Method and system for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags

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 more particularly 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 claimed embodiments of the invention. Nothing herein is admitted to be prior art by virtue of its inclusion in this section.

[0003] In an EPL system, a base station must communicate with an EPL, and the information transmitted includes, but is not limited to, information displayed on the EPL screen. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of data transmission, the base station must perform a query check on the data transmission of the EPL, which is its communication partner, to which the EPL must respond. For EPLs whose communication data transmission is inaccurate, the base station will retransmit the data.

[0004] In conventional technology, a base station sends one query command to each price tag, and each price tag responds with a response message. However, in practical applications, each base station is responsible for transmitting data to thousands of price tags. Therefore, the amount of communication data required by the conventional query-response mechanism is so large that it reduces the efficiency of data transmission for valid transactions and reduces the system's transaction throughput. 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 will group the EPTs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to the designated electronic price tags 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 querying and responding to 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 querying and responding to 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 for 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 stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method for querying and responding regarding 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 for querying and responding regarding a group of EPLs.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, compared to the prior art technical solution in which a base station sends one query command for each EPL, and the price tags each reply with a response message, in the present invention, the control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station, the control center transmits data to the EPLs designated by the base station, the base station sends group query commands to the designated EPLs on a group basis, and the EPLs 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 EPLs, 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. Obviously, 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 any creative efforts. [Brief explanation 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; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of grouping of electronic price tags in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 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] 1 is a second (system perspective) flowchart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a third (system perspective) flowchart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a fourth (system angle) flowchart 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 angle) flowchart of a method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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, wherein 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, a base station sends one query command to each price tag, and each price tag responds with a response message. This creates a problem with the conventional query-response mechanism: the amount of communication data is very large, resulting in low data transmission efficiency for valid transactions and low transaction throughput. 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 below.

[0016]

[0013] Figure 1 is a structural framework diagram of a system for querying and responding to groups of EPLs in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the system includes a control center, a base station, and EPLs. Here, the EPLs are divided into N groups, and each group includes M EPLs. As shown in Figure 2, the specific values ​​of N and M are determined according to actual cases.

[0017] According to the method for querying and responding to a group of EPLs corresponding to the system, as shown in FIG. 3, the specific process includes the following steps: Step 301: The control center divides the electronic price tags 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 EPLs 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 is required. 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 each designated EPL by the base station, the designated EPL is known to the base station, so the base station may check whether the designated EPL has received the data and what the status of the data reception is. Of course, after the control center generates and transmits the group query command to the base station, the base station may also transmit the command to the EPL.

[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 the designated EPLs on a group basis. Step 401: The base station sends a group query command to a designated EPL in the 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 limit which groups are the target of transmission. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the group number in the group query command. The group query command may be limited to be sent 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 certain EPLs 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 the response result to the control center through the base station according to the group query command. Step 501: The EPL reports the response result to the base station based on the time of sending the response.

[0025] Specifically, the time period during which the EPL returns a response may be limited. When it is time to send the response, the response results may be reported by time period. A specific implementation method for reporting the response results 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 calculates a start time for transmitting a data packet based on the time for transmitting a response, and reports 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 the response and the EPL identifier, and when it is time to start 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 EPLs (e.g., 1 ms or another time) has already been determined. For example, if the time interval between the first and second EPLs in the same group is 1 ms, the time interval between the first and third EPLs is 2 ms, and then the time interval between the first and fourth EPLs is 3 ms, and so on. Therefore, as long as the EPL identifiers are known, the time intervals between different EPLs should also be known. Then, the start time for transmitting a data packet can be calculated based on the time intervals. That is, the start time for transmitting a data packet can be obtained by adding the time interval to the time for transmitting a response. For example, the first EPL may be transmitted at the time when the response is transmitted. Then, the next EPL may be transmitted at the time when the response is transmitted plus (EPL identifier - 1) ms. Also, the first EPL may be transmitted at the time when the response is transmitted plus 1 ms. The next EPL may then be sent at the time the response is sent plus the EPL identifier ms.

[0029] Specifically, the response result indicates whether the electronic price tag correctly received the transmitted data. If the data was received, the response result indicates that the data was received. 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: 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 the start time for transmitting a data packet based on the time for transmitting the response, configures the data packet based on 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 it needs to send a confirmation packet itself 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 itself 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 the base station reporting all the data packets to the control center after completing the reception of all the data packets.

[0033] The acquisition, storage, use, and processing 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 for 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 stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method for querying and responding regarding 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 for querying and responding regarding a group of EPLs.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, compared to the prior art technical solution in which a base station sends one query command for each EPL, and the price tags each reply with a response message, in the present invention, the control center groups the EPLs managed by each base station, the control center transmits data to the EPLs designated by the base station, the base station sends group query commands to the designated EPLs on a group basis, and the EPLs 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 EPLs, 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 embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and combinations of processes and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, may be implemented 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 that, when executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, implements the function(s) specified in one or more flows in the flowcharts and / or one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

[0040] These computer program commands may be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct 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, causing 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] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any amendments, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. The control center will group the EPTs managed by each base station. the control center transmits data to each of the designated electronic price tags by a base station; the base station or the control center generates, for each group to which the designated EPL belongs, one group query command including a group number and EPL identifiers of all the designated EPLs included in the group; The base station sends the group query command to the designated EPLs in accordance with the group number and the EPL identifier, on a group-by-group basis; and the designated EPL reports a response result to the base station based on the group query command.

10. A method for querying and responding to a group of electronic price tags, comprising:

2. the group query command includes a time to transmit a response; the EPL reports a response result to the base station based on the group query command; the EPL reports the response result to the base station based on the time at which the response is transmitted.

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

3. the group query command includes a time to transmit a response; the EPL reports 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.

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

4. the group query command includes a time to transmit a response; the EPL reports 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, composes the data packet depending on 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.

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

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

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

6. 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:

Images