Electronic shelf label system
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for an electronic label for use within shelf label tracks in stores. Such electronic labels receive initial information associated with an item being sold and begin displaying that information. When a change occurs such that the label needs to be modified, a record of the original information is retained within memory in the electronic label, such that the modified display can be used until the need for the modification ends. At that point, the electronic label can be restored to display the original information again using the stored record.
1. An electronic label, comprising:
a housing configured to engage with a shelf label track at any location on the shelf label track;
an electronic, touch display attached to the housing;
a processor contained within the housing; and
a computer-readable storage device within the housing, the computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
identifying a location of the electronic label within the shelf label track based on resistors built into the shelf label track;
receiving data associated with an item;
recording the data within the computer-readable storage device, to yield recorded data;
setting the electronic, touch display to display the recorded data based on the location;
receiving a notification indicating that the recorded data is not current;
modifying the electronic, touch display based on the notification, such that the recorded data is not displayed;
after modifying the electronic, touch display, receiving a subsequent notification indicating that the recorded data should be displayed; and
setting the electronic, touch display, based on the subsequent notification, to display the recorded data again.
2. The electronic label of claim 1 , further comprising a battery contained within the housing.
3. The electronic label of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable storage device has additional instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
communicating the location of the electronic label to a server, wherein the server contains a plan for items and displays within a store.
4. The electronic label of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the data, the receiving of the notification, and the receiving of the subsequent notification, are initiated by a hand-held device operated by a human worker.
5. The electronic label of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the data, the receiving of the notification, and the receiving of the subsequent notification, are initiated by a store server performing inventory management.
6. A method comprising:
identifying a location of an electronic label within a shelf label track based on resistors built into the shelf label track, the electronic label configured to couple to the shelf label track at any location on the shelf label track;
receiving data associated with an item, wherein at least a portion of the data is to be displayed on an electronic touch display, the electronic touch display being part of the electronic label configured to engage with the shelf label track;
recording the data within a computer-readable storage device, to yield recorded data; setting, via a processor in the electronic label, the electronic touch display to display the recorded data based on the location;
receiving a notification indicating that the recorded data is not current;
modifying the electronic display based on the notification, such that the recorded data is not displayed;
after modifying the electronic touch display, receiving a subsequent notification indicating that the recorded data should be displayed; and
setting the electronic touch display, based on the subsequent notification, to display the recorded data again.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the label further comprises a battery.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
communicating the location of the electronic label to a server, wherein the server contains a plan for items and labels within a store.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving of the data, the receiving of the notification, and the receiving of the subsequent notification, are initiated by a hand-held device operated by a human worker.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the receiving of the data, the receiving of the notification, and the receiving of the subsequent notification, are initiated by a store server performing inventory management.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving data associated with an item, wherein the data is to be displayed on an electronic display, the electronic display being part of a label configured to engage with a shelf label track at any location on the shelf label track;
recording the data within a computer-readable storage device, to yield recorded data;
identifying a location of the electronic label within the shelf label track based on resistors built into the shelf label track;
setting, via a processor in the label, the electronic display to display the recorded data based on the location;
receiving a notification indicating that the recorded data is not current;
modifying the electronic display based on the notification, such that the recorded data is not displayed;
after modifying the electronic display, receiving a subsequent notification indicating that the recorded data should be displayed; and
setting the electronic display, based on the subsequent notification, to display the recorded data again.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the label further comprises a battery.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 11 , having additional instructions stored which, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
communicating the location of the label to a server, wherein the server contains a plan for items and displays within a store.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the data, the receiving of the notification, and the receiving of the subsequent notification, are initiated by a hand-held device operated by a human worker.