Electronic shelf tag management system

Abstract

To provide an electronic shelf tag management system that can extract an effect of an electronic shelf tag to the maximum.SOLUTION: An electronic shelf tag management system includes determination means (steps 1-1 to 1-17) for determining a commodity to be attached with an electronic shelf tag 90 according to a predetermined condition. The determination means includes count means (steps 1-4, 15) for counting a change frequency of display information related to a commodity to be sold (for example, a selling price or essential display information other than the selling price of the commodity). The determination means determines the commodity to be attached with the electronic shelf tag 90 according to the change frequency of the display information related to the commodity counted by the count means (step 1-5).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label management system that manages electronic shelf labels used in supermarkets and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In stores such as mass retailers, supermarkets, and drugstores, POP (Point of purchase advertising, paper-based product shelf labels) are used for new products, special sales, and sales. Meanwhile, in recent years, a system called electronic shelf labels has also been put into practical use. Electronic shelf labels are small displays that can change and display prices, product information, stock, and other information in real time via wireless communication, and are highly useful because the display on the shelf labels can be easily changed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-146555 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, except in cases where electronic shelf labels are attached to all products in a store, in order to make effective use of the limited number of electronic shelf labels, it is not easy to make appropriate decisions such as which products should be effectively equipped with electronic shelf labels, and under what conditions products should be changed to have electronic shelf labels attached. In the following explanation, shelf labels made of sheets of paper media or the like are referred to as "product shelf labels."

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic shelf label management system that can maximize the effectiveness of electronic shelf labels and increase return on investment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is an electronic shelf label management system that manages electronic shelf labels, and is characterized by including a determination unit that determines a product to which an electronic shelf label is to be attached in accordance with a predetermined condition. This determination means allows the effectiveness of the electronic shelf labels to be maximized, thereby improving the return on investment.

[0007] In addition to the above-mentioned features, the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises a counting means for counting the number of changes to display information related to a product to be sold, and the determination means determines a target for attaching an electronic shelf label in accordance with the number of changes to the display information related to the product counted by the counting means. According to the present invention, the attachment target of the electronic shelf label is determined according to the number of changes in the display information, so that it is possible to clearly identify the products on which the electronic shelf label should be attached. For example, it is possible to easily and smoothly give priority to attaching electronic shelf labels to products that have been changed frequently. This allows the limited number of electronic shelf labels to be used effectively.

[0008] Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned features, the present invention is characterized in that the counting means counts the number of times the selling price of the product has been changed, and the determination means determines a target for attaching an electronic shelf label based on a count result of the number of times the selling price has been changed counted by the counting means. That is, in the present invention, the number of times the selling price has been changed is used as the subject of judgment, and this makes it possible to accurately detect products for which electronic shelf labels are to be installed.

[0009] In addition to the above-mentioned features, the present invention further comprises a collection instruction means for instructing collection of the electronic shelf labels of the products excluded from the targets for electronic shelf label attachment by the determination means. According to the present invention, since it is possible to give an instruction to collect an electronic shelf label that needs to be collected as needed, delays in collection or forgetting to collect the electronic shelf label are prevented.

[0010] In addition to the above features, the present invention further comprises an attachment instruction means for instructing attachment of an electronic shelf label to a product that has been determined by the determination means to be a target for attachment of an electronic shelf label. According to the present invention, when an electronic shelf label needs to be attached, an instruction to attach it can be given as needed, so that there is no risk of delaying or forgetting to attach the electronic shelf label.

[0011] In addition to the above features, the present invention is characterized by further comprising a storage means for storing products to be excluded from the judgment targets of the judgment means. According to the present invention, products for which electronic shelf labels are desired can be reliably targeted.

[0012] In addition to the above-mentioned characteristics, the present invention is characterized in that, when the product is a target product of a sales promotion, the determination means determines that a product that has been excluded from the determination by the determination means in the memory means is a target product of the return instruction means. Products that are the subject of a sales promotion are displayed for a certain period of time in a corner that is different from the usual display area, for example, a special sale corner. In such cases, it is better to use POP advertising, which is a type of product shelf tag, rather than electronic shelf tags, because POP advertising is more effective at attracting customers and is only used for a short period of time. Therefore, in the present invention, even if the product in question has a fixed electronic shelf tag, the electronic shelf tag is collected. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the effect of the electronic shelf label can be maximized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a product sales data processing system 100. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of a management device 10. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a POS device 30. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a shelf label management device 50. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of an electronic shelf label 90. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a shelf label management screen G1. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an output content screen G3. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a switching progress screen G5. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic shelf label 90. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a POP advertisement 75. [Figure 12] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an attachment / detachment screen G7 of the shelf label management device 50. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen G9 of a handheld terminal 85. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a linking operation screen G11 of the handheld terminal 85. FIG. [Figure 15] 13 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 of the handheld terminal 85. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. [Figure 18] 13 is an operational flow diagram of a method for determining how to handle the electronic shelf label 90 depending on the presence or absence of a sales plan or the like. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a product sales data processing system 100 having an electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the product sales data processing system 100 is configured by connecting a management device (store controller) 10, multiple POS devices 30 (30-1, . . . , n), and the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to this embodiment so that they can communicate with each other via a LAN 25. The LAN 25 may be either wired or wireless.

[0016] The management device 10 is a host computer with a server function that stores product files and the like, and controls the entire product sales data processing system 100. The product files are updated as appropriate. The management device 10 transmits the latest product information to the POS device 30, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1, and the like as appropriate.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the management device 10. As shown in the figure, the management device 10 has a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a display unit 14, a hard disk 15, an operation unit 16, and a communication unit 17, and these components are connected to each other via a communication line 18 such as a bus. The CPU 11 controls the operation of the management device 10 by executing a control program stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 13 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information to a store clerk who operates the management device 10. The hard disk 15 is a storage means for storing the product file and various information described below. The operation unit 16 has various keys for receiving various instructions from the store clerk who operates the management device 10. The communication unit 17 is a communication interface for communicating with various devices via a LAN 25. The management device 10 may also be connected to a headquarters computer or a Cloud system via, for example, a network via the communication unit 17.

[0018] 3 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the POS device 30. The POS device 30 is an example of a normal type POS device in which a store clerk registers products and settles accounts. As shown in the figure, the POS device 30 includes a CPU 31 that controls the operation of the POS device 30, a hard disk 32 that stores customer purchase information, a ROM 33 that stores programs executed by the CPU 31, a RAM 34 that temporarily stores various information (e.g., product files acquired from the management device 10), a scanner unit 35 that optically reads barcodes attached to products, a store clerk display unit 36 ​​that displays the name and price of a product purchased by a customer when the product is registered, a customer display unit 37, a receipt printing unit 38, a drawer unit 39 (or an automatic change dispenser 39) that stores cash, coupons, etc., a communication unit 40 that communicates with external devices such as the management device 10 via a wireless or wired LAN 25, and an operation unit 41 consisting of various operation buttons for performing various processes such as product registration processing and payment processing in the POS device 30. The components are connected to each other via a communication line 42 such as a bus.

[0019] In the above POS device 30, an example of a normal system in which product registration (product registration processing) and settlement (payment processing) are performed by a store clerk is shown, however, the POS device may be of various other types, such as a semi-self-service POS system device in which product registration (product registration processing) is performed by a store clerk and settlement (payment processing) is performed by the customer himself, or a full-self-service POS device in which registration and settlement are performed by the customer himself.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 1, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 is configured to include a shelf label management device 50, a printing device 70, a plurality of electronic shelf labels 90 (90-1 to q) connected via one or more transceivers 80 (80-1 to e), and a plurality of handheld terminals 85 (85-1 to f) connected via one or more transceivers 80 (80-f).

[0021] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 has a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a display unit 54, a hard disk 55 (or a solid state drive 55), an operation unit 56, and a communication unit 57, and these components are connected to each other via a communication line 58 such as a bus. The CPU 51 controls the operation of the shelf label management device 50 by executing a control program stored in the ROM 52. The ROM 52 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 53 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 54 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information to a store clerk who operates the shelf label management device 50. The hard disk 55 is a storage means for storing a product master for shelf label management and various other information. The operation unit 56 has various keys and the like for receiving various instructions from a store clerk who operates the shelf label management device 50. The communication unit 57 is a communication interface for communicating with various other devices such as the management device 10, the POS device 30, the printer 70, the handy terminal 85, and the electronic shelf label 90 via the LAN 25 or the like.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of an electronic shelf label 90, and FIG. 10 is a front view showing an example of the electronic shelf label 90. As shown in both figures, the electronic shelf label 90 has a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, a display unit 94, and a communication unit 95. These components are connected to each other via a communication line 96 such as a bus, and a battery 97 is also built in. The CPU 91 controls the operation of the electronic shelf label 90 by executing a control program stored in the ROM 92. The ROM 92 stores various information such as the control program. The RAM 93 temporarily stores various information. The display unit 94 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays information such as the price of a product placed on a shelf on which the electronic shelf label 90 is installed to a customer. The communication unit 95 is a communication interface for communicating with the shelf label management device 50 and the like via the transceiver 80. For example, infrared communication is used as a communication means between the communication unit 95 and the transceiver 80, but other various communication means may also be used. As shown in FIG. 10, the display screen 94 of the electronic shelf label 90 displays "SALE" for sales promotion, the product name, the current selling price, and the like. The display screen 94 is preferably in color for effective sales promotion. A lamp 99 is provided at a predetermined position (upper corner) of the display screen 94, which can be turned on when a store clerk wants to change the electronic shelf label 90 to a product shelf label, for example, to facilitate the replacement. An identification code (barcode) 98 is displayed at a predetermined position (lower center) of the display screen 94 to distinguish the electronic shelf label 90 from other electronic shelf labels 90. The means for identifying the electronic shelf label 90 may be the electronic tag or the character string or number itself. In that case, the handheld terminal 85 may be provided with an electronic tag reader or imaging means such as a CCD camera. Depending on the space and face of the display area, vertical and horizontal types and even multiple sizes are available.

[0023] Although not shown, the handy terminal 85 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a display operation unit, and a communication unit, and these components are connected to each other via a communication line such as a bus, and is configured to have a separate built-in battery. The CPU controls the operation of the handy terminal 85 by executing a control program stored in the ROM. The ROM stores various information such as the control program. The RAM temporarily stores various information. The display operation unit is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is used to display various instructions to the worker carrying the handy terminal 85 and to perform an operation of linking the electronic shelf label 90 with the location of a product or shelf. The communication unit is a communication interface for communicating with the shelf label management device 50 and the like via the transceiver 80. Note that the communication means of the communication unit of the handy terminal 85 may be any means such as wireless LAN or infrared communication, and may use a communication means and communication band different from those of the electronic shelf label 90. In addition, the handy terminal 85 may be batch processing rather than real-time processing.

[0024] Next, the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described, starting with the prerequisite operations. When introducing Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) 90, purchasing the same number of ESLs 90 as the number of products handled in a store would require a huge investment, so generally, not all of them are purchased. For example, suppose 3,500 ESLs 90 are purchased. Then, first, a surplus is set aside for new products, etc. For example, 100 are set aside as surplus, and the remaining 3,400 are allocated to each department, etc.

[0025] The person in charge determines the sales price change record (hereinafter referred to as "sales change history") and the change record of the mandatory display information other than the sales price (hereinafter referred to as "mandatory display information change history") for any past period from the sales management system, sales planning management data, etc. From the results, the target products for which electronic shelf tags 90 are to be installed are selected. The electronic shelf tags 90 may be automatically allocated according to the number of electronic shelf tags 90 allocated to each department / category unit from the top products that have been changed the most in each department / category based on the sales change history and mandatory display information change history.

[0026] Next, the person in charge installs electronic shelf labels 90 on the shelves on which the selected target products are placed. This installation is performed by category, by rail of the product shelf, or by face. Each electronic shelf label 90 has a shelf label identification number, and can be identified by attaching an identification code 98 or an electronic tag. Specifically, the electronic shelf label 90 is installed as follows. (1) The product identification number (barcode such as EAN, UPC, ITF, or electronic tag) data is read and entered using a handheld terminal 85 or the like. (2) The identification number of the electronic shelf label 90 is read from the identification code 98 (or electronic tag, character string, or number) using a handheld terminal 85 or the like, and input. (3) An operation is performed to link the product with the electronic shelf label 90. The linking operation is performed by pressing the confirmation button on the operation surface of the handheld terminal 85, for example.

[0027] In order to confirm the linking operation between the above-mentioned products and the electronic shelf labels 90, for example, the shelf label management device 50 may acquire the status of each electronic shelf label 90 via a transceiver (a relay device such as an access point, and the communication means may be any means, such as WIFI, infrared communication, or a beacon) 80 that communicates with the electronic shelf labels 90, and compare the acquired status of the electronic shelf labels 90 with the linking confirmation information acquired from the handheld terminal 85.

[0028] On the other hand, in the case of a new store (a newly opened store), product shelf tags (so-called price cards) are issued and placed near each product. In addition, in the case of a new store, a special project such as a special sale for a new store opening or special gifts is planned, so a POP advertisement is issued and attached to the selling place of the product. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a POP advertisement 75. As shown in the figure, the POP advertisement 75 is displayed on a sheet (paper medium) with a promotional message such as "SALE, our store's best recommendation!", a product name, a current selling price, and the like. This POP advertisement 75 is preferably displayed in color for effective promotion. The POP advertisement 75 printed in this way is placed, for example, in a predetermined position on a display shelf near the product. It is desirable to display an identification code 76 on the POP advertisement 75 so that the POP advertisement can be distinguished from other POP advertisements. In this way, electronic shelf tags and product shelf tags (including POP advertisements) are prepared.

[0029] In addition, the electronic shelf tags 90 or product shelf tags are issued by linking them to products and allocating them to each product, but when the same product is displayed multiple times, such as in a sales area in a store, the product and the display location (location) may also be included in the linking and matching work. The location may be determined by position information from the handheld terminal 85, a barcode or character string affixed to the product shelf in advance, selecting the display location from a pull-down menu on the handheld terminal 85, or manually entering the location.

[0030] Furthermore, the linking may be performed with the management number of the promotion plan in the promotion master or sales plan master. By using the promotion number or promotion plan name, multiple electronic shelf labels 90 and POP advertisements can be assigned to the same product and created. This allows the work of preparing and installing electronic shelf labels 90, product shelf labels, promotional POP advertisements, etc. in the store to be performed quickly and accurately. Note that the linking operation using the handy terminal 85 may be performed in multiple operating methods according to the work purpose, such as by product specification or by display location.

[0031] Next, a description will be given of switching between electronic shelf labels 90 and product shelf labels in an operating store. The above-mentioned product sales change history, mandatory display information change history, sales promotion plan history, etc. are stored and managed as data in the hard disk 55 of the shelf label management device 50.

[0032] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a shelf label management screen G1 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management screen G1 displays a department setting field G11, an electronic shelf label usage count display field G12, a period setting field G13, a shelf label condition setting field G15, a judgment target selection field G17, a display target selection field G19, a display method selection field G21, a product field G23, an output button G25, a confirm button G27, a switched product count field G29, and the like.

[0033] The department setting field G11 is a field for selecting a department to be displayed in the product field G23. For example, a department classified according to the nature of the product or the sales form, such as the fruit and vegetable department, the fresh fish department, the meat department, the prepared food department, and the daily necessities department, is selected and displayed. In the illustrated example, the fruit and vegetable department is selected. The electronic shelf label usage display field G12 displays how many electronic shelf labels 90 (67 in the figure) are currently in use out of the electronic shelf labels 90 (120 in the figure) assigned to each department. The period setting field G13 is a field for setting a period for determining whether to attach or remove the electronic shelf labels. For example, the start date and time of the period is input in the field G131 on the left side of the figure, and the end date and time of the period is input in the field G133 on the right side of the figure. The display target setting field G15 is a field for specifying the display target to be displayed in the product field G23. It is a field for setting one of the following: fixed product shelf label, fixed electronic shelf label, fixed unspecified product (such as new products or products not on display), normal (target item for which attachment or removal is determined). In the figure, normal is set.

[0034] The judgment target selection field G17 is a field for selecting whether to extract targets for installation and removal using only price changes, extract targets for installation and removal using other factors than price changes, or extract targets for installation and removal using both. In the figure, it is selected to extract targets for installation and removal using price changes. The display target selection field G19 is a field for selecting whether to display mutual changes between electronic shelf labels 90 and product shelf labels (ALL), to display only cases where the electronic shelf labels 90 are changed to product shelf labels (ESL ⇒ POP), or to display only cases where the product shelf labels are changed to electronic shelf labels 90 (POP ⇒ ESL). In the figure, it is selected to display mutual changes. The display method selection field G21 is a field for selecting whether to display (sort) in ascending or descending order when sorting by the highest or highest number of installation and removal conditions. In the figure, ascending order is selected. The product field G23 is a list of products calculated according to the above conditions. The product field G23 has fields for number (No.), PLU, product name (product name), specification, sales change (number of times the selling price has been changed), change (attachment / removal), and confirmation. The confirmation field indicates whether the product is to be changed or not, and confirmed products are subject to update. Confirmed or unconfirmed can be selected by pressing the confirmation field corresponding to each product. In addition, pressing the confirmation button G27 switches all products in the product field G23 displayed in a list to confirmed. Pressing the output button G25 outputs (transmits) change data for confirmed products to the handheld terminal 85 or the printer 70 via the output content screen G3 shown in FIG. 7 below. This allows the electronic shelf tag 90 or product shelf tag to be changed using the display screen of the handheld terminal 85 or the form output from the printer 70. Furthermore, even if this operation is not performed, if the conditions for the change are set in advance, for example, when a menu is selected and the screen is displayed, if the initial value is set in advance, such as setting the initial value of a selection field other than the display content that determines the display data based on the department setting, specifically the judgment target selection field G17 to change the selling price, then by selecting a department, the judgment can be made automatically for a period of one month from the current day and one month from the previous month.

[0035] In addition, if the quantity of electronic shelf labels 90 used in a department can be changed at any time, it is convenient when adjusting surpluses or when quantity adjustments between departments occur. In addition, when calculating the top list displayed in the above-mentioned product column G23, it may be possible to set for each product, such as not allocating electronic shelf labels 90 or using only product shelf labels. In that case, the product is excluded when generating the top list. Furthermore, by setting specific conditions, it is possible to switch from electronic shelf labels 90 to product shelf labels. For example, it is possible to set conditions such that electronic shelf labels 90 that have been allocated to a department that has not changed its sales price within a certain period of time are forcibly allocated to another department or allocated for surplus use. In addition, although a department is used here, a medium classification or a small classification may also be used.

