System and method for a wireless mesh network of configurable signage

A system for an access node coupled to a computer to wirelessly communicate information to a plurality of electronic signs, comprising:

• a first logical layer of one or more repeater nodes coupled to an electronic sign and positioned within a communication range of the access node and configured to directly communicate with the access node;
• one or more logical layers each having one or more repeater nodes that are outside the communication range of the access node and configured to indirectly communicate with the access node by using one or more repeater nodes on a logical layer that is logically closer to the access node for retransmitting wireless communications to the access node;
• and
• a plurality of radio nodes each coupled to an electronic sign and positioned within a communication range of one or more of the repeater nodes and configured to receive communications from the access node by one or more of the repeater nodes on the logical layers;
• wherein communication between the access node and the one or more repeater nodes includes a determination of whether the communication includes a common route with at least one other communication to at least one other repeater node and wherein in response to a determination that there is a common route, a consolidated message is communicated along the common route;
• wherein sales data may be changed on one or more of the electronic signs according to communications transmitted from the access node to the changed electronic signs,
• wherein at least one of the radio nodes and the repeater nodes is configured to communicate an acknowledgement to the access node upon adjusting the sales information displayed on the electronic sign coupled thereto, and
• wherein the access node is configured to communicate a reply to a central computer over a wide area network containing data corresponding to the acknowledgement message so that the central computer can verify that the electronic sign coupled to the intended radio node has adjusted sales information displayed on the electronic sign.

A system for updating promotional information signage in a retail environment, comprising:

• an access node positioned in the retail environment and configured to transmit and receive wireless communications;
• one or more electronic signs coupled to transceivers for transmitting and receiving wireless communications with the access node;
• logic in the one or more electronic signs configured to receive a wireless transmission from the access node corresponding to updated promotional information for display;
• and
• logic in the one or more electronic signs configured to execute instructions contained in the wireless transmission received from the access node so that the electronic sign updates its displayed information in association with the updated promotional information,
• wherein the transceivers are configured to repeat wireless transmissions received from the access node and other transceivers that are not directly accessible by the access node;
• wherein communication between the access node and at least one of the transceivers includes a determination of whether the communication includes a common route with at least one other communication to at least one other transceiver and wherein in response to a determination that there is a common route, a consolidated message is communicated along the common route;
• wherein at least one of the transceivers is configured to communicate an acknowledgement to the access node upon adjusting the sales information displayed on the electronic sign coupled to at least one of the transceivers;
• and
• wherein the access node is configured to communicate a reply to a central computer over a wide area network containing data corresponding to the acknowledgement message so that the central computer can verify that the electronic sign coupled to at least one of the transceivers has adjusted sales information displayed on the electronic sign.

An electronic sign configured to update promotional information displayed on the electronic sign, comprising:

• a memory configured to store one or more executable instructions;
• a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory;
• a transceiver configured to receive updated promotional information from a hub communicator that is repeated by one or more repeating devices prior to receipt by the electronic sign, wherein the updated promotional information is stored in the memory, the transceiver further configured to repeat promotional information transmissions from the hub communicator intended for another electronic sign;
• and
• logic contained in the memory configured to cause the processor to display information associated with the received updated promotional information on a display electrically coupled to the processor,
• wherein communication between an access node and the one or more repeating devices includes a determination of whether the communication includes a common route with at least one other communication to at least one other repeating device and wherein in response to a determination that there is a common route, a consolidated message is communicated along the common route;
• wherein at least one of the electronic sign is coupled to at least one radio node, the at least one radio node is configured to communicate an acknowledgement to the access node upon adjusting the sales information displayed on the electronic sign coupled to the intended radio node;
• and
• wherein the access node is configured to communicate a reply to a central computer over a wide area network containing data corresponding to the acknowledgement message so that the central computer can verify that the electronic sign coupled to the intended recipient satellite transceiver node has adjusted sales information displayed on the electronic sign.