Projection control device, projection system, product packaging, projection control method and program

Abstract

The goal is to provide digital signage technology that projects images corresponding to the product onto the product packaging. [Solution] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a projection control device comprising: an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information read from an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag attached to a product package; an image determination unit that determines an image of the product corresponding to the identification information; and a projection control unit that controls a projector to project the image onto the product package.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] ,

[0005]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a projection control device, a projection system, a product package, a projection control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] For promoting sales at the store, a signage video or the like related to the product may be played on a display provided on a display shelf or the like of the product.

[0003] In Japan, there are various events throughout the year, and the sales floor is also dressed up each time to enliven it. However, from the viewpoints of food loss and environmental consideration, such a way of consumption has become a social issue.

[0004] The clarity of products at the store can be shunned at home conversely. Under such a background, label-free products that change to a simple design adapted to daily life have emerged. For example, label-free PET bottles are becoming established due to the lack of the trouble of peeling off labels at the time of disposal and the low environmental load due to plastic reduction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] With such changes in society, for example, printless product packages without printed product labels or the like are also being considered. However, when such printless products are displayed at the store, it is necessary to enable the user to identify the displayed products.

[0007] The objective of this disclosure is to provide digital signage technology that projects images corresponding to a product onto product packaging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a projection control device comprising: an identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information read from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag attached to a product package; an image determination unit that determines an image of a product corresponding to the identification information; and a projection control unit that controls a projector to project the image onto the product package. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide digital signage technology that projects images corresponding to the product onto the product packaging. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a projection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a projection control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a projection control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an RFID tag attached to a product package according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing a projection process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] The following embodiment discloses a projection system that performs a projection process to project an image onto a product package.

[0013] [Projection System] First, a projection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a projection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the projection system 10 includes an RFID reader 30, a plurality of projectors 40_1 to 40_3, and a projection control device 100, and projects an image for the product onto the product packaging 20 of the product placed on a display shelf or the like.

[0015] The product package 20 is composed of packaging material that wraps the product, and has a print-free or label-free packaging surface on which no product information or other details are printed. Typically, the packaging surface of the product package 20 may be made of a material suitable for projecting images, such as a white or plain surface with few irregularities. In the example shown in Figure 1, the product package 20 has a box shape, and when placed on a display shelf, images are projected onto at least three surfaces visible to shoppers (two sides and one top surface in the illustrated example).

[0016] In this embodiment, an RFID tag, on which identification information for identifying the product is encoded, is attached to the front and / or back surface of the packaging material of the product package 20. For example, one RFID tag may be attached to each front and / or back surface of the packaging material so that each side of the product package 20 can be identified. The RFID tag here may be made of a sticker-like material on which a code encoding the identification information is printed, or it may be printed or embedded on the front and / or back surface of the product package 20.

[0017] The RFID reader 30 reads the identification information of the product from the RFID tag attached to the product package 20. Typically, the RFID reader 30 may be implemented by any known RFID reader, and may be a fixed type as shown in the figure or a portable type. For example, when the product is placed on the display shelf, the store staff may hold the product package 20 placed on the display shelf over the RFID reader 30 to allow the RFID reader 30 to read the RFID tag.

[0018] The projectors 40_1 to 40_3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as the projector 40) are arranged near the placement location of the product package 30. For example, as shown in the figure, the projectors 40_1 to 40_3 are oriented so that images can be projected onto one or more surfaces of the product package 20 visible to the shopper.

[0019] The projection control device 100 is typically implemented by an information processing device such as a personal computer or a server, and determines the image to be projected onto the product package 20 based on the identification information of the product of the product package 20 received from the RFID reader 30. For example, the images may be different for each surface of the product package 20 or may be the same. Also, the image is not limited to a moving image and may be a still image. The projection control device 100 transmits the image information to be projected onto each surface of the product package 20 to each of the projectors 40_1 to 40_3.

[0020] Specifically, according to the projection system 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when the product package 20 is placed at a predetermined position such as a display shelf, the RFID reader 30 reads the RFID tag attached to the front and / or back surface of the product package 20, and transmits the identification information of the product read from the RFID tag to the projection control device 100. The projection control device 100 identifies the product based on the identification information received from the RFID reader 30, and transmits the video information #1 to #3 prepared corresponding to the product to the projectors 40_1 to 40_3 respectively, and causes the projectors 40_1 to 40_3 to project the videos corresponding to the video information #1 to #3 onto the corresponding surface of the product package 20.

[0021] According to the above-described projection system 10, it is possible to project the video corresponding to the product onto the surface of the product package 20 that is visible to the user.

[0022] Here, the projection control device 100 may have, for example, a hardware configuration as shown in FIG. 2. That is, the projection control device 100 includes a drive device 101, a storage device 102, a memory device 103, a processor 104, a user interface (UI) device 105, and a communication device 106 that are interconnected via a bus B.

