Method and system for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and system for querying and responding to a group of EPLs, where a large number of query commands are simplified into a single query command, thereby significantly reducing the amount of data transmission required for querying a large number of EPLs, reducing system overhead due to queries, and improving transaction throughput in the system.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mobile communications, and in particular to a method and system for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags. [Background technology]

[0002] This section is intended to provide a background or context for the embodiments of the invention described in the claims. No statement herein is admitted as prior art by virtue of its inclusion in this section.

[0003] In an EPL system, a base station needs to perform data communication with an EPL, and the information to be transmitted includes, but is not limited to, information to be displayed on the EPL screen. In order to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data transmission, the base station needs to perform a query check on the data transmission of the EPL with which it communicates, to which the EPL must respond. For EPLs with inaccurate communication data transmission, the base station retransmits the data.

[0004] In the conventional technology, the base station sends one query command to each price tag, and the price tag responds with a response message. However, in practical applications, each base station is responsible for transmitting data to thousands of price tags. In the conventional query-response mechanism, the amount of communication data is very large, which leads to low data transmission efficiency in valid transactions and low transaction throughput in the system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs, the method comprising: The control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to the designated electronic price tag by the base station; The base station transmits a group query command to the designated EPLs on a group basis; and The EPL reports a response result to the base station based on the group query command.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a system for performing queries and responses regarding a group of EPLs, the system including a control center, a base station, and an EPL, the control center, the base station, and the EPL being adapted to implement a method for performing queries and responses regarding a group of EPLs.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computing device including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the computer program, when executed by the processor, implementing the method of querying and responding with respect to a group of EPLs.

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program, when executed by a processor, implementing the method of querying and responding with respect to a group of EPLs.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program product including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of querying and responding regarding a group of EPLs.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, compared to the technical solution of the prior art in which the base station sends one query command for each electronic price tag, and in response the price tags each reply with a response message, in the present invention, the control center groups the electronic price tags managed by each base station, the control center transmits data to each of the electronic price tags specified by the base station, the base station sends group query commands to the specified electronic price tags on a group basis, and the electronic price tags report response results to the base station based on the group query command, thereby simplifying a large number of query commands into a single query command, significantly reducing the amount of data transmission required for queries to a large number of electronic price tags, reducing system overhead caused by queries, and improving transaction throughput in the system.

[0011] In order to more clearly describe the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions of the prior art, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings necessary for describing the embodiments or the prior art. It is obvious that the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other accompanying drawings based on these accompanying drawings without creative efforts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an architectural framework diagram of a system for querying and responding to groups of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of grouping of electronic price tags in an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a flowchart (system perspective) of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a second (system perspective) flow chart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flow chart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention (system perspective); [Figure 6] 4 is a fourth (system perspective) flow chart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5 is a fifth (system perspective) flow chart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will further describe the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the description thereof are for interpreting the present invention but are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0014] In the prior art, the base station sends one query command for each price tag, and the price tags respond by sending back response messages. The problem with the prior art query-response mechanism is that the amount of communication data is very large, which reduces the efficiency of data transmission in valid transactions and reduces the throughput of transactions in the system. Therefore, there is a need for a query mechanism and method that can reduce the amount of communication data in the query-response mechanism, reduce wasted communication time, and improve the throughput of the transaction system.

[0015] In view of this, the present invention proposes a method and system for querying and responding to a group of EPLs, which is described in detail as follows.

[0016] Fig. 1 is a structural framework diagram of a system for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the system includes a control center, a base station, and an EPL. Here, the EPLs are divided into N groups, and each group includes M EPLs. As shown in Fig. 2, the specific values ​​of N and M are determined according to actual cases.

[0017] Based on the method of querying and responding for a group of EPLs corresponding to the system, as shown in FIG. 3, a specific process includes the following steps: Step 301: The control center divides the EPLs managed by each base station into groups; Step 302: The control center transmits data to the designated EPLs by the base station respectively; Step 303: The base station sends a group query command to the designated EPL on a group basis; and Step 304: The EPL reports a response result to the base station according to the group query command.

