Image display controller for display shelf

Abstract

An image display controller for a display shelf generates image data for a projector image which is projected by a projector arranged in the display shelf to be displayed on a transmission-type screen of the display shelf. The image display controller includes a monitor, an input device, a data communicator, a memory, and a controller. The controller obtains an editing background image from the memory and displays the editing background image on the monitor, and generates contents of a display image. Moreover, the controller sets a position of the generated display image in a desired position of a display area of the editing background image in response to an instruction inputted via the input device, and generates the projector image by combining the generated display image into the editing background image at the set position.

1 . An image display controller comprising:
 a memory for storing an editable background image comprising an area associated with a transmission-type screen; and   a controller which (i) obtains the editable background image from the memory, and displays the editable background image on a monitor so that the editable background image becomes editable, (ii) generates a plurality of display images for a plurality of portions of the editable background image, respectively, the display images being generated independently of the editable background image, (iii) sets positions of the display images at positions of the portions of the editable background image, respectively, designated by an instruction inputted via an input device, and (iv) generates a projector image which is projected onto the transmission-type screen, by combining the display images into the editable background image at the positions designated by the instruction.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The image display controller according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display shelf includes a plurality of transmission-type screens, and   wherein the editable background image includes a plurality of areas associated with the transmission-type screens, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The image display controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the editable background image stored in the memory is an image of a front view of the display shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The image display controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller accesses an article information database which includes article information concerning a plurality of articles, retrieves desired article information from the article information database, and generates the display image based on the article information retrieved from the article information database. 
     
     
         6 . The image display controller according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller accesses a display contents database which stores model images of the articles, retrieves a desired one of the model images from the display contents database, and generates the display image by combining the retrieved model image with image information based on the article information retrieved from the article information database. 
     
     
         7 . The image display controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the monitor;   the input device; and   a data communicator for communication with a projector projecting the projector image onto the transmission-type screen.   
     
     
         8 . A display shelf comprising:
 the image display controller according to  claim 1 ;   a projector projecting the projecting image onto the transmission-type screen;   a placing table adapted to have an article placed thereon;   the transmission-type screen arranged adjacent to the placing table and for displaying the projector image projected onto a rear side thereof by the projector; and   a projector placing portion for supporting the projector at a position from which the projector projects the projector image to the rear side of the transmission-type screen.