摘要:
A method of displaying temporary information by an electronic price label (EPL) which saves bandwidth and time. The method includes the steps of receiving a message containing second information by the EPL, ceasing display of first information by the EPL, displaying the second information by the EPL, reading the first information from a memory within the EPL by the EPL, and redisplaying the first information by the EPL.
摘要:
A system and method of installing and removing shelf talkers which works in connection with electronic price labels. The system includes a bar code reader for reading first bar code labels of first items following installation of first shelf talkers, second bar code labels of a number of second items having second shelf talkers already installed, third bar code labels of third items following removal of third shelf talkers, and fourth bar code labels of a number of fourth items having fourth shelf talkers already removed, and for transmitting bar code information for the first, second, third, and fourth bar code labels and errors for the second and fourth items. The system further includes a computer for generating a list of the items including the first and second shelf talkers to be installed and the third and fourth shelf talkers to be removed, and for generating a report identifying placement of the first and second shelf talkers for the first and second items and the errors.
摘要:
A price change verification system and method for an electronic price label (EPL) system which verifies that price changes have been implemented by associated EPLs. A storage medium contains a record associated with the EPL. The record includes a price change time and a new price for the EPL. An EPL computer sends a price change message containing the new price to the EPL at a time substantially equal to the price change time. The EPL computer additionally verifies that the EPL is displaying the new price by reading the record to determine the price change time, obtaining a currently displayed price from the EPL, and comparing the currently displayed price to the new price.
摘要:
A system and method of reporting a status of another system through an electronic price label (EPL). The system includes the EPL and a computer coupled to the EPL which monitors the status of the second system and causes the EPL to display a status message indicating the status of the second system. The second system may include a POS system, credit authorization system, or any other in-store system.
摘要:
An electronic price label (EPL) system including groups of electronic price labels and method of managing the groups which facilitate group definition, assignment of EPLs to groups, assignment of items to EPLs, and assignment of prices to items. The system includes a plurality of EPLs arranged in rows and columns within a sign to define a group. At least one of the rows includes a plurality of EPLs and at least one of the columns includes a plurality of EPLs. A computer coupled to the EPLs defines the group, assigns the EPLs to the group, and assigns item identification numbers and prices to the EPLs. A storage medium stores group definition information, EPL assignments to the group, and item assignments to the EPLs. The storage medium additionally stores a price identifier, which may be incorporated into the item identification numbers.
摘要:
An electronic price label (EPL) price synchronization system and method which increase price reliability while conserving system bandwidth. A storage medium contains an audit file containing scheduled price change messages. The storage medium may additionally contain an EPL data file containing correct price information or a price file containing correct price information. A computer terminal reads the audit file to obtain an item identification number for an item associated with the EPL from a price change message addressed to the EPL, determines the correct price of the item from either the EPL data file or the price file, sends the correct price information to the EPL, receives a comparison result from the EPL following comparison of the correct price information to displayed price information by the EPL, determines from the comparison result whether the displayed price equals the correct price, and if the correct price is not equal to the displayed price sends another price change message containing the correct price to the EPL.
摘要:
A method for handling failures in an electronic price label (EPL) system which automatically diagnoses failures, and which may additionally automatically contact a support organization. The method includes the steps of transmitting a status request to a communications base station (CBS) and to an EPL by a computer, receiving a status reply from the CBS and the EPL by the computer, comparing the status message to fault data within a fault data file stored within a storage medium by the computer, and determining from the comparison whether a fault in the system has occurred.
摘要:
A method of optimizing electronic price label (EPL) systems which employs a three-dimensional graph of retry levels in a transaction establishment. The method includes the steps of determining locations of EPLs within the transaction establishment, determining locations of transmit and receive antennas that are used by a computer to communicate with the EPLs, determining retry levels for the EPLs, mapping the retry levels to locations within the transaction establishment, producing a three-dimensional graph of the retry levels within the area of the transaction establishment, and determining, from the graph, subareas within the area having retry levels above a predetermined maximum retry level. Once the subareas having higher retry levels are determined, the locations of the transmit and receive antennas may be changed and/or interfering structures may be moved until the retry levels of the subareas are below the predetermined maximum retry level.
摘要:
A flexible financial services terminal and methods of operation is presented. The flexible financial services terminal provides a list of financial services to a customer. The customer selects a financial service and provides requested information related to the selected financial service. After the customer information is entered, a cashier trained in money transfers is called to the terminal to review the information and approve the financial service. Each financial service approved by the cashier is processed by the terminal and a fee is charged to the customer. The terminal further performs a purchase transaction that includes the fee for the financial service and receives payment from the customer for the purchase.
摘要:
A method of completing a transaction using payment information received from a personal wireless device. The method includes the steps of recording items for purchase, determining a total price of the items, displaying a prompt to provide payment for the total price, and wirelessly receiving payment information from a personal wireless device.