JP5000269B2 - Information display system, server device, and information display terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display system such as an electronic shelf label system and an electronic POP system in a store, a server device used in the system, and an information display terminal.

  In recent years, it comprises an electronic shelf label controller and a plurality of electronic shelf labels connected to the controller by wire or wirelessly, and the electronic shelf labels are arranged corresponding to display products, respectively, and transmitted data from the controller. An electronic shelf label system that displays the price of the product on the basis thereof has already been put into practical use.

Conventionally, in this type of electronic shelf label system, when the store clerk operates the screen switching remote control and communicates by infrared or the like toward the electronic shelf label on which the price of the product is displayed, the display contents of the electronic shelf label Has already been known to switch from displaying price to displaying sales data of the product. In addition, it is also considered that the sales clerk displays the sales performance data all at once by a command from the controller instead of switching the screen with the remote controller to display the sales performance data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-209861 A

  By introducing an electronic shelf label system that can be switched between price display and sales performance display as described above, the sales performance of the product can be grasped while checking the number of products displayed (inventory number). There is a merit that it is possible to efficiently carry out product ordering and ordering.

  However, on the other hand, in the conventional system in which the store clerk switches the screen with the remote control and displays the sales performance data, anyone can confirm the sales performance data of the product as long as it has the remote control. There was a problem in that no measures were taken against the leakage of business information. Such a problem is the same in the case of a method of displaying sales performance data all at once by a command from the controller.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to switch between non-confidential information and confidential information on a plurality of information display terminals managed by the server device. In the possible information display system, an information display system capable of providing security to display confidential information, a server device used in the system, and an information display terminal are provided.

  The information display system of the present invention is formed by connecting a server device and a plurality of information display terminals having a display unit capable of displaying information received from the server device by wired or wireless communication means. In this, each information display terminal is divided into a plurality of groups. Further, at least one user ID recognition device is provided corresponding to each group so as to be able to communicate with the server device. The server device generates a group information storage unit that stores information for identifying each information display terminal and user ID recognition device belonging to the group for each group, and generates and distributes a plurality of types of display information for each information display terminal. Display information distribution means, a recognition presence / absence identification means for identifying whether or not a user ID is recognized by any of the user ID recognition devices, and a user ID recognition device whose user ID is recognized by the recognition presence / absence identification means. Once identified, all information display terminals classified into the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs are specified based on the information stored in the group information storage unit, and switching is permitted for all the specified information display terminals Switching permission instruction means for distributing signals. Each information display terminal includes a display information storage unit that stores a plurality of types of display information, and a display control unit that displays predetermined display information on the display unit among the plurality of types of display information stored in the display information storage unit. And a display switching means for switching the display information on the display unit to another display information stored in the display information storage unit for a predetermined time when a switching permission signal is received from the server device.

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, it is possible to provide an information display system capable of providing security for displaying confidential information, a server device used in the system, and an information display terminal.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, the information display system of the present invention is applied to an electronic shelf label system in a store. In this case, each electronic shelf label corresponds to the information display terminal of the present invention, and the shelf label server corresponds to the server device of the present invention.

First, the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic shelf label system according to the present embodiment. This system includes a shelf label server 1 and a plurality of electronic shelf labels 2 having a display unit capable of displaying information received from the shelf label server 1. A plurality (three in the figure) of wireless base stations 4 are connected to the shelf label server 1 via a communication line 3 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Further, the shelf label server 1 is connected to the POS server 5 via the inter-server network 6. The POS server 5 is a controller of a POS (Point Of Sales: point-of-sale information record) system for managing the record data related to product sales in the store in real time.

  Each electronic shelf label 2 is provided corresponding to each item of each product displayed in a product display section such as a product display shelf. Normally, information to be presented to the shopper such as the item name and price of the corresponding product, that is, information without confidentiality is displayed.

  Each electronic shelf label 2 is divided into a plurality of groups (three groups A, B, and C in the figure). The definition of grouping is not particularly limited. For example, all of the electronic shelf labels 2 arranged on a single product display shelf may be made into one group. Or you may group according to the classification | category of the goods which display prices, such as meat, vegetables, dairy products, and daily necessities.

  The electronic shelf label system further includes a plurality of user ID recognition devices 7. Each user ID recognizing device 7 recognizes a user ID previously assigned to each person in order to identify store staff such as a store manager, a deputy store manager, a store clerk, and a part timer. At least one unit is installed for each group A, B, C,.

  Incidentally, as the user ID recognizing device 7, an RFID reading device that performs non-contact reading of an ID recorded on an RF card with built-in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and biometric information such as a fingerprint, a palm print, and an iris are collated. Thus, a biometric authentication device that performs user authentication can be applied.

