Electronic price label having two dimensional bar code reader
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic price label system comprising:
- a plurality of electronic price labels, at least a portion of said plurality electronic price labels includinga display;
a two-dimensional bar code reader;
an overlay having front and rear sides, wherein the rear side has a two-dimensional bar code label situated adjacent the two-dimensional bar code reader, wherein the two-dimensional bar code label includes first information identifying an item associated with the electronic price label and second information including first commands for controlling the display; and
control circuitry couples to the display and the two-dimensional bar code reader including a switch for applying power to the two-dimensional bar code reader to cause it to read the two-dimensional bar code label, wherein the control circuitry executes the first commands following executing of a second command controlling the switch; and
a computer which controls price information displayed by the electronic price labels and which sends a message to selected ones of the electronic price labels containing the second command so that the two-dimensional bar code readers of the selected ones of electronic price labels are selectively activated.
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Abstract
An EPL having a two-dimensional (2-D) bar code reader which reads a two-dimensional bar code label on a back side of an overlay. The two-dimensional bar code label is situated adjacent the two-dimensional bar code reader when the overlay is installed. The two-dimensional bar code label may contain data for the item associated with the electronic price label or programming instructions for controlling the electronic price label. The two-dimensional bar code reader is activated by a switch only when necessary to read a new two-dimensional bar code label. The switch may be activated manually or remotely by a computer coupled to the electronic price label.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An electronic price label system comprising:
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a plurality of electronic price labels, at least a portion of said plurality electronic price labels including a display; a two-dimensional bar code reader; an overlay having front and rear sides, wherein the rear side has a two-dimensional bar code label situated adjacent the two-dimensional bar code reader, wherein the two-dimensional bar code label includes first information identifying an item associated with the electronic price label and second information including first commands for controlling the display; and control circuitry couples to the display and the two-dimensional bar code reader including a switch for applying power to the two-dimensional bar code reader to cause it to read the two-dimensional bar code label, wherein the control circuitry executes the first commands following executing of a second command controlling the switch; and a computer which controls price information displayed by the electronic price labels and which sends a message to selected ones of the electronic price labels containing the second command so that the two-dimensional bar code readers of the selected ones of electronic price labels are selectively activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an electronic price label system having a plurality of electronic price labels, comprising the steps of:
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applying an overlay having front and rear sides, wherein the rear side has a two-dimensional bar code label situated adjacent a two-dimensional bar code reader located on a front face of an electronic price label, wherein the two-dimensional bar code label includes first information identifying an item associated with the electronic price label and second information including first commands for controlling the electronic price label'"'"'s display; sending a message from a computer which controls price information displayed by the electronic price labels to the electronic price label containing the second command so that the two-dimensional bar code reader of the electronic price label is selectively activated; reading the first and second information; and controllably driving the electronic price label'"'"'s display.
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Specification