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:
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:
An electronic price label locator which uses signal strength and noise level information associated with signals from the electronic price label. The locator includes an input device which records identification information distinguishing the electronic price label from other electronic price labels. A receiver receives signals from the electronic price label. Signal strength and noise level determining circuitry measures signal strengths and noise levels associated with the signals. Processing circuitry determines a direction to the electronic price label. Finally, a display displays the direction. The locator may also be portable and include a hand-held housing.
摘要:
A method of changing a display sequence of an electronic price label which uses two commands to add and remove information from a display sequence. The method includes the steps of formulating a change sequence message including a number of change sequence commands which reference memory registers of the electronic price label, and sending the change sequence message to the electronic price label. An Add command causes the electronic price label to additionally display data in a predetermined memory register. A Remove command causes the electronic price label to stop displaying data in a predetermined memory register. If data accompanies an Add command, the method further determines whether such data will overwrite existing data in the predetermined memory register, and if it will, stores the existing data for later retrieval.
摘要:
A temporary display sequence change method which keeps track of replaced data. A first sequence for displaying first pieces of information by an EPL is determined. A second sequence by which the EPL currently displays second pieces of information is determined. If at least one of the pieces of first information is different from the pieces of second information, whether the one piece replaces another piece of second information is determined. If the one piece does not replace the other piece, the one piece of information is obtained. If the one piece does replace the other piece, the one piece of information is obtained and the other piece and its memory location are stored. A first change sequence message including the one piece of information is sent. The first pieces of information are displayed in accordance with the first sequence for a predetermined time period. A second change sequence message addressed to the EPL containing a command to execute the second sequence is created and includes the other piece of second information and its corresponding memory location if it was replaced by the one piece of first information. Finally, the second change sequence message is sent to the EPL.
摘要:
An electronic price label (EPL) price verification system which ensures that a price for an item obtained from a price look-up (PLU) file by a bar code scanner is equal to another price displayed by an electronic price label (EPL) for the item. The EPL price verification system includes a computer system coupled to the EPL, which includes a terminal and a storage medium coupled to the terminal. The storage medium contains an EPL data file, which contains EPL identification information and an EPL price verifier. The computer terminal executes a price verification program which reads the PLU file to obtain the price of the item, calculates another price verifier from the price of the item in the price file, reads EPL data file to obtain the one price verifier, compares the one and the other price verifiers to determine whether they are equal, and changes the displayed price to the price in the PLU file if the one and the other price verifiers are different.