U.S. patent application number 09/506036 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for methods and apparatus for providing an electronic price label countdown timer.
Invention is credited to Witt, Cory A..
Application Number | 20020065789 09/506036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24012898 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020065789 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Witt, Cory A. |
May 30, 2002 |
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC PRICE LABEL
COUNTDOWN TIMER
Abstract
Techniques for informing customers of impending price changes of
items in a retail establishment are described. An EPL computer
reads an EPL data file to determine when an upcoming price change
for an item is scheduled to occur. The EPL computer transmits a
timer countdown message to a EPL associated with the item which
includes a time remaining until a current price is to be updated
with a new price. The EPL then displays the time remaining for the
current price, providing valuable information to customers who are
in the process of making purchasing decisions. In one aspect, as
time passes, the EPL computer sends further timer countdown
messages to the EPL containing updates of the time remaining, allow
the EPL to display the updated time. In another aspect, no further
timer countdown messages are sent to the EPL, as the EPL includes
EPL circuitry which decrements and updates the time remaining as
time passes.
Inventors: |
Witt, Cory A.; (Suwanee,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul W Martin
NCR Corporation
Law Department
101 W Schantz Avenue
Dayton
OH
45479
US
|
Family ID: |
24012898 |
Appl. No.: |
09/506036 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/201 20130101;
G06Q 30/06 20130101; G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/202 20130101;
G06Q 30/0283 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/400 |
International
Class: |
G06G 007/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: an EPL for
displaying a current price of an item and displaying a time
remaining until the current price is replaced with a new price; and
an EPL computer which sends a timer countdown message to the EPL,
said timer countdown message including the time remaining until the
current price of the item is replaced with the new price.
2. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL computer sends a
second timer countdown message to the EPL, said second timer
countdown message including a second time remaining until the
current price of the item is replaced with the new price.
3. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL updates the time
remaining until the current price is replaced with the new
price.
4. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL computer further
comprises an EPL data file which includes a scheduled price change
time associated with the EPL and wherein the EPL computer reads the
scheduled price change time to determine the time remaining.
5. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL displays the time
remaining as a series of scrolling messages.
6. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL is located on a store
shelf in a location adjacent to the item.
7. The EPL system of claim 1 wherein: the EPL comprises a data
register, a display and EPL circuitry.
8. The EPL system of claim 1 further comprising: a price look-up
(PLU) file which contains a plurality of prices corresponding to a
plurality of items; and a bar code scanner adapted to access the
PLU file.
9. An electronic price label (EPL) comprising: a display for
displaying a current price of an item and for displaying a time
remaining until the current price is replaced with a new price; a
memory device for storing the current price and the time remaining;
and circuitry for updating the time remaining as time passes.
10. The EPL of claim 9 wherein: the EPL receives a timer countdown
message from an EPL computer, the timer countdown message including
the time remaining until the current price of the item is replaced
with the new price.
11. A method of informing a customer that a first price displayed
by an electronic price label (EPL) will be replaced with a second
price comprising the steps of: reading a record associated with an
EPL to determine a price change time; if the price change time is
within a predetermined time period of a current time, sending a
timer countdown message to the EPL, the timer countdown message
including a time remaining until the first price is replaced by the
second price; and displaying by the EPL the time remaining.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:
decrementing by the EPL the time remaining; and displaying by the
EPL the decremented time remaining.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: sending
a timer countdown message to the EPL, the timer countdown message
including a decremented time remaining until the first price is
replaced by the second price; and displaying by the EPL the
decremented time remaining.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:
displaying by the EPL the time remaining as a series of scrolling
messages.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein: the first price is a current
price of an item; and the second price is a new price of the item.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to improvements in
electronic price label (EPL) systems used in transaction
establishments. More specifically, the present invention relates to
improvements in EPL systems including systems and methods for an
EPL to display the time remaining before a price change for an item
is scheduled to occur.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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. A store
may contain thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the
merchandise items. The EPLs are coupled to a central server where
information about the EPLs is typically maintained in an EPL data
file. The EPL data file contains EPL identification information and
EPL merchandise item information. The central server sends
messages, including price change messages, to the EPLs.
[0003] It can be envisioned that occasionally a customer may pick
up an item from the store shelf, and as the customer continues to
shop, the product price changes before the customer gets to the
register to purchase the item. Even if the price had decreased,
this situation could cause the customer to believe that an
incorrect price had been charged for the item. Where the price
increased, customer confusion and anger might result.
