System and method for determining EPL message transmission retries

A method for transmitting data to an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a data message to the EPL a first number of times based upon an established signal to noise (S/N) ratio;
• receiving a return signal from the EPL;
• determining a new (S/N) ratio from the return signal;
• determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes the established S/N ratio;
• and
• transmitting a subsequent data message to the EPL a second number of times based upon the new S/N ratio if the new S/N ratio is below the range of S/N ratios.

An electronic shelf label system comprising:

• a transmitter which transmits a data message to an EPL;
• a receiver which receives a return signal from the EPL;
• a storage system which stores a status flag representing a first number of times the data message is transmitted by the transmitter to the EPL, wherein the status flag is based upon an established signal to noise (S/N) ratio;
• means for determining a new S/N ratio from the return signal;
• and
• means for determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes the established S/N ratio, and if it is, providing a new status flag representing a second number of transmission times greater than the first number of transmission times;
• wherein the transmitter transmits a subsequent data message the second number of times.