Method for detecting an in particular positionally variable RFID tag

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting an in particular positionally variable RFID tag with the aid of detection devices positioned at different locations, the method comprising the following method steps: - automatically selecting a number of detection devices which is smaller than the total number of detection devices for receiving a tag radio signal emitted by the RFID tag and / or a product identification derived from the tag radio signal, wherein as a first criterion for automatic selection it is applied that, in relation to an in particular automatically determined device position of a device located at least temporarily in the vicinity of the RFID tag, at least one of the detection devices is positioned favourably with respect to at least one other detection device for receiving the tag radio signal and / or product identification.

Description

[0001] TP0513

[0002] title

[0003] Method for detecting a radio tag, in particular a location-variable one.

[0004] Description

[0005] Technical field

[0006] The invention relates to a method for detecting a radio tag, in particular a location-variable one.

[0007] background

[0008] Attempts to efficiently electronically detect radio tags, which are attached to a product or its packaging, for example, over a large area have proven difficult.

[0009] Such radio tags can be implemented, for example, as Radio Frequency Identification tags, or RFID tags for short. Their detection requires a mobile detection device, often referred to as a mobile reader, which must be carried to one of the RFID tags and brought into close contact with the RFID tag in order to electronically detect it individually. The use of stationary detection devices (stationary RFID readers), such as those installed in the entrance or exit areas of stores, also requires that the RFID tags are present locally. This means that the RFID tags must be carried to the reader or moved past it in order to be electronically detected. Detection of the RFID tag therefore always requires staying in its vicinity.In addition, the aforementioned stationary RFID readers must be permanently in operation, i.e. they must consume electrical power, in order not to miss individual RFID tags moving past them.

[0010] Such radio tags can also be designed, for example, as Bluetooth radio tags (BT radio tags for short). However, since their transmission power is typically very limited due to their miniaturized design, a large number of Bluetooth-compliant stationary detection devices must be installed to ensure comprehensive detection over a large area. These devices must also be operated in continuous, power-consuming mode to reliably detect the radio tags moving within their entire coverage area.

[0011] The invention therefore has the object of providing a method for detecting a radio tag so that the problems mentioned are avoided.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] This object is achieved by a method for detecting a, in particular location-variable, radio tag with the aid of detection devices positioned at different locations, wherein the method has the following method steps, namely an automatic selection of a number of detection devices which is smaller than the total number of detection devices, for receiving a tag radio signal emitted by the radio tag and / or a product identifier derived from the tag radio signal, wherein a first criterion for the automatic selection is that, with reference to a, in particular automatically determined, device position of a device located at least temporarily in the vicinity of the radio tag, at least one of the detection devices is favorably positioned compared to at least one other detection device for receiving the tag radio signal and / or the product identifier.

[0014] The measures according to the invention have the advantage that not all of the detection devices installed in a large area need to be involved in detecting the radio tag at the same time, but rather only a selection from the total number of installed detection devices, which are characterized by their advantageous positioning for receiving the tag's radio signal. Thus, detection devices positioned too far away or those that are less suitable or unsuitable for receiving the tag's radio signal due to the existing topology or structure of the area are not involved and can therefore be used for other activities, operated in an energy-saving mode, or deactivated altogether. Over time, however, the selection can change because, for example,Due to the movement of the device, other detection devices meet the first criterion and are therefore classified as being in a favorable position. If this measure is used in an area that is very large compared to the transmission range of the radio tags, and if a large number of detection devices are installed throughout the area, it can always be assumed that a very high number of detection devices in a single device position do not meet the first criterion and are therefore not selected for detection of the radio tags. This results in massive energy savings across the entire detection device system because only a small proportion of the total detection devices are involved in detecting the radio tag, sometimes even just one of the detection devices is involved.

[0015] This selection process of the detection devices forms the basis for energy-saving operation of the entire detection devices and also of each individual detection device and thus makes a significant contribution to the energy-saving operation of a system to which the detection devices belong.

[0016] The method can be used not only with stationary radio tags, as is the case, for example, when such radio tags are attached to products lying on a shelf or resting on a parked transport vehicle. Rather, the method can also be used with mobile radio tags, as is the case when a product to which the radio tag is attached is moved, for example, by a customer or a company employee. The same applies if a group of radio tags is moved together. In the case of a moving radio tags, a temporally changing selection of the detection devices involved / participating in the detection can be expected, depending on the changing device position.

[0017] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0018] The invention is primarily used in retail and will therefore be discussed in detail with reference to retail. However, the application of the invention is not limited to retail. Rather, it can also be used in industrial environments, such as in the manufacturing or logistics sectors. In all of these areas of application, there is a fundamental need for goods or products, regardless of whether they are packaged individually or in groups, to be transported from one location to the next. In the process, the products themselves or the packaging units in which they are packaged must be identified and / or the number of products or packaging units must be recorded.Since these product transports are not an end in themselves, but rather individual products or packaging units of these products must be deposited at specific locations along the movement path, and if necessary, products or their packaging units must also be taken over for further transport, there is also a need in this context to know precisely and consistently the number of products or their packaging units in transport at any given time. Against this background, it is also understandable that the area to be equipped with the detection devices often covers thousands, even tens of thousands of square meters, and good coverage for the accurate detection of the radio tags moving there also requires a relatively high total number of detection devices distributed throughout the area.In terms of the total number, it can therefore be assumed that there are thousands or tens of thousands of detection devices - depending on the respective application scenario and the radio technology challenges involved.

[0019] In retail stores, such as supermarkets, electronic display devices are used, for example, attached to shelves or their shelf rails, or directly to the products or their packaging. In such an application scenario, the electronic display devices are usually referred to as electronic shelf labels, or ESLs for short. They are primarily used to display product and / or price information. A mounting structure on which the ESLs and the product are located can be designed as a shelf or a shelf level. Attachment to a presentation table is also possible. Such ESLs can also be designed as a display sign for placement on a table. Such a display device can also be designed as a tag for attachment to clothing.The mounting structure can also be designed as a connecting link between the electronic display device and the product. Such a mounting structure can also be implemented, for example, as a tacking thread, a pin, or something similar. If larger packaging units of products are labeled using an ESL, the ESL can also be attached to the structure supporting the packaging units, such as a pallet, etc., or to the packaging that encloses the numerous products packaged therein. Such autonomously operated ESLs typically have a battery for their power supply.

[0020] However, the ESLs can also be attached to a special electronic shelf rail designed to control and support multiple ESLs. Such an electronic shelf rail uses an electronic shelf rail controller (often simply called a controller) that supplies the ESLs attached to the electronic shelf rail with data and / or power. For this purpose, the electronic shelf rail has lines that can be contacted by contacts on the ESL. These lines run along its length and are connected to the controller. In this configuration, these are not the autonomously operated ESLs described above, but rather contact-based, externally powered ESLs, as their power is supplied via the controller, which in turn is powered by a battery or other means—as discussed below.Mechanically, the electronic shelf rail is designed in such a way that it forms the front end of a shelf and is attached to the shelf either directly or via an adapter.

[0021] For the purpose of visualizing information, each display device has a screen, which is usually implemented as an electrophoretic screen to enable the most energy-efficient operation possible with battery-operated display devices that use a battery as an energy storage device. However, other types of screens, such as LCD screens, OLED screens, or similar devices, can also be used. Electrical power can be supplied via radio signals, known in technical jargon as "Power over WiFi," with the energy transmitted in this way being stored in an electrical energy storage device, such as a rechargeable battery in the display device. The power supply can also be based—if not entirely, then at least in a supporting capacity—on a photovoltaic panel, which supplies the energy storage device of the electronic display device with power.

[0022] However, the electronic display device can also be designed as a so-called video shelf rail, which essentially consists of a relatively long video screen designed for mounting on the front edge of a shelf and adapted to the typical height of a conventional shelf rail. This screen is controlled by a dedicated controller, allowing virtual ESLs to be displayed in addition to video content. Due to their power consumption, such video shelf rails are often powered by a wired power supply.

[0023] Since these electronic display devices are essentially installed across the entire retailer's sales area, particularly on shelves with multiple shelves, even on different levels one above the other, it has proven particularly advantageous to use an electronic device designed to display product and / or price information as the detection device, particularly an electronic display device for still image and / or video playback or a control device for controlling such an electronic display device, wherein the electronic device is designed to receive the label radio signal. This design essentially consists in having at least one radio receiver that is technically suitable or designed to receive the label radio signal. This can be implemented in such a way that a separate (if necessaryAn additional (additional) radio receiver is provided, or a radio receiver intended for other purposes, such as communication, which is usually a component of a transceiver, is also used. The radio receiver is connected to a control device (a controller) of the electronic device in order to further process the receipt of the label radio signal or its information content and / or to make it accessible to a higher-level system component or to provide it to it. However, the radio receiver can also be integrated into the control device of the electronic device, i.e., form a component thereof.

[0024] Apart from the embodiments discussed in connection with the electronic display device discussed, the electronic device designed to receive the tag radio signal can also be realized without a display functionality.

[0025] Given the involvement of electronic display devices, it has also proven particularly advantageous for the automatic selection of at least one detection device to involve shared use of a communication infrastructure provided by a retailer for the electronic display of product and / or price information. This measure avoids the otherwise necessary need for an additional communication infrastructure to transmit the aforementioned reception of the label radio signal and / or the information content transported thereby. The existing communication infrastructure is thus used as efficiently as possible in two respects: firstly, for communication concerning the product and / or price information, and secondly, for transmitting the data relating to the reception of the label radio signal.In addition, each of the electronic display devices can be specifically addressed - analogous to the addressing system used for transmitting data relating to product and / or price information - in order to inform the display device in question that it has been selected to receive the label's radio signal. This can be done, for example, using a first command (e.g., a start reception command) that is transmitted to the electronic display device and decoded there. In the display device, this causes its radio receiver intended for receiving the label's radio signal to be permanently ready to receive in order to be able to continuously receive the label's radio signal until a second command (e.g., a stop reception command) is received. This then leads to the radio receiver being deactivated, which reduces the power consumption at least by its proportion.

[0026] Optionally, after receiving the reception start command, the reception readiness of the radio receiver intended for receiving the label radio signal can follow an alternating cycle of temporary reception readiness followed by a temporary lack of reception readiness of the electronic display device, which is intended to reduce energy consumption, until the second command (e.g. a reception stop command) is received.

[0027] A radio-based system for operating display devices typically uses a multitude of access points as components of the communications infrastructure. These access points form a radio network for the communication supply of the display devices, for sending addressed data to the display devices or retrieving (addressed) data from the display devices. Typically, a group of display devices is assigned to an access point and can be addressed via this access point. The assignment works by selecting a suitable radio channel in the ISM radio band (ISM stands for "Industrial, Scientific and Medical") used by the respective access point and registering the respective display device with the access point responsible for it. The display device remembers the channel and the identity of the access point, and the access point remembers the identity of the display device.The registered display device can then subsequently establish wireless communication with the predefined access point. If the connection with the predefined access point is lost, the display device can search for another wirelessly available access point, scanning the available channels (or channels known to the display device or pre-programmed). Upon detection of an access point or its wireless signal (e.g., based on the SSID - SSID stands for "Service Set Identifier"), it can re-register with this access point.

[0028] Access points positioned close to one another, distributed throughout the premises of a retailer, warehouse, or production facility in such a way that they can detect all the display devices located there, preferentially use radio channels in the ISM band that do not overlap as much as possible in order to avoid mutual interference.

[0029] For wireless communication between the display devices and their respective access points, a substantially standardized wireless communication protocol, such as ZigBee® or Bluetooth®, can be used. A proprietary wireless communication protocol, such as the one disclosed in WO 2015 / 124197 A1, can also be used.

[0030] The access points, in turn, are typically connected via cable to a central control device, namely a higher-level data processing device. The data processing device can, for example, be formed by a local server on which a software application (such as management software) is executed to manage and control the electronic display devices. A cloud-based data processing device can also be used for this purpose, which provides the aforementioned functionality for managing and controlling the display devices. With the aid of the access points, the data processing device supplies the individual display devices with the information assigned to them, which is visualized using the respective screen. If necessary, the data processing device can also query and respond to the operating status or other status data of the display devices, such as the battery charge status.

[0031] The data processing device also has access to a digital map, which is either a planogram or realogram, or—in other words—a digital representation of the positions of the electronic display devices. Thus, the data processing device knows all the positions of the display devices in the area it manages. It is therefore able to select the preferred position based on the device's position, i.e., to determine the most advantageously positioned detection devices.

[0032] The device, which exists separately - i.e. detached - from the radio tag, is at least temporarily moved along with the radio tag, which is equivalent to the determination that it is at least temporarily in the vicinity or immediate vicinity of the radio tag.

[0033] It has proven particularly advantageous if at least one of the following devices is used in the process, namely:

[0034] - a personal digital assistant, or PDA for short. Such a PDA is used, for example, by retailer employees while moving through the premises to fulfill customer shopping orders, for which the term "store picking" is often used. Such a PDA can, for example, transmit a radio localization signal with its radio transmitter or a light-emitting diode or its screen, with which it can be automatically located within the premises.

[0035] - a smartphone. Such a smartphone is used, for example, by a retailer's customer while moving through the store to display a shopping list or navigate within the store. The smartphone can also emit at least one of the localization signals discussed in connection with the PDA (radio localization signal or light localization signal) in order to be localizable.

[0036] - a smart shopping cart. Such a smart shopping cart is used, for example, by a customer or a retailer's employee while moving through the store to transport products, display price and / or product information for a product using a shopping cart screen, display a shopping list using the screen, or visualize additional information, such as navigation or advertising information, using the screen. The shopping cart can also emit at least one of the localization signals discussed in connection with the PDA in order to be localizable.

[0037] - a load transport vehicle. Compared to the smart shopping cart, such a load transport vehicle is designed for transporting a larger quantity of products or goods and / or for transporting heavier products or goods, or generally heavier loads. This can be, for example, a forklift truck or a self-propelled transport sled or the like. This load transport vehicle is primarily moved by an employee during their work within the premises to bring products to the shelves, etc., and to restock shelves. The transport vehicle can also emit at least one of the localization signals discussed in connection with the PDA in order to be localizable.

[0038] - A radio beacon transmitter, specifically a Bluetooth Low Energy Radio Beacon. This represents the most simplified form of the device. Such a device can be miniaturized, battery-operated, easily transportable, and functionally reduced to transmitting only the localization radio signal.

[0039] Since retailers often already have an existing localization infrastructure in place, for example, to handle store-picking-related activities or to provide navigation support for customers or employees, a first variant for determining a position favorable for receiving the tag's radio signal has proven particularly advantageous for automatically determining the device's position by using a localization infrastructure that a retailer uses to locate a person moving within the store or the device moving with the person. Similar to the discussions regarding the detection device, this also offers the advantage of simply using an existing localization infrastructure, but with the particular advantage that, in fact, no adaptation of the technical components involved is necessary.Rather, the data processing device can directly access the determined device position and use it to select the appropriate detection device(s).

[0040] According to a first embodiment, the process of automatically determining the device's position can be radio-based. For this purpose, the localization radio signals are received by location receivers and evaluated according to the technology used. For example, a combination of at least three receivers with the aid of a generally known triangulation method can be used to narrow down or determine the device's position. This can be easily implemented, for example, in the case of WiFi or WLAN radio technology or Bluetooth technology, in particular with the help of Bluetooth Low Energy beacons. Preferably, however, each of the location receivers used is designed to independently determine the relative position of the device with respect to the receiver. The underlying design of the location receiver can comprise multiple receiving antennas.The tracking receiver's electronics process the individual reception of the localization radio signal by each of the antennas. Runtime differences and / or phase differences between the individual antennas are evaluated along with the respective measured received signal strength to determine the distance to and direction toward the device. The measured received signal strength is typically specified using the "Received Signal Strength Indicator," which is standard in modern receiver electronics. An example of this is the localization or real-time tracking system from "Quuppa Oy," Keilaranta 1, 02150 Espoo, Finland, website: quuppa.com, abbreviated as QUUPPA.The real-time tracking system from "Quuppa Oy" comprises, on the one hand, a "locator" as a location receiver, for example, the "Q17" or "Q35" models, and, on the other hand, at least one so-called "tag" for emitting the localization radio signal, for example, the "QT-1," QT3-1," or "QT1 Module" models. Depending on the distance to be considered between the "locator" and the "tag," the combination of the "Q17" "locator" with one of the "QT-1," QT3-1," or "QT1 Module" "tags" or the "Q35" "locator" with one of the "QT-1," QT3-1," or "QT1 Module" "tags" can be used.

