Modular Shelf Display Units for Retail Information Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to effectively control and graphically present information on shelf display units, including product location indications, personalized content, and additional product information, to assist both store associates and consumers in a retail environment.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising display units connected to a modular shelving system, processors, and memory components that execute machine-readable instructions to determine product identifiers, update graphical outputs, and display relevant information based on consumer proximity and location, enabling the presentation of product location indications, personalized content, and additional product information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If display units are used to show product information, then information accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display units are designed to serve multiple functions: displaying product location information, showing personalized content to consumers, presenting additional product details, and providing visual guidance for associates. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while improving information accessibility across different user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
A central controller acts as an intermediary between the modular shelving system sensors and the display units. The controller receives data about product locations, consumer proximity, and shopping lists, then processes and distributes appropriate information to relevant display units. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing decision logic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If personalized content is displayed based on consumer proximity, then consumer experience is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by providing different types of information to different display units based on their specific locations and the consumers nearby. Each display unit tailors its content to the local context - showing personalized shopping list items to approaching consumers, while other units display general product information or assist associates with stocking tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and preparing personalized content for consumers before they arrive at the display units. When a consumer approaches, the system has already identified their shopping list items and prepared the relevant information for immediate display, reducing the need for real-time processing and lowering precision requirements for instantaneous location measurement.
3Productivity
If product location indications are provided to associates, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display units provide self-service functionality to associates by automatically displaying product location indications, shelf status information, and stocking priorities without requiring manual input or configuration. The system autonomously processes sensor data and presents actionable information, allowing associates to focus on stocking tasks rather than information management.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system is segmented into multiple independent display units, each responsible for a specific shelf section or product category. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by dividing the overall control task into smaller, independent modules, where each unit handles only its local information needs while contributing to overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling shelf display units and for graphically presenting information on shelf display units are disclosed. A system includes one or more display units configured to be coupled to shelves of a modular shelving system, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more display units, one or more memory components communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory components. When executed by the one or more processors, the machine readable instructions cause the system to determine a product identifier corresponding to a product, identify one or more display units to update in response to determining the product identifier corresponding to the product, and update a graphical output of the one or more display units identified to be updated in response to identifying the one or more display units to update.