[0036] In addition, in FIG. 6, only the selling price change is used in the judgment target selection field G17 to extract the target for attachment / removal, but other than the selling price change or both may be used, that is, for example, as an example other than the selling price change, the necessity of the electronic shelf label 90 may be judged based on the product characteristics. For bare-sold products such as fruits and vegetables and fresh fish, information other than the selling price (essential display information) such as the place of origin and producer changes frequently, so it is more useful to use the electronic shelf label 90. This is because it is inefficient in terms of labor and cost to issue POP advertisements and product shelf labels every time the place of origin changes. On the other hand, for departments such as stationery and daily necessities, the selling price change and other essential display information hardly change, so it is possible to exclude them from the targets of the electronic shelf label 90 from the beginning so that the electronic shelf label 90 is not assigned. Furthermore, products whose display information has been changed may be treated as target products. Specifically, when an allergy label is added to the electronic shelf label 90, or when a POP larger than a normal price card is used to increase the appeal to customers, the electronic shelf label 90 may be removed under the opposite condition to the above.

[0037] Also, products that are the subject of a sales promotion plan may be forced to be the subject of POP advertising. However, electronic shelf labels 90 may be installed in normal display locations, and separate POP advertising may be issued in sale or promotional sales corners. In this case, the necessity for electronic shelf labels 90 may be determined by the combination of the product and the sales promotion plan, or the combination of the product and the location.

[0038] 7 is a diagram showing an example of an output content screen G3 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the output content screen G3 displays a department field G31, a switching target display location field G33, an output target field G35, a send button G37, and an issue button G39.

[0039] The department field G31 displays the department of the product to be replaced, and in this example, the produce department is displayed. The changeover target display location field G33 displays the first and last points of the display location to be replaced. The 11 line 04 shelf 99th row 99th row means up to the last row and row of the 11 line 04 shelf. The output target field G35 is a field in which it is possible to select whether to output only the unupdated part or to output all of the updated and unupdated parts. Although not shown in the figure, the output target field G35 may be provided with a display of a difference in addition to the unupdated part and all. The difference is for outputting not only the unupdated part but also new unupdated parts that have occurred during the replacement work. The send button G37 is a button that enables the handheld terminal 85 to receive the data, and is a button that sends the data to a database in the shelf label management device 50, the store controller 10, or a separate file server (including the cloud). The issue button G39 is a button that outputs the data to the printer 70. This makes it efficient to use the instruction lists output from the handheld terminal 85 and the printer 70 in combination, or to switch between them independently. Also, the instruction list is useful when multiple people are working simultaneously, as it allows the output range to be determined. It is also possible to make it possible to select multiple ranges for the display location. When specifying multiple ranges, for example when performing an operation to add an input field, it is easier to operate if the location number in the end field at the top is automatically entered in the start field. It is also possible to make the data receivable by the handheld terminal 85 when the Confirm button G27 in FIG. 6 is pressed, without using FIG. 7 in particular.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a switching progress screen G5 displayed on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50. As shown in the figure, the switching progress screen G5 displays a department field G51, a switching target field G53, a progress ratio display field G55, a progress display target selection field G57, and a product information display field G59. The department field G51 displays the department of the product for which the progress is to be displayed, and in this example, displays the fruit and vegetable department. The switching target field G53 displays whether to switch from the electronic shelf label 90 to the product shelf label, to switch from the product shelf label to the electronic shelf label 90, or to attach a new shelf label, and in this example, a product for which the product shelf label is to be switched to the electronic shelf label 90 is selected. The progress ratio display field G55 displays the percentage of the switching progress. The progress display target selection field G57 selects whether the product to be displayed in the product information display field G59 is one for which replacement has been completed, one for which replacement has not been completed, or both, and in this example, it is selected to display both. The product information display field G59 displays the display location, PLU, product name, person in charge, installation, and communication information for each product selected according to the various conditions described above. Installation here indicates whether or not the installation of the electronic shelf label 90 in the display location has been completed, regardless of whether or not communication with the transceiver 80 has been completed. Communication indicates whether or not communication between the electronic shelf label 90 and the transceiver 80 has been completed.

[0041] When switching shelf labels, various conditions such as the department and an arbitrary (predetermined) period are entered into the shelf label management screen G1 shown in Fig. 6. Next, by pressing the output button G25 on the shelf label management screen G1, the output content screen G3 shown in Fig. 7 is displayed. After the department and display location for the replacement are confirmed on this output content screen G3, the data is sent to the handheld terminal 85 or the printer 70 so that it can be used.

[0042] Then, the person in charge uses the display screen of the handy terminal 85 or the instruction sheet (document) printed by the printer 70 to replace the product shelf label with the electronic shelf label 90, or replace the electronic shelf label 90 with a product shelf label, or in the case of a new product, attach a new product shelf label or electronic shelf label 90. At this time, the number of shelf labels to be replaced and the locations may be set in multiple locations so that multiple workers can be engaged in the replacement work. A specific description will be given below.

[0043] First, a case where the electronic shelf label 90 is changed to a product shelf label will be described. In this case, a product shelf label (including a price card and a POP advertisement) for the product to be changed is issued. The issuing unit may be a department, a display location, or the like.

[0044] The issued product shelf label is attached at the sales floor of the store, and the electronic shelf label 90 is collected. In the case of an instruction sheet (document), the electronic shelf label 90 is removed at the display location of the product, and the product shelf label is attached. In the case of using a handy terminal 85 or the like, the process may be completed by comparing the identification information (identification code 98, etc.) of the electronic shelf label 90 with the identification information (identification code 76, etc.) on the product shelf label, or if there is a location barcode or the like at the display location, the process may be completed by reading the location barcode. In addition, when the switching operation is performed quickly after closing time, the display section 94 of the electronic shelf label 90 may be blanked (erased) in advance, a character string or mark that can be identified as the target for replacement may be displayed, or if the electronic shelf label 90 is equipped with a lamp 99, the lamp 99 may be turned on in order to easily identify the electronic shelf label 90 to be replaced. In the case where the lamp 99 can be switched to two or more colors, or if two or more lamps 99 are equipped, the color and manner of the light may be changed to a special sale color, or the light may be turned on or blinked to make it easier to identify.

[0045] When performing the switching work as described above, for example, by using a switching progress screen G5 as shown in Fig. 8 (the screen in Fig. 8 shows the state when switching from the product shelf label to the electronic shelf label 90, but the reverse state is also possible), the progress of the collection operation of the electronic shelf labels 90 can be confirmed and the work can be prevented from being forgotten. It is also possible to grasp the identification information of the collected electronic shelf labels 90 and to select the electronic shelf label 90 to be used next based on the remaining battery power of each electronic shelf label 90, etc.

