MXPA98001572A - Electronic product information presentation system - Google Patents

Abstract

The retail industry has changed markedly in the last few years. Information, technology and fierce competition have forced fundamental changes in the operational strategies of successful retailers. The new l of the success of the retailers is designed based on speed, efficiency and flexibility. It requires the ability to identify, establish and integrate information and technology that facilitate cost efficiency and generate a more pleasant shopping experience for the consumer. The ability to effectively execute the internal automation strategies of a store using the latest technology has become a point of differentiation for successful retailers

Description

. ELECTRONIC PRODUCT INFORMATION PRESENTATION SYSTEM This application is the continuation corresponding to the Provisional Application, Serial Number 60 / 001,673, filed on 07/31/95. A part of the disclosure of the present patent application contains material that is subject to intellectual property and intellectual property protection rights. The owner of these rights has no objection to the mechanical reproduction of the patent document or that the patent is revealed, according to what is recorded in the archives and records of the United States Patent and 10 Trademark Office (United States Patent and Trademark Office), - while at the same time reserving all intellectual property and works protection rights. FIELD OF THE INVENTION? The invention relates to a product information system and, particularly, to a product information system that provides a link between shelf edge applications and those developed internally in stores.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, price presentation systems con- sisted of a paper label attached to merchandise items that were sold in grocery stores, so customers could easily determine the price of each of them. . In the box-J? -. the cashier entered the price of each item manually in a conventional cash register. In addition, this totally manual system of stock control and planning of the disposition of the items of the store was very expensive in terms of personnel, resources and money. Since the development of the terminals, the optic scanners and the point-of-sale (POS) boxes have been almost universally eliminated and replaced by a product code, called the Universal Code of Production. * to (UPC) or Stock Control Unit (SKU). The infrared scanner and the computer can easily read the UPC and SKU codes, a fact that favored the development of computerized systems capable of handling and manipulating product data. However, customers can not easily read the codes, which presents the need to display product information, such as its price, on the product itself or on an adjacent shelf. Several systems have been developed that coordinate the UPC and SKU codes and the price labels and try to integrate a computer controlled system that provides the integrity of the iji product formation in the areas of space management, audit capacity and changes in price, and that at the same time offers customers 1 information about the product adapted to the needs of buying them, that is, price, savings and offers. Unfortunately, many of these systems are incompatible with existing systems, - they are costly and do not make up a total and effective control system that includes space management, auditing capacity and - ^ * _. rapid price changes, while maintaining the integrity of the product information. When trying to solve the integrity problems of the product information associated with the exclusive use of pa labels. 5 for the price, conventionally, various electronic presentation devices have been used with liquid crystal displays (LCD) 2 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to present the information corresponding to the prices on the shelves. When you want to make a price change, the new price can be updated in the database of a computer linked to the terminals of the boxes and then sent to the electronic screen. These screens provide, at least, the advantage of acting on the shelf information about the price. However, without a two-way communication between the electronic screen and the computer that manages the database that contains the price information., the integrity of the price on the shelf can not be guaranteed. Likewise, the previous technical systems were not able to identify specifically the particular place of each product of a store. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,002,886, issued in favor of Sundelin, generally describes a system that uses electronic display modules located on the shelves, which are linked to a central computer that also provides information to the terminals. of the POS. The Sundelin display system has several disadvantages. First, modules require a wired system, which makes shelf modifications and the location of the product difficult and expensive. Second, the modules are wired in parallel, which makes the layout of the store wiring virtually unmanageable. Third, communication with the modules is only one way, which in general limits the ability of the systems to provide price integrity at the edge of the system.^ To overcome the disadvantages of the wired system, others - commercial display systems used infrared communications jas or radio transmission (RF). However, infrared and RF present certain problems. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,821,291, issued in favor of Stevens, describes a system that uses RF transmission to provide two-way communication with the modules of each of the screens. This system solves the There is a problem with cabling, but other problems do appear that affect both the integrity of the information and the cost of the system. For example, this RF transmission system is not resistant to interference and creates problems with the integrity of the information in the presentation of it! price, even though the display modules can communicate with the main computer. The Stevens display modules have individual batteries, which create continual problems due to the replacement of such batteries and limit the ability of the system to quickly determine - whether a module is working or not. The internal RF circuits of the display modules greatly increase the cost of implementing such a system of 10,000 or more display modules. Furthermore, this system has problems with the speed of updating the price information, eg, the display module, since the central computer must access each module individually through a long sequential interrogation process. Also, this system can not fully integrate a computer controlled system that - * provides space management, auditing capacity and price changes, and at the same time maintains the integrity of the product information. Recently, some factors have made the management of retail stores more difficult, including diminishing profits, increasing costs and labor costs, lack of availability of training, and skill levels of employees. employees, as well as the proliferation of retail brands and - the products of those brands. In recent years and because of these and other factors, retail store managers, particularly grocery stores, have paid close attention to reducing the costs of complying with existing practices and developing new methods in stores. A known practice is the "price audit". In the simplest example, the store that performs the price audit in a manual way has a list of the expected prices and, on a given day, a portion of said list is delivered to a vendor. You are instructed to locate each item on the list within its actual location ft in the store, where you will check the price. In stores where the prices are marked on the merchandise, these prices are compared with those on the list. In stores where the prices are placed on - posters or displayed near the merchandise, the prices thus shown are compared with those on the list. Despite the high cost of labor involved, the management of the largest commodity store chains prefer to conduct a price - manual audit in a more or less continuous manner. In general, the objective of the management is to audit each price, at least, with a quarterly frequency. The manual price audit is imperfect for many reasons. Sometimes it happens that a product is displayed in several places in the store, for example, and the person performing the audit does not necessarily know that he should continue to investigate the product after he has found it the first time. Therefore, when the products - "have a second or third location, the latter will not go through the price audit." Also, on a given day, the employee who performs the price audit will have a list of items to control and the sequence of the list will not generally be equal to the physical location of the items displayed.Each item in the list requires an individual