Abstract:
A system for recognizing an auxiliary display attached to an electronic price label which also recognizes a unique type designation of the auxiliary display. The system includes a number of auxiliary display recorders which sense a number of indicators on the auxiliary display. The indicators are arranged in a predetermined pattern which uniquely identifies a type designation for the auxiliary display. The system also includes an auxiliary display sensing circuit coupled to the auxiliary display recorders which determines the type designation of the auxiliary display from the pattern.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electronic price label (EPL) systems used in transaction establishments, and more specifically to an auxiliary display recognition system and method for an electronic price label system. 
     EPL systems typically include a plurality of EPLs for each merchandise item in a store. EPLs typically display the price of corresponding merchandise items on store shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves. A store may contain thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the merchandise items. The EPLs are coupled to a central server from where information about the EPLs is typically maintained in an EPL data file. Price information displayed by the EPLs is obtained from the PLU file. 
     EPLs today may be wired or wireless. Wireless EPLs may employ infrared or radio frequency transmitters to transmit acknowledgment signals acknowledging receipt of messages and to relay acknowledgment signals from other EPLs to receiving devices coupled to a main EPL computer. An EPL only sends an acknowledgment if the message is addressed to it. 
     Items that are “On Sale” or heavily promoted within a store are typically identified by auxiliary displays, usually made of paper, called “shelf talkers” or “bibs” or “promotional tags” which are attached to shelves or current price marking devices. These paper tags must be installed and removed by store personnel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,226 discusses a method for identifying EPLs on which promotional tags have been installed. However, the method is deficient because it cannot determine which type of promotional tag is installed on any given EPL. A typical retail store may have as many as ten types of promotional tags and sometimes more. It is important for store personnel to not only know when a tag is installed or should be installed, but whether the correct tag is installed. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system that not only recognizes that a promotional tag has been attached to an EPL, but also determines which type of promotional tag is attached. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an auxiliary display recognition system and method for an electronic price label system is provided. 
     The system includes a number of auxiliary display recorders which sense a number of indicators on the auxiliary display. The indicators are arranged in a predetermined pattern which uniquely identifies a type designation for the auxiliary display. The system also includes an auxiliary display sensing circuit coupled to the auxiliary display recorders which determines the type designation of the auxiliary display from the pattern. 
     In one embodiment, the recorders include a number of photosensors. In another embodiment, the recorders include a number of push button switches. In both embodiments, the indicators include a number of apertures. 
     The system also includes auxiliary display management software which compares previously stored information, associating auxiliary displays with electronic price labels, with the determined type designation to ensure that the correct auxiliary display is attached to the electronic price label. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary display recognition system and method for an electronic price label system. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary display recognition system and method for an electronic price label system which can determine a unique type designation of the auxiliary display. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary display recognition system and method for an electronic price label system which can determine whether an incorrect auxiliary display is attached to a particular EPL. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an EPL system; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an EPL; 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a first embodiment of the system of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a second embodiment of the system of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B form a flow diagram illustrating a method for detecting an auxiliary display, including a method for determining the type of auxiliary display. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, EPL system  10  includes computer  12 , storage medium  14 , communication base station (CBS)  16 , electronic price labels (EPLs)  18 , auxiliary displays  24 , computer  26 , and storage medium  30 . 
     Computer  12  executes EPL control software  20  and EPL auxiliary display management software  22 . EPL control software  20  records, schedules, and transmits all messages to EPLs  18  through CBS  16 , and receives and analyzes status messages from EPLs  18  through CBS  16 . EPL control software  20  also maintains and uses EPL data file  28 , which contains item information, EPL identification information, item price verifier information, and status information for each of EPLs  18 . 
     Additionally, for each EPL record in EPL data file  28 , there is a field containing a number, such as a binary number, which represents a type of auxiliary display  24  to be attached to the EPL, or a number indicating that no auxiliary display  24  should be attached. An operator of system  10  may update the records of each EPL  18  within EPL data file  28  individually or in batch. After a record is changed within EPL data file, store personnel correspondingly remove, add, or replace EPL auxiliary displays  24 . 
     EPL control software  20  primarily includes data scheduler  34  and CBS manager  36 . Data scheduler  34  schedules EPL price change messages to be sent to EPLs  18  through CBS  16 . 
     EPL auxiliary display management software  22  determines whether auxiliary displays  24  are connected to EPLs  18  by reading a binary number stored in memory  47  and set by EPL circuitry  48  (FIG.  2 ). EPL auxiliary display management software  22  monitors each EPL to determine whether an EPL has the proper auxiliary display  24 , or should not have a tag or auxiliary display. EPL auxiliary display management software  22  notifies store personnel by displaying an error message on monitor  25 , printing an error in a report using printer  23 , or using any other type of known error notification means. 
     Storage medium  14  is preferably a fixed disk drive. Storage medium  14  stores EPL data file  28 . 
     CBS  16  preferably includes one transmit antenna  37  and one to four receive antennas  38  for transmitting and receiving messages between CBS  16  and EPLs  18 . CBS  16  includes CBS circuitry  39  which controls operation of CBS  16 . EPL system  10  preferably includes a plurality of CBSs  16  connected together in series. 
     CBS manager  36  schedules transmission of price change messages to EPLs  18  and the reception of status messages from EPLs  18  for predetermined time slots. CBS manager  36  also schedules the reception of messages acknowledging the presence of auxiliary displays  24  from those EPLs having auxiliary displays  24 . 
     Auxiliary displays  24  preferably include printed tags made of paper, cardboard, plastic, vinyl, or other suitable media, and contain announcements, slogans, or other messages. 