[0004] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an EPL system
and method that can inform customers of price changes of items
before the price changes occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention advantageously provides methods and
apparatus for informing customers of impending price changes of
items in a retail establishment. According to one aspect of the
present invention, an EPL computer reads an EPL data file to
determine when an upcoming price change for an item is scheduled to
occur. The EPL computer transmits a timer countdown message to a
EPL associated with the item which includes a time remaining until
a current price is to be updated with a new price. The EPL then
displays the time remaining for the current price, providing
valuable information to customers who are in the process of making
purchasing decisions. In a presently preferred embodiment, as time
passes, the EPL computer sends further timer countdown messages to
the EPL containing updates of the time remaining, allow the EPL to
display the updated time. According to another embodiment of the
present invention, no further timer countdown messages are sent to
the EPL, as the EPL includes EPL circuitry which decrements and
updates the time remaining as time passes.
[0006] A more complete understanding of the present invention, as
well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be
apparent from the following detailed description and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a transaction management
system, including an EPL system in accordance with the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of information within a PLU data file
and an EPL data file in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an exemplary series of messages
displayed by an EPL to inform a customer of an impending price
change in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3C shows a block diagram of an EPL in accordance with
one aspect of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary EPL display showing a current
price of an item and a time remaining for the current price in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a first method of informing a customer of an
impending price change in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0013] FIG. 6 shows a second method of informing a customer of an
impending price change in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present invention now will be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several presently
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention
may, however, be embodied in various forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a transaction management system 10 which
includes a host computer system 12, a point-of-service (POS) system
14, and an EPL system 16. Here, components 12, 14, and 16 are shown
as separate components that are networked together, but they and
their subcomponents may also be combined in various ways. Thus,
host computer system 12 may be a POS terminal which doubles as a
host computer for a network of other POS terminals.
[0016] The host computer system 12 includes a storage medium 36, a
host price look-up (PLU) terminal 40, and an input device 42. The
storage medium 36 includes a PLU data file 44 which stores item
prices which are available for distribution to a POS terminal 20 by
the host PLU terminal 40. Alternatively, provision may be made for
a bar code scanner 18 to directly access the PLU data file 44 from
the host PLU terminal 40. Host PLU terminal 40 executes PLU
maintenance routine 50 which updates PLU data file 44. Input device
42 is preferably a keyboard.
[0017] POS system 14 includes bar code scanner 18 and terminal
20.
[0018] EPL system 16 primarily includes EPLs 22, host EPL terminal
24, EPL storage medium 26, and display 25.
[0019] Terminals 20, 24, and 40 are shown as separate components
that are networked together, but they may also be combined in
different ways. For example, EPL terminal 24 and host PLU terminal
may be combined to form a single host computer. POS terminal 20 and
host PLU terminal may be combined to form a POS terminal which
doubles as a host computer for a network of other POS
terminals.
[0020] EPLs 22 are typically attached to shelves within a store and
include a data register 54, EPL circuitry 55 and a display 56. Data
registers 54 contain data which usually includes the price of an
item associated with an EPL on the shelves. Data registers 54 may
also suitably include promotional or informational messages to be
displayed. The data contained in registers 54 is typically
displayed by display 56.
[0021] Host EPL terminal executes EPL software 30, which maintains
the contents of EPL data file 32. Host EPL terminal 24 also
executes price change timer countdown program 38, described in
greater detail below.
[0022] EPL software 30 records, schedules, and transmits all
messages to EPLs 22. EPL software 30 also maintains and uses EPL
data file 32, which contains item information, such as a PLU
number, scheduled price change time and EPL identification
information for each of the EPLs 22. EPL software 30 includes data
scheduler 34 which schedules EPL price change messages and EPL
timer countdown messages to EPLs 22.
[0023] Turning now to FIG. 2A, EPL data file 32 and PLU data file
44 are shown in more detail. EPL data file 32 includes a line entry
for each EPL 22 in EPL system 16. Each line entry has an item
identification entry (ITEM ID), an EPL identification entry (EPL
ID), and entry price checksum (EPL CHECK). Entry ITEM ID identifies
a store item. Entry EPL ID identifies which EPL is assigned to the
item. Entry price checksum (EPL CHECK) is calculated from the price
in PLU data file 44.
[0024] While in a preferred embodiment EPL data file 32 also
includes entry SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME for each EPL, scheduled
price changes may also be maintained in a separate file.
[0025] PLU data file includes a line entry for each item sold in
the store. Each line entry has an item identification entry (ITEM
ID) identifying a store item, and a PLU price entry (PLU PRICE)
identifying the price read by POS system 14 to determine the price
of each item during scanning by bar code scanner 18.
