System and method for updating electronic label displays

• US 8,174,462 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pricer AB
• Original Assignee: Pricer AB
• Inventors: Rosander, Par, Andersson, Lars, Nilsson, Bjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US12/466,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 23, 345/173, 235/383, 705/20
• US Class Current: 345/2.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• 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: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels

Abstract

An electronic label wirelessly connected to an information updating system having a server. The electronic label includes a wireless communication interface to receive information from the server to be displayed on a display, a means for label processing connected to the communication interface, a means for updating the display connected to the means for label processing, and at least one dot matrix display to display a dot matrix image, where the dot matrix display is connected to the means for updating the display. The communication interface receives the information to be displayed from the information updating system. The label includes a layout script such that the means for label processing generates the dot matrix image from the received information using the layout script.

Claims

1. An electronic label wirelessly connected to an information updating system including a server, the electronic label comprising:

a wireless communication interface to receive information from the server to be displayed on a display;

a means for label processing connected to the communication interface;

a means for updating the display connected to the means for label processing; and

at least one dot matrix display to display a dot matrix image, wherein the dot matrix display is connected to the means for updating the display,

wherein the communication interface receives the information to be displayed from the information updating system,

wherein the label comprises a layout script, and

wherein the means for label processing generates the dot matrix image from the received information using the layout script.

2. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the label receives the information as plain text.

3. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the label receives the information as coded data.

4. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the display is a bistable dot matrix display.

5. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the layout script is updated by the server.

6. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the means for label processing decompresses compressed information received from the server.

7. The information updating system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic label is wirelessly connected to the server, directly or via a transceiver. and is updated by the server, the server comprising a means for server processing and a communication interface connected to the means for server processing, wherein the communication interface transmits updated information to the label, and wherein the means for label processing uses the layout script to generate a dot matrix image displaying the updated information.

8. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server further comprises a means for receiving updated information from at least one connected database, wherein the means for server processing is connected to the means for receiving updated information and processes the received updated information.

9. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server further comprises a means for storing information shown on the label, and wherein the means for storing information shown on the label is connected to the means for server processing.

10. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server transmits the updated information as plain text.

11. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server transmits the updated information as coded data.

12. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server compresses the updated information and transmits the updated information as compressed data, and wherein the label decompresses the compressed data.

13. The information updating system according to claim 7, wherein the server updates the layout script in the label.

14. The electronic label according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface receives from the updating system only part of the image that has been updated together with information about where the display image updated information should be placed, and wherein the means for updating the display updates the display accordingly.

15. A method of updating at least one electronic label having a dot matrix display comprising the steps of:

receiving updated product information from a server that is wirelessly connected to the at least one electronic label;

transmitting the updated information to the at least one label; and

updating the dot matrix display according to the received updated information with a means for label processing using a layout script.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of compressing the updated information in the server and decompressing the updated information in the at least one label.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of updating the layout script in the at least one label from the server.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dot matrix display displays a price of a product.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dot matrix display displays a promotional message.

20. The method according to claim 15. wherein the dot matrix display displays a product description.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dot matrix display displays a barcode.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dot matrix display displays information about more than one product.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the information is displayed as a list of products linked to the label, and wherein the list has a length that dynamically changes based on the number of products linked to the label.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein the dot matrix display is a color display.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the display is a bistable dot matrix display.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the transmitting step further comprises:

transmitting position information in the display for the updated information; and

updating the display according to the received updated information and the position information.

27. An information updating system comprising:

at least one database;

a server comprising;

a means for server processing;

a communication interface connected to the means for server processing;

a means for receiving updated information from the at least one database; and

a means for storing information displayed on the label; and

an electronic label comprising;

a wireless communication interface to receive information from the server to be displayed on the label;

a means for label processing connected to the communication interface;

a means for updating the display connected to the means for label processing; and

at least one dot matrix display to display a dot matrix image, wherein the dot matrix display is connected to the means for updating the display,

wherein the communication interface receives the information to be displayed from the information updating system,

wherein the label comprises a layout script, and

wherein the means for label processing generates the dot matrix image from the received information using the layout script.

28. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the electronic label receives the information as plain text.

29. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the electronic label receives the information as coded data.

30. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the display is a bistable dot matrix display.

31. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the layout script is updated by the server.

32. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the means for label processing decompresses compressed information received from the server.

33. The information updating system according to claim 27, wherein the electronic label is wirelessly connected to the server, directly or via a transceiver, and is updated by the server, the server comprising a means for server processing and a communication interface connected to the means for server processing, wherein the communication interface transmits updated information to the label, and wherein the means for label processing uses the layout script to generate a dot matrix image displaying the updated information.

34. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server further comprises a means for receiving updated information from at least one connected database, wherein the means for server processing is connected to the means for receiving updated information and processes the received updated information.

35. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server further comprises a means for storing information shown on the label, and wherein the means for storing information shown on the label is connected to the means for server processing.

36. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server transmits the updated information as plain text.

37. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server transmits the updated information as coded data.

38. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server compresses the updated information and transmits the updated information as compressed data, and wherein the label decompresses the compressed data.

39. The information updating system according to claim 33, wherein the server updates the layout script in the label.

40. The electronic label according to claim 27, wherein the communication interface receives from the updating system only part of the image that has been updated together with information about where the display image updated information should be placed, and wherein the means for updating the display updates the display accordingly.