摘要:
A system and method of displaying information by an electronic price label which uses thresholds to minimize the number of messages to an electronic price label. The system includes a record for an item associated with the electronic price label which contains the thresholds. The thresholds divide the information into a number of ranges including a first range of information and a second range of information. The system further includes a computer for scheduling messages for transmission to the electronic price label, wherein the computer obtains first information associated with the first range and displayed by the electronic price label, obtains second information which is more recent than the first information, determines whether the first information equals the second information, and if the first information does not equal the second information, obtains the second range, determines whether the first information is within the second range, and sends a message to the electronic price label containing the second information and a command to display the second information instead of the first information if the first information is outside the second range.
摘要:
Techniques for displaying promotional information by providing an electronic sign (ES) which displays promotional information, display slogans, bundled pricing, bulk pricing, and other types of information. The ES can be used by retailers to increase sales, provide an alternate technique for advertising and reduce costs. According to one aspect, an EPL computer reads an EPL/ES data file to determine if an entry is associated with an EPL or an ES. The EPL computer then reads a promotional message from a promotional data file. An index in the EPL/ES data file may be used to determine the correct promotional message. The EPL computer transmits a message to the ES which includes a command for the ES to display the promotional message. The ES then displays the promotional message, providing valuable information to customers who are in the process of making purchasing decisions. In one aspect, an ES displays promotional information associated with an offer and is not associated with any particular single item. Such a special offer may apply to a family of items, rather than a particular single item. In another aspect, an ES is associated with an item and displays promotional information relating to that item. In another aspect, an ES is associated with an item and displays promotional information relating to another item or items.
摘要:
A method of restoring display information to an electronic price label which stores temporarily removed display information and sends it to the electronic price label following a temporary period. The method includes the steps of determining whether a memory of the electronic price label contains primary display information during the temporary display period, and if the memory of the electronic price label does not contain the primary display information during the temporary display period, sending a message to the electronic price label containing the primary display information for display following the temporary display period.
摘要:
A system and method of consolidating information for display which relies on codes. The system includes a database including a plurality of types of information besides price to be displayed by an electronic price label and a computer. The computer schedules messages for transmission to the electronic price label, including a message containing the information. The computer identifies a number of the types of information to be displayed by the electronic price label, obtains the number of the types of information from the database, determines parameters for storing and displaying the number of types of information, and creates a code incorporating the number of types of information and the parameters for storing and displaying the number of types of information.
摘要:
A method of diagnosing communication problems of electronic price labels in a transaction establishment which identifies the probable locations of the problems. The method includes the steps of assigning the electronic price labels to groups based upon their ability to receive a message from a computer, locating the electronic price labels, mapping locations of the electronic price labels, identifying a predetermined group of electronic price labels having the reception problems, and determining the cause of the reception problems.
摘要:
A system and method of displaying information by an electronic price label which uses thresholds to minimize the number of messages to an electronic price label. The system includes a record for an item associated with the electronic price label which contains the thresholds. The thresholds divide the information into a number of ranges including a first range of information and a second range of information. The system further includes a computer for scheduling messages for transmission to the electronic price label, wherein the computer obtains first information associated with the first range and displayed by the electronic price label, obtains second information which is more recent than the first information, determines whether the first information equals the second information, and if the first information does not equal the second information, obtains the second range, determines whether the first information is within the second range, and sends a message to the electronic price label containing the second information and a command to display the second information instead of the first information if the first information is outside the second range.
摘要:
A system and method of displaying information by an electronic price label which uses thresholds to minimize the number of messages to an electronic price label. The system includes a record for an item associated with the electronic price label which contains the thresholds. The thresholds divide the information into a number of ranges including a first range of information and a second range of information. The system further includes a computer for scheduling messages for transmission to the electronic price label, wherein the computer obtains first information associated with the first range and displayed by the electronic price label, obtains second information which is more recent than the first information, determines whether the first information equals the second information, and if the first information does not equal the second information, obtains the second range, determines whether the first information is within the second range, and sends a message to the electronic price label containing the second information and a command to display the second information instead of the first information if the first information is outside the second range.
摘要:
A system and method are disclosed for using an enhanced external data interface to display data in electronic price label (EPL) systems. The enhanced external data interface (EDI) responds to various stimuli or requests, such as a store manager or other user logged onto a computer terminal in real time, computer-generated applications and timed file data. The enhanced EDI may receive messages to store first information in, or to read first information already stored in, an EPL data file. The EDI determines whether it is time to update a message displayed by a particular EPL or group thereof for a particular merchandise item. If it is time to update the message, the EDI compares information read from the EPL data file with information about the same merchandise item stored in a message management file. If the two pieces of information are different from one another, the EDI causes a message to be transmitted to the EPL, containing the information from the message management file and a command to display such information.
摘要:
A method of temporarily displaying information by an electronic price label which avoids resending previously-displayed information. The method implemented by the electronic price label includes receiving a first message containing a first command to display first contents of a first memory area identified by a first memory locator, storing a second memory locator identifying a second memory area containing second memory contents currently being displayed in a third memory area, receiving a second message containing a second command to redisplay the second contents of the second memory area, reading the second memory locator from the third memory area, reading the second memory contents from the second memory area, and displaying the second memory contents.
摘要:
A method of assigning a promotional message to an electronic price label (EPL) which uses a promotional indicator in a price file to access a promotional message in a promotional message data file. The method includes the steps of storing promotional messages and associated promotional indicators in a promotional data file, storing one of the promotional indicators in an item record within a price file, reading the price file to obtain the one promotional indicator, comparing the one promotional indicator with the promotional indicators in the promotional data file to obtain a promotional message that is associated with the one promotional indicator, and causing the EPL to display the promotional message.