System and method of reporting status through an electronic price label system

0001The present invention relates to system monitoring and status reporting systems, and more specifically to a system and method of reporting a status of another system through an electronic price label (EPL) system.

0002Retail establishments typically include a plurality of separate computer systems or networks. Each of these systems has a central back-office server. For example, the point-of-sale (POS) system provides item price and other information to checkout terminals after items are scanned at the checkout terminals.

0003Another example of a system is the credit authorization system which allows a POS system to clear credit card and check purchases.

0004Another example of a system is the EPL system. EPL systems typically include a plurality of EPLs for each merchandise item in a retail establishment. EPLs typically display the price of corresponding merchandise items on retail establishment shelves and are typically attached to a rail along the leading edge of the shelves. A retail establishment may contain thousands of EPLs to display the prices of the merchandise items. The EPLs are coupled to a central server from where information about the EPLs is typically maintained in an EPL data file. Price information displayed by the EPLs is obtained from the PLU file.

0005Retail establishment personnel must monitor the condition of these individual networks in the back office where the computers reside. Thus, when personnel are working in the merchandise and produce aisles, they do not notice system errors when they occur.

0006Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a method of reporting the status of the one or more systems, including the EPL system, at many locations throughout a retail establishment. It is a further object to use the EPLs to display system status messages for these systems.

0007According to the present invention an electronic price label (EPL) system comprising:    a plurality of EPLs, and a computer arranged to cause the EPLs to display price information, characterized by a further system and at least one further EPL arranged to display a status message indicating the status of the further system.

0008Also according to the invention a method of determining a status of a second system by a first system comprising the steps of: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>creating fault data by the second system;</li><li>reading the fault data to determine the status of the second system by the first system; characterized by the further step of causing an EPL coupled to the first system to display the status of the second system.</li></ul>

0009The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram including a plurality of retail systems whose current conditions are reported using the method of the present invention;</li><li>Figs. 2A and 2B are a more detailed view of the diagram of Fig. 1, including a more detailed view of an EPL system;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an EPL module;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an EPL failure detection and reporting method;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a chart of EPL tests performed, purpose of tests, and methods of detection;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a chart of EPL faults monitored, actions, and recommendations; and</li><li>Fig. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention.</li></ul>

0010Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, retail store system 10 primarily includes EPLs 18a-d, EPL fault data file 26a, and status reporting software 54. EPL fault data file 26a is created by EPL diagnostic software 30a within an EPL system 11 (Figs. 2A and 2B).

0011EPLs 18a-d include "normal" EPLs 21a-d and status reporting EPLs 19a-d. Normal EPLs are mounted to shelves and displays for the purpose of conveying price and other information to customers. Status reporting EPLs 19a-d may be mounted throughout a store or carried by employees for the purpose of reporting store system status information to employees.

0012Status reporting software 54 periodically reads EPL fault data file 26a and causes status messages to be displayed by EPLs 19a-d, including messages indicative of problems detected by EPL diagnostic software 30a.

0013Status reporting software 54 preferably resides in EPL system 11.

0014Status reporting software 54 may also periodically read fault data files from other systems. For example, if a point-of-sale (POS) system 50 (Figs. 2A and 2B) were to store system status messages in a POS fault data file 26b, status reporting software 54 would periodically read POS fault data file 26b and cause EPLs 19a-d to display the status of POS system 50. In such a case, EPL system 11 and POS system 50 would be connected, preferably through a network.

0015In order to read fault data files from other systems, status reporting software 54 understands multiple file formats.

0016Also shown is a credit fault data file 26c which is created by a credit authorization system 52 (Figs. 2A and 2B) within the retail establishment. Through a network connection to credit authorization system 52, status reporting software 54 reads credit fault data file 26c in a similar manner.

0017Status reporting EPLs 19a-d display status messages which alert retail establishment personnel to a problem in any of the monitored systems. EPLs 19a-d are included within the total group of installed EPL, EPLs 18a-d (Figs. 2A and 2B). Preferably, status reporting EPLs 19a-d are spread out throughout the retail establishment. An EPL may even be carried by a store employee as a pager.

0018With reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, EPL system 11 includes computer 12, storage medium 14, communication base stations (CBSs) 15a-d, CBS power supply 16a-b, EPLs 18a-d, display 22, printer 23, communications circuitry 24, and noisemaker 25. Server 50 and server 52 could share the same CPU and storage system.

0019Computer 12 executes EPL control software 20, EPL diagnostic software 30a, and fault data file monitoring software 54.

0020EPL control software 20 records, schedules, and transmits price changes to EPLs 18a-d through CBSs 15a-d, and receives and analyzes status messages from EPLs 18a-d through CBSs 15a-d. EPL control software 20 also maintains and uses EPL data file 28, which contains item information, identification information, item price verifier information, and status information for each of EPLs 18a-d.

0021EPL control software 20 primarily includes data scheduler 34 and CBS manager 36. Data scheduler 34 schedules EPL price change messages to be sent to EPLs 18a-d through CBSs 15 and 16.

0022CBS manager 36 schedules the actual transmission of price change messages to EPLs 18a-d and the reception of status messages from EPLs 18a-d for predetermined time slots.

0023EPL diagnostic software 30a automatically monitors EPL system 11 for failures, logs failures in EPL fault data file 26a, displays failures on display 22, prints failure reports using printer 23, and reports failures and read faults that have been logged in EPL fault data file 26a by other applications to support system 32 using communication circuitry 24. EPL diagnostic software may also cause noisemaker 25 to alert users of a failure. Noisemaker 25 preferably includes a speaker. Display 22, printer 23, and noisemaker 25 are preferably coupled to computer 12.

0024Computer 12 may include one or more communication ports 31a-b.

0025Storage medium 14 is preferably a fixed disk drive. Storage medium 14 stores EPL fault data file 26a, EPL system configuration file 27, and EPL data file 28. EPL system configuration file tells computer 12 how system 11 is configured, i.e., the addresses of EPL system components and there location relative to other components within system 11.

0026CBSs 15a-d are connected together in series by cables 35a-c. Here, only four CBSs are shown. CBSs 15a-d each include one transmit antenna 37 and up to four receive antennas 38 for transmitting and receiving messages between CBSs 15a-d and EPLs 18a-d.

0027One or more of CBSs may receive power from a single power supply. Here, CBSs 15a-b receive power from CBS power supply 16a, and CBSs 15c-d receive power from CBS power supply 16b.

0028CBSs 15a-d each include CBS circuitry 39 which controls operation of each CBS. In CBSs 15a-d, circuitry 39 maintains memory-based CBS data 41. Within CBSs 15b-d, CBS data 41 contains error rates of communication between CBS 15a and each of the other CBSs 15b-d. Within CBS 15a, CBS data 41 contains error rates of communication between CBS 15a and computer 12. When CBS 15c is designated a master as explained below, CBS data 41 contains error rates of communication between CBS 15c and computer 12. Excessively high error rates can signal a bad connection in cables 33a-b, or cables 35a-c.

0029CBSs 15a-d also include a low-noise amplifier (LNA) 45 which amplifies signals received by CBS receive antennas 38 so that CBS circuitry 39 can better process the information within those signals.

0030One cause of CBS failure is a failure of LNA 45. To determine whether LNA 45 is faulty (failed or not connected), computer 12 transmits a status message to CBS 15a, CBS 15a transmits the status message to EPL 18a, and EPL 18a transmits a return signal to CBS 15a. If the return signal is not received by computer 12 through CBS 15a, computer 12 determines whether LNA 45 is consuming power above a predetermined minimum power level. If the power level is below the predetermined minimum power level, computer 12 transmits a fault message to support system 32. The types of information logged within CBS data 41 include the number of messages sent to other CBSs and whether the other CBSs responded. CBS data 41 also keeps track of the number of messages sent to the EPLs and if it 'heard' anything of interest or not.

0031CBS 15a is a master CBS and CBSs 15b-d are slave CBSs. CBS 15a communicates directly with computer 12. An alternate master may also be designated. Here, CBS 15c is shown as an alternate master which communicates directly with computer 12 through cable 33b when CBS 15a is down (not working properly), its communication port 31a is down, or when cable 33a between CBS 15a and computer 12 is down.

0032Communication circuitry 24 transmits failure messages generated by EPL diagnostic software 30a to support system 32. Communication circuitry 24 is preferably a modem, but could also include network circuitry, such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) adapter.

0033Support system 32 is preferably a computer system with a modem located at the site of an EPL system vendor or EPL system technician.

0034POS system 50 and credit authorization system 52 include diagnostic software as well. POS system 50 includes POS diagnostic software 30b which writes errors to POS fault data file 26b. Credit authorization system 52 includes credit diagnostic software 30c which writes errors to credit fault data file 26c.

0035POS diagnostic software 30 monitors occurrences in a POS device and logs messages identifying any 'problems' detected. Problems include printer jams, hardware and software failures of checkout terminal, failures of displays, excessive cash in checkout terminal tills, excessively high (above void limit) voids (delete item from sale). Other problems not associated with the operation of checkout terminals include messages indicating that an item price check is needed and that customer assistance is needed (e.g., broken eggs, milk leaking).

0036Credit diagnostic software 30c monitors the communications link between the store and the switch. Additionally this system alerts store personnel if server 52 is unable to establish a connection.

