Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ELECTRONIC PRICE LABEL HAVING
A PROMOTIONAL INDICATOR LIGHT
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic price label
(EPL) systems used in transaction establishments, and more
specifically to an electronic price label having a promotional
indicator light.
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. 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.
EPLs today may be wired or wireless. Wireless EPLs may
employ infrared or radio frequency transmitters to transmit
acknowledgment signals acknowledging receipt of messages and to
relay acknowledgment signals from other EPLs to receiving devices
coupled to a main EPL computer. An EPL only sends an
acknowledgment if the message is addressed to it.
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Items that are "On Sale" or heavily promoted within a
store are typically identified by special paper tags called
"shelf talkers" or "bibs" which are attached to shelves. These
paper tags must be installed and removed by store personnel.
Unfortunately, price information stored within the PLU file may
change before or after the paper tags are removed. Thus,
customers may become confused and price mismatch may occur
between the price in the PLU file and the price on the paper tag.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a
promotional device that is synchronized with the PLU file through
an electronic price label system so that customer confusion is
minimized.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the teachings cf the present
invention, an electronic price label (EPL) having a promotional
indicator light is provided.
The EPL includes a power source, a number of lights
powered by the power source for promoting a product associated
with the EPL, and a control circuit which applies and removes
power from the lights in response to a message from a host
computer. The control circuit may additionally blink the lights.
EPLs may have different colored lights. The lights are
preferably visible from the front surface and left and right side
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surfaces of the EPL. In one embodiment, the lights are located
at a number of corners in the front side. In another embodiment,
the lights are located at right and left edges of the front
surface.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide an EPL having a promotional indicator light.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide an EPL which has low-power LED promotional indicator
lights.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide an EPL which has promotional indicator lights that are
visible from the front surface and from the left and right side
surfaces of the EPL.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide an EPL which has promotional indicator lights that can be
blinked.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a plurality of EPLs having promotional indicator lights
that are of different colors.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide an EPL which has promotional indicator lights that are
remotely controlled by a host computer.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Additional benefits and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates from the subsequent description of
the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an EPL system;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the EPL;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of
the EPL; and
Fig. 4 iS a flow diagram illustrating the operation of
the EPL having a promotional indicator light.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to Fig. 1, EPL system 10 includes
electronic price label (EPL) computer 12 and EPL 14. EPL
computer 12 and EPL 14 may communicate with each other using
wireless communication, cable communication, or a combination of
both.
EPL computer 12 executes control software 30, which
records, schedules, and transmits all messages to EPL 14 and
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analyzes status messages from EPL 14. Messages from EPL computer
12 include price change messages and diagnostic messages.
EPL control software 30 includes LED control software
32 which transmits an LED control message to turn on/off LEDs 28
based upon the LED status information for EPL 14 stored in EPL
data file 26.
EPL computer 12 maintains and uses EPL data file 26,
which contains item information, identification information, item
price verifier information, and LED status information for EPL 14
and other EPLs within system 10.
Storage medium 24 stores EPL data file 26.
EPL 14 is one of many EPLs within system 10. EPL 14
includes control circuit 16, memory 20, display 22, power source
18, and LEDs 28.
Control circuit 16 controls the internal operation of
EPL 14. Control circuit 16 stores received messages from EPL
computer 12 and transmits response messages to EPL computer 12.
Control circuit 16 also controls the display of price and the
application of power from power source 18 to LEDs 28.
Memory 20 stores messages from EPL computer 12 and
other data necessary for the proper operation of system 10.
Display 22 displays price. Display 22 is preferably a
liquid crystal display (LCD).
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Power source 18 iS preferably a battery, but could be a
solar cell or a combination of solar cells and a battery.
LEDs 28 or other suitable illumination devices may be
used. LEDs 28 can be the same color or different colors. For
example, different colored LEDs may be used to indicate the
following different states of a product: blue to indicate a short
term special price is in effect, yellow to indicate a triple
coupon deal is in effect, etc.
Turning now to Fig. 2, a first embodiment of EPL 14
includes LEDs at each of the four corners of the front surface
34. The LEDs are also visible on sides 36. Clear plastic covers
38 protect the LEDs.
Turning now to Fig. 3, a second embodiment of EPL 14
includes LEDs on each side of front surface 34. The LEDs are
also visible on sides 36. Clear plastic covers 38 protect the
LEDs.
Turning now to Fig. 4, a method of controlling
promotional indicator lights on EPL 14 begins with START 40.
In step 42, a LED status indicator (i.e., on or off) is
stored within the record of EPL 14 in EPL data file 26.
In step 44, if the status indicator indicates that LED
14 should be on/off, EPL computer 12 transmits a message
addressed to EPL 14 and containing a command to turn on/off LEDs
28.
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In step 46, EPL 14 receives and acknowledges the
message.
In step 48, EPL control circuit 16 turns on/off LEDs
28. EPL control circuit 16 may alternatively cause LEDs 28 to
blink.
In step 50, the method ends.
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.
