An electronic price label (EPL) system

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic price label system and in particular to a system and method which determines a number of electronic price label (EPL) data message transmission attempts to an EPL (18). A transmitter (12,10) transmits a data message to the EPL (18). A receiver (12,16) receives a return signal from the EPL (18). A storage system (28) stores a status flag representing a first number of times the data message is transmitted by the transmitter to the EPL (18), the status flag being based upon an established signal to noise (S/N) ratio. A communication base station (CBS) (10) determines a new S/N ratio from the return signal. A runtime analyzer program (26) 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 (12,16) transmits a subsequent data message the second number of times.

Description: The present invention relates to electronic price label (EPL) systems, and more specifically to a system and method for determining EPL message transmission retries in a runtime environment. EPL systems typically include a plurality of EPLs for each merchandise item in a store. EPLs display the price of corresponding merchandise items on store shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves or directly to 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. The EPL data file contains EPL identification information, EPL merchandise item information, and a price checksum. Price information displayed by the EPLs is obtained from the PLU file. Messages sent from the central server to the EPLs are affected by noise levels in the EPL system. When the noise level associated with a particular EPL is too high, price changes are not received by the EPL. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method for monitoring the noise levels associated with EPLs and determining the number of message transmission retries which are necessary to deliver messages to the EPLs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for determining EPL transmission retries which alleviates the aforementioned problems. IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin vol.36, no.11, pages 681-685, New York, November 1993 entitled "Store Label System with Wireless Communications", against which claims 1 and 3 are delimited, discloses an EPL system where communication base stations are used for two-way communications with EPLs. The EPL system is fault-tolerant; if a transmission error occurs, transmission is repeated at a specific number of times. The EPL merely checks for an "end" character to be transmitted to the display. When received the display transmits an "acknowledge" signal to an isle controller. The isle controller is in turn connected to a control computer or a manager's work station. If an isle controller or a display unit within the system encounters and error, the isle controller does not send an acknowledged signal to the control computer. Instead a retry is executed under software control, being repeated a predetermined number of times before an error condition is reported to the manager's work station. FR-2604315 discloses an EPL system with two-way communications and error detection facilities. The system detects an error in transmission by means of check bits in the transmitted signal. Both the IBM Technical Disclosure and the aforementioned French Patent application was silent on the use of signal to noise ratio in error detection. US Patent 4,991,184 discloses a full-duplex data communication system, in which the signal-to-noise ratio, error rate and occurrences of out-of-sync condition of signals transmitted on the data channel of a first transmission medium from a first station to a second station are detected by the latter and a first set of quality signals of the first transmission medium is generated. The signal-to-noise ratio, error rate and occurrences of out-of-sync condition of signals transmitted on the data channel of a second transmission medium in the opposite direction are likewise detected by the first station and a second set of quality signals of the second transmission medium are generated. The first set of quality signals are modulated and transmitted on a control channel of the second transmission medium from the second station and received and demodulated by the first station, which derives a speed setting command signal from the second set of quality signals as well as from the first set of quality signals represented by the demodulated signals, and the transmission speed of the first station is controlled according to the speed setting command signal. The speed setting command signal is modulated and transmitted on a control channel of the first transmission medium from the first to second station, which demodulates it and controls its transmission speed according to the demodulated speed setting command signal. US Patent 4,270,205 mentions the general problem of noise and discloses a serial line communication system in which a plurality of remote units are tied to a central site through a serial communication line. Each remote unit is provided with an automatic bit rate detection means. Messages returning from the remotes are checked at the central site for errors. If errors occur, the central site automatically retries to achieve error-free communication. If necessary to achieve error-free communication, the central site is provided with means for automatically shifting to a lower secondary bit rate to achieve communications with a particular remote. The central site then shifts back to the higher primary bit rate for communication with the next remote. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transmitting data to an electronic price label (EPL) comprising the steps of: transmitting a data message to the EPL a first number of times; receiving a return signal from the EPL; characterized in that said first number of times is set in accordance with a predetermined signal to noise (S/N) ratio of the return channel and in that the method further comprises the steps of: determining a new S/N ratio from measurement of the return signal; determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes said predetermined S/N ratio; and transmitting a subsequent data message to the EPL a second number of times greater than the first number of times based on the new S/N ratio if the new S/N ratio is below said range of S/N ratios. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a electronic price label system comprising: an electronic price label (EPL); a transmitter for transmitting a data message to an EPL; a receiver for receiving a return signal from the EPL, characterized by a storage system for storing a status flag representing a first number of times the data message is to be transmitted by the transmitter to the EPL, wherein the stored status flag is set in accordance with a predetermined signal to noise (S/N) ratio; means for determining a new S/N ratio from measurement of the strength of the return signal: and means for determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes the predetermined S/N ratio, and if it is, for providing a new status flag representing a second number of transmission times grater than the first number of transmission times, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a subsequent data message the second number of times. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an EPL system; Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the CBS manager under the method of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the runtime analyzer under the method of the present invention. Referring now to Fig. 1, EPL system 10 includes computer 12, storage medium 14, communication base stations (CBSs) 16, and electronic price labels (EPLs) 18. Computer 12 executes EPL interface software 20, which records, schedules, and transmits price changes to EPLs 18 through CBSs 16, and receives and analyzes status messages from EPLs 18 through CBSs 16. EPL interface software 20 uses EPL data file 28, which contains item information, identification information, item price verifier information, and status information for each of EPLs 18. CBSs 16 are preferably coupled in series to each other and to computer 12 through wire cables. CBSs 16 each include a transmitter and receiver for wirelessly communicating with EPLs 18. EPL interface software 20 primarily includes data scheduler 22 and CBS manager 24. Data scheduler 22 schedules EPL price change messages to be sent to EPLs 18 through CBSs 16 via CBS manager 24. CBS manager 24 schedules the actual transmission of price change messages to EPLs 18 and the reception of status messages from EPLs 18 for predetermined time slots. In order to schedule transmissions and receptions, CBS manager 24 reads the status flag from EPL data file 28. Although, CBS manager 24 may also receive status information from an executing application. Status flags are organized in accordance with the information in Table I: Status Flag Interpretation 0 EPL is inactive. 1 1 send, then 1 receive 2 2 sends, then 2 receives 4 4 sends, then 4 receives 8 8 sends, then 8 receives 16 16 sends, then 16 receives 255 EPL faulty Thus, for example, a status flag of "4" tells CBS manager 24 to request all of CBSs 16 to transmit a price change to one of EPLs 18 in four different time frames. Each frame contains twelve time slots managed by CBS manager 24 and CBSs 16. CBS manager 24 listens for a response from the one EPL in the four time frames. If the response comes into CBS manager 24 in any of the first, second, or third time frames, the remaining time frames are reported. CBS manager 24 writes the number of time frames required to receive a response from the one EPL in EPL log file 30. CBS manager 24 monitors signal strength and noise information during each response time frame. It records signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio information for each EPL in EPL log file 30 if the first attempt fails. CBS manager 24 also performs transmission retries if the first transmission attempt fails. CBS manager 24 temporarily promotes the EPL to a higher retry status and attempts to communicate with the EPL again. CBS manager logs a status message following the communication attempt. This status message includes the status (Good or Bad) and S/N ratios for further analysis at a later time by runtime analyzer 26. Computer 12 also executes runtime analyzer 26 which reads the status flag and S/N data in EPL log file 30 and makes determinations that may result in the status flag of a particular one of EPLs 18 being changed. Runtime analyzer 26 determines peak and average S/N ratios for each of EPLs 18, and establishes S/N thresholds and ranges for each status flag. Runtime analyzer 26 reads log file 30 for the measured S/N ratio to determine whether it is too low, and if it is, changes the status flag. To do this, runtime analyzer 26 compares the recorded S/N ratio with a predetermined S/N range associated with the recorded status flag. If the recorded ratio is not within the predetermined S/N range, runtime analyzer 26 determines the correct range and status flag and modifies EPL data file 28 accordingly. Runtime analyzer 26 is preferably run continuously to reset the system and re-initialize runtime analyzer 26, unless computer 12 is involved within processor-intensive tasks, such as batch processing. Storage medium 14 contains EPL data file 28 and EPL log file 30. Turning now to Fig. 2, the operation of CBS manager 24 is explained in more detail, beginning with START 40. In step 42, CBS manager 24 reads EPL data file 28 for the status flag of an EPL 18. In step 44, CBS manager 24 (or an application program) determines whether the status flag is equal to "255" or "0". If so, then CBS manager returns to step 42 to read data for another EPL 18. If the status flag is not equal to "255" or "0", CBS manager 24 sends a scheduled message to EPL 18 in accordance with the status flag in step 46. Thus, if the status flag is equal to "2", CBS manager 24 sends the message twice and waits up to two time slots for a return signal. In step 48, CBS manager 24 waits for a return signal from EPL 18, and determines the S/N ratio. In step 50, if CBS manager 24 does not receive a return signal, then CBS manager 24 writes an error and the S/N ratio in EPL log file 30 in step 52, and returns to step 42. If CBS manager 24 receives a return signal, CBS manager 24 writes the S/N ratio in EPL log file 30 in step 54, and returns to step 42. Turning now to Fig. 3, the operation of runtime analyzer 26 is explained in more detail, beginning with START 60. In step 62, runtime analyzer 26 reads EPL log file 30 for the S/N ratio and error messages for a particular EPL 18. In step 64, runtime analyzer 26 determines whether an error message exists for EPL 18. If an error message exists, runtime analyzer 26 changes the status flag of EPL 18 to "255" in step 66. If EPL log file 30 does not contain errors for the EPL, runtime analyzer 26 determines whether the S/N ratio is within the range of S/N ratios that are associated with the status flag in step 68. If it is, then runtime analyzer 26 returns to step 62 to process another of EPLs 18. If it is not, runtime analyzer 26 determines whether the S/N ratio is too low in step 70. If it is, then runtime analyzer 26 increases the status flag to the next highest status flag in step 72, writes the new status flag in EPL data file 28 in step 74, and returns to step 62 to process another of EPLs 18. Decreasing the status flag results in less time being required to interrogate EPL 18. If the S/N ration is not too low, the method returns to step 62. Advantageously, automatic retry analysis and retry status setting allow system 10 to automatically adjust and be reconfigured to the store environment. Batch or short interval procedures for setting the retry status do not. The invention allows system 10 to adjust itself to interferences outside the control of a store or system 10, and allows the store to more easily move EPLs 18 around within the store and system 10.

Claims: A method of transmitting data to an electronic price label (EPL) (18) comprising the steps of: transmitting a data message to the EPL (18) a first number of times; receiving a return signal from the EPL(18); characterized in that said first number of times is set in accordance with a predetermined signal to noise (S/N) ratio of the return channel and in that the method further comprises the steps of: determining a new S/N ratio from measurement of the return signal; determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes said predetermined S/N ratio; and transmitting a subsequent data message to the EPL (18) a second number of times greater than the first number of times based on the new S/N ratio if the new S/N ratio is below said range of S/N ratios. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a status flag is stored in an EPL data file (28), said flag being representative of the number of transmissions of a message corresponding to said predetermined S/N ratio and said flag being replaced by a new flag when said new S/N noise ratio is determined to be below the range of S/N ratios including said predetermined S/N ratio. An electronic price label system (10) comprising: an electronic price label (EPL); a transmitter (12, 16) for transmitting a data message to an EPL (18); a receiver (12, 16) for receiving a return signal from the EPL (18), characterized by a storage system (28) for storing a status flag representing a first number of times the data message is to be transmitted by the transmitter (12, 16) to the EPL (18),wherein the stored status flag is set in accordance with a predetermined signal to noise (S/N) ratio; means (16) for determining a new S/N ratio from measurement of the strength of the return signal: and means (26) for determining whether the new S/N ratio is below a range of S/N ratios that includes the predetermined S/N ratio, and if it is, for providing a new status flag representing a second number of transmission times grater than the first number of transmission times, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit a subsequent data message the second number of times.

Inventors: GOODWINN III JOHN COKER, GOODWINN III, JOHN COKER
Applicants: NCR INT INC, NCR INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G06K17
IPC codes: G06K19, H04B5, G06K17, H04L1