[0046] Next, a case where the product shelf label is switched to the electronic shelf label 90 will be described. In this case, the electronic shelf label 90 to be installed is taken to the product display location specified by the instruction sheet or the handy terminal 85. At this time, the electronic shelf label 90 may be switched to new product information in advance, or may be in the initial value state.

[0047] Next, the product shelf labels in the specified product display locations are removed and electronic shelf labels 90 are installed. Then, the identification information (such as the identification code 98) of the electronic shelf labels 90 and the product or location identification information are entered, and the replacement operation is completed. The display information of the electronic shelf labels 90 may be updated after all the electronic shelf labels 90 have been installed, or may be updated each time an electronic shelf label 90 is installed. Once the display information of all the electronic shelf labels 90 has been rewritten, the work is complete.

[0048] Next, we will explain sales promotion plans (sales promotion plans). Sales can be set by product, category, or department. When setting sales by category or department, they can be set by excluded products or subcategories. For example, all produce can be set at 10% off, but Chinese cabbage can be excluded. A period (start and end dates) must be set. When multiple sales promotion plans apply, possible methods include prioritizing each plan, giving priority to plans with similar start dates, or if the start dates are the same, giving priority to plans with similar end dates (shortest), or giving priority to the lowest price.

[0049] Even if the price is not a special sale but is changed over a long period such as one month, the period price can be set in the sales planning master or product master. In the case of monthly special offers, if the product is subject to a sales plan it will not be subject to the electronic shelf label 90, but since it cannot be checked in the period price setting in the product master or the like, it is also possible to determine whether it is subject to the price setting based on the period (even a single day). It is easy to see that electronic shelf labels 90 are not required for products whose prices do not change from month to month, so this can be incorporated into the logic when generating the top list.

[0050] Next, if the electronic shelf label 90 does not have an identification code, the following operation is performed. First, the shelf label management device 50 sets the number of assigned and spare electronic shelf labels 90 for each department and category. The spare number is the number of electronic shelf labels 90 that is manually assigned to new products, etc.

[0051] The installation / removal screen G7 of the shelf label management device 50 in FIG. 12 is a screen for grasping the product master registration status for each intermediate category and the number of tasks to be performed for installation / removal. This installation / removal screen G7 displays an installed electronic shelf label number field G71, an allocation number field G73 for each intermediate category, a display product number field G75, and a product number field G77 for installation / removal. The maximum number of electronic shelf labels to be installed is the number displayed in the installed electronic shelf label number field G71 minus the spare number. This installation / removal screen G7 has a function of printing a product shelf label (POP) for a product to be removed when the product shelf label (POP) for each intermediate category is pressed. After issuing a product shelf label (POP), the electronic shelf label 90 for the target product is removed according to the issued product shelf label (POP). In actual operation, there are cases where multiple products are displayed, or multiple electronic shelf tags 90 are used for one product due to display face and space restrictions. Therefore, the removal work is not one work per product. Note that since two identification numbers of the electronic shelf tags 90 are linked to the product and managed, the work is two. When attaching electronic shelf labels 90, if the worker can arbitrarily decide the number of electronic shelf labels 90 to be attached, it is possible to set multiple electronic shelf labels for one product. Specifically, the barcode of the product is scanned and the identification information of the electronic shelf label 90 is scanned. If the product code and electronic shelf label identification information are the same, an error is reported, and if the electronic shelf label identification information is different, a message such as "A second electronic shelf label will be attached to this product. Is this OK?" is displayed and additional settings can be made. At this time, the number of units allocated to a department may be automatically changed by scanning (inputting) the electronic shelf label identification information that was allocated to the spare units in another department. If the department plans to use the unit in advance, the start date of use or prohibition of transfer between departments can be set, and the department can be notified of this to prevent the impact on other departments.

[0052] Next, the operation on the handy terminal 85 will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an installation / removal operation screen G9 displayed on the display operation unit of the handy terminal 85 during the installation / removal work of the electronic shelf label. This installation / removal operation screen G9 displays a list of products to which the electronic shelf label 90 is to be installed / removed, for each medium classification. This installation / removal operation screen G9 displays a manufacturer name (supplier) display field G91, a product identification code / product name field G93, a display standard field G95, and a work check field G97. The work check field G97 displays whether installation or removal is to be performed, and whether the installation / removal work has been completed, and a check ("R") indicates that the installation / removal work has been completed (checked). This makes it possible to perform the installation / removal work easily and reliably.

[0053] This installation / removal operation screen G9 may display other information useful for the replacement operation, such as the selling price. If the electronic shelf label 90 does not have an identification code, the user may confirm the operation by pressing the operation check field G97 on the installation / removal operation screen G9 or by moving the cursor. If the product has a product code (barcode), the product code can be scanned to mark the product as having been checked. If the electronic shelf label 90 has an identification code 98, the identification code 98 can be read to mark the product as having been checked. If "Removal" (not shown) in the operation check field G97 is checked or the target product code is scanned, the display on the electronic shelf label 90 is cleared. In this way, if the electronic shelf labels 90 were introduced at different times, either one can be handled. If an identification code is attached to each electronic shelf label 90, the replacement operation can be performed even if there is an electronic shelf label 90 that does not have an identification code attached, and the progress and completion can be managed, so that the operation can be performed without any mistakes. As described above, the operation of switching between the electronic shelf label 90 and the product shelf label can be easily performed by anyone without any mistakes.

[0054] Furthermore, in the handy terminal 85, a linking operation (linking operation) can be performed by inputting the product code and the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a linking operation screen G11 for linking the product code and the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. As shown in the figure, information is input into the display location field G111, the product code field G113, and the identification code field G115 of the electronic shelf label 90, respectively, to perform the linking operation, and the information is transmitted to the shelf label management device 50. The electronic shelf label 90 for which linking has been completed communicates with the transceiver 80. The electronic shelf label 90 periodically communicates with the transceiver 80, thereby updating the display contents of the electronic shelf label 90. That is, the electronic shelf label 90 that has been linked automatically connects to the transceiver 80 and displays data corresponding to the newly linked product information. As the timing of communication, the transceiver 80 can also be controlled by an operation from the handy terminal 85.

[0055] If the display shelf (display location) has an identification code and the electronic shelf label 90 and POP are managed in association with the product code, the display can be updated in the same way by linking the identification code of the display location with the identification code of the electronic shelf label 90. Furthermore, the linking operation between the product and the electronic shelf label 90 can also be performed on a different screen. The electronic shelf label 90 can also be removed (the linking operation is cleared) to use it as a spare electronic shelf label 90.

[0056] 15 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 displayed on the display operation unit of the handheld terminal 85. As shown in the figure, the electronic shelf label management menu display field G13 displays an electronic shelf label creation field G131, an electronic shelf label deletion field G133, etc., and by pressing any of the fields, it is possible to perform linking when setting up an electronic shelf label 90 (such as display and linking operation using the linking operation screen G11 described above) or deletion when removing.

[0057] Next, an example of the operation of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. FIG. 9 is an operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically judges whether the selling price of a product (i.e., display information related to the product) has been changed (step 1-1), and if it has been changed, stores the contents of the change as a change history in the RAM 53 or the hard disk 55 (step 1-2). Next, it judges whether the product is an excluded product based on the product characteristics (step 1-3). Here, the product characteristics correspond to the above-mentioned department. For example, if the above-mentioned stationery and daily necessities are set to the excluded department, the electronic shelf label 90 is not used for these products, so step 1-4 is skipped. On the other hand, if the product is not in the excluded department, the process proceeds to step 1-4, and the number of changes in the change history is counted and stored. In the case of FIG. 6, the value in the selling price (number of changes) column of the corresponding product is added by one.

[0058] If the selling price of the product has not been changed in step 1-1, the process proceeds to step 1-12, and then it is determined whether or not the required display information other than the selling price (i.e., display information related to the product), such as the place of origin or producer, has been changed, and if it has been changed, the content of the change is stored in RAM 53 or hard disk 55 as the changed required display information (step 1-13). Next, it is determined whether or not the product is an excluded product based on the product characteristics (step 1-14), and if it is an excluded product, step 1-15 is skipped since the electronic shelf label 90 is not used. On the other hand, if it is not an excluded product, the process proceeds to step 1-15, and the number of changes to the required display information is counted and stored.

[0059] Next, a ranking (priority order) is generated in descending order of the number of changes from the most to the least from the total number of changes in the selling price and the required display information (step 1-5). Note that, depending on a preset setting, the ranking may be generated from the number of changes in only the selling price change history, or the number of changes in only the required display information change history.

[0060] Next, the process proceeds to step 1-6, and it is determined whether the product is a target product of the sales plan, i.e., for example, a bargain sale product. If the product is not a target product of the sales plan, since there is a possibility that the electronic shelf label 90 will be used, steps 1-7 and 1-8 are skipped. On the other hand, if the product is a target product of the sales plan, the process proceeds to step 1-7, and it is determined whether the product is permitted to use the electronic shelf label 90, i.e., whether the electronic shelf label 90 is currently being used, and if it is permitted (used), an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90 (step 1-8). When changing the sales floor (display location) or space for a bargain sale or event, in the case of an operation in which POP advertisements are used, even if the product uses an electronic shelf label and is not subject to switching, a collection instruction is given. The instruction to collect is given, for example, by displaying the instruction on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50, and at the same time, displaying the contents of the instruction on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the contents by the printer 70. At this time, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 shown in FIG. 10 in order to perform the switching operation. For example, the lamp 99 is turned on, or the display on the display unit 94 is changed (for example, to a red display, or to a white or black display on the entire surface, etc.).

[0061] Next, in step 1-9, it is determined whether or not to permit the use of the electronic shelf label 90 for the product. This determination is made by giving permission to use the electronic shelf label 90 to the number of products, equal to the number of electronic shelf labels 90 that can be used in the department, in descending order of rank (priority) determined from the total number of changes in the selling price and the number of changes in the mandatory display information (or, as described above, the number of changes in either one). In other words, the product is determined to be a target product for attaching an electronic shelf label 90.

[0062] Then, if it is determined that the product is authorized to use the electronic shelf label 90 ("Y" in step 1-9), the process proceeds to step 1-10. If the product has already been authorized to use the electronic shelf label 90, that is, if the electronic shelf label 90 is already being used, the current state is maintained ("Y" in step 1-10). On the other hand, if the electronic shelf label 90 is not currently being used, an instruction is given to install a new electronic shelf label 90 (step 1-11). The instruction to install is given, for example, by displaying the instruction on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50, and at the same time, displaying the contents of the instruction on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the contents by the printer 70. At this time, similarly to the case of step 1-8 above, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 shown in FIG. 10 in order to perform the switching work.

[0063] Next, in step 1-9, if it is determined that the product is not permitted to use the electronic shelf label 90 ("N" in step 1-9), the process proceeds to step 1-16. If the product is currently permitted to use the electronic shelf label 90, that is, if the electronic shelf label 90 is currently being used, an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90 (step 1-17). The instruction to collect is given, for example, by displaying the instruction on the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50 and simultaneously displaying the contents on the display unit of the handheld terminal 85 or printing the contents by the printer 70. At this time, as in the case of step 1-8 above, it is preferable to change the display of the electronic shelf label 90 shown in FIG. 10 in order to perform the switching work. On the other hand, if the electronic shelf label 90 is not currently being used, the current state is left as it is ("N" in step 1-16).

[0064] The above-described method makes it possible to easily and reliably generate rankings based on the number of changes in the selling price of a product or the number of changes in essential display information other than the selling price of the product, and to issue instructions for installation and removal of electronic shelf labels 90 based on the generated rankings. That is, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention includes a determination means (such as a CPU 51 that executes steps 1-1 to 1-17) that determines products to which electronic shelf labels 90 are to be attached according to predetermined conditions.

[0065] Moreover, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention includes a counting means (e.g., the CPU 51 that executes steps 1-4 and 1-15) that counts the number of changes in display information related to products for sale (e.g., selling price and essential display information other than selling price), and the determining means determines the attachment target of the electronic shelf label 90 according to the number of changes in the display information related to the product counted by the counting means (e.g., the CPU 51 that executes step 1-9). As a result, the attachment target of the electronic shelf label 90 is determined according to the number of changes in the display information related to the product, so that it becomes possible to clearly identify the product on which the electronic shelf label 90 should be attached. For example, it is possible to easily and smoothly give priority to attaching electronic shelf labels 90 to products that have been changed many times. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the limited number of electronic shelf labels 90.

