignment by means of the stationary control unit (50). [16] Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by that when a product (40, 41, 42) is selected by means of the user interface (54), the lighting unit (24-31) or group of lighting units (24-31) assigned according to the product assignment and lighting addressing is controlled so that it lights up for a predetermined period of time with an intensity and / or a flashing pattern and / or in a color and / or with a change in intensity and / or with a change in color. [17] Method according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized bythat by means of the user interface (54) a selection of a first product (40, 41, 42) by a first user and a selection of a second product (40, 41, 42) by a second user, etc., is carried out simultaneously or successively, wherein this is preferably carried out by the lighting unit (24-31) or group of lighting units (24-31) assigned to the first product (40, 41, 42) according to the product assignment and lighting addressing is controlled in such a way that it lights up with a first intensity and / or a first flashing pattern and / or in a first color and / or with a first intensity change and / or with a first color change for a first predetermined period of time, and the lighting unit (24-31) or group of lighting units (24-31) assigned to the second product (40, 41, 42) according to the product assignment and lighting addressing is controlled so that it lights up with a second intensity and / or a second flashing pattern and / or in a second color and / or with a second intensity change and / or with a second color change for a second predetermined period of time, the first color and the second color are different, and / or the first intensity and the second intensity are different, and / or the first flashing pattern and the second flashing pattern are different, and / or the first intensity change and the second intensity change are different, and / or the first color change and the second color change are different, and / or the first and second and possibly further predetermined periods may overlap or run consecutively. [18] Method according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized by that modulated light signals emitted by the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) are received by an electronic label (14-21) which is attached in a line of sight to at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31), and that the electronic label (14-21) recovers the information based on the modulated light signals of the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or group of lighting units (24-31), and that the electronic label (14-21) displays the information. [19] Method according to claim 18, characterized by , that the electronic label (14-21) receives light emitted by the at least one lighting unit (24-31) or defined group of lighting units (24-31) by means of a solar cell and converts it into electrical current, and that the electronic label (14-21) preferably has no further external energy source. [20] Method according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterized by , that the mobile operating unit (13) determines on the basis of the information whether the mobile operating unit (13) has reached a product of a selected product assignment, that the mobile operating unit (13) indicates that the mobile operating unit (13) has reached the selected product and / or transmits to the control unit (51) that the mobile operating unit (13) has reached the selected product, and that the control unit (51) terminates control of the lighting unit (24-31) to be controlled or defined group of lighting units (24-31) when the mobile control unit (13) reports that it has reached the selected product. [21] Method according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterized bythat the mobile operating unit (51) determines a direction and / or position of the selected product based on the received information and displays a route guidance to the selected product. [22] Method according to one of claims 12 to 21, characterized by which will determine by means of a sensor of the lighting system (10) whether a user has reached a spatial area of ​​a product of a selected product assignment, and that this is reported to the control unit (51), that the control unit (51) ends a control of the lighting unit (24-31) to be controlled or defined group of lighting units (24-31) when the sensor reports that the user has reached the spatial area. [23] Method according to one of claims 12 to 22, characterized by that the control device assigns the product based - on a manual user input via the user interface, and / or - on a reading of a barcode affixed to the product and / or a barcode affixed to the lighting system, and / or - by reading an RFID transponder attached to the product and / or an RFID transponder attached to the lighting system.

Images