search within the store. Another known practice is the establishment of planograms. Stores that use planograms have each stationery section memorized, typically in the form of a list with the location of each item of merchandise. In theory, nothing is left Randomly in a store that uses planograms: there is a place for each co sa and everything has its place. As far as practicality is concerned, establishing planograms for a chain of retail stores is a goddess task. Each new product launch made by the manufacturer represents the prospect of having to update or change the drawings, as well as in the case of the discontinuance of a product. At the level of a particular store, it is very easy for the physical disposition to deviate from the established planogram, because the fact is not noticed, or for other reasons. Likewise, while the greater part of the disposition of the inventories is carried out by the employees of the store, the provision of some merchandise lines is traditionally carried out by the representatives of the manufacturers. These representatives have a natural incentive to dispose the merchandise in a way that promotes the sales of their employer. One variable that stores try to control is the JET-number of units of each product that is displayed on the front of the store. Each manufacturer would, of course, prefer that their products have a large number of units with a frontal location and that those of competitors have a smaller number. Another variable is the location of the state. Each manufacturer would prefer that their products be at the customer's level of view, although not all the shelves of a store are located at that level. Likewise, another variable that should be considered is the adjacent one of certain pairs of products or categories of products.

While within a store are equally important the particular places, the products located on the front of the shelf and the adjacent merchandise, it is even more important that the store management can guarantee that at least the merchandise that is desired exists. in counter in said store. For this purpose, management often has a "shelf plan", that is, a list of items that they expect or wish to have in store. While a manual audit could be carried out to confirm that each item on the shelf plan list is in the store, it is preferable that management can identify the omissions routinely, automatically and without generate a need for excessive labor. Apart from the identification of merchandise items, the shelf plan can also include information regarding the desired number of product units with front-end location on the shelf. Confirm manually for each item in the store that - • ^ T the actual number of units of products with frontal location is equal to the desired number, generates intensive work. Therefore, the previous designers concentrated on the provision of an automated or quasi-automated way to determine the degree to which the number of units of front-shelf products corresponds to what is desired. U.S. Patent No. 5,241,467, issued in favor of Failing et al., Explains the attempt to provide space management and audit capabilities coordinated by an electronic computer-controlled presentation system. The system uses rails mounted on the edge of the shelf, where the presentation module is located within a space of 1.22m (4 feet). The communication between the rails and the central computer can be carried out by means of RF, infrared or wired systems. The space management system of Failing and others includes electronic price presentation labels that are mounted on rails located at the edges of the rails. shelves in the store. The computer installed in said store communicates with the labels through a synchronous serial data link. The communication link established between the computer and the labels allows the first one to address each label with a logical address and determine the physical location of each one within a typical resolution of 1, 22m. The system provides lists for price audits - which allow to save the time of the shop staff during the same. The lists are generated in such a way that the included articles have contiguous physical locations. Therefore, once the auditor finds the correct general area, it takes little additional time to locate each of the items. Store personnel can predetermine the criteria for making the audit lists and modify them as time passes. With this system, you can also prepare audit lists with adjacent articles. In each entry made in the list, it is communicated that it is desired that two items in particular have - adjacent location on the shelf of the store. The auditor is expected to locate the two items and confirm that physically adjoining location. In each of these audit processes, the auditor reports the omissions found. In theory, there should never be omissions and in reality there are expected to be few. In the space management system corresponding to this system, the auditor can supply; Omitting the omissions through an agile data entry procedure: - if it is done through a keyboard, the number of keys that must be pressed is minimal. 0 In this space management system, the tedious task of auditing the number of units of the products that have front location on the shelf is easier and the danger of omissions is reduced. When auditing the location of the products, the user can use the presentation hardware, -5 that is, the electronic price tag, including the pushbutton- ^ r. which has each label, as a data collection system for information related to the frontal location of the products. This -. eliminates the multiplication of manual writing and copying tasks, - as well as the use of the keyboard associated with the previous technical methods-0 of auditing the frontal location of the products. The space management system of Failing and others, however, has several flaws. The adjacency lists generated by the system merely show that two products have an adjacent location and, therefore, the problems of shelf location are inherent. With the mere knowledge of the products that have an adjacent location, it is not eliminated - the risk that the competition will advance in the space of other competitors. This form of audit is still very tedious, time consuming and, therefore, expensive. The planogram audit - which is explained here, changes the methodology of auditing and planning - a store, since this planogram method consists simply of - a list of the adjacent products, so that the prob- lems regarding capacity remain to update and maintain a plan for the store, and risk the integrity of the product information. The resolution of this system is 1.22 m, which obviates the inherent error in space management. Also, the modules that are used have - complicated functionality through push buttons that increase the cost of the system by using a large number of complex modules, - each of which must be individually and tediously controlled - by the person? of the store. ^, Therefore, the Failing system and others can not make up a fully integrated computer controlled system that - provides space management, audit capabilities and rapid price presentation, while maintaining the integrity of the system. Product Information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The retail industry has changed markedly in recent years. Information, technology and fierce competition have forced fundamental changes in the operational strategies of successful retailers. The new model of retailers' success is designed based on speed, efficiency and flexibility. It requires the ability to identify, establish and integrate information and technology that facilitate cost efficiency and generate a more pleasant shopping experience for the consumer. The ability to effectively execute the internal automation strategies of a store - through the latest technology has become a point of differentiation of successful retailers. The internal product information system of the present invention provides said automated strategy. The product information system, among other things, automates and integrates exclusively the following three functions: presentation of information in real time, dynamic presentation of printed information and - management of shelf space. The product information system of a store corresponding to the present invention provides a link between the shelves where the products are presented and the applications developed internally in said store, such as the point-of-sale database system. (POS), shelf space planning systems, advertising and other applications developed internally in the store. This innovative product information system manages and optimizes the information presented - at the edge of the shelf in order to create a competitive advantage for the retailers, which includes increasing productivity, increasing consumer confidence, improving the image and lower operating costs.

