Abstract: A system and method for conducting an inventory of tags, wherein each tag is assigned a Tag ID and a manufacturer number. Each tag can be attached to an item to take inventory of those items. A tag reader transmits a wake-up signal followed by at least one clock signal. Each tag increments a first tag count in response to the clock signals, and transmits the Tag ID assigned to the tag when the first tag count corresponds to the Tag ID assigned to the tag. The tag reader records the transmitted Tag IDs. When more than one tag transmits simultaneously, the tag stores the Tag ID in order to resolve the contention when the first read cycle is complete. In the second read cycle, the tag reader transmits the contended Tag ID followed by at least one clock signal.

Abstract: A variable margin pricing system and method that generates retail prices based on customer price sensitivity. Products are grouped into pools from a first pool for most price sensitive products to a last pool for least price sensitive products. A logical relationship between margins and the customer price sensitivity is determined for the products. Based on this logical relationship and each product's pool assignment, the system and method calculate each product's margin and corresponding retail price. The method is also used to generate retail price labels having retail prices based on customer price sensitivity for the products to which the labels are to be affixed or located proximate.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) system including groups of electronic price labels and method of managing the groups which facilitate group definition, assignment of EPLs to groups, assignment of items to EPLs, and assignment of prices to items. The system includes a plurality of EPLs arranged in rows and columns within a sign to define a group. At least one of the rows includes a plurality of EPLs and at least one of the columns includes a plurality of EPLs. A computer coupled to the EPLs defines the group, assigns the EPLs to the group, and assigns item identification numbers and prices to the EPLs. A storage medium stores group definition information, EPL assignments to the group, and item assignments to the EPLs. The storage medium additionally stores a price identifier, which may be incorporated into the item identification numbers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking out an item to be weighed through a checkout station. The method includes the steps of sensing when the item is positioned on a scale, and displaying a visual indication which prompts a user to initiate a specific keystroke operation in response to the sensing step. The visual indication may be an item menu or a highlighted portion of a screen display. The item menu may include a listing of item names which are ranked based on a sales volume value associated with each of the item names listed in the item menu.

Abstract: A system and method for using identification codes found on ordinary articles of commerce to access remote computers on a network. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer is provided having a database that relates Uniform Product Code ("UPC") numbers to Internet network addresses (or "URLs"). To access an Internet resource relating to a particular product, a user enters the product's UPC symbol manually, by swiping a bar code reader over the UPC symbol, or via other suitable input means. The database retrieves the URL corresponding to the UPC code. This location information is then used to access the desired resource.

Abstract: An item recognition system and method which is particularly suited for automating entry of items too small to carry readable bar code labels. The system includes a camera which digitizes the image to produce a digitized image and a gray-scale digitized image. A binary image of the gray-scale image is then produced from which the computer records an image of the item, and a computer coupled to the camera which digitizes the image to produce a digitized image and a gray-scale digitized image. A binary image of the gray-scale image is then produced from which the computer identifies the item from the binary image and obtains the price from a price-lookup file.

Abstract: This present invention comprises an apparatus and method for checking the accuracy of a customer's food order when ordering food to go from a quick-service restaurant. This is done by checking the contents of a bagged order by means of a weight check of the total weight of the bagged order so as to determine the correct order and/or contents thereof prior to the customer leaving the quick service restaurant. Accordingly, the order is logged into a computer system that is programmed to check the contents of the order by means of weighing the total items packaged in the bag, whereby the restaurant employee is alerted when the bagged order is either overweight or underweight with respect to the actual predetermined weight of the total items ordered.

Abstract: A data processor system for promoting sales of products includes price storage devices for storing basic price information; criteria storage devices for storing predetermined criteria to be used in determining sales promotion prices; sensors for sensing the predetermined criteria; a data processor for receiving data from the above, and for automatically determining sales promotion prices of the products in accordance with the received data; and electronic displays controlled by the data processor for displaying the sales promotion prices. Also described is an interactive changeable display particularly useful in the sales promotion system, but also useful for other applications, such as for providing routing instructions to a plurality of destinations.

Abstract: A system and method for influencing and potentially altering a consumer's purchase decisions at the point-of-purchase in a retail store using a portable bar code scanner that is in constant wireless communication with the store and a retailer/manufacturer's computer/controller. The consumer uses the portable bar code scanner to scan products in the store, and if a scanned product is currently under a promotion, the controller alerts the consumer's portable bar code scanner as to the promotion, so that the consumer can to take advantage of the promotion. In another embodiment, the consumer will be identified before beginning shopping by their frequent shopper card, so that the computer/controller, in communication with the portable bar code scanner, can utilize the consumer's past purchase history and offer the consumer promotional product discounts.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) price synchronization system and method which increase price reliability while conserving system bandwidth. A storage medium contains an audit file containing scheduled price change messages. The storage medium may additionally contain an EPL data file containing correct price information or a price file containing correct price information.

Abstract: An Internet system for delivering information about products from the source of those products, typically the manufacturer, to those who need that information, such as product resellers and consumers. The system employs a product code translator, which may be implemented by one or more servers accessed via the Internet. The product code translator stores cross-references between product codes and the address of Internet resources which provide information about the products designated by the codes. Web pages produced by online resellers may display lists of products in response to search requests from customers, and provide the customer with detailed information about any listed product by incorporating links to the product information made available by the participating manufacturers using the cross-referenced addresses provided by the product code translator.

