Display of an Electronic Shelf Label

• US 20090273443A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PIER AB
• Original Assignee: PIER AB
• Inventors: Lindgren, Andreas, Nilsson, Björn
• Application Number:
  US12/086,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.910
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic shelf label, a system including electronic shelf labels, a related method and a computer program, comprising a power source for giving power to a display for displaying product related information, and at least one memory register for storing a product related information, and a communication interface for communicating with an access communication unit from which commands are exchanged, the memory register and the communication interface being controlled by a control unit. The control unit is adapted to control the display of information from the register in dependence of received commands and the invention is characterised in that the electronic shelf label is provided, in addition to the a display for displaying product related information, with an additional display of information.

Claims

1. An electronic shelf label, comprising:

a power source for giving power to a display for displaying product related information,

at least one memory register for storing a product related information,

a communication interface for communicating with an access communication unit from which commands are exchanged,

a control unit to control the memory register and the communication interface, the control unit being adapted to control the display of information from the register dependent on received commands, and

wherein the electronic shelf label is provided, in addition to the a display for displaying product related information, with an additional display of information.

3. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional display is driven and controlled without any additional driving and control means.

4. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional display is mounted on the electronic shelf label and directed so as to be visible from behind.

5. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the power source being adapted to drive a display driver, which is controlled by the control unit.

6. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the power source being a battery.

7. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface being adapted for bi-directional communication including receiving commands and transmitting status information.

8. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the label is provided with commands received from the access communication unit to perform one of the group consisting of update information messages and display activation commands.

9. An electronic shelf label according to claim 8, characterised in that the access communication unit is arranged as a transceiver mounted in the ceiling.

10. An electronic shelf label according to claim 8, characterised in that the access communication unit is arranged in a portable unit, such as in a handheld device.

11. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, characterised in that the vertical axis of the additional display is mounted on the electronic shelf label and directed with an adjustable angle to the vertical axis of the display for product related information.

12. An electronic shelf label according to claim 11, characterised in that the angle between the axes is 30-60 degrees, and preferably around 45 degrees.

15. An electronic shelf label system comprising a computer-controlled base station communicating with at least one access communication unit, which unit is adapted for wireless communication with a plurality of electronic shelf labels to determine and display product related information, characterised in that the electronic shelf labels of the system include means according to one of the group consisting of claims 1-14.

16. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 15, characterised in that the computer-controlled base station and the access communication unit, are integrally constructed.

17. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication includes an infrared (IR) interface.

18. An electronic shelf label system according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication includes a radio frequency (RF) interface, such as a USB radio LAN interface.

19. An electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein a label orientation sensor is provided, from which the control unit retrieves orientation data, in response to which the control unit controls the electronic shelf label to display either of at least two different predetermined images of product related information.

2. An electronic shelf label, comprising:

a power source for giving power to a display for displaying product related information,

at least one memory register for storing a product related information,

a communication interface for communicating with an access communication unit from which commands are exchanged,

a control unit to control the memory register and the communication interface, the control unit being adapted to control the display of information from the register dependent on received commands, and

a label orientation sensor, from which the control unit retrieves orientation data, in response to which the control unit controls the electronic shelf label to display either of at least two different predetermined images of product related information.

13. An electronic shelf label according to claim 2, characterised in that the predetermined images are either displaying product related information in a landscape orientation (A) or in a portrait orientation (C).

14. An electronic shelf label according to claim 2, characterised in that the predetermined images have formats adapted to display product related information independent of each other.

20. An electronic shelf label according to claim 2, characterised in that the electronic shelf label is provided, in addition to the a display for displaying product related information, with an additional display of information.

21. Method in an electronic shelf label system, comprising:

storing in a memory register product related information in a plurality of versions, each version adapted to the respective orientation of at least one display mounted on an electronic shelf label,

determining by means of an orientation sensor, the orientation of the electronic shelf label and thus the display, a control means retrieving information from the orientation sensor about the current orientation of the electronic shelf label, in response to the sensed orientation,

controlling the electronic shelf label to display information adapted in correspondence with the sensed orientation.

22. Computer program in an electronic shelf label system for controlling communication between a control unit and electronic shelf labels, the program being adapted for carrying out the method steps according to claim 21.

23. Computer program in an electronic shelf label system for controlling communication betweeen the control unit and electronic shelf labels according to claim 21, comprising a computer readable medium, and the computer program according to claim 22, the computer program being recorded on said computer readable medium.

24. Computer program in an electronic shelf label system for controlling communication between the control unit and electronic shelf labels according to claim 22, wherein the computer readable medium is a propagated signal and the propagated signal is a carrier wave.