Center Apparatus for Remote Electronic Shelf Label Content Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic shelf labels in retail stores are used for displaying various pieces of information beyond product names and prices, but there is a need for a more effective method to utilize these display terminals beyond their conventional function.
Innovation Solution
A display control system comprising a center apparatus and a store apparatus that enables authentication, acquisition, and output of control information for specifying display terminals and content to be displayed, allowing manufacturers to remotely control the information displayed on electronic shelf labels installed in stores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic shelf labels are installed for each product to display various pieces of information, then the display capability and information delivery are improved, but the device complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic shelf labels are designed to perform multiple functions: displaying product information (name, price), receiving remote control signals from manufacturers, and adapting to different display content based on authentication results. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enhancing display capability while managing complexity through centralized control
Solution Approach 2:
The center apparatus acts as an intermediary between manufacturers and the electronic shelf labels. It receives authentication information from manufacturers, performs authentication, and issues control information to be transmitted to store apparatuses. This intermediary structure simplifies the management burden by centralizing control logic while maintaining versatile display capabilities at the label level
2Ease of operation
If electronic shelf labels are used solely for displaying store-determined information, then the operation simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability and utilization effectiveness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic control where the display content on electronic shelf labels can change based on authentication results. Manufacturers can remotely control which content is displayed on which labels through the center apparatus. This dynamic mechanism maintains operational simplicity for store staff while significantly enhancing adaptability and utilization effectiveness by enabling manufacturer-initiated content updates
Solution Approach 2:
The center apparatus performs preliminary authentication of manufacturers before allowing control operations. This preliminary action ensures that only authenticated manufacturers can issue control information, maintaining system security and operational simplicity while enabling versatile utilization. The authentication step is performed in advance, preparing the system for subsequent flexible content control
Data Source
AI summary
A center apparatus (10) according to the present invention acquires, from an external terminal (40), authentication information including manufacturer identification information, and in a case where authentication is successful, acquires, from the external terminal (40), control information including information for specifying at least one of display terminals (30) installed in a store, and information for specifying a content to be displayed on the specified display terminal (30). Further, the center apparatus (10) transmits the control information to a predetermined store apparatus (20). The store apparatus (20) causes the display terminal (30) specified by the control information to display a content to be specified by the control information.