0037Turning now to Fig. 3, EPLs 18a-d each include battery 40, transmit and receive antenna 42, display 46, memory 47, EPL circuitry 48, and switch 56. Since there is only one antenna 42, if antenna 42 is broken, the EPL is considered broken or lost (not in the retail establishment).

0038Battery 40 provides power to EPLs 18a-d. A low battery voltage is one cause for EPL malfunction and failure.

0039Transmit and receive antenna 42 receives price change and status messages from CBS 15a-d. Failure of antenna 42 can cause EPL 18a-d to miss price change requests from EPL control software 20.

0040Transmit and receive antenna 42 transmits responses to price change and status messages to CBS 15a-d. Failure of antenna 42 can prevent EPL control software 20 from verifying that price changes have been received and displayed by EPL 18a-d.

0041Display 46 displays price and possibly additional information. Display 46 is preferably a liquid crystal display and includes glass 49. A failure of display 46, which may include a crack in glass 49, prevents EPL 18a-d from displaying price information to customers.

0042Memory 47 stores price verifier information. Preferably, the price verifier information is a checksum of the displayed price.

0043EPL circuitry 48 controls the internal operation of EPL 18a-d. A failure within circuitry 48 can cause a total failure of EPL 18a-d.

0044Switch 56 allows an operator to manually clear a status message that is displayed by an EPL. Clearing may involve removing a status message from memory 47 or clearing display 46. Switch 56 is preferably a push-button switch, but other switches are also envisioned. Alerts may also be cleared by sending a message from EPL computer 12.

0045Turning now to Fig. 4, the operation of EPL diagnostic software 30a is explained in more detail, beginning with START 60.

0046In step 62, EPL diagnostic software 30a periodically sends an instruction to CBS manager 36 to transmit a status request to CBSs 15a-d and EPLs 18a-d.

0047In step 64, EPL diagnostic software 30a receives a status reply from CBS manager 36.

0048In step 66, EPL diagnostic software 30a compares the status message to configuration file 27.

0049In step 68, EPL diagnostic software 30a determines from the comparison whether a fault has occurred. If not, then the method returns to step 62.

0050If a fault has been detected, EPL diagnostic software 30a logs the fault in EPL fault data file 26a.

0051In step 69, EPL diagnostic software 30a displays the fault condition and a recommendation on display 22. Alternatively, EPL diagnostic software may activate noisemaker 25 or cause a printer to print an error message in step 70.

0052In step 72, EPL diagnostic software 30a notifies retail establishment personnel and support system 32 of the problem and sends a support request containing the fault condition and recommendation to support system 32. Notification of support system 32 and retail establishment personnel could be in the form of a displayed, printed, or aural message. Preferably, display 22 is used to notify retail establishment personnel. The method then returns to step 62 to continue monitoring EPL system 11.

0053Advantageously, EPL diagnostic software 30a provides immediate and automatic notification of critical component failure to retail establishment personnel and to EPL technicians. Notification of non-critical component failure may be delayed.

0054EPL diagnostic software 30a performs tests which are listed in Fig. 5.

0055Examples of failures that are monitored and reported by EPL diagnostic software 30a are shown in Fig. 5.

0056When a fault occurs, the fault may be determined by implementing one or more tests. For example, if a CBS test on all of CBSs 15a-d indicates that all of CBSs 15a-d have failed, the failure may have been caused by any one of a plurality of causes, least probable of which are substantially simultaneous failures of CBSs 15a-d. A failure of serial port 31a is one possible cause, therefore, a port test is performed. If serial port 31a has failed, EPL diagnostic software 30a generates a support request which is sent to support system 32 by communication circuitry 24.

0057If serial port 31a has not failed, CBS 15a or cable 33a may have failed. A failure of either prevents messages from reaching CBSs 15b-d. To test this cause, CBS 15c is configured as the master CBS and a CBS test is performed on each CBS 15a-d. If CBS 15a passes the CBS test, then cable 33a is the likely cause of failure. EPL diagnostic software 30a generates a support request which is sent to support system 32 by communication circuitry 24.

0058If CBS 15a does not pass the test, and other CBSs also do not pass the test, a power supply test is performed to determine whether power supply 16a is the cause of the failure. If both CBS 15a and CBS 15b have failed, the power supply test compares the failure of CBSs 15a and 15b to EPL system configuration file 27. Since CBSs 15a and 15b are both powered by power supply 16a, a failure of power supply 16a is the likely cause. EPL diagnostic software 30a generates a support request which is sent to support system 32 by communication circuitry 24.

0059As another example of how the tests in Fig. 4 can be combined to diagnose faults in Fig. 6, suppose that EPL diagnostic software 30a queries EPLs 18a-d and provides a preliminary indication that one or more of EPLs 18a-d are not working or not in system 11. If only one EPL is down, then the EPL is down or the EPL is not listed in EPL data file 28.

