Electronic product information display system

• US 4,888,709 A
• Filed: 03/27/1987
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pricer AB
• Original Assignee: Viscom Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Burkett, Harold G. Jr., Gilbert, Robert C., Revesz, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clark, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNDON, HEATHER R
• Application Number:
  US07/031,396
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.15, 340/825.35, 235/378, 235/383, 235/385, 235/454, 358/194.1, 358/113, 358/149, 455/603, 455/604
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An electronic product information display system includes a plurality of self-contained display modules (10) mounted proximate to respective products. A signal (22) is formed that comprises an address part and a data part, the address part corresponding to a selected module address and the data part encoding product information (18, 20) to be displayed by the addressed module (10). The signal is broadcast from a transmitter (24) remote from a plurality of modules (10). Modules (10) each receive the signal, decode the address part into a received address, and decode the data part into product information (18, 20). The product information is stored and displayed responsive to a match between the module address and the received address. The signal (22) is preferably infrared.

Claims

1. A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of:

mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods;

programming each module with a module address;

forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address;

aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter;

receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving modules comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules;

decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address;

comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module;

matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules;

for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information;

displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching; and

displaying on each module information that changes less often than said product information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information changing less often comprises a product label mounted on the module.

3. A method for displaying product information at locations proximate to associated products, comprising the steps of:

mounting a plurality of electronic display modules at locations proximate to respective different goods;

programing each module with a module address;

forming a signal comprising address and data parts, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address;

aerially broadcasting said signal as electromagnetic energy selected from the spectral band consisting of infrared and light to the modules from a remote transmitter;

receiving said signal by a plurality of receiving modules, the receiving modules comprising at least some of the electronic pricing modules;

decoding the address part of said signal by each receiving module into a received address;

comparing the received address to the module address for each receiving module;

matching the received address to the module address in at least one addressed module among the receiving modules;

for each addressed module, decoding the data part of the signal into product information;

displaying the stored product information on a display of the addressed module responsive to the step of matching;

transmitting a universal address from a programming module moved to near a selected module;

transmitting a module address from said programming module to said module after transmitting the universal address, such that nonselected modules do not receive the module address;

recognizing said universal address by said module; and

accepting said module address by said module and storing said module address for comparison with later a received address decoded from said signal.

4. A method for electronically displaying different product information in different spatial zones using a single display module, comprising the steps of:

encoding first product information into a first infrared signal;

encoding an address into the first infrared signal;

broadcasting the first infrared signal from a remote transmitter into a first zone;

encoding second product information into a second infrared signal;

encoding said address into the second infrared signal;

broadcasting the second infrared signal into a second zone;

receiving the first signal in the first zone by a self-contained electronic display module;

decoding the first signal;

comparing the decoded address in the first signal to an address of the module;

storing and displaying the first product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the first signal;

moving the module from the first zone to the second zone;

receiving the second signal in the second zone by the module;

decoding the second signal;

comparing the decoded address in the second signal to the module address; and

storing and displaying the second product information by the module responsive to matching the module address with the address in the second signal.

5. A system for electronically displaying product information comprising:

at least one electronic display module for displaying product information disposed in an area including at least first and second zones;

means for programming said module with a module address;

means for forming first and second signals, the first signal comprising an address part and a first data part, the address part representing a module address and the first data part representing first product information for the module address, the second signal comprising said address part and a second data part representing second product information;

remote means for aerially transmitting the first and second signals as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light respectively to the first and second zones;

said module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address;

said module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address;

said module initially disposed in said first zone and decoding a received address from said address part, decoding said first data part into said first product information, and comparing said received address with its module address, said module storing and displaying the first product information responsive to matching the received address with its module address; and

said module operable to be moved into said second zone, said module then decoding said received address from said address part, decoding the second data part into said second product information, comparing the address part to its module address, and storing and displaying said second product information responsive to matching the received address with its module address.

6. The system of claim 5, and further including a plurality of modules similar to said module, at least some of said modules movable between said first and second zones.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein ones of said modules are programmed with different module addresses, said ones of said modules responsive to respective different signals each including different address parts.

8. A system for electronically displaying product information comprising:

a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products;

means for programing each module with a module address;

means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address;

remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules;

each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address;

each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; and

each module being capable of alternately displaying product information relating to price with other product information.

9. A system for electronically displaying product information comprising:

a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products;

means for programming each module with a module address;

means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address;

remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules;

each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address;

each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address;

computer means for entering and maintaining price information for a plurality of different products; and

said computer means including means for associating product information for each product with an address thereof, said associated product information and address input to said means for forming said signal.

10. A system for electronically displaying product information comprising:

a plurality of electronic display modules mounted at locations proximate to respective different products;

means for programming each module with a module address;

means for forming a signal comprising an address part and a data part, the address part representing a module address and the data part representing product information for the module address;

remote means for aerially transmitting the signal as pulsed electromagnetic energy selected from the band consisting of infrared and light to the modules;

each module having means for receiving the signal, means for decoding the address part of the signal into a received address, and means for comparing the received address to the module address;

each module further comprising means for decoding the data part of the signal into product information, each said module further including means for storing and means for displaying the decoded product information responsive to obtaining a match between the received address and the module address; and

said remote means comprising a transmitter and a receiver/retransmitter operable to receive said signal from said transmitter and to retransmit said signal to at least some of said modules.