Product management system and product management method

• US 20080243647A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kurashima, Shigemi, Yanagi, Masahiro, Arita, Takashi, Yuba, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A product management system is disclosed. The product management system comprises a product detection device disposed on a product display rack and configured to detect presence/absence of a product on the product display rack, a wireless communication device disposed on the product display rack and configured to wirelessly transmit information about the presence/absence of the product detected by the product detection device, a relay device to relay communications between the wireless communication device and a network, a product management device to store and display the information transmitted from the wireless communication device via the relay device and the network, and a terminal device capable of wireless communications with the wireless communication device and configured to travel with a shopper.

Claims

1. A product management system, comprising:

a product detection device disposed on a product display rack and configured to detect presence/absence of a product on the product display rack;

a wireless communication device disposed on the product display rack and configured to wirelessly transmit information about the presence/absence of the product detected by the product detection device;

a relay device to relay communication between the wireless communication device and a network;

a product management device to store and display the information transmitted from the wireless communication device via the relay device and the network; and

a terminal device capable of wireless communications with the wireless communication device and configured to travel with a shopper;

wherein the product management device transmits the information to the terminal device via the network, the relay device, and the wireless communication device; and

the terminal device displays the information transmitted from the product management device via the network, the relay device, and the wireless communication device.

2. The product management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device communicates with the product management device and the terminal device using wireless UWB communications.

3. The product management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the terminal device is mounted on a shopping cart.

4. The product management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product detection device detects the presence/absence of the product using an infrared sensor.

5. The product management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product detection device includes, on a front side of the product display rack, a passage detection unit that detects placement of the product into and removal of the product from the product display rack so as to detect the presence/absence of the product.

6. A product management method, comprising the steps of:

detecting presence/absence of a product on a product display rack with use of a product detection device disposed on the product display rack;

wirelessly transmitting information about the presence/absence of the product to a relay device with use of a wireless communication device disposed on the product display rack;

transmitting the information from the relay device to a product management device via a network;

causing the product management device to store and display the information transmitted via the relay device and the network and to transmit the information to a terminal device via the network, the relay device, and the wireless communication device; and

displaying the information on the terminal device.

7. The product management method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the wireless communication device communicates with the product management device and the terminal device using wireless UWB communications.

8. The product management method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the terminal device is mounted on a shopping cart.

9. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive information about presence/absence of a product on a product display rack, the presence/absence of the product being detected by a product detection device disposed on the product display rack;

a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with a relay device and travel with a shopper, the relay device communicating with a product management device via a network; and

a processing unit configured to wirelessly transmit the information about the presence/absence of the product detected by the product detection device to the relay device and to wirelessly transmit, to the terminal device, information transmitted from the product management device via the network and the relay device.

10. The wireless communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the wireless communication unit communicates with the relay device and the terminal device using wireless UWB communications.