To carry out the aforementioned, the product information system uses and coordinates the operation of multiple information devices, including real-time information display modules, shelf-edge labels printed with -great quality, handheld devices, processors located in the store, printers and the ability to dynamically control the configuration of the store system in an extremely fast manner. Specifically, the present invention provides a product information system that includes an information controller-interconnected with other operations of the store, such as the POS database system and the space planning system. The information controller communicates with the gondola controllers, the buses and modules of the store shelves, in such a way as to allow visualization of the product information in real time on the shelf. The information controller is interconnected with the system of the database of articles to transmit the information to the controller of the nacelle, by means of a bus, to the module that presents the information. Each module has a unique address and includes a microcontroller and a visual presentation screen. The modules are secured to the edge of the shelf by its backplane or by rails and associated connectors. When a module is added to the system for the first time, it is recorded in electronic form so that the controller of the information can correlate the address of that module with the UPC code of a particular product. The system continuously controls the operation and status of the modules, buses and gondola controllers (each of which has reserve power) and any problems are detected quickly and the information controller is informed. Gondola drivers, buses and modules support changes in product information as they are needed, which among other things, guarantees the integrity of prices between the terminals of the boxes and the shelves, since they make the changes of the information of the products in real time and automatically when the product information, such as the price, is modified in the database system of the invention1 The modules have the ability to perceive and -show the ambient temperature, which represents a great benefit -for establishments with refrigerated storage sectors, -such as frozen food compartments, etc. The product information system also includes a label printing system for shelf edges that communicates with store operations and the space planning system for designing, formatting and producing label impressions for the edge of the store. high quality shelf for each product. Each label includes indications such as information and advertising of a product that does not have frequent changes. The label of each product has a length equal to the place occupied by the number of units-of the product with front location on the shelf. The labels are secured to the edge of the shelf. The labels of products with adjacent physical storage can be printed together on a strip. Said labels and strips act as a planogram that helps the store personnel in the arrangement of the products on the shelves and avoids deviations from the shelf plan. The labels can also indicate where to place the modules. As an alternative, the present invention could be used 'mk without the modules, taking advantage of the high quality graphic information of printing used for the presentation of the edge of the shelf. This information is printed with the novel capability of printing and handling information of the present invention. This invention can also be integrated into a wide area network (WAN), such as that provided by the World Wide Web (WWW), and with the communications provided by the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) system. Therefore, the product information system could communicate with other places in the world where there are products or stores that have the same communication capacity. In addition, the present invention can use shelf-display modules with video capability. These modules could then display advertising information or the type of product information that is desired. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be obvious to those with common technical knowledge when reading the detailed description, the claims and the figures set forth below: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the product information system embodying the invention. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the gondolas of a retail store. Figure 3 shows the block diagram of a portion K. of the product information system. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the bus that is used on the rear floor. 10 Figure 5 shows the block diagram of the nacelle and the gondola controller configuration. Figure 6 shows the circuit block diagram of a display module. Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the a-l§p-associated screen and the corresponding apparatus. Figure 7a shows a sectional view of a module corresponding to the present invention and that is secured to the backplane by means of an interconnector and a connector, which also correspond to the invention. Figures 8a and 8b are sectional views of a shelf unit and a module secured to the shelf of a nacelle conforming to an alternative implementation. Figure 9 shows a sectional view of a de-rack unit and a module secured to a nacelle shelf representing -other implantation of an adjustable angular connector. Figure 10 shows a front view of a flexible contact tape interconnect and a plug. Figure 10a shows a previous view of a bus interconnector corresponding to the present invention. Figure 11 shows a plan view of a display module. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a gondola and an enlarged view of the label of a product and a module secured to the nacelle. Figure 13 shows a front view of the shelves of a retail gondola with products, shelf units, modules and labels. A bus interconnector and the cable used are shown. Figure 14 shows the flow chart of the graphic creation system for shelf edges corresponding to the present invention. Figure 15 shows a view of the graphic representation of the space plan editor screen. Figure 16 shows a view of the graphic representation of the label editor screen. Figures 17a and 17b are plan views of product labels for shelf edges corresponding to the present invention. Figure 18 shows a section of the graphic representation of the screen options of a label editor.