  For example, when an RFID reader is applied, an authentication table in which IDs of RF cards possessed by the store staff are set and stored in advance in association with user IDs of all the store staff is provided. Then, each time the RFID card ID is read by the RFID reader, the authentication table is searched. When the ID of the RF card is detected, the user ID corresponding to the ID is output as the authentication result.

In addition, when the biometric authentication device is applied, an authentication table in which the store staff's biometric information is set and stored in advance is associated with the user IDs of all the store staff. Then, each time the biometric information is read by the biometric authentication device, the authentication table is searched. When data matching the biometric information is detected, a user ID corresponding to the biometric information is output as an authentication result.
Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the output destination of the authentication result is the shelf label server 1.

  All the electronic shelf labels 2 and the ID recognition devices 7 belonging to each group A, B, C,... Can perform wireless communication with the wireless base stations 4 provided corresponding to the groups. It is like that. That is, the electronic shelf label 2 and the ID recognition device 7 belonging to the same group for each radio base station 4 both function as radio slave stations.

  The shelf label server 1 has a function as a database server that stores and manages the shelf label information file 8 and the sales information file 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shelf label information file 8 is a data file for storing item name data and price data corresponding to each unique shelf label address. The shelf label address is a unique wireless communication address assigned and set in advance for each electronic shelf label 2. The item name data and price data are the item name and price of the product provided with the electronic shelf label 2 specified by the corresponding shelf label address. If there is a price change, product replacement, etc., the POS server 5 is rewritten and updated in real time by the control of 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sales information file 9 is a data file for storing item name data and sales performance data of sales points and sales amounts corresponding to the shelf label addresses. The sales performance data is the total sales score and the total sales amount from the opening of the product provided with the electronic shelf label 2 specified by the corresponding shelf label address to the present time. Rewriting and updating are performed in real time under the control of the server 5.

  A front view of the electronic shelf label 2 is shown in FIG. A block diagram of the electronic shelf label 2 is shown in FIG. The electronic shelf label 2 is provided with a display unit 22 for displaying a product name, a price, and the like on the front surface of a thin casing 21. Further, the housing 21 includes a battery 23 as a driving source, a communication unit 24 that performs data communication with the shelf label server 1 via the wireless base station 4, a non-volatile storage unit 25, and a control unit 26 that controls each unit. is doing.

  In the storage unit 25, the shelf label address set in advance for the electronic shelf label 2 is fixedly stored and held. Further, a first screen memory 27 that stores the first screen information in a rewritable manner and a second screen memory 28 that stores the second screen information in a rewritable manner are formed in the storage unit 25.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the first screen memory 27 stores information on the product price screen on which the item name and price of the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label 2 are arranged. The item name and price on the product price screen are information presented to the shopper and are not confidential.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second screen memory 28 stores information on the sales result screen in which the item name, the sales score, and the sales amount of the product corresponding to the electronic shelf label 2 are arranged. . The number of sales points and the sales amount on the sales result screen are data relating to the sales result of the corresponding product, and are confidential information that only a limited store staff can view. Here, the first and second screen memories 27 and 28 function as a display information storage unit that stores a plurality of types of display information.

  The shelf label server 1 creates product price screen information for each electronic shelf label 2 based on the information stored in the shelf label information file 8, and each electronic shelf label via the corresponding wireless base station 4. 2 on the basis of the function distributed to the sales information file 9 and the information stored in the sales information file 9, information on the sales record screen is created for each electronic shelf label 2, and each electronic shelf label 2 is connected via the corresponding wireless base station 4. It has a function to deliver to. Here, the shelf label server 1 generates display information distribution means for generating and distributing a plurality of types of display information for each electronic shelf label 2, more specifically, the item name of the product corresponding to the shelf label for each electronic shelf label. A shelf label information distribution means for generating and distributing shelf label display information consisting of a price and a sales information distribution means for generating and distributing sales record information consisting of sales record data of products corresponding to the electronic shelf label; have.

  A block diagram of the shelf label server 1 is shown in FIG. The shelf label server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 constituting a control unit body, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13 constituting a main storage unit, and an HDD constituting an auxiliary storage device. (Hard Disk Drive) Via the device 14, the timer 15, the first communication controller 16 that controls data communication with the POS server 5 via the interserver network 6, the communication line 3, and the radio base station 4 And a second communication controller 17 for controlling data communication performed between each electronic shelf label 2 and the ID recognition device 7.

  The shelf label server 1 in the HDD device 14 includes the group management table 101 having the data structure shown in FIG. 7 in addition to the shelf label information file 8 and the sales information file 9, and the shelf label having the data structure shown in FIG. The classification table 102 and the access right setting table 103 having the data structure shown in FIG. 9 are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the group management table 101 includes an ID recognition address, a group code, a permission flag, and a timer value corresponding to consecutive numbers from the leading number “1” to the total number of the ID recognition devices 7 ( (T value) is stored. In the ID recognition address area, an ID recognition address that is a unique wireless communication address assigned and set in advance for each ID recognition device 7 is set. In the group code area, a group code for identifying the groups A, B, C,... To which the ID recognition device 7 specified by the corresponding ID recognition address belongs is set. Further, in the permitted flag area, each electronic shelf label 2 in the group specified by the corresponding group code is in a state of permitting or prohibiting browsing confidential sales result data. Is set in the permission flag (in this embodiment, “0: prohibited, 1: permitted”). In the timer value area, when browsing of sales performance data is permitted in each electronic shelf label 2 in the group specified by the corresponding group code, the remaining time of the allowable time is set.

  In the shelf label classification table 102, as shown in FIG. 8, the shelf label addresses of all the electronic shelf labels 2 belonging to the group corresponding to the group code for identifying the group into which each electronic shelf label 2 is grouped. Is set.

  In the access right setting table 103, as shown in FIG. 9, the sales record using the electronic shelf label 2 belonging to the group corresponding to the group code for identifying the group into which each electronic shelf label 2 is grouped. A user ID of a store staff capable of browsing data is set.

  Here, the group management table 101 and the shelf label classification table 102 store a shelf label address and an ID recognition address for identifying the electronic shelf label 2 and the user ID recognition device 7 belonging to the group for each group. It functions as an information storage unit.

  The access right setting table 103 functions as an access right information storage unit that stores a user ID having an access right to the electronic shelf label 2 belonging to the group for each group.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the main steps of the ID recognition receiving process executed by the CPU 11 of the shelf label server 1. When the CPU 11 determines that the user ID is recognized by any of the ID recognition devices 7 based on the recognition result information output from the ID recognition device 7, the CPU 11 starts this processing.

  First, the CPU 11 stores the user ID recognized by the ID recognition device 7 as ST (step) 1 in the RAM 13. Next, an ID recognition address that is a communication address of the ID recognition device 7 that has recognized the user ID is acquired as ST2. Then, as ST3, the group management table 101 is searched with the ID recognition address, and it is determined whether or not the permission flag corresponding to the ID recognition address is in the prohibited state (0) (recognition presence / absence identifying means).

  If it is determined that the permission flag is in the prohibited state (0), the CPU 11 acquires a group code set corresponding to the ID recognition address of the group management table 101 in ST4. In ST5, the access right setting table 103 is searched with this group code, and all permitted user IDs set corresponding to the group code are acquired. Thereafter, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is a permitted user ID that matches the recognized user ID stored in the RAM 13 as ST6 (access right determination means).

  Here, if there is a permitted user ID that matches the recognized user ID, the store staff specified by the user ID is confidential information using the electronic shelf label 2 in the group specified by the group code. Since the person is permitted to confirm the sales record data, the CPU 11 transmits a response signal indicating that the user ID has been approved to the ID recognition device 7 via the second communication controller 17 as ST7. In ST8, the permission flag corresponding to the ID recognition address in the group management table 101 is updated from the prohibited state (0) to the permitted state (1).

  Next, the CPU 11 refers to the shelf label classification table 102 as ST9, and acquires all shelf label addresses set corresponding to the group code. Then, sales result screen information is created for each electronic shelf label 2 identified by these shelf label addresses as ST10. That is, the sales record screen (in FIG. 4 (b) shown in FIG. 4B), the sales point data and the sales amount data stored from the sales information file 9 corresponding to the corresponding shelf label address are arranged together with the item name data. )) Information.

  Next, the CPU 11 distributes the sales result screen information created for each shelf label address as ST11 to the electronic shelf label 2 specified by the shelf label address via the second communication controller 17. In ST12, a switching permission signal is distributed to each electronic shelf label 2 (switching permission command means). Thereafter, in ST13, a preset allowable time initial value Tdef is set in the timer value area corresponding to the ID recognition address of the group management table 101, and the current process is terminated.

  If it is determined in ST3 that the permitted flag is in the permitted state (1), and if it is determined in ST6 that there is no permitted user ID that matches the recognized user ID, the CPU 11 In ST14, a response signal indicating a user ID approval error is transmitted to the ID recognition device 7 via the second communication controller 17, and the current process is terminated.

  Incidentally, the allowable time initial value Tdef is a time when the store staff approved as a result of the user authentication is allowed to confirm the sales performance data as the confidential information using the electronic shelf label 2 in the group, For example, a value corresponding to about 5 to 20 seconds is preset. If this time is short, it is difficult to confirm the data. Conversely, if the time is long, the confidentiality may be impaired. It is desirable to set an appropriate time in consideration of these.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main procedure of the timer interrupt reception process executed by the CPU 11 of the shelf label server 1. The CPU 11 starts this process each time a timer interrupt signal generated periodically, for example, at intervals of 1 second, is input from the timer 15.

