Method for locating an electronic shelf label

The invention relates to a method for locating an electronic shelf label with an unknown location, in particular in the form of an electronic shelf label display, of an electronic shelf labelling system, wherein the system comprises a number of access points with known locations, which are positioned in different positions at a distance from a shelf, wherein the shelf has at least one shelf edge strip and wherein one of the shelf edge strips has at least one electronic shelf label that is designed such that it can be contactlessly supplied with power, and an electronic power supply device located on the shelf edge strip and designed for contactlessly supplying the at least one shelf label with power, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: determining the position of the electronic supply device in relation to the access points with known locations using an ultra-wide-band radio communication between the access points and the power supply device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method for locating an electronic shelf label.

BACKGROUND

A method of this type is known from international patent application with the publication number WO2015/172822A1. In said method, in a group of electronic shelf labels which are realized as electronic shelf label displays, referred to in the technical jargon as ESLs for short, and are assigned wirelessly (by initial registration) to a single access point, a shelf label display of unknown location is located with the aid of a group of shelf label displays of known location. The shelf label displays of unknown location are in this case located exclusively by evaluating a locating signal which is generated, sent and also received in the group of shelf label displays. The shelf label displays of known location form the reference system within which the shelf label display of unknown location is sought.

This method is very efficient. However, the quality of the locating result which is ultimately perceived by the user of the system depends on the condition that the position of the shelf label displays of known location must not change within the space. A situation deviating from this condition would result, for example, if a whole shelving unit including the shelf label displays installed on it is moved from one location to another (new) location within a business premises, the new location still being within the wireless range of the access point to which the affected (moved) shelf label displays are wirelessly assigned. If the new locations of the affected shelf label displays were not then corrected manually in the electronic ESL management system of the business, the locating results achievable with the aid thereof would be essentially useless or misleading.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved method for locating an electronic shelf label within an ESL system in which the aforementioned problems are overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by means of a method according to Claim1. The subject matter of the invention is thus a method for locating an electronic shelf label of unknown location, in particular realized as an electronic shelf label display, of an electronic shelf label system, the system comprises a number of access points of known location, which are positioned at different positions, each at a distance from a shelving unit, the shelving unit comprises at least one shelf edge strip, and one of the shelf edge strips comprises at least one electronic shelf label, which is designed such that it can be supplied with energy contactlessly, and an electronic supply device which is located on the shelf edge strip and is designed for contactless energy supply to the at least one shelf label, wherein the method comprises the following method steps: namely determining the position of the electronic supply device in relation to the access points of known location using ultra-wideband wireless communication between the access points and the supply device.

The measures according to the invention are associated with the advantage that, in contrast to known measures, the location determination for one but also more shelf label(s) is no longer dependent on the absolute position of other shelf labels being known, which act as static anchor points for the position determination in these known measures. Rather, dynamic anchor points, realized by the supply devices, are now used. These can change their position in space over time, for example as a result of repositioning of the shelving unit or else a reorganization of the shelves to which the shelf edge strips are fastened. Therefore, before a location determination for a shelf label is carried out, a location determination for the supply device is carried out first, and on the basis thereof, that is to say, in relation to this position of the supply device, the position of a shelf label is determined or narrowed down. The fact that the shelf label whose position is to be determined or narrowed down is on the shelf edge strip on which the relevant supply device is also provided or located ultimately comes into play here. Therefore, as soon as the respective position of the supply device has been determined, the position of the shelf label supplied with the aid of the relevant supply device results de facto automatically, because said shelf label can only be positioned on the relevant shelf edge strip. Since multiple shelf edge strips are usually installed next to one another and/or one above the other on one shelving unit, and the dimensions (lengths) of the shelf edge strips and the location at which the supply device is mounted on the shelf edge strip are known (e.g. to a server of the business), the orientation of the shelving unit and thus also the orientation of the shelf edge strips can be determined automatically (e.g. with the aid of the aforementioned server) by determining the position of the multiplicity of the supply devices installed on the shelving unit, and thus actually the position of the respective shelf label can be narrowed down to a spatial region in which the respective shelf edge strip is situated.

The focus on the location determination of the individual supply devices has also proven very efficient, because a single supply device can supply a relatively large number of shelf labels, e.g. up to 10, 20 or even many more units. This allows the location of the multiplicity of affected shelf labels to be narrowed down in the simplest manner, as explained above, which considerably accelerates the locating method in question in comparison with other methods which rely on individual communication between the affected shelf label and the access points.

