The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 1995
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1994
Bruce F Failing, Jr, Greenwich, CT (US);
Robert J Venable, Darien, CT (US);
Jeffrey T Sandgren, New Canaan, CT (US);
Anthony P Fernandez, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc., Wilton, CT (US);
Abstract
A system has a central store computer and a multiplicity of electronic shelf labels (ESLs). Each label has a means to detect the presence of an ESL-mounted shelf talker. The system automatically audits the store for the proper set of installed shelf talkers. The detection means is an optical port, a pressure sensor such as a button, or a capacitive sensor. The sensor will detect the presence of the shelf talker as well as the absence of the shelf talker. The talker may snap into a recessed optical port, the recessed port serving as a mounting mechanism as well, thus ensuring a more reliable indication that the shelf talker is installed. The sensor may be a capacitive sensor, detecting the presence of a metallized region on the shelf talker. An audit is performed by the connected host computer, which maintains a database of all products with ESLs, and specifically includes data as to which ESLs (products) are on which promotional event, the starting and end dates, and the actual (current) status of whether a shelf talker is installed.