Power management system for electronic shelf labels and the like

• US 8,912,886 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optoelectronics Co Limited (Optoelectronics), Opticon Incorporated (Opto Electronics Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Optoelectronics Co Limited (Optoelectronics), Opticon Incorporated (Opto Electronics Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujisawa, Hidetaka, Yamamoto, Masao, Hakata, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US13/003,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20110175732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.91, 340/10.31, 340/10.33, 709/204, 705/1.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.91
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A power management system is disclosed in which ESL labels communicate with a server through a base station. The frequency and times at which each ESL label communicates with the server is optimized for the minimum communication necessary to provide up to date pricing and related information, and to simultaneously minimize consumed battery power for the ESL labels. The base stations and servers for the system are preferably operated from hard wired power.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

distributing a plurality of Electronic Service Label (ESL) tags throughout a selling environment, wherein the plurality of ESL tags comprises a first ESL tag and a second ESL tag that are assigned different rates at which to contact a server;

initiating contact with the server by the first ESL tag;

determining, by the server, whether said assigned rate should be changed for the first ESL tag contacting said server, wherein the determination is based at least in part on;

(i) monitoring, by the server, over a period of time;

(a) a first frequency at which the first ESL tag contacts said server, and

(b) a second frequency at which ESL data associated with the first ESL tag is updated, and

(ii) determining, by the server, if said second frequency is less than a Prescribed percentage of said first frequency;

causing, by the server, said first frequency to be changed when said second frequency is determined to be less than the prescribed percentage of said first frequency; and

changing the assigned rate associated with the first ESL tag by transmitting a message to the first ESL tag based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said changing includes transmitting a command signal from the server through a base station to the first ESL tag.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said changing also includes changing pricing data associated with the first ESL tag.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said causing includes generating an alert message for display to an operator, thereby permitting said operator to select a new first frequency.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said causing includes automatically decreasing said first frequency to a value of said second frequency.

6. A method comprising:

deploying plural Electronic Service Label (ESL) tags throughout a selling environment, wherein said plural ESL tags comprises a first ESL tag and a second ESL tag;

providing a stored schedule of when said first ESL tag should initiate contact with a server;

upon the first ESL tag contacting the server, reprogramming the first ESL tag by changing said schedule, wherein reprogramming the first ESL tag is based at least in part on;

(i) monitoring, by the server, over a period of time;

(a) a first frequency at which the first ESL tag contacts said server, and

(b) a second frequency at which ESL data associated with the first ESL tag is updated;

(ii) determining, by the server, if said second frequency is less than a Prescribed percentage of said first frequency; and

(iii) in response to the determination, changing the stored schedule in such a way that the first ESL tag contacts the server as infrequently as possible without permitting the first ESL tag to contain outdated information.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said schedule is not periodic.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

responsive to a determination that said schedule is to be changed for the first ESL tag, determining that the schedule of the second ESL tag should also be changed, and

storing change information in said server so that when the second ESL tag contacts said server, said information stored in said server changes the schedule of the second ESL tag.

9. A method comprising:

deploying a plurality of Electronic Service Label (ESL) tags throughout a selling environment, each ESL label being programmed to initiate communication with a server on a predetermined schedule,

storing the schedule of the ESL tags in storage accessible to the server,

communicating with the ESL tags in accordance with the schedule,

determining whether said schedule requires communicating too often for at least one ESL tag, wherein the determination is based at least in part upon whether pricing update information is to be sent to said at least one ESL tag less than a prescribed percentage of times said at least one ESL tag communicates with said server, and

if so, altering said schedule stored in said at least one ESL tag.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said schedule is different for different ESL tags.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said schedule includes both a time and a selected one of plural communications channels.

12. A method of facilitating communications between a transmitting station and a plurality of Electronic Service Label (ESL) labels, said method comprising:

a first ESL label entering an update mode at predetermined times, the update mode being one in which said first ESL label initiates communication with a host computer to receive;

(i) first updated data, wherein the first updated data comprises price information, and

(ii) second updated data that alters said predetermined times, if such second updated data is available from said host, wherein said second updated data is based at least in part on;

(a) monitoring, over a period of time, a first frequency at which the first ESL label contacts said host computer, and a second frequency at which ESL data associated with the first ESL label is updated, and

(b) determining if said second frequency is less than a prescribed percentage of said first frequency; and

a actuatable switch that permits an operator to force said first ESL label into said update mode at a desired time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said actuatable switch is connected to a handheld terminal and communicates in a wireless manner with the first ESL label.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said actuatable switch is connected to a handheld terminal and communicates in a hard wired manner with the first ESL label.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the actuatable switch is connected directly to the first ESL label.

16. A method comprising:

deploying a plurality of Electronic Service Label (ESL) tags throughout a selling environment, each ESL label being programmed to initiate communication with a server on a predetermined schedule;

storing the schedule of the ESL tags in storage accessible to the server;

communicating with the ESL tags in accordance with the schedule;

determining whether said schedule requires communicating too often for at least one ESL tag, wherein the determination is based at least in part upon whether pricing update information is to be sent to said at least one ESL tag less than a prescribed percentage of times said at least one ESL tag communicates with said server;

if so, altering said schedule stored in said at least one ESL tag; and

communicating, from a hand held terminal to said server, information to cause said server to update the at least one ESL tag at a time other than that in accordance with the assigned rate.