METHOD FOR LOCATING AN ELECTRONIC SHELF LABEL

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for locating an electronic shelf label. Background.

[0002] Such a method is known from the international patent application with publication number WO2015 / 172822A1. In this method, an unknown shelf label display is located in a group of electronic shelf labels, which are implemented as electronic shelf label displays (ESLs) in technical jargon and are wirelessly assigned (through initial registration) to a single access point. A group of known shelf label displays is used to locate an unknown shelf label display. The location of the unknown shelf label display is determined exclusively by evaluating a location signal generated, transmitted, and received within the group of shelf label displays. The known shelf label displays form the reference system in which the unknown shelf label display is searched for.

[0003] This method is very powerful. However, the quality of the positioning result ultimately perceived by the system user depends on the constraint that the position of the known shelf label displays in the room must not change. A situation deviating from this constraint would occur, for example, if an entire shelf, including the shelf label displays installed on it, were to be moved from one location to another (new) location in a store, with the new location still being within the radio range of the access point to which the affected (moved) shelf label displays are radio-technically assigned. If the new locations of the affected shelf label displays were not subsequently manually corrected in the store's electronic ESL management system, the positioning results obtained with their help would be essentially useless or misleading.

[0004] The invention has for its object to provide an improved method for locating an electronic shelf label in an ESL system, in which the above-mentioned problems are overcome. Summary of the invention

[0005] This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. The subject matter of the invention is thus a method for locating an unknown electronic shelf label, in particular implemented as an electronic shelf label display, of an electronic shelf label system, wherein the system comprises a number of known access points that are positioned at different positions, each at a distance from a shelf, wherein the shelf has at least one shelf rail and wherein one of the shelf rails has at least one electronic shelf label that is designed to be contactlessly supplied with energy, and an electronic supply device located on the shelf rail that is designed to contactlessly supply energy to the at least one shelf label, wherein the method comprises the following method steps:namely, determining the position of the electronic supply device with respect to the known access points by using ultra-wideband radio communication between the access points and the supply device.

[0006] The measures according to the invention have the advantage that, in contrast to known measures, the location determination for one or more shelf labels is no longer dependent on the absolute position of other shelf labels being known, which in these known measures serve as static anchor points for position determination. Instead, dynamic anchor points implemented by the supply devices are now used. These can change their position in the room over time, for example due to the shelf being rearranged or the shelf bases to which the shelf rails are attached being rearranged. Therefore, before a location is determined for a shelf label, a location determination for the supply device is first carried out and, based on this, i.e. based on this position of the supply device, the position of a shelf label is determined or narrowed down.In this case, the fact that the shelf label whose position is to be determined or narrowed down is located on the shelf rail on which the respective supply device is provided or located ultimately comes into play. As soon as the respective position of the supply device has been determined, the position of the shelf label supplied with the help of the respective supply device is de facto determined automatically, because it can only be positioned on the respective shelf rail. Since several shelf rails are usually installed next to each other and / or one above the other on a shelf and the dimensions (lengths) of the shelf rails (e.g.a server of the store) as well as the location at which the supply device is mounted on the shelf rail are known, the orientation of the shelf and thus also the orientation of the shelf rails can be determined automatically (e.g. with the help of the mentioned server) by determining the position of the plurality of supply devices installed on the shelf and thus actually limit the position of the respective shelf label to a spatial area in which the respective shelf rail is located.

[0007] Focusing on the location of individual supply devices has also proven very efficient, because a single supply device can supply a relatively large number of shelf labels, e.g., up to 10, 20, or even significantly more. This allows for the simplest way to narrow down the location of the multitude of affected shelf labels, as previously discussed, which significantly accelerates the current location process compared to other methods that rely on individual communication between the affected shelf label and the access points.

[0008] Ultra-wideband radio communication is a radio communication based on ultra-wideband technology (UWB; engl.: Ultra-wideband). The most important feature is the use of extremely large frequency ranges with a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz or at least 20% of the arithmetic mean of the lower and upper limit frequencies of the used frequency range.

[0009] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description. Features of one claim category can be further developed according to the features of the other claim category, so that the effects and advantages cited in connection with one claim category also apply to the other claim categories.

[0010] Such an electronic shelf label can provide a wide variety of functionalities or fulfill a variety of functions. The shelf label can, for example, be configured or designed to record environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, or as an input element for receiving input interaction from a user (e.g., capturing a fingerprint or keystroke), or as a display medium for presenting information to the user, namely as a shelf label display. In each case, the shelf label is designed such that it can be attached to the shelf rail in question and is supplied with power there in the manner described in detail below.

[0011] This method is based on determining the position of the electronic supply device by determining the distance between it and each of the involved access points using the respective ultra-wideband radio communication. This involves a "flight-of-time" measurement and, if necessary, an "angle-of-arrival" determination. This allows for a very precise determination of the location of the respective supply device through subsequent measures such as triangulation.

[0012] After the location of the supply device has been determined, the at least one electronic shelf label installed on the shelf is identified during its power supply.

[0013] The power supply activates the shelf label's electronics, making it ready for use with its full functionality. Then, while the shelf label is powered, it is identified by querying its unique identifier. This query is also performed by the power supply device. The identifier thus determined is made available to the power supply device for retrieval or forwarded for further processing via further communication (wired or wireless).

[0014] The contactless energy transfer is achieved by using at least one first conductor loop formed on the shelf rail. This first conductor loop is connected to the supply device via its two loop terminals and serves for inductive coupling with a spatially corresponding (located in its vicinity) second conductor loop of the shelf label. If the conductor loop extends along the entire length of the shelf rail, all shelf labels positioned along the shelf rail can be identified, thus establishing that all of these identified shelf labels are positioned near the position of the supply device and, in any case, along the shelf rail.The shelf labels can be programmed to transmit their ID at randomly selected times within a time window (single or multiple times) to ensure individual reception at the supply facility. An anti-collision procedure, such as that used in RFID technology, can also be used for this contactless transmission to ensure individual reception at the supply facility.

[0015] However, to determine the position of a shelf label along the shelf rail (more accurately / precisely), it is preferable to use multiple first conductor loops positioned at different locations along the shelf rail. These loops allow for spatial resolution along the shelf rail, i.e., along its longitudinal extension. The accuracy of the location determination depends on the number and length of the zones covered by the individual first conductor loops.

[0016] The supply device uses the individual first conductor loops to provide a localized, individual power supply at the location of the respective first conductor loop, provided a shelf label is positioned there. Since the supply device knows how many first conductor loops are attached to its shelf rail and in what order and / or at what distances (measured from its own position or measured relative to one conductor loop to the next) these loops occur along the shelf rail, the position of each shelf label that can be activated or identified by the power supply can be determined along the shelf rail.

[0017] The contactless energy supply to be carried out with the aid of the supply device can be based on a proprietary technical solution or on a standardized technology such as RFID technology. However, an NFC interface is particularly preferably used on both the shelf label side and the supply device side for contactless energy supply, in particular also for identification. In this context, the first conductor loop formed on the shelf rail forms a component of the NFC interface of the supply device. The same also applies in the case of several such first conductor loops, wherein the supply device is preferably designed for individual use of the respective first conductor loop, for example in order to use the first conductor loops sequentially one after the other.The supply device is preferably designed for selective (or sequential) switching (multiplexing) between the first conductor loops, so that only one individual first conductor loop is used at a time. Such switching can be implemented, for example, using an "analog switch," known in the field of electronics.

[0018] RFID stands for "Radio Frequency Identification." The technology is specified, for example, in the ISO / IEC 18000 standard.

[0019] NFC stands for "Near Field Communication." The technology is specified in standards such as ISO / IEC 13157, 16353, 22536, 28361, and others.

[0020] By utilizing the NFC interface discussed above, not only can the position of an electronic shelf label be determined, but also the image content to be displayed using this shelf label (implemented as a shelf label display) can be defined, i.e., transmitted to the electronics of the shelf label. This preferably occurs during the period in which the shelf label is supplied with energy, i.e., its electronics are active, with corresponding command and / or image content data being transmitted to the shelf label. In order to display static image information using the display unit even during a period without energy supply, in which the electronics of the shelf label are inactive, the shelf label display has an energy-saving display unit, in particular based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology, etc. These terms essentially represent the principle of an electrophoretic display, in which, for example,Positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles are contained in a transparent, viscous polymer. By briefly applying a voltage to electrodes between which the medium of particles and polymer is arranged, either the black particles are placed in front of the white particles in the viewing direction, or vice versa. This arrangement then remains unchanged for a relatively long time (e.g., several weeks) without further energy input. By segmenting the display accordingly, letters, numbers, or images with relatively high resolution can be realized to display the information in question. However, such a reflective screen can also be realized using other technologies, known, for example, under the terms "electrowetting" or "MEMS." The screen can, for example, be designed for black-and-white, grayscale, black-white-red, or even black-white-yellow reproduction, as mentioned above.Future developments that enable full-color or multi-color display are also to be included. Such a screen is generally a reflective, i.e., passive, non-self-illuminating screen, in which the relatively static information display is based on the light generated by an external (artificial or natural) light source shining onto the screen and being reflected from there to the viewer.

[0021] The shelf label or its display unit is supplied with both power and data via the NFC interface. This means that while the power supply is being applied, data can also be transmitted via the NFC interface, which is then processed by the display unit to change the image content on its screen. Once the image content has been changed, the display unit can also transmit corresponding status information via the NFC interface, indicating that the image content has been successfully changed. Once the image content has been changed, and if necessary also after the status information has been transmitted, the power supply via the NFC interface can be terminated, after which the image content on the screen remains unchanged until the next desired change.

[0022] The use of the aforementioned technologies primarily allows the implementation of shelf labels without their own power supply, such as a battery or accumulator, both of which are relatively expensive. Furthermore, a conventional shelf label must be designed so that these energy storage devices are replaceable for maintenance or replacement of the battery or accumulator. If necessary, the shelf label in question only uses a capacitor for short-term, temporary smoothing or stabilization of the internal supply voltage. The shelf label is thus designed such that its electronics for communication or updating the screen content, in particular its electronic control system, are only active when powered by the external electronic supply device.The housing can be completely and permanently encapsulated because replacement of the energy storage device is no longer necessary, so that it can only be opened for recycling purposes (e.g. with special tools).

[0023] This makes it possible to create a shelf label that is reduced to a few, absolutely necessary electronic components and is therefore extremely inexpensive. This extremely reduced shelf label only has basic functionality, such as standardized NFC communication with a standardized power supply during NFC communication. These tasks can be implemented using a simple NFC controller. Updates to the screen of the energy-saving display unit and the associated status report are not handled directly by the shelf label via wireless communication with an access point, as is the case with conventional systems, but rather by the intermediate power supply device, which in turn can communicate with the access point via a suitable (and essentially freely selectable) wireless communication method.

[0024] For radio communication with the access point, a time slot communication method can be used, in particular a proprietary time slot communication method as known from WO2015 / 124197, pages 2 to 4.

[0025] For wireless communication, a communication protocol based on the standards or specifications ZigBee, Bluetooth or WiFi, etc. can also be used.

[0026] Accordingly, both the access point and the supply device can be provided with at least one additional radio module that provides one of the aforementioned radio technologies, in addition to a radio module that provides UWB radio capability. Each of the separate radio modules can have its own antenna configuration, consisting of a single antenna or a number of individual antennas, and contain associated electronics. This enables the use of UWB radio communication exclusively for location determination, while simultaneously allowing communication via the additional radio module to control the shelf label via the supply device.

[0027] In order to ultimately arrive at an absolute location of the supply facility in the premises of a business, such as a supermarket, position-relevant results of the ultra-wideband radio communication are transmitted either by cable or radio from the supply facility or from the access point involved to a data processing device for determining the location of the supply facility(ies).These position-relevant results can be the determined distances between the communication partners (supply device and access point) or the signal propagation times during communication between the communication partners, from which the position of the respective supply device in relation to the access points is then determined. From this, the absolute position of the respective supply device can then be determined based on the knowledge of the exact position of the access points involved, which is all the more accurate the more access points are involved.

[0028] Furthermore, the identity of a shelf label identified by the power supply device during its power supply is communicated to said data processing device, and the location of the respective shelf label relative to the previously determined location of the respective power supply device is at least narrowed down at the data processing device. As mentioned, for example, the dimensions (longitudinal extension) of the respective shelf rails can be taken into account, which ultimately defines the permissible limits for the distance between an identified shelf label and the power supply device supplying this shelf label on the respective shelf rail.

[0029] However, the positionally variable, i.e. dynamic, anchor points in the form of supply devices can also be used for other purposes in a store. According to a further aspect, the position of a movable object can be at least localized by ultra-wideband radio communication between it and at least one of the supply devices. This movable object can be, for example, a shopping cart, a shopping basket, or even a customer's smartphone, etc. All of these objects can be equipped with an ultra-wideband radio system. This measure can be used to determine whether the movable object, ultimately the user of the object, is in front of a shelf, and in particular, which shelf it is in front of.

[0030] By repeatedly narrowing down the position of the moving object, the object's trajectory can be determined. This measure can be used to predict the time a user will arrive at a specific shelf or shelf rail, or to predict the length of time a user will stay in front of a shelf or shelf rail.

[0031] In this context, it has also proven particularly advantageous if information corresponding to the position of the item is displayed either on a screen of the item or on a shelf label positioned nearby, i.e., on its display unit. This enables location- or behavior-specific provision of information to the user or customer. This functionality can be triggered, for example, when the item passes a threshold distance from the supply facility or is located for longer than a predefined period of time within a zone defined by the distance to a single shelf label display or the distances to a number of such supply facilities.

[0032] In summary, the invention enables a two-stage localization of electronic shelf labels. In a first step, the position of one or more supply devices is determined, and in a second step, the position of a shelf label is narrowed down within the context of a power supply by the supply device. However, the two method steps can also occur in reverse order. It is irrelevant whether the supply device always rests in the same place or not, because its relative position with respect to access points installed at fixed positions can be repeatedly and, above all, relatively quickly determined or updated using the ultra-broadband radio communication used.The multitude of supply devices in a business premises therefore implement dynamically changeable anchor points with regard to their own position for locating the shelf labels assigned to them (which are to be supplied with energy by them).