[0018] Specifically, the designated EPLs are all EPLs with which communication needs to be performed. For example, when screen display data is to be transmitted to a plurality of EPLs, the plurality of EPLs are designated.

[0019] The group query command is generated and transmitted by the base station. When the control center transmits data to the EPLs designated by the base station, the EPLs designated by the base station are known to the base station, so the base station may check whether the designated EPLs have received data and what the status of data reception is. Of course, after the control center generates and transmits the group query command to the base station, the base station may further transmit the command to the EPLs.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the group query command may include a group number and an EPL identifier.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, in step 303, the base station sends a group query command to a designated EPL on a group basis. Step 401: The base station sends a group query command to a designated EPL in a group according to a group number and an EPL identifier on a group basis.

[0022] Specifically, since the group query command is sent in units of a group or several EPLs, it is necessary to restrict which groups may be the transmission targets. In this case, it is necessary to restrict the group number in the group query command. It is also possible to restrict the sending of the group query command to a certain EPL or several EPLs in the group. For this reason, an EPL identifier may be added to the group query command. Thus, it is possible to specify that the group query command is sent to a certain EPL or several EPLs in a certain group or several groups, rather than to all EPLs.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the group query command may include a time for transmitting a response.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5 , in step 304, the EPL reports a response result to the control center by the base station according to the group query command. Step 501: The EPL includes reporting a response result to the base station based on the time of sending the response.

[0025] Specifically, the time period during which the EPL returns the response may be limited. When it is time to send the response, the response result may be reported by time period. A specific implementation method for reporting the response result by time period is shown in Figure 6.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, in step 304, the EPL reports a response result to the base station according to the group query command. Step 601: The EPL includes calculating a start time for transmitting a data packet based on the time for transmitting a response, and reporting the response result to the base station at the start time for transmitting the data packet.

[0027] Specifically, each EPL calculates the start time for transmitting a data packet based on the time for transmitting a response and the EPL identifier, and when it starts transmitting the corresponding data packet, it reports the response result to the base station.

[0028] After the control center divides the EPLs into groups, the time interval between the EPLs (for example, 1 ms or other time) has already been determined. For example, if the time interval between the first and second EPLs in the same group is set to 1 ms, the time interval between the first and third EPLs is set to 2 ms, and then the time interval between the first and fourth EPLs is set to 3 ms, and so on. Thus, as long as the EPL identifier is known, the time interval between different EPLs should also be known. Then, the start time of transmitting the data packet can be calculated according to the time interval. That is, the start time of transmitting the data packet itself can be obtained by adding the time interval to the time of transmitting the response. For example, the first EPL may be transmitted at the time of transmitting the response. Then, the next EPL may be transmitted at the time of transmitting the response plus (EPL identifier-1) ms. Also, the first EPL may be transmitted at the time of transmitting the response plus 1 ms. Then, the next EPL may be transmitted at the time when the response is transmitted plus the EPL identifier ms.

[0029] Specifically, the response result indicates whether or not the electronic price tag correctly received the transmitted data. If the data was received, the response result indicates that the data was received, but if the data was not received, the response result indicates that the data was not received.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, step 601 specifically includes the following steps: Step 701: The EPL determines whether it is necessary to transmit a confirmation packet based on the group number and the EPL identifier, and if necessary, calculates a start time for transmitting a data packet based on the time for transmitting a response, configures the data packet according to whether the transmitted data is correctly received, and reports the data packet to the base station at the start time for transmitting the data packet.

[0031] Specifically, each electronic price tag first determines whether or not it needs to send a confirmation packet based on the group number and price tag information (price tag identifier) ​​included in the group query command. If it is not necessary, it does not have to take any action. However, if it is necessary, it calculates the start time for sending the data packet based on the time for sending the response included in the group query command, and sends the confirmation packet at the start time.

[0032] In addition, the method in the present invention further includes: after receiving all the data packets, the base station reports all the data packets to the control center.

[0033] The acquisition, storage, use, processing, etc. of data in the technical solution of this application shall all comply with the relevant provisions of national laws and regulations.

[0034] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computing device including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, the computer program, when executed by the processor, implementing the method of querying and responding with respect to a group of EPLs.

[0035] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program, when executed by a processor, implementing the method of querying and responding with respect to a group of EPLs.

[0036] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer program product including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of querying and responding regarding a group of EPLs.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, compared to the technical solution of the prior art in which the base station sends one query command for each electronic price tag, and in response the price tags each reply with a response message, in the present invention, the control center groups the electronic price tags managed by each base station, the control center transmits data to each of the electronic price tags specified by the base station, the base station sends group query commands to the specified electronic price tags on a group basis, and the electronic price tags report response results to the base station based on the group query command, thereby simplifying a large number of query commands into a single query command, significantly reducing the amount of data transmission required for queries to a large number of electronic price tags, reducing system overhead caused by queries, and improving transaction throughput in the system.

[0038] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, etc.) containing computer usable program code.

[0039] The present invention has been described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems) and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, or a combination of processes and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, may be realized by computer program commands. These computer program commands may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to generate an apparatus for implementing a function specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams according to the commands executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus.

[0040] These computer program commands may be stored in a computer readable memory that can guide a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to operate in a particular manner, such that the commands stored in the computer readable memory cause a product including a command device to implement the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0041] These computer program commands may be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause the computer or other programmable apparatus to execute a series of operational steps to produce a computer-implemented process, and the commands executed by the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0042] In the above-described specific embodiments, the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention are further described in detail. It should be understood that the above-described contents are only specific embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any amendments, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. The control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to the electronic price tags designated by the base station; The base station transmits a group query command to the designated EPLs on a group basis; and the EPL reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command; 13. A method for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags comprising:

2. the group query command includes a group number and an EPL identifier; The base station transmits a group query command to the designated EPLs on a group basis, the base station transmits the group query command to the designated EPL in the group according to the group number and the EPL identifier, on a group basis; 2. The method of claim 1 for querying and responding to a group of EPLs.

3. the group query command includes a time for transmitting a response; the EPL reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command; the electronic price tag reports the response result to the base station based on a time when the response is transmitted.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group of EPLs is a group of EPLs.

4. the group query command includes a time for transmitting a response; the EPL reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command; the EPL calculates a start time for transmitting a data packet based on a time for transmitting a response, and reports the response result to the base station at the start time for transmitting the data packet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group of EPLs is a group of EPLs.

5. the group query command includes a time for transmitting a response; the EPL reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command; the EPL determines whether it is necessary to transmit a confirmation packet based on the group number and the EPL identifier, and if necessary, calculates a start time for transmitting a data packet based on a time for transmitting a response, configures the data packet according to whether the transmitted data is correctly received, and reports the data packet to a base station at the start time for transmitting the data packet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the group of EPLs is a group of EPLs.

6. After completing the reception of all the data packets, the base station further includes reporting all the data packets to the control center.

2. The method of claim 1 for querying and responding to a group of EPLs.

7. The system includes a control center, a base station, and an electronic price tag, The control center, the base station and the EPLs are adapted to implement the method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs as set forth in claim 1.

1. A system for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags comprising:

8. 1. A computing device including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable by the processor, comprising: When the computer program is executed by the processor, The control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to the electronic price tags designated by the base station; The base station transmits a group query command to the designated EPLs on a group basis; and and reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command.

1. A computer device comprising:

9. A computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, The control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to the electronic price tags designated by the base station; The base station transmits a group query command to the designated EPLs on a group basis; and the EPL implements a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs, the method including reporting a response result to the base station based on the group query command; A computer-readable storage medium comprising:

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