[0023] The program or instruction for realizing various functions and processes in the projection control device 100 may be stored in a removable storage medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk - Read Only Memory) or a flash memory. When the storage medium is set in the drive device 101, the program or instruction is installed from the storage medium to the storage device 102 or the memory device 103 via the drive device 101. However, the program or instruction does not necessarily have to be installed from the storage medium, and may be downloaded from any external device via a network or the like.

[0024] The storage device 102 is implemented by a hard disk drive or the like, and stores files, data, etc., used to execute the installed program or instructions, along with the installed program or instructions.

[0025] The memory device 103 is implemented using random access memory, static memory, etc., and when a program or instruction is activated, it reads the program or instruction, data, etc. from the storage device 102 and stores it. The storage device 102, the memory device 103, and the removable storage medium may be collectively referred to as a non-transitory storage medium.

[0026] The processor 104 may be implemented by one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), processing circuits, etc., which may consist of one or more processor cores, and executes various functions and processes of the projection control device 100 according to data such as programs, instructions, and parameters necessary to execute said programs or instructions stored in the memory device 103.

[0027] The user interface (UI) device 105 may consist of input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, camera, and microphone, output devices such as a display, speaker, headset, and printer, and input / output devices such as a touch panel, and realizes an interface between the user and the projection control device 100. For example, the user operates the projection control device 100 by operating a GUI (Graphical User Interface) displayed on the display or touch panel using a keyboard, mouse, etc.

[0028] The communication device 106 is implemented by various communication circuits that perform wired and / or wireless communication processing with external devices, the Internet, LAN (Local Area Network), cellular networks, and other communication networks.

[0029] However, the hardware configuration described above is merely an example, and the projection control device 100 according to this disclosure may be implemented by any other suitable hardware configuration.

[0030] [Projection control device] Next, a projection control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the projection control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3, the projection control device 100 has an identification information acquisition unit 110, an image determination unit 120, and a projection control unit 130. Each of the functional units of the identification information acquisition unit 110, the image determination unit 120, and the projection control unit 130 can be realized by the processor 104 of the projection control device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 103.

[0031] The identification information acquisition unit 110 acquires identification information read from the RFID tag attached to the product package 20. Specifically, when the product package 20 is placed on a projection target location such as a display shelf, the RFID reader 30 acquires the identification information of the product from the RFID tag attached to the front and / or back of the product package 20, and transmits the acquired identification information to the projection control device 100 via wireless and / or wired connection. The identification information acquisition unit 110 acquires the identification information transmitted from the RFID reader 30 via wireless and / or wired connection.

[0032] Here, the product package 20 may be a label-less package, that is, a white or plain package without product labels or product information printed on it, in order to enhance the visibility of the projected image. Furthermore, the RFID tag may be attached to the product package 20 in a position such as shown in Figure 4. In the illustrated example, when the cubic product package 20 is unfolded, an RFID tag is attached to each face of the cube. The RFID tag may be attached using a sticker-like material or printed on. Also, as shown in the illustration, different RFID tags #1 to #6 may be attached to each face of the product package 20 so that each face of the product package 20 can be identified.

[0033] In this case, if the RFID tag is attached to the back of the product packaging 20, the RFID tag will not be visible from the outside of the product packaging 20, or will be difficult to see, thereby enhancing the design of the product packaging 20. Furthermore, if the RFID tag is attached to the back of the product packaging 20, it will be difficult to pinpoint the location of the RFID tag, thereby preventing unauthorized removal or replacement of the RFID tag.

[0034] Furthermore, as RFID tags, NFC (Near Field Communication) tags in the HF band of approximately 13.56 MHz with a communication range of a few centimeters or less may be used, or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) tags in the 900 MHz band with a communication range of a few meters may be used. In the former case, only the RFID tag attached to a specific surface of the product package 20 at the closest position to the RFID reader 30 can be reliably read. In the latter case, the RFID reader 30 can read RFID tags attached to one or more surfaces of the product package 20, but may also compare the radio wave strength of each RFID tag to identify the RFID tag with the strongest radio wave strength and determine that identified RFID tag as the nearest RFID tag.

[0035] Alternatively, RFID tags may be attached only to surfaces visible to shoppers when the product is displayed on a shelf (three surfaces in the example of Figure 1). The RFID reader 30 may identify the surfaces of the product package 20 placed on a display shelf that are visible to shoppers and transmit only the identification information of the visible surfaces to the projection control device 100. However, the RFID tags according to this disclosure may be attached to other locations within the product package 20.

[0036] The image determination unit 120 determines the image of the product corresponding to the identification information. For example, the projection control device 100 may have a database (not shown) that stores image information for each product to be projected, or it may be able to communicate with a database on an external device. When the identification information of the product to be projected is acquired, the image determination unit 120 determines the image information corresponding to the acquired identification information and extracts the determined image information from the database.

[0037] In one embodiment, the image determination unit 120 may determine the image according to either time and / or place. Specifically, the image projected onto the product package 20 may be variable according to the sales period, sales time, sales region, etc. For example, for ingredients whose cooking methods differ depending on the region, an image of a dish using that ingredient that is common in the sales region may be projected onto the product package 20. As another example, for ingredients whose cooking methods differ between hot and cold seasons, an image of a dish using that ingredient appropriate for the sales period may be projected onto the product package 20. This makes it possible to project an image that is appropriate for the time and / or place where the product is sold.