[0041] Furthermore, the process of automatically determining the device's position can be image-based. For this purpose, cameras can be installed at various locations within the area to capture the respective scene. Image capture is performed using the usual optoelectronic method. Both still images and video recordings can serve as the basis for further processing. The recordings are analyzed using image or video analysis software, which identifies the objects—pre-programmed or previously stored—that are generally known to the analyzing computer, or their characteristics and / or the light signals emitted by them. Once such a search is successful, the device position for the device in question is determined, taking various aspects into account.These aspects can relate to the known position of the camera in the area or room, its known orientation in the area or room, as well as its known optical imaging system. However, these aspects can also relate to additional objects contained in the image or video, which are known to the analyzing computer either as such or with regard to their characteristic properties, and which serve as a reference point for location in the area or room. Cameras mounted in or on shelves and / or surveillance cameras distributed throughout the area or room, etc., can be integrated as cameras for this purpose. With appropriate hardware and programming, the analyzing computer can be located in the camera itself and contribute significantly to determining the device's position.With knowledge of the aforementioned aspects that can be used to determine the device's position, this can even be done entirely within the camera, with the camera transmitting the device's position (possibly along with an identifier that identifies the device, which is also recorded) to the data processing device. If the camera is designed only to capture and transmit images, the discussed determination of the device's position, taking the aforementioned aspects into account, takes place directly at the data processing device.

[0042] According to a second variant for determining a position favorable for receiving the tag radio signal, a different procedure can be used. According to this second variant, the device position is determined solely by the fact of receiving a localization radio signal emitted by at least one of the detection devices. The localization radio signal has the property of a radio beacon signal, which has data content that can be used to identify the emitting detection device because the relationship between the detection device and the data content characterizing it is stored in the data processing device or is accessible to it. For this purpose, the detection device is equipped with a radio module (e.g., one designed to emit a Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon signal).This localization radio signal is transmitted with such a transmission power that it can only be received in the surrounding area, namely within a reception range of a few meters to approximately twenty meters around the detection device. As soon as the localization radio signal is reliably received by the device, the device's position can only be within this reception range. The fact that such a localization radio signal is received by the device is therefore sufficient to determine that the device is within the reception range of the detection device, which is identifiable by the data content. This is equivalent to fulfilling the first criterion for the detection device transmitting the relevant localization radio signal. The device used for the purposes discussed here has a reception module suitable at least for receiving the localization radio signal.A transceiver (particularly a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver) is preferably used for this purpose, which also allows the fact of receipt of the localization radio signal, along with the data content, to be transmitted wirelessly to the data processing device, where further processing, in particular the automatic selection of the detection device with the preferred position for receiving the label radio signal, is carried out. For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned here that multiple localization radio signals originating from different detection devices can also be received at one device position, so that multiple detection devices with preferred position can also be present.

[0043] It has also proven particularly advantageous if the method includes the transmission of a label radio signal specific to the radio tag during its movement, particularly by a group of radio tags during their collective movement. This allows each radio tag to be detected during its movement and thus also tracked along its trajectory. In particular, transmitting the label radio signal during a collective, group-wise movement of the radio tags ensures that none of the radio tags moves unnoticed. Thus, all radio tags moving as a group remain continuously detectable.

[0044] Furthermore, it has proven extremely expedient for the detection to include receiving the tag radio signal by the at least one selected detection device and, based on the received tag radio signal, identifying the radio tag and / or a product associated with the radio tag. This measure not only allows for the detection of the fact that a radio tag is present within the reception range of the at least one detection device, but also ensures that its identity is known and, consequently, the movement path of the tag can be clearly detected. The same applies mutatis mutandis to the product to which the radio tag is attached.

[0045] It has proven particularly advantageous for the automatic selection to be performed by the data processing device, wherein the data processing device digitally stores the positions of the detection devices or has access to the digitally stored positions. As discussed in connection with the first variant, the data processing device also knows the device position. Based on this, the data processing device selects the at least one detection device that is favorably positioned by virtue of the distance of the respective detection device from the device being less than a threshold value.This means that the selection of at least one detection device can be made entirely software-based, provided the digital map of the area with the detection devices noted therein is available to the software and the device position in the area has been determined, at least to a limited extent—as previously discussed—and is therefore available to the software. The digital map will have at least two, but preferably also three dimensions. The two-dimensional map describes the area in a planar manner, whereas the three-dimensional map also indicates the height above the plane, as is the case with a planogram or realogram, in which the entirety of the ESLs or similar display devices is noted three-dimensionally.

[0046] According to the second variant, the automatic selection is also performed by the data processing device. However, according to this variant, the data processing device is informed of the at least one detection device to be selected with the aid of the device. This occurs by transmitting the data content of the localization radio signal received by the device, which was transmitted by the detection device and received by the device. As already mentioned, the transmitting detection device can be identified using the data content because the connection between the detection device and the data content characterizing it is stored in the data processing device or is accessible to it.Generally speaking, in this variant it is not even necessary for absolute positions, namely the absolute position of the device and / or the absolute position of the detection device, to be known to the data processing device, because the automatic selection is based solely on the device and the relevant detection device being in such close proximity that the device can reliably receive the localization radio signal from the detection device. In other words, the limit value cited in connection with the first variant for the second variant arises naturally from the transmission power predetermined by the detection device for transmitting the localization radio signal and the associated radio signal propagation. The absolute device position therefore does not need to be determined explicitly.However, it is at least limited to the reception area around the detection device in question due to the fact that the position of the detection device is known to the data processing device in a preferred embodiment.

[0047] Due to the topological characteristics of an area formed, for example, by a retailer's salesroom, where the salesroom is structured with all its aisles, display tables, and shopping baskets, etc., it has proven particularly advantageous to apply a distance of ten meters or less, preferably in the range of eight to four meters, and particularly preferably less than four meters, as the threshold. This allows for an excellent way to select only a smaller group of detection devices in the vicinity of the device position, such as those implemented by the ESLs designed to receive the tag radio signal.

[0048] Optionally, the data processing device can also define the threshold value variably depending on the device's position. For example, if the device's position is determined within a spacious area in a store, i.e., outside of the otherwise typically narrow aisles, a higher threshold can be set for that space than is the case for the shelf aisles. This ensures that, even when someone is present in the spacious area, at least a single or a small group of detection devices is selected so that the radio tags located there can be reliably detected. In this case, the threshold can also be set to 10 meters.At the same time, this also ensures that, when radio tags are present within a shelf aisle, too many detection devices are not selected simultaneously, i.e., unnecessarily. This would lead to unnecessarily increased energy consumption in the group of selected detection devices, which would otherwise not improve the detection result. In this case, if many detection devices are present in a relatively narrow area of ​​the sales area, such as a narrow shelf aisle, the threshold can certainly be set to less than four meters. A direction-dependent progression of the threshold can also be set around the device position, which allows for very flexible modeling to account for the actual environmental conditions.

[0049] Since the data processing device knows the structure and / or topology of the area, it can specify the threshold value based on the location, enabling the selection of an optimal number of detection devices. This can be, for example, 1, 2, 3, or 4, or up to a maximum of 10 or 20 detection devices, so that the energy consumption for the detection process remains manageable and the selection is spatially limited to those detection devices that are presumed to be close to the radio tags to be detected.

