Abstract: An apparatus for grouping electronic price labels (EPLs) which facilitates installation of electronic price labels in signs and promotional displays rather than standard shelf edges. The apparatus primarily includes a frame member for mounting the EPLs including a plurality of bays arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. The apparatus additionally includes a product description sheet mounted to the frame member including apertures for exposing displays within the EPLs. Optionally included are a product description sheet holder which mounts to the frame member for retaining the product description sheet against the front surface and a base for supporting the frame member on a flat surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for grouping electronic price labels (EPLs) to form an electronic sign. The apparatus primarily includes a frame member which defines a plurality of bays arranged in a single line for containing the EPLs. The apparatus additionally includes a product description sheet mounted to the frame member including apertures for exposing displays within the EPLs. Optionally included are a product description sheet holder which mounts to the frame member for retaining the product description sheet against the frame member and a base for supporting the frame member on a flat surface. A method of grouping EPLs includes the steps of providing a frame member defining a plurality of bays arranged in a line for containing the EPLs, retaining the EPLs within the bays, placing a product description sheet adjacent to the frame member, and orienting apertures in the product description sheet to expose displays within the EPLs.

Abstract: A system and method of managing expired products which uses an electronic price label system to convey expiration information. The system includes a product label affixed to the time-sensitive product, an electronic price label system including an electronic price label and a product label interrogator controlled by the electronic price label which obtains the expiration information from the product label, and a computer which identifies the electronic price label as being associated with the product, causes the electronic price label to activate the product label interrogator to interrogate the product label, and receives the expiration information from the electronic price label. The computer may additionally compare the expiration information to current date information and cause the electronic price label to display a message indicating that the product has expired if the current date information is after expiration information.

Abstract: A system and method of applying price changes which minimizes price look-up file access attempts by using a separate file for daily price change information, including a new price, a date, a start time, and an end time. The system includes an electronic price label associated with the item and a computer for reading a record for the item in a price file, for obtaining daily price change information for the item from the record, for adding the daily price change information to another file different from the price file, and for processing the daily price change information in the other file by reading the daily price change information from the other file, sending a first message to the electronic price label at the start time including a command to display the new price, and sending a second message to the electronic price label at the end time including a command to display a regular price for the item from the price file.

Abstract: A self-service checkout system which weighs products with RFID labels for security. The system includes an RFID label affixed to a product, a scale for determining actual weight information for the product, and a computer which records a customer indication that the product is on the scale, transmits a signal to the RFID label while the product is on the scale, records a response from the RFID label, obtains identification information for the product using the response from the RFID label, obtains price and reference weight information for the product using the identification information, compares the actual weight information with the reference weight information, and initiates acceptance of payment if a difference amount between the actual weight information and the reference weight information is with a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using an enhanced external data interface to display data in electronic price label (EPL) systems. The enhanced external data interface (EDI) responds to various stimuli or requests, such as a store manager or other user logged onto a computer terminal in real time, computer-generated applications and timed file data. The enhanced EDI may receive messages to store first information in, or to read first information already stored in, an EPL data file. The EDI determines whether it is time to update a message displayed by a particular EPL or group thereof for a particular merchandise item. If it is time to update the message, the EDI compares information read from the EPL data file with information about the same merchandise item stored in a message management file.

Abstract: A method of displaying relative information which uses special segments in a liquid crystal display within the electronic price label. The system includes the electronic price label and a number of computers. In addition to the liquid crystal display, the electronic price label includes a memory. The liquid crystal display includes first and second display portions. The first display portion displays first information in a number of first display segments within the first portion. The first display segments are linearly arranged as a relative scale. The second display portion displays second information, including price or promotional information, in second display segments in the second portion.

Abstract: A bar code processing method for a network kiosk which automatically obtains information about an item from identification information obtained from a bar code reader. The method includes the steps of displaying a web page associated with an item, displaying a prompt associated with the web page to have an operator use a bar code reader to read a bar code on the item, and receiving information from the bar code reader which identifies the item.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying information about an item which uses a radio frequency signal to change displayed information. The system includes a display, a memory including a first memory location containing first display information and a second memory location containing second display information, and control circuitry which receives the radio frequency signal from a portable transmitter and displays the second information from the second memory location in response to the radio frequency signal. The control circuitry additionally senses a loss of the radio frequency signal and displays the first information from the first memory location in response to the loss of the radio frequency signal. One illustrative example envisions an electronic price label.

