WO2016189096A1

WO2016189096A1 - Method for verifying products that have an expiry date

Info

Publication number: WO2016189096A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/061928
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amance-Eudine ROUZIER; Thibaut ROUPENEL
Original assignee: Wektoo
Priority date: 2015-05-27
Filing date: 2016-05-26
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: EP3304453A1; FR3036829A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for verifying products that have an expiry date, which involves: using a terminal (T) including a control unit (Uc) to which a bar code or electronic identifier reader (Le) is connected, a viewing screen (Ev) and an input keyboard (Cs), the reader (Le) being designed to capture the bar codes / electronic identifiers of products displayed for sale in a shop, in order to complete a database (Bd) storing in particular said bar codes / said electronic identifiers and the designation of each product family, the terminal (T) including an application which can be connected to said database; scanning the bar codes / electronic identifiers of all the products for which an employee using the terminal is responsible; entering in the terminal (T) the expiry date (DLC) of each product; and sending said expiry date associated with said bar code / said electronic identifier to the database. According to the invention, the method involves defining, by means of the database and associated parent software (Lm), a warning such that the terminal (T) can request the user employee, by means of the viewing screen (Ev) and on the current date or a selected date, to verify the presence of one or more products identified by the designation(s) thereof, displayed for sale and of which the expiry date (DLC) has passed on said current date or on said selected date.

Description

Method of verifying products bearing an expiry date

The present invention relates, in particular, to a product verification method bearing an expiry date and a corresponding installation.

In the field of distribution, and to detect the presence of products in a radius whose expiry date has been reached, it is known to ask each department manager, each employee assigned to the department, to visit the morning before the opening of the store or the day before, its radius and search for expired products by reading their expiry date, its acronym being (DLC) or optimal use-by date, its acronym being (DLUO). Only the "DLC" is used as the expiry date in the remainder of this description to qualify either the "DLC" or the "DLUO". Detected products are removed from the shelf or labeled with a promotion if they are not out of date. We therefore call on the vigilance of the employees. Despite the efforts made daily, this solution is not completely reliable. This results in a daily loss of time, which time could be advantageously used to achieve, for example, a better presentation of products to customers. On the other hand, stale foodstuffs are also a major waste of money as they generally represent between 0.5% and 1% of turnover. In addition to this "dry" loss, it is also necessary to account for the cost of treating these foodstuffs, which are upgraded to bio-waste, and also their treatment by food banks, which sometimes require the intervention of an employee to ensure proper logistics. them.

Another not insignificant impact of these expired is the dissatisfaction of the customers.

Furthermore, in US-A -2007235528, is presented a method for managing the stock of perishable products, such as foodstuffs, in supermarkets. It implements a computer, a housing equipped with a barcode reader, a keyboard and a display. The operator enters the barcode of a product or group of products (UPC code for Universal Product Code in English or Universal Product Code) or the data of a product RFID chip associated with the product or group of products, then enter their expiry date manually or by voice. A link is established between these two data. This information is stored in a database stored in the device's memory for transmission in order to be used in software running the computer. The location of products can also be recorded.

The operator can then search for and identify products by querying, with the software, an expiry date or a range of expiry dates (J-x) that will expire soon. It can also query the software by product category. The list of these products can be printed. The operator visits his department. He carries out the actions prescribed for the listed products, for example, he removes them from the shelf. Expiration data referring to products sold can be erased. New expiry dates are entered in the case.

Knowing this state of the art, the applicant has sought a technical solution to make it easier to search for expired products in the shelves of a store.

For this purpose, there is provided a method for verifying products bearing an expiry date, consisting of

to use a terminal including a control unit to which is connected a barcode reader or electronic identifiers, a display screen, a keyboard input, the reader being designed to enter the barcode / electronic identifier of products presented for sale in a store, to fill a database storing in particular said barcode / said electronic identifiers, the designation of each family of products, the terminal including an application that can be connected to said database,

- to scan the barcode / electronic identifier of all the products that are under the responsibility of an employee user of the terminal, and to fill in the terminal, the expiry date of each product,

- To transfer in the database, said expiration date associated with said barcode / electronic identifier; according to the invention, the method consists in defining, with the aid of the database and an associated mother software, an alert so that the terminal can ask the user user, via the display screen and at the date of the day or a chosen date, to check the presence of product (s) identified by their (s) designation (s), presented for sale and whose expiry date is on that day date or on that chosen date.

The database is loaded by associating the barcode / electronic identifier of each product with its expiry date. Automated or manual queries in the software make it possible to process the data stored in the database. In particular, products whose expiration date has expired on a particular date (today's date or next date) can be searched for.

The terminal clearly displays the product or products, which the employee user must search in the department store. Its work is facilitated because the designation of the product is mentioned on the terminal, for example in the form of an image, a trade name, and the maximum number of products to search.

Seeking to limit the loss of perishable products is not just an activity in the economic field. This activity, which reduces waste, pollution, is also of the invention, a technical because implementing technical means.

According to an additional feature of the invention, the method consists, at each new use of the terminal, to enter the next expiry date (DLC) for each product family,

- To transfer in the database said expiry date associated with said barcode / electronic identifier. Thus, the database used to detect expired products is updated.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the method consists in defining, with the aid of the database and the associated software, an alert so that the terminal can ask the user user, via the display and at the current date or at a chosen date,

* to enter a date when the next shelving of products is temporarily broken and / or

* scan the barcode / electronic identifier of all new products placed on the shelves and enter their expiry date (DLC).

The terminal used by the employee informs him of the actions he has to take. The employee updates the database.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the method consists in assigning a color code for each requested operation and displaying said color code on the screen of said terminal.

The color code makes it possible to identify at a glance the type of action to take.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the method consists in displaying on the screen of said user employee terminal, an alert indicating a multiple implementation of the products.

The employee user knows that he has to go to several points of sale inside the store in order to carry out the operations that are asked of him.

An installation comprising mother software connected to a database, terminals equipped with connection means with the database, with the parent software, each terminal including a control unit to which is connected a barcode reader or electronic identifiers, a display screen, an input keyboard, is also part of the invention. According to the invention, these means of the installation are configured to carry out the steps of the method described above.

The installation is relatively simple to implement the process.

A computer program product is also part of the invention, the computer program product comprising instructions for implementing, by a processor, the method described above, when said program is executed by said processor.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an example of embodiment, said description being made in connection with the accompanying drawings, among which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing terminals and a parent software implanted in a server implanted in a computer network according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a terminal according to the invention, FIG. 3 represents a block diagram of the main steps of the product verification method bearing an expiry date of the invention, server-side views and terminal-side views and,

FIG. 4 represents an example of a home screen provided by an Internet application according to the invention.

The present invention relates, in particular, to a technical process designed to identify and process products, in particular for sale in store shelves and whose consumption limit date has been reached on the current date or on a chosen date. eg at the reopening date of the store. This information mainly concerns perishable goods. Products have been identified by computer processing to be easily recognized, it is then possible to proceed with the withdrawal, in the department, of products arrived at the end of their expiry date. The market is that of supermarkets, central purchasing, online shopping commonly called "Drives".

Some products, including perishable products, are labeled with a use-by date (DLC is its acronym) or optimal use-by date (DLUO being its acronym). Only the name DLC is used later for ease of reading to qualify, either the "DLC" or the "DLUO". Each product family also carries a product reference, visible in particular, in the form of a barcode, also called "GENCOD" for grouping standardization and coding studies. Each family of products can still carry an electronic chip, such as an RFID chip (English radio frequency identification) containing an electronic identifier.

In addition, some retailers have drawn up a withdrawal charter, also known as the "freshness charter", which provides for the early withdrawal of certain families of products before the expiry of their expiry date. It specifies the number N of days before the consumption limit date, defining a new latest JN date for which the product can still be put on sale. Past this new date, it should be removed from the shelf (For example: ten days for a pot of Nutella ®). This period is called "withdrawal or promotion period".

The method is implemented in an installation I comprising in connection with FIG. 1, the following means:

* T terminals used by users, equipped with an application that can communicate with,

A mother software Lm installed on the server of a computer network Ri of the store, such as a server,

• a database Bd management expired products, accessible by the mother software Lm.

Each terminal T is intended to be used by a user so that he can be informed of the actions he must carry out, the actions that have been taken, receive alert messages and to enter information, especially with a user. radius containing products.

The users of this terminal are mainly the quality manager, the department manager, the storekeeper, the administrator.

• The quality manager. He defines the freshness charts, the rays (and sub-rays), names the department heads and the storekeepers. He can view the status of a department, as well as manage his employees and his products. It affects the chiefs of rays on the shelves, as well as the storekeepers with the sub-rays.

• The department manager. Its function is to manage its rays and sub-rays.

• The storekeeper. He is in charge of a sub-department. He uses his terminal to check for expired products in his sub-department and removes them or labels them to promote their sale.

• The administrator. He is responsible for the general administration of accounts and the overall management of an Internet application (departments, products, charters, etc.).

