POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC SHELF LABELS AND THE LIKE

• US 20110175732A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optoelectronics Co Limited (Optoelectronics), Opticon Incorporated (Opto Electronics Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Optoelectronics Co Limited (Optoelectronics)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masao, Hakata, Masayuki, Fujisawa, Hidetaka
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A power management system is disclosed in which ESL labels communicate with a server through a base station. The frequency and times at which each ESL label communicates with the server is optimized for the minimum communication necessary to provide up to date pricing and related information, and to simultaneously minimize consumed battery power for the ESL labels. The base stations and servers for the system are preferably operated from hard wired power.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

distributing a plurality of ESL tags throughout a selling environment, wherein at least two of said ESL tags are assigned different rates at which to contact a server;

initiation of contact with the server by each of said ESL tags;

determining, whether said assigned rate should be changed for an ESL label contacting said server based upon how frequently the ESL label has been modified, and;

if so, changing the assigned rate for said ESL tag by transmitting a message to said ESL label contacting said server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said changing includes transmitting a command signal from the server through a base station to the ESL tag.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said changing also includes changing pricing data associated with said ESL tag.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising monitoring over time a first frequency at which at least one ESL label contacts said server and a second frequency at which ESL data is updated, causing said first frequency to be changed if said second frequency falls below a predetermined fraction of said first frequency.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said causing includes generating an alert message for display to an operator, thereby permitting said operator to select a new first frequency.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said causing includes automatically decreasing said first frequency to a value such that said second frequency is above the predetermined fraction.

7. A method comprising deploying plural ESL tags throughout a selling environment, providing at each ESL label a stored schedule of when said ESL label should initiate contact with a server, and, upon an ESL label contacting a server, reprogramming said ESL label by changing said schedule based upon how frequently the label has been contacting the server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said schedule is not periodic.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein, responsive to a determination that said schedule is to be changed for an ESL tag, determining that schedules associated with others of said ESL tags should be changed, and storing change information in said server so that when said other ESL tags contact said server, said schedule changes should be implemented.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said changing comprises changing said schedule in a manner that said ESL label contacts said server as infrequency as possible without permitting said ESL label to contain outdated information.

11. A method comprising deploying a plurality of ESL tags throughout a selling environment, each ESL label being programmed to initiate communication with a server on a predetermined schedule, storing the schedule of the ESL tags in storage accessible to the server, communicating with the ESL tags in accordance with the schedule, determining whether said schedule requires communicating too often for at least one ESL label based at least in part upon whether pricing update information is to be sent to said at least one ESL label less than a prescribed percentage of the times said ESL label communicates with said server, and if so, altering said schedule stored in said ESL tag.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said schedule is different for different ESL tags.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said schedule includes both a time and a selected one of plural communications channels.

14. A method of facilitating communications between a transmitting station and a plurality of ESL labels, said method comprising an ESL label entering an update mode at predetermined times, the update mode being one in which said ESL label initiates communication with a host computer to receive updated price data, and second updated data that alters said predetermined times, if such second updated data is available from said host, and a actuatable switch that permits an operator to force said ESL label into said update mode at a desired time.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said actuatable switch is connected to a handheld terminal and communicates in a wireless manner with the ESL label.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said actuatable switch is connected to a handheld terminal and communicates in a hard wired manner with the ESL label.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the actuatable switch is connected directly to the ESL label.

18. A method comprising:

distributing a plurality of ESL tags throughout a selling environment, wherein at least two of said ESL tags are assigned different rates at which to contact a server;

initiation of contacting with the server, by each of said ESL tags;

determining, at said server, whether said assigned rate should be changed for an ESL label contacting said server based upon how frequently the ESL label has been modified, and if so, changing the assigned rate for said ESL tag, said method further comprising communicating, from a hand held terminal to said server, information to cause said server to update said ESL tag at a time other than that in accordance with the assigned rate.