[0050] It has proven particularly advantageous if, in the event that multiple detection devices satisfy the first criterion, only one of these detection devices satisfying the first criterion is sequentially selected to receive the tag radio signal for a predefined period of time. This ensures that the overall energy consumption of the group of selected detection devices is further optimized, i.e. minimized, because for each detection device active for receiving the tag radio signal, all others in the group are not ready to receive the tag radio signal and are therefore deactivated. For example, at the beginning of the group-wise selection, the time schedule that all detection devices in the group must follow can be specified by command - i.e. programmed - in order to avoid generating increased communication overhead, which would also require energy.On the other hand, switching between the detection devices, especially if they are designed as ESLs and are subject to an alternating cycle of activity and inactivity according to their basic communication behavior, can also be carried out by individual communication when the active state is present.

[0051] According to a further optional embodiment, it can also be provided that the data processing device has access to the charge level of a battery of the at least one detection device to be selected or selected, because this charge level was stored in advance or retrieved promptly, and the time period during which only one of these detection devices meeting the first criterion is selected to receive the tag radio signal is defined inversely proportional to the charge level of a battery of the respective detection device. This ensures a temporal involvement of the individual detection devices in the group of selected detection devices that is adapted to the individual charge level.

[0052] However, if the battery of those detection devices is to be protected which already have an unfavorable charge level from the outset, in the event that several detection devices satisfy the first criterion, a second criterion for the automatic selection can be applied that for the detection devices satisfying the first criterion, with knowledge of the charge level of a battery of these detection devices, those detection devices are selected for receiving the tag radio signal whose batteries exceed a charge level threshold, in particular only that detection device is selected for receiving the tag radio signal whose battery has the highest charge level.Thus, a subgroup of the positionally favored detection devices can be formed depending on the state of charge, which extends the battery life of the other detection devices that already have a relatively low state of charge and would have to be selected based on the first criterion.

[0053] Regarding the power supply of the radio tag, it can be provided that the radio tag is equipped with its own battery and operates electrically self-powered to transmit the tag's radio signal. Thus, any radio tag equipped in this way can be operated as a self-powered radio tag even in an area where no external power supply is provided. As long as the battery has a sufficient charge level, the radio tag can transmit its radio signal. As soon as the battery is too low for operation, the battery of the respective radio tag must be recharged or replaced. An example in this context is a product from "Wil iot Ltd.", HaTochen 8, Ofek 10 Building, 3rd Floor, Caesarea 3079861, Israel, which is marketed under the name "Battery-Assisted IoT Pixels."

[0054] It has proven particularly advantageous if the radio tag is electrically powered by a power transmission radio signal in order to transmit the tag radio signal. This enables the use of such radio tags for the inventive method without the time limitation that would apply to battery-operated radio tags. Such externally powered radio tags can therefore be used without interruption in the discussed method and thus ensure that they are continuously available for detection. As an example, in this context, reference should also be made to a product from "Wiliot Ltd.", HaTochen 8, Ofek 10 Building, 3rd Floor, Caesarea 3079861, Israel, which is marketed under the name "Battery-Free IoT Pixels."

[0055] For the purpose of external power supply, it has proven particularly advantageous if the energy transmission radio signal for electrical supply is transmitted in a frequency range between 700 MHz and 1 GHz and / or in a frequency range above 2 GHz. Using the frequency range between 700 MHz and 1 GHz ensures that the energy transmission radio signal can propagate as widely as possible and is thus effectively available for external power supply over a wide area.

[0056] However, if the use of the site's technology, typically referred to as 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz radio infrastructure, is to be further intensified, it has proven particularly advantageous for the energy transmission radio signal for electrical supply to be transmitted in a frequency range of an ISM frequency band above 1 GHz, particularly the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz ISM frequency band. This eliminates the need for additional radio infrastructure solely for energy transmission, and the existing radio communications infrastructure and the resulting radio signals are used as the energy transmission radio signal.

[0057] In this context, reference is made to the so-called ISM bands, where ISM stands for Industrial, Scientific, and Medical, and the use of these frequency bands for industrial, scientific and medical applications is license-free.

[0058] However, it can also be provided that a mixed configuration of a low-frequency energy transmission radio signal in the frequency range of 700 MHz and 1 GHz and a high-frequency energy transmission radio signal in the frequency range of the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz ISM frequency band is used, for example, to ensure the availability of at least one of the energy transmission radio signals in all areas of the site. This mixed configuration can be advantageous if the radio tag is designed to operate selectively in two frequency bands, i.e., to receive the energy transmission radio signal in these two frequency bands and use it for its own electrical supply. As an example, another product from "Wiliot Ltd.", HaTochen 8, Ofek 10 Building, 3rd Floor, Caesarea 3079861, Israel, is mentioned, which is marketed under the name "Dual Band IoT Pixel 117."

[0059] If several energy transmission transmitters positioned at different locations are used to transmit the energy transmission radio signal in a larger area, it has proven extremely advantageous to automatically select at least one, preferably exactly one, of the energy transmission transmitters that is closest to the device compared to at least one other energy transmission transmitter. This measure also makes an important contribution to energy-saving operation of the overall system because only the selected energy transmission transmitter(s) are ever activated to transmit the energy transmission radio signal. From the totality of the available energy transmission transmitters, a selection is therefore always made with regard to a single device position, which includes one or more energy transmission transmitters, but fewer than the total.

[0060] If selections must be made for multiple device positions, this may lead to overlaps in the selection sets for the energy transmission devices. In this case, it can be specified that an energy transmission device selected twice or multiple times remains selected until it is no longer relevant for any of the device positions being considered.

[0061] To implement this measure, the data processing unit also knows the positions of the energy transmission devices in the area and, using the device position, which is also available to it, can decide which of the energy transmission devices is most advantageous in terms of its position. In particular, the one closest to the device position, in the vicinity of which the radio tags to be detected are located, is selected.

[0062] The positions of the energy transmission devices can be stored in a separate data structure or integrated into the data structures used to store the planogram or realogram. In either case, the data processing device has access to them.

[0063] The selection made by the data processing device is subsequently communicated to the respective energy transmission device. This can be done via a wired connection, such as a local area network (LAN), or via "Power over LAN," so that the activation or deactivation of the respective energy transmission device, as well as its electrical power supply, can be done via a wired connection over one and the same line. The energy transmission devices can also be integrated into a wireless network. Their power supply can then be provided either by a battery or by a pure power supply. They can also be powered by radio signals, which is possible using the technology known as "Power over WiFi."

[0064] In summary, the method discussed ensures the most efficient and energy-saving operation of the system discussed, because only those detection devices are activated to detect a tag radio signal that are actually favored for this purpose, and simultaneously, only those energy transmission transmitters are active for transmitting the energy transmission radio signal that can actually be used for the radio-based external power supply of the respective radio tags. A detection infrastructure is established that dynamically adapts to the movement of the radio tag, often efficiently utilizing an existing infrastructure. The position and movement of the radio tag are derived from the device position or are equated to this device position or the change in the device position to a good approximation.The localization is therefore based on the knowledge of the location of the device and can be extremely advantageous for the detection of individual as well as groups of the associated radio tags.

[0065] The association of the device—and thus ultimately, at least indirectly, a position—with one or more of the radio tags can occur initially, i.e., before individual, or possibly group-based, recording or tracking of the movement is initiated. This is used, for example, when a transport sled or forklift, etc., is loaded with a large number of products that are to be subsequently tracked. The device can be integrated into the vehicle or be a PDA, smartphone, etc., belonging to the person operating the vehicle.

[0066] However, associating the device with one or more of the radio tags can also be done on an ad hoc basis, i.e., while the device is moving through the area. This is used, for example, when a customer or employee takes a product or object to which a radio tag is attached. The affected radio tag is then carried with the person, for example, by hand or in a

[0067] The device can be placed on a shopping cart, a transport sled, a forklift, etc., and moved along. The device can be the smart shopping cart, integrated into the transport sled, forklift, etc., or a person's PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), smartphone, etc.

[0068] The association process can be carried out, for example, in such a way that the device automatically detects the respective radio tag (initial / on-demand) once by receiving the tag's radio signal, thus assuming the role of a mobile detection device for a single time. The device transmits the data received from the radio tag, along with its identifier, to the data processing device, where the relationship between the device and the respective radio tag is stored. This process is particularly suitable when no other technical device is present apart from the device itself, because the association process can be performed anywhere in the area, such as on any shelf where a customer removes a product to which the respective radio tag is attached.

[0069] However, if the association process is carried out at a defined location, such as in a loading zone or in the area of ​​a gate, a separate, permanently installed association device can be present there, which detects both the mobile device and the radio tags moving with the mobile device once and transmits the identifier of the mobile device together with the data received from the radio tags to the data processing device, where the relationship between the device and the relevant radio tag or tags is stored.

[0070] Ultimately, the relationship between the mobile device and the respective radio tag is stored in the data processing device, so that only the device's position needs to be determined while moving through the area, and then the associated radio tag can be detected using at least one adjacent stationary detection device. This allows the location of the radio tag and its trajectory to be recorded as long as it moves with the device.

[0071] Furthermore, the inventory or its changes along the device's path of movement can be easily recorded.

[0072] An increase in the inventory of goods moved with the device can be recorded or determined by a radio tag, which is attached to a product, being newly associated with the device on an occasion-related basis and subsequently being able to be recorded as associated with the device using the selected recording devices. This occasion-related association can, for example, be triggered manually on the device by the person carrying the device interacting with the user interface of a dedicated software application running on the device. Event-related association can also be carried out automatically, for example when a smart shopping cart or similar is used. For example, the shopping cart can be identified (using image recognition or motion sensor, etc.).) recognize that a product has been placed in its basket and, triggered by this incident, scan the radio tags in the basket once in order to determine the new item and make them available for further tracking of the radio tags that are moving with it. This system allows, for example, the precise tracking of goods that customers or staff carry in their shopping trolleys without the need to access or record personal data. These measures also make it quite easy to check whether all goods that are moving with a device have actually been paid for as soon as they move towards the exit of the area (e.g. the exit of the supermarket).

[0073] Furthermore, a reduction in the inventory of goods moved with the device can be detected if a radio tag associated with the device can suddenly no longer be detected in accordance with the device's path of movement because the goods in question, to which the radio tag is attached, have already been deposited at their destination or elsewhere and can therefore no longer be detected in a very short time due to the selection of detection devices changing according to the movement of the device. If this situation is detected, the association between the device and the radio tag in question can be dissolved. This can, for example, make it possible to automatically track the activity of restocking shelves by supermarket staff, and to verify that the goods marked with the respective radio tag have been deposited in the correct place or at least in the correct area of ​​the premises.

[0074] The radio tags moving with the device as well as the reduction or increase in the number of radio tags moving with it can, however, also be detected with the help of the freely moving device itself. For this purpose, the transport device, such as the smart shopping cart, the transport sled or the forklift truck, etc., with which the device is moved either directly or indirectly via the person operating the transport device, has its own energy transmission and transmission device which serves to provide a, in particular permanent, radio-based energy supply to the radio tags on board the transport device. The energy supply already provided in the transport device is also used to electrically supply the energy transmission and transmission device. This energy supply already provided in the transport device is used, for example, to operate the electronics provided there or the electrified drive mechanism.As long as the radio tags are powered, they transmit their individual radio signals, which (i.e., their data content) allows them to be uniquely identified. The mobile device is configured as a detection device that continuously detects the radio signals and thus always knows the number of radio tags being moved. This allows the data processing device to determine the number of products being moved with the device. This allows the device to always keep an up-to-date record of the products being moved, as well as their quantity, for example, in a list. However, the list can also be maintained on the data processing device, where the list is managed for the device and kept up-to-date.

[0075] If the increase in the stock of goods moved with the device and the decrease in the stock of goods moved with the device are continuously and automatically recorded as discussed, the data processing device always maintains an overview of the stock of goods actually moved with the device, and ultimately with the person moving the device. With this knowledge, the data processing device can also create and ultimately optimize the route within the area for the person concerned. This measure can, on the one hand, benefit the staff entrusted with the restocking of goods, because a more efficient and time-saving route is offered fully electronically (e.g., using the device in the form of a PDA). The same applies analogously to the staff (store pickers) who are busy collecting goods for customers who have placed their orders, for example,online and simply want to pick up their prepared shopping or have it delivered. However, this measure can also benefit customers in the store if the data processing facility has access to their electronic shopping list. Based on the shopping list, the route can be optimized for the customer, and the tracking device can be used to check which items the customer already has with them and which still need to be collected.

[0076] It is precisely the ability to track the radio tags along the device's trajectory in a temporal context, which can be done, for example, by the data processing device by logging the path and the time stamps, that opens up the possibility of anticipating the detection devices that are to be classified as advantageous in the future with regard to their position and of controlling them in a timely manner to receive the tag's radio signal in order to establish readiness to receive the tag's radio signal at the appropriate time or to ensure readiness to receive the tag's radio signal within the appropriate time window. For this purpose, the relevant time or time window can be pre-calculated by the data processing device based on the temporal progression of the device's previous trajectory and, for example,to transmit it via a receive start command to the detection devices to be activated in the future, whereby the selection is made by extrapolating the previous movement path and applying the first criterion. This measure can be particularly useful if no ad hoc communication protocol is available for communication with the detection devices. This can be the case in particular if an existing communication infrastructure of an ESL system is used in order to use the components designed to receive the tag radio signal (ESL, controller, etc.) as detection devices. In such an ESL system, due to the large number of components included and the communication protocol used, considerable delays often occur until the detection device to be selected can even be reached by communication technology.The spatially and temporally predictive automatic selection solves this inherent problem of such an ESL system and ensures timely availability at the most likely future location for reception of the tag radio signal.

[0077] It should also be mentioned that the tracking of radio tags that move with the device can also occur without associating the device with a radio tag. It should be noted in this regard that when the radio tags are detected using the detection device, those radio tags that are scheduled to be stationary at the respective location or in the vicinity of the respective detection device are of course also detected, because they are located there, for example, on a shelf in their designated place. However, since the data processing device is informed of this scheduled position through access to the planogram or the realogram, it can mask out the radio tags that are scheduled to be detected at the respective location or in the vicinity of the location defined by the device position, so that ultimately only the radio tags that are actually moving with the device are tracked.

[0078] Furthermore, it should be noted that the method is not limited to the detection of at least one moving radio tag. Rather, the method can also be used to detect one or more stationary radio tags.

[0079] Furthermore, it should be noted that the measures according to the invention also preserve the capacity of the available radio channels because only the position-favored detection devices and / or the position-favored energy transmission devices are activated and transmit.

[0080] Finally, it should be generally mentioned that the electronic devices discussed (ESLs, access points, servers, etc.) or their stages or modules naturally contain electronics. The electronics can be discrete or integrated, or a combination of both. Microcomputers, microcontrollers, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), possibly in combination with analog electronics or digital electronic peripheral components, can also be used. Many of the device functionalities mentioned are implemented - possibly in conjunction with hardware components - with the help of software that runs on an electronics processor. Devices designed for radio communication usually have an antenna configuration as part of a transceiver module, and possibly also a matching network, etc., for sending and receiving radio signals, and can be controlled or received using digital signals.emit digital signals. In addition to ESLs, the electronic devices can also have an internal power supply, which can be implemented, for example, with a replaceable or rechargeable battery. The devices can also be powered wired, either via an external power supply or via "Power over LAN."

[0081] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from the figures discussed below.

[0082] Short character description

[0083] 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:

[0084] Fig. 1 shows a system for implementing the method according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows an application scenario of the invention in retail;

[0085] Fig. 3 shows a detection device designed as a controller of an electronic shelf rail; Fig. 4 shows an exemplary method sequence for detecting a radio tag using the detection device, illustrated with the aid of a flowchart.

[0086] Description of the embodiments

[0087] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a system 1 designed to implement the method according to the invention. System 1 includes a server 2 as a data processing device. Server 2 is coupled to a wired network implemented as a "local area network," or LAN 3 for short.

[0088] Access points 4 are connected to LAN 3. These access points are distributed throughout a supermarket's shopping area and serve to wirelessly connect electronic shelf rails RI to RIO to server 2. In this case, it is assumed that the left access point 4 serves the shelf rails RI to R5, whereas the right access point 4 serves the shelf rails R6 to RIO. The electronic shelf rails RI to R11, which are designed to wirelessly communicate with the access points 4, can accommodate electronic displays (not shown for reasons of clarity) known in technical jargon as "Electronic Shelf Labels," or ESLs for short. They serve to display product and / or price information relating to a product. They are usually attached to the front edge of the shelf using the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO, essentially corresponding to the position of the product presented on the shelf.These ESLs are supplied with both electrical and communication power via the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO. The shelves and the goods placed on them are also not shown in Figure 1 for the reasons stated above. However, the arrangement of the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO makes it clear that the shelves are arranged side by side along a movement path S.

[0089] The server 2 has access to the absolute positions of the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO in the shopping area, whereby in this case these positions are obtained from a digital planogram in which the respective absolute position of the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO is digitally stored. The electronic shelf rails RI to RIO each have a controller CI to CIO (also referred to as a control device in the general description) provided on their sides, which is designed to communicate with the access points 4 and, on the one hand, controls the radio communication with one of the access points 4 and, on the other hand, communicates the instructions and / or display content received from the server 2 to the affected ESLs, which is attached to its shelf rail RI to RIO, via a wired connection. The mechanics and the electronics orTheir software-based functionality is disclosed in the published patent applications PCT / EP2021 / 055914 and PCT / EP2021 / 055916, but with the difference that the controller CI - CIO referred to there as the "supply device" has a modification in the embodiment shown here.

[0090] This modification is discussed in Figure 3, where the controller CI provided on the electronic shelf rail RI is visualized in block diagram form as a representative of all other C2 to C9 and only the blocks relevant in the present context are visualized.

[0091] Figure 3 shows general electronics 5 of the controller CI, which is discussed in detail in patent application PCT / EP2021 / 055916, and an access point radio module 6, also disclosed therein, for radio communication with one of the access points 4. To perform control tasks related to communication with ESLs connected to the electronic shelf rail RI of the controller CI, or related to other radio-based receiving and transmitting tasks, the electronics 5 has a computer 5A (e.g., a microcontroller) on which software programmed for the tasks to be performed is executed. An interface 5B, implemented with electrically conductive contact elements, serves to contact lines of the electrical shelf rail RI that run along its longitudinal extent, in order to supply electrical power to ESLs that also contact these lines and to communicate with them via wired communication.Furthermore, the controller CI has a battery 5C for its electrical supply, whereby the battery 5C can also be designed separately from the controller CI, i.e., can only be connected to it. According to the modification, the controller CI has a radio reception module 7 designed to receive a label radio signal ES. At this point, it should also be mentioned that the radio reception module 7 can be integrated into the access point radio module 6 or can be formed by the access point radio module 6, specifically by its receiver, which is indicated in Figure 3 by the dash-dotted block 6A. The radio reception module 7 can be activated on an ad hoc basis by the server 2 using a receive start command RC via radio communication via the access points 4 with the controller CI, when it is needed to receive the label radio signal ES.Thus, each of the electronic shelf rails RI to RIO, or more precisely each of their controllers CI to CIO, forms a detection device for receiving the radio tag signal ES emitted by a radio tag El.

[0092] The label radio signal ES is emitted by the radio label E1 shown in Figure 1, which is attached to a product PI in order to identify the product PI with its label radio signal ES. The radio label E1 must be supplied with energy because it does not have a battery, but is designed to obtain the energy required for its operation from a received radio signal. For this purpose, the system 1 has supply transmitters 8 distributed throughout the shopping area, which are designed to emit an energy transmission radio signal EF in the frequency range of approximately 900 MHz. The radio label E1 is designed to use the energy transmission radio signal EF for "harvesting" its own electrical supply. It is therefore externally supplied via an energy transmission radio signal.

[0093] In the present case, it is assumed that the radio label El is formed by a "Battery-Free IoT Pixel" from Wiliot Ltd, as already mentioned in the general description.

[0094] Figure 1 also shows a mobile, battery-operated device 9, which here is formed by a portable radio fire transmitter that transmits an individual radio fire signal FS, preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon signal, for the purpose of identification and location. This radio fire signal FS is received and evaluated by location receivers 10 positioned throughout the shopping area, and the result of determining the location of the device 9 is transmitted to the server 2. For this purpose, the localization or real-time tracking system marketed by QUUPPA, for example, can be used. This system includes both the location receiver 10 and the device 9 as a radio fire transmitter, enabling highly precise location of the device 9 with just a single location receiver 10 receiving the radio fire signal FS.The server 2, or more precisely the software running on the server 2, which knows the position of the location receiver 10 in the shopping area, can thus convert the location of the device 9 determined in relation to the location receiver 10 into an absolute device position in the shopping area.

[0095] With regard to device 9, it is assumed that it is positioned near the radio tag E1. The radio tag E1 and device 9 move together along path S past the electronic shelf rails R1 to R10, as indicated in Figure 1. Both are located at different locations at different times, which is illustrated by a timeline t with a general time scale from -4 to +6 time units. At time t=0, both are therefore located exactly in front of the fifth electronic shelf rail R5 and immediately adjacent to the fourth shelf rail R4 and the sixth shelf rail R6. This location is defined as the device position GP at time t=0. Previously, for example, at time t=-3, they were located exactly opposite the second shelf rail R2, and in the future, for example, at time t=+3, they will be located exactly opposite the eighth shelf rail R8, etc., where in this example it is assumed that they move at a constant speed. In real-life use, however, the speed can vary.

[0096] Building on the infrastructure discussed above, a method according to the invention, visualized with the aid of a flow chart 11 in Figure 4, will be discussed below. This method is essentially provided with the aid of the software processed on the server 2 and uses data obtained from the infrastructure.

[0097] The process 11 starts in a block 12.

[0098] In a block 13, the location of the device 9 in the shopping area is determined, wherein the relative position of the device 9 determined with the aid of the location receiver 10 and related to the location receiver 10 was communicated to the server 2 and is converted there into the absolute device position GP in the shopping area with knowledge of the absolute position of the location receiver 10 in the shopping area.

[0099] In a block 14, with reference to the device position GP, ​​those controllers CI to CIO are searched for that meet a first criterion, namely that they are located within a proximity limit B, in this case, for example, less than five meters, from the device position, which is indicated accordingly in Figure 1. Since the software knows the absolute positions of the controllers CI to CIO in the shopping area, it calculates the distance between the device position GP and the position of the respective controller CI to CIO and selects the controllers C4 to C6, since only for these controllers C4 to C6 the first criterion is met.

[0100] In a block 15, the already mentioned reception start command RC is then sent to the controllers C4 to C6 in order to activate their radio reception module 7 to receive the label radio signal ES.

[0101] In a block 16, the tag radio signal received by the controllers C4 to C6 is communicated from the controllers C4 to C6 to the server 2 via one of the access points 4, where it is further processed by the software. This involves evaluating the information content of the tag radio signal ES in order to, on the one hand, identify the radio tag El and, on the other hand, identify the product PI logically linked to the radio tag El. This logical link is also accessible to the software, for example, by accessing its own database or by reference to another database, in order to subsequently determine the location of the product PI in the shopping area.

[0102] If only the current position of the radio tag is of interest, the procedure can end in block 17.

[0103] However, if the sequence of positions, i.e. the movement in the shopping area, is of interest, the process is continued in a loop 18 via blocks 13 to 16 until the software aborts the process.

[0104] If, during the movement, the discussed flowchart 11 is run through again at time t=1, then at this time controllers C5 to C7 are selected to receive the tag radio signal because now only they meet the first criterion, which is visualized by the shift of the near-range boundary B to the right. During the movement of device 9, the group of selected controllers C4 to C6, C5 to C7, C6 to C8, C7 to C9, and C8 to C10 gradually changes, which is indicated by the further gradual shift of the near-range boundary B to the right. The controllers that are no longer selected are instructed to deactivate their receiving module 7—after it has been active—using the stop receive command XC mentioned in the general description. This leads to an activated detection infrastructure that changes location within the shopping area according to the movement dynamics of device 9.In other words, or figuratively speaking, "the group of detection devices selected to detect the tag radio signal, which has a smaller number of members than the total number of detection devices, migrates with the device 9." This is therefore a "logical" "migration" - that is, a selection-related "migration" - and not a mechanical "migration."

