System and method of determining price differences between price look-up files

• US 6,044,358 A
• Filed: 06/20/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, John C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KALINOWSKI, ALEXANDER G
• Application Number:
  US08/879,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 705/20, 705/21, 235/383
• US Class Current: 705/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/145 PLU-management

Abstract

A system and method of determining price differences between price files which minimizes the possibility that an incorrect price is displayed by an electronic price label (EPL). The system includes a computer which reads the first and second price files, compares the prices for the items in the first and second files, and identifies predetermined items having different prices in the first and second files. The computer is preferably an EPL computer. Once a price discrepancy is identified, it may be logged and acted upon in accordance with rules established by an operator.

Claims

1. A transaction management system comprising:

a first computer having a first file for storing prices for items;

a second computer having a second file for storing prices for the items; and

a third computer which reads the first and second files, compares the prices for the items in the first and second files, identifies items having different prices in the first and second files, and provides a user with an option to;

maintain the different prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first computer is capable of transmitting the first file to the second computer and the second computer is capable of updating second file to be in synchronization with the first file.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electronic price labels which display the prices of items stored within the first price file.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user is provided with the option to automatically update the first price file with all of the prices of the second price file.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the user is provided with the option to automatically update the second price file with all of the prices of the first price file.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each item is associated with an item identification number.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein each item identification number is a price look-up number.

8. An electronic price label (EPL) system in a transaction management system having first and second prices files comprising:

a plurality of EPLs which display prices of items stored within the first price file;

a computer which reads the first and second files, compares the prices for the items in the first and second files, identifies items having different prices in the first and second files and provides an option to;

maintain the different prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price.

9. A method of identifying an inconsistent price displayed by electronic price labels (EPLs) comprising the steps of:

reading a first price file containing first prices of items displayed by the EPLs;

reading a second price file containing second prices of the items;

comparing the first and second prices;

identifying items having different prices in the first and second files; and

providing an option to;

maintain the different prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price.

10. A method of identifying an inconsistent price displayed by an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of:

determining an item identification number for an item associated with the EPL;

reading a first price file containing a first price of the item displayed by the EPL;

reading a second price file containing a second price of the item;

comparing the first and second prices;

logging the item identification number, the first price, and the second price if the first and second prices are not equal; and

providing an option to;

maintain the inconsistent prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price.

11. A method of identifying an inconsistent price displayed by an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of:

reading a record associated with the EPL;

determining an item identification number for an item associated with the EPL from the record;

reading a first price file containing a first price of the item displayed by the EPL;

reading a second price file containing a second price of the item;

comparing the first and second prices;

logging the item identification number, the first price, and the second price if the first and second prices are not equal; and

providing an option to;

maintain the inconsistent prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price.

12. A system of determining price differences between first and second price files comprising:

a computer which reads the first and second price files, compares the prices for items in the first and second files, identifies items having different prices in the first and second files, and provides an option to;

maintain the inconsistent prices in the first and second files;

update the first price file with the second price;

or

update the second price file with the first price;

wherein the computer is coupled to an electronic price label (EPL) which displays one of the first and second prices.