EP0837438A2 - Electronic price label system - Google Patents
Electronic price label system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0837438A2 EP0837438A2 EP97305770A EP97305770A EP0837438A2 EP 0837438 A2 EP0837438 A2 EP 0837438A2 EP 97305770 A EP97305770 A EP 97305770A EP 97305770 A EP97305770 A EP 97305770A EP 0837438 A2 EP0837438 A2 EP 0837438A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- epl
- electronic price
- address
- epls
- label
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to shelf label systems, and more specifically to a method of assigning addresses to electronic price labels (EPLs).
- EPLs electronic price labels
- EPL systems typically include a plurality of EPLs for each merchandise item in a store.
- EPLs typically_display the price of corresponding merchandise items on store shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves.
- EPLs may include a semi-transparent LCD.
- a store may contain thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the merchandise items.
- the EPLs are coupled to a central server from where information about the EPLs is typically maintained in an EPL data file. Price information displayed by the EPLs is obtained from the PLU file.
- the EPLs are coupled to a central server from where prices for all of the displays can be changed.
- Each EPL has an assigned address which is typically stored within a register or memory location in the EPL.
- the server addresses a price change message to an EPL.
- the EPL compares the address in the price change message to its own internally stored address. If the message address and the internal address match, the EPL executes the instructions in the message. If the message address and the internal address do not match, the EPL ignores the instructions in the message, or goes into an alternate mode to reflect information from other EPLs.
- EPL systems use item information as a basis for assigning an address to an EPL.
- Item information is typically an order number or a price look-up file number.
- positive acknowledgment systems typically include instances in which one PLU file item is positioned at more than one location in a store and in which multiple EPLs must be assigned to the same PLU file item, the originating EPL or EPLs of any acknowledgment messages cannot be determined.
- an electronic price label system comprising a plurality of addressable electronic price labels (18A-18C) for a plurality of products characterized in that at least one of the electronic price labels is arranged with an address which is independent of the product to which the electronic price label is assigned.
- a price label system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 including a data file having separate entries for identifying products and for identifying electronic price labels.
- store system 10 includes EPL system 16 and transaction processing system 40.
- EPL system 16 includes EPL computer 12, storage medium 20, and EPLs 18a-c.
- EPL computer 12 executes EPL software 30, which processes messages to and from EPLs 18a-c and which maintains the contents of EPL data file 32.
- Messages to EPLs 18a-c include price change messages and status messages.
- Price change messages instruct EPLs 18a-c to change their displayed prices.
- Status messages test the operation of EPLs 18a-c by asking them to respond in a predetermined way, which may be as simple as returning an acknowledgment signal.
- EPL software 30 addresses messages to EPLs 18a-c using addresses assigned in accordance with the method of the present invention.
- EPL data file 32 contains identification information, item information, and price information for each of EPLs 18a-c.
- the identification information includes addresses assigned to EPLs 18a-c by EPL software 30.
- EPL system 16 includes groups of EPLs.
- Group 19 represents a single PLU file item 23 which is located at two different places within the store and which requires multiple EPLs 18b-c.
- Group 21 represents a single PLU file item 25 which is located at one place within the store and which requires only one EPL 18a.
- EPL system 16 includes a plurality of EPLs assigned to PLU file item 22.
- EPLs 18a-c are preferably wireless EPLs, each including a transceiver.
- EPL computer 12 couples to a plurality of transceivers throughout a store. EPLs connected to EPL computer 12 via cables are also envisioned.
- Transaction processing system 40 includes transaction processing server 46 and storage medium 42.
- Transaction processing server 46 processes requests for price and item information from individual checkout terminals 48.
- Storage medium 42 contains PLU file 44, which contains the price and item information for item 22.
- EPL data file 32 includes a line entry for each of EPLs 18a-c in EPL system 16. Each line entry has an item identification entry (ITEM ID), an EPL identification entry (EPL ID), and an EPL price checksum value entry (EPL CHECK). Known EPL systems do not maintain separate values for items and EPLs.
- Entry ITEM ID identifies a store item and is preferably obtained and sometimes validated from PLU file 44.
- Entry EPL ID identifies which EPL is assigned to the item and is used by EPL computer 16 as an address for transmitting messages to the EPL. Entry EPL ID is a "number" which may be any combination of numerals and letters. Each of EPLs 18a-c stores its EPL ID in an internal register. When EPL computer 12 transmits a message, each EPL compares its internally stored EPL ID with one or more EPL IDs in the message.
