Portable device and method for product lighting control, product display lighting method and system, method for controlling product lighting, and -method for setting product display location lighting

• US 9,089,227 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Pas, Ireneus Johannes Theodorus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, AN T
• Application Number:
  US13/874,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-294
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/06 Means for bringing about special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A portable device and method for the setting and control of lighting of product display locations of a product display apparatus is provided. Product lighting settings are selected or predetermined for a product or products. At least one image representative of a product and a product display apparatus planogram are displayed on a display of the portable device. The planogram is comprised of at least one product display location image associated with a product display location of the product display apparatus. Each product display location has at least one light source. The portable device facilitates association of a product with a product display location via transfer of the product image onto a product display location of the planogram, thereby linking product lighting settings to the product display location, causing the product lighting to be adjusted to conform to the product lighting settings. Furthermore, a product display lighting method and system, and a method for controlling product lighting are provided.

Claims

1. A portable device for product lighting control, comprising a processing unit and an operating interface, the operating interface comprising a display, the portable device being configured to:

display a planogram on the operating interface display, which planogram indicates product display locations of a product display apparatus by way of product display location images, each product display location having at least one associated light source;

wherein the portable device is further configured to;

display on the operating interface display a product image being representative of a product; and

allow transfer of the product image onto a product display location image;

wherein transferring the product image onto a product display location image effects linkage between product lighting settings associated with the product and the product display location associated with the product display location image, whereby a lighting of a product display location by the at least one associated light source is controlled based on said product lighting settings.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein transferring a product image onto a product display location image includes automatically associating a number x (x=integer>

0) of product display locations to a product in accordance with product display location area to product area ratio rules.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein a product image to be displayed on the operating interface display is obtained by any of the following:

inputting a product name or product code of the product at the operating interface, and retrieving a product image associated with the product name or product code from a database storing product names and product codes, and associated product images;

imaging the product, automatically recognizing the product by product name or product code from an image obtained by the imaging, and retrieving a product image associated with the product name or product code from a database storing product names and product codes, and associated product images; and

sensing a product identification of the product, the sensing comprising any of scanning a code associated with the product, and reading a RFID tag, and retrieving a product image associated with the product identification from a database storing product identifications and associated product images.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the product is identified by a product identification, and wherein the portable device further is provided with a product identification device for acquiring a product identification.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the portable device further is configured for communication with a local or remote database arranged with product lighting settings associated with products.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein each product display location has a product display location code associated with it, and wherein the transferring of a product image onto a product display location effects linkage of the product display location code and the product lighting settings.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the product lighting settings comprise at least one of light color, light intensity and light effect settings.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the operating interface comprises a touchscreen.

9. A product display lighting system, comprising:

a product display apparatus having product display locations;

a portable device for product lighting control, comprising a processing unit and an operating interface, the operating interface comprising a display, the portable device being configured to;

display a planogram on the operating interface display, which planogram indicates product display locations of the product display apparatus by way of product display location images, each product display location having at least one associated light source;

wherein the portable device is further configured to;

display on the operating interface display a product image being representative of a product; and

allow transfer of the product image onto a product display location image;

wherein transferring the product image onto a product display location image effects linkage between product lighting settings associated with the product and the product display location associated with the product display location image, whereby a lighting of a product display location by the at least one associated light source is controlled based on said product lighting settings.

10. The product display lighting system of claim 9, wherein the product display apparatus comprises electronic labels each located proximate a product display location and configured to be controlled to display product information related to the product in the product display location.

11. The product display lighting system of claim 9, wherein the electronic label further is configured to be controlled to display product information associated with the product lighting settings.

12. The product display lighting system of claim 10, wherein the product information includes pricing information.

13. The product display lighting system of claim 10, wherein the portable device further is configured to display a product display location image and/or a product image on the operating interface display, and to select an adapted product lighting setting and/or an adapted product information for the product display location associated with the product display location image and/or the product image.

14. The product display lighting system of claim 9, further comprising:

a product display apparatus control device for controlling any of;

a lighting of a product display location by the at least one associated light source based on said product lighting settings; and

displaying product information related to the product in the product display location on an electronic label located proximate the product display location.

15. The product display lighting system of claim 14, wherein the product display apparatus control device is remotely located with respect to the product display apparatus, the product display apparatus being configured for communication with said remotely located product display apparatus control device.

16. The product display lighting system of claim 14, wherein the product display apparatus control device is locally located with respect to the product display apparatus.

17. The product display lighting system of claim 9, wherein the at least one light source associated with a product display location comprises at least one first light source configured to illuminate the product display location from a first location, and at least one second light source configured to illuminate the product display location from a second location, wherein the first location is higher than the second location.

18. The product display lighting system of claim 17, comprising, for one product display location, a plurality of first light sources arranged in a horizontal row, and a plurality of second light sources arranged in a horizontal row.

19. The product display lighting system of claim 9, wherein the product lighting settings are configured to control the at least one light source to alternatingly emit light of different colors.

20. The product display lighting system of claim 17, wherein the product lighting settings are configured to control two different ones of the light sources to alternatingly emit light of different colors.

21. A method for controlling product lighting, the method comprising:

providing a portable device comprising a processing unit and an operating interface, the operating interface comprising a display;

displaying a planogram on the operating interface display, which planogram indicates product display locations of a product display apparatus by way of product display location images, each product display location having at least one associated light source;

displaying on the operating interface display a product image being representative of a product;

transferring the at least one product image onto a product display location image to effect linkage between product lighting settings associated with the product and the product display location associated with the product display location image, whereby a lighting of a product display location by the at least one associated light source is controlled based on said product lighting settings.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transferring a product image onto a product display location image includes automatically associating a number x (x=integer>

0) of product display locations to a product in accordance with product display location area to product area ratio rules.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein a product image to be displayed on the operating interface display is obtained by any of the following:

inputting a product name or product code of the product at the operating interface, and retrieving a product image associated with the product name or product code from a database storing product names and product codes, and associated product images;

imaging the product, automatically recognizing the product by product name or product code from an image obtained by the imaging, and retrieving a product image associated with the product name or product code from a database storing product names and product codes, and associated product images; and

sensing a product identification of the product, the sensing comprising any of scanning a code associated with the product, and reading a RFID tag, and retrieving a product image associated with the product identification from a database storing product identifications and associated product images.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the portable device is further configured to receive product quantity information, and to adjust product lighting settings of a product display location based on said product quantity information.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

measuring turnover of the product; and

adapting the product lighting settings based on the measured turnover.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

registering turnover of the product;

registering product lighting settings for the product;

determining a product lighting setting providing an optimum turnover of the product.

27. A product display lighting system, comprising:

a product display apparatus having product display locations for products, wherein each product display location contains at least one light source;

a product display apparatus control device for controlling product lighting settings for each product display location,

wherein the product display apparatus control device is configured to;

receive information from a consumer device, the information indicating a search for a product; and

select predetermined product lighting settings for a product display location associated with the product.

28. The product display lighting system of claim 27, wherein the information from the consumer device further indicates a consumer location, and the product display apparatus control device further is configured to select a product display location associated with the product nearest to the consumer location.

29. A product display lighting method, comprising:

providing a product display apparatus having product display locations for products, wherein each product display location contains at least one light source;

controlling product lighting settings for each product display location,

wherein the controlling further comprises;

receiving information from a consumer device, the information indicating a search for a product; and

selecting predetermined product lighting settings for a product display location associated with the product.

30. A method of setting product display location lighting, the method comprising:

identifying a product;

displaying, on a display, a product image representative of the product;

selecting the product image for selecting the product;

displaying product lighting settings options for the selected product on the display;

selecting and/or adjusting product lighting settings from the product lighting settings options for the selected product;

storing the selected and/or adjusted product lighting settings for the selected product; and

lighting a product display location by at least one associated light source based on said stored product lighting settings.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

providing the product in a product display location,

wherein the step of selecting and/or adjusting product lighting settings from the product lighting settings options for the selected product comprises;

lighting the product with the selected and/or adjusted product lighting settings.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the display of product light settings options comprises displaying on a display means a light source color palette for selection of light source colors and light source intensity level options for light source intensity selection.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the display of product light settings options further comprises displaying a light effect library of light settings associated with categories comprising promotion, price reduction, sale, new introduction, combination action, twin sale, special store action, brand specific light signal, irritating light signal, soft signal, timed fading in and/or out, timing, timing per lighting level, timing per effect.