Apparatus for retrieving stored information about various items in response to coding on the items
First Claim
1. An apparatus for storing and retrieving information associated with various coded items, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a reading device for reading codings associated with individual items to produce coding signals;
(b) a storage unit for storing information associated with individual items at respective storage addresses each accessible through a corresponding address signal;
(c) a data processing unit for receiving coding signals read by said reading device and transmitting address signals to said storage unit to retrieve stored information from the corresponding storage addresses, wherein at least one address signal has more than one coding signal at one time associated therewith, and wherein said data processing unit comprises a coding unit which in response to receipt of at least one coding signal produces an associated address signal for transmission to said storage unit, and said coding unit is selectively reprogrammable to change at least one coding signal associated with the address signal corresponding to any desired storage address of said storage unit while maintaining the address signal unchanged; and
(d) an output unit for making retrieved information avaiable to a user of the apparatus.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for storing and releasing information contains at least one reading device for reading codings arranged upon, or associated with, saleable goods. Also provided is a storage unit for storing information and a corresponding output unit. The apparatus offers to users, in department stores or the like and directly and reliably, specific information concerning products to be sold. The data processing unit comprises a programmable coding unit by means of which, on the one hand, address signals for the information and, on the other hand, associated codings are stored. By use of a reading device, and through the coding unit, the desired information is called upon from the storage unit and is made accessible on the output unit.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for storing and retrieving information associated with various coded items, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a reading device for reading codings associated with individual items to produce coding signals; (b) a storage unit for storing information associated with individual items at respective storage addresses each accessible through a corresponding address signal; (c) a data processing unit for receiving coding signals read by said reading device and transmitting address signals to said storage unit to retrieve stored information from the corresponding storage addresses, wherein at least one address signal has more than one coding signal at one time associated therewith, and wherein said data processing unit comprises a coding unit which in response to receipt of at least one coding signal produces an associated address signal for transmission to said storage unit, and said coding unit is selectively reprogrammable to change at least one coding signal associated with the address signal corresponding to any desired storage address of said storage unit while maintaining the address signal unchanged; and (d) an output unit for making retrieved information avaiable to a user of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An apparatus for storing and retrieving information associated with various coded items, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a reading device for reading coding associated with individual items to produce coding signals; (b) a storage unit for storing information associated with individual items at respective storage addresses each accessible through a corresponding address signal, wherein the information stored at each storage address in said storage unit is fixed and unchangeable; (c) a data processing unit for receiving coding signals read by said reading device and transmitting address signals to said storage unit to retrieve stored information from the corresponding sotrage addresses, wherein said data processIng unit comprises a coding unit which in response to receipt of at least one coding signal produces an associated address signal for transmission to said storage unit, and said coding unit is selectively reprogrammable to change at least one coding signal associated with the address signal corresponding to any desired storage address of said storage unit while maintaining the address signal unchanged; and (d) an output unit for making retrieval information avaialbe to a user of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification