초록 ▼

An electronic device for remotely displaying information includes a central control unit in connection with a plurality of electronic labels (4) through a communication network made up of a plurality of nodes (1) connected to said central unit, each node (1) being provided with an infrared transmitt

An electronic device for remotely displaying information includes a central control unit in connection with a plurality of electronic labels (4) through a communication network made up of a plurality of nodes (1) connected to said central unit, each node (1) being provided with an infrared transmitter (2) for sending signals to the labels (4) and with a radio frequency receiver (6) to receive messages coming from the labels (4), while each label (4) is provided with an infrared receiver (3) to receive messages coming from the nodes (1) and with a radio frequency transmitter (5) to send messages to the nodes (1).

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An electronic system for removing displaying of information in a retail environment, the system comprising:a central control unit;a communications network having a plurality of nodes, each node being coupled to the central control unit; anda plurality of electronic labels, each labe

[ I claim:] [1.] An electronic system for removing displaying of information in a retail environment, the system comprising:a central control unit;a communications network having a plurality of nodes, each node being coupled to the central control unit; anda plurality of electronic labels, each label having a display for showing information relating to an exhibited item adjacent the label, the items being retail goods available for purchase by a customer;each node having at least one transmitter for sending a signal to at least one of the labels, the at least one transmitter being of an infrared (IR) type only;each label having a receiver for receiving a signal from at least one of the nodes, the receiver being of an infrared (IR) type only;each label having a transmitter for sending a message to at least one of the nodes, the transmitter being of a radio frequency (RF) type only; andeach node having a receiver for receiving a message from at least one of the labels, the receiver being of a radio frequency (RF) type only, wherein the mixed IR/RF communication scheme eliminates node transmitter antenna concerns, reduces signal interference and reduces label receiver power consumption compared to an RF communication scheme used between the nodes and the labels, while simultaneously reducing label transmitter power consumption, reducing component requirements and reducing the number of nodes required by the system compared to an IR communication scheme used between the labels and the nodes.