Each terminal T is composed in FIG. 2, a portable and autonomous box B, comprising a control unit Uc to which is connected a reader Le barcode or RFID chips, a display screen Ev, a Cs input keyboard, preferably of the touch type, and likely to be proposed in the display screen Ev. The control unit Uc is connected to an electric battery arranged in the housing. The control unit Uc includes a processor, a memory accessible by the processor and in which is stored a computer application.

The terminal T can be connected to a computer connected to the computer network of the store, via a wired connection, for example using a cable of the USB type emulating the Ethernet protocol or via a radio wave connection, using a transceiver, for example using the Wifî protocol or the Bluetooth protocol. The housing B can be delivered with a base on which it connects, the base being provided with the wired connection to a computer connected to the computer network to allow communication between the terminal and the server, recharge the terminal battery.

In FIG. 1, the mother software Lm is installed on a server or a computer connected to the computer network Ri of the store to query, modify, the database Bd. It serves, in particular, to collect and process the data entered into the database by the terminals T. It is also used to parameterize the terminals T according to the variable needs of each user. It is primarily intended for use by departmental managers and management to facilitate the search for obsolete products, export data and perform assessments and statistics.

More precisely, it serves to present a global vision of the management of expired products of the entire store. It makes it possible to integrate, store and manage all the data recovered by the terminals T. It facilitates the management of a fleet of several terminals T.

The operation of the installation I is as follows, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The case of the use of the terminal T by a storekeeper is now described, since it involves a first use of the terminal and the mother software Lm. The storekeeper turns on his terminal T. Subsequently, this person is called terminal user. A routine in the application appears on the display screen Ev, asking him to enter his credentials, such as his name and password.

The database Bd associated with the mother software Lm can also include data from the inventory management software and which includes the references of all families of products for sale in the store. The Bd database of the mother software Lm has previously been imported into the memory of the terminal, at least for product references that concern the storekeeper's department.

The application thus downloads from the mother software Lm, and according to the storekeeper's identifiers, the list of products of the sub-department and for which he is responsible.

At the first use, the storekeeper must go to his sub-department of which he will check the list of products offered for sale. The application asks him to enter in his terminal T one by one all the products present in the sub-department. He then scans with the help of his terminal T the barcode of each product or its RFID identifier.

Thanks to the prior integration of the data in the database of the parent software, the designation of a product is automatically displayed on the display screen Ev of the terminal T when the warehousekeeper scans the barcode or the RFID identifier of the product. He enters on the keyboard Cs of his terminal T the expiry date for each product. This information is stored in the memory associated with the application in operation of the terminal. This operation is performed only once. When all the products have been scanned, the storekeeper completes this step by clicking on the option that is proposed to him: "End of the entry". The data entered is then exported automatically to the database Bd of the mother software Lm, by connecting it to a computer connected to the computer network of the store, by placing it on its base, by radio waves.

From the second use of the terminal by the storekeeper, the application offers him, after entering his credentials, and through the display screen Ev, actions he must lead for the current day. These actions were elaborated previously by automated or manual queries and which were carried out using the mother software Lm connected to the database Bd. One of the queries is to query the database to search for expired products. at today's date or on a chosen date. The result of this request is transferred to the terminal application. Server side and with reference to FIG. 3, on the left side, the product verification method bearing an expiry date, comprises the steps performed by a server of:

- send a message,

- receive an answer with a date, - memorize the date,

- compare the stored date with the current date or a chosen date,

- establish a link between the code / electronic identifier of the product and a visual or textual identifier of said product, for example an image, its commercial name,

- Transfer a message visually or textually identifying said product. The process steps are performed periodically or on request.

Terminal side and with reference to FIG. 3, on its right side, the product verification method bearing an expiry date, comprises the steps performed by a terminal of:

- receive a message and display the message,

- reply to the message,

receive a message containing a visual or textual identifier of a product, for example an image, its commercial name,

- acknowledge the request, for example by performing the requested operation.

Several options are offered to the user user. A color code is assigned for the list of products to be scanned. This choice of color is arbitrary, for example:

0 In gray: the products to check. The application shows that, if it has not already been sold, at least one product with a "DLC" dated the day is possibly still offered for sale. The application proposes the product designation and is therefore perfectly identified because of the link between the barcode / RFID identifier and the visual and / or textual identification of the product, for example an image of the product, its commercial name. The storekeeper goes to his sub-department and visually looks for the product (s). If at least one product is present, it withdraws it from the sale or the label as a promotional product. It enters the number of products that it withdraws and it informs by means of the keyboard Cs of entry of the terminal T, the new "DLC" closest to the day appearing on the other products of the same reference. He validates his seizure. This date will be used to define the next alert for this product. If it does not find it, it looks for the "DLC" of a product, the closest to the day, and fills the terminal in the input window and validates its choice. This date will be used to define the next alert for this product. The result of another query relating to products temporarily out of order can be transferred to the terminal application.