[0033] In summary, the supply device for the respective shelf rail implements a combined power and communication supply device for the shelf labels attached to the respective shelf rail. The supply device is thus configured or designed for local contactless power transmission as well as local contactless communication with the shelf labels attached to the shelf rail. Such a supply device can also be referred to as a shelf rail control device or shelf rail controller because it controls all activities of the shelf labels mounted on the respective shelf rail, which includes the display behavior or other functionalities mentioned above, the communication behavior, as well as the respective power supply.

[0034] The electronics of the system's various devices, including their interfaces, etc., can be implemented using a wide variety of passive and active electronic components, both discretely and integratedly. A microprocessor with appropriate peripheral components or a microcontroller is preferably used, with software running to provide the various functionalities. So-called ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) can also be used.

[0035] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from the figures discussed below. Short character description

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments, to which, however, the invention is not limited. In the various figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals. They show schematically: Fig. 1 shows an electronic shelf label system according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a shelf label display; Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an "intelligent" shelf rail with a supply device; Fig. 4 shows the shelf rail in front view; Figs. 5A - 5B show an arrangement of such shelf rails changing over time; Fig. 6 shows a circuit board of the "intelligent" shelf rail; Fig. 7 shows the circuit board according to the Fig. 6 integrated into the shelf rail; Fig. 8: the "intelligent" shelf rail with direct integration of a conductor loop. Description of the embodiments

[0037] In the Figure 1A portion of a shelf label system 1 in a retail store is shown, comprising a number of identically configured, NFC-enabled, electronic shelf label displays 2, which are attached to four "smart" shelf rails 3 positioned side by side (in a row along the width of a shelf 9), with the shelf rails 3 being seen essentially in a frontal view. Each shelf rail 3 has an electronic supply device 4 for the contactless power supply of the shelf label displays 2 and for contactless communication with a powered shelf label display 2, which is implemented using NFC technology.Also shown is a data processing device which is implemented with the aid of a server 5 which is connected by cable to four identically designed access points 6, wherein the access points 6 are positioned at different locations in a business premises and the server 5 knows these locations.

[0038] The illustrated supply devices 4 are in radio contact with the, for example, leftmost access point 6, to which they are logically assigned, via first radio signals F1. This allows the server 5 to change the image content of the shelf label displays 2 throughout the entire store and, if necessary, to query associated status information from the shelf label displays 2 and transmit it to the server 5.

[0039] The shelf label display 2 of other shelves 9 not shown here can also be grouped and logically assigned to the other access points 6 shown, so that each access point 6 provides a subset of the totality of the shelf label displays 2 of the store with radio technology.

[0040] Each access point 6 has two radio modules 6A and 6B, both of which are only separated from each other by a dividing line and are schematically indicated in the respective access point 6.

[0041] The first radio module 6A communicates via the first radio signal F1 and is used to define the image content. It uses ultra-wideband radio technology (known in technical jargon as UWB technology, where UWB stands for "ultra wide band"), and its electronics and antenna configuration (neither shown in detail) are designed to implement this technology.

[0042] The second radio module 6B is designed as a power transmitter and selectively supplies the power supply devices 4 with energy by transmitting directed second radio signals F2. For this purpose, the second radio module 6B has, in addition to its electronics, a number of antennas, with the aid of which the direction of energy transmission (ultimately the propagation of the second radio signal F2, which is transmitted at, for example, 5 watts) can be adjusted relatively precisely, so that the energy to be transmitted arrives precisely at a selected power supply device 4. This energy transmission technology is known under the term "Power over WiFi," and the electronics and antenna configuration of the second radio module 6B are designed accordingly.

[0043] The "Power over WiFi" functionality, i.e. the second radio module 6B, can be integrated into the access point 6 or implemented as a separate module / separate device that is, for example, linked to the first radio module 6A for control purposes.

[0044] Each of the shelf rails 3 is mounted on an individual shelf 8 at its front edge. The four illustrated shelves 8 all belong to the shelf 9, which is only indicated schematically. Various products can be presented on the shelves 8, although these are not shown in this case.

[0045] In the visualization of the Figure 1 the reference numerals 2 and 4 are entered only for the uppermost shelf rail configuration, which shows four shelf rails 3, and have been largely omitted in the three underlying configurations of the shelf rails 3 for reasons of simplified representation.

[0046] Furthermore, the Figure 1a shopping cart 7 being moved to the left past the shelf 9. The shopping cart 7 has a mobile radio unit 21 configured for ultra-wideband radio communication. The radio unit 21 has, for example, battery-operated radio electronics and an associated antenna configuration (neither shown) and establishes a UWB radio connection to the supply devices 4 within its range using the first radio signals F1, on the basis of which the supply devices 4 can determine the distance to the radio unit 21.

[0047] In normal operation, which is referred to as the normal mode of system 1, all shelf label displays 2 are, as mentioned, wirelessly assigned to the leftmost access point 6 and the changing of the image content is controlled with the aid of the first radio signals F1 via this leftmost access point 6.

[0048] The situation is different, however, when the shelf label displays 2 are being searched for. In this case, referred to as the location mode of system 1, several access points 6 are used, in this case all four. During communication with, for example, the supply device 4 installed at the top left, the distance between the respective supply device 4 and the respective access point 6 is determined using the first radio signals F1, which each of the access points 6 then exchanges with the supply device 4 in succession in a UWB radio communication. The distances thus determined are transmitted to the server 5 via a wired network (LAN), and the server 5 determines the spatial position of the respective supply device 4, knowing the absolute positions of the four access points 6.

[0049] Below is the Figure 2 a block diagram of the shelf label display 2 is discussed.

[0050] The block diagram according to the Figure 2 shows a first NFC interface 11 with its coupling coil 12, where NFC stands for "Near Field Communication." Using the coupling coil 12, an inductive coupling can be established with another NFC-enabled device, in this case the supply device 4, specifically with the conductor loops L1 to L5 formed on the shelf rail 3 (see Fig. 3) when the coupling coil 12 is brought correspondingly close to one of the conductor loops L1 - L5, which is the case with the shelf label display 2 attached to the shelf rail 3. During the inductive coupling, a first supply voltage VCC1 is generated with the aid of the first NFC interface 11 relative to a first reference potential GND1 for the operation of the entire shelf label display 2, which activates the electronics of the shelf label display 2 so that contactless bidirectional communication of data D can also be carried out via its first NFC interface 11. Also included in this electronics is an NFC controller, which provides the entire NFC functionality but is not shown in detail here, but is integrated into the first NFC interface 11.

[0051] The block diagram also shows a display unit 13 connected to the first NFC interface 11, which is divided into a screen controller implemented as an electronic paper display controller 14 and a connected and thus controllable screen implemented as an electronic paper display screen 15. With the help of the controller 14, the received data D is interpreted, if necessary, the image content of the screen 15 is changed accordingly, or status information in the form of data D is transmitted to the supply device 4 via the NFC interface 11.

[0052] The following is a block diagram of the shelf rail 3 according to the Figure 1 , in particular the supply facility 4, based on the Figure 3 discussed.

[0053] The Figure 3The supply device 4 shown is designed both for its own contactless power supply and for the contactless power supply of the shelf label displays 2. For its own power supply, it has a supply receiver 23 suitable for receiving the second radio signal F2, which is equipped with an antenna configuration 24 (which may have multiple antennas) and electronics designed to receive the second radio signal F2 and to store the energy transmitted thereby in an internal electrical energy storage device 25 (rechargeable battery, accumulator) and to generate the second supply voltage VCC2 relative to a second reference potential GND2.

[0054] During operation, the supply device 4 can, for example, query or monitor the charge level of the energy storage device 25 with the aid of its control unit 20. As soon as the charge level drops below a certain level, the control unit 20 can request a (re)charge using the first radio signal F1. This request is received by the access point 6 to which the supply device 4 is logically (radio-technically) assigned. Since the exact geographical position (the three-dimensional coordinates) of each of the supply devices 4 as well as their unique identifier are known in system 1 (e.g., the server 5), because the position was previously determined, for example, using the location mode, the affected access point 6 can transmit the second radio signal F2 precisely directed towards the position of the respective supply device 4 requesting charging.There, the second radio signal F2 is received and the energy transmitted with its help is used to charge the internal energy storage device 25 there.

[0055] In the visualization of the Figure 3 A printed circuit board 17 is also shown, the illustration of which in the Figure 1 has been omitted for reasons of clarity. The printed circuit board 17 carries five conductor loops L1 to L5, which in this case are designed with multiple loops or windings, each of which is indicated by the symbol of an electrical coil. The printed circuit board 17 is integrated into the relatively flat structure of the shelf rail 3. The supply device 4 can be soldered to this printed circuit board 17 or connected via cables or connectors, so that the conductor loops L1 to L5 are electrically contacted via their loop connections C1 to C5.

[0056] Corresponding to the position of the respective conductor loop L1 to L5, the shelf label display 2 positioned there is also indicated. The electrical connection of the loop connections C1 to C5 to the supply device 4, but in particular to the electronics of its (second) NFC interface 18, is also specifically shown here. The second NFC interface 18 is designed, in the presence of an inductive coupling with the first NFC interface 11 of the shelf label display 2, for the contactless transmission of electrical energy to the shelf label display 2 and for the bidirectional contactless communication of data with the shelf label display 2 activated by energy transfer. The conductor loops L1 to L5 are multiplexed using the specially designed NFC interface 18, so that only one of the conductor loops L1 to L5 is used at a time.An "analog switch" known in electronics can be used for this purpose.

[0057] The supply device 4 further comprises an access point communication interface 19, which is used for radio-based communication with the Figure 1 The access point 6 shown is configured as follows. It has an antenna configuration 19A, which can also be constructed from several individual antennas, and electronics with which the first radio signals F1 can be received or transmitted. In particular, the access point communication interface 19 is configured for ultra-wideband radio communication.

[0058] The control unit 20 is used to control the internal processes as well as the power supply of the shelf label display 2 and the communication with the shelf label display 2, as well as the communication with the access point 6. It is implemented using a microcontroller that is connected to the second NFC interface 18 and the access point communication interface 19 as well as the power receiver 23 via a bidirectional data bus.

[0059] In the Figure 4, the shelf rail 3 shown at the top left of shelf 9 is shown in a more detailed view. Of the circuit board 17, which carries the conductor loops L1 to L5, only its left edge is visible in order not to overload the visualization. In this visualization, only the first loop connections C1 are shown connected to the supply device 4. However, the same applies analogously to the remaining four loop connections C1 to C5, whose direct connection to the supply device 4 has been omitted for reasons of clarity. Furthermore, it is symbolically shown that each of the shelf label displays 2 contains uniquely identifying identification data 16A to 16E, which are stored permanently and unalterably in an internal memory.

[0060] Having already discussed the measures used to determine the position of the supply device 4 (e.g. located at the very top left of shelf 9), the location of the five shelf label displays 2 attached to this shelf rail 3 is explained here. In the previously mentioned location mode, the supply device 4 now sequentially activates the five shelf label displays 2. For this purpose, an inductive coupling is first established via the two NFC interfaces 11 and 18 with the (very right) shelf label display 2 positioned there with the aid of the rightmost conductor loop L1, and energy is transferred to it so that the electronics of the shelf label display 2 are activated. The unique first identification data 16A is then retrieved with the aid of the coupled NFC interfaces 11 and 18 and stored in the supply device 4.The power supply, i.e. the coupling, is then terminated, and the shelf label display 2 is deactivated. This process is now processed step by step for each of the other conductor loops L2 to L5 until all unique identification data 16A to 16E are available at the supply device 4. The unique identification data 16A - 16E determined in this way are then transmitted via the access point communication interface 19 to the access point 6 responsible for the respective supply device 4, which in the present case is the access point 6 shown in the . Figure 1access point 6 shown on the far left. From there, these identification data 16A to 16E are forwarded to the server 5, which has already determined the absolute position of the supply device 4 located on the top left and which is also informed about the dimensions of the shelf rail 3 as well as the positions or coverage zones of the respective conductor loops L1 to L5 along the shelf rail 3. From this information, in particular from the relationship between the respective conductor loops L1 to L5 (e.g., the order in which they were used) and the identification data 16A to 16E obtained via the respective conductor loops L1 - L5, the server 5 now determines the respective shelf label display position 10A to 10E for each shelf label display 2 along the shelf rail 3, e.g., measured from a known reference position 16, e.g., the known position of the supply device 4, or from the right or left edge of the shelf rail 3.

[0061] As long as the orientation of the shelf rail 3 is unambiguous for the server 5 in the room, which can be determined, for example, by determining and thus also knowing some or all of the positions of the supply devices 4 of the shelf 9, the server 5 can also determine the unambiguous position of each of the shelf label displays 2 in the room.

[0062] Subsequently, with the help of the Figures 5A and 5B an application scenario for the method for locating the electronic shelf label displays 2 is described.

[0063] It is assumed that in the Figure 5A an initial configuration of shelves 9 and in the Figure 5B a final configuration of the shelves 9 is shown, where the two Figures 5A and 5Bare separated from each other by a dividing line. The shelves 9 shown are visualized from above, and two adjacent shelf rails 3 are shown for each shelf 9. The structure shown at the top left, consisting of shelf label displays 2 and supply device 4, is replicated across the two columns and four rows of the shelves 9, so that for reasons of clarity, the reference symbols have been limited to the upper left shelf rail 3. In the Figures 5A and 5B In addition, three access points 6 are visualized, which are installed on the ceiling of a shop in which the shelves 9 are set up, at positions between the shelves 9.

[0064] It should be noted that in the Figure 5A the two lower right shelf positions are not occupied by shelves 9. Starting from the initial configuration according to the Figure 5A were in transition to the final configuration according to the Figure 5Btwo of the shelves 9 according to the arrows 22A and 22B to the free shelf positions in the initial configuration.

[0065] To locate the shelf label displays 2, the location mode is activated and the positions of the individual supply devices 4 are first determined using UWB radio communication as discussed. For those supply devices 4 for which only a minor or no change in location occurs, the process is terminated at this point because it is assumed that the associated shelf rails 3 have not undergone any change in location.