Ultra-wideband wireless communication means wireless communication based on ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The most important feature is the use of extremely wide frequency ranges with a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz or of at least 20% of the arithmetic mean of the lower and upper limit frequencies of the frequency range used.

Further particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims and also the following description. In this case, features of one claim category can be developed in accordance with the features of the other claim category, so that the effects and advantages listed in connection with the one claim category are also present for the other claim categories.

Such an electronic shelf label can provide or fulfil a wide variety of functionalities or functions. For example, the shelf label can be configured or accordingly designed e.g. to detect environmental parameters such as e.g. for temperature or moisture detection, or as an input element for receiving an input interaction of a user (e.g. detecting a fingerprint, or a key press) or else as a display medium for presenting information for the user, namely as a shelf label display. In any case, the shelf label is designed such that it can be attached to the shelf edge strip in question and is supplied there with energy in the manner described in detail in the following.

In the method, the determination of the position of the electronic supply device is based on determining the distance between it and each of the involved access points using the respective ultra-wideband wireless communication. A “Flight-of-Time” measurement and, where necessary, an “Angle-of-Arrival” determination are used for this. This entails a very precise determination of the location of the respective supply device by the following measures such as e.g. triangulation, etc.

After the location of the supply device has been determined, the at least one electronic shelf label installed on the shelving unit is identified during energy supply thereof.

The energy supply starts the electronics of the shelf label so that the shelf label is ready with its functionality. Then, during energy supply to the shelf label, it is identified by requesting its unique identifier. This request is also carried out by the supply device. The identifier thus determined is made available at the supply device for retrieval or, in the event of further communication (wired or wireless), forwarded for further processing.

Contactless energy transmission takes place such that, for this purpose, at least one first conductor loop is used, which is formed on the shelf edge strip and is connected by way of its two loop connectors to the supply device and is used for inductive coupling to a locally corresponding second conductor loop (located in the vicinity) of the shelf label. If the conductor loop extends along the entire length of the shelf edge strip, all the shelf labels positioned along the shelf edge strip can be identified in this manner and thus the conclusion can be drawn that all these identified shelf labels are positioned in the vicinity of the position of the supply device and in any case along the shelf edge strip there. In this case, the shelf labels can be programmed such that they output their identifier (once or multiple times) at randomly selected times within a time window in order to ensure individual receipt at the supply device. An anti-collision method known for example from RFID technology can also be used during this contactless transmission in order to ensure individual receipt at the supply device.

For the (more exact/precise) determination of the position of a shelf label along the shelf edge strip, however, multiple first conductor loops are preferably used, which are positioned at different locations along the shelf edge strip. These can be used to realize a spatial resolution along the shelf edge strip, that is to say, along its longitudinal extent. The accuracy of the location determination depends in this case on the number and also the length of the zones covered with the aid of the individual first conductor loops.

The supply device is used to carry out, with the aid of the individual first conductor loops, a spatially limited, that is to say, an individual energy supply at the location of the respective first conductor loop, if a shelf label is positioned there. Since the supply device is informed of how many first conductor loops are fastened to its shelf edge strip and in what order and at what distances (measured from its own position or measured relatively from one conductor loop to the next) they occur along the shelf edge strip, the position of the respective shelf label which can be activated and identified by energy supply, along the shelf edge strip can be determined.

The contactless energy supply to be carried out with the aid of the supply device can be based on a proprietary technical solution or on a standardized technology such as e.g. RFID technology. Particularly preferably, however, an NFC interface is used for contactless energy supply and in particular identification both on the side of the shelf label and on the side of the supply device. In this context, the first conductor loop formed on the shelf edge strip forms a constituent of the NFC interface of the supply device. The same also applies in the case of multiple such first conductor loops, wherein the supply device is preferably designed for individual use of the respective first conductor loop in this case, in order for example to use the first conductor loops sequentially one after the other. In this case, the supply device is preferably designed for selective (or else sequential) switchover (multiplexing) between the first conductor loops in order always to use only one individual first conductor loop. Such a switchover can be realized e.g. with the aid of what is referred to in the field of electronics as an “analogue switch”.

RFID stands for “Radio Frequency Identification”. technology is specified e.g. in the standard ISO/IEC 18000.

NFC stands for “Near Field Communication”. The technology is specified e.g. in the standards ISO/IEC 13157, -16353, -22536, -28361 etc.

