DISPLAY DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A PRICE AND/OR PRODUCT INFORMATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (2-19) comprising a storage stage (50) for storing a product data set (PD1-PD3) which was received in a communication with a base station (25, 26) via a first radio interface (44) of the display device (2-19), and comprising a second radio interface (45) for communication in particular for RFID or NFC communication, with a self-checkout device (57), which display device (2-19) is designed to process a self-checkout request received from a self-checkout device (57) for the purpose of transmitting the product data set (PD) via the second radio interface (45).

Claims

1. A self-checkout system, comprising a base station (25, 26) for communicating with a number of display devices (2-19), and at least one display device (2-19) comprising: a memory stage (50) for storing a product data set (PD1-PD3) which was received in a communication with a base station (25, 26) via a first radio interface (44) of the display device (2-19), and a second radio interface (45) for the communication with a self-checkout device (57), wherein the display device (2-19) is configured to process a self-checkout request received from the self-checkout device (57) for transmitting the product data set (PD) via the second radio interface (45), and to receive and store user and/or device identification data (ID) for the identification of the user of the self-checkout device and/or of the self-checkout device (57) when processing a self-checkout request, and to emit only the identification data (ID) to the base station (25, 26) for which a confirmation of a user of the self-checkout device (57) is present as a consent for storing or self-checkout of the product data set (PD1-PD3) received by the display device (2-19), and wherein the system is configured such that the identification data (ID) received via the base station (25,26) is forwarded directly or via a merchandise management system server (29) coupled to the base station (25,26) or via a billing system of a self-service market to an Internet-based search engine (63) and/or to the data processing system of its operator.

2. The self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation of the user is a confirmation of a user of the self-checkout device for carrying out a self-checkout in the sense of a payment transaction for the product to which the product data set belongs.

3. The self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the memory stage (50) of the display device (2-19) comprises an availability data set (VD) linked to the product data set (PD) and with the aid of which the availability of the product data set (PD) can be controlled, and the display device (2-19) is designed to check the availability data set (VD) during the processing of the self-checkout request and to only transmit the product data set (PD) when it is available.

4. The self-checkout system according to claim 3, wherein: the availability concerns the product data set (PD), and the display device (2-19) is configured to check the availability data set (VD) to see whether the product data set can be transmitted, and to process the request accordingly.

5. The self-checkout system according to claim 3, wherein: the availability of the product data set (PD) concerns an availability in time in which the product data set (PD) is available, and the display device (2-19) is configured to check the availability data set (VD) to see whether the product data set (PD) is available limited in time, and to process the request within the available time with this product data set (PD) or outside of the available time with another product data set or not at all or in another way.

6. The self-checkout system according to claim 5 wherein the display device (2-19) is configured to receive and store at least one of user identification data or device identification data (ID) for the identification of at least one of the user of the self-checkout device or the self-checkout device (57) when processing the request and to check the availability in time, taking into account a limitation of an amount of the product per user or an amount of the product per self-checkout device (57).

7. The self-checkout system according to claim 3, wherein: the availability of the product data set (PD) concerns the availability of an amount of the product, and the display device (2-19) is configured to check the availability data set (VD) to see whether the product data set (PD) is limited in the amount of product, and to process the request within the limitation of the amount of the product and, if the limitation of the amount of the product is exceeded, to process the request with another product data set or not at all or in another way.

8. The self-checkout system according to claim 7, wherein the display device (2-19) is configured to receive and store at least one of user identification data or device identification data (ID) for the identification of at least one of the user of the self-checkout device or the self-checkout device (57) when processing the request and to check the availability of the amount of the product, taking into account a limitation of an amount of the product per user or an amount of the product per self-checkout device (57).

9. The self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the display device (2-19) is configured to receive and store user and/or device identification data (ID) for the identification of the user of the self-checkout device and/or of the self-checkout device (57) when processing the self-checkout request.

10. The self-checkout system according to claim 9, wherein the display device (2-19) is configured to deliver the at least one of user identification data or device identification data (ID) to the base station (25, 26) during a communication via the first radio interface (44).

