Back to results
US 6,269,342 B1Granted
Programmable shelf tag system
AssigneeTelxon Corporation
InventorsFrank E. Brick, Jeffrey W. Sutherland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic pricing and display system using programmable electronic shelf tags. Programmable electronic shelf tags are used in connection with apparatus for programming the electronic shelf tags. Pricing and product information is stored in databases of a computer system for such purposes as inventory control and updating pricing information. A portable programming device is used to transmit programming data Methods are provided for fast and convenient modification of large numbers of electronic shelf tags located throughout a facility (e.g., a retail store).
Claims15
An electronic pricing system, comprising:
- a pricing database for storing pricing data and associated product identifiers, said pricing data used by an associated point-of-sale (POS) terminal to generate customer bills;
- a temporary database for storing updated pricing data and associated product identifiers;
- a plurality of electronic shelf tags having display means for displaying a product price for an associated product;
- and
- a portable programming device for receiving updated pricing data from the temporary database and transmitting the received updated pricing data to the plurality of electronic shelf tags;
- wherein said plurality of electronic shelf tags transmit an acknowledge signal when updated pricing data has been received and said product price displayed by said display means has been modified to reflect the received updated pricing data and said pricing data, in said pricing database corresponding to the product identifier of the updated pricing data associated with the acknowledge signal, is replaced with said updated pricing data.
3 more elements
A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:
- inputting an update file to a computer system, said update file including updated pricing data and associated product identifiers;
- matching said associated product identifiers with shelf tag identifiers stored in said computer system to determine which electronic shelf tags need modification;
- broadcasting pricing information including the updated pricing data and the shelf tag identifiers associated therewith to a portable programming device;
- broadcasting an IR signal from said portable programming device that includes said pricing information, said portable programming device receiving an IR acknowledge signal from an electronic shelf tag in response to the electronic shelf tag modifying a display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;
- broadcasting the received acknowledge signal from said portable programming device to said computer system;
- and
- upon receipt of the acknowledge signal by the computer system, the computer system updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.
4 more elements
A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:
- communicatively coupling a portable programming device to a computer network and downloading tag identifiers and updated pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags;
- broadcasting from the portable programming device the updated pricing data and the tag identifiers associated therewith to the electronic shelf tags located in a facility, by locating the portable programming device within broadcasting range of each of the electronic shelf tags in a facility;
- receiving acknowledgment signals from the electronic shelf tags in response to an electronic shelf tag modifying a respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;
- and
- communicatively coupling a portable programming device to the computer network and uploading acknowledgment signals from the portable programming device to the computer network and upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal by the computer network, the computer network updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.
2 more elements
A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:
- broadcasting tag identifiers and updated pricing data from a host computer to a portable programming device in real time, via an RF communication link therebetween;
- broadcasting the updated pricing data and the tag identifiers associated therewith, from the portable programming device to the plurality of electronic shelf tags, wherein the electronic shelf tag identified by the tag identifier modifies a respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;
- transmitting acknowledgment signals from the electronic shelf tag to the portable programming device, in response to an electronic shelf tag modifying the respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;
- and
- transmitting said acknowledgment signals from the portable programming device to the host computer in real time, via the RF communication link, and upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal by the host computer, the host computer updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.
2 more elements
A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:
- inputting an alternate pricing data file to a computer system, said alternate pricing data file including associated product identifiers, current pricing data, alternate pricing data, and alternate price time period data;
- determining a shelf tag identifier associated with each said product identifier by accessing a data file including shelf tag identifiers and associated product identifiers;
- transmitting the alternate pricing data and associated shelf tag identifier to a portable programming device, the transmission to the portable programming device occurring at a time in accordance with the alternate price time period data associated with the alternate pricing data;
- broadcasting the alternate pricing data and the associated shelf tag identifier, from the portable programming device to the plurality of electronic shelf tags, said portable programming device receiving an acknowledge signal from an electronic shelf tag in response to the electronic shelf tag modifying a respective display unit to reflect the alternate pricing data;
- broadcasting the received acknowledge signal from said portable programming device to said computer system;
- and
- upon receipt of the acknowledge signal by the computer system, the computer system updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the alternate pricing data for a product identifier associated with the acknowledge signal.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.