[0105] The system of location-dependent detection devices activated according to the first criterion can also be applied to the selection of the power transmitters 8. For example, the software of the server 2 can keep the left power transmitter 8 activated while the right one is deactivated when the device 9 is adjacent to the controllers C1 to C5, and keep the left power transmitter 8 deactivated while the right power transmitter 8 is activated when the device 9 is adjacent to the controllers C6 to C10. This results in a more efficient power supply to the radio tag E1 using the respective energy transmission radio signal EF.

[0106] The invention is further visualized again with the aid of Figure 2 based on a spatial view along a shelf 19. In the present case—particularly in contrast to Figure 1—entities 4, 8, and 10 are shown only once for reasons of clarity. However, this does not preclude the fact that they can and do exist multiple times in a real implementation in a retailer's store. Shelf 19 has three levels 20, 22, and 21. Each level 20-21 is equipped with ten electronic shelf rails RI to RIO, whose controllers CI to CIO can be individually addressed for each level by server 2 or its software.Thus, each level 20-21 has the configuration of electronic shelf rails RI to 10 with their controllers CI to CIO shown in Figure 1. These infrastructure elements are consistently provided with reference symbols only on the lowest level, and on the two levels above, only three of these infrastructure elements are designated per level to avoid overloading the figure. For the sake of simplicity, only one further group of infrastructure elements 4, 8, and 10 has been shown.

[0107] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows a person 23 wearing device 9, implemented as a radio fire transmitter, on a belt 24 while moving along path S. They are pushing a load-carrying vehicle 25 loaded with products PI to P4. The products PI to P4 are marked with radio tags E1 to E4, with their differentiation resulting from the characteristic data content of their tag radio signal ES.

[0108] In the present case, according to the previous discussions, the device position of device 9 is determined within the near-field limit B (less than 5 meters) adjacent to the electronic shelf labels RI to R3 of the three floors 20 - 21. To make a more energy-efficient selection, the software compares the accessible charge levels of the batteries (not shown) of the electronic shelf rails RI to R3 located within the near-field limit B and selects, for example, only the controller CI of the lowest floor and the controller C3 of the top floor as the detection device for receiving the label radio signals ES.

[0109] This process sequence, which now also takes into account the battery charge level of the respective electronic shelf rail RI to RIO, is repeated over time. For example, at a determined device position in the near range B of the electronic shelf rails R6 to R8, only a single detection device (e.g. the controller C6 of the middle level) is selected to receive the tag radio signal ES. Its battery has the highest charge level compared to the other controllers C6 to C8 that can be selected within the near range limit B. This enables the most energy-efficient use possible, particularly in an environment with densely packed detection devices. If autonomous ESLs are used as detection devices, their block diagram design differs from that of the controller CI in that the interface 5B is missing and a screen is provided instead.In addition to the radio-based reception and transmission tasks, the computer 5A controls the screen to display the peris and / or product information received via radio.

[0110] A second embodiment of system 1 will be discussed below, focusing on the second variant according to the general description. In system 1, the positioning receivers 10 distributed and fixedly located throughout the business premises (= shopping area) as shown in Figures 1 and 2 can generally be omitted for the purposes of discussing the processes in system 1. However, this does not preclude the positioning receivers 10 from continuing to be used for other purposes. The same applies analogously to the supply transmitters 8 distributed and fixedly located throughout the business premises.

[0111] Furthermore, the following general conditions apply.

[0112] A mobile phone equipped with a Bluetooth Low Energy transceiver (the first "BTLE transceiver") is used as an example as a freely movable battery-operated device 9, so that the label radio signals ES can be received. The device 9 is assigned to the person 23, which is also known to the server 2 because this connection is stored in a data structure there or can be obtained from an external data source. The person 23 is a supermarket employee who is responsible for restocking the products P1 - P4. The products P1 - P4 are located on the load transport vehicle 25. The load transport vehicle 25 has an electric drive that is powered by a powerful drive battery.In the present case, the load transport vehicle 25 has the supply transmitter 8, which, as a component of the load transport vehicle 25, competes with the load transport vehicle 25 and is also electrically supplied with power via the traction battery. The transmission power of the supply transmitter 8 is set such that the radio tags E1 - E4 attached to the products P12 - P4 on the load transport vehicle 25 are reliably supplied with power via the energy transmission radio signal EF, but this energy transmission radio signal EF has the shortest possible range beyond the load transport vehicle. As long as the radio tags E1 - E4 are within the energy supply range of the energy transmission radio signal EF, they transmit their respective tag radio signal ES, which is received by the device 9 using the first BTLE transceiver. The device 9 therefore monitors permanently or at intervals (e.g.periodically) the presence of the radio tags E1-E4 on the load transport vehicle 25. To compensate for the resulting power consumption of the device 9, the device 9 can be connected to the electronic power supply of the load transport vehicle 25, thus drawing its electrical power from the traction battery. Inductive charging can also be provided for this purpose.

[0113] The device 9 thus generates a list of the identifiers of the radio tags E1-E4, hereinafter referred to as the list of label identifiers, from the data content of the respective label radio signal ES. This list is automatically adjusted or changed when one of the radio tags E1-E4 is removed from the load transport vehicle 25 or the load transport vehicle 25 is loaded with a product bearing its own radio tag. By comparing it with the server 2, which knows the connection between the identifier of the respective radio tag E1-E4 and the products P1 to P4 or can establish this connection using an external data source, the device 9 can always provide the person 23 with plain text information concerning the products and / or store a list of the (unique) product identifiers for those products currently on the load transport vehicle 25.The inclusion of an external data source may also be necessary because the label identifiers are subject to encryption, particularly one that changes over time, the systematics of which are known only to the external data source.

[0114] The electronic shelf rails RI - RIO used, specifically their controller CI - CIO, are modified in the present case in such a way that, in contrast to the modification according to Figure 3, they have a combined Bluetooth Low Energy reception and transmission module 7 (second "BTLE transceiver") instead of the reception module 7 discussed there. This allows at least two different operating modes to be implemented. In a first operating mode, the module 7 behaves as a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon and transmits a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon signal (hereinafter referred to as the controller beacon signal), which can be received by the transceiver of the device 9 as soon as the device 9 is within the transmission range of the module 7. In order to obtain good spatial resolution, the transmission range within which the controller beacon signal can be reliably received can be reduced by setting the transmission power to a few meters, for exampleless than 20 meters or less than 10 or even less than 5 meters.

[0115] In a second operating mode, module 7 is in the receive state to receive different messages via Bluetooth Low Energy radio communication.

[0116] A first message may be a message from the device 9 containing the list of product identifiers that identify products that are to be restocked with respect to a specific shelf rail.

[0117] The second message can be a message from a radio tag El-E4 containing the specific tag identifier.

[0118] The meaning of these messages will be discussed below in the context of a discussion of the operation of System 1.

[0119] First, the person 23 activates a software application on their device 9 that has been programmed and installed for the purpose of re-finishing products. The server 2 electronically provides information on the device 9 regarding the products PI to P4 to be re-finished, and the person 23 loads the load transport vehicle 25 with the products PI to P4. The radio tags E1 - E4 attached to the products PI - P4 are supplied with energy via radio, transmit their tag radio signals, and the device 9 detects the tag identifiers transmitted thereby, so that either the device 9 itself or after communication with the server 2 confirms the correct selection of the products P1 - P4, and a list of the products on the load transport vehicle 25 is generated.

[0120] After the loading process is completed and as soon as the person and the load transport vehicle 25 start moving to restock the products PI - P4, this fact is communicated to the server 2 via radio (e.g., via WLAN or via IoT communication, such as according to the 5G or 6G mobile communications standard or higher) from the device 9, after which the server 2 activates the first operating mode of the module 7 for those controllers CI - CIO that are assigned to the products PI - P4 located on the load transport vehicle 25. In the present case, with reference to the shelf 19 according to Figure 2, it is assumed that the controller CI of the lower level 22 is assigned to the product PI and P2, the controller C7 of the middle level 21 is assigned to the product P3, and the controller CIO of the top level 20 is assigned to the product P4.

[0121] The device 9 now moves with the person 23 along the path S shown in Figure 2, close enough to the controller CI of the lowest floor 22 so that the controller beacon signal emitted from there can be received. As soon as this reception occurs, the device 9 instructs the relevant controller CI via communication with the server 2 to activate the second operating mode. The module 7 then goes into the receive state, which corresponds to the automatic selection of the relevant controller CI to receive a tag radio signal (ES) emitted by the radio tag (E1 - E4) and / or an identifier derived therefrom, namely a product identifier that can be derived from the tag identifier using the server 2 or an external data source available to the server.

[0122] Depending on how close the products Pl - P4 on the load transport vehicle 25 have been brought to the relevant controller CI, the first message or the second message can now be received by the controller 1.

[0123] If the products PI to P4 with the radio tags El - E4 attached to them have been brought close enough to the relevant controller CI, the latter can receive the radio tag signals ES from the radio tags El - E4 directly, i.e. receive the second message, as well as the first message. With the help of the first message, the product identifiers of the two products PI and P2 are made available to the relevant controller CI. Depending on the application, this can be interpreted to mean that individual products are re-stacked with regard to type and / or quantity. In this case, the transmission of two product identifiers can mean that two different product types are re-stacked with one piece each, or that two pieces of one product type are re-stacked.The CI controller therefore always maintains a direct overview of the number of products actually restocked and can communicate this information to Server 2, where the inventory on the shelf and in the warehouse is monitored. By receiving the two messages communicated by the CI controller from Server 2, Server 2 can determine that both the two products PI and P2 or their containers, to which the radio tags E1 and E2 are attached, as well as the person 25 who is to carry out the restocking process, are / were in the immediate vicinity of the relevant shelf position where the products PI and P2 are to be placed. From this, it is automatically concluded that the restocking process for the two products PI and P2 has been completed. Server 2 then instructs the relevant CI controller to enter its energy-saving mode, in which module 7 is deactivated in order to save energy.

[0124] However, if products PI to P4 are so far away from the relevant controller CI that it cannot directly receive the label radio signals ES, only the first message is received by the relevant controller CI. This is also communicated by the relevant controller CI to server 2. In this case, server 2 can at least determine that the person 23 responsible for re-stocking was near the relevant shelf location for which products PI and P2 are intended. From this knowledge, it is also automatically concluded that the re-stocking process for both products PI and P2 is at least very likely completed. Server 2 then instructs the relevant controller CI to enter its energy-saving mode, in which module 7 is deactivated to save energy.

[0125] For the two scenarios discussed in the two preceding paragraphs, it can be concluded at server 2 that the re-settlement process for the two products PI and P2 has been successfully completed if the radio tags E1 and E2 assigned to the products PI and P2 are subsequently determined by device 9 to be missing on the load transport vehicle 25 because their tag radio signals ES are no longer received by device 9 as the load transport vehicle 25 continues to move along path S.

[0126] Subsequently, the described process is repeated for the two remaining products P3 and P4 in an analogous manner, but at other locations along path S.

[0127] The invention thus allows the post-finishing process for products to be fully electronically tracked in a manner that is as energy-efficient and radio-channel-friendly as possible. Finally, it is pointed out 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 is also pointed out 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

Claims 1. A method for detecting a radio tag (El - E4), in particular a location-variable one, using detection devices (CI - CIO) positioned at different locations, the method comprising the following method steps: - an automatic selection of a number of detection devices (CI -CIO) that is smaller than the total number of detection devices (CI - CIO) for receiving a label radio signal (ES) emitted by the radio label (El - E4) and / or a product identifier derived from the label radio signal (ES), wherein a first criterion for the automatic selection is used that, with respect to a, in particular automatically determined, device position of a device (9) located at least temporarily in the vicinity of the radio label (El - E4), at least one of the detection devices (CI - CIO) is favorably positioned relative to at least one other detection device (CI - CIO) for receiving the label radio signal (ES) and / or the product identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises transmitting a tag radio signal (ES) individual to the radio tag (El - E4) by the radio tag (El - E4) during its movement, in particular by a group of the radio tags (El - E4) during their joint movement.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic determination of a device position is radio-based.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatic determination of the device position is image-based.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device position is determined solely by the fact of receiving a localization radio signal transmitted by at least one of the detection devices.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detecting comprises: - receiving the tag radio signal (ES) by the at least one selected detection device (CI - CIO), and - based on the received tag radio signal (ES), identifying the radio tag (El - E4) and / or a product associated with the radio tag (El - E4).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automatic selection is carried out by a data processing device (2), wherein - the data processing device (2) digitally stores the positions of the detection devices (CI - CIO) or has access to the digitally stored positions and knows the device position, and wherein - the data processing device (2) selects the at least one detection device (CI - CIO) which is favorably positioned in that a distance of the respective detection device (CI - CIO) to the device (9) is smaller than a limit value, or wherein the automatic selection is carried out by a data processing device (2) which is informed by means of the device (9) about the at least one detection device (CI - CIO) to be selected.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the limit value is a distance of ten meters or less, preferably in the range of four to eight meters, particularly preferably less than four meters.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the data processing device (2) defines the limit value variably depending on the device position.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the case that several detection devices (CI - CIO) satisfy the first criterion, only a single one is detected sequentially for a predefined period of time. of these detection devices (CI - CIO) fulfilling the first criterion is selected to receive the tag radio signal Is (ES).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the time period is defined inversely proportional to a state of charge of a battery (5C) of the respective detection device (CI - CIO).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the event that a plurality of detection devices (CI - CIO) satisfy the first criterion, a second criterion for the automatic selection is applied such that, for the detection devices (CI - CIO) satisfying the first criterion, those detection devices (CI - CIO) are selected for receiving the tag radio signal (ES) with knowledge of the charge level of a battery (5C) of these detection devices (CI - CIO) whose batteries (5C) exceed a charge level threshold, in particular only that detection device (CI - CIO) is selected for receiving the tag radio signal (ES) with the battery (5C) having the highest charge level.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio tag (E1 - E4) is electrically self-powered to transmit the tag radio signal (ES).

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radio tag (El - E4) is electrically supplied by an energy transmission radio signal in order to transmit the tag radio signal (ES).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the energy transmission radio signal (EF) for electrical supply is transmitted in a frequency range between 700 MHz and 1 GHz and / or in a frequency range of an ISM frequency band above 1 GHz, in particular the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz ISM frequency band.

16. Method according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein a plurality of energy transmission transmitting devices (10) positioned at different locations are used to transmit the energy transmission radio signal (EF), and at least one, preferably exactly one, of the energy transmission transmitting devices (10) is automatically selected which has the smallest distance to the device (9) in comparison to at least one other energy transmission transmitting device (10).

17. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the following group of devices is used as the device (9) in the method, namely: - a personal digital assistant, also known as a “Personal Digital Assistant”, or PDA for short; - a smartphone; - a smart shopping cart; - a cargo transport vehicle; - a radio beacon transmitter, in particular a Bluetooth Low Energy Radio Beacon.

18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an electronic device provided for displaying product and / or price information is used as the detection device (CI - CIO), in particular an electronic display device for still image and / or video playback or a control device for controlling such an electronic display device, wherein the electronic device is designed to receive the label radio signal (ES).

19. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automatic selection of the at least one detection device (CI - CIO) comprises a shared use of a communication infrastructure (2, 3, 4) provided by a retailer for the electronic display of product and / or price information.

20. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a localization infrastructure (2, 3, 8) which is provided by a retailer for localizing a person (23) moving in the store or the device (9) moved with the person (23) is used for automatically determining the device position.

Images