Space management system

• US 5,241,467 A
• Filed: 04/30/1992
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. (Systems Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ERD Associates Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Briechle, George T., Venable, J. Robert, Fernandez, Anthony P., Failing, Bruce F., Fenwick, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hazard, Jennifer L.
• Application Number:
  US07/876,198
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/403, 364/464.01, 235/375, 235/383, 340/825.35
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/12 Measuring electrostatic fields or voltage-potential
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 5/28 Electrostatic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/16 Measuring atmospheric potential differences, e.g. due to electrical charges in clouds measuring potentiels in general G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

An improved system for space management in retail stores is described. The space management system includes price display labels mounted on rails along the edges of shelves in a store. A communications link between the computer and the labels permits the computer to address each label by a logical address and to determine the physical location of each label to within a resolution of typically four feet. The system prepares price audit lists and adjacency audit lists that permit economical use of the time of store personnel during the audit. The lists are generated in such a way that the items on a particular list are physically contiguous; thus once the correct general area has been located by the auditor little additional time need be spent locating the individual items. In performing an audit of product facings, the user is able to use the display hardware, including the pushbutton on each label, as a data collection system for product facing information. In product location mode, the user starts at the first label at one end of a shelf and presses the button on the first label. The user moves to the second label, presses its button, moves to the third label, and the process is repeated for each label along the shelf, and for the rest of the shelves in the area being audited. This permits the system to collect information as to the sequence of labels along a rail.

Claims

1. A space management system for use in a premises having items on shelves, the system comprising:

a first computer;

shelf set data storage means, said shelf set data storage means disposed to store information regarding a desired set of items and information regarding a desired premises location for each item;

a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the first computer;

a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels and communication means for providing communication between the first computer and the labels;

each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first message communicated from the first computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first massage and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated by the communication means to the first computer;

the first computer comprising label contents list means for storing information indicative, for each label in the premises, of the location of the rail securing the label, and of an item associated with the label; and

comparing means responsive to an initiating by a user for comparing the information in the label contents list means and the information in the shelf set data storage means to identify information in the shelf set data storage means for which there is no corresponding information in the label contents list means.

2. The space management system of claim 1 wherein the shelf set data storage means and the comparing means comprise a second computer, the second computer remote from the first computer and communicatively coupled thereto.

3. A space management system for use in a premises having items on shelves, the system comprising:

a first computer;

adjacency data storage means, said adjacency data storage means disposed to store information regarding identities of first and second items for which adjacent shelf locations are desired;

a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the first computer;

a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels and communication means for providing communication between the first computer and the labels;

each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first message communicated from the first computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated by the communication means to the first computer;

the first computer comprising label contents list means for storing information indicative, for each label in the premises, of the location of the rail securing the label, and of an item associated with the label; and

adjacency-confirmation means responsive to an initiation by a user for selecting an entry in the adjacency data storage means regarding the identities of first and second items for which adjacent shelf locations are desired, for determining whether the information in the label contents list means shows existence of first and second labels associated with the first and second items, and if the first and second labels exist, for determining whether the information indicative of the locations of the rails securing the first and second labels show the first and second labels to be secured to adjacent locations.

4. The space management system of claim 3 wherein the adjacency data storage means and the adjacency-confirmation means comprise a second computer, the second computer remote from the first computer and communicatively coupled thereto.

5. A space management system for use in a premises having items on shelves, the system comprising:

a first computer;

facings list data storage means, said facings list data storage means disposed to store information regarding an identity of a first item for which a particular number of facings are desired;

a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the first computer;

a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels and communication means for providing communication between the first computer and the labels;

each label comprising a display, a memory, a button, and address-matching and button-response means, each label having an address, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to a first message communicated from the first computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to the match for generating a first response communicated by the communication means to the first computer;

said address-matching and button-response means responsive to pressing of the button for generating a second response communicated by the communications means to the first computer;

the first computer comprising label contents list means for storing information indicative, for each label in the premises, of the location of the rail securing the label, and of an item associated with the label; and

the first computer further comprising facing data collection means for storing information indicative, for each label in the premises, of a number of times the button for that label has been pressed in a predetermined time interval, said number defined to be indicative of the number of facings of items associated with that label; and

comparing means responsive to an initiation by a user for determining whether information in the label contents list data storage means shown an existence of a first label associated with the first item, and if the first label exists, for determining whether the number of times the button for that label has been pressed matches the particular number of facings associated with the first item.