  First, the CPU 11 resets the number counter n provided in the RAM 13 as ST21 to “0”. Next, at ST22, the number counter n is incremented by "1". Then, in ST23, it is determined whether or not the number counter n has exceeded the maximum consecutive number N of the group management table 101.

  If the number counter n does not exceed the maximum consecutive number value N, the CPU 11 searches the group management table 101 with the number counter n in ST24 and the timer value Tn corresponding to the number n is “0”. Check if the value is greater than “”. If the timer value Tn is “0”, the process returns to the process of ST22, the number counter n is incremented by “1”, and if the continuous number maximum value N is not exceeded, the timer value Tn is again set. Check if the value is greater than “0”.

  As a result, when the timer value Tn is larger than “0”, the CPU 11 subtracts “1” from the timer value Tn in ST25. Then, in ST26, it is checked whether or not the timer value Tn after subtraction has become “0”. If the timer value Tn is still larger than “0”, the process returns to ST22 and the same process as described above is executed again.

  On the other hand, when the timer value Tn after the subtraction becomes “0”, the CPU 11 acquires the group code stored corresponding to the number n from the group management table 101 as ST27. Then, as ST28, the shelf label classification table 102 is searched with the acquired group code, and all the shelf label addresses stored corresponding to the group code are acquired.

  Next, the CPU 11 distributes a switching prohibition signal via the second communication controller 17 to each electronic shelf label 2 identified by each shelf label address acquired from the shelf label classification table 102 in ST29. After that, if the permission flag stored corresponding to the number n in the group management table 101 is changed to “0” as ST30, the process returns to ST22 and the same process as above is repeated.

  Thus, if it is confirmed in ST23 that the number counter n has exceeded the maximum consecutive number N, the CPU 11 ends the current timer interrupt process.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a main processing procedure executed by the control unit 26 of the electronic shelf label 2. That is, the control unit 26 displays the product price screen on the display unit 22 based on the information stored in the first screen memory 27 as ST41 (display control means). In this state, a signal reception from the shelf label server 1 is waited as ST42. In the initial state, since information is not stored in the first screen memory 27, the reception of a signal from the shelf label server 1 is awaited without displaying the product price screen.

  If the signal from the shelf label server 1 is received (YES in ST42), the control unit 26 identifies the type of the received signal as ST43 to ST46. Here, when the received signal is the first screen information indicating the product price screen (YES in ST43), the control unit 26 overwrites and stores the first screen information in the first screen memory 27 as ST48. To do. Thereafter, the process returns to ST41, and the commodity price screen on the display unit 22 is updated.

  On the other hand, when the received signal is the second screen information indicating the sales result screen (YES in ST44), the control unit 26 overwrites the second screen information in the second screen memory 28 as ST49. save. Thereafter, the process returns to ST42 and waits for reception of the next signal.

  On the other hand, when the received signal is a switching permission signal, the control unit 26 creates a sales result screen based on the information stored in the second screen memory 28 as ST50, and changes the screen of the display unit 22 to that. Switch from the product price screen up to the sales performance screen (display switching means). Thereafter, the process returns to ST42 and waits for reception of the next signal.

  If the received signal is a switching prohibition signal (YES in ST46), control unit 26 returns to the process in ST41. That is, when the screen of the display unit 22 is a sales result screen, the screen is returned to the product price screen based on the information stored in the first screen memory 27.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
For convenience of explanation, the electronic shelf label 2 and the ID recognition device 7 belonging to the group A are denoted by “2A” and “7A”, respectively, and the radio base station 4 provided corresponding to the group A is denoted by the symbol “4A”. ". Similarly, the electronic shelf labels 2 and the ID recognition devices 7 belonging to the groups B and C are denoted by “2B”, “2C”, “7B”, and “7C”, respectively, and are provided corresponding to the groups B or C. The wireless base stations 4 are denoted by “4B” and “4C”, respectively.

  Further, the shelf label information file 8, the sales information file 9, the group management table 101, the shelf label classification table 102, and the access right setting table 103 store the data shown in FIGS. It shall be.

  For example, it is assumed that a user with a user ID “0001” recognizes his / her user ID by an ID recognition device (ID recognition address = 134545) 7A provided corresponding to the group A. It is assumed that the permission flag corresponding to the ID recognition address “12345” in the group management table 101 is reset to “0”.

  Then, an information signal having the user ID “0001” as an authentication result is wirelessly transmitted from the ID recognition device 7A and transmitted to the shelf label server 1 via the wireless base station 4A. In response to this, the shelf label server 1 executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, in the shelf label server 1, the user ID “0001” is recognized, the ID recognition address “12345” of the ID recognition device is acquired, and since the permission flag is “0”, the group code “A” is acquired. The permitted user ID set in the access right setting table 103 corresponding to this group code “A” is acquired. Since the user ID “0001” is included in the permitted user ID, an approval response is returned to the ID recognition device 7A. Thereby, since the approval is notified in the ID recognition device 7A, the user can confirm that the user ID is approved.

  In the shelf label server 1, the corresponding permitted flag is “1”, and all shelf label addresses belonging to the group code “A” are acquired from the shelf label classification table 102. Then, for each electronic shelf label 2 specified by the shelf label address, information on the sales result screen is created based on the information in the sales information file 9, and the information on the sales result screen is transmitted to each electronic device via the radio base station 4A. Delivered to the shelf label 2A. Subsequently, a switching permission signal is distributed to each electronic shelf label 2A.

  As a result, in each electronic shelf label 2A, the screen of the display unit 22 is automatically switched from the price display screen to the sales performance screen. As a result, the user who has confirmed that the user ID has been approved displays the sales record data of the sales points and the sales amount of each product corresponding to each electronic shelf label 2A up to the current time according to the display contents of each electronic shelf label 2A. Can be confirmed.

  In the shelf label server 1, the initial value Tdef is set to the timer value T 1 corresponding to the ID recognition address “12345” of the group management table 101. Each time an interrupt signal is periodically generated from the timer 15, the timer value T1 is decremented by "1". When the timer value T1 becomes “0”, a switching prohibition signal is distributed to all the electronic shelf labels 2A belonging to the group code “A”.

  As a result, in each electronic shelf label 2A, the screen of the display unit 22 returns from the sales performance screen to the price display screen.

  On the other hand, when the user with the user ID “0002” recognizes the user ID by the ID recognition device 7A, the user ID “0002” is not included in the permitted user ID. An error response is returned to the recognition device 7A. In this case, the display screen of each electronic shelf label 2A remains the price display screen.

  As described above, when a store staff member who is set with his / her own user ID as an authorized user ID for an arbitrary group and has the access right recognizes his / her user ID by the ID recognition device 7 in the group. The screen display of all the electronic shelf labels 2 in the group is automatically switched from the price display to the sales performance display for a certain time (time corresponding to Tdef). Therefore, since confidential sales record information is displayed as the back screen of the electronic shelf label 2 only when the user ID is approved in the ID recognition device 7, it is necessary to give security to the display of confidential information. Can do.

  Moreover, in the case of the present embodiment, the screen display of all the electronic shelf labels 2 in the group to which the ID recognition device 7 belongs is switched to the sales result display only by making the user ID recognized by the ID recognition device 7. Therefore, the burden of the confirmation work can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case where the remote control is operated to confirm one by one, and the work time can be greatly shortened, so that convenience can be improved.

  By the way, in the said 1st Embodiment, when the user ID recognized by the ID recognition apparatus 7 is set as a permission user ID with respect to the group to which the ID recognition apparatus 7 belongs, it has the said user ID. In addition to giving access rights to store staff, the screen display of all electronic shelf labels 2 in the group was switched from price display to sales performance display for a certain period of time. For this reason, when there are staff other than the store staff having the user ID, shoppers, etc. in the group, the confidentiality of the sales performance information is lost.

  Next, a second embodiment that solves such a problem will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the electronic shelf label 2 is improved as follows in the first embodiment, and parts common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The front view of the electronic shelf label 2 in 2nd Embodiment is shown in FIG. 13, and a block block diagram is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the electronic shelf label 2 is provided with an operation button 201 on the front surface of the housing 21 and a timer 202 in the housing 21, which can be controlled by the control unit 26. The attachment position of the operation button 201 is not limited to the front surface of the housing 21 and may be a side surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a back surface, or the like. The electronic shelf label 2 forms a valid flag storage area 203 in the storage unit 25.

  Therefore, the control unit 26 of the electronic shelf label 2 processes each unit according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 15 as well, processing steps common to FIG. 12 showing the same processing procedure of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, when the received signal from the shelf label server 1 is a switching permission signal (YES in ST45), the control unit 26 sets the valid flag in the flag storage area 203 to “1” as ST51. When the received signal from the shelf label server 1 is a switching prohibition signal (YES in ST46), the valid flag is reset to “0” as ST52. Other processing procedures are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Further, when the control unit 26 of the electronic shelf label 2 captures an interrupt signal generated by the operation input of the operation button 201, it starts the interrupt process shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the control unit 26 checks the validity flag in ST61. If the valid flag has been reset to “0”, the interrupt process is terminated.

  When the valid flag is set to “1” (YES in ST61), the control unit 26 creates a sales result screen based on the information stored in the second screen memory 28 as ST62, The screen is switched from the previous product price screen to the sales performance screen (display switching means).

