Abstract: A method of diagnosing communication problems of electronic price labels in a transaction establishment which identifies the probable locations of the problems. The method includes the steps of assigning the electronic price labels to groups based upon their ability to receive a message from a computer, locating the electronic price labels, mapping locations of the electronic price labels, identifying a predetermined group of electronic price labels having the reception problems, and determining the cause of the reception problems.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) which has a light for attracting attention of customers to an item associated with the EPL. The EPL further includes a power supply and a control circuit for controlling application and removal of power from the power supply to the light. In a first embodiment, the control circuit responds to commands from a controlling computer. In a second embodiment, the control circuit includes a push-button switch containing the light.

Abstract: A method for handling failures in an electronic price label (EPL) system which automatically diagnoses failures, and which may additionally automatically contact a support organization. The method includes the steps of transmitting a status request to a communications base station (CBS) and to an EPL by a computer, receiving a status reply from the CBS and the EPL by the computer, comparing the status message to fault data within a fault data file stored within a storage medium by the computer, and determining from the comparison whether a fault in the system has occurred.

Abstract: A system and method for printing overlays for electronic display devices which prints overlays when an item is associated with an electronic shelf display. A database contains identification information for the products associated with the electronic shelf displays and identification information for the electronic shelf displays. A computer terminal retrieves the product information associated with the electronic shelf displays from the database and sends the product information to the printer in a queue. A printer prints the overlays. In a first embodiment, the printing occurs in a store. In a second embodiment, the printing occurs outside the store, preferably by the vendor of the electronic shelf displays. For this purpose, a computer terminal at the store downloads product information to another computer terminal located with the vendor.

Abstract: A transaction data recovery system and method which provide backups for the primary price look-up (PLU) data file and the primary electronic price label (EPL) data file. The transaction system includes an electronic price label system and a point-of-service system. Under an EPL system data recovery method, primary and backup EPL data files are provided. The backup EPL data file is loaded by a computer terminal upon a loss of the primary EPL data file. Finally, the backup EPL data file is modified if the backup EPL data file lacks information on at least one of the EPLs within the system. Under a price data recovery method, primary and backup PLU data files are provided. The backup PLU data file is loaded by a computer terminal upon a loss of the primary PLU data file. Price verifier information located within an EPL data file is modified if at least one of the EPLs within the system fails to display the price within the backup PLU data file.

Abstract: A system and method which determines a number of electronic price label (EPL) data message transmission attempts to an EPL. A transmitter transmits a data message to the EPL. A receiver receives a return signal from the EPL. A storage system stores a status flag representing a first number of times the data message is transmitted by the transmitter to the EPL, the status flag being based upon an established signal to noise (S/N) ratio. A communication base station (CBS) determines a new S/N ratio from the return signal. A runtime analyzer program determines whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes the established S/N ratio, and if it is, provides a new status flag representing a second number of transmission times greater than the first number of transmission times. The transmitter transmits a subsequent data message the second number of times.

Abstract: A method for handling failures in an electronic price label (EPL) system which automatically diagnoses failures, and which may additionally automatically contact a support organization. The method includes the steps of transmitting a status request to a communications base station (CBS) and to an EPL by a computer, receiving a status reply from the CBS and the EPL by the computer, comparing the status message to fault data within a fault data file stored within a storage medium by the computer, and determining from the comparison whether a fault in the system has occurred.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting product information with electronic shelf displays. The system includes a first database at a place where the merchandise items are sold containing information about the items, a second database at another place containing identification information about the electronic shelf displays, a first computer terminal at the one place for downloading the item information, and a second computer terminal at the other place for receiving the downloaded item information and for matching the item information to the electronic shelf display identification information. The system also includes a hand-held scanner for obtaining the item information. Item bar code labels are preferably arranged into groups and scanned by group. A programming bar code label may be used to program the scanner for each group scan. Electronic shelf display information is also obtained by scanning bar code labels on groups of displays.