6. The space management system of claim 5 wherein the facings list data storage means and the comparing means comprise a second computer, the second computer remote from the first computer and communicatively coupled thereto.

7. A scan audit management system for use in a premises having items on shelves, the system comprising:

a first computer;

a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the first computer;

a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels and communication means for providing communication between the first computer and the labels;

each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first massage communicated from the first computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for displaying on the display a price communicated by the communication means from the first computer;

said first computer further comprising label contents storage means for storing records, each record indicative of a corresponding label, each record containing first information indicative of an identity of the corresponding label, second information indicative of the shelf securing the corresponding label, third information indicative of a price value desired to be displayed for the corresponding label;

said first computer further comprising audit list generation means for generating a list of labels selected according to predetermined criteria, said list including the desired price value for each label on the list, the labels on said list grouped according to the second information.

8. The scan audit management system of claim 7 wherein the records in the label contents storage means further comprise fourth information indicative of the corresponding labels having been previously audited;

the audit list generation means further comprising means or changing said fourth information for the records corresponding to the labels.

9. The scan audit management system of claim 7 wherein the predetermined criteria for selecting labels comprise a criterion of the price value having changed in a direction for one of the selected labels.

10. The scan audit management system of claim 9 wherein the direction of the price value having changed is upward.

11. The scan audit management system of claim 9 wherein the direction of the price value having changed is downward.

12. A space management system or use in a premises having items on shelves, the system comprising:

a first computer;

a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the first computer;

a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels and communication means for providing communication between the first computer and the labels, each rail having a unique address;

each label comprising a display, a memory, a button, and address-matching and button-response means, each label having an address, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to a first message communicated from the first computer for determining whether there is a match between address information the first massage and the address of the label, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to the match for generating a first response communicated by the communication means to the first computer;

said address-matching and button-response means responsive to pressing of the button for generating a second response containing the address of the label, said second response communicated by the communications means to the first computer;

said communication means further comprising appender means for appending to said second response information indicative of the unique address of the rail securing the label generating said second response;

the first computer comprising a data collection means for storing, for a sequence of received second responses, information indicative of the address of the label generating each second response.

13. The space management system of claim 12 in which:

the space management system further comprises adjacency data storage means, said adjacency data storage means disposed to store information regarding identifies of first and second items for which adjacent shelf locations are desired;

said data collection means further comprises means storing records associating each label with an item; and

the space management system further comprises adjacency-confirmation means responsive to an initiation by a user for selecting an entry in the adjacency data storage means regarding the identities of first and second items for which adjacent shelf locations are desired, for determining whether information in the data collection means shows the existence of first and second labels associated with the first and second items, and if the first and second labels exist, for determining whether the information stored for a sequence of received second responses show the first and second labels to have generated consecutive second responses.

14. A method for use in a space management system, the system comprising a computer, a plurality of rails disposed on shelves and communicatively coupled with the computer, communication means, and electronic price display labels, each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first message communicated from the computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated by the communication means to the computer;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels;

the computer comprising a storage means for storing automatically updated information including a first list of said electronic price display labels and a respective address for each electronic display label, a second list of prices desired to be displayed on respective labels, a third list of plain-English descriptions for products associated with the respective labels, and a fourth list indicative of previous dates on which the prices of the respective labels were audited;

said method comprising the steps of;

selecting a physically contiguous area within a premises;

preparing a list of electronic price display labels located within the physically contiguous area;

printing the plain-English descriptors and the desired prices for the labels on the list, whereby the items on a particular list are physically contiguous; and

updating the fourth list for at least one of the labels on the list.

15. A method for use in a space management system, the system having a first list of electronic price display labels and respective products and shelf locations for the labels, and a second list of adjacency entries, each entry indicating a first product and a second product desired to be adjacent, the system also comprising a computer, a plurality of rails disposed on the shelves and communicatively coupled with the computer, communications means, and electronic price display labels, each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first message communicated from the computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated by the communication means to the computer;

each rail comprising mechanical means for mechanically securing the labels;

said communication means further comprising appender means for appending to said response an appended message indicative of the location of the rail securing the label generating said response;

the method comprising the steps of;

for substantially all of the labels, sending from the computer to the label a respective first message, receiving from the label a respective response, receiving from the appender means a respective appended message, and storing to the first list a respective shelf location derived from the appended message;

selecting an entry from the second list;

for the first product indicate in the entry, finding a record in the first list corresponding to the first product, and extracting from the record a first product shelf location;

for the second product indicated in the entry, finding a record in the first list corresponding to the second product, and extracting from the record a second product shelf location; and

comparing the first and second product shelf locations;

thereby establishing whether, for the first and second products, there exist corresponding labels that are secured to adjacent shelf locations.

16. A method for use in a space management system, the system comprising a computer, a first list of products and respective desired numbers of facings of the products, a second list of labels and respective products associated with the labels and actual numbers of respective facings of the products, a multiplicity of labels, communication means for providing communication between the computer and the labels, each label comprising a display, a memory, a button, and address-matching and button-response means, each label having an address, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to a first message communicated from the computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching and button-response means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated by the communication means to the computer;

said address-matching and button-response means responsive to pressing of the button for generating a second response communicated by the communications means to the computer;

the method comprising the steps of;

pressing the button on a label a number of times indicative of the number of facings of product associated with that label;

receiving information indicative of the number of times the button was pressed in the preceding step and storing said information to a corresponding entry of the second list; and

comparing, for a corresponding pair of entries in the first and second lists, the desired and actual numbers of facings.

17. A method for use in a space management system, the system comprising a computer, a multiplicity of labels communicatively coupled with the computer and mechanically secured in a sequence, each label comprising a display, a memory, a button, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a message communicated from the first computer for determining whether the button has been pressed for a label, said address-matching means responsive to pressing of the button for generating a second response containing the address of the label for which the button has been pressed, said second response communicated to the computer, the method comprising the steps of:

pressing the button of a first of the labels in sequence;

receiving from the first of the labels a resist respective second response at the computer;

storing information indicative of the address of the first label generating the respective second response;

pressing the button of the next of the labels in sequence;

receiving from the next of the labels a next respective second response at the computer; and

storing information indicative of the address of the label generating the next respective second response, and storing an item of information indicative of the sequence, relative to the first respective second response, in which the next respective second response was received.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the space management system further comprises an adjacency list of entries, each entry indicating a first product and a second product for which adjacent shelf locations are desired the method further comprising the step of:

selecting an entry from the adjacency list;

for the first and second products in the entry, finding the items of stored information corresponding thereto;

and determining whether the items of stored information were received in sequence.

19. A method for use in a space management system, the system comprising a computer, a shelf set list of entries, each entry comprising information regarding a product and a desired respective location for the product, a plurality of rails communicatively coupled with the computer, a multiplicity of labels disposed on the rails, each label comprising a display, a memory, and address-matching means, each label having an address, said address-matching means responsive to a first message communicated from the computer for determining whether there is a match between address information in the first message and the address of the label, said address-matching means responsive to the match for generating a response communicated to the computer, a location list of records, each record containing information regarding a particular one of the labels and a respective product and a respective rail location for the particular one of the labels, each rail having a unique address and comprising means for appending to responses an appended message indicative of the unique address, the steps of:

for substantially all of the labels, sending from the computer to the label a respective first message, receiving from the label a respective response, receiving from the rail a respective appended message, and storing to the location list a respective rail location derived from the respective appended message;

selecting an entry from the shelf set list;

for the product in the entry, finding a record in the location list corresponding to the product, and extracting from the record the corresponding rail location; and

comparing the corresponding rail location and the desired respective location in the entry;

thereby determining whether the label for the product is in the desired respective location for the product.