⁰ In orange: Temporarily broken products are products that are normally offered for sale, but are temporarily unavailable (late delivery, insufficient order quantity, exhausted stock, etc.). The warehousekeeper is unable to provide a hypothetical "DLC" because the product is missing from the shelves. The application therefore displays this reference to remind the storekeeper to fill in a date when it is next placed or when the products are received. This makes it possible to differentiate products that do not have a "DLC", a date that can not be entered because the product is not available, of those that are available and thus to avoid generating an error message that occurs when a product has no associated date (product pending).

The result of another query for new products can be transferred to the terminal application.

0 Blue: recent product and no date. These are in principle new products. The department manager will create references for new products in the parent software. These will be found in the list of products to be verified by the user of the terminal, for example the department employee, who goes to his next use to fill in the terminal, the "DLC" closest to the day for these new products. The department employee scans all products and associates them with a deadline. The "DLC" with the date closest to the day will be used to define the next alert for this product. This happens when the employee associates a date with a product that was not previously created in the parent software by the department manager.

0 "DI" icon: product in double implantation. These are products that are on sale in at least two different locations, for example in the center aisle and in a conventional radius. The department employee goes to the first location and visually searches for the product designated by the terminal. If he is present, he withdraws it from the sale or the label as a promotional product and he informs the new "DLC" closest to the day of the other products of the same reference. If it does not find it, it enters the "DLC" of the product closest to the day and informs the terminal. This date will be used to define the next alert for this product. He then goes to the second location and performs the same operations. The department employee can still scan a product of his choice to check and / or modify the "DLC" associated with it, verify that it is referenced in the database or change the status of the double implementation of the product.

When all the products to be checked have been processed, a button or an "I completed" icon allows the storekeeper to close his list. A sentence drawn at random in a specific table is presented and a synchronization request to the database of the parent software is made. At the end of the synchronization, a thank you message is displayed.

An Internet application is installed on some computers of the store's sign and in particular those of department heads, the quality manager and the administrator.

For the department manager, this Internet application allows him to view the departments under his responsibility. The application displays on the computer screen:

⁰ Alerts intended for it, for example the red alert for a product whose designation has not been entered.

⁰ Alerts to terminal users with the same color codes used on the device.

⁰ Alerts related to products temporarily out of order, breaking long term.

For each sub-department, the Internet application presents:

0 A description of each product by a "GENCOD" or barcode / RFID identifier, a textual and / or graphic description of the product, a deadline for consumption, the corresponding withdrawal charter, an indication of possible double implantation as well as information on a possible temporary or long-term break.

0 The recovery of the color codes of the alerts used by the users of the terminal.

⁰ A faculty of sorting the database of the parent software according to certain characteristics of the products.

⁰ The possibility to modify the sheet of each product.

0 The ability to do a global search in the database via a free input field.

⁰ Adding or removing a product. Regularly, new references are marketed and must be integrated into the department. The database of the parent software has a feature that allows to inform the GENCOD / RFID Identifier and the designation of the new product. Then, and by download, this information is found on the portable terminal and it will remind the user to enter a date for this new reference. If the user of the terminal scans a new reference that has not yet been integrated in the database, an error message will indicate that this reference is unknown and must be associated with a date. In parallel, an error message appears on the parent software asking the department manager to associate a designation for this new reference.

⁰ Visualization of incomplete products (corresponds to alerts).

The Internet application also allows you to present the history of each terminal:

⁰ The date of the action.

⁰ What action was taken:

^■ Modification of the use-by date (DLC, DLUO). "Modification of the state of rupture (none, temporary or long term).

^■ The modification of the barcode / RFID ID.

^■ The modification of the designation.

^■ The creation of a product.

■ Deleting a product.

^■ A consultation.

⁰ Save an old value (if it exists / if necessary).

0 Save a new value (if necessary).

0 The name of the user (name, function).

An example of a home screen is shown in FIG. 4.

The department manager can not modify the freshness charter of a product.

For the quality manager, the Internet application offers him the same rights and features as a department manager with additional features specific to his status:

• The possibility of publishing a charter of freshness.

• The modification of a freshness charter for an entire department.

• The modification of a freshness charter of a product.

• The creation of a new "department head" or "new employee" position. • The creation of rays / sub-rays.

• The assignment of the name of a department manager to a department (s).

• The assignment of an employee to a sub-department.

• Viewing statistical dashboards using a statistical tool.