However, using the explained NFC interface means not only that the position of an electronic shelf label can be determined, but also that image contents to be reproduced with the aid of this shelf label (realized as a shelf label display) can be defined, that is to say, transmitted to the electronics of the shelf label. This preferably takes place during the time period in which the shelf label is supplied with energy, that is to say, its electronics are active, during which corresponding command and/or image data are transmitted to the shelf label. In order to show static image information with the aid of the display unit also during a time period without energy supply, during which the electronics of the shelf label are inactive, the shelf label display comprises an energy-saving display unit, in particular based on electronic ink or electronic paper technology, etc. These terms substantially stand for the principle of an electrophoretic display which contains e.g. positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles in a transparent, viscous polymer. By briefly applying a voltage at electrodes, between which the medium made up of particles and polymer is arranged, either the black Particles are placed in front of the white particles or vice versa in the viewing direction. This arrangement is then maintained for a relatively long time (e.g. a few weeks) without further energy supply. If the display is segmented accordingly, e.g. letters, numbers or images can be realized with relatively high resolution in order to display said information. Such a reflective screen can however also be realized with the aid of other technologies, which are known e.g. under the term “electrowetting” or “MEMS”. The screen can be designed e.g. as mentioned for black and white display, for greyscale display, for black, white and red display or else for black, white and yellow display. Future developments, which enable a full-colour or even multi-colour display, should also be included. Such a screen is very generally a reflective, that is to say passive, non-self-illuminating display, in which the—relatively static—information display is based on light generated by an external (artificial or natural) light source shining onto the screen and being reflected from there to the observer.

The shelf label or its display unit is supplied with energy on the one hand and data on the other hand with the aid of the NFC interface. During energy supply via the NFC interface, data can thus also be transmitted via this NFC interface, said data being processed by the display unit to the effect that the image content of its screen changes. After the image content has finished changing, corresponding status information representing the successful change of the image content can also be output by the display unit via the NFC interface. After the image content has finished changing, where applicable also after the status information has been output, the energy supply via the NFC interface can be terminated, after which the image content of the screen remains unchanged until the next desired change.

The use of said technologies in particular allows the shelf label to be realized without its own energy supply such as a battery or a rechargeable battery for example, which are both relatively expensive. For the purposes of maintenance or replacement of the battery or rechargeable battery, a conventional shelf label must also be designed such that said energy storage devices are replaceable. Where necessary, only a capacitor for short-term, temporary smoothing or stabilization of the internal supply voltage is still used in the shelf label in question. The shelf label is therefore designed such that its electronics for communication or for updating the screen content, in particular its electronic control, are only ever active when it is supplied with the aid of the external electronic supply device. The housing can be completely and permanently encapsulated, because it is no longer necessary to replace the energy storage device, and therefore it can only be opened for recycling purposes (e.g. with a special tool).

A shelf label which is reduced to a few, absolutely necessary electronic components and is therefore also extremely inexpensive can thus be realized. This extremely reduced shelf label has only one basic functionality, such as e.g. standardized NFC communication with standardized energy supply during NFC communication. These tasks can be realized with the aid of a simple NFC controller. Updates of the screen of the energy-saving display unit and the associated status report are not dealt with directly by the shelf label in wireless communication with an access point, as is the case in known systems, but rather is handled by the interposed supply device, which for its part can be in contact with the access point via a suitable (and essentially freely selectable) wireless communication method.

For the wireless communication with the access point, a time slot communication method can be used, in particular a proprietary time slot communication method such as that known from WO2015/124197, pages 2 to 4, the specific disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, a communication protocol based on the standards or specifications ZigBee, Bluetooth or WiFi etc. can also be used for wireless communication.

Accordingly, in addition to a wireless module which provides the UWB functionality, at least one further wireless module which provides one of the aforementioned wireless technologies can be provided both at the access point and at the supply device. Each of the separate wireless modules can have its own antenna configuration, which consists of a single antenna or a number of individual antennas, and contain associated electronics. The allows the UWB wireless communication to be used exclusively for location determination, while communication via the further wireless module is freely available parallel thereto to control the shelf label via the supply device.

In order to ultimately come to an absolute location of the supply device in the premises of a business such as a supermarket, position-relevant results of the ultra-wideband wireless communication are transmitted in a wired or wireless manner either from the supply device or from the involved access point to a data processing device to determine the location of the supply device(s). These position-relevant results can be the determined distances between the communication partners (supply device and access point) or else the signal transit times during communication between the communication partners, from which the position of the respective supply device in relation to the access points is determined, from which the absolute position of the respective supply device can then be determined on the basis of the knowledge of the exact position of the involved access points, which is more accurate the more access points are involved.