[0066] In addition, in the electronic shelf label management system 1-1, the counting means counts the number of times the selling price of the product has been changed (CPU 51 executing step 1-4, etc.), and the determining means determines the attachment target of the electronic shelf label 90 according to the count result of the number of times the selling price has been changed counted by the counting means (CPU 51 executing step 1-9, etc.). This makes it possible to accurately detect products to which the electronic shelf label 90 is to be attached.

[0067] Furthermore, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 includes a collection instruction means (such as the CPU 51 that executes step 1-17) that instructs the collection of the electronic shelf labels 90 of the products that have been excluded from the targets for attaching the electronic shelf labels 90 by the determination means, so that collection of the electronic shelf labels 90 that need to be collected can be appropriately instructed. This prevents the collection from being delayed or forgotten.

[0068] Furthermore, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 includes an attachment instruction means (such as the CPU 51 that executes step 1-11) that instructs the attachment of electronic shelf labels to products that have been determined by the determination means to be targets for electronic shelf labels 90, so that the system can appropriately instruct the installation of electronic shelf labels 90 that need to be installed. This prevents delays in installation or forgetting to install the electronic shelf labels.

[0069] The electronic shelf label management system 1-1 also includes a storage means for storing products to be excluded from the judgment targets of the judgment means (such as the CPU 51 that executes steps 1-3 and 1-14). This makes it possible to exclude products whose selling price or required display information generally does not change from the beginning as targets for which the electronic shelf label 90 is used, thereby enabling the electronic shelf label 90 to be used more efficiently.

[0070] Furthermore, in the electronic shelf label management system 1-1, when the product is a product that is the subject of a sales plan, the determining means determines that the product that has been excluded from the determination targets of the determining means in the storage means is a product that is the subject of the collection instruction means (e.g., the CPU 51 that executes steps 1-6, 7, and 8). Products that are the subject of a sales plan are displayed for a certain period of time in a corner that is different from the usual display location, for example, a corner for a special sale. In such a case, it is better to use POP advertising, which is a type of product shelf label, rather than electronic shelf labels 90, because the products are used for only a short period of time and POP advertising, which has a high customer attraction effect, is more effective. Therefore, by excluding products that are the subject of a sales plan from the targets for which the electronic shelf labels 90 are used, it is possible to use the electronic shelf labels 90 more efficiently.

[0071] Next, another operation example of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. FIG. 16 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the electronic shelf label 90 is switched only by changing the selling price of the product. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically judges whether the selling price of the product has been changed (step 2-1), and if it has not been changed ("N" in step 2-1), it returns to step 2-1 again. On the other hand, if it has been changed ("Y" in step 2-1), it next judges in step 2-2 whether the product is an excluded product. In this case, an excluded product refers to a product for which the use of the electronic shelf label 90 or product shelf label (POP advertisement) is fixed, regardless of the number of times the selling price of the product has been changed.

[0072] If the product is excluded ("Y" in step 2-2), the process returns to step 2-1. If the product is not excluded ("N" in step 2-2), the process proceeds to step 2-3, where the number of times the product has been changed is calculated, and a ranking is generated based on the number of changes (step 2-4).

[0073] Next, based on the generated ranking, it is determined whether the product is to be excluded from the use of the electronic shelf label 90 or whether it is to be newly included in the use of the electronic shelf label 90 (step 2-5). If it is determined to exclude the product from the use of the electronic shelf label 90, an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90, and further an instruction is given to attach the collected electronic shelf label to a new product to be displayed (step 2-6).

[0074] Next, another operation example of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 will be described. FIG. 17 is another operation flow diagram of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the electronic shelf label 90 is switched only by changing the display information other than the selling price of the product. As shown in the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 periodically judges whether the display information other than the selling price of the product has been changed (step 3-1), and if it has not been changed ("N" in step 3-1), it returns to step 3-1 again. On the other hand, if it has been changed ("Y" in step 3-1), it next judges in step 3-2 whether the product is an excluded product. Then, if it is an excluded product ("Y" in step 3-2), it returns to step 3-1, and if it is not an excluded product ("N" in step 3-2), it proceeds to step 3-3, calculates the number of changes to the product, and then generates a ranking according to the number of changes (step 3-4). Next, based on the generated ranking, it is determined whether the product is to be excluded from the use of the electronic shelf label 90 or whether it is to be newly included in the use of the electronic shelf label 90 (step 3-5). If it is determined to exclude the product from the use of the electronic shelf label 90, an instruction is given to collect the electronic shelf label 90, and an instruction is given to attach the collected electronic shelf label to a new product to be displayed (step 3-6).

[0075] In each of the above operation examples, the installation or removal of the electronic shelf label 90 is instructed based on the number of changes in the selling price of the product and / or the number of changes in other display information, but the conditions for the instruction to install or remove may be set in more detail. For example, for a product in the fresh produce section, the number of changes in display information such as the place of origin may be given priority over the selling price, and for other products, the number of changes in the selling price may be given priority. As a method of giving priority, for example, the number of changes may be weighted. For example, the number of changes in the selling price may be weighted differently, such as (number of changes x 1.0) and the number of changes in other display information may be weighted (number of changes x 0.6).

[0076] 16 and 17, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention is configured to include a storage means for storing in advance products (electronic shelf label fixed products) to be fitted with electronic shelf labels 90, and to exclude the products from being counted by the counting means (e.g., the CPU 51 executing steps 2-2 and 3-2). This makes it possible to reliably include products for which it is desired to use electronic shelf labels 90, regardless of the number of times the display information has been changed.

[0077] In addition, in the case of sales promotion, for example, even in the case of a fixed electronic shelf label (a setting in which the electronic shelf label is used regardless of the number of times the display information is changed), if the sales floor (display location / space) is changed, the electronic shelf label may be the target of POP advertising, i.e., the product shelf label. In other words, there are cases in which a sales plan "bargain sale, etc." is given priority above all else. FIG. 18 is an operation flow diagram of a method for determining how to handle the electronic shelf label 90 depending on the presence or absence of a sales plan, etc. In the figure, the shelf label management device 50 of the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 judges whether or not it has received a notice that the target product has become the target of a sales plan (such as a target for an expansion of the display space or a target for a change of the display location) (step 4-1), and if it has not become the target, it proceeds to step 4-5 and the electronic shelf label 90 is the target of normal collection or installation. In that case, the display unit 54 of the shelf label management device 50 may display that fact. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 4-1 that the target product has become the target of a sales plan, etc., an instruction to collect the electronic shelf label 90 is displayed, for example, on the display unit 54 (step 4-2). Furthermore, if the condition for attaching (reusing) the electronic shelf label 90 again after the sales promotion target is completed is not set ("N" in step 4-3), the electronic shelf label 90 is returned to the target for collection or attachment as a normal electronic shelf label 90. On the other hand, if the condition for attaching (reusing) the electronic shelf label 90 again after the sales promotion target is completed is set ("Y" in step 4-3), the process proceeds to step 4-4, where the electronic shelf label 90 is stored as is and is not subject to switching to an electronic shelf label 90 for a new product. In this case, the display unit 54 may display a message to that effect, for example.

[0078] 18, the electronic shelf label management system 1-1 according to the present invention is configured such that when a product becomes a target product of a sales plan, the collection instruction means instructs the collection of the electronic shelf label 90 even for a product that is previously fixed to use the electronic shelf label 90 (steps 4-1 and 4-2). In this case, the collected electronic shelf label 90 may be stored so that the electronic shelf label 90 can be attached again to the product after the sales plan is completed (steps 4-3 and 4-4).

[0079] As described above, electronic shelf labels are usually more expensive than paper-based product shelf labels such as POP and price cards, so if electronic shelf labels were to be adopted for all products handled, the investment amount would balloon. Therefore, it is considered preferable to use both product shelf labels and electronic shelf labels in parallel. On the other hand, the products for which product shelf labels and electronic shelf labels are effective change depending on the situation, so it becomes necessary to switch between electronic shelf labels and product shelf labels. For example, new products, special sale items, and other sale items will use POP advertising, and for products whose prices fluctuate infrequently, there is little need to use electronic shelf tags, which can easily accommodate frequent changes to the display of product information (place of origin, selling price, sale name, etc.), so they will switch to paper product shelf tags. On the other hand, for products whose prices fluctuate frequently, it will be necessary to switch to electronic shelf tags, whose prices can be easily changed. However, in the past, when the switching was left to the experience of store clerks, the appropriate timing for switching between electronic shelf tags and product shelf tags was off, and there was a risk of operational mistakes occurring during the switching. For this reason, there was a need to make it possible to accurately execute the timing and operation of switching between electronic shelf tags and product shelf tags based on sales plans, price changes, changes in product location, and other factors.

[0080] The above problems can be solved by adopting the electronic shelf label management system according to the present invention. There are also multiple types of electronic shelf labels depending on the face. When the face of the product display is very narrow, such as for toothbrushes and ballpoint pens, a vertical type can be used, and when the display space of the product is relatively large, such as for fruits and vegetables, a large electronic shelf label similar to POP advertisements can be used. When determining which electronic shelf labels should be attached or removed, in addition to the number of items allocated in each department and category, a condition based on the type of electronic shelf label can be added in association with product or display information. This can further improve efficiency and increase the return on investment.

[0081] Furthermore, the programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment are provided by being pre-installed in the ROM 52 or the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD). The programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The programs executed by the shelf label management device 50 according to the above embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network.

[0082] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims and the technical ideas described in the specification and drawings. Any configuration not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical ideas of the present invention as long as it has the functions and effects of the present invention. In addition, the embodiments described above and shown in each drawing can be combined with each other as long as there is no contradiction in their purpose and configuration. In addition, even a part of the contents described above and in each drawing can be an independent embodiment, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to one embodiment combining the above description and each drawing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 100 Product sales data processing system 1-1 Selling price display management device 10 Management device 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Display unit 15 Hard disk 16 Operation unit 17 Communication unit 18 Communication lines 25 LAN 30 POS device 31 CPU 32 Hard disk 33 ROM 34 RAM 35 Scanner section 36 Display section for staff 37 Display section for customers 50 Shelf label management device 51 CPU 52 ROM 53 RAM 54 Display unit 55 Hard disk 56 Operation unit 57 Communication unit 58 Communication lines 70 Printing devices 75 POP advertising 76 Identification code 80 Transceiver 85 Handheld terminal 90 Electronic shelf label 91 CPU 92 ROM 93 RAM 94 Display unit 95 Communication unit 96 Communication lines 97 Battery 98 Identification Code 99 Lamp G1 Shelf label management screen G11 Department setting field G12 Electronic shelf tag usage count display field G13 Period setting field G15 Shelf label condition setting field G17 Judgment target selection field G19 Display target selection field G21 Display method selection field G23 Product column G25 Output button G27 Confirm button G3 Output contents screen G31 Department column G33 Display location column to be changed G35 Output target field G37 Send button G39 Issue button G5 Switching progress screen G51 Department column G53 Change target column G55 Progress rate display field G57 Progress display target display field G59 Product information display field G7 Installation / removal screen G71 Number of Electronic Shelf Tags Implemented Column G73 Number of Allocations per Subcategory G75 Number of displayed products G77 Number of products to be installed / removed G9 Installation / Removal Operation Screen G91 Manufacturer Name (Supplier) Display Column G93 Product identification code / product name column G95 Display standard column G97 Operation check box G11 Pegging operation screen G111 Display location column G113 Product code column G115 Identification code field G13 Electronic shelf label management menu display field G131 Electronic shelf label creation field G133 Electronic shelf label deletion field

Claims

1. An electronic shelf label that displays display information related to a product for sale; a shelf label management computer that communicates with the electronic shelf label and determines, from among the products being sold, which products are to be fitted with the electronic shelf label and which products are to be fitted with a product shelf label; An electronic shelf label management system having: The computer includes a determination unit that determines a product to which an electronic shelf label is to be attached according to a predetermined condition. An electronic shelf label management system characterized by

2. The predetermined condition is a change state of origin information of the product to be sold. The electronic shelf label management system according to claim 1 .

3. The predetermined condition is the length of the period for setting the price of the product to be sold. The electronic shelf label management system according to claim 1 .

4. The predetermined condition corresponds to a display location of the product to be sold. The electronic shelf label management system according to claim 1 .

5. The electronic shelf tag attachment target product to be determined can be specified by product department or display location.

5. The electronic shelf label management system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic shelf label is a storage device.

Images