The Bd database contains the following fields:

For the product:

• A GENCOD (EAN 13 or EAN 8) or an RFID ID.

• A designation (text).

• A radius identifier key. A radius is associated by default with a freshness charter.

• An identifier for the freshness charter (key).

• An expiry date (date).

• The presence of a double implantation (Boolean).

• A temporary break (boolean).

• A long term break (boolean).

For the product removal history:

• A GENCOD (EAN 13 or EAN 8) or an RFID ID.

• A date of withdrawal (date).

• The quantity withdrawn (number).

For the user :

• An identifier (key).

· His position (quality manager, department manager, storekeeper, etc.).

• His name (text).

• His first name (text).

• The terminal code (four-digit number). For the charter:

• An identifier (key).

• His name (text).

• The recall time (number of days N). For the radius (and under radius)

• An identifier (key).

• His name (text).

• A default charter identifier (key).

• A parent radius identifier (key).

For the assignment:

• A radius (key) identifier

• A user identifier (key)

• His position (department manager, storekeeper)

For end of product listing validation:

• A validation identifier (key).

• Its content (text).

• The expected answer (boolean).

• The answer (text).

For the end of session thank you message:

• A message identifier (key).

• Its content (text).

For hardware architecture:

• A server installed, preferably, at the client with a Database Management System and an Internet server are required.

The Internet server is preferably operated by the licensed company of the present patent application or granted patent.

• Access to the Internet application from the computers of quality managers and department managers.

• Depending on possible access to the client:

⁰ Remote access for the update provider.

0 Synchronization with external servers to perform computer backups. In the case where the customer has a computer system for referencing his products (a product nomenclature that is associated with a barcode / an electronic identifier), it is possible to integrate this database into the software database. mother. All or part of this database can be exported to the portable terminal so that a read barcode or an RFID identifier read by it recalls the product designation in the form of text or images.

All products can be categorized according to the needs of the customer (grocery department - under preserved vegetables, reserve n ° 3, aisle F, etc.). In addition, a withdrawal date (type "J-N") is associated with each category, always according to the client's requirements.

For customers who do not have a referencing system, the possibility to enter the designation and to associate the barcode or RFID is still possible and manually using a terminal.

The method of the invention allows the reliable identification and processing of expired products at the point of sale. Knowing the family of products concerned, and easily identifiable, it is much easier to look for the obsolete product or products in this family.

It has the advantage of greatly simplifying the work of employees who traditionally search for stale products on store shelves on a daily basis.

It avoids human errors in the daily work of looking for outdated products.

Claims

1) Method for checking products bearing an expiry date, consisting,

- To use a terminal (T) including a control unit (Uc) to which is connected a reader (Le) barcode or electronic identifiers, a display screen (Ev), a keyboard input (Cs) , the reader (Le) being designed to enter the barcode / the electronic identifier of products presented for sale in a store, to fill a database (Bd) storing in particular said barcode / said electronic identifiers, the designation of each product family, the terminal (T) including an application that can be connected to said database,

- To scan the barcode / electronic identifier of all the products which are under the responsibility of an employee user of the terminal, and to fill in the terminal (T), the expiry date (DLC) of each product,

to transfer in the database, said expiration date associated with said bar code / electronic identifier,

characterized in that it consists in defining, by means of an automated or manual request implemented in the mother software connected to the database, an alert so that the terminal (T) can request the 'user employee, through the display screen (Ev) and at the date of the day or a chosen date, to go check the presence of product (s) identified (s) by their (their) designation ( s), presented for sale and whose expiry date (DLC) has expired on that day date or on that chosen date.

2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists, each new use of the terminal, to enter the next expiry date (DLC) for each family of products,

- To transfer in the database said expiry date associated with said barcode / electronic identifier.

3) Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists in defining, with the aid of the database (Bd) and the associated software, an alert so that the terminal (T) can ask the employee user, through the display and at the date of the day or at a chosen date, * to enter a date when the next shelving of products is temporarily broken and / or

4) Method according to claim 3, characterized in that it consists in assigning a color code for each requested operation and in displaying said color code on the screen of said terminal (T).

5) Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists in displaying on the screen of said terminal (T) of the user employee, an alert indicating a multiple implementation of the products.

6) Installation, comprising mother software (Lm) connected to a database (Bd), terminals (T) equipped with connection means with the database, with the parent software (Lm), each terminal (T) including a control unit (Uc) to which is connected a reader (Le) of barcode or electronic identifiers, a display screen (Ev), an input keyboard (Cs), characterized in that these means are configured to perform the steps of the method according to any of the preceding claims.

7) computer program product comprising instructions for implementing, by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when said program is executed by said processor.