Abstract: A system and method for managing and redeeming a promotional coupon for goods and services. The system provides a link between an operator console and a remote database server having one or more coupon files, each of which contains a plurality of coupon records. A customer telephones the operator and discloses an encrypted coupon number from the coupon issued to the customer. The encrypted coupon number is used to access the relevant coupon record in a coupon file on the remote database server. The status of the coupon is transmitted back to the operator console. If the coupon is valid, the operator console provides the goods or services requested by the customer. The operator console subsequently sends a command to the coupon file to change the status of the coupon in the coupon record.

Abstract: Disclosed is the implementation of a statistical basis for use in a self-scanning checkout system for determining how many items to check in a shopper's shopping cart for incorrect or missing scans as well as which particular or types of items to check to determine if they were properly scanned by a shopper who may use a portable scanner or scanning terminal to scan bar codes on selected items. In the present invention, every or nearly every shopper will be checked by a cashier or security guard, but only a limited and select number of items will be checked for each shopper. The present methodology determines how many items to check for a given shopper as well as which particular items to check for that shopper.

Abstract: A scheduled price verification system and method which ensure that a scheduled price change has been scheduled for an electronic price label (EPL) associated with an item. The system includes a storage medium for storing an EPL data file and a spool file, and a computer. The computer executes a scheduled price verifier program which reads the EPL data file to obtain identification information for the item associated with the EPL, reads a price file to obtain a new price and a time that the new price is to be effective, reads the spool file after the time to determine whether it contains a record of the one price change to the new price for the EPL, and schedules a price change message containing the new price if the spool file does not contain the record of the one price change to the new price for the EPL.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for object identification which includes a portable electronic tag reader having a transceiver capable both of reading identification information from electronic tags and transmitting collected information to a base unit for remote analysis. The system of the present invention utilizes the same transceiver to receive information from the base unit and write data to read/write electronic tags. The system of the present invention includes a transceiver for generating a modulated or unmodulated radio frequency interrogation signal, a receiver for detecting a return signal from an electronic tag and a signal processor for processing the return signal. A modulator within the portable unit combines the identification data with the radio frequency interrogation signal for transmission to a base unit through a wireless local area network. A demodulator within the portable unit extracts data and commands received from a base unit for local processing or transfer to a read/write electronic tag.

Abstract: A system for automatically distributing discount coupons or certificates in a retail store, conditioned on a preselected combination of present and past shopping behavior of a customer whose order is being processed at a checkout stand. Generation of a printable discount coupon can be based on any desired combination of customer-supplied data, obtained from a customer identification data base, past shopping activity, derived from data gathered during previous customer visits to the store, and present shopping activity, as evidenced by items identified in the current customer order. Collection of data pertaining to past behavior of customers is facilitated by filtering all sales transaction data at the point of sale. If all of the preselected conditions for generation of a coupon are satisfied, the coupon is generated and printed at the checkout stand.

Abstract: An attaching unit attaches an additional-information packet to a collection of main information, wherein the additional-information packet comprises sensory information corresponding to sensory impressions of a human being that has processed the collection of main information, the sensory impressions being with respect to circumstances under which the collection of main information has been processed.

Abstract: Articles such as garments to be cleaned are associated in a group (e.g., one customer's order). After processing together with articles from other groups, the articles are to be reassembled in their original group units. Coded labels are attached to each of the articles and identify or are cross referenced to its group, e.g., with barcodes. If articles with permanent labels are processed, group codes are assigned and stored for such articles, indexed to the permanent label information. Other articles are each labelled as to their groups. The total count or number of articles in each group is recorded, preferably on the article labels but also possibly in a data memory accessible to a data processor coupled to a scanner. For manually regrouping the articles, a scanner is used and the group identification is determined as articles are encountered. The data processor assigns and indicates visually one of a number of assembly locations to be used temporarily to store the articles for each group.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) price verification system which ensures that a price for an item obtained from a price look-up (PLU) file by a bar code scanner is equal to another price displayed by an electronic price label (EPL) for the item. The EPL price verification system includes a computer system coupled to the EPL, which includes a terminal and a storage medium coupled to the terminal. The storage medium contains an EPL data file, which contains EPL identification information and an EPL price verifier. The computer terminal executes a price verification program which reads the PLU file to obtain the price of the item, calculates another price verifier from the price of the item in the price file, reads EPL data file to obtain the one price verifier, compares the one and the other price verifiers to determine whether they are equal, and changes the displayed price to the price in the PLU file if the one and the other price verifiers are different.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for effectuating bilateral buyer-driven commerce. The present invention allows prospective buyers of goods and services to communicate a binding purchase offer globally to potential sellers, for sellers conveniently to search for relevant buyer purchase offers, and for sellers potentially to bind a buyer to a contract based on the buyer's purchase offer. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller which receives binding purchase offers from prospective buyers. The controller makes purchase offers available globally to potential sellers. Potential sellers then have the option to accept a purchase offer and thus bind the corresponding buyer to a contract. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional communications systems such as voice telephony.