Continuous display shelf edge label device

• US 10,210,478 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Bradley Thomas, Swafford, Jr., John Wesley, Lembke, Michael Alvin, Ernest, Joseph Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Glass, Russell S
• Application Number:
  US15/899,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20180189727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 705 27
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing information along a shelf edge of a retailer is described. On a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf is provided. At least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf is provided on the display. An individual is permitted to edit a parameter of the first user interface and/or the at least one second user interface. The parameter may include at least one of: a size of the user interface on the display, a shape of the user interface on the display, and a location of the user interface on the display. The first information and the at least one second information may be outputted concurrently to the display.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a digital display wherein the digital display is a single continuous display oriented along an entire edge of a shelf of a retailer, the digital display configured to;

output, a plurality of information from a first display mode of operation,

provide a user interface, and

permit, an individual to edit a parameter of the user interface;

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to output, to the digital display, the plurality of information; and

a wireless communication interface configured to receive data representative of the plurality of information from a wireless network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital display is configured to be removed from the entire edge of a shelf of the retailer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the digital display is further configured to permit the individual by touch to edit the parameter of the user interface by touching the digital display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital display is further configured to operate together with a plurality of digital displays.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a presence of a customer, wherein the first display mode of operation switches to a second display mode of operation upon detection of the presence of the customer, and wherein the digital display outputs a plurality of information from the second display mode of operation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the proximity sensor detects that the customer is in front of the digital display, wherein the second display mode of operation switches to a third display mode of operation upon detection of the customer in front of the digital display, and wherein the digital display outputs a plurality of information from the third display mode of operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of information from the first display mode of operation is a video, a promotion, dynamic content, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of information from the second display mode of operation is a video, a promotion, dynamic content, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality of information from the third display mode of operation is a video, a promotion, dynamic content, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the digital display is further configured to automatically change the plurality of information output by the digital display, and wherein the plurality of information includes a price.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one camera configured for a capture of imaging.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to determine an amount of a product remaining on the shelf of the retailer.

14. A method comprising:

providing on a shelf of a retailer a shelf edge label digital display configured to be removably mounted along an edge of the shelf wherein the digital display is a single continuous display;

outputting on the digital display a plurality of information from a first display mode of operation;

providing on the digital display a user interface;

permitting an individual to edit a parameter of the user interface; and

providing a wireless communication interface configured to receive data representative of the plurality of information from a wireless network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the permitting, through the display, the individual to edit the parameter of the user interface by touching the touchscreen display.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the digital display operating together with a plurality of digital displays.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a presence of a customer, wherein the outputting on the digital display the plurality of information from the first display mode of operation switches to outputting a plurality of information from a second display mode of operation upon detection of the presence of the customer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the proximity sensor is further configured to detect that the customer is in front of the digital display, wherein the outputting on the digital display the plurality of information from the second display mode of operation switches to outputting a plurality of information from a third display mode of operation upon detection of the customer in front of the digital display.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the outputting of the plurality of information from the first display mode of operation is a video, dynamic content, a promotion, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the outputting of the plurality of information from the second display mode of operation is a video, dynamic content, a promotion, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting of the plurality of information from the third display mode of operation is a video, dynamic content, a promotion, animation, graphics, text, a brand name, a type of product, an advertisement for a product, sale information, pricing information, or packaging information.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising automatically changing the plurality of information output by the digital display, and wherein the plurality of information includes a price.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing at least one camera for the capture of imaging.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining an amount of a product remaining on the shelf of the retailer.

25. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon associated with a digital display, wherein the digital display is a single continuous display and configured to be removably mounted along an entire edge of a shelf of a retailer, that, when executed, cause at least one computing device to:

output to the digital display a plurality of information from a first display mode of operation;

output to the digital display a plurality of information from a second display mode of operation;

output to the digital display a plurality of information from a third display mode of operation;

provide a user interface;

permit, an individual to edit a parameter of the user interface; and

receive data representative of the plurality of information from a wireless network.