Building a Smart Signage System from Scratch

The book covers the whole process of building an intelligent RFID system, from analyzing requirements to selecting technologies and deploying the system.It explains how IoT technology can be applied in the field of asset management, and gives practical solutions that can be implemented right away. It also helps beginners and technical staff quickly build a reliable and efficient intelligent asset management system.

Why build an intelligent sign system?

We have been in contact with many physical retail businesses and logistics companies recently, and we have found that they all face the same problem of disorganized label management.Traditional paper labels are easily damaged, and electronic screens are expensive and difficult to maintain.Last year, when I helped a friend renovate a supermarket, we installed a low-power Internet of Things temperature and humidity monitoring system. Not only did it cut operating costs by 30 %, it also allowed us to remotely monitor conditions in real time. This made me realize the practical value of the system.

Preparations before the construction.

Define your business situation.

Don't rush to buy equipment! First of all, write down what you need to label: Do you just need to display text? Do you need to update information dynamically? Or do you need interactive functionality? For example, a chain drugstore needs to be able to simultaneously update prices for all its stores, so it needs labels with e-ink displays.

Choose the right technology.

There are three main options for this: Bluetooth beacons, LoRa, and NB-IoT.For example, Bluetooth is the most cost-effective choice for small-scale deployments like a single-floor office building. For a large-scale warehouse that spans multiple floors, I'd recommend a LoRaWAN network. And if you want to manage things across a wide area, NB-IoT is the way to go.There is a point to be wary of: Don't be fooled by manufacturers into buying a high-end model. For most users, a basic model is more than sufficient.

Step-by-step instructions for building a system.

Hardware deployment techniques.

The experience of the workers showed that the position of a label is more important than its design. The best position is 15 degrees below eye level.In the food processing department, we moved the labels to a height of 1.5 meters, and the error rate in scanning dropped by 60 %.

Software platforms.

I recommend using the ThingsBoard open-source IoT platform, which is particularly friendly for beginners.Remember to design a data template in advance. For example, a product label should at least contain the name, price, and inventory.The last time I did a system for a bakery, I didn't leave room for promotional information, and later had to go back and redo it.

Daily maintenance points.

Setting up automatic inspection tasks is particularly important. It is recommended that equipment be automatically checked weekly, and that a warning be triggered when the battery charge falls below 20 %.One customer didn't pay attention to this, and as a result 30 % of the tags went dead during a promotional period, almost sparking a customer complaint.

Solutions to common problems.

If you experience unstable signals, don't panic. First check to see if there are any metal obstructions around.In the 4S auto showroom project, we successfully solved the problem of signal attenuation caused by stainless steel display cases by installing signal repeaters in the display area.If data is not being synchronized, try adjusting the interval time, changing from real-time synchronization to batch synchronization every five minutes. This will effectively lower the system load.

Cost control tips.

The second-hand market is a treasure trove! The previous generation of an international brand's electronic price tags can be found in a fish market for a third of the price on the company's website.If you buy in bulk, remember to get a firmware upgrade service from the supplier. Many hidden functions (for example, bulk modification of templates) are actually included in the basic service.