ELECTRONIC SHELF LABEL AND ELECTRONIC LABELLING SYSTEM

• US 20110128123A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pricer AB
• Original Assignee: Pricer AB
• Inventors: Nilsson, Björn, Andersson, Lars
• Application Number:
  US13/022,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128123A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.91
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic shelf label and an electronic labelling system including an electronic shelf label, the label comprising a display for displaying information related to a product, a receiver for receiving commands and/or data from a central unit, a control unit for controlling the display and the receiver, characterized in that a timer is provided for measuring the time passed since the last message was received from the central unit, a comparing unit is arranged for comparing the measured time to a predetermined threshold time, and a controller is adapted to initiate a predetermined action if the measured time exceeds the threshold time. The invention also relates to an electronic labelling system comprising such an electronic shelf label.

Claims

1. An electronic shelf label comprising:

a display for displaying information related to a product,

a receiver to receive at least one of commands and data from a central unit;

a controller to control the display and the receiver;

a timer to measure the time passed since a last message was received from the central unit and output a measured time,

a comparing unit to compare the measured time to a threshold time; and

wherein the controller is to initiate a determined action if the measured time exceeds the threshold time.

2. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the action of the controller includes controlling at least part of the display in a determined way.

3. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the determined way includes controlling one or more segments of the display.

4. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the label comprises a sound generator to issue an alarm sound to call attention to the label as the action by the controller.

5. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the timer is to measure time passed since a last message intended for the label was received in the label.

6. The electronic shelf label according to claim 1, wherein the timer is arranged to measure the time passed since a last message intended for any label was received in the label.

7. The electronic shelf label according to claim 6, wherein the last message is a message intended for all labels or a group of labels.

8. The electronic shelf label according to claim 5, wherein the last message is a message intended for all labels or a group of labels.

9. An electronic shelf label comprising:

a display for displaying information related to a product;

a receiver to receive a message that includes at least one of commands and data from a central unit;

a controller to control the display and the receiver;

a timer to measure the time passed since a last message was received from the central unit and output a measured time, wherein the measured time includes time since a last message was received for the label, another label in a label system, or a group of labels;

a comparing unit to compare the measured time to a threshold time;

wherein the controller is to initiate a determined action if the measured time exceeds the threshold time, wherein the action of the controller includes controlling one or more segments of the display in a determined way; and

wherein the label includes a sound generator to issue an alarm sound to call attention to the label as the action by the controller.

10. The electronic self label according to claim 9, wherein the message includes a new authorization code matching an authorization code in the label to replace an old authorization code.

11. An electronic shelf label system comprising:

a central unit to produce messages for shelf labels;

a plurality of shelf labels operably connected to the central unit;

a display for displaying information related to a product;

a receiver to receive a message that includes at least one of commands and data from a central unit;

a controller to control the display and the receiver;

a timer to measure the time passed since a last message was received from the central unit and output a measured time, wherein the measured time includes time since a last message was received for the label, another label in a label system, or a group of labels; and

a comparing unit to compare the measured time to a threshold time;

wherein the controller is to initiate a determined action if the measured time exceeds the threshold time, wherein the action of the controller includes controlling one or more segments of the display in a determined way; and

wherein the label includes a sound generator to issue an alarm sound to call attention to the label as the action by the controller.

12. The electronic self label system according to claim 11, wherein the message includes a new authorization code matching an authorization code in the label to replace an old authorization code;

and wherein plurality of shelf labels are in wireless communication with the central unit.