[0026] During normal operation, EPL software 30 obtains price
information for an item from PLU data file 44. Data scheduler 34
schedules price change messages for transmission. EPL software 30
controls transmission of messages to the EPL. The EPL stores the
price data in register 54.
[0027] In order to ensure that a customer is aware of impending
price changes, price change timer program 38 reads EPL data file 32
to determine which items have a SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME. If the
SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME indicates that a price change will
occur within a predetermined time period of the current time, for
example, within an hour, the price change timer program 38 causes
EPL software 30 to transmit a timer countdown message to the EPL 22
associated with the item whose price is to be changed. The timer
countdown message instructs the EPL to display the time remaining
for the current price. Further, the predetermined time may be
advantageously selected to be a period of days or weeks to inform
customers of the impending price change and allow the customers to
plan purchases.
[0028] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an exemplary series of messages
displayed by EPL 22 to inform a customer of an impending price
change. A first message displayed by EPL 22 shows the customer the
current unit price, such as price per ounce, and the current item
price. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, "0.35" is the
current unit price and "2.89" is the current item price. The EPL 22
may suitably scroll through a series of messages to inform the
customer of the time remaining for the current price. In the
example shown in FIG. 3A, the customer is informed that a price
change will occur in 28 minutes. In the example shown in FIG. 3B,
the customer is informed that 15 minutes remain on a special or
sale price. By informing customers of the time remaining for items
that are specially priced, a retail establishment may
advantageously create an exciting atmosphere in the store as
customers "hunt for the savings" in a treasure hunt type of
promotion.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, price change timer program 38
counts down the time remaining until the current price for an item
is to be replaced with a new price and sends the EPL 22 a plurality
of timer countdown messages, with each timer countdown messaged
indicating the time remaining. A first timer countdown message sent
to the EPL 22 may indicate that 60 minutes, for example, remains
before a price change. Then, a minute later, a second timer
countdown message sent to the EPL 22 would indicate that 59 minutes
remains before the price change. In other words, the price change
timer performs the countdown and informs the EPL 22 of the time
remaining.
[0030] In another embodiment, the price change timer program 38
sends a single countdown message to the EPL 22 and the EPL
circuitry 55 performs the countdown, updating the EPL display 56 as
time passes. As shown in FIG. 3C, the EPL circuitry 55 includes
timer countdown circuitry 57 which decrements the time remaining.
The time remaining is stored in one of a plurality of registers 59.
In addition to storing the time remaining, the registers 59 may
suitably store promotional or other types of information to be
displayed by the EPL 22.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the present
invention in which the EPL display 56 shows both the current price
and the time remaining for the current price. A paper or plastic
overlay 60 may also be advantageously utilized to further describe
the message displayed by EPL 22.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a method 100 of displaying a time remaining for
a current price displayed by of an EPL according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. In step 102, a price change
timer program reads an EPL record in an EPL data file. In step 104,
the price change timer program determines if a SCHEDULED PRICE
CHANGE TIME entry in the EPL record is within a predetermined time
of the current time. If the SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME entry is
not within a predetermined time of the current time, the method
proceeds to step 114 and ends. If the SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME
entry is within the predetermined time of the current time, then
the method moves to step 106 and the price change timer program
sends a timer countdown message to the EPL. In step 108, the EPL
displays the time remaining for the current price. In step 110, the
price change timer program decrements the time remaining for the
current price. Next, in step 112, the price change timer program
determines if the current time is equal to the SCHEDULED PRICE
CHANGE TIME. If the current time is equal to the SCHEDULED PRICE
CHANGE TIME, the method continues to step 114 and ends. If the
current time is not equal to the SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME, the
method continues to step 116. In step 116, the price change timer
program sends a timer countdown message to the EPL containing the
current time remaining before the price change occurs. Next, in
step 118, the EPL displays the current time remaining before the
price change occurs and the method continues to step 110.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a method 130 of displaying a time remaining for
a current price displayed by an EPL according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. In step 132, a price change
timer program reads an EPL record in an EPL data file. In step 134,
the price change timer program determines if a SCHEDULED PRICE
CHANGE TIME entry is within a predetermined time of the current
time. If the SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME entry is not within a
predetermined time of the current time, the method moves to step
136 and ends. If the SCHEDULED PRICE CHANGE TIME entry is within
the predetermined time of the current time, then the method moves
to step 138 and the price change timer program sends a timer
countdown message to the EPL. In step 140, the EPL displays the
time remaining for the current price. In step 142, the EPL performs
a countdown of the time remaining and displays the time remaining
as time passes. When no time remains for the current price, the
method moves to step 136 and ends.
[0034] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover
the modifications and variations of this invention provided they
come within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *