Patent ID: 6876975

Claim:
A computerized method for displaying alternate information on an electronic price label comprising the steps of: (a) reading, from a first data file, a record for a merchandise item associated with an electronic price label, the record comprising a first field for the item's regular price and a second field for alternate data; (b) determining whether the electronic price label is to display the item's unit price or an alternate message based on the alternate data for the item; (c) if the item's unit price is to be displayed, transmitting a message to the electronic price label, containing the unit price and a command to display the unit price; (d) if the item's unit price is not to be displayed, determining if the alternate data comprises the alternate message or the alternate data comprises one or more instructions directing the creation of the alternate message; (e) if the alternate data comprises the alternate message, transmitting to the electronic price label the alternate message and a command to display the alternate message; and (f) if the alternate data comprises one or more instructions directing the creation of the alternate message, creating the alternate message utilizing the one or more instructions and transmitting to the electronic price label the alternate message and the command to display the alternate message.