Method for managing and/or controlling store and system for the same

• US 8,751,318 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Uniyoung, Jang, Saehun, Lee, Gangseub, Lee, Hyungnam
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US13/483,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 705/21
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method for managing and controlling a store and a system for the same are disclosed. The system includes a digital display shelf being provided with a recognition unit configured to recognize a product displayed on the shelf and an output unit configured to output information on the recognized product, a digital signage display configured to output data respective to the recognized product, and a managing system configured to communicate with the digital display shelf and the digital signage display so as to transmit control data and to receive processing data. Herein, the data respective to the recognized product may include at least one of audio data, video data, and text data configured to advertise and promote the corresponding product. And, the managing system may include a database related to the data respective to the recognized product.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a store, the system comprising:

a digital shelf including;

a recognition unit configured to recognize a product disposed on the digital shelf, and

an output unit configured to output information on the recognized product;

a digital signage display configured to output promotion data on the recognized product; and

a managing controller configured to transmit control data for the output promotion data and receive processing data in response to the transmitted data to at least one of the digital shelf and the digital signage display,

wherein the promotion data respective to the recognized product includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data configured to advertise and promote the corresponding product, and

wherein the managing controller includes a database related to the promotion data respective to the recognized product,

wherein the digital signage display is configured to communicate with a user terminal, receive information on a purchase list from the user terminal, output product information which corresponds to the received purchase list information, and receive an input for selecting to purchase at least one product, and

wherein the managing controller is further configured to authenticate the user terminal communication with the digital signage display, generate payment information based upon a basic unit price and a quantity of the at least one product being selected for purchasing, output the generated payment information via the digital signage display and process payment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a server configured to communicate with the digital shelf, the digital signage display and the managing controller, so as to transmit and receive data to and from the digital shelf, the digital signage display, and the managing controller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the digital shelf further comprises:

a communication module configured to support wireless and/or wired communication and to transmit and/or receive data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the recognition unit includes a detection sensor configured to sense a weight of a predetermined section of the digital shelf, and

wherein, the recognition unit communicates with the managing controller, so as to receive product data respective to the sensed weight, thereby recognizing the corresponding product.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the recognition unit includes a camera sensor or an infrared sensor configured to acquire an image of the product positioned in a predetermined section of the digital shelf, and

wherein the recognition unit communicates with the managing controller, so as to receive product data corresponding to the acquired image, thereby recognizing the corresponding product.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the recognition unit includes a sensor configured to acquire an image of the product positioned in a predetermined section of the digital shelf, and

wherein the recognition unit communicates with the managing controller, so as to receive product data respective to the sensed weight and corresponding to the acquired image, thereby recognizing the corresponding product.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the output unit is configured to communicate with the managing controller so as to receive electronic-price tag information, which is recognized by the recognition unit, and to output any received information to a predetermined section of the digital shelf respective to the corresponding product in a text data format.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the digital signage display comprises:

a communication module configured to support wired and/or wireless communication and to transmit and/or receive data;

a decoding unit configured to decode data received from the managing controller and the digital shelf through the communication module; and

a display unit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the digital signage display is divided into a plurality of predetermined sections, in row or column units, based upon a method of positioning products on the digital shelf, and

wherein the digital signage display outputs data respective to at least one of the products displayed on the digital shelf corresponding to each of the plurality of predetermined divided sections.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the digital signage display communicates with a user terminal of a user being recognized within a predetermined range, so as to receive at least one of customer information and purchase list information, and

wherein the digital signage display outputs data respective to at least one of the products recognized by the digital shelf, based upon the received at least one of customer information and purchase list information, or outputs data respective to a related product received from the managing controller.

11. A method of managing a store through a digital shelf, a digital signage display and a managing controller in a store controlling system, the method comprising:

communicating, at the digital shelf or the digital signage display, with a user terminal;

authenticating, at the managing controller, the user terminal;

receiving, at the digital signage display, information on a purchase list from the user terminal;

outputting, at the digital signage display, product information which corresponds to the received purchase list information;

transmitting, at the digital signage display, location information identifying a location the digital shelf disposed the output product information;

recognizing, at the digital shelf, a product assigned to the digital shelf;

outputting, at the digital signage display, the promotion data related to the recognized product to a predetermined area respective to the corresponding product;

receiving, at the digital shelf or the digital signage display, an input for selecting to purchase at least one product; and

outputting, at the digital signage display, payment information based upon a basic unit price and a quantity of the at least one product being selected for purchasing,

wherein the promotion data related to the recognized product includes at least one of audio data, video data, and text data configured for advertising and promoting the corresponding product, and

wherein the promotion data related to the recognized product is extracted from a database of the store controlling system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the store controlling system further comprises a product recognition unit configured to recognize the product assigned to the digital shelf.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital shelf includes a communication module, so as to support wireless and/or wired communication and to transmit and/or receive data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing a specific product comprises:

sensing a weight of a predetermined area on the digital shelf; and

receiving product data respective to the sensed weight.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing a specific product comprises:

acquiring an image of a product located in a predetermined area on the digital shelf; and

receiving product data respective to the acquired image.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of recognizing a specific product comprises:

sensing a weight of a predetermined area on the digital shelf;

acquiring an image of a product located in the predetermined area on the digital shelf; and

receiving product data respective to the sensed weight and the acquired image.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

outputting, at the digital signage display, electronic-price tag data of the corresponding product,

wherein the E-price tag data of the corresponding product is received and output to a predetermined section respective to the corresponding product in a text data format.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

outputting, at the digital signage display, electronic-price tag data of the corresponding product,

wherein the electronic-price tag data of the corresponding product are output from the digital shelf as data related to the recognized product, and

wherein advertisement and promotion data respective to the recognized product are output from the digital signage display.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

outputting, at the digital signage display, electronic-price tag data of the corresponding product,

wherein the digital signage display included is divided into a plurality of predetermined sections, in row or column units, based upon a method of positioning products on the digital shelf, and

wherein the digital signage display outputs data respective to at least one of the products displayed on the digital shelf corresponding to each of the plurality of predetermined divided sections.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

interfacing with a user terminal recognized within a predetermined range;

receiving at least one of customer information and purchase list information from the interfaced user terminal;

receiving data respective to a product being recognized by the digital shelf, based upon at least one of the customer information and the purchase list information, or receiving data respective to a related product from the database;

decoding the corresponding product data; and

outputting the decoded product data.