TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
1. A method of temperature monitoring of distributed refrigerator zones temperatures within a refrigerator case, comprising:
- distributing more than one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label within a refrigerator case, wherein the temperature monitoring electronic shelf labels comprise a temperature sensor, a display, an information label, and a microprocessor having a memory device each housed within a casing, wherein the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label is operatively connected to a tag area controller which is remote from the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label;
associating each temperature monitoring electronic shelf label with a product and refrigerator zone in which the product will be placed, wherein the associating comprises;
scanning the information label to obtain a unique ID of the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label;
scanning a universal product code to obtain a unique ID of the product;
associating the unique ID of the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label and the unique ID of the product; and
storing the association;
monitoring a temperature at each temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, wherein monitoring comprises;
measuring, by the temperature sensor, the temperature of the refrigerator zone monitored by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label; and
storing the temperature; and
displaying, by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, display information comprising one of a product price, sale price, or unit price, received by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring temperatures in retail environment. The method includes associating temperature monitoring electronic shelf labels with a product and monitoring the temperature at the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label. When the monitored temperature is outside a predetermined range for the associated product, a warning is generated and transmitted to system users. Temperatures are also stored for each monitored product and zone for subsequent review. The temperature monitoring electronic shelf label comprises a temperature sensor integrated with an electronic shelf label, is mounted in a retail environment with temperature-sensitive products, and is connected to a low voltage power supply and communicates with an area controller.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of temperature monitoring of distributed refrigerator zones temperatures within a refrigerator case, comprising:
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distributing more than one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label within a refrigerator case, wherein the temperature monitoring electronic shelf labels comprise a temperature sensor, a display, an information label, and a microprocessor having a memory device each housed within a casing, wherein the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label is operatively connected to a tag area controller which is remote from the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label; associating each temperature monitoring electronic shelf label with a product and refrigerator zone in which the product will be placed, wherein the associating comprises; scanning the information label to obtain a unique ID of the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label; scanning a universal product code to obtain a unique ID of the product; associating the unique ID of the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label and the unique ID of the product; and storing the association; monitoring a temperature at each temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, wherein monitoring comprises; measuring, by the temperature sensor, the temperature of the refrigerator zone monitored by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label; and storing the temperature; and displaying, by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, display information comprising one of a product price, sale price, or unit price, received by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of monitoring temperature in a retail environment, comprising:
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associating a product with a temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label comprising a temperature sensor, a display, and a microprocessor having a memory device each housed within a casing; storing the association; monitoring a temperature at the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, wherein monitoring comprises; measuring, by the temperature sensor, the temperature at a retail shelf; and storing the temperature; and displaying, by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, display information comprising one of a product price, sale price, or unit price, received by the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label from the tag area controller. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A programmable temperature monitoring electronic shelf label network system, comprising:
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at least one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label comprising a temperature sensor, a display, and a microprocessor having a memory device each housed within a casing of the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label wherein the microprocessor is operably connected to the temperature sensor, and display; and a power distribution and communications subsystem for providing power and communications signals to the at least one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, comprising; a power supply; a distribution loop operatively connected to the at least one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label; and a tag area controller operatively connected to the power supply and distribution loop wherein the tag area controller is configured to; associate the at least one temperature monitoring electronic shelf label with a product to be monitored monitor; monitor a temperature of the product by receiving a temperature signal transmitted from the microprocessor; and transmit display information to the temperature monitoring electronic shelf label. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A temperature monitoring electronic shelf label, comprising:
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a casing having a front face and a rear face; a display, disposed within the front face of the casing, an information label disposed on the front face of the casing, wherein the information label comprises one of a barcode or a QR code; a microprocessor disposed within the casing having a memory device, a display driver, and a communications module; and a temperature sensor disposed within the casing and operably connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to; receive a measured temperature signal from the temperature sensor, and transmit the measured temperature to a tag area controller; receive display information from the tag area controller comprising one of a price, sale price, or unit price for a product; and display the display information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification