Patent ID: 7392948

Claim:
An electronic product identifier system for use with a product storage area adapted to store more than one type of product; the electronic product identifier system comprising: a display adapted to present product information for more than one product along a length of the storage area; a plurality of electronic product identifiers, with one such electronic product identifier associated with each one of a supply of products of each product type stored in the storage area and each electronic product identifier being adapted to receive a polling signal and to generate a responsive electromagnetic signal containing information that identifies at least the product type of the product; an electromagnetic sensing circuit having at least one transmitter for transmitting polling electromagnetic fields into the storage area proximate to the products in the storage area so that the electronic product identifier associated with each product can generate a response, with the electromagnetic sensing circuit further comprising at least one receiver for receiving each responsive electromagnetic signal at two separated sensing locations; a location circuit for determining a location in the storage area of each responsive electronic product identifier using the electromagnetic signals received; a data interface adapted to determine product information for each product type detected based upon signals received from the product identifiers; and a display controller adapted to automatically cause product information for each product to be presented in an area of the display that is proximate to locations of the storage area at which products of that type are located by the location circuit.