Before explaining in detail the preferred implementation of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components that are set forth in the following description or in the drawings. The invention may have other implementations and various forms of execution or carry it out. Likewise, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used here is -P for descriptive purposes and should not be understood as a limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION In relation now to the instructions, Figure 1 shows the product information system 30 embodying the invention. This system 30 is particularly useful for retail operations, - such as grocery stores, and will be described in that environment. However, it should be noted that the product information system 30 has other applications, such as wholesale establishments - and a large number of other environments where it is desired to display information about products. The product information system 30 manages product supports of the point of purchase, such as shelves, by providing two information formats on the shelf: real-time information and personalized and printed information in a dynamic manner. When providing - information in real time, such as the price of the product and the price / unit on the shelf, there is a 100% integrity between the price that is charged to the customer in the terminal of the box and the price shown on the shelf. This system supports frequent price changes with minimal staff efforts and a low cost. Product information that does not change frequently, such as product description, UPC code, nu- tritional information and advertising, is presented on printed labels with high-quality printing. The labels and strips improve the aesthetic appearance of the shelves and enhance the consumer purchase experience. The product information system 30 includes a processor 32 that is typically installed in retail stores. In general, the store's processor includes a database of items 37. The store's 32 processor also includes or connects with store applications such as the POS database system. 34, store direct delivery (DSD) operations 36 and sires. In particular, the POS 34 database system is responsible for maintaining the product information database corresponding to the point of sale, which is the source of information for each - one of the products communicated with the box terminals 40 The POS database system communicates with the terminals of the boxes 40 to provide information about the products, such as the price that is communicated to the terminals of the boxes 40 when the UPC code of a Product is read with a scanner. The POS database system 34 can be any conventional system such as, for example, those manufactured by IBMtm 'NCRtm or ICLtm.

The space scheduling system 226 which operates mediajpt to the space planning workstation 38 communicates with the processor installed in the store 32 and allows the personnel to plan the arrangement of the products in the various product supports such as shelves. The planning work station of espa. 38 includes various conventional information databases, as well as a graphical user interface (described in detail below). One of the databases contains the dimensions of the products (not illustrated). Space planning workstations -as this one is commonly used throughout the retail industry and include any conventional system such as SPACEMAN by AC Nielson m -from Chicago, Illinois, United States; APOLLO m de Información Resources m Inc. of Chicago Illinois; or INTACTIX m of Intactix m, of Irving, Texas, = United States. The product information system 30 of the present invention is interconnected with the operations of the store such as the POS 34 database system. For example, one of the methods-with which the product information system 30 communicates with -'- other operations of the store is the ChainTrack system of Telxon Cor- __ *. Poratión de Akron, Ohio, United States. The ChainTrack system integrates and shares information between the various applications of the retail store and the devices of the retail operations. _ ± * m By using the ChainTrack system, the product information system 30 uses the interfaces it already has. twenty-one established ChainTrack with the other systems in the store, especially the one with the POS 34 database systems (not shown). Alternatively, the base product system 30 could use other interfaces with the various operations of the store. 5 The product information system 30 controls two different product information formats, ie, real-time information and printed information. The product information system 30 communicates with the article database 37 to access product information such as: product name, UPC code, price, etc. By means of a communication system that will be explained later, the product information system 30 communicates the information of the products in real time to the shelves 46 (Fig. 2) where the products are placed. In addition, the product information system 30 uses , the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 (Fig. 14), - both in the store and elsewhere, to create the printed labels that contain the product information and that are displayed on the shelves. The present invention uses this same information to offer printed copies with the location of the products to the customers, when request it. As regards the information mode in real time of the product information system, the system 30 includes an information controller 42 to specifically control the presentation of the information in real time on the shelf 46. prefers that the information controller 42 reside in the processor installed in the * store 32. As shown in Figure 2, the typical design of a retail store presents several gondolas 44 having numerous product holders, such as shelves 46, on either side of said gondolas 44. In general, the shelves 46 of the Gondolas 44 are segmented into sections of 1.22 (4 feet). As shown in Figure 1, to communicate the information to the shelves 46, the information controller 42 communicates with the gondola controllers 48, the buses 50 and the display modules - # 52 to send and receive product information from and towards the states 46 (Figure 2). 0 As shown in Figure 3, in light of Figure 2, the product information system 30 uses a gondola controller 48 for each gondola 44 (Figure 2) that is in the store. The gondola controllers 48 control the activities of each of the shelves 46 (FIG. 2) that are located on each side of the gondola 44- - 15 (FIG. 2). As an alternative, there could be a gondola controller for more than one gondola. In studying Figure 5, we observe that the gondola controller 48 is preferably of RISC architecture, uses a microprocessor 48a and includes, for example, 16 serial ports 48b, a communications network connection 48e, an electrical power supply system 0 ca 49, comprising monitor and control means 47, current and capacity limiting means for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 49a (Figure 5) for each nacelle controller 48 and up to 16 buses 50. Returning to Figure 1 , the information controller 42 and The various gondola controllers 48 communicate with each other over a wireless network (not illustrated) such as, for example, those manufactured by Telxon, Symbol or Norand m with a base station 56 linked to the installed processor in the store 32. for expanded spectrum communications. The communication network also supports the use of command terminals (HHT) 54 that communicate with the base station 56 that is linked to the processor installed in the store 32 by the spread-spectrum network. Alternatively, the information controller 42 and the gondola controllers 48 may have cabling for standard Ethernet communication, as explained in detail below. To communicate with each shelf 46 of its nacelle 44, each nacelle controller 48 uses a bus 50 which has electrical power lines 138, grounding lines 140, data lines + 142 and data lines - 144 (Fig. 4). ), which run along the length of the shelf 46. In general, the configuration of the bus is shown in Figure 5, where on average there are eight shelves 46 on each side of the nacelle 44 and, therefore, , sixteen buses are used. These ports 50 provide a two-way serial communication link (serial port 48b) between the gondola controllers 48 and the modules 52 -to process and display the information of the products. As shown in Figure 6, the bus 50 has four lines: power 138, earth 140, data 142 and data 144. The two data lines 140 and 142 operate differentially to achieve a good immunity against noise in the paths long Each degondola controller 48 includes a standby power source. The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 49a (Figure 5) includes the - * power sensor 47 which controls the power level and automatically switches to battery power 49b when the power level - falls below a > a predetermined value Typically, electric power line 138 carries an average level of 13 volts - direct current. The reserve battery level is approximately 12 volts direct current. The basic architecture of the display module 52 uses a differential receiver / transmitter 184 for communication between the bus-50 and the microcontroller 182. In this way, this microcontroller 182 0 can display the information of the products on the LCD screens 137- and of LED diodes 135. Referring now to Figure 7, a modular shelf unit system 66 is used to establish the buses 50 and secure the modules 52 on the shelves 46. Typically, the shelves 46 of the 5 retail stores have a fixing molding 68, which depends on the surface W of the shelf 46 where the products are placed and displayed. The fastening molding 68 includes a curved upper end portion 72, a curved lower end portion 74 and a core 76 that is formed between them. The core 76 is curved and forms a channel 78. The system of -0 rack units 66 is designed to be used with or without fixing tool 68 and includes a connector 80, a back plane 82, an interconnector 84 and a protective cap 86. The connector 80 and the interconnector 84 can have a length equal to that of the fixing molding 68 of a particular section-of the shelf 46 or shorter, as desired. If the connector 80 or the interconnector 84 has a length equal to that of the fastening molding 68 of a particular section of the shelf 46, only one connector 80 is needed for each section of the shelf 46. On the other hand, if connectors 80 are used. or smaller interconnects 84, several of these devices should be used to adequately support the remaining portions of the rack unit system 66. However, it should be noted that any number of interconnecting connectors 800 may be used. 84 with different lengths. The connector 80 includes a body portion 88 having a first and a second end at an angle 90 and 92, respectively. From the first end 90 extends one for resilient 94 terminating at an angled tip 96. This tip has an internal angle going to the body portion 88. The resilient leg 94 together with the first end at an angle 90 they secure the connector 80 in the portion of the upper end 72 of the fastening molding 68. From the second angled end 92 extends a resilient leg 98 that ends in an angled tip 100. This tip has the internal angle towards the body portion 88. The resilient leg 98 together with the second end - at an angle 92 secure the connector 80 in the lower end portion 74 of the fixation molding 68. To secure the connector 80 in the mole of 68, the connector 80 is installed with the resilient legs 94 and 98, opposite the fixing molding 68 and displaced towards that molding until the upper end portion 72 makes contact with the first angled end 90 and the portion of the ext lower oar 74 makes contact with the second end at an angle 92. If the connector 80 moves further forward, the resilient legs 94 and-98 are deformed to the inside, toward the body portion 88, allowing the connector 80 moves into the fixing molding 68. When each resilient leg 94 and 98 has released its respective ends 72 and 74, these legs 94 and 98 return to the non-deformation position and, in this way, secure the connector 80 in the fixing molding. The switch 84 has a body portion '102 with an extended first end 104 and a second angled end 106. From the body portion 102 extends the first forward resilient leg 108 having an angled tip 110 and It forms a groove 112 between the angled tip 110 and the first extended end 104. From the body portion 102 there is a second forward resilient leg 114. From the second angled end 106 there is a third leg extendible forwardly. with hook-shaped tip 118. A channel 120 is formed between the hook-shaped tip 118 and the second forward-resilient resilient leg 114. A first and a second hook-shaped arm 117 and 125 extend outward and backward from the body portion 102 to form the channels 126 and 128. The connector 80 and the interconnector 84 are joined together by the angled tip 96 which fits into the interior of the channel 126 and - the angled tip 100 that fits inside the channel 128. Continuing with Figure 7, it is also preferred that the back planes 82 of the shelf unit system 66 be manufactured by plastic extrusion and have a length equal to that of a section of shelves 46, for example 1.22 m. However, it should be noted that the subsequent planes 82 could have any length. The back planes 82 include an elongate wall 130 with an upper end 132 and a lower end 134. The hook-shaped claws 5 which face and are installed forward and inward 136a and 136b extend from the upper end 132. where it is located - the bus 50 on the channel 145. Further, from the upper end 132 a -Br extends a hook-shaped arm 146 which forms the channel 148 with said upper end 132. From the lower end 134 extends a hook-shaped arm 150 forming the channel 152. Furthermore, from the lower end 134 extends a hook-shaped arm 154 and the extended arm 156 forming the channel 158. The conductors 138 and 140 are fixed inside of channel 148. The four conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 correspond to the four bus lines 50. It is preferred that The four conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 are embedded in the surface within their respective locations or by other methods such as, for example, adhesive bonds or fixing the conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 to a base. flexible coupling (not shown) or - tape (not shown) that can be glued by any suitable means days, such. 'like an adhesive. The module 52 with the LCD screen 137 and the circuit board 176 are connected to the backplane 82 via the connector 189. This winged connector 189a and 186b is frictionally held within its hook-shaped position 136a and 136b, -25 respectively, which hold the module in conductive contact with the bus 50 and the lines 138, 140, 142 and 144. A clear cover 86 on-off forms a protection on the shelf unit 66. As shown in FIG. Figures 8a and 8b, the module 52 is secured to the fastening molding 68 by the back plane 82 with alternative implementations that allow the module 52 to be placed at various angles. These implementations, presented in Figures 8a and 8b, show that it is possible, for example, to display a screen 52 - which is installed on a low shelf, at floor height. The fastening molding 68 includes a curved upper end portion 72, a curved lower end portion 74 and a core 76 therebetween. This flap 76 is also curved, so as to form a channel 78. The shelf unit system 66 is designed to be used with the fastening molding 68 and includes a connector 280, a backplane 282 and a cover protective 86. The connector 280 may have a length equal to that of the fixing molding 68 of a particular section of shelves 46 or it may be shorter. If the connector 80 has a length equal to the fastening molding 68 of a particular section of shelves 46, only one connector 280 is required for each section of shelves 46. The connector 280 is composed of a body portion -288 that has a first and a second end 290 and 292, respectively A resilient leg 294 terminated in an angled tip 296 extends from the first end 290. This tip is remote from the body portion 288 and is designed to secure the connector 280 in-5 the upper end portion 72 of the fixing molding 68. From-? the second end 292 of the body portion 288 extends a resilient leg 298 terminated in an angled shoulder 300. This shoulder is designed to secure the connector 280 to the lower end portion 74 of the fixation molding 68. To secure the connector 280 in the fastening molding 68 the connector 280 is installed with the resilient legs 294 and 298 facing the fastening molding 68 and displaced towards that molding to -99- that the angled tip 296 comes into contact with the portion of the upper end and the angled shoulder 300 is brought into contact with the end portion 74. Further displacement of the connector 280 forward deforms the resilient legs 294 and 298 inward toward the body portion 288, allowing the connector 280 moves towards - within the fastening molding 68. When each of the resilient legs 294 and 298 have released their respective ends 72 and 74, these legs 294 and 29 8 return to their position without deformation and, thus, secure the connector 280 in the fastening molding 68. The connector 280 further includes a resilient upper leg 302 extending from the first end 290 of the body portion. 288. In a direction away from the body portion 288, the upper wall 302 includes a wall 304 and is integrated with the forward wall 306, which also integrates with the wall 308. The wall 308 terminates in a hook-shaped flange 310. The connector 280 - further includes a lower resilient leg 312 extending from the second end 292 of the body portion 288. A flange portion 5 in hook shape 314 extends forwardly from the leg 312 and extends from the portion of the leg. body 288. A connector 280 made of plastic is preferred per injection mold. The dimensions of connector 280 can be modified so that it can be used with any retail shelf design. Also, the dimensions of the connector 280 can be modified to change the viewing angle of the shelf unit system 66, as shown in Figures 8a and 8b. In addition, Figure 9 shows an implementation alternative that allows the module 52 to be placed at different angles. Again in relation to Figure 5, various back planes 82 are arranged in a series string configuration using interconnects 84 to form a chain 147. This chain begins with a first backplane 82a, ends with the nth backplane 82b and it has numerous back planes 82 and interconnectors 84 - among them. . The chain 147 should have a length equal to that of the shelf 46 or the section of shelves. At the end of the first plane -posterior 82a, in the position closest to the nacelle controller 48 and connected thereto, there is a 4-terminal head 151. There is a specific teprp nal for each conductor 138, 140, 142 and 144, respectively (See Figure 4) in the backplane 82a, which allows communication between the nacelle controller 48 and the four conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 of the first backplane 82a. The nacelle controller 48 supplies power to each bus 50. At the end of the backplane 82b - there is an end cap 155. The back planes 82 of the chain 147 are secured together in the serial chain configuration with the interconnects. - res 84. Interconnects 84 are custom designed to press fit into adjacent back planes 82 and to facilitate the installation of shelf unit system 66. Interconnects 84 - also layered conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 (Figure 4) in the adjacent back planes 82 that form the four-line bus 50- running the entire length of the chain 147. The bus 50 provides the propagation of the energy and the data signals throughout all the back planes 82 of the chain 147. As illustrated in Figure 10a, the interconnector 84 uses the bus interconnector 161 with the electrical contacts 173 which are coupled to the conductors 138, 140, 14 2 and 144 by the bus 50. The bus interconnector 161 is coupled by the lugs 181 and 183, to the backplane jft 82, and with the flexible coupling ribbon connector cable 160 enables the passage of electrical power to the configuration of the series of the rear planes 82. The bus interconnectors 161 provide a novel method 0 for inserting the included cable through the opening in 179, where - the cables of the contact tips 171 are coupled with the cable 160 I gave myself a cap 185 with the claws 187 formed on it. The serial string configuration of the back planes 82 is advantageous because this configuration provides the flexibility to add additional back planes 82 for various lengths of? Shelves with minimal installation effort. In addition, the serial chain configuration allows a wiring method of the bus system - run parallel to each shelf 46 instead of the wiring - running transversely to and behind the shelves. The serial string configuration also allows transmission times <The data between the individual modules 52 are faster and more efficient due to the parallel architecture of the buses 50.? r Both for the shelves 46 (Figure 2) and for the sections of the shelves with height or depth discontinuities, A flexible coupling tape connector 160 may be provided to join the conductors 138, 140, 142 and 144 (not shown) in the adjacent rear planes 82 as illustrated in Figure 10. Turning to Figure 7, the Shelter units 66 includes a cover 86 that preferably should be fabricated from transparent extruded plastic material. In general, the cover -WM 86 has the same length as the back plane 82. The cover 86 is U-shaped, with the central wall 162 and the first and second walls 164 and 166 extending transversely to each other. to the central wall 162. The first wall 164 ends in a flange extending downwards 168. The flange 168 is designed to interconnect with the hook-shaped arm 146 of the rear plane 82. In practice, the cover 86 slides towards the back plane 82. The position of the cover 86 is an advantage since it minimizes its manipulation by unauthorized persons. The wall 166 of the cover 86 includes a portion 174 which, in general.

