Electronic Shelf Label Location via RF Beacons and Portable Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current planograms used in sales areas are theoretical and fail to accurately reflect the real-time arrangement of items and electronic gondola tags, leading to inaccuracies in inventory management and stock estimation, with around 10-15% of items not accounted for and frequent changes due to seasonal items.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a portable terminal with a radio frequency location module to receive signals from beacons and determine the precise location of electronic gondola tags, transmitting identifiers and data to a central server for accurate association with item positions, allowing for real-time updates and accurate planogram representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If theoretical planograms are used to represent sales area layout, then planogram creation is simplified and standardized, but accuracy in reflecting actual item arrangement and electronic shelf label positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary location determination of electronic shelf labels using radio frequency beacons and portable terminals before final planogram generation. This preliminary action captures actual positions and item associations, which are then stored and used to create accurate planograms that reflect the true sales area layout rather than relying solely on theoretical representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where portable terminals continuously determine the locations of electronic shelf labels and report them to central servers. The servers then update planograms based on this feedback, ensuring that the planogram accurately reflects the current actual arrangement of items and labels, resolving the inaccuracy of static theoretical planograms.
2Loss of information
If manual tracking of item positions is performed, then detailed location information can be obtained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Electronic shelf labels equipped with radio frequency communication capabilities perform self-location by automatically responding to queries from portable terminals. The labels self-report their positions and item associations without requiring manual intervention, thus obtaining complete location information while minimizing time consumption and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with automated radio frequency-based location determination. Portable terminals use RF communication to automatically query electronic shelf labels and determine their positions, substituting the time-consuming manual tracking process with a rapid automated electronic system that captures complete location data efficiently.
3Measurement precision
If radio frequency beacons are distributed throughout the sales area for location determination, then location accuracy of electronic shelf labels is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Radio frequency beacons in the system serve multiple functions: they provide location determination for electronic shelf labels, enable item position tracking, and support real-time planogram updates. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to achieve high location accuracy while reducing overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate specialized tracking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Portable terminals act as intermediaries between the radio frequency beacons and the central servers. They receive location data from beacons, query electronic shelf labels for additional information, and transmit consolidated data to servers. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing processing tasks and reducing direct communication requirements between beacons and servers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and resource-efficient location determination of electronic gondola tags, improving inventory management and ensuring that the planogram reflects the actual sales area layout, reducing stock-out risks and enhancing commercial operations.
Implementation Method 1
a portable terminal equipped with a radio frequency location module receives radio signals emitted by several radio frequency beacons and determines data from the radio signals
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for locating electronic shelf labels (1) distributed in a retail area, each provided with a label identifier specific thereto, a plurality of radio frequency tags (4) being configured to transmit radio signals (S1), wherein: - a mobile terminal (3) receives (S2) radio signals transmitted by a plurality of radio frequency tags (4) and determines data from the signals; - at a time of acquisition, the mobile terminal (3) acquires the identifier of an electronic shelf label (1) from said electronic shelf label (1); - the mobile terminal (3) transmits, to a central computer server (6), the label identifier and the data from the signals received at the time of acquisition, - the central computer server (6) determines the association data between the electronic shelf label (1) identified by the label identifier and a position determined from the data from the radio signals received at the time of acquisition.