US6107936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic price label system including an electronic price label for attracting customers
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1997-07-29
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Granted: 2000-08-22
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Expires: 2017-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An electronic price label (EPL) system including an EPL for attracting customers which uses a noisemaker to make noise during special promotions. The system includes an EPL associated with an item including a noisemaker, and an EPL computer which transmits a command to the EPL to activate the noisemaker during a special promotion of the item. The EPL computer may also transmit a command to display a promotional message to the EPL.
Inventors
- 👤 Terry L. Zimmerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: an EPL associated with an item the EPL including a noisemaker; an EPL computer which transmits a command to the EPL to activate the noisemaker during a special promotion of the item; wherein the EPL activates the noisemaker in response to the transmitted command from the EPL computer during the special promotion of the item.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: an EPL associated with an item the EPL including a noisemaker; an EPL computer which transmits a command to the EPL to activate the noisemaker during a special promotion of the item; wherein the EPL activates the noisemaker in response to the transmitted command from the EPL computer during the special promotion of the item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the EPL computer also transmits a command to display a promotional message to the EPL.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of attracting customers to an item during a special promotion of the item comprising the steps of: providing an electronic price label (EPL) including a noisemaker; associating the EPL with the item; transmitting a message addressed to the EPL containing a command to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion; and activating the noisemaker by the EPL during the special promotion.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of attracting customers to an item during a special promotion of the item comprising the steps of: providing an electronic price label (EPL) including a noisemaker; associating the EPL with the item; transmitting a message addressed to the EPL containing a command to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion; and activating the noisemaker by the EPL during the special promotion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of attracting customers to an item during a special promotion of the item comprising the steps of: providing an electronic price label (EPL) including a noisemaker and a display; associating the EPL with the item; transmitting a message addressed to the EPL containing a promotional message and a command to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion; displaying the promotional message by the EPL during the special promotion; and activating the noisemaker by the EPL during the special promotion.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of attracting customers to an item during a special promotion of the item comprising the steps of: providing an electronic price label (EPL) including a noisemaker and a display; associating the EPL with the item; transmitting a message addressed to the EPL containing a promotional message and a command to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion; displaying the promotional message by the EPL during the special promotion; and activating the noisemaker by the EPL during the special promotion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic price label (EPL) comprising: a noisemaker for attracting customers to a specially promoted item associated with the EPL; a display for displaying price information associated with a specially promoted item; a memory for storing information received from a computer for controlling the noisemaker and the display; and a control circuit coupled to the noisemaker, the memory, and the display for activating the noisemaker in accordance with the information in the memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic price label (EPL) comprising: a noisemaker for attracting customers to a specially promoted item associated with the EPL; a display for displaying price information associated with a specially promoted item; a memory for storing information received from a computer for controlling the noisemaker and the display; and a control circuit coupled to the noisemaker, the memory, and the display for activating the noisemaker in accordance with the information in the memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The EPL as recited in claim 5, wherein the memory also stores promotional messages received from the computer, and wherein the control circuit causes the display to display the promotional message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: a plurality of EPLs; an EPL computer for transmitting messages to the plurality of EPLs, said messages including price change messages and diagnostic messages; wherein each of the plurality of EPLs is associated with an item, each of the plurality of EPLs including: a noisemaker for attracting customers to a specially promoted item associated with the EPL; a display for displaying price information associated with a specially promoted item; a memory for storing information received from the EPL computer for controlling the noisemaker and the display; and a control circuit coupled to the noisemaker, the memory, and the display for activating the noisemaker in accordance with the information in the memory; and wherein the EPL computer transmits a noisemaker command to one of the plurality of EPLs to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion of the item.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
An electronic price label (EPL) system comprising: a plurality of EPLs; an EPL computer for transmitting messages to the plurality of EPLs, said messages including price change messages and diagnostic messages; wherein each of the plurality of EPLs is associated with an item, each of the plurality of EPLs including: a noisemaker for attracting customers to a specially promoted item associated with the EPL; a display for displaying price information associated with a specially promoted item; a memory for storing information received from the EPL computer for controlling the noisemaker and the display; and a control circuit coupled to the noisemaker, the memory, and the display for activating the noisemaker in accordance with the information in the memory; and wherein the EPL computer transmits a noisemaker command to one of the plurality of EPLs to activate the noisemaker during the special promotion of the item.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: said noisemaker command includes a volume setting of the noisemaker.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: said noisemaker command includes a period setting of the noisemaker.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: said noisemaker command includes a pitch setting of the noisemaker.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: said noisemaker command includes a promotional message.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic price label system of claim 11 wherein: said one of the plurality of EPLs displays the promotional message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: said noisemaker command includes price information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: the price information is stored in a price look-up (PLU) file.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: activation of the noisemaker is controlled by storing an add noise setting in an EPL data file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electronic price label system of claim 7 wherein: the EPL computer creates the noisemaker command containing noise settings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electronic price label system of claim 16 wherein: the noisemaker command is addressed to the one of the plurality of EPLs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electronic price label system of claim 17 wherein: the one of the plurality of EPLs stores the noise settings in the memory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-22 | 2004-02-21 | 2004-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-22 | 2008-02-21 | 2008-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-22 | 2012-02-21 | 2012-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |