U.S. patent application number 13/861314 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-19 for method for communicating spatially localized information to a mobile terminal.
The applicant listed for this patent is Philippe Bottine, Francois Robin. Invention is credited to Philippe Bottine, Francois Robin.
Application Number | 20130339151 13/861314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46888478 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130339151 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bottine; Philippe ; et
al. |
December 19, 2013 |
Method for communicating spatially localized information to a
mobile terminal
Abstract
The invention concerns a method for communicating data
representing spatially localized information to a mobile terminal
(1) in relation to the location of said mobile terminal (1) within
a sales area equipped with a distributed series of electronic
labels, each electronic label (3) being identified by a unique
label identifier, comprising the steps in which: the mobile
terminal (1) sets up a communication via radio-frequency with a
radio-frequency peripheral of an electronic label (3), the
radio-frequency peripheral (36) communicates a label identifier of
said electronic label (3) to said mobile terminal (1), the mobile
terminal (1) communicates said label identifier to a central server
(2), the central server (2) determines the location of said mobile
terminal (1) from the label identifier, the central server (2)
communicates data to the mobile terminal (1) which represent
spatially localized information associated with the location of
said mobile terminal (1).
Inventors: |
Bottine; Philippe;
(Boulogne-Billancourt, FR) ; Robin; Francois;
(Paris, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bottine; Philippe
Robin; Francois |
Boulogne-Billancourt
Paris |
|
FR
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
46888478 |
Appl. No.: |
13/861314 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/14.64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/185 20130101;
G06Q 30/0267 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101; H04W 4/35 20180201;
H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W 4/02 20130101; G06F 16/9537 20190101; H04W
4/029 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/14.64 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20060101
G06Q030/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 11, 2012 |
FR |
PCT/FR2012/050791 |
Claims
1. A method for communicating data representing spatially localized
information to a mobile terminal (1) in relation to the location of
said mobile terminal (1) in a sales area equipped with a
distributed series of electronic labels (3), each electronic label
(3) being identified by a unique label identifier particular
thereto; said method comprising the steps in which: a mobile
terminal (1) sets up a communication (S1) via radio-frequency with
a radio-frequency peripheral (36) of an electronic label (3), the
radio-frequency peripheral (36) of said electronic label (3)
communicates (S2) a label identifier of said electronic label (3)
to said mobile terminal (1), the mobile terminal (1) communicates
(S3) said label identifier to a central server (2), the central
server (2) determines (S4) the location of said mobile terminal (1)
from the label identifier of said electronic label (3), the central
server (2) communicates (S5) data to the mobile terminal (1)
representing spatially localized information associated with the
location of said mobile terminal (1).
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the radio-frequency
peripheral (36) of the electronic label (36) has a communication
range of less than 20 cm.
3. The method according to one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the
setting-up of the communication between the mobile terminal (1) and
the radio-frequency peripheral (36) comprises the steps in which: a
user brings the mobile terminal (1) close to the radio-frequency
peripheral (36) of the electronic label (3), so that the
radio-frequency peripheral (36) is within the range of the
electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal (1), said
radio-frequency peripheral (36) is activated by the energy of the
electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal (1) to set up
communication via radio-frequency between the radio-frequency
peripheral (36) of the electronic label (3) and the mobile terminal
(1).
4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the central
server (2) determines the location of said mobile terminal (1) from
the identifier of said electronic label (3) using data from a
planogram associating a location with the label identifier.
5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the
communication between the central server (2) and the mobile
terminal mobile (1) is set up via the internet.
6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the data
representing spatially localized information associated with the
location of said mobile terminal (1) take into account data
specific to the user of the mobile terminal (1), previously stored
in a database (41, 44) accessible via a communication network.
7. A system for communicating localized data within a sales area,
comprising: a mobile terminal (1) capable of communicating with a
central server (2), a series of electronic labels (3) distributed
throughout the sales area, each electronic label (3) being
identified by a unique label identifier particular thereto,
characterized in that an electronic label (3) of said series of
electronic labels (3) also comprises a radio-frequency peripheral
(36) with which the mobile terminal (1) is able to set up a
communication to acquire the label identifier of said electronic
label (3), and in that the system is configured to implement the
method according to any of the preceding claims.
8. The system according to the preceding claim wherein said
electronic label (3) also comprises: a radio-frequency
communication module (32) to receive data representing information
relating to an item from a central station (2); a memory (33) to
store said data; a microcontroller (34) to control the display of
information relating to an item; a display screen (31) to display
said item-related information.
9. The system according to one of claims 7 to 8 wherein the
radio-frequency peripheral (36) of the electronic label (3)
comprises an antenna (38) an electronic chip (37) of NFC or RFID
type.
10. The system according to the preceding claim wherein the chip
(37) and the antenna (38) are arranged at different points of the
electronic label (3), connections (39) ensuring the link between
the antenna (38) and the chip (37).
11. The system according to the preceding claim wherein the chip
(37) is connected to a microcontroller (34) of the electronic label
(3), and the antenna (38) is arranged on or in a case (30) inside
which said microcontroller (34) is housed.
12. The system according to one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the
mobile terminal (1) is adapted to transmit data to the electronic
label (3) via the radio-frequency peripheral (36) of said
electronic label (3).
Description
GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally concerns the display of
information in a sales area.
[0002] The display of information relating to items offered for
sale in a sales area is generally obtained using labels which, in
particular, display the price of the item with which a label is
associated and other information such as price per weight, etc.
[0003] The need to provide a display of updated information has
warranted the installing in numerous sales areas of electronic
labels having a screen on which the display of information is
remote controlled.
[0004] The usefulness of such systems for display shelving at sites
such as supermarkets, hypermarkets or any other sales area, is
essentially to allow consumers to be presented with a price for
each item on sale, this price reliably corresponding to the price
such as indicated in the central file of the site i.e. to the price
such as will effectively be charged at the check-out.
[0005] Another advantage of these known systems is to allow
automated price changes to be made within much shorter time periods
than with manual display, whether for special offer periods at the
site for all or some of the items on sale, to reflect price
changes, to face inflationary situations during which very frequent
prices increases must be made, etc.
[0006] Also, in matters of price displays, there are numerous
constraints in particular legal constraints regarding the type of
displayed prices (unit price, special offer price, etc.), which
must be heeded by electronic systems in the same manner as for
paper displays.
[0007] Therefore electronic label systems, although they are
tending to become increasingly more sophisticated over time,
nonetheless remain relatively rigid regarding the different display
possibilities, and regarding the time and spatial organization of
these different possibilities.
[0008] In addition, these electronic labels only allow the display
of information relating to the item with which each one is
associated, and moreover this information is generally restricted
to the price displayed by the labels.
[0009] Additionally, consumers are currently left to fend for
themselves in a sales area providing information relating solely to
the items on sale. Consumers must browse through this information
to find relevant data. In a sales area generally having several
thousand items on offer, finding the suitable item may prove to be
most complicated.
[0010] Furthermore with the emergence of electronic trade,
consumers have become accustomed to information specifically given
for their intention. Yet the display of information such as
currently found in sales areas does not offer any interaction with
consumers.
[0011] There are currently no means of disseminating information
specifically intended for a consumer and related to the consumer's
position in a store, or even related to a product specific to this
consumer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention therefore sets out to propose means
for providing consumers with spatially localized information, in
relation to the place and context of a consumer, which complements
the information already visually available in a sales area. A
further objective is to be able to provide consumers at the point
of sale with information that is specifically intended and
personalized for this consumer.
[0013] For this purpose, according to a first aspect a method is
proposed for communicating data, representing spatially localized
information, to a mobile terminal in relation to the location of
said mobile terminal in a sales area equipped with a distributed
series of electronic labels, each electronic label being identified
by a single label identifier, said method comprising the steps in
which: [0014] a mobile terminal sets up a communication via
radio-frequency with a radio-frequency peripheral of an electronic
label; [0015] the radio-frequency peripheral of said electronic
label communicates to said mobile terminal a label identifier of
said electronic label; [0016] the mobile terminal communicates said
label identifier to a central server; [0017] the central server
determines the location of said mobile terminal from the label
identifier of said electronic label; [0018] the central server
communicates data to the mobile terminal representing spatially
localized information associated with the location of said mobile
terminal.
[0019] According to the first aspect, the invention is
advantageously but optionally complemented by the following
characteristics taken alone or in any technical possible
combination thereof: [0020] the radio-frequency peripheral of the
electronic label has a communication range of less than 20 cm;
[0021] the setting-up of the communication between the mobile
terminal and the radio-frequency peripheral comprises the steps in
which: [0022] a user brings the mobile terminal close to the
radio-frequency peripheral of the electronic label, so that the
radio-frequency peripheral is within the range of the
electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal; [0023] said
radio-frequency peripheral is activated by the energy of the
electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal in order to
set up communication via radio-frequency between the
radio-frequency peripheral of the electronic label and the mobile
terminal; [0024] the central server determines the location of said
mobile terminal from the identifier of said electronic label by
means of data from a planogram associating a location with the
label identifier; [0025] the communication between the central
server and the mobile terminal is set up via the internet; [0026]
the data representing spatially localized information associated
with the location of said mobile terminal take into account data
specific to the user of the mobile terminal previously stored in a
database accessible via a communication network.
[0027] According to a second aspect, a communication system is also
proposed to communicate localized data within a sales area,
comprising: [0028] a mobile terminal capable of communicating with
a central server; [0029] a series of electronic labels distributed
throughout the sales area, each electronic label being identified
by a unique label identifier, in which an electronic label of said
series of electronic labels also comprises a radio-frequency
peripheral with which the mobile terminal is able to set up a
communication to acquire the label identifier of said label, and
the system is configured to implement the method according to the
first aspect.
[0030] The invention according to the second aspect is
advantageously but optionally complemented by the following
characteristics taken alone or in any possible technical
combination thereof: [0031] said electronic label also comprises
[0032] a radio-frequency communication module to receive data
representing item-related information originating from a central
server; [0033] a memory to store said data; [0034] a
microcontroller to control the display of information relating to
an item; [0035] a display screen to display said item-related
information; [0036] the radio-frequency peripheral of the
electronic label comprises an antenna and an electronic chip of NFC
or RFID type; [0037] the chip and the antenna are arranged at
different points of the electronic label, connections ensuring the
link between the antenna and the chip; [0038] the chip is connected
to a microcontroller of the electronic label, and the antenna is
arranged on or in a case inside which said microcontroller is
housed; [0039] the mobile terminal is adapted to transmit data to
the electronic label via the radio-frequency peripheral of said
electronic label.
PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES
[0040] Other characteristics, objectives and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the following description which
is solely illustrative and non-limiting, and is to be read with
reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating the system according to
one possible embodiment of the second aspect of the invention;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating a front view of an
electronic label of a system according to one possible embodiment
of the second aspect of the invention;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a rear transparency view of an electronic label of
a system according to one possible embodiment of the second aspect
of the invention;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the implementing of the
method according to the first aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] FIG. 1 is an illustrative but non-limiting depiction of a
communication system to communicate data representing spatially
localized information in a sales area, corresponding to one
possible embodiment of the invention.
[0046] The illustrated system comprises a mobile terminal 1 capable
of communicating with a central server 2. This mobile terminal 1 is
preferably provided with data display means, such as a screen,
intended for a user of said mobile terminal 1.
[0047] Communication between the mobile terminal 1 and the central
server 2 can be set up via any, at least partly wireless,
communication network in particular via a wireless network of WIFI
or 3G type. Communication can therefore be set up through the
Internet link to which the central server 2 is connected.
[0048] To facilitate this communication, the sales area may be
provided with WIFI terminals setting up a connection between the
mobile terminal 1 and the internet network to which the central
server 2 is connected.
[0049] A common example of said mobile terminal 1 is a mobile
telephone of smartphone type, which offers suitable connection and
data processing possibilities. In addition, the generalization of
this type of telephone enables a large number of consumers to use
their own mobile terminal 1. Other mobile terminals can be used
provided they meet the requirements of communicability with the
central server and the capability to display information to the
user thereof. For example, a tablet computer can be used as mobile
terminal 1.
[0050] The system also comprises a series of electronic labels
distributed throughout the sales area. The labels have strong
spatial density, typically about ten labels/ m.sup.2 on average,
this varying to a large extent.
[0051] Each electronic label 3 is identified by a unique label
identifier particular to it. This label identifier therefore allows
unambiguous identification of a single unique label within the
sales area.
[0052] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an example of an electronic label 2
according to the invention. Said electronic label comprises a
display screen 31 to display information relating to an item with
which it is associated. Typically, and as illustrated in FIG. 2,
this information comprises the price of the item, and other
information usually available in a sales area e.g. the price per
kilogram of a food product. The electronic label also comprises a
case 30 in plastic inside which the functional constituents of the
electronic label 3 are housed.
[0053] In particular, the electronic label 3 comprises a
radio-frequency communication module 32 to receive data
representing information relating to an item and derived from a
central station, a memory 33 to store said data and a
microcontroller 34 to control the display of information relating
to the item. These different functional constituents are arranged
on a printed circuit board 35 housed in the case 30.
[0054] The electronic label 3 of said series of electronic labels
also comprises a radio-frequency peripheral 36 with which the
mobile terminal 1 is able to set up a communication to acquire the
label identifier of said electronic label 3.
[0055] The radio-frequency peripheral 36 of the electronic label 3
comprises an antenna 38 and an electronic chip 37 of NFC type (Near
Field Communication) or RFID type (Radio-Frequency
Identification).
[0056] A radio-frequency peripheral of NFC type operates at a
frequency of 13.56 Mhz similar to a radio-frequency peripheral of
RFID HF type.
[0057] A radio-frequency peripheral of NFC type corresponds to the
ISO 14443 protocol, which is highly secure with encrypting. NFC
communication is tending to be become widespread in personal mobile
terminals such as mobile telephones and therefore offers the
advantage of massive deployment.
[0058] The application thereof to electronic labels 3 does not
require a high level of security which means that a radio-frequency
peripheral of RFID HF type (ISO 15693 protocol) is fully adapted to
this use and its low cost makes it attractive.
[0059] Mobile terminals equipped with NFC did not initially support
the ISO 14443 protocol but recent appliances are mostly bi-modal
and future developments are expected to evolve towards
bi-modality.
[0060] Preferably, the chip 37 and the antenna 38 are arranged at
different points of the electronic label 3, interconnects 39
ensuring the link between the antenna 38 and the chip 37.
[0061] More preferably, the chip 37 is connected to the
microcontroller 34 of the electronic label 3 and the antenna 38 is
arranged on or in the case 30 inside which said microcontroller 34
is housed. Further preferably, the antenna 38 is arranged on the
front face side of the electronic label 3, towards the display
screen 31, whilst the electronic chip 37 is arranged on the printed
circuit board 35 on the back face side of the electronic label
3.
[0062] The integration of a radio-frequency peripheral 36 grouping
together a chip and antenna on one same carrier is not desirable on
the front face of the electronic label 3 since it is detrimental to
maximization of the display area of the display screen 31, in
particular to allow dense arranging of electronic labels 3 on aisle
displays especially for items of small size.
[0063] In addition, the connections between the electronic chip 37
and the microcontroller 34 may be complex and difficult to obtain
industrially at low cost. The chip 37 is therefore preferably
implanted on the printed circuit board thereby facilitating the
connection thereof to the microcontroller 34.
[0064] However, the positioning of the antenna inside on the back
face next to the chip 37 would reduce distance and reading
reliability since reading would then have to take place through the
display screen 31 of the electronic label 3 (typically having a
thickness of 1 cm) and the electromagnetic disturbance caused by
the printed circuit board.
[0065] It is therefore preferable to separate the antenna 38 from
the chip 37. The chip 37 is then preferably implanted on the
printed circuit board, thereby facilitating the connection thereof
to the microcontroller 34.
[0066] The antenna 38 is therefore preferably integrated in the
plastic case 30 towards the front part thereof, preferably around
the part reserved for the display screen 31 and over-molded during
injection at the time of manufacture of the case 30. The size of
the antenna 38 can be maximized thereby allowing the communication
distance to be increased.
[0067] However, in all cases, this communication distance with the
radio-frequency peripheral 36 must be chosen to be relatively
short, less than 20 cm, and further preferably less than 10 cm from
the antenna 38.
[0068] Preferably, the mobile terminal 1 is adapted to transmit
data to the electronic label 3 via the radio-frequency peripheral
36 of said electronic label 3. The display of the electronic label
3 can then be updated by the mobile terminal 1.
[0069] The system for communication data representing spatially
localized information within a sales area is configured to
implement the method according to the first aspect of the
invention, of which one possible embodiment will be described.
[0070] The method allows the communication of data, representing
spatially localized information, to the mobile terminal 1 in
relation to the location of said mobile terminal 1 within a sales
area equipped with a distributed series of electronic labels 3,
each electronic label 3 being identified by a unique label
identifier particular to it.
[0071] At first, the mobile terminal 1 sets up a communication via
radio-frequency with a radio-frequency peripheral 36 of an
electronic label 3 (Step S1).
[0072] To do so, a user brings the mobile terminal 1 close to the
radio-frequency peripheral 36 of the electronic label 3, so that
the radio-frequency peripheral 36 comes within the range of the
electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal 1.
[0073] The radio-frequency peripheral 36 is then activated by the
energy of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal
1 to set up communication via radio-frequency with the
radio-frequency peripheral 36 of the electronic label 3.
[0074] The radio-frequency peripheral 36 of said electronic label 3
then communicates to said mobile terminal 1 a label identifier of
said electronic label 3 (Step S2). This label identifier can be
communicated alone or accompanied by other information or else as
part of communicated data which are at least partly generated from
said identifier and which allow identification of the electronic
label 3 in the sales area.
[0075] The mobile terminal mobile 1 communicates said label
identifier to a central server 2 (Step S3). Similarly, the
communicated data must allow identification of the electronic label
3 in the sales area and need not necessarily assume the form of
solely the label identifier. Therefore, the data exchanged between
the mobile terminal 1 and the central server 2 may be the same or
else different from the data exchanged between the electronic label
3 and the mobile terminal 1; the only requirement being the
possibility of identifying the electronic label 3 in the sales
area.
[0076] The central server 2 determines the location of said mobile
terminal 1 from the label identifier of said electronic label 3
(Step S4). The central server 2 determines the location of said
mobile terminal 1 from the identifier of said electronic label 3
using the data of a planogram associating a location with the label
identifier. A planogram lists the locations of all the electronic
labels 3 and of the items on sale in a sales area.
[0077] Up to 10% of items in a sales area can be present at several
separate points and hence sole knowledge of the item e.g. through
an item identifier such as a barcode or Electronic Product Code
(EPC) does not allow the determining of the precise location of the
mobile terminal 1.
[0078] On the other hand, the uniqueness of the label identifier
and of the location associated with each electronic label 3 allows
unambiguous determination of the location of the electronic label 3
from its identifier, and as a result it is possible to determine
the location of the mobile terminal 1.
[0079] The mobile terminal 1 is effectively positioned in the
immediate vicinity of the electronic label 3 from which it has
acquired the identifier, so that the locating of the label allows
determination of the location of the mobile terminal 1.
[0080] The communication range of the radio-frequency peripheral 36
is preferably less than 20 cm, more preferably less than 10 cm, and
is even 5 cm. A relatively short range firstly ensures matching
between the location of the electronic label 3 and the mobile
terminal 1 and secondly allows interference to be limited between
electronic labels when they are positioned close to one
another.
[0081] In addition, a short range requires deliberate action by the
user of the mobile terminal 1 to set up communication between the
mobile terminal 1 and the electronic label 3. The user then has no
reason to fear for the protection of private life and since the
system proves to be little intrusive it cannot easily be diverted
from its primary vocation set forth in this description.
[0082] Once the locating of the mobile terminal 1 has been
determined, the central server 2 communicates data to the mobile
terminal 1 which represent spatially localized information
associated with the location of said mobile terminal 1 (Step
S5).
[0083] This data representing spatially localized information
associated with the location of said mobile terminal 1 may take
into account data specific to the user of the mobile terminal 1,
previously stored in a database 41, 44 accessible via a
communication network.
[0084] For example, one database 41 may comprise a shopping list
previously defined by the user, and the database 44 may comprise
health data entered by the user by means of which information on
items can be matched with personal information, for example medical
contra-indications such as the presence of allergens specified by
the user.
[0085] Other databases 42, 43 can be used and may in particular
comprise the planogram, information relating to items, relating to
the sales area, etc.
[0086] Therefore the electronic label can be used as background
sensor since it allows the context of the mobile terminal to be
determined with which it is in communication.
[0087] It is hence possible to make provision for example for a web
application to deliver data to the mobile terminal concerning the
item in whose vicinity the mobile terminal--and therefore the user
thereof--is positioned, in particular technical datasheets, cooking
recipes, suggestions of substitution products or related special
offers.
[0088] The user may also benefit from a web application taking into
account the items whose associated label identifiers have been
acquired by the mobile terminal 1, for example to display the total
price of said items during a shopping session.
[0089] It is also possible to provide a web application capable of
updating a shopping list, as and when the label identifiers are
acquired associated with items on this shopping list. Knowing the
location of the mobile terminal 1, it is then possible to indicate
to the user the direction of an item on the shopping list and
thereby plan the circuit to be followed by the user within the
sales area.
[0090] More generally, knowledge of the location of the mobile
terminal 1, and hence of the user thereof, allows said mobile
terminal 1 to be provided with spatially localized information such
as the path to be followed to reach a specific item.
[0091] The ability to locate via electronic labels 3 allows
fine-granularity to an extent never reached in locating systems of
GPS type. Each meter of aisle shelving for product display having
several labels 3 at different heights, it is even possible to
locate the height of the mobile terminal 1.
[0092] For example, a user when searching for a particular item,
places his/her mobile terminal 1 close to an electronic label 3.
The implementing of the method according to the invention allows
information to be communicated to the mobile terminal 1 relating to
the place of the sought-after item, in relation to the mobile
terminal 1. For example, an arrow in a top/right diagonal direction
with an indication of the distance e.g. 50 cm, indicates that the
item desired by the user is to the top right of the current
position of the mobile terminal 1 at a distance of 50 cm
therefrom.
[0093] It is also possible to carry out secure payment using the
mobile terminal 1 by reading the identifiers of the electronic
labels corresponding to the items the user wishes to purchase. All
that is required is communication with a payment system when the
user leaves the sales area.
[0094] The invention also enables users to be offered a sales area
having optimized configuration. The manager of the sales area may
have knowledge of the specific movements and behavior of users of
mobile terminals 1 and can therefore determine an optimized
configuration of the sales area as a function of such data.
[0095] According to one optional embodiment, the display of the
electronic label 3 can be modified during communication with the
mobile terminal 1. For example, provision can be made for more
illuminated display or for display of particular data if a
radio-frequency peripheral 36 communicates with a mobile terminal
1.
[0096] Preferably, the mobile terminal is adapted to transmit data
to the electronic label 3 via the radio-frequency peripheral 36 of
said electronic label 3, in particular to update data and
optionally the position of the electronic label when a mobile
terminal 1 is used by an employee of the sales area.
* * * * *