Remote control device and method for electronic price label systems
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorsAndrew J. Adamec, John F. Crooks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remote control device and method for electronic price label (EPL) systems which includes circuitry from EPLs. The remote control device includes a first EPL circuit, a second EPL circuit, and a control circuit coupled between the first and second EPL circuits for enabling transmission of alternating signals to the EPL computer by the first and second EPL circuits. The EPL computer executes a function in response to the alternating signals.
Claims11
An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising:
- a remote control device including a first EPL circuit, a second EPL circuit, and a control circuit coupled between the first EPL circuit and the second EPL circuit for enabling alternating communication of first and second signals by the first and second EPL circuits;
- a computer which maintains a function list containing a number of functions and which executes the functions sequentially upon alternating receipt of the first and second signals;
- and
- communication circuit which facilitates communication between the computer and the remote control device.
A remote control device for controlling an electronic price label (EPL) computer comprising:
- a first EPL circuit;
- a second EPL circuit;
- and
- a control circuit coupled between the first EPL circuit and the second EPL circuit for enabling transmission of alternating signals to the EPL computer by the first EPL circuit and the second EPL circuit;
- wherein the EPL computer executes a function in response to the alternating signals.
A method of remotely causing an electronic price label (EPL) computer to execute a function comprising the steps of:
- transmitting alternating signals from first and second EPL circuits to the EPL computer;
- and
- executing the function by the EPL computer in response to receipt of the alternating signals.
A method of remotely causing an electronic price label (EPL) computer to execute a number of functions comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining a function list by the EPL computer containing the functions to be executed;
- (b) transmitting a first signal to the EPL computer by a first EPL circuit;
- (c) executing one function in the function list by the EPL computer in response to the first signal;
- (d) transmitting a second signal to the EPL computer by a second EPL circuit;
- (e) executing another function in the function list sequentially following the one function by the EPL computer in response to the second signal;
- and
- (f) repeating step pairs (b), (c) and (d),(e) until the number of functions has been sequentially executed by the EPL computer.
A method of remotely causing an electronic price label (EPL) computer to execute a number of functions comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining a function list by the EPL computer containing the functions to be executed;
- (b) transmitting a first signal to the EPL computer by a first EPL circuit;
- (c) executing one function in the function list by the EPL computer in response to the first signal;
- (d) transmitting a message to the first EPL circuit which advises an operator that the EPL computer has executed the one function;
- (e) transmitting a second signal to the EPL computer by a second EPL circuit;
- (f) executing another function in the function list sequentially following the one function by the EPL computer in response to the second signal;
- and
- (g) transmitting a message to the first EPL circuit which advises an operator that the EPL computer has executed the other function;
- and
- (h) repeating step pairs (b), (c) and (d),(e) until the number of functions has been sequentially executed by the EPL computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.