Labeling methods and devices
View Patent ↗Disclosed are methods and electronic devices 102 including a display 104 that is configured to display indicia 114, 116, 118 persistently during a shipping process. The disclosed methods and electronic devices may include an indicia control 110 for dynamically determining the indicia for persistent display based on at least one of a self-diagnostic software tool 112 , a selection from a table 122 of predetermined information, or downloaded data 124 . In one embodiment, by self-diagnosing a condition in the device 102 , repair or other similar indicia may be determined dynamically based on the self-diagnosis, and displayed persistently on the display 104 during a shipping process. In another embodiment, the persistent labeling indicia may include destination information 116 for routing based on the self-diagnosis. In yet another embodiment, product recycling indicia may be persistently displayed when the age of the device is determined in accordance with a self-diagnostic software tool 112.
1. A method of an electronic device having a controller and a display coupled to the controller, the method comprising:
self-diagnosing a condition in the electronic device, wherein the condition is that the electronic device needs repair or that the electronic device has reached a predetermined age;
dynamically determining, by the electronic device, destination information for routing based on the self-diagnosed condition in the electronic device; and
showing persistent indicia on the display persistently during an entire shipping process, the persistent indicia including the determined destination information for routing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein self-diagnosing comprises:
self-diagnosing non-interactively based upon predetermined criteria.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein self-diagnosing comprises:
self-diagnosing interactively via receipt of user input.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein showing persistent indicia on the display persistently during an entire shipping process is in an absence of an applied voltage.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein showing persistent indicia on the display persistently during an entire shipping process is in an absence of a main battery.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein showing persistent indicia on the display comprises displaying an address label.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein showing persistent indicia on the display comprises displaying a bar code.
8. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
downloading remote data from a server; and
determining the persistent indicia based on the remote data.
9. The method of claim 1 , the electronic device further having a memory, the method further comprising:
retrieving local data from the memory; and
displaying the persistent indicia based on the local data.
10. A method of an electronic device including a controller and a display coupled to the controller, the method comprising:
self-diagnosing a condition of the electronic device, wherein the condition is that the electronic device needs repair or that the electronic device has reached a predetermined age;
dynamically determining, by the electronic device, destination information for routing based on the self-diagnosed condition to generate self-diagnostic indicia; and
displaying the self-diagnostic indicia persistently throughout a shipping process.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein displaying the self-diagnostic indicia persistently throughout a shipping process is in an absence of an applied voltage.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein dynamically determining comprises:
downloading remote data from a server; and
determining the self-diagnostic indicia based on the remote data.
13. The method of claim 10 , the electronic device further having a memory, wherein dynamically determining comprises:
retrieving local data from the memory; and
determining the self-diagnostic indicia based on the local data.
14. An electronic device, comprising:
a controller;
a display coupled to the controller, wherein the display is configured to display indicia persistently during a shipping process; and
a dynamic indicia control coupled to the controller for determining destination information for routing based on a self-diagnostic software tool that determines whether the electronic device needs repair or has reached a predetermined age.
15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the display is configured to display the indicia persistently during a shipping process in an absence of an applied voltage.
16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the indicia comprises:
a bar code.
17. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the dynamic indicia control triggers generation of destination indicia.
18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the destination indicia comprises:
postal address indicia.
19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the destination indicia comprises:
postage indicia.
20. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the display is an electrophoretic (E-ink) type display.