Ncr Corporation

Peter H Plocher

Gary C Dalton

Techniques for a wireless electronic shelf label (ESL) system including a relay unit having multiple transmit antennae connected to a single RF transmitter. The transmitter is connected to the multiple transmit antennae through an impedance matched power splitter which uniformly splits the transmitter power output and allows each transmit antennae to transmit a fraction of the total transmit power produced by the transmitter. By locating the transmit antennae in multiple locations in a retail establishment, an improved pattern of RF coverage can be provided for ESLs, when compared to the traditional single transmit antenna. Additionally, the cost of the ESL system is low since fewer RF transmitters are required.

Methods and apparatus for an electronic shelf label communication system having multiple transmit antennae

A communication system which uses a multi-mode transmitter to communicate in a serial fashion with first and second wireless devices. The system includes a transmitter, a first transmitter control circuit which allows the transmitter to communicate with a first communication device, a second transmitter control circuit which allows the transmitter to communicate with a second communication device, a first receiver circuit which receives signals from the first communication device, a second receiver circuit which receives signals from the communication device, and a switch circuit. In one embodiment, the system additionally includes a controller coupled to the first and second receiver circuits which causes the switch circuit to select the first transmitter control circuit during a first time period and the second transmitter control circuit during a second time period different than the first time period.

Method of minimizing interference between devices which communicate in overlapping communication bands

A system and method of locating a wireless device which relies on signal strength measurements and the known positions of receiving sensors. The system includes a number of transceivers each including a transmitter which transmits a first signal to the wireless device, a plurality of receivers including a plurality of sensors and at least one signal strength determining circuit for determining signal strengths of second signals received by the sensors, and a control circuit for controlling transmission of the first signal and reception of the second signals. A storage medium contains the locations for each of the sensors. A computer coupled to the control circuit instructs the control circuit to transmit the first signal and determines a location of the wireless device from the signal strengths and from the locations of the sensors.

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Duluth, GA, United States of America

Peter H Plocher