     Computer  26  manages price changes within PLU file  32 . PLU file  32  is stored within storage medium  30 , which is preferably a fixed disk drive. Computer  12  obtains price information for EPLs  18  from PLU file  32 . Computer  26  and computer  12  are here shown as two separate computers, although both EPL and PLU management functions can be performed using a single computer. 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, EPLs  18  are illustrated. 
     EPLs  18  each include battery  40 , transmit and receive antenna  42 , display  46 , memory  47 , EPL circuitry  48 , and EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50 . 
     Battery  40  provides power to EPLs  18 . Alternatively, other sources of power, such as solar power or external power connected through a cable, may be employed. 
     Transmit and receive antenna  42  receives price change and status messages from CBS  16 . 
     Transmit and receive antenna  42  transmits responses to price change and status messages to CBS  16 . 
     Display  46  displays price and possibly additional information. Display  46  is preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     Memory  47  stores price verifier information, EPL auxiliary display type number, and may additionally store promotional information. Preferably, the price verifier information is a checksum of the displayed price. 
     EPL circuitry  48  controls the internal operation of EPLs  18 . EPL circuitry  48  includes EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50 , which determines whether an EPL auxiliary display is attached and, if so, its type. EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50  includes display type recorders  52  for sensing the presence and type of auxiliary display  24 . EPL circuitry  48  stores the binary type number that corresponds to signals recorded by display type recorders  52  in memory  47 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, EPL auxiliary display  24  and a first embodiment of EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50  are illustrated in more detail. 
     EPL auxiliary display  24  includes an adhesive rear surface  64  for attaching EPL auxiliary display  24  to front surface  60  of EPL  18 . EPL auxiliary display  24  additionally includes one or more apertures  62  adjacent top edge  66  of auxiliary display  24 . The number of apertures  62  indicates the type of EPL auxiliary display that is attached to EPL  18 . Top edge  66  is aligned so as to center each of apertures  62  over their corresponding display type recorders  52 . 
     EPL auxiliary display  24  may be attached through other methods, such as providing a retaining slot into which display  24  is inserted. 
     Display type recorders  52  preferably include a plurality of photosensors  54  along front surface  60  of EPL  18 . Photosensors adjacent apertures  62  are exposed to surrounding light and produce electrical signals that are recorded as ‘1’s by EPL circuitry  48 . Photosensors that are obscured by auxiliary display  24  do not produce electrical signals and their outputs are recorded as ‘0’s by EPL circuitry  48 . Each type of auxiliary display  24  is identified by a number. Here, seven display type recorders  52  produce a seven-digit binary number, although other numbers of display type recorders  52  are envisioned. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, EPL auxiliary display  24  and a second embodiment of EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50  are illustrated in more detail. 
     EPL auxiliary display  24  is similar to the first embodiment. 
     Display type recorders  52  preferably include a plurality of push buttons  56  along front surface  60  of EPL  18 . Push buttons adjacent apertures  62  extend through apertures  62  and produce electrical signals that are recorded as ‘1’s by EPL circuitry  48 . Push buttons that are obscured by auxiliary display  24  are recessed within EPL  18  and do not produce electrical signals. Their outputs are recorded as ‘0’s by EPL circuitry  48 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the operation of EPL system  10  is explained in more detail, beginning with START  80 . 
     In step  82 , EPL auxiliary display sensing circuitry  50  records signals from recorders exposed by apertures  62  or by no attached display. 
     In step  84 , EPL circuitry  48  stores the number represented by the signals from the recorders in memory  47 . The number in memory  47  represents the type of auxiliary display attached to EPL  18 , if any. 
     In step  86 , EPL auxiliary display management software  22  queries EPL  18  for the number stored within memory  47 . 
     In step  88 , EPL auxiliary display management software  22  compares the number stored within memory  47  with a number stored within EPL data file  28 . 
     If the numbers match, the method returns to step  82  to continuously monitor EPL  18 . This situation indicates that an auxiliary display is attached to EPL and it is the correct auxiliary display for the EPL, or that no auxiliary display is attached and no auxiliary display should be attached. When the number is a binary number, a binary number having all ‘1’s within EPL data file indicates that no auxiliary display  24  should be attached. 
     If the numbers do not match, either an incorrect auxiliary display is attached to EPL  18 , an auxiliary display is not attached when one should be attached, or an auxiliary display is attached when one should not be attached. Auxiliary display  24  may be removed by store personnel or customers. A fallen or removed auxiliary display  24  may be re-attached to the wrong EPL by store personnel or customers. 
     If the numbers match, the method returns to step  82  to continuously monitor EPL  18 . This situation indicates that an auxiliary display is attached to EPL and it is the correct auxiliary display for the EPL, or that no auxiliary display is attached and no auxiliary display should be attached. When the number is a binary number, a binary number having all ‘1’s within EPL data file indicates that no auxiliary display  24  should be attached. 
     Thus, if the numbers do not match, the method proceeds to step  90  in which EPL auxiliary display management software  22  determines whether the number stored within memory  47  is ‘1111111’. If it is, EPL auxiliary display management software  22  provides an indication to an operator that an auxiliary display is not installed, but should be installed, and the method ends in step  100 . 
     If the number stored within memory  47  is not ‘1111111’, then the method proceeds to step  92  in which EPL auxiliary display management software  22  determines whether the number stored within EPL data file  28  for that EPL is ‘1111111’. If it is, then EPL auxiliary display management software  22  provides an indication to an operator that an auxiliary display is installed, but should not be installed, and the method ends in step  100 . 
     If the number stored within EPL data file  28  is not ‘1111111’, then EPL auxiliary display management software  22  provides an indication to an operator that one auxiliary display is installed instead of another, and the method ends in step  100 . 
     Advantageously, auxiliary display recognition system of the present invention maximizes market impact for a particular product by ensuring that the correct type of auxiliary display and promotional message are attached to an EPL associated with the product. 
     Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.