It has a V-shape and is designed to be placed in the outer channel 158 of the extended arm 156 of the back plane 82. The cover 86 also includes a first formed rim 122 which provides a first groove 123, formed together with a first face. of cover 127, in which various labels (not illustrated) or advertising elements (not illustrated) may be displayed. Alternatively or as a requested aggregate, this invention provides a notch according to a notch 119, materialized by a second rim formed 121, together with a second face of the cover 129 on the cover 86 that can provide the same service. Still in connection with Figure 7, numerous modules 52 are used to display the information in real time in a stand. Each module 52 includes a circuit board 176, a display 137 and a box 180. The circuit board 176 has electrical contacts (not shown) on its bottom surface which are designed to make contact with the conductors 138, 140 , 142 and 144 - of the backplane 82 in order to supply power and transmit data to the module 52. Preferably, the ideal dimensions of the circuit board 176 are 44.45 X 46.99 mm (1.75 X 1.85 in.). In relation to Figure 6, the circuit board 176 has a built-in microcontroller 182, such as a conventional 4-bit microprocessor (not shown). In a real application, the microcontroller 182 spends a large part of its time in standby mode, which results in a significant reduction in the current consumption of the associated power supply. The microcontroller 182 has a unique electronic identification number or address (MODID) that is used as the address for communications with that module. The circuit board 176 also has a differential receiver 184 which links the communication between the data conductors 138 and 140 in the backplane 82 and the microcontroller 182. The differential receiver 184 converts the differential data signals of the two conductors. 138 and 140 in conventional CMOS signals to achieve electrical compatibility in the microcontroller 182 and the visual display 137. Returning to FIG. 7, the visual display 137, for example a liquid crystal display (LCD), is placed over the circuit board 176 and remains electrically communicated with the microcontroller 182. This invention could also have been made by removing the circuit board 176 and mounting the microcontroller 182 and the differential receiver 184 directly on the back (not shown) of visual presentation 137. Alternatively, other screens that can show information about the program could also be used. oducto - in real time, as LED indicators 135 and FED indicators (not illustrated). The visual screen 137 has the largest possible dimensions to maximize the client's vision area. This invention can also use modules 52 with video presentation capability through a video receiver / controller 137a (Fig. 6). In this way you could achieve video with partial movements. The preferred implementation for video modules 52 would be to use LCD screens, but other video screens could also be used if the appropriate video-controllers are used.

# In addition, full-motion video could be represented by an external display 48d (Fig. 5), which could be installed elsewhere in the gondola 44 (Fig. 2), governed by the video controller 137a. The system 30 can process the digital video of the same - mode that processes any other type of file. The communication path 48g of WAN 43 is used to the store processor 52 to the nacelle controller 48. This 48g path accepts a bandwidth for communications of up to 10 megabits per second. There are two options for the final connection of the Rack Video Display (SVD) 48d. For fixed video or for short videos that do not change frequently, the video files (not shown) are loaded at another time (not loaded in real time) in the video random access memory (not shown) of the SVD screen 48d on the existing shelf edge structure 46. This allows the screen 48d to be placed anywhere conveniently on the shelf 46. For real-time video applications, the SVD 48d screen connects directly to the store's Ethernet 48c connection. This method takes advantage of the larger bandwidth. By using conventional video compression techniques, many SVD 48d screens (50, at least) can be maintained via the store's 48c Ethernet connection without affecting normal communications. The preferred arrangement for the visual presentations is illustrated in Figure 11. The visual presentation 137 includes nine-digit seven segments, a digit of two segments, two decimal places, a dollar sign, two signs for cents, a FOR icon, -a PER icon, two alphanumeric characters and an enumerator. The seven-segment display 186 of the upper left-hand corner of the presentation represents the number of units sold at the indicated price, for example 3 FOR $ 1.79. This digit and the FOR 188 icon are not displayed when it comes to products that are not for sale for multiple units at a single price. The arrangement of the four displays of seven sections 190 with the decimal point 192 of the upper row of the visual presentation 137 represents the price of the product. The disposition of the visual presentation 137 will accept prices of up to $ 999.99. In the case of prices of $ 9.99 or less, the last digit on the left is not shown for aesthetic reasons, as is the second digit on the left for prices less than $ 1.00, which can be displayed. with the format of dollar or cents. The four seven-segment displays 194 with the decimal point 196 of the bottom row of the display 137 re present the unit price of the product, for example, $ 1.19 (per-ink). The seven-segment screens 194 and the decimal point 196-will accept unit prices of products of $ 199.99 maximum. In the case of prices of $ 9.99 or less, the last digit on the left-is not shown for aesthetic reasons, like the second digit-on the left in prices below $ 1.00 that can be displayed in the format of dollar or cents. The unit price screen is slightly smaller than the screen corresponding to the price of the items in order to accentuate the effective price of the product. The two-digit sequence on the left of the seven-segment display accepts unit prices of up to $ 199.99. The information regarding the units of measurement is shown in the visual presentation 137 by the icon PER 198 and the two alphanumeric characters 200. The alphanumeric characters 200 can show any sequence of two numbers or letters, for example - $ 3.43 PER LB (FOR LIBRA). It is necessary to note that the layout of the visual presentation 