0060If a plurality of EPLs 18a-d are down, then one of CBSs 15a-d is probably down since it is not probable that a plurality of EPLs 18a-d would fail substantially simultaneously. A CBS test is performed on the CBS associated with the down EPLs. If the CBS is down, EPL diagnostic software 30a generates a support request which is sent to support system 32 by communication circuitry 24.

0061If the CBS is not down, then only part of the CBS may be down. The transmitter portion of CBS circuitry 39 may be the likely cause. Therefore, a CBS transmit test is performed. If the CBS cannot transmit to its associated EPLs, then EPL diagnostic software 30a generates a support request which is sent to support system 32 by communication circuitry 24.

0062Turning now to Fig. 7, the operation of status monitoring software 54 is illustrated beginning with START 80.

0063In step 82, status monitoring software 54 reads EPL fault data file 26a, POS fault data file 26b, and credit fault data file 26c.

0064In step 84, status monitoring software 54 determines whether an error has been logged in any of EPL fault data file 26a, POS fault data file 26b, or credit fault data file 26c. If not, status monitoring software 54 instructs EPLs 19a-d to display a system normal message in step 84 and operation returns to step 82 to continue monitoring. A system normal message is one that indicates no errors have occurred. For example, the system normal message may be the current time, "OK [time]", "EPL OK", "POS OK", "CREDIT OK", or any other desirable message.

0065Status monitoring software 54 instructs EPL control software 20 to send a data change message addressed to EPLs 19a-d. The data change message contains the system normal message.

0066If status monitoring software 54 finds that an error has been logged in EPL fault data file 26a, POS fault data file 26b, or credit fault data file 26c, operation proceeds to step 88 in which status monitoring software 54 instructs EPLs 19a-d to display a system error message. A system error message is one that indicates that an error has occurred. For example, the system error message may be the time the error was discovered, "CK EPL", "CK POS", "CK CREDIT", or any other desirable message. More detail on the specific error may be determined by retail establishment personnel by examining the reports generated by diagnostic software 30a-c in each of the systems 11, 50, and 52.

0067Status monitoring software 54 instructs EPL control software 20 to send a data change message addressed to EPLs 19a-d. The data change message contains the system error message.

0068Store personnel must also be alerted to EPL system failures which prohibit communication to the status EPLs 19a-d. Status EPLs 19a-d alert store personnel to these type of failures in the following manner: Status monitoring software 54 sends EPLs 19a-d a message to display "EPL OK". Next, status monitoring software 54 schedules status EPLs 19a-d to display "EPL DOWN" by sending a promotional message. Before the "EPL DOWN" message is displayed, status monitoring software 54 delays the promotional message by sending another scheduled promotional message. This process is repeated until a critical EPL system failure occurs, such as failure of CBS power supplies 16a-b. Failures of CBS power supplies 16a-b causes all EPL radio frequency communication to cease, and status EPLs 19a-d will display the scheduled promotional message "EPL DOWN".

0069Alternative message formats are also envisioned. For example, the display format may include a combination of time and status at periodic intervals: '0815 EPL OK' and then 15 minutes later '0830 EPL OK'. This format would continue on the interval as defined (15 minutes in this case) until there is a major error in the system. If a major error were to occur at 0835, the displayed message would not change to 0845.

0070In step 90, EPLs 19a-d continue to display the system error message until retail establishment personnel notice the system error message on at least one of EPLs 19a-d and clear the system error message at EPL computer 12 by sending another price change message addressed to EPLs 19a-d. The price change message contains a system normal message.

0071Alternatively, EPLs 19a-d continue to display the system error message until retail establishment personnel monitoring EPLs 19a-d clear the system error message by pressing the button on the EPL. EPL status monitoring software 54 identifies which status EPL 19a-d acknowledged the failure, and records the time of the acknowledgment in EPL fault data file 26a. EPL status monitoring software 54 clears the system error message by sending a message to EPLs 19a-d.

0072Operation returns to step 82 to monitor for further errors.

0073EPL system 11 can continue to display system error messages in the face of system failures. The system can pre-send a generic failure message to an EPL. This present generic failure message will automatically be displayed after a certain amount of time following a failure. Thus, the system error message would be displayed even during such failures as serial port failure, 33a-b cable failures, power supply failures, EPL computer failure.

0074When the EPL system is partially functioning, status monitoring software 54 alerts store personnel by sending messages to EPLs 19a-d. Partial failures include CBS receive antenna failures, CBS transmit antenna failures, isolated EPL tag failures, and EPL system software failures. A partial failure may also occur when a single power supply fails in an EPL system having multiple power supplies, a cable fails but doesn't disable all CBSs, or when a single CBS fails.