- Entry EPL CHECK is a checksum value of the digits of the price information that is displayed by EPLs 18a-c.
- EPL serial numbers are numbers assigned to EPLs 18a-c at the factory where EPLs 18a-c were manufactured.
- an EPL ID of 4733 corresponds to the address of EPL 18a.
- An EPL ID of 0301 corresponds to the address of EPL 18b.
- An EPL ID of 030D corresponds to the address of EPL 18c, which in this example has an EPL serial number with the same last four digits, 0301, as EPL 18b.
- EPL software 30 changed the last digit to a "D" to prevent two EPLs from having the same address.
- EPL software 30 may read an electronic list of EPL serial numbers which is provided by the manufacturer on a portable storage medium, such as a floppy disk, or which is transferred to EPL computer 12 over a telephone line using modems.
- EPL software 30 may replace, automatically or under operator control, one of the numbers, such as the last number, with a unique and arbitrary hexadecimal number.
- EPL software 30 Another method envisioned by the present invention is for EPL software 30 to use a random number generator to assign addresses to EPLs, or to use the next available number in sequence. This method would additionally require that the derived number be dissimilar to any other EPL identification number.
- the method of the present invention assigns identification numbers to EPLs 18b-c that are not related to item 23, which allows EPL software 30 to manage EPLs 18b-c separately.
- EPL software 30 can receive and process positive acknowledgment messages from each of EPLs 18b-c.
- an EPL system that addresses EPLs using item information cannot determine whether all of the multiple EPLs assigned to a single item have successfully received and acknowledged a message from EPL computer 12. Multiple EPLs having the same address all acknowledge at the same time and EPL computer 12 cannot determine how many EPLs have acknowledged.
- the method of the present invention may also be combined with systems that use item information to allow such systems to assign multiple EPLs to single PLU file items.
- a cross reference table an EPL system that identifies EPLs using item information can be converted.
- This cross reference table allows software to be written to translate the item information into an EPL identification.
- the disadvantage associated with this approach is that more communication to change an item results.
- the advantage is that the EPL computer 12 can guarantee that each EPL associated with an item changed. This advantage justifies EPL system 16 through pricing accuracy.
Abstract
The invention provides for a system for assigning an
address to an electronic price label (18A-18C) and which
is not defined by the product (23, 25) to which the label
is assigned. The invention also provides for a related
method that includes the step of assigning a random
number as the label address, or that includes the step of
assigning a number of digits of a serial number
associated with the label as the label address. The
invention can therefore facilitate marking of common
product types with more than one electronic price label.
Description
The present invention relates to shelf label
systems, and more specifically to a method of assigning
addresses to electronic price labels (EPLs).
EPL systems typically include a plurality of
EPLs for each merchandise item in a store. EPLs
typically_display the price of corresponding merchandise
items on store shelves and are typically attached to a
rail along the leading edge of the shelves. EPLs may
include a semi-transparent LCD. A store may contain
thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the
merchandise items. The EPLs are coupled to a central
server from where information about the EPLs is typically
maintained in an EPL data file. Price information
displayed by the EPLs is obtained from the PLU file.
The EPLs are coupled to a central server from
where prices for all of the displays can be changed.
Each EPL has an assigned address which is typically
stored within a register or memory location in the EPL.
In order to change prices, the server addresses a price
change message to an EPL. The EPL compares the address
in the price change message to its own internally stored
address. If the message address and the internal address
match, the EPL executes the instructions in the message.
If the message address and the internal address do not
match, the EPL ignores the instructions in the message,
or goes into an alternate mode to reflect information
from other EPLs.
Known EPL systems use item information as a
basis for assigning an address to an EPL. Item
information is typically an order number or a price look-up
file number. However, such EPL systems cannot be used
in positive acknowledgment systems. Since positive
acknowledgment systems typically include instances in
which one PLU file item is positioned at more than one
location in a store and in which multiple EPLs must be
assigned to the same PLU file item, the originating EPL
or EPLs of any acknowledgment messages cannot be
determined.
Therefore, it is the object of the invention to
provide a method of assigning addresses to electronic
price labels that does not rely on item information.
According to the invention an electronic price
label system comprising a plurality of addressable
electronic price labels (18A-18C) for a plurality of
products characterized in that at least one of the
electronic price labels is arranged with an address which
is independent of the product to which the electronic
price label is assigned.
Also according to the invention a price label
system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, including a data file
having separate entries for identifying products and for
identifying electronic price labels.
The invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
In Fig. 1, store system 10 includes EPL system
16 and transaction processing system 40.
EPLs 18a-c are preferably wireless EPLs, each
including a transceiver. EPL computer 12 couples to a
plurality of transceivers throughout a store. EPLs
connected to EPL computer 12 via cables are also
envisioned.
Turning now to Fig. 2, EPL data file 32 is
shown in more detail. EPL data file 32 includes a line
entry for each of EPLs 18a-c in EPL system 16. Each line
entry has an item identification entry (ITEM ID), an EPL
identification entry (EPL ID), and an EPL price checksum
value entry (EPL CHECK). Known EPL systems do not
maintain separate values for items and EPLs.
Entry ITEM ID identifies a store item and is
preferably obtained and sometimes validated from PLU file
44.
Entry EPL ID identifies which EPL is assigned
to the item and is used by EPL computer 16 as an address
for transmitting messages to the EPL. Entry EPL ID is a
"number" which may be any combination of numerals and
letters. Each of EPLs 18a-c stores its EPL ID in an
internal register. When EPL computer 12 transmits a
message, each EPL compares its internally stored EPL ID
with one or more EPL IDs in the message.
Entry EPL CHECK is a checksum value of the
digits of the price information that is displayed by EPLs
18a-c.
One method envisioned by the present invention
and implemented by EPL software 30 is to record entry of
EPL serial numbers and derive four-digit numbers from the
last four digits of the serial numbers. Here, entry EPL
ID is shown as a four-digit hexadecimal number, but other
methods of representing addresses having more or less
than four digits are also envisioned. The EPL serial
numbers are numbers assigned to EPLs 18a-c at the factory
where EPLs 18a-c were manufactured.
In this example, an EPL ID of 4733 corresponds
to the address of EPL 18a. An EPL ID of 0301 corresponds
to the address of EPL 18b. An EPL ID of 030D corresponds
to the address of EPL 18c, which in this example has an
EPL serial number with the same last four digits, 0301,
as EPL 18b. Thus, EPL software 30 changed the last digit
to a "D" to prevent two EPLs from having the same
address.
An operator may manually enter the EPL serial
numbers at a keyboard of EPL computer 12. Alternatively,
EPL software 30 may read an electronic list of EPL serial
numbers which is provided by the manufacturer on a
portable storage medium, such as a floppy disk, or which
is transferred to EPL computer 12 over a telephone line
using modems.
When two or more EPLs have the same last four
digits, EPL software 30 may replace, automatically or
under operator control, one of the numbers, such as the
last number, with a unique and arbitrary hexadecimal
number.
Another method envisioned by the present
invention is for EPL software 30 to use a random number
generator to assign addresses to EPLs, or to use the next
available number in sequence. This method would
additionally require that the derived number be
dissimilar to any other EPL identification number.
The method of the present invention assigns
identification numbers to EPLs 18b-c that are not related
to item 23, which allows EPL software 30 to manage EPLs
18b-c separately. EPL software 30 can receive and
process positive acknowledgment messages from each of
EPLs 18b-c.
Unlike EPL system 16, an EPL system that
addresses EPLs using item information cannot determine
whether all of the multiple EPLs assigned to a single
item have successfully received and acknowledged a
message from EPL computer 12. Multiple EPLs having the
same address all acknowledge at the same time and EPL
computer 12 cannot determine how many EPLs have
acknowledged.
The method of the present invention may also be
combined with systems that use item information to allow
such systems to assign multiple EPLs to single PLU file
items. By having a cross reference table, an EPL system
that identifies EPLs using item information can be
converted. This cross reference table allows software to
be written to translate the item information into an EPL
identification. The disadvantage associated with this
approach is that more communication to change an item
results. The advantage is that the EPL computer 12 can
guarantee that each EPL associated with an item changed.
This advantage justifies EPL system 16 through pricing
accuracy.
Although the present invention has been
described with particular reference to certain preferred
embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the
present invention can be effected within the spirit and
scope of the following claims.
Claims (10)
- An electronic price label system (10) comprising a plurality of addressable electronic price labels (18A-18C) for a plurality of products (22) characterized in that at least one of the electronic price labels is arranged with an address which is independent of the product (23, 25) to which the electronic price label is assigned.
- An electronic price label system (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said at least one of the electronic price labels includes a first electronic price label (18B) associated with a product (23) and having a first address, and a second electronic price label (18C) associated with the product (23) and having a second address different from the first.
- A price label system (10) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, including a data file (32) having separate entries for identifying products (23, 25) and for identifying electronic price labels.
- A method of assigning an address to an electronic price label (18A-18C) comprising the step of assigning an address to the label which is independent of the product to which the electronic price label is assigned.
- A method as claimed in Claim 4, and including assigning a random number as the electronic price label address.
- A method as claimed in Claim 4, and including assigning a number of digits of a serial number associated with the electronic price labels as the electronic price label address.
- A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the number of digits are sequential.
- A method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the number of digits are sequential from an end of the serial number.
- A method as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, and for assigning an address to first (18B) and second (18C) electronic price labels associated with a common product (23) and comprising the steps of assigning a first identifier to the first electronic price label (18B), assigning a second identifier different from the first identifier to the second electronic price label (18C) so that a message for the first (18B) and second (18C) labels can be addressed thereto.
- A method as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein entries for identifying products and for identifying electronic price labels are stored separately in a data file.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US73072796A | 1996-10-15 | 1996-10-15 | |
US730727 | 1996-10-15 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0837438A2 true EP0837438A2 (en) | 1998-04-22 |
Family
ID=24936589
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97305770A Withdrawn EP0837438A2 (en) | 1996-10-15 | 1997-07-31 | Electronic price label system |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0837438A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH10228247A (en) |
AU (1) | AU3422697A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2210925A1 (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ328510A (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA977478B (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0973110A1 (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2000-01-19 | Ncr International Inc. | System and method of applying price changes in an electronic price label system |
GB2369918A (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2002-06-12 | Ncr Int Inc | Electronic price label networks |
US6516302B1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2003-02-04 | Incentech, Inc. | Method and system for accumulating marginal discounts and applying an associated incentive upon achieving one of a plurality of thresholds |
US6993498B1 (en) * | 1999-07-15 | 2006-01-31 | Midnight Blue Remote Access, Llc | Point-of-sale server and method |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2802693B1 (en) * | 1999-12-15 | 2002-08-02 | Store Electronic Systems Techn | IMPROVED SYSTEM OF ELECTRONIC LABELS IN PARTICULAR FOR DISPLAYING PRICES ON SELLING PLACES |
JP4873868B2 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2012-02-08 | ルネサスエレクトロニクス株式会社 | Passive RFID semiconductor device, IC tag, IC tag control method, and communication method |
-
1997
- 1997-07-21 CA CA002210925A patent/CA2210925A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-07-31 EP EP97305770A patent/EP0837438A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-08-06 NZ NZ328510A patent/NZ328510A/en unknown
- 1997-08-15 AU AU34226/97A patent/AU3422697A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-08-20 ZA ZA9707478A patent/ZA977478B/en unknown
- 1997-10-13 JP JP9278655A patent/JPH10228247A/en active Pending
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0973110A1 (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2000-01-19 | Ncr International Inc. | System and method of applying price changes in an electronic price label system |
US6553349B1 (en) | 1998-07-15 | 2003-04-22 | Ncr Corporation | System and method of applying price changes in an electronic price label system |
US6516302B1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2003-02-04 | Incentech, Inc. | Method and system for accumulating marginal discounts and applying an associated incentive upon achieving one of a plurality of thresholds |
US6609104B1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2003-08-19 | Incentech, Inc. | Method and system for accumulating marginal discounts and applying an associated incentive |
USRE45006E1 (en) | 1999-05-26 | 2014-07-08 | Midnight Blue Remote Access Llc | Method and system for accumulating marginal discounts and applying an associated incentive upon achieving threshold |
US6993498B1 (en) * | 1999-07-15 | 2006-01-31 | Midnight Blue Remote Access, Llc | Point-of-sale server and method |
US8712836B2 (en) | 1999-07-15 | 2014-04-29 | Midnight Blue Remote Access Llc | Point-of-sale server and method |
GB2369918A (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2002-06-12 | Ncr Int Inc | Electronic price label networks |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NZ328510A (en) | 1997-10-24 |
JPH10228247A (en) | 1998-08-25 |
AU3422697A (en) | 1998-04-23 |
CA2210925A1 (en) | 1998-04-15 |
ZA977478B (en) | 1998-02-19 |
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