System and method for matching product information with electronic shelf displays

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for matching product information with electronic shelf displays (14). The system includes a first database (20,40) at a place where the merchandise items are sold containing information about the items (16), a second database (44) at another place containing identification information about the electronic shelf displays (14), a first computer terminal (12,32) at the one place for downloading the item information, and a second computer terminal (42) at the other place for receiving the downloaded item information and for matching the item information to the electronic shelf display identification information. The system also includes a hand-held scanner (18,38) for obtaining the item information. Item bar code labels are preferably arranged into groups and scanned by group. A programming bar code label may be used to program the scanner (18,38) for each group scan. Electronic shelf display information is also obtained by scanning bar code labels on groups of displays (14).

Description: Electronic shelf label systems typically include a plurality of electronic displays for the items in a store. The electronic displays are coupled to a central server from where prices for all of the displays can be changed. US-A-5 172 314 describes a system for communicating price changes to an electronic shelf display or, in the case of printed labels, to a printer for printing the updated labels. The system includes a central computer which accesses a first database containing product identification and price information and a second database containing the location of products in the store and whether they are labelled with an electronic shelf display or a printed label. In order to reduce the cost of such systems, only a limited amount of information, including price information, is displayed electronically. Item descriptions and product codes are not likely to change. Therefore, such information is typically displayed through signs or overlays attached to the electronic shelf label. All electronic shelf displays must be initialized. Initializing involves matching individual product codes and information with individual electronic shelf displays. Known methods for initializing are labor-intensive. A store employee walks through aisles, obtains product information on one product at a time, and matches the product with a single electronic shelf display. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for facilitating the initializing of electronic shelf displays. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for assigning a plurality of merchandise items to a plurality of electronic shelf displays, comprising a data base containing item information about the merchandise items and identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays, and a computer adapted to match the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays, produce a record containing the respectively matched information, and initialise the electronic shelf displays with the matched information from the records. According to the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for assigning a plurality of merchandise items to a plurality of electronic shelf displays, comprising a first data base at a first location containing item information about the merchandise items, a second data base at another location containing identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays, a first computer at said first location for downloading the item information, and a second computer at said other location for receiving said downloaded item information and adapted to match the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays, produce a record containing the respectively matched information and initialise the electronic shelf displays with the matched information from the records. According to the third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assigning a plurality of merchandise items to a plurality of new electronic shelf displays in a place where the merchandise items and their associated prices are to be displayed, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a first record containing item information about the merchandise items, (b) producing a second record containing identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays, (c) matching the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays using a computer which produces a third record containing the respectively matched information, (d) storing each third record in a data base using the computer, and (e) initialising the electronic shelf displays by the computer and with information from the third records. The invention may involve the use of a hand-held scanner for obtaining the item information. Item bar code labels are preferably arranged into groups and scanned by group. A programming bar code label may be used to program the scanner for each group scan. Electronic shelf display information may also be obtained by scanning bar code labels on groups of displays. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the electronic shelf label system including the system of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic shelf label system including the system of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for connecting product information to electronic shelf display information; Fig. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of obtaining product information; Fig. 5 is a front view of a type card containing bar code labels representing different types of product bar code labels to be scanned; Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternate method of obtaining product information using the type card of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of obtaining electronic shelf display information; and Fig. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an alternate method of obtaining electronic shelf display information. Referring now to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the electronic shelf label system 10 includes server 12, electronic shelf displays 14, scanner 18, and database 20. Server 12 controls operation of system 10. Prices displayed at each of electronic shelf displays 14 may be changed by server 12. Server 12 connects product codes with electronic shelf display identification numbers under the method of the present invention. Electronic shelf displays 14 preferably display price information for adjacent merchandise items 16. Electronic shelf displays 14 may be coupled to server 12 through wire cables or through wireless transceivers mounted in both electronic shelf displays 14 and server 12. Scanner 18 scans product codes for merchandise items 16 and downloads these product codes to server 12. Scanner 18 is preferably a portable hand-held scanner with product code storage capability. Database 20 organizes the product codes and the associated electronic shelf display identification numbers. Referring now to Fig. 2, a second embodiment 30 of the electronic shelf label system includes store server 32, electronic shelf displays 34, scanner 38, and store database 40, factory server 42, and factory database 44. Store server 32 displays prices at each of electronic shelf displays 34 which may be changed by server 32. Electronic shelf displays 34 preferably display price information for adjacent merchandise items 36. Electronic shelf displays 34 may be coupled to server 32 through wire cables or through wireless transceivers mounted in both electronic shelf displays 34 and server 32. Scanner 38 scans product codes for merchandise items 36 and downloads these product codes to server 32. Scanner 38 is preferably a portable hand-held scanner with product code storage capability. Store database 40 organizes the product codes and the associated electronic shelf display identification numbers. Factory server 42 downloads product information from store server 32 and connects product codes with electronic shelf display identification numbers under the method of the present invention. Factory database 44 stores the downloaded product information and the electronic shelf display identification numbers. Turning now to Fig. 3, a method for connecting product information with electronic shelf displays begins with START 50. In step 52, server 12 obtains a product identification code for each merchandise item from inventory database 20. If a merchandise item is new, its product identification number may be entered into the database at this time. In step 54, server 12 obtains identification numbers for each electronic display 14. These identification numbers and the corresponding locations of electronic shelf displays 14 may also be stored in database 20. For system 30 of Fig. 2, factory server 42 obtains the identification numbers for each electronic display 34 and stores the numbers in factory database 44. In step 56, server 12 matches each product identification code to a unique electronic shelf display 14 and stores the association in database 20. Two data files, one containing the product identification codes and one containing the electronic shelf display identification codes are read by server 12, which uses the two data files to establish two input queues. Server 12 picks one product identification code entry and one electronic shelf display identification code entry from the input queues and merges the two entries to create a single entry which it stores in database 20. For system 30 of Fig. 2, factory server 42 matches each product identification code to a unique electronic shelf display 34 in a similar way and stores the association in database 44. In step 58, server 12 determines whether there are any remaining product identification numbers to be matched with electronic shelf displays 14. If so, then the method loops back to step 56 until there are no product identification numbers left. For system 30 of Fig. 2, factory server 42 determines whether there are any remaining product identification numbers to be matched with electronic shelf displays 34. If there are no remaining product identification numbers to be matched with electronic shelf displays 14, the method proceeds to step 60, in which server 12 initializes electronic shelf displays 14 with current information such as item price, unit price, location code, stock count, facings, and unique identifiers, as appropriate. For system 30 of Fig. 2, factory server 42 initializes electronic shelf displays 34 with current information such as item price, unit price, location code, stock count, facings, and unique identifiers, as appropriate. In step 62, the method ends. Turning now to Fig. 4, step 52 of Fig. 3 is explained in more detail, beginning with START 70. In a store environment having many types of electronic shelf displays 14, including small and large, bar code labels are associated with each type of display 14 and are processed as a group. In step 72, merchandise items having bar code labels associated with a first type of electronic shelf display 14 are located and identified. In step 74, the bar code labels associated with the first type are scanned. In step 76, the method loops back to step 74 until all of the bar code labels associated with the first type are scanned. In step 78, the method determines whether additional groups of bar code labels associated with additional types of displays 14 remain to be scanned. If so the method loops back to step 74 through step 80, in which merchandise items having bar code labels associated with a next type of display 14 are located and identified as a group to be scanned. After all of the groups of bar code labels have been scanned, the method ends in step 82. Turning now to Fig. 5, the scanning process of Fig. 4 can be made more efficient using a display type card 90 by allowing a scanner operator to perform either single or multiple passes. Display type card 90 contains bar code labels which identify electronic shelf displays that have different characteristics, such as size. For example, bar code label 92 tells scanner 18 that a series of merchandise items associated with large size displays 14 are ready for scanning. Bar code label 94 tells scanner 18 that a single merchandise item associated with a large size display 14 is ready for scanning. Likewise, bar code label 96 and 98 tell scanner 18 that merchandise items associated with a series of small size displays 14 and a single small size display 14, respectively, are ready to be scanned. Referring now to Fig. 6, the improved scanning method using type card 90 begins with step 100. In step 102, the method determines whether the item to be scanned is the first item. If so, then the method proceeds to step 104 in which scanner 18 scans a bar code label from type card 90 to prepare the scanner for any one of the operations printed on type card 90. The method then proceeds to step 114, in which the item is scanned. If in step 102 the item is not the first item, the method continues to step 106, in which the method determines whether the item to be scanned is the same as the last item. If so, then the method proceeds to step 114, in which the item is scanned. If in step 106 the item is different from the previously scanned item, the method proceeds to step 108, in which the method determines whether a single or multi-item scan is to be performed. If a single-item scan is to be performed, the method proceeds to step 110, in which the single-scan bar code is scanned from type card 90. The single item is then scanned in step 114. If in step 108 a multi-item scan is to be performed, the method proceeds to step 112, in which the multi-scan bar code is scanned from type card 90. The first of the multiple items is then scanned in step 114. After step 114, the method determines whether further scanning is to be performed in step 116. If so, then the method returns to step 106. If not, then the method ends in step 118. Referring now to Fig. 7, step 54 of Fig. 3 is explained in more detail, beginning with START 120. This method is useful when identification numbers are not available during manufacture of the electronic shelf displays. In step 122, a plurality of containers of electronic shelf displays are identified for scanning. Each container is marked with bar code labels which identify the range of identification numbers in the container. In step 124, a bar code label identifying the first electronic shelf display identification number in the container is scanned. In step 126, the bar code label identifying the last electronic shelf display identification number in the container is scanned. In step 128, the method determines whether any more containers remain to be scanned. If so, the method loops back to step 124. If not, then the method ends in step 130. Referring now to Fig. 8, an alternative method for identifying electronic shelf display identification numbers using type card 90 begins with START 140. In step 142, electronic shelf displays of a first size are arranged so that the identification numbers are scannable. In step 144, a bar code label identifying the size is scanned from type card 90. In step 146, the electronic shelf displays are scanned individually. In step 148, the method determines whether any more groups require scanning. If so, the electronic shelf displays of another size are arranged so that the identification numbers are scannable in step 150 and the method loops back to step 144. If all size groups have been scanned, the method ends in step 152.

Claims: A system for assigning a plurality of merchandise items (16) to a plurality of electronic shelf displays (14), comprising a data base (20,40) containing item information about the merchandise items (16) and identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays (14), and a computer (12,42) adapted to match the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays, produce a record containing the respectively matched information, and initialise the electronic shelf displays with the matched information from the records. A system for assigning a plurality of merchandise items (16) to a plurality of electronic shelf displays (14), comprising a first data base (40) at a first location containing item information about the merchandise items (16), a second data base (44) at another location containing identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays (14), a first computer (32) at said first location for downloading the item information, and a second computer (42) at said other location for receiving said downloaded item information and adapted to match the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays, produce a record containing the respectively matched information and initialise the electronic shelf displays with the matched information from the records. A system according to claim 1 or 2, including a hand-held scanner (18,38) for scanning the merchandise items (16) to obtain the item information for storage in the database (12,32) and for downloading the item information to the computer or the first computer, as the case may be. A method of assigning a plurality of merchandise items (16) to a plurality of new electronic shelf displays (14) in a place where the merchandise items and their associated prices are to be displayed, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a first record containing item information about the merchandise items (16), (b) producing a second record containing identification information uniquely identifying each of the electronic shelf displays (14), (c) matching the item information for each merchandise item to the unique identification information of one of the electronic shelf displays using a computer (12,42) which produces a third record containing the respectively matched information, (d) storing each third record in a data base (20,44) using the computer, and (e) initialising the electronic shelf displays by the computer and with information from the third records. A method according to claim 4, in which step (a) comprises the substeps of identifying a first type of electronic shelf display (14), identifying a merchandise item (16) associated with the first type of shelf display (14), identifying a second type of electronic shelf display (14), identifying a merchandise item (16) associated with the second type of shelf display, scanning a bar code label on the merchandise item associated wit the first type of display by a hand-held scanner (18,38), scanning a bar code label on the merchandise item associated with the second type of display by the hand-held scanner (18,38), producing the first record from item information from the bar code labels on the merchandise items associated with the first and second types of shelf display, and storing the first record in a database. A method according to claim 4, in which step (a) comprises the substeps of identifying a scanning operation, scanning a programming bar code label by a hand-held scanner (18,38) to program the hand-held scanner for the scanning operation, scanning bar code labels on the merchandise items, producing the first record containing item information from the bar code labels scanned during the scanning operation, and storing the first record in a database. A method according to claim 6, in which step (a) includes the substeps of identifying another scanning operation, scanning a programming bar code label by the hand-held scanner (18,38) to program the hand-held scanner for the other scanning operation, scanning bar code labels on additional merchandise items, producing an updated first record containing item information from the bar code labels scanned during the one and the other scanning operations, and storing the updated first record in the database (20,40,44). A method according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, in which step (b) comprises the substeps of identifying a container of the electronic shelf displays (14) for scanning, identifying a first bar code label for an electronic shelf display (14) having a lowest identification number in the container, identifying a second bar code label for an electronic shelf display (14) having a highest identification number in the container, scanning the first and second bar code labels by a hand-held scanner (18,38), producing the second record containing the lowest and highest identification numbers, and all identification numbers inbetween, and storing the second record in a database (20,40,44). A method according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, in which step (b) comprises the substeps of identifying a group of electronic shelf displays (14) for scanning, arranging each electronic shelf display within the group for scanning, scanning each electronic shelf display within the group individually to obtain the identification number, producing the second record containing the identification number for each electronic shelf display within the group, and storing the second record in a database (20,40,44). A method according to claim 9, in which step (b) comprises the substeps of identifying another group of electronic shelf displays (14) for scanning, arranging each electronic shelf display within the other group for scanning, scanning each electronic shelf display within the other group individually to obtain the identification number, producing an updated second record containing the identification number for each electronic shelf display in the one and other groups, and storing the updated second record in the database (20,40,44). A method according to any preceding claim 4 to 10, in which step (c) comprises the substeps of storing the second record in a database (44) located in a place different from the place where the items are displayed, downloading the first record from a first computer (32) in the place where the items are displayed to a second computer (42) in the place different from the place where the items are displayed, storing the first record in the database (44) by the second computer, establishing first and second input queues for reading, one by one, item information and electronic shelf display identification information in the first and second records by the second computer (42), merging each item information from the first queue with a corresponding electronic shelf display identification information from the second queue by the second computer to produce a new entry containing both the item information and the corresponding electronic shelf display information, and storing each new entry into a said third record.

Inventors: GOODWIN JOHN COKER III, GOODWIN, JOHN COKER, III
Applicants: NCR INT INC, NCR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q30, G06K7, G09G5, G06Q50