[0038] As another example, the product's origin traceability information may be projected onto the product packaging 20. By displaying the origin traceability information at predetermined intervals, for example, users can easily grasp the product quality. As yet another example, expiration date alerts, real-time price change displays such as time sales, and inventory levels may be projected onto the product packaging 20. This allows useful product information that may change in real time to be directly displayed on the product packaging 20, increasing its appeal to users compared to displaying it on a separate display panel or the like.

[0039] In one embodiment, the video determination unit 120 may determine the video according to the user attributes of the user in the product display area. For example, if the user attributes such as gender, age, and body type of a user near the product package 20 can be estimated or obtained by any known means (for example, by using an image recognition model that estimates attributes from a person's image), the video determination unit 120 may determine the video to project onto the product package 20 in accordance with the acquired user attributes. For example, if the product is fitness equipment, the video determination unit 120 may determine a video related to muscle strengthening for male shoppers and a video related to body shaping for female shoppers.

[0040] The projection control unit 130 controls the projector 40 to project images onto the product packaging 20. Specifically, when the projection control unit 130 acquires image information to be projected onto each surface of the product packaging 20 that is visible to shoppers from the image determination unit 120, it transmits the acquired image information to the corresponding projector 40 and controls each projector 40 to project the image information toward the product packaging 20. At this time, the projection control unit 130 may use a human presence sensor to simplify the projection (for example, by dimming the lights, interrupting or stopping multiple projections, etc.) or interrupt or stop the projection if there are no people near the product. This makes it possible to save power.

[0041] Here, the image projected onto a surface of the product package 20 may be played only on that surface, or it may be played across adjacent surfaces. For example, after a person runs from one end of a surface to the other, that person may move to an adjacent surface and continue running. This makes it possible to play an image that utilizes multiple surfaces.

[0042] According to the projection control device 100 described above, it becomes possible to display various product information on environmentally friendly, label-less packages, which may increase shoppers' willingness to buy.

[0043] [Projection process] Next, a projection process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. This projection process can be realized by an RFID reader 30, a projector 40, and a projection control device 100, and more specifically, by the processor 104 of the projection control device 100 executing a program stored in the memory device 103. Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing the projection process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] As shown in Figure 5, in step S101, the RFID reader 30 reads the RFID tag attached to the product package 20 and extracts the identification information of the product.

[0045] In step S102, the RFID reader 30 transmits the identification information extracted from the RFID tag to the projection control device 100.

[0046] In step S103, the projection control device 100 determines the image of the product corresponding to the identification information. For example, if the identification information indicates a corresponding surface of the product package 20, the projection control device 100 may determine the image corresponding to that surface of the product package 20 as the image to be projected. The projection control device 100 may also determine the image corresponding to the identification information according to the time and / or location. Furthermore, the projection control device 100 may determine the image corresponding to the identification information according to the attributes of a shopper near the product package 20.

[0047] In step S104, the projection control device 100 transmits video information indicating the determined image to the corresponding projector 40.

[0048] In step S105, the projector 40 projects an image onto the corresponding surface of the product package 20 based on the acquired image information.

[0049] The projection process described above makes it possible to display various product information on environmentally friendly, label-free packaging, potentially increasing shoppers' purchasing intent.

[0050] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above, this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of this disclosure as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 10 Projection Systems 20 Product Packages 30 RFID readers 40 projectors 100 Projection control device 110 Identification Information Acquisition Unit 120 Image Determination Unit 130 Projection Control Unit

Claims

1. An identification information acquisition unit that acquires identification information read from an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag attached to the product packaging, A video determination unit that determines the image of the product corresponding to the aforementioned identification information, A projection control unit controls a projector to project the aforementioned image onto the product package, A projection control device having

2. The projection control device according to claim 1, wherein the image determination unit determines the image according to either time and / or place.

3. The projection control device according to claim 1, wherein the image determination unit determines the image according to the user attributes of the user in the product display area.

4. The projection control device according to claim 1, wherein the product package is a label-less package.

5. A projection control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An RFID reader that reads the identification information from the RFID tag attached to the product package, A projector controlled by the projection control device to project the aforementioned image onto the product package, A projection system having

6. Packaging materials for packaging products, The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag attached to the aforementioned packaging material, It has, A product package in which an image of the product corresponding to the identification information read from the RFID tag is projected onto the packaging material.

7. Obtaining identification information read from the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag attached to the product packaging, To determine the image of the product corresponding to the aforementioned identification information, Controlling the projector to project the aforementioned image onto the product package, A projection control method that is executed by a computer.

8. Obtaining identification information read from the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag attached to the product packaging, To determine the image of the product corresponding to the aforementioned identification information, Controlling the projector to project the aforementioned image onto the product package, A program that causes a computer to execute something.

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