Item information system and method
First Claim
1. An item information for items stored in groups on display shelves, the system comprising:
- a plurality of radio frequency transponders each having item information stored therein that is related to items stored on the display shelves proximate to the transponder; and
a portable item information device having;
a radio frequency transceiver circuit adapted to generate an interrogation signal that has sufficient power so that the interrogation signal can be received by any of the plurality of radio frequency transponders within a proximate distance and further supplying sufficient power to said transponders so that the transponders can use the supplied power to generate responsive signals having data indicative of the item information stored therein;
said radio frequency transceiver circuit further being adapted to sense the responsive signals and to provide item data to a control circuit based upon the data in the responsive signals;
said control circuit being adapted to receive the item data, to determine output information based upon the received item data and to cause a display to generate an image based upon the output information.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An item price notification system automatically interrogates product labels to determine product, pricing, and other unique data. The system uses a radio frequency (RF) radio frequency transceiver to generate an RF field to communicate with radio frequency identification (radio frequency transponders) transponders mountable to product display shelves. The radio frequency transponders contain information such as pricing information, nutritional information, and other unique data about the various products. As the RF radio frequency transceiver moves into proximity to various radio frequency transponders for a variety of products, the unique data are received by the RF radio frequency transceiver and are displayed for the user. The displayed data allows a user to make comparisons between products, and the system display and memory allow a user to store the unique data for those products and to make instant and cumulative product, price, and other comparisons.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An item information for items stored in groups on display shelves, the system comprising:
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a plurality of radio frequency transponders each having item information stored therein that is related to items stored on the display shelves proximate to the transponder; and a portable item information device having; a radio frequency transceiver circuit adapted to generate an interrogation signal that has sufficient power so that the interrogation signal can be received by any of the plurality of radio frequency transponders within a proximate distance and further supplying sufficient power to said transponders so that the transponders can use the supplied power to generate responsive signals having data indicative of the item information stored therein;
said radio frequency transceiver circuit further being adapted to sense the responsive signals and to provide item data to a control circuit based upon the data in the responsive signals;said control circuit being adapted to receive the item data, to determine output information based upon the received item data and to cause a display to generate an image based upon the output information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of shopping and product comparison using a plurality of radio frequency transponders, each associated with particular portion of display shelves having items thereon wherein each radio frequency transponder stores unique item data for items located proximate thereto in a remotely readable form, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a radio frequency interrogation signal adapted to cause ones of the plurality of radio frequency transponders that are proximate to location at which the radio frequency transceiver signal is transmitted to respond with a unique signal having item data therein said item data at least identifying each of a plurality of unique types of items stored on the display shelves proximate to each one of the transponders; and receiving each of the unique signals and extracting item data therefrom; converting the unique item data into a viewable form; and displaying the viewable form. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An item information device for use with item storage areas and a plurality of radio frequency transponders associated with the storage areas, the transponders having item data stored therein, the item information device comprising:
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said item data at least identifying each of a plurality of unique types of items stored in the storage areas proximate to each one of the radio frequency transponders; a display for presenting formed images; and a radio frequency circuit adapted to receive radio frequency signals having the item data from at least one radio frequency transponder and to communicate the item data to a control circuit, the control circuit being adapted to form images for presentation on the display based upon item data received by the control circuit and to cause the display to present the formed images; wherein the radio frequency circuit is further adapted to transmit a radio frequency signal that causes the radio frequency transponders to transmit the radio frequency signals having the item data. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. The item information device comprising:
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a plurality of radio frequency transponder means each having memory means therein adapted to store item data indicative of items proximate to the transponder and for receiving an interrogation signal and transmitting, in response thereto a responsive signal having stored item data therein, said item data at least identifying each of a plurality of unique types of items stored proximate to each one of the transponders; a radio frequency transceiver means having a radio frequency transmitting means for sending an interrogation signal within a range of positions proximate to the radio frequency transceiver means and a radio frequency receiving means for receiving responsive signals from proximate radio frequency transponders and for providing a signal indicative of the item data in the responsive signals; a control means adapted to receive the signal from the radio receiver means and further adapted to determine an output based upon the received signal from the radio frequency receiver means; and a display means for generating an output in a human visible form; wherein said control means is further adapted for causing said display to present an output is based upon the received signal from the radio receiver means, said output being indicative of proximate items.
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Specification