Programmable shelf tag system

• US 6,269,342 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telxon Corporation (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Sutherland, Jeffrey W., Brick, Frank E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/045,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 705/20, 705/21, 705/22, 705/28, 705/29, 235/383
• US Class Current: 705/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• 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: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

An electronic pricing and display system using programmable electronic shelf tags. Programmable electronic shelf tags are used in connection with apparatus for programming the electronic shelf tags. Pricing and product information is stored in databases of a computer system for such purposes as inventory control and updating pricing information. A portable programming device is used to transmit programming data Methods are provided for fast and convenient modification of large numbers of electronic shelf tags located throughout a facility (e.g., a retail store).

Claims

1. An electronic pricing system, comprising:

a pricing database for storing pricing data and associated product identifiers, said pricing data used by an associated point-of-sale (POS) terminal to generate customer bills;

a temporary database for storing updated pricing data and associated product identifiers;

a plurality of electronic shelf tags having display means for displaying a product price for an associated product; and

a portable programming device for receiving updated pricing data from the temporary database and transmitting the received updated pricing data to the plurality of electronic shelf tags;

wherein said plurality of electronic shelf tags transmit an acknowledge signal when updated pricing data has been received and said product price displayed by said display means has been modified to reflect the received updated pricing data and said pricing data, in said pricing database corresponding to the product identifier of the updated pricing data associated with the acknowledge signal, is replaced with said updated pricing data.

2. An electronic pricing system according to claim 1, wherein said portable programming device broadcasts said updated pricing data using a wireless communications medium.

3. An electronic pricing system according to claim 2, wherein said wireless communications medium is infrared (IR).

4. An electronic pricing system according to claim 1, wherein said portable programming device broadcasts an associated tag identifier with each updated pricing data, said tag identifier uniquely identifying one of said plurality of electronic shelf tags.

5. An electronic pricing system according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of electronic shelf tags responds to said updated pricing data if said associated tag identifier respectively identifies said electronic shelf tag.

6. A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:

inputting an update file to a computer system, said update file including updated pricing data and associated product identifiers;

matching said associated product identifiers with shelf tag identifiers stored in said computer system to determine which electronic shelf tags need modification;

broadcasting pricing information including the updated pricing data and the shelf tag identifiers associated therewith to a portable programming device;

broadcasting an IR signal from said portable programming device that includes said pricing information, said portable programming device receiving an IR acknowledge signal from an electronic shelf tag in response to the electronic shelf tag modifying a display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;

broadcasting the received acknowledge signal from said portable programming device to said computer system; and

upon receipt of the acknowledge signal by the computer system, the computer system updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.

7. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 6, wherein said shelf tag identifier and associated product identifier are established by:

scanning a shelf tag identifier associated with a respective shelf tag, using said programming device;

scanning a product identifier associated with a respective product, using said programming device; and

transmitting said shelf tag identifier and associated product identifier to said computer system.

8. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 6, wherein said method further comprises:

broadcasting pricing information to said electronic shelf tags from said portable programming device, wherein the shelf tag identifier of the electronic shelf tag transmitting an acknowledge signal is communicated to the computer system;

accessing a mapping database storing shelf tag identifiers and corresponding location data indicative of the location of a respective shelf tag within a facility;

determining the sequential order of pricing information broadcasts to said electronic shelf tags based upon the location data stored in the mapping database; and

broadcasting pricing information for electronic shelf tags that are in close proximity to said programming device.

9. A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:

communicatively coupling a portable programming device to a computer network and downloading tag identifiers and updated pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags;

broadcasting from the portable programming device the updated pricing data and the tag identifiers associated therewith to the electronic shelf tags located in a facility, by locating the portable programming device within broadcasting range of each of the electronic shelf tags in a facility;

receiving acknowledgment signals from the electronic shelf tags in response to an electronic shelf tag modifying a respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data; and

communicatively coupling a portable programming device to the computer network and uploading acknowledgment signals from the portable programming device to the computer network and upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal by the computer network, the computer network updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.

10. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 9, wherein said step of downloading further comprises downloading location data indicative of the location of each electronic shelf tag that needs updated price data.

11. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 10, wherein said portable programming device informs an operator of the location of electronic shelf tags needing to receive updated pricing data.

12. A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:

broadcasting tag identifiers and updated pricing data from a host computer to a portable programming device in real time, via an RF communication link therebetween;

broadcasting the updated pricing data and the tag identifiers associated therewith, from the portable programming device to the plurality of electronic shelf tags, wherein the electronic shelf tag identified by the tag identifier modifies a respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data;

transmitting acknowledgment signals from the electronic shelf tag to the portable programming device, in response to an electronic shelf tag modifying the respective display unit to reflect the updated pricing data; and

transmitting said acknowledgment signals from the portable programming device to the host computer in real time, via the RF communication link, and upon receipt of the acknowledgment signal by the host computer, the host computer updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the updated pricing data for a corresponding product.

13. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 12, wherein the broadcast of the updated pricing data and the tag identifiers associated therewith, from the portable programming device to the plurality of electronic shelf tags, and the transmission of acknowledgment signals from the electronic shelf tags to the portable programming device are IR communications.

14. A method for updating pricing data for a plurality of electronic shelf tags, said method comprising:

inputting an alternate pricing data file to a computer system, said alternate pricing data file including associated product identifiers, current pricing data, alternate pricing data, and alternate price time period data;

determining a shelf tag identifier associated with each said product identifier by accessing a data file including shelf tag identifiers and associated product identifiers;

transmitting the alternate pricing data and associated shelf tag identifier to a portable programming device, the transmission to the portable programming device occurring at a time in accordance with the alternate price time period data associated with the alternate pricing data;

broadcasting the alternate pricing data and the associated shelf tag identifier, from the portable programming device to the plurality of electronic shelf tags, said portable programming device receiving an acknowledge signal from an electronic shelf tag in response to the electronic shelf tag modifying a respective display unit to reflect the alternate pricing data;

broadcasting the received acknowledge signal from said portable programming device to said computer system; and

upon receipt of the acknowledge signal by the computer system, the computer system updating a point-of-sale pricing database with the alternate pricing data for a product identifier associated with the acknowledge signal.

15. A method for updating pricing data according to claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

updating the point-of-sale database with the current pricing data for a product identifier when the respective alternate price time period data indicates that an alternate price time period has expired.