Electronic sign having automatic price display
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorJohn C. Goodwin, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic sign which includes a number of two-dimensional (2-D) bar code readers which read a two-dimensional bar code label on a back side of a corresponding number of item description cards. The two-dimensional bar code labels are situated adjacent the two-dimensional bar code readers when the item description cards are installed. Each two-dimensional bar code label contains price data for the item associated with the item listed on the item description card. The two-dimensional bar code label may additionally contain promotional data. Each two-dimensional bar code reader is activated by a switch only when necessary to read the two-dimensional bar code label. The switch is preferably activated manually.
Claims7
An electronic sign comprising:
- a plurality of item description cards which together form a menu, wherein each item description card includes an item description on a front side and a two-dimensional bar code label containing price information on a back side;
- a housing containing a plurality of adjacent slots which retain the item description cards;
- wherein each slot contains a two-dimensional bar code reader, a memory for storing the price information from the item identification card, and a display for displaying the price information;
- and
- a plurality of switches, one for each slot, for activating the two-dimensional bar code readers to read the two-dimensional bar code labels on the item description cards and store the price information in the memory, and for causing the displays to display the price information in the two-dimensional bar code labels.
A method of updating a price of an item in a sign comprising the steps of:
- activating a switch in the sign which controls a two-dimensional bar code reader;
- decoding a two-dimensional bar code label on a back side of an item identification card for the item by the two-dimensional bar code reader to obtain a new price for the item contained within the two-dimensional bar code label, wherein the item identification card also includes a front side having a legible description of the item;
- storing the new price in a memory within the sign by a control circuit in response to the decoding step;
- and
- displaying the new price by a display which is adjacent to the item identification card.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.