SELECTIVE ADDRESSING SYSTEM

Abstract: A system wherein individual information are transmitted from a central station to a plurality of remote display modules. Each module (10) is provided with a location for placing an external label (13) having a local address (LOC) provided thereon, sensor means (12) adapted for reading the local address (LOC) on said external label (13) and for producing an electric signal representing said local address comparator means (23) having a first input to accept the output electric signal from the sensor means (12) and a second input to accept the incoming information from the central control station, said comparator means being arranged for producing an enable signal (201) in response to the sensor output signal representing a local address (LOC) which matches an individual address (AD1, AD2,...) in said incoming information (200), the enable signal (201) being used to allow the individual information (DATA1, DATA2,...) associated with said individual address (AD1, AD2,...) to be displayed on the display module (10).

Description: SELECTIVE ADDRESSING SYSTEM The present invention relates generally to automatic display systems comprising a plurality of remote display modules connected to a central control station, and more particularly to a method and system for selectively addressing such remote display modules arranged for the visual display of individual data. A typical application of such a selective addressing system is concerned withthe display of pricing information for merchandise items on the shelves in a point-of-sales, e.g. a supermarket. Today, many consumer and semi-industrial products are appearing on the market, involving a number of remote nodes, whereby a communication link between the nodes is essential. In most cases a sender will broadcast pricing and other information, using a particular technology and a particular medium. A receiver at each node then has to receive the signal , interpret it, check whether the information is intended for him or not and take appropriate action. Somehow a communication system needs to be implemented which permits information to be passed selectively from a sender to a number of signal receivers. In many industrial high-end products, often related to computer networks, this issue has already been addressed in different ways, using several algorythms, technologies and media. Such applications usually rely on a well controlled environnement and involve a well trained staff to run and/or maintain the system. More and more electronics are making their appearance in 5 low-end products, to be used in less controlled environments and by less skilled people. Computer techniques are not always suited for such applications. Prior art pricing display systems are known to be 10 suitable for automatically transmitting pricing information from a central station to a number of remote display modules, wherein each address is entirely dependent on the electronic implementation. Therefore, each electronic module should be adapted and adjusted 15 for the particular address code assigned to it. This involves the operator intervention to program, de¬ program and re-program each module. Further, such known systems are not fully reliable in that the coherence between the address code assigned and the electronic 20 implementation is not guaranteed. It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable electronic addressing system which can be used and managed by technically low skilled people. 25 In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of selectively addressing a plurality of display modules arranged for the visual display of individual information transmitted from a 30 central control station, wherein each of the individual information being transmitted is associated to - an individual address of the display module at which the information has to be displayed, said method comprising the steps of : providing an external label with a loca-1 address code for each display module, placing said external label with the local address code thereon onto the respective display module, reading each local address code on said external labels, comparing each local address code read out with the incoming information received from the central control station, thereby to produce an enable signal in response to an individual address (ADl, AD2... ) in the incoming information matching the local address code read out on the respective external label, said enable signal being used to allow the individual information associated with said individual address to be displayed on the display module. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for selectively addressing a plurality of display modules arranged for the visual display of individual information transmitted from a central control station through a communication line, wherein each of the individual information being transmitted is associated with the individual address of the display module at which the information has to be displayed, and wherein each display module is provided with a location for placing an external label having a local address code provided thereon, sensor means adapted for reading the local address code on said external label, and for producing an electric signal representing said local address code, comparator means having a first input to accept the output electric signal from the sensor means and a second input to accept the incoming information from the central control station, said comparator means being arranged for producing an enable signal in response to the sensor output signal representing a local address code which matches an individual address in said incoming information, the enable signal being used to allow the individual information associated with said individual address to be displayed on the display module. The method and system of the invention for the selective addressing of remote modules have significant advantages. The reliability is very high. Because the address can be attached to the label and printed on it at the same time, the invention removes the possibility for human errors while allocating addresses to the modules. It is then rather easy to physically check whether a module carries the correct address and this guarantees coherence between said physical check and the electronic implementation. The technique of the invention is very user-friendly and highly flexible. It is very easy to recognise, program, de-program or re-program a module, even for technically low qualified people ( sticking a label onto a standard module). It does not require any complex external initialization means to programm the address in a module. Further the system provides a high security. It allows an organisation to control all addresses through a computer. No purely manual interaction of any person can modify or introduce an address. The address itself is completely electronics- independent. This technique allows all electronic modules to be 100% identical at all times. Since the address is not defined by any hardware within the electronic module, nobody needs to directly touch or change any component in the module. The human intervention is limited to adding or removing a label. The visibility of a label can be customized quite easily. It could be designed to be rather discrete (small, avoiding bright colors) or to be highly visible by adding an eyecatcher (color, logo...). Besides the look that can be conceived to suit any particular application, goods or customer, also the address can be formatted to match any particular database or address structure. Further, the invention allows to protect a customer base of a certain item by furnishing trademark protected labels. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary display module according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a functional system block diagram illustrating the operational functions of the addressing system according to the invention. The invention is usefull in a display system substantially comprising several remote electronic display modules which are connected with each other and with a central control station by means of a data communication line, e.g. cable connection, radio link, infrared connection or the like. Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a exemplary display module according to the invention, comprising a casing provided with a display panel 11 for the display of information data, for instance the price of merchandise items offered for sale. The casing is further provided with a location for placing an external label 13 bearing a local address code. In an exemplary embodiment, the local address code is provided in the form of perforations 14, the size, number and/or configuration of the which are used to define the local address designating a particular module. The local address code can be provided on the label in a number of different ways. It can be printed on the label or printed with electrically conductive ink. The address code can also be provided using e.g. capacitive, inductive, resistive, magnetic or optical means. front of the label location there is provided sensor means 12 adapted to sense the local address code on an external label 13 placed in the label location. The sensor means 12 is for example a light sensitive chip, an electric or electronic chip or the like as appropriate. The sensor means is comprised of any known means adapted to sense the local address code and produce an electrical signal representing said address code. The casing further includes an electronic chip having a first input connected to the sensor output and a second input connected to the data communication line 20 from a central control station (not represented). The electronic chip will be described later herein with reference to Fig. 2. Information is continuously transmitted on the data communication line 20 from the central control station. The transmitted information comprises consecutive data blocks, each data block including the individual address AD of a respective display module and the associated individual information DATA to be displayed on this respective display module. The transmitted information looks a follows : ADl , DATA1 , AD2 , DATA2, ....ADn, DATAn (where 1, 2,....n designate the numbers of the various display modules). The operation of the system according to the invention will now be described with reference to the system flow chart of Fig. 2. The incoming information 200 from the communication line 20 is received in each display module 10 and sent through a communication interface 21 to the first input of the electronic chip 15. The electronic chip functions in block 22 to read each incoming address ADl, AD2 , .... Next, the incoming addresses are applied successively to a first input of comparator means 23. A second input of the comparator means receives the local address code LOC read in block 24 at the output of the sensor 12 through an interface 25. When an incoming address ADi matches the local address code LOC, the comparator means 23 produces an enable signal 201 that allows the associated information DATAi to be read out in block 26 and to be applied to the display panel 11 for being visually displayed. However, when an incoming address code does not match the local address code LOC, then the negative branch from block 23 returns to the function block 22 where the next address ADi+1 in the incoming information is read out and next compared to the local address code LOC, in block 23 and so on. In practising the invention, a number of significant advantages are gained. First, the reliability is very high. Because the address can be attached to the label and printed on it at the same time (e.g. by a dedicated printer) , this technique removes the possibility for human errors while allocating addresses to the modules. It is then rather easy to physically check whether a module carries the correct address and this guarantees coherence between said physical check and the electronic implementation. The technique of the invention is very user-friendly and highly flexible. It is very easy to recognise, program, de-program or re-program a module, even for 'technically low qualified people (sticking a label onto a standard module). It does not require any complex external initialization means to programm the address in a module. Further the system provides a high security. It allows an organisation to control all addresses through a computer. No purely manual interaction of any person can modify or introduce an address (e.g. setting of DIP switch) . The address itself is completely electronics- independent. This technique allows all electronic modules to be 100% identical at all times. Since the address is not defined by any hardware within the electronic module, nobody needs to directly touch or change any component in the module. The human intervention is limited to adding or removing a label. The visibility of a label can be customized quite easily. It could be designed to be rather discrete (small, avoiding bright colors) or to be highly visible by adding an eyecatcher (color, logo...). Besides the look that can be conceived to suit any particular application, goods or customer, also the address can be formatted to match any particular database or address structure. Further, the invention allows to protect a customer base of a certain item by furnishing trademark protected labels. It will be recognized that the system according to the invention can be realized in any hardware and/or 1 software implementation by one having ordinary skill in the art to perform the functions as disclosed in the foregoing.

Claims: ttf/t* ' CLAIMS 1. Method of selectively addressing a plurality of display modules (10) arranged for the visual display of individual information transmitted from a central control station, wherein each of the individual 5 information being transmitted is associated to an individual address of the display module at which the information has to be displayed, characterised by comprising the steps of : providing an external label (13) with a local address 10 code (LOC) for each display module (10), placing said external label (13) with the local address code . (LOC) thereon onto the respective display module ( 10 ) , reading each local address code (LOC) on said external labels (13), comparing each local address code 15 (LOC) read out with the incoming information (200) received from the central control station, thereby to produce an enable signal (201) in response top an individual address code (ADl, AD2... ) in the incoming information (200) matching the local adress code read 20 out on the respective external label (13), said enable signal being used to allow the individual information (DATAl, DATA2 , ... ) associated with said individual address (ADl, AD2, .. ) to be displayed on the display module. 25 2. System for selectively addressing a plurality of of display modules (10) arranged for the visual display of individual information transmitted from a central control station through a communication line (20), 30 wherein each of the individual information being transmitted is associated with the individual address code of the display module at which the information has to be displayed, characterised in that each display module (10) is provided with a location for placing an external label (13) having a local address (LOC) provided thereon, sensor means (12) adapted for reading the local address (LOC) on said external label (13) and for producing an electric signal representing said local address code, comparator means (23) having a first input to accept the output electric signal from the sensor means (12) and a second input to accept the incoming information from the central control station, said comparator means being arranged for producing an enable signal (201) in response to the sensor output signal representing a local address (LOC) which matches an individual address (ADl ,AD2, ... ) in said incoming information (200), the enable signal (201) being used to allow the individual information (DATAl, DATA2,...) associated with said individual address (ADl, AD2 , ... ) to be displayed on the display module (10). 3. A system according to claim 2, characterised in that the local address (LOC) on said external label (13) is provided in the form of perforations (14) or printings and in that said external label (13) is placed in front of a light sensitive sensor (12). 4. A system according to claim 2, characterised in that the external label ( 13 ) is provided with an electrical and/or magnetic signal, and in that said external label (13) is placed in front of an electronic sensor (12). 5. A system according to claim 2, characterised in that the external label ( 13 ) is provided with an optical signal, and in that said external label (13) is placed in front of an opto-electric sensor (12). 6. A- system according to claim 2, characterised in that the external label (13) is provided with the local address code in the form of information printed with electrically conductive ink, and in that said external label (13) is placed in front of an electric sensor (12).

Inventors: WIJNEN ERIK, WIJNEN, ERIK
Applicants: SYDEC NV, SYDEC N.V.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G09F9
IPC codes: G06K17, G07G1, G09F9