  Moreover, the control part 26 starts the time measuring operation | movement of the timer 202 as ST64. Then, it waits for the timer 202 to time out in ST64. In the shelf label server 1, the timer 202 is set as a time-out time that is shorter than the time corresponding to the allowable time initial value Tdef set in the timer value area of the group management table 101.

  The control unit 26 monitors whether or not the operation button 201 is re-input as ST65 until the timer 202 times out. If the operation button 201 is re-input before the time-out (YES in ST65) or the timer 202 times out (YES in ST64), the control unit 26 is stored in the first screen memory 27 as ST66. Based on the stored information, the screen of the display unit 22 is returned from the sales performance screen to the product price screen.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the user ID recognized by the ID recognition device 7 is set as the permitted user ID for the group to which the ID recognition device 7 belongs, and the store staff having the user ID Even if the access right is given to the electronic shelf label 2 belonging to the group, the valid flag is only set to “1”, and the display screen remains the price display screen.

  However, after that, when the user presses the operation button 201 of the electronic shelf label 2 in the group within the time corresponding to the initial allowable time Tdef, only the display screen of the electronic shelf label 2 displays the sales result display from the price display. Switch to. Such switching of the display is possible within a time corresponding to the initial allowable time value Tdef. When the initial allowable time value Tdef elapses and a switching prohibition signal is issued from the shelf label server 1, the valid flag is set. Even if the operation button 201 is pressed after being reset to “0”, the screen is not switched.

  Therefore, even if there are other store staff, shoppers, etc. in the group, the screen display other than the electronic shelf label 2 where the operation staff 201 has pressed the operation button 201 does not switch, so the sales performance information Can be made more conspicuous.

  Moreover, when the time measured by the timer 202 elapses after displaying the sales result screen, the price display screen is automatically restored, and when the operation button 201 is re-input, the price display screen is immediately restored. Thus, for example, when a shopper approaches, the operation button 201 can be re-input and the sales result screen can be erased, and the confidentiality of the sales result information can be made more remarkable.

  In the first and second embodiments, the ID recognition device 7 is provided separately from the electronic shelf label 2. For this reason, the store staff who confirms the sales record data must operate the ID recognition device 7 to authenticate his / her user ID and then move to the electronic shelf label 2 to check the sales record data. There is trouble.

  Next, a third embodiment that solves such a problem will be described with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment, the electronic shelf label 2 is improved as follows in the first embodiment, and parts common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  A front view of the electronic shelf label 2 according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG. 17, and a block configuration diagram is shown in FIG. As illustrated, the electronic shelf label 2 is provided with an RFID reader 211 on the front surface of the housing 21. The RFID reader 211 has a function similar to that of the ID recognition device 7 in the first embodiment.

  In other words, when an RF card enters an antenna communication area (not shown), the RFID reader 211 reads ID data from the RFID built in the card in a non-contact manner. The read ID data is output to the control unit 26.

  Then, the control part 26 performs the process of the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, the control unit 26 waits for the RFID ID data to be read by the RFID reader 211 as ST71, and if read, determines whether the ID data is a user ID of each store staff as ST72. . If it is a user ID, the user ID is transmitted to the shelf label server 1 together with its own shelf label address in ST73. Thereafter, after elapse of a predetermined standby time as ST74, the process returns to ST71 and waits again for the ID data to be read.

  In the third embodiment having such a configuration, when the shelf label server 1 receives the data of the user ID and the shelf label address from the electronic shelf label 2, the shelf label server 1 uses FIG. 10 in the first embodiment. The described ID recognition reception process is executed. However, in the process of ST2, instead of acquiring the ID recognition address, the shelf label address is acquired, the shelf label classification table 102 is searched, and the group code corresponding to the shelf label address is acquired. In the process of ST3, the permission flag corresponding to the acquired group code is checked.

  By doing so, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In this case, the store staff who confirms the sales performance data performs ID authentication only by bringing his / her RF card close to the RFID reader 211 of the electronic shelf label 2. The trouble of moving in front of the bill 2 can be eliminated. Further, a store space for installing the ID recognition device 7 can be eliminated.

  Instead of the RFID reader 211, another ID recognition device such as a biometric authentication device may be configured integrally with the electronic shelf label 2. Further, it is not necessary to integrate the ID recognition device into all the electronic shelf labels 2, and at least one electronic shelf label 2 in the group may be integrated with the ID recognition device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the display information stored in each electronic shelf label 2 is two types of information on the price display screen without secrecy and information on the sales record screen with secrecy, but three or more types are stored. For example, if it is set in advance which type of display information is displayed in association with each user ID, and any one of the user IDs is authenticated in the ID authentication device 7, it is associated with the user ID. You may make it display the display information of a kind on the display part 22. FIG.

  The sales performance information is not limited to the total sales score and the total sales amount from the opening of the store to the present time, and may be, for example, the total sales score and the total sales amount for each time zone. Further, the total sales score and total sales amount by day of the week, week, month may be used. Further, the display information having confidentiality is not limited to the information on the sales performance screen, and may be screen information indicating the number of stocks, the number of orders, etc., for example.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the radio base station 4 was provided corresponding to each group A, B, C, ... which classifies each electronic shelf label 2, it is not necessarily one radio base station for one group. There is no need to associate the stations 4, and one radio base station 4 may be associated with two or more groups, or a plurality of radio base stations 4 may be associated with one group.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the access right setting table 103 memorize | stored user ID which has the access right to the electronic shelf label 2 which belongs to the group for every group, user ID which does not have an access right If the same user ID as the recognized user ID is not set in the access right setting table 103 in the process of ST6 in FIG. 10, the process proceeds to ST7. If it is set, ST14 is set. You may make it progress to the process of.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the time when the sales performance screen was displayed on the electronic shelf label 2 was made common, you may enable it to variably set display time by a user.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to application to an electronic shelf label system, such as an electronic POS system that supports shoppers by displaying sales promotion information, customer service information, product information, etc. in addition to product price information. It can be applied to all information display systems in stores.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The whole block diagram of the electronic shelf label system which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the shelf label information file which a shelf label server manages in the said 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the sales information file which a shelf label server manages in the said 1st Embodiment. The front view of the electronic shelf label in the same 1st embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electronic shelf label in the same 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the shelf label server in the said 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the group management table which a shelf label server memorize | stores in the said 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the shelf label classification | category table which a shelf label server memorize | stores in the said 1st Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the access right setting table which a shelf label server memorize | stores in the said 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the ID recognition reception process which CPU of a shelf label server performs in the same 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal part process sequence of the timer interruption process which CPU of a shelf label server performs in the same 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the main process which the control part of an electronic shelf label performs in the same 1st Embodiment. The front view of the electronic shelf label in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electronic shelf label in the 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal part process sequence of the main process which the control part of an electronic shelf label performs in the same 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal part process sequence of the button input interruption process which the control part of an electronic shelf label performs in the 2nd Embodiment. The front view of the electronic shelf label in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electronic shelf label in the same 3rd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the principal process procedure of the RFID monitoring process which the control part of an electronic shelf label performs in the same 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Shelf label server, 2 ... Electronic shelf label, 4 ... Wireless base station, 5 ... POS server, 7 ... ID recognition device, 8 ... Shelf label information file, 9 ... Sales information file, 11 ... CPU, 14 ... HDD device , 22 ... display unit, 26 ... control unit, 27 ... first screen memory, 28 ... second screen memory, 101 ... group management table, 102 ... shelf label classification table, 103 ... access right setting table, 201 ... operation button, 211: RFID reader.

Claims (14)