11. The self-checkout system according to according to claim 1, comprising: at least a self-checkout device (57) comprising: a device radio interface (59), which is compatible with the second radio interface (45) of the display device (2-19) for the communicating with the display device (2-19); and a control stage (51) for controlling a self-checkout request via the device radio interface (59) to the first display device (2-19) for transmitting a product data set (PD) from the first display device (2-19) via the device radio interface (59) to the self-checkout device (57).

12. The self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the product data set (PD1-PD3) has a link which makes it possible for the self-checkout device (57) receiving the product data set (PD1-PD3) to request information about the product and/or its price via another communication connection.

13. The self-checkout system according to claim 1, wherein the product data set (PD1-PD3) itself comprises the information about the product and/or its price for being directly further processed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0049] The invention is discussed again in detail in the following with reference made to the attached figures; however, the invention is not limited to them. In the various figures the same components are provided with identical reference numerals. The figures schematically show:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a system according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a status diagram for explaining a proprietary communication protocol;

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a display device according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a self-checkout device according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the system;

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a system 1 installed in the rooms of a supermarket for the radio communication with electronic price display labels, abbreviated in the following as ESL 2-10 and ELS 11-19 realizing display devices with the aid of which a self-checkout system is realized. Each ESL 2-19 has a display 40 and is attached on shelf bottoms 20-22 of a shelf 23 corresponding to products (not shown) positioned on the shelf bottom, with the aid of which the price information and product information is displayed for the products. The system also comprises two base stations 25 and 26, wherein the first base station 25 with the ELS 2-10, symbolized by first radio signals FS1, and the second base station 26 with the ELS 11-19, symbolized by second radio signals FS2, stand in radio contact with the aid of a proprietary first communication protocol. The logical association (e.g., by different radio channels) of the groups of ESL 1-10 and 11-19 to the particular base station 25, 26 is visualized with the aid of the line 30. It is also mentioned at this point that no spatial separation of the radio ranges must be present, as was represented in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity. The radio ranges can also overlap (e.g., in the areas). Furthermore, the system 1 comprises a WLAN access point, abbreviated in the following as access point 27, which, centrally represented, covers the two ranges with radio technology to the left and the right of the line 30. However, several access points 27 can also be present for supplying the entire sales area with radio technology. Communications relative to merchandise management can be carried out with portable merchandise management devices which are not shown. The access point 27 and the two base stations 25, 26 are connected by a wired network 28 to a merchandise management system server 29 of the supermarket.

[0057] The first communication protocol used in the system 1 for the communication according to a timeslot communication method will be discussed in the following with the aid of FIG. 2. The status diagram comprises the time t on the abscissa axis and on the ordinate axis the communication states of the exemplary, cited ESL 7-9 in the first base station 25. T shows a transmission state and R shows a receiving state of the base station 25 and E shows an active state ready for reception and S shows an energy-saving sleep state of ESL's 7-9 in which there is no reception.

[0058] During a timeslot cycle duration DC (e.g. 15 seconds) N timeslots Z1 . . . ZN (e.g. 256) with the identical timeslot duration DS (e.g., circa 58 milliseconds) are available. During the timeslot cycle duration DC the base station 25 (characterized with the symbol “ST”) alternates between the transmitting state T and the rest state R. The transmitting state T is always taken at the beginning of a time slot Z1 . . . ZN and maintained for a synchronization data signal duration DSD (or transmitting time duration DSD of the synchronization data signal SD) in order to transmit the particular appropriate time slot symbol ZS1, ZS2, . . . ZSN with the particular synchronization data signal SD. The running number of the particular time slot Z1 . . . ZN in the sequence of the occurrence of the time slots Z1 . . . ZN is used as the particular time slot symbol ZS1 . . . ZSN. Consequently the first time slot Z1 is characterized in hexadecimal notation (characterized by “Hex”) by the time slot symbol Hex 00, the second time slot Z2 by the time slot symbol Hex 01, etc., and the last time slot ZN (in the present example the two hundred fifty-sixth time slot Z256) by the time slot symbol Hex FF.

[0059] The first ESL 7 is present in the synchronous state. It wakes up at a first wakeup time TA1 out of its sleep state S and changes with a relatively short lead time DV before an expected occurrence of a synchronization data signal SD into its receiving-ready active state E, receives the synchronization data signal SD during a receiving time duration DE with the first time slot symbol ZS1 (Hex 00), determines by comparison of the lowest value byte B0 of its hardware address (Hex 00) with the received timeslot symbol ZS1 that the first time slot Z1 determined for the first ESL 7 is displayed (agreement of the bytes to be compared: B0 of the hardware address and first time slot symbol ZS1), retains the parameters of its time control stage used for controlling the waking up for the waking up in the following timeslot cycle for the definition of the new wakeup time point and changes with a relatively short follow-up time DN back into the sleep state S in order to wake up after passage of the provided sleep state dwell time DR according to the plan at the new (second) wakeup time TA2 with this lead time VD before the repeated beginning of the first time slot cycle Z1. The same applies in an analogous manner to the second ESL 8, which is also present, like the first ESL 7, in the synchronous state.

[0060] The third ESL 9 is present before a synchronization time period TSY in the asynchronous state which is indicated by the arrow P1 with an interrupted line running parallel to the time axis. It wakes up at a randomly selected first wakeup time TA1 and changes from its sleep state S into the receiving-ready active state E and waits in this state until receiving the next occurrence of the synchronization data signal SD, wherein in the present case the second time slot symbol ZS2 (Hex 01) is received. The third ESL 9 recognizes using the lowest-value byte B0 (Hex 00) of its hardware address that the time slot determined for itself belongs in the present time slot cycle already in the past and consequently the next time slot with the time slot symbol Hex 00 is not to be expected until in the next time slot cycle and calculates that the instantaneously recognized time slot Z2 lies by one time slot next to its original time slot Z1, which is designated in the following as a time slot difference. In the third ESL 9 its time control stage is now programmed so that the new wakeup time TA2 is before the occurrence of the first time slot Z1 of the following time slot cycle, as in the case of an ESL with this lead time DV present in the synchronous state. The dwell time DSA to be expected in the sleep state S is automatically calculated. Therefore, the third ESL 9 is again in the synchronous state, which is indicated by the second arrow P2 with a continuous line and changes from the active state E into the sleep state S in order to change after the passage of the dwell time DSA at the new wakeup time TA2 back into its active state E.

[0061] The architecture of the ESL 8 as a representative for the ESL's 2-19 and visualized in FIG. 3 will be discussed in the following.

[0062] The ESL 8 comprises a processing stage 31 for making operating states available such as, e.g., the active state and the sleep state. The processing stage 31 comprises a microcontroller which has an internal memory 32 and a coprocessor 33 which is coupled to the transmitting/receiving means 34 for communicating with the base station 25, 26. The processing stage 31 is coupled via a first bus system 35 to an external memory 36 and to a display device 38. The display device 38 comprises its own microcontroller 39 for display-related data processing and comprises an electronic ink-based display 40 for visualizing information 41.

[0063] A voltage supply stage 42 realized by a battery 42 makes a first supply voltage VCC1 opposite a reference potential GND available for the described electronic components. The described electronic components are characterized in FIG. 3 as display module 43. The coprocessor 33 and the transmitting/receiving means 34, of which only an antenna is symbolically visualized, form a first radio interface 44 for the communication according to the previously described time-slot communication protocol. With the aid of the first radio interface 44 a product data set PD and an availability data set VD can be transmitted from the base station 25, 26 to the particular ESL 2-19.

[0064] However, the ESL 8 also comprises a second radio interface realized with the aid of an NFC module 45. The NFC module 45 comprises analog components 46 to which the inductive coupling components 47, visualized as a coil, for the contactless communication with another NFC-capable device (visualized in FIG. 4 as barcode device 57) and the voltage supply components 48 belong. Given the presence of an inductive coupling, the voltage supply components 48 generate a second supply voltage VCC2 opposite the reference potential GND for supplying the NFC module 45, which makes possible the operation of its digital components. The digital components are realized with the aid of a second microcontroller 49 which also comprises an internal memory 50 and is connected to the analog components 46 for communication according to an NFC communication protocol. The NFC module 45 is connected by a second bus 51 to the display module 43, in particular to the first microcontroller 31. The operating system of the NFC module 49 can be stored in the internal memory 50 or also in one of the memories 36, 32 of the display module, which can be accessed by the second microcontroller 49. As soon as it has been finished, it makes the NFC communication protocol available.

[0065] The individual product data set PD and the availability data set VD, characterized in FIG. 3 as PD3 and VD3, are written with the aid of the first microcontroller 31 into the inner memory 50 of the NFC module in order to be available there independently of the activity behaviour of the display module 43 in time.

[0066] The previously described system components form substantially stationary, that is, fixed installed components of a self-checkout system. ESL 13 stores a first product and availability data set PD1 and VD1, ESL 2 stores a second product and availability data set PD2 and VD2, and ESL8 stores the third product and availability data set PD3 and VD3. In the present instance a start is made from the fact that the three availability data sets VD1-VD3 indicate an unlimited availability of the associated product data sets PD1-PD3. Each of the product data sets PD1-PD3 can be queried with the aid of a self-checkout request.

[0067] A smart phone 57 shown in FIG. 1 at three different points in time at three positions I, I, III immediately adjacent to the ESL's 2, 8, 13 and within their NFC communication range realizes a mobile self-checkout device.

[0068] The smart phone 57 comprises, as is shown in FIG. 4, a mobile radio interface 54 for communication in a mobile radio network of the mobile radio operator, comprises an NFC-capable device radio interface 59 for communication with the NFC module 45, comprises a control stage 51 for controlling a self-checkout request, comprises a detection stage 53 for detecting a confirmation of a user realized with the aid of a fingerprint sensor 61 visible in FIG. 1, and comprises a product list storage stage 52 for storing one or product data sets PD which were received from an ESL 2-19 as the result of the self-checkout request. A data bus 56 connects the components 51, 52, 53, 54 and 59. The control stage 51 also comprises a touchscreen display 60 visualized in FIG. 1 which the aid of which plain text information KT1-KT3 (see FIG. 1) for the product data sets PD1-PD3 received by the ESL's 13, 2, 8 are visualized.

[0069] The smartphone 57 also stores device identification data ID which is also transmitted during the communication via the particular interface.

[0070] A user (not shown) of the smartphone 57 moves during his shopping tour through the store visualized in FIG. 1 and positions the smartphone 57 at first at the position I, an NFC communication with the NFC module 45 of the ESL 13 is built up, e.g., at any communication time TK shown in FIG. 1, a self-checkout request is transmitted from the smartphone 57 with indication of the device identification data ID to the ESL 13, the first product data set PD1, which is characterized as available in an unlimited manner by the first availability data set VD1, is read out by the NFC module 45 and transmitted to the smartphone 57 by NFC communication, where its plain text information KT1 (product and price) characterized as a new item is visualized between angle brackets on display 60, and the fingerprint of a finger 62 of the user is checked with the aid of the detection stage 53 as an agreement for the self-checkout, and given the presence of a positive checking result, the first product data set PD1 is stored with the aid of the product list storage stage 52. The product is taken before or after by the user from the shelf location where the ESL 13 is mounted and is placed in the shopping cart.

[0071] The smart phone 57 is then moved to the ESL 2 where the previously described process of self-checkout is carried out again for the second product data set PD2. In a further progression the smart phone 57 is moved to the ESL 8 and the self-checkout process is carried out for a last time so that the three product data sets PD1-PD3 are now present in the smart phone 57.

[0072] Depending on the implementation, a payment transaction is carried out for each of the product data sets PD1-PD3 immediately upon its storage or for all three together, concluding a common payment transaction.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a self-checkout system with a search engine feedback function wherein the left half of the self-service store shown in FIG. 1 was omitted for reasons of clarity. The smart phone 57 is at first used, e.g., at a position I outside of the supermarket rooms for a product information search, wherein an Internet-based search engine 63 is contacted with the search request and the device identification ID via the Internet 64. The search request concerns details about the product characterized in the supermarket by the ESL 2. This search request together with the device identification data ID and the search result is stored in the search engine 63. At a later point in time the user of the smartphone 57 makes a self-checkout request in the rooms of the supermarket at the ESL 2 and confirms the self-checkout (e.g., payment for the particular product). Then, in the next active state the device identification data ID is transmitted by the ESL 2 to the base station 25 and from there to the merchandize management system server 29 of the supermarket, where the connection between the product which is associated with the ESL 2 and the ESL 2 is also known. The server 29 then forwards a product identification, e.g., the first product display arrangement PD 1 together with the device identification data ID to the search engine 63, where the information gap between the search request for a product and/or the search result and the actual product purchase can be closed by the feedback of the ESL 2.

[0074] In the meantime, advertising related to the original search request and regarding the sought product or regarding the general user behavior of the user can have been transmitted to the smartphone 57. Whether this advertising led or not to another purchase can now also be determined with the described measures. If the advertising concerns, e.g., the product characterized with the aid of the ESL 8 and the user also makes the self-checkout process for this product, the question posed can be positively answered with the aid of the feedback by the ESL 8 in the search engine.

[0075] A cloud- or internet-based merchandize management system can also be realized with the aid of the feedback functionality of the ESL 1-19 in which the functionality of the server 29 shown in FIG. 1 is shifted into a data processing system 65 of a provider for stored merchandise management services. In every self-checkout procedure the device identification data ID is directly supplied from the base station to the remote data processing system 65. A connection is known there between the particular ESL 2-19 supplying the device identification data ID and between the products associated with them, as a consequence of which the product data sets PD1-PD19 are also present there. If the product data sets are not known there, they can be supplied to the data processing system 65 as is indicated in FIG. 6 for the product data sets PD1 and PD2 in brackets. From there, a receipt printer 66 locally installed in the supermarket and with print data DD can be controlled via the Internet 64 and a sales receipt 67 can be printed which comprises all products for which a payment transaction was carried out.

[0076] The invention also allows the self-checkout of products by weight whose price is not established until by weighing the product. Therefore, e.g., a network-capable balance can be provided with an ESL according to the invention (see FIG. 3). The product is placed on the balance by the customer, the customer selects the product or the product class on the balance screen, the balance determines the weight and prepares and transmits the product data set with the aid of the base station to the ESL with which the balance is provided. As already explained in detail, the user now performs a self-checkout request with the aid of his smartphone 57 in this ESL, as a result of which the product data set of the product by weight is transmitted to the smartphone 57. The availability data set can be used to make the concerned product data set retrievable only once and to cancel it in any case after a previously set time period if the self-checkout request does not occur (e.g., 30 seconds) in order to make the balance able to be used as quickly as possible for the next weighing process.

[0077] According to another, not shown exemplary embodiment of the invention, the identification data ID can be queried by the self-checkout device 57 upon entering a self-service store with the aid of a suitable terminal and transmitted to the merchandize management system. Individual product data sets PD are transmitted for the particular user or his device to all or to selected ESL's in order to make available individualized offers available for this user (e.g., according to his previous shopping behavior). The availability of the individual product data sets for the particular device 57 is, as already discussed, controlled with the aid of the availability data set VD. The individual product data sets PD are therefore transmitted upon a self-checkout request only to this particular device 57. For other devices, other product data sets are stored in the ESL's and transmitted upon a self-checkout request to the requesting device.

[0078] In general, it should be noted at this point that a payment transaction can be interpreted as an integral component of a self-checkout. Therefore, each self-checkout of a product can include a payment transaction for this product.

[0079] In conclusion, it is pointed out once more that the figures previously described in detail are only exemplary embodiments which can be modified by a person skilled in the art in many different ways without leaving the scope of the invention. It is also pointed out for the sake of completion that the use of the indefinite article “a” does not exclude that the features concerned can also be multiply present.