Abstract: A method of temporarily displaying information by an electronic price label which avoids resending previously-displayed information. The method implemented by the electronic price label includes receiving a first message containing a first command to display first contents of a first memory area identified by a first memory locator, storing a second memory locator identifying a second memory area containing second memory contents currently being displayed in a third memory area, receiving a second message containing a second command to redisplay the second contents of the second memory area, reading the second memory locator from the third memory area, reading the second memory contents from the second memory area, and displaying the second memory contents.

Abstract: A method of restoring display information to an electronic price label which stores temporarily removed display information and sends it to the electronic price label following a temporary period. The method includes the steps of determining whether a memory of the electronic price label contains primary display information during the temporary display period, and if the memory of the electronic price label does not contain the primary display information during the temporary display period, sending a message to the electronic price label containing the primary display information for display following the temporary display period.

Abstract: An electronic price label which displays relative information, such as employee-directed business information. The electronic price label includes a liquid crystal display and control circuitry. The liquid crystal display includes a first portion for displaying employee-directed business information and a second portion for displaying price information. The first portion includes a plurality of segments arranged linearly as a relative scale for displaying the employee-directed business information. The control circuitry receives the employee-directed business information, determines a number of adjacent segments in the first portion to be activated based upon the employee-directed business information, and activates the number of adjacent segments.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) display sequence change method which conserves system bandwidth. The method determines a number of pieces of information which are currently stored within a memory in an EPL which contains a plurality of different locations for storing the pieces of information. The method further determines a first sequence by which the EPL currently displays the pieces of information in the different locations. The method further determines a second sequence to replace the first sequence, creates a message addressed to the EPL containing a command to execute the second sequence, and sends the message to the EPL.

Abstract: A system and method of reporting a status of another system through an electronic price label (EPL). The system includes the EPL and a computer coupled to the EPL which monitors the status of the second system and causes the EPL to display a status message indicating the status of the second system. The second system may include a POS system, credit authorization system, or any other in-store system.

Abstract: A system and method of altering transaction terms which examines inventory levels and changes transaction terms, such as price and rental period.

Abstract: A system and method of consolidating information for display which relies on codes. The system includes a database including a plurality of types of information besides price to be displayed by an electronic price label and a computer. The computer schedules messages for transmission to the electronic price label, including a message containing the information. The computer identifies a number of the types of information to be displayed by the electronic price label, obtains the number of the types of information from the database, determines parameters for storing and displaying the number of types of information, and creates a code incorporating the number of types of information and the parameters for storing and displaying the number of types of information.

Abstract: A temporary display sequence change method which keeps track of replaced data. A first sequence for displaying first pieces of information by an EPL is determined. A second sequence by which the EPL currently displays second pieces of information is determined. If at least one of the pieces of first information is different from the pieces of second information, whether the one piece replaces another piece of second information is determined. If the one piece does not replace the other piece, the one piece of information is obtained. If the one piece does replace the other piece, the one piece of information is obtained and the other piece and its memory location are stored. A first change sequence message including the one piece of information is sent. The first pieces of information are displayed in accordance with the first sequence for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An electronic price label relative information verification system which ensures that first business information for an item is equal to second business information assigned to the electronic price label for display. The system includes a computer system coupled to the electronic price label, including a terminal and a storage medium coupled to the terminal. The storage medium contains a data record for the item, which contains identification information and a verifier for the item. The computer terminal obtains the first relative information for the item from the business information source, calculates another verifier from the first relative information for the item, reads the data record to obtain the one verifier, compares the one and the other verifiers to determine whether they are equal, and changes displayed business information to the first relative information if the one and the other verifiers are different.

Abstract: A method of displaying relative information which uses special segments in a liquid crystal display within the electronic price label. The system includes the electronic price label and a number of computers. In addition to the liquid crystal display, the electronic price label includes a memory. The liquid crystal display includes first and second display portions. The first display portion displays first information in a number of first display segments within the first portion. The first display segments are linearly arranged as a relative scale. The second display portion displays second information, including price or promotional information, in second display segments in the second portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for grouping electronic price labels (EPLs) to form an electronic sign. The apparatus primarily includes a frame member which defines a plurality of bays arranged in a single line for containing the EPLs. The apparatus additionally includes a product description sheet mounted to the frame member including apertures for exposing displays within the EPLs. Optionally included are a product description sheet holder which mounts to the frame member for retaining the product description sheet against the frame member and a base for supporting the frame member on a flat surface. A method of grouping EPLs includes the steps of providing a frame member defining a plurality of bays arranged in a line for containing the EPLs, retaining the EPLs within the bays, placing a product description sheet adjacent to the frame member, and orienting apertures in the product description sheet to expose displays within the EPLs.