System and method for communicating spatially organized information

1. A method for communicating spatially localized information to a mobile terminal, the method being performed by a central server configured to access a planogram associating a plurality of unique identifiers of radio-frequency peripherals with a plurality of locations within a predetermined area, each of the plurality of locations being defined by a vertical and horizontal position within a plane perpendicular to a floor of the predetermined area, and each of the plurality of locations being associated one-to-one with a corresponding unique identifier, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from a mobile terminal, the communication comprising a unique identifier received by the mobile terminal from a radio-frequency peripheral located in the predetermined area, the unique identifier being particular to the radio-frequency peripheral, wherein the radio-frequency peripheral includes an antenna and an electronic chip configured for near-field communication, and is configured to be activated by the mobile terminal when the radio-frequency communication peripheral is within a communication range of the mobile terminal, wherein the communication range is less than twenty centimeters;

determining a location of the mobile terminal within the predetermined area based on the location associated with the unique identifier of the received communication in the planogram, the location of the mobile terminal comprising the vertical and horizontal position of said location; and

transmitting to the mobile terminal spatially localized information associated with the location of the mobile terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

when the mobile terminal is positioned relative to the radio-frequency communication peripheral within the communication range, energy of electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal activating the radio-frequency communication peripheral, thereby setting-up a radio-frequency communication between the mobile terminal and the radio-frequency peripheral, wherein the communication range is a range of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the mobile terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the central server receiving the communication from the mobile terminal is via the Internet.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spatially localized information is further associated with account data specific to the user of the mobile terminal previously stored in a database accessible to the central server via a communication network.

5. A system for communicating spatially localized information to a mobile terminal, the system comprising:

a central server configured to access a planogram associating a plurality of unique identifiers of radio-frequency peripherals with a plurality of locations within a predetermined area, each of the plurality of locations being defined by a vertical and horizontal position within a vertical plane of the predetermined area, and each of the plurality of locations being associated one-to-one with a corresponding unique identifier;

a mobile terminal configured to communicate with the central server; and

a plurality of radio-frequency peripherals distributed throughout the predetermined area, wherein each radio-frequency peripheral includes an antenna and an electronic chip configured for near-field communication, and is configured to be activated by the mobile terminal when the radio-frequency communication peripheral is within a communication range of the mobile terminal, wherein the communication range is less than twenty centimeters,

wherein the central server is configured to:

receive a communication from a mobile terminal, the communication comprising a unique identifier received by the mobile terminal from a radio-frequency peripheral located in the predetermined area, the unique identifier being particular to the radio-frequency peripheral;

determine a location of the mobile terminal within the predetermined area based on the location associated with the unique identifier of the received communication in the planogram, the location of the mobile terminal comprising the vertical and horizontal position of said location; and

transmit to the mobile terminal spatially localized information associated with the location of the mobile terminal.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein at least one radio-frequency peripheral is an electronic label which comprises:

a radio-frequency communication module configured to receive data representing information relating to an item from a central server;

a memory to store said data;

a microcontroller to control the display of information relating to an item;

a display screen to display said item-related information.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to transmit data to the electronic label via the radio-frequency communication module of said electronic label.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the chip and the antenna are arranged at different points of the radio-frequency peripheral, and wherein the radio-frequency peripheral comprises connections configured to ensure a communications link between the antenna and the chip.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the chip is connected to a microcontroller of the radio-frequency peripheral, and wherein the antenna is arranged on or within a case inside which the microcontroller is housed.