[0066] For those supply devices 4 that are now installed on the shelves 9 whose position has been changed according to arrows 22A and 22B, i.e., for which a change in their position exceeding a threshold value has been detected, the shelf label displays 2 installed there are identified in a second step during their individual power supply, and the resulting identification data 16A to 16E are transmitted to the server 5 to determine the respective position of each shelf label display 2. System 1 then returns to normal mode.

[0067] The supply devices 4 located at their new positions now simply register wirelessly with the nearest access point 6, because they are already known and previously registered in system 1, and are available there as usual. Re-registration can also occur with the nearest access point 6.

[0068] At this point, however, it should be noted that the previously discussed termination of the process for those supply devices 4 that have not changed their position does not necessarily have to occur. The process can also be processed for these supply devices 4 as previously discussed, i.e., applied to all of the supply devices 4 and the shelf label displays 2 supplied by them, ultimately leading to a complete inventory of the shelf label displays 2. This can be useful if the entirety of the positions is to be determined intentionally or if it is being tested whether individual shelf label displays 2 have been removed from the involved shelves or the shelf rails 3 there (although they were not accommodated), or have been accommodated to other locations, or have been moved along the shelf rails 3, etc.

[0069] With the new positions thus determined, the digital three-dimensional map of the shelf label displays 2 is adapted to the now existing reality in the store with the help of the server 5 or an existing three-dimensional map is verified.

[0070] With the help of the access point communication interface 19, which is designed for ultra-wideband radio communication, the first radio signals F1 can also be used to track or identify moving objects, which, like the one in the Figure 1The shopping cart 7 shown moves past the shelf 9 or remains there. After detecting that such a shopping cart 7 is located in a predefined area in front of, for example, the second shelf rail 3 from the left of the lowest shelf levels, the supply device 4 installed there can be used to display specific information relating to the products presented there via the shelf label displays 2 attached to this shelf rail 3.

[0071] According to a further embodiment, the access point 6 can also be designed such that the first radio module 6A with its UWB technology is used only for distance determination and, in conjunction with other access points 6, for position determination. The second radio module 6B can be configured and used for energy transmission as discussed. In addition, a third radio module (not shown) can be implemented, which is designed for the communication of display contents, commands or status messages according to a proprietary time slot communication method mentioned, for example, in the general part of the description or a standardized communication method (ZigBee, Bluetooth, ...). Accordingly, the electronic supply device 4 also has, instead of the Figure 3 In addition to the two radio interfaces 19, 23 shown, there is an additional radio interface for communication with the third radio module of the access point 6.

[0072] The following describes the implementation of the circuit board 17 and the shelf rail 3.

[0073] In the Figure 6, such a circuit board 17 is shown as an example, which has conductor tracks on both sides. For reasons of clarity, only three of the five conductor loops L1 - L5 are shown. On the front side, the large-area conductor loops L1, L2 and L5 can be seen. On the back side, the closely spaced conductor tracks LB2 - LB5 of the respective loop connections C2 and C5 can be seen, which run along the length of the circuit board 17. The loop connections C1 run on the front side. The loop connections C1 - C5 are all connected to the supply device 4. Where the loop connections C2 and C5 end at the conductor loops L2 and L5, there are vias DK2 and DK5 from the front to the back, so that the conductor loops L2 and L5 are electrically connected to their loop connections C2 and C5.The same applies analogously to the non-visualized conductor loops L3 and L4, their loop terminals C3 and C4, their conductor tracks LB3 and LB4, and the two through-holes DK3 and DK4. The power supply device 4 indicated on circuit board 17 can, for example, be mounted on the back of circuit board 17. The electronic components of its electronics can also be soldered directly onto circuit board 17.

[0074] The Figure 7shows finally a possibility of mechanically integrating the circuit board 17 into the shelf rail 3. The circuit board 17 forms part of the wall of a receiving shaft which serves to accommodate a number of shelf label displays 2. At the point where the circuit board 17 is to be attached, the receiving shaft has a recess which corresponds to the thickness of the circuit board 17 and into which the circuit board 17 is inserted so that its front side runs essentially flush with the rest of the wall of the receiving shaft. On the front side of the shelf rail 3, an upper guide rail 26 is formed at its upper end and a lower guide rail 27 at its lower end. These guide rails 26 and 27 can be bent upwards and downwards far enough for the shelf label display 2 to snap into place. In addition, the shelf label display 2 can be moved unhindered along the shelf rail 3 and positioned completely freely.Placing the power supply unit 4 on the rear side of the circuit board 17 is advantageous if the shelf label displays 2 are to be freely movable along the front side of the shelf rail 3, as is possible in the present case. In this case, the recess of the receiving slot must be adjusted accordingly to accommodate the electronic components of the power supply unit 4.

[0075] The Figure 8shows a cross-sectional view of the shelf rail 3 with a conductor loop receptacle 28 on its rear side, wherein the conductor loop receptacle 28 is made directly from the material of the shelf rail 3 (i.e. from the plastic). The conductor loop receptacle 28 has a gap-shaped recess 29 into which a wire of the conductor loop L1 is permanently inserted. The gap-shaped recess 29 is flanked by two walls 30 which are dimensioned such that they create a snap mechanism that fixes the wire in its desired position. For this purpose, a band- or strip-shaped material 31 (band or strip of material) is inserted into the gap-shaped recess 29, which on the one hand presses the wire of the conductor loop L1 against the bottom of the recess 29 and on the other hand supports itself on a nose- or hook-like end of the outer wall 30 or engages there.

[0076] Regardless of how the conductor loop(s) L1 (to L5) are integrated into the shelf rail 3 or how the conductor loop(s) L1 (to L5) are fastened to the shelf rail 3, it has also proven particularly advantageous for the electronic supply device 4 to be integrated into the shelf rail or fastened to it. This makes it possible to create a shelf rail with an individual electronic power supply. The supply device 4 can, for example, also be formed directly on the circuit board 17 or connected to it as a module, or mechanically coupled to the shelf rail 3 as a module and electrically connected to the conductor loop L1 (to L5) of the shelf rail 3. This means that the shelf rail 3 can be transported as a whole, including its supply device 4, and can be easily put back into operation at another location.

[0077] Both in the Figure 7 as well as in the Figure 8The illustration of a fastening mechanism for the shelf rail 3, which allows the fastening of the shelf rail 3 to another structure, such as a shelf 8, has been omitted because this detail does not relate to the invention and can be implemented in a variety of ways accessible to the person skilled in the art.

[0078] Finally, it should be noted once again that the figures described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features may be present multiple times.

Claims

1. A method for locating an unlocalized electronic shelf label (2), particularly implemented as an electronic shelf label display, of an electronic shelf label system (1), wherein the system (1) comprises: - a number of localized access points (6) which are positioned at different locations, each at a distance from a shelf (9), + wherein the shelf (9) comprises at least one shelf rail (3) and wherein + one of the shelf rails (3) comprises at least one electronic shelf label (2), characterized in that + the at least one shelf label (2) is designed to be wirelessly powered and the shelf rail (3) further comprises an electronic supply unit (4) located on the shelf rail (3) and designed to wirelessly power the at least one shelf label (2), wherein the method comprises the following method steps, namely: - determining the position of the electronic supply unit (4) relative to the localized access points (6) using ultra-wideband radio communication between the access points (6) and the supply unit (4), - determining the position of the at least one shelf label (2) relative to the electronic supply unit (4) by means of an identification of the shelf label (2) via the electronic supply unit (4) during its power supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the position of the electronic supply unit (4) is based on distance measurements between it and each of the access points (6) involved using the respective ultra-wideband radio communication.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein identification of the at least one electronic shelf label (2) installed on the shelf (9) takes place during its power supply.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 3, wherein the shelf label (2) is identified during its power supply by querying its unique identifier (16A - 16E).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one first conductor loop (L1 - L5) formed on the shelf rail (3) is used for wireless energy transfer, which conductor loop is connected to the supply unit (4) via its two loop terminals (C1 - C5) and is used for inductive coupling with a locally corresponding second conductor loop (12) of the shelf label (2).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein multiple first conductor loops (L1 - L5) are positioned at different locations along the shelf rail (3) to determine the position of a shelf label (2) along the shelf rail (3).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein an individual power supply is provided by the supply unit (4) at the location of the respective first conductor loop (L1 - L5) when a shelf label (2) is positioned there.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an NFC interface (11, 18) is used on both the side of the shelf label (2) and the side of the supply unit (4) for wireless power supply, particularly also for identification.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic shelf label (2), implemented as a shelf label display, includes an energy-saving display unit (13), particularly based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology, enabling the display of static image information with the help of the display unit (13), even during a period without power supply.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein position-relevant results of the ultra-wideband communication are transmitted, either wired or wirelessly, from the supply unit (4) or the access point (6) involved to a data processing device (5) for determining the location of the supply unit (4).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the identity of a shelf label (2) identified by the supply unit (4) during its power supply is communicated to the aforementioned data processing device (5) and the location of the respective shelf label (2) is at least narrowed down relative to the location of the respective supply unit (4) by the data processing device (5).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of a movable object (7) is at least narrowed down using ultra-wideband radio communication between the object and at least one of the supply units (4).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the movement path of the object (7) is determined by repeatedly narrowing down the position of the movable object (7).

14. The method according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein information corresponding to the position of the object (7) is displayed either via a screen of the object (7) or via a shelf label (2) positioned nearby and implemented as a shelf label display.