In an information display system in which a server device and a plurality of information display terminals having a display unit capable of displaying information received from the server device are connected by wired or wireless communication means,
Each of the information display terminals is grouped into a plurality of groups, and at least one user ID recognition device corresponding to each group is provided to be able to communicate with the server device,
The server device includes a group information storage unit that stores information for identifying the information display terminal belonging to the group and the user ID recognition device for each group, and a plurality of types of display information for each information display terminal. Display information distribution means for generating and distributing information, recognition presence / absence identification means for identifying whether or not the user ID is recognized by any of the user ID recognition devices, and the user ID is recognized by the recognition presence / absence identification means When the identified user ID recognition device is identified, all the information display terminals classified into the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs are identified based on the information stored in the group information storage unit, and the identified Switching permission command means for distributing a switching permission signal to all the information display terminals,
Each of the information display terminals includes a display information storage unit that stores the plurality of types of display information, and a display that displays predetermined display information on the display unit among the plurality of types of display information stored in the display information storage unit. A control means, and a display switching means for switching the display information of the display section to another display information stored in the display information storage section for a predetermined time when the switching permission signal is received from the server device,
An information display system characterized by that. Each of the information display terminals further includes an operator for instructing switching of display information,
The display switching means stores the display information of the display unit in the display information storage unit for a predetermined time on condition that the switching permission signal is received from the server device when the operation element is operated. 2. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the display information is switched to another stored display information.   The display switching means switches the display information of the display unit to another display information stored in the display information storage unit, and then immediately displays the display information of the display unit when the operation element is input. The information display system according to claim 2, wherein the information is returned to the information before switching.   2. The information display terminals grouped into a plurality of groups, wherein at least one of the information display terminals belonging to the same group includes the ID recognition device. Information display system. The server device includes, for each group, an access right information storage unit that stores a user ID having an access right to the information display terminal belonging to the group or a user ID having no access right, and the recognition presence / absence identifying unit. When the user ID recognizing device whose user ID is recognized is identified, the user ID having access right to the group to which the user ID recognizing device belongs is recognized with reference to the storage information of the access right information storage unit. And an access right judging means for judging whether or not
The switching permission instruction means delivers a switching permission signal to the corresponding information display terminal on the condition that the access right determination means determines that the user ID having the access right is recognized. The information display system according to claim 1. Each information display terminal is provided corresponding to each item of each product,
The server device includes a shelf label information file that stores the item name and price of each product in association with each other, and a sales information file that stores sales performance data of each product,
The display information distribution unit generates and distributes shelf label display information including item names and prices of products corresponding to the terminal for each information display terminal based on data stored in the shelf label information file. Sales label information distribution means, and sales information distribution means for generating and distributing sales record information consisting of sales record data of products corresponding to the terminal for each information display terminal based on the data stored in the sales information file Including
The display information storage unit of each information display terminal includes a first storage unit that stores the shelf label display information and a second storage unit that stores the sales performance information,
The display control unit causes the display unit to display the shelf label display information stored in the first storage unit, and the display switching unit stores the display information of the display unit in the second storage unit. 6. The information display system according to claim 1, wherein the information display system is switched to the sales result information.   When the sales information distribution unit identifies the user ID recognition device whose user ID is recognized by the recognition presence / absence identification unit, all the information display terminals classified into the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs are included in the group. The information display system according to claim 6, wherein the information display system is specified based on information stored in an information storage unit, and generates and distributes sales result information for all of the specified information display terminals. In a server device that connects a plurality of information display terminals having a display unit by wired or wireless communication means, and manages information display of each information display terminal,
Group information storage for storing information for identifying each of the information display terminals belonging to the group and a user ID recognition device provided corresponding to the group for each group that divides each information display terminal into a plurality of groups A display information distribution unit that generates and distributes a plurality of types of display information for each information display terminal, and whether or not a user ID is recognized by any of the user ID recognition devices When the identification unit and the user ID recognition device whose user ID is recognized by the recognition presence / absence identification unit are identified, all the information display terminals classified into the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs are stored in the group information storage unit. The switching permission is specified based on the information stored in the information, and the switching permission signal is distributed to all of the identified information display terminals. Server apparatus being characterized in that; and a command means. The user ID is recognized by the access right information storage unit for storing a user ID having an access right to the information display terminal belonging to the group or a user ID having no access right for each group, and the recognition presence / absence identifying unit. When the identified user ID recognition device is identified, it is determined whether or not a user ID having an access right for the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs is recognized by referring to the storage information in the access right information storage unit. And an access right judging means for
The switching permission instruction means delivers a switching permission signal to the corresponding information display terminal on the condition that the access right determination means determines that the user ID having the access right is recognized. The server device according to claim 8. In an information display terminal having a display unit capable of displaying information received from outside,
Display information storage unit for storing a plurality of types of display information, display control means for displaying predetermined display information among the plurality of types of display information stored in the display information storage unit, and switching of the display information The display information stored in the display unit is stored in the display information storage unit for a predetermined time on the condition that a switching permission signal is received from the outside when the operation unit is operated and input. An information display terminal comprising display switching means for switching to another stored display information. The display switching means switches the display information of the display unit to another display information stored in the display information storage unit, and then immediately displays the display information of the display unit when the operation element is input. The information display terminal according to claim 10 , wherein the information is returned to the information before switching. An information display terminal belonging to an information display terminal group obtained by dividing a plurality of information display terminals into a plurality of groups,
  For each information display terminal group, a group information storage unit for storing information for identifying each of the information display terminals belonging to the group and a user ID recognition device provided corresponding to the group, and for each information display terminal Display information distribution means for generating and distributing a plurality of types of display information, recognition presence / absence identification means for identifying whether or not a user ID is recognized by any of the user ID recognition devices, and recognition recognition / identification means When the user ID recognition device whose user ID is recognized is identified, all the information display terminals classified into the group to which the user ID recognition device belongs are specified based on the information stored in the group information storage unit. And a switching permission instruction means for distributing a switching permission signal to all of the specified information display terminals. Be connected by wired or wireless communication means,
  A display unit capable of displaying information received from the server device; a display information storage unit for storing a plurality of types of display information; and predetermined display information among a plurality of types of display information stored in the display information storage unit. Display control means for displaying on the display unit, and display switching for switching the display information on the display unit to another display information stored in the display information storage unit for a predetermined time when the switching permission signal is received from the server device And an information display terminal. It further comprises an operator for instructing switching of display information,
  The display switching means stores the display information of the display unit in the display information storage unit for a predetermined time on condition that the switching permission signal is received from the server device when the operation element is operated. The information display terminal according to claim 12, wherein the information display terminal is switched to another stored display information. The display switching means switches the display information of the display unit to another display information stored in the display information storage unit, and then immediately displays the display information of the display unit when the operation element is input. 14. The information display terminal according to claim 13, wherein the information is returned to the information before switching.

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