Furthermore, the identity of a shelf label identified during the energy supply thereof by the supply device is communicated to said data processing device, and the location of the relevant shelf label relative to the previously determined location of the relevant supply device is at least narrowed down at the data processing device. As mentioned, the dimensions (longitudinal extent) of the respective shelf edge strips can for example be taken into account, which ultimately defines the permissible limits for the distance between an identified shelf label and the supply device supplying this shelf label on the relevant shelf edge strip.

However, anchor points which are variable in position and therefore dynamic, in the form of the supply devices, can also be used for other purposes within a business premises. For instance, according to a further aspect, the position of a movable object can be at least narrowed down by ultra-wideband wireless communication between it and at least one of the supply devices. This movable object can be, for example, a shopping trolley, a shopping basket, or else a customer's smartphone and the like. All these objects can be equipped with an ultra-wideband wireless system. This measure can be used to establish whether the movable object, ultimately the user of the object, stops in front of a shelving unit, and in particular which shelving unit the user is in front of.

By repeatedly narrowing down the position of the movable object, a path of movement of the object can be determined. This measure can be used to predict the time at which a user arrives in front of a specific shelving unit or a specific shelf edge strip or else state the time period during which a user stays in front of a shelving unit or shelf edge strip.

In this connection, it has furthermore proven particularly advantageous when information corresponding to the position of the object is displayed either via a screen of the object or via a shelf label, that is to say, via its display unit, positioned in the vicinity thereof. This enables location- or else behaviour-specific provision of information for the user or customer. This functionality can be triggered, for example, by the object passing a threshold value of a distance from the supply device or spending longer than a predefined time period within a zone which is defined by the distance from a single shelf label display or the distances from a number of such supply devices.

In summary, the invention allows two-stage locating of electronic shelf labels wherein, in a first step, the position of one or more supply device(s) is determined first, and then, in a second step, the position of a shelf label is narrowed down in the context of energy supply by means of the supply device. However, the two method steps can also occur in the reverse order. It is immaterial in this case, whether the supply device always stays in the same place or not, because its relative position in relation to access points installed at fixed positions can be determined or updated again and again and above all relatively quickly with the aid of the ultra-wideband wireless communication used. The multiplicity of supply devices within a business premises therefore realize anchor points, which are dynamically variable in terms of their own position, for locating the shelf labels assigned to them (to be supplied with energy by them) in each case.

In summary, the supply device implements, for the shelf edge strip in question, a combined energy supply and communication supply device for the shelf labels fastened to the relevant shelf edge strip. The supply device is thus configured or designed for local contactless energy transmission and local contactless communication with shelf labels fastened to the shelf edge strip. Such a supply device can also be referred to as a shelf edge strip control device or shelf edge strip controller, because it controls all the activities of the shelf labels mounted on the relevant shelf edge strip, which includes the display behaviour or other functionalities mentioned in the introduction, the communication behaviour and the respective energy supply.

The electronics of the various devices of the system, just like also the interface etc. thereof can be realized with the aid of very wide range of passive and also active electronic components in a discrete and also integrated manner. Preferably, a microprocessor with corresponding peripheral components or microcontroller, upon which a software for providing the various functionalities is executed, is used in this case. Also, what are known as ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) can be used.

These and further aspects of the invention result from the figures discussed below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a part of a shelf label system1in a business premises, which comprises a number of identically constructed, namely NFC-enabled, electronic shelf label displays2, which are fastened to four “intelligent” shelf edge strips3positioned next to one another (in a row along the width of a shelving unit9), the shelf edge strips3being visible substantially in a front view. Each shelf edge strip3has an electronic supply device4for contactless energy supply of the shelf label displays2and for contactless communication with a shelf label display2supplied with energy, this being realized with the aid of NFC technology. Also illustrated is a data processing device, which is realized with the aid of a server5, which is connected in a wired manner to four identically constructed access points6, the access points being positioned at different locations within a business premises, and the server5knowing these locations.

The supply devices4illustrated are in wireless contact with e.g. the access point6on the far left, to which they are logically assigned, via first wireless signals F1. The image contents of the shelf label displays2within the entire business premises can thus be changed from the server5, and where necessary associated status information can also be requested from the shelf label displays2and transmitted to the server5.

