Continuous Display Shelf Edge Label Device

• US 20130226742A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Swafford, John Wesley Jr., Lembke, Michael Alvin, Ernest, Joseph Christian, Johnson, Bradley Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,898,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• 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 display, configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, the display configured to;

provide a first user interface, the first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf,

provide at least one second user interface, the at least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf, and

permit an individual to edit a parameter of at least one of;

the first user interface and the at least one second user interface, the parameter including at least one of;

a size on the display, a shape on the display, and a location on the display; and

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to output, to the display, the first information about the first product on the shelf and the at least one second information about the at least one second product on the shelf concurrently.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display further is configured to be oriented along the entire edge of the shelf of the retailer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the display configured to permit the individual to edit the parameter of at least one of:

the first user interface and the at least one second user interface includes to allow the individual to edit the parameter by touching the touchscreen display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to operate in at least two modes, a first mode permitting the individual to edit the parameter and a second mode preventing a second individual from editing the parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the display is further configured to:

provide a third user interface, the third user interface including the locking mechanism, and

permit the individual to change a mode of the locking mechanism through the third user interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to change modes based upon an identification of the individual as an individual authorized to edit the parameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to receive data representative of the first information about the first product on the shelf

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication interface is a scanner interface configured to receive the data representative of the first information about the first product on the shelf from a hand scanner of the individual.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication interface is a network interface configured to receive the data representative of the first information about the first product on the shelf from a network of the retailer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the network interface is a wireless network interface and the network of the retailer is a wireless network.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data representative of the first information about the first product on the shelf is received from a device configured to be oriented along an edge of a second shelf of the retailer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the display further is configured to:

permit the individual to remove the first interface, and

permit the individual to provide a third user interface, the third user interface including third information about a third product on the shelf,

wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to output, to the display, the third information about the third product on the shelf and the at least one second information about the at least one second product on the shelf concurrently.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pusher assembly, oriented along a top of the shelf of the retailer, including a pusher,

wherein the computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to receive data regarding a position of the pusher and to determine a movement of the pusher and a rate of change in a product level of the first product or the at least one second product.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the display is a touchscreen display, and wherein the permitting, through the display, the individual to edit the parameter of at least one of:

the first user interface and the at least one second user interface includes allowing the individual to edit the parameter by touching the touchscreen display.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a locking mechanism configured to operate in at least two modes, a first mode permitting the individual to edit the parameter and a second mode preventing a second individual from editing the parameter.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the locking mechanism is through the display, the method further comprising:

providing a third user interface, the third user interface including the locking mechanism; and

permitting the individual to change a mode of the locking mechanism through the third user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the received instruction to change modes is based upon an identification of the individual as an individual authorized to edit the parameter.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, through a communication interface, data representative of the first information about the first product on the shelf

14. A method comprising:

providing, on a display configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, a first user interface, the first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf;

providing, on the display, at least one second user interface, the at least one second user interface including at least one second information about at least one second product on the shelf;

permitting, through the display, an individual to edit a parameter of at least one of;

the first user interface and the at least one second user interface, the parameter including at least one of;

a size on the display, a shape on the display, and a location on the display; and

outputting, to the display, the first information about the first product on the shelf and the at least one second information about the at least one second product on the shelf concurrently.

20. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a display, configured to be oriented along an edge of a shelf of a retailer, the display configured to;

provide a first user interface, the first user interface including first information about a first product on the shelf, and

provide a second user interface, the a second user interface including second information about a second product on the shelf, and

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to output, to the display, the first information about the first product on the shelf and the second information about the second product on the shelf concurrently.