Patent ID: 7743987
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G09F,G09G

Abstract:
1. An electronic-ink based labeling system for displaying graphical indicia on a plurality of objects within the space of a physical environment, said electronic-ink based labeling system comprising: (A) a plurality of remote activator modules installed within the space of said physical environment, wherein each said remote activator module sends and transmits electromagnetic signal within the space of said physical environment; and (B) a plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels installed within the space of said physical environment, wherein each said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label includes: (B1) an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material disposed between an activation layer and a transparent electrode layer located above said layer of electronic ink, for activating said layer of electronic ink at particular locations to display graphical indicia on the surface of said addressable display assembly, wherein said layer of electronic ink does not require electrical power to maintain the display of said graphical indicia; (B2) at least one antenna structure for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic signals carrying information corresponding to at least one of instructions, programs, data and graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly; (B3) an integrated circuit structure having (i) a storage element for storing said instructions, programs and data, and (ii) a programmed processor in electrical communication with said addressable display assembly and said at least one antenna structure, and using said programs to process said instructions and data for (i) determining the graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly, (ii) controlling and coordinating operation of said addressable display assembly, and (iii) generating output signals for instructing said addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia; wherein identification information is stored in said storage element, and uniquely identifies said electronic-ink label among said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels arranged in said electronic-ink based labeling system, wherein a unique encryption key is stored in said storage element, so that when a common encrypted message broadcast is transmitted as an electromagnetic signal to said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels, only a subset of said plurality of remotely-updateable electronic-ink labels, assigned unique encryption keys, are allowed to receive the broadcasted message; (B4) a signal transmitting structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said antenna structure, for transmitting electromagnetic signals from said at least one antenna structure, to at least one remote activator module; (B5) a signal receiving structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure and said antenna structure, for receiving electromagnetic signals from said remote activator module, using said at least one antenna structure; wherein said received electromagnetic signals carry information corresponding to at least one of said programs, said instructions, said data, and said graphical indicia to be displayed by said addressable display assembly; and (B6) an on-board battery power structure, operably connected to said integrated circuit structure, for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit structure; wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said remote activator module by said at least one antenna structure and said signal receiving structure; wherein said integrated circuit structure is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from said remote activator module by said at least one antenna structure and said signal receiving structure; wherein said addressable display assembly is responsive to said output signals generated by said programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia; and wherein said at least one antenna structure, said integrated circuit structure, said signal transmitting structure, said signal receiving structure and said on-board battery power structure are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of said addressable display assembly so as to form said remotely-updateable electronic-ink label having a stacked construction.