The shelf label displays2of other shelving units9(not illustrated here) can likewise be logically assigned in groups to the other access point6illustrated, so that in each case one access point6wirelessly supplies a subset of all the shelf label displays2of the business premises.

Each access point6has two wireless modules6A and6B, wherein both of these are only indicated schematically in the respective access point6, separated from each other by dashed lines.

The first wireless module6A communicates by means of the first wireless signal F1and is used to define the image contents. To do this, it uses ultra-wideband wireless technology (referred to in the technical jargon as UWB technology, UWB standing for “ultra wideband”), and its electronics as well as its antenna configuration (neither illustrated in detail) are designed to implement this technology.

The second wireless module6B is designed as a supply transmitter and supplies the supply devices4with energy selectively by sending directed second wireless signals F2. To this end, the second wireless module6B has, in addition to its electronics, a number of antennas, with the aid of which the direction of the energy transmission (ultimately the propagation of the second wireless signal F2, which is sent at e.g. 5 watts) can be set relatively precisely, so that the energy to be transmitted arrives exactly at a selected supply device4. This energy transmission technology is known by the term “power over WiFi”, and the electronics and the antenna configuration of the second wireless module6B are designed accordingly.

The “power over WiFi” functionality, that is to say, the second wireless module6B, can be integrated in the access point6or realized as a separate assembly/separate device, which is e.g. coupled for control to the first wireless module6A.

Each of the shelf edge strips3is mounted on the front edge of an individual shelf8. The four shelves8illustrated all belong to the shelving unit9, which is indicated only schematically. Different products can be presented on the shelves8but are not illustrated in the present case.

In the visualization ofFIG.1, the reference numerals2and4are entered only for the top shelf edge strip configuration, which shows four shelf edge strips3, and have largely been omitted from the three configurations of the shelf edge strips3below for reasons of simplicity.

Furthermore,FIG.1shows a shopping trolley7, which is being moved past the shelving unit9to the left. The shopping trolley7has a mobile wireless unit21, which is designed for ultra-wideband wireless communication. The wireless unit21has e.g. battery-operated wireless electronics and an antenna configuration connected thereto (neither illustrated) and establishes a UWB wireless connection to the supply devices4within its range with the aid of the first wireless signals F1, on the basis of which the supply devices4can determine the distance from the wireless unit21.

During normal operation, which is referred to as the normal mode of the system1, all the shelf label displays2are assigned wirelessly to the access point6on the far left, as mentioned, and the changing of the image contents is controlled with the aid of the first wireless signals F1via this access point6arranged on the far left.

The situation in which the shelf label displays2are sought is different by contrast. In this case, which is referred to as the locating mode of the system1, multiple, in the present case all four, access points6are used, and the distance between the respective supply device4and the respective access point6is determined during communication with, for example, the supply device4installed in the top left corner with the aid of the first wireless signals F1, which each of the access points6now exchanges with the supply device4in UWB wireless communication. The distances thus determined are transmitted to the server5via a wired network (LAN), and the server5determines the spatial position of the affected supply device4with knowledge of the absolute positions of the four access points6.

A block diagram of the shelf label display2is explained belowFIG.2.

The block diagram according toFIG.2shows a first NFC interface with its coupling coil12; NFC stands for “Near Field Communication”. With the aid of the coupling coil12, an inductive coupling is established with another NFC-enabled device, in the present case the supply device4, specifically with the conductor loops L1to L5formed on the shelf edge strip3(seeFIG.3), when the coupling coil12is brought correspondingly close to one of the conductor loops L1-L5, which is the case when the shelf label display2is attached to the shelf edge strips3. During the inductive coupling, a first supply voltage VCC1is generated relative to a first reference potential GND1with the aid of the first NFC interface11for the operation of the entire shelf label display2, which activates the electronics of the shelf label display2, so that contactless bidirectional communication of data D can also be carried out via its first NFC interface11. A constituent of these electronics is also an NFC controller, which provides the entire NFC functionality, but is not shown here in detail, but is integrated in the first NFC interface11.

The block diagram also shows a display unit13, which is connected to the first NFC interface11and is divided into a screen controller realized as an electronic paper display controller14and a screen realized as an electronic paper display screen15which is connected thereto and can be controlled therewith. With the aid of the controller14, the data D received is interpreted, the image content of the screen15is changed accordingly, where necessary, or else status information in the form of data D is output to the supply device4via the NFC interface11.

A block diagram of the shelf edge strip3according to Figure particularly also the supply device4, is discussed below usingFIG.3.

The supply device4illustrated inFIG.3is designed both for its own contactless supply with energy and also for contactlessly supplying the shelf label displays2with energy. For its own supply, it has a supply receiver23which is suitable for receiving the second wireless signal F2and is equipped with an antenna configuration24(which can have multiple antennas) and electronics, which are designed to receive the second wireless signal F2and to store the energy transmitted therewith in an internal electrical energy storage device25(chargeable battery, rechargeable battery) and to generate the second supply voltage VCC2relative to a second reference potential GND2.

During operation, the supply device4can query or monitor the state of charge of the energy storage device25, for example with the aid of its control unit20. As soon as the state of charge falls below a certain level, the control unit20can request a (re)charge with the aid of the first wireless signal51. This request is received by the access point6to which the supply device4is logically (wirelessly) assigned. Since the exact geographical position (the three-dimensional coordinates) of each of the supply devices4and their unique identifier is known in the system1(e.g. the server5), because e.g. the position was determined previously with the aid of the locating mode, the affected access point6can send the second wireless signal F2in a precisely directed manner towards the position of the respective supply device4requesting charging. The second wireless signal F2is received there, and the energy transmitted with the aid thereof is used to charge the internal energy storage device25there.

In the visualization ofFIG.3, a printed circuit board17is also indicated, which was omitted from the diagram inFIG.1for reasons of clarity. The printed circuit board17supports five conductor loops L1to L5, wherein in the present case these are designed with multiple loops or windings, which is indicated in each case with the symbol for an electric coil. The printed circuit board17is integrated into the relatively flat structure of the shelf edge strip3. The supply device4can be soldered to said printed circuit board17or connected via cables or plug connectors, so that the conductor loops L1to L5are electrically contacted via their loop connectors C1to C5.

Corresponding to the position of the respective conductor loop L1to L5, the shelf label display2respectively positioned there is also illustrated and indicated. Here, the electrical connection of the loop connectors C1to C5to the supply device4, but in particular to the electronics of its (second) NFC interface18, is also specifically illustrated. If an inductive coupling with the first NFC interface11of the shelf label display2is present, the second NFC interface18is designed for the contactless transmission of electrical energy to the shelf label display2and for bidirectional contactless communication of data with the shelf label display2activated by energy transmission. The conductor loops L1to L5are multiplexed with the aid of the NFC interface18which is specifically designed to do this, therefore only one of the conductor loops L1to L5is ever in use. An “analogue switch” known in electronics can be used for this.

The supply device4furthermore has an access point communication interface19, which is designed for wireless communication with the access point6illustrated inFIG.1. It has an antenna configuration19A, which can also be constructed from multi single antennas, and electronics, with which the first wireless signals F1can be received and sent. In particular, the access point communication interface19is designed for ultra-wideband wireless communication.

The control unit20is used to control the internal processes, the energy supply to the shelf label display2and communication with the shelf label display2, and communication with the access point6. It is realized with the aid of a microcontroller, which is connected to the second NFC interface18and the access point communication interface19as well as the supply receiver23via a bidirectional data bus.

InFIG.4, the shelf edge strip3illustrated in the top left corner in the shelving unit9is illustrated in a more detailed view. Only the left-hand edge of the printed circuit board17supporting the conductor loops L1to L5is visible, to avoid overloading the visualization. In this visualization, only the first loop connectors C1connected to the supply device4are illustrated. However, the same applies correspondingly to the remaining four loop connectors C1to C5, the direct connection of which to the supply device4has been omitted for reasons of clarity. It is furthermore illustrated symbolically that each of the shelf label displays2contains the uniquely identifying identifier data16A to165, which are stored permanently and immutably in an internal memory.

Since the measures with which the position of the supply device4(e.g. located in the top left of the shelving unit9) is determined have been already explained above, the locating of the five shelf label displays2fastened to this shelf edge strip3is now explained. In the aforementioned locating mode, the supply device4then activates the five shelf label displays2sequentially. To this end, an inductive coupling is first established via the two NFC interfaces11and18to the shelf label displays2positioned on the far right with the aid of the conductor loop L1there (on the far right) and in the process energy is transmitted to them so that the electronics of the shelf label display2are activated. The unique first identifier data16A is then retrieved with the aid of the coupled NFC interfaces11and18and stored in the supply device4. Then the energy supply, that is to say, the coupling, is terminated, and the shelf label display2is deactivated. This process is then carried out step by step for each of the other conductor loops L2to L5until all the unique identifier data16A to165are present in the supply device4. The unique identifier data16A-16E thus determined are then output via the access point communication interface19to the access point6responsible for the relevant supply device4, which in the present case is the access point6illustrated on the far left inFIG.1. From there, these identifier data16A to165are forwarded to the server5, which has already determined the absolute position of the supply device4located in the top left corner and which is also informed of the dimensions of the shelf edge strip3and the positions or coverage zones of the respective conductor loops L1to L5along the shelf edge strip3. From this information, in particular from the relationship between the respective conductor loop L2to L5(e.g. the order in which they are used) and the identifier data16A to16E obtained via the respective conductor loop L2-L5, the server5then determines the respective shelf label display position10A to10E for each shelf label display2along the shelf edge strip3, e.g. measured from a known reference position16, e.g. the known position of the supply device4, or else from the right or left edge of the shelf edge strip3.

If the orientation of the shelf edge strip3in space is clear to the server5, which can be determined e.g. by determining and thus also knowing some or else all positions of the supply devices4of the shelving unit9, the clear position of each of the shelf label displays2in space can also be determined by the server5.

A use scenario for the method for locating the electronic shelf label displays2is described below with the aid ofFIGS.5A and5B.

It can be assumed here that a starting configuration of the shelving units9is illustrated inFIG.5A, and a final configuration of the shelving units9is illustrated inFIG.5B, the twoFIGS.5A and5Bbeing separated from each other with the aid of a dividing line. The shelving units9illustrated are illustrated as viewed from above, and two adjacent shelf edge strips3are illustrated per shelving unit9in each case. The structure of shelf label displays2and supply device4illustrated in the top left corner is replicated over the two columns and four rows of the shelving unit9illustrated, and therefore only the top left shelf edge strip3has been provided with reference numerals, for reasons of clarity.FIGS.5A and5Badditionally show three access points6, which are installed on the ceiling of a business premises in which the shelving units9are erected, at positions between the shelving units9.

It can be seen that the two bottom right shelving unit positions inFIG.5Aare not occupied by shelving units9. Proceeding from the starting configuration according toFIG.5A, in the transition to the final configuration according toFIG.5B, two of the shelving units9are moved according to the arrows22A and22B to the free shelving unit positions in the starting configuration.

In order to locate the shelf label displays2now, locating mode is activated, and the positions of the individual supply devices are first determined with the aid of the UWB wireless communication as explained. For the supply devices4for which only a slight or no change in location results, the method is terminated here already, because it is assumed that the associated shelf edge strips3have not been subjected to any change in location.

For the supply devices4which are now installed on the shelving units9which have changed position according to the arrows22A and22B and therefore for which a change in position going beyond a threshold value has been established, in a second step, the shelf label displays2installed there are identified during individual energy supply thereto, and the identifier data16A to16E thus obtained are transmitted to the server5for defining the respective position of each shelf label display2. The system1then reassumes normal mode.

The supply devices4located at their new positions then simply log in wirelessly to the closest access point6, because they are already known in the system1and have been registered previously, and are available there as usual. A re-registration at the closest access point6can also take place.

However, it should be mentioned at this point that the previously explained termination of the method for the supply devices4which have not changed position does not necessarily have to take place. The method can also be executed as explained above for these supply devices4, that is to say, applied to all the supply devices4and the shelf label displays2supplied thereby, which ultimately leads to the taking of a full inventory of the shelf label displays2. This may make sense all the positions are to be determined deliberately or a test is carried out as to whether individual shelf label displays2have been removed from the shelving units involved or the shelf edge strips3there (although they have not been moved) or moved to other locations or displaced along the shelf edge strips3etc.

With the new positions thus determined, the digital three-dimensional map of the shelf label displays2is adapted to the reality now present in the business premises or an existing three-dimensional map is verified with the aid of the server5.

With the aid of the access point communication interface19designed for ultra-wideband wireless communication, however, movable objects, which move past or stay in front of the shelving unit9like the shopping trolley7illustrated inFIG.1, can also be tracked or identified with the aid of the first wireless signals F1. After it has successfully been detected that such a shopping trolley7is in a predefined region in front of e.g. the second shelf edge strip3from the left on the bottom shelves, specific information relating to the products presented there can be displayed via the shelf label displays2fastened to this shelf edge strip3with the aid of the supply device4installed there.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the access point6can also be designed such that the first wireless module6A with its UWB technology is only used for distance determination and, together with other access points6, for position determination. The second wireless module6B can be configured and used for energy transmission, as explained. In addition to this, a third wireless module (not illustrated) can also be realized, which is designed for communication of display contents, commands or status messages according to e.g. a proprietary time slot communication method mentioned in the general part of the description or a standardized communication method (ZigBee, Bluetooth, . . . ). Accordingly, the electronic supply device4also has, instead of the two wireless interfaces19,23illustrated inFIG.3, an additional wireless interface for communication with the third wireless module, the access point6.

A realization of the printed circuit board17and the shelf edge strip3is also discussed in the following.

FIG.6shows by way of example such a printed circuit board17, which has conductor tracks on both sides. For reasons of clarity, only three of the five conductor loops L1-L5are illustrated. The conductor loops L1, L2and t5, which have a large area, can be seen on the front. On the rear, the conductor tracks LB2-LB5, running close together, of the respective loop connectors C2and C5can be seen, which run along the longitudinal extent of the Printed circuit board17. The loop connectors Cl run on the front side. The loop connectors C1-C5are all connected to the supply device4. There are vias DK2and DK5from the front to the rear in the places where the loop connectors C2and C5end at the conductor loops L2and L5, so that the conductor loops L2and L5are electrically conductively connected to their loop connectors C2and C5. The same applies correspondingly to the conductor loops L3and L4, their loop connectors C3and C4, their conductor tracks LB3and LB4, and the two vias DK3and DK4, which are not shown. The supply device4indicated on the printed circuit board17can be attached, for example, to the rear of the printed circuit board17. The electronic components of its electronics can also be soldered directly to the printed circuit board17.

FIG.7finally shows a possibility of mechanically integrating the printed circuit board17in the shelf edge strip3. The printed circuit board17forms a part of the wall of a receiving slot, which is used to receive a number of shelf label displays2. At the point where the printed circuit board17is to be attached, the receiving slot has a depression which corresponds to the thickness of the printed circuit board17and into which the printed circuit board17is inserted so that its front runs substantially planar with the rest of the wall of the receiving slot. On the front of the shelf edge strip3, an upper guide strip26is formed on the upper end and a lower guide strip27is formed on the lower end. These guide strips26and27can be bent upwards and downwards until the shelf label display2can latch in. In addition, the shelf label display2can be displaced unhindered along the shelf edge strip3and positioned completely freely. The accommodation of the supply device4on the rear of the printed circuit board17is advantageous if it should be possible to displace the shelf label displays2along the front of the shelf edge strip3unhindered, as is possible in the present case. For this case, the depression in the receiving slot must be adapted accordingly so that there is also space for the electronic components of the supply device4.

FIG.8shows the shelf edge strip3in a cross-sectional illustration, with a conductor loop mount28on its rear side, the conductor loop mount28being manufactured directly from the material of the shelf edge strip3(that is to say, from the plastic). The conductor loop mount28has a gap-like depression29, into which a wire of the conductor loop L1is inserted in an immovable manner. The gap-like depression29is flanked by two walls30, which are dimensioned in such a manner that with their aid, a snap mechanism is realized, which fixes the wire in its intended position. A band- or strip-like material31(material band or strip) is inserted into the gap-like depression29for this purpose, which on the one hand presses the wire of the conductor loop L1against the base of the depression29and on the other hand supports itself on a lug- or hook-like end of the outer wall30in each case or latches there.

However the integration of the conductor loop(s) L1(to L5) into the shelf edge strip3or the fastening of the conductor loop(s) Ll (to L5) to the shelf edge strip3is realized, it has furthermore proven particularly advantageous that the electronic supply device4is integrated into the shelf edge strip or is fastened to the same. Thus, a shelf edge strip with individual electronic energy supply can be realized. In this case, the supply device4can e.g. also be formed directly on the printed circuit board17or connected to the same as a module or mechanically coupled to the shelf edge strip3as a module and electrically conductively connected to the conductor loop L1(to L5) of the shelf edge strip3. As a result, the shelf edge strip3as a whole, including its supply device4, can be taken out and recommissioned at a different location without problem.

NeitherFIG.7norFIG.8shows a fastening mechanism for the shelf edge strip3, which allows the fastening of the shelf edge strip3on a different structure, such as e.g. a shelf8, because this detail does not relate to the invention and can be realized in a wide range of ways that are known to the person skilled in the art.

Finally, it is once more pointed out that the figures previously described. in detail are only concerned with exemplary embodiments, which can be modified in many different ways by the person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not mean that the relevant features cannot also be present multiple times.