137 detailed above can be modified in various ways to show different types and combinations of product information. The above example is not intended to limit the layout of the display 137. For example, the display 137 may have the same length as the edge of the shelf 46 (Figure 2). Likewise, the layout of the visual presentation can be configured to use a template simultaneously. This template - could have the information printed, such as "POR", "$", UNIT PRE-CIO ", etc. and thus function as a sign for the numeric information that is shown in the visual presentation 137, The template could ensure with the appropriate means to the visual presentation 137. In addition, the module can include a message such as the word "OFFER", "SAVE", "CLUB", "PREF". with one or more LED indicators 135 that illuminate - a part of the box of module 52 and serve to highlight the word - "offer" to attract the attention of customers towards a product that may be on offer in a certain period. The bead controller 48 (Fig. 3) would send a signal to the module 52 to illuminate the LED indicators 135 when the product correlating with that module 52 is on offer. At the end of the offer period, the gondola controller 48 would send a signal to the module 52 to turn off the LED indicators 135. It should be noted that this invention can handle the information controller 42, the gondola controller 48 and - the modules 52 for implementing special sales events where one or all of the prices of the items are changed or reduced at a predetermined time for a specified period. The LED indicators 135 could cooperate with flashes in a predetermined manner. The use of LED indicators 135 with the bus is achieved by sending stroboscopic effects to the LED indicators 135 with a method of time multiplex transmission and thus they are distributed -ft in a configuration of multiplexed LED indicators, dispersed geographically. Without LED indicators 135 multiplexed, dispersed - geographically, the use of LED indicators 135 will demand too much power and risk the integrity of product information, in addition to increasing the cost of the entire product information system. This invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks - it also reads bus information 50 dynamically to manage the power received by LED indicators 135. As best illustrated in Figures 7 and 11, box 180- surrounds the card. circuits 176 and display 137 to protect the module 52 and allow the module 52 to be safely removed and placed in any position in any rear plane 82. The box 180 includes a bottom wall 202 on which the module rests. Circuit board 176. The case 180 surrounds the circuit board 176 and the visual representation 137 so that only the upper surface of the display 137 is minimally-exposed, leaving exposed most of the surface superior to the view - of the client. The module case 180 also contains the temperature sensor 191 which retransmits telemetric information to the microcontroller 182 which transfers it to an associated nacelle controller 48. It is possible to change and customize the size of the module 52. Referring to Figure 7 , to secure a module 52 to some position in the backplane 82, the wings 186a and 186b of the connector 189 are aligned with their respective gají-shaped claws 136a and 136b of the backplane 82. The forward displacement of the module 52 in this position deforms both wings 186a and 186b of the connector 189. A further forward movement ensures the -module 52 in a position such that the wings 186a and 186b block the gates 136a and 136b of the backplane 82. To disassemble the module 52 of the backplane 82, the wings 186a and 186b must be clamped and the module 52 separated from the backplane 82, releasing the wings 186a and -186b of the connector 189 from hook-shaped claws 136a and -136b of the backplane 82. To disassemble the module 52 from the plane -posterior 82, the box 180 must be clamped and the module 52 moved forward with sufficient pressure to release the legs 204 of the module. 52 of the inner channels 126 of the backplane 82. With the above-described arrangement, the modules are easily snapped and detached from the back planes 82. The modules 52 have independent positions in the non-rear foot 82, since any module 52 it can be placed in any position of said backplane and any number of modules 52 can be connected in a backplane 82 with the only limit that -establishes the physical space. If any other product is added to shelf 46 or the shelf design is changed, the affected modules 52 should only be removed from their current positions and placed in the new position. If the distance between the previous location and the new position is small, the module 52 can slide from one place to another. Depending on the height of the shelves 46 of the gondolas 44 - (Fig. 2), the angle of view of the modules 52 can be modified to better present these modules to the customer's view. To change the viewing angle, the dimensions of the connector 80 are modified, as illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b. Specifically, to change the viewing angle of the modules 52 that will be connected to the shelves 46 below the display line, the body portion 88 of the connector 80 is shortened, while the lower leg 312 is extended. they allow the modules 52 to create a wider viewing angle with respect to the vertical axis, thus improving the customer's perspective of said modules. This invention (Figure 7a) can also use a number of different associated display devices, such as the associated display module 5200 which includes an associated display 1780 which may be, for example, a video screen. The associated display module 5200 is coupled to the backplane 82 in the same way as the standard module 52, by the fixing wings 1186a and 1186B. Each module 52 communicates with the conductors 138, -140, 142 and 144 in the backplane 82 and, therefore, communicates with the respective bus 50 and the gondola controller 48. The communication is bidirectional to ensure that the specific module 52 collects the messages and data transmitted. In the simplest terms, the gondola controllers 48 process the communications of the data lines 138 and 140 of the bus 50 and send a message to the modules 52. These modules return responses to the messages sent to them specifically. The communications between the modules 52 and the gondola controller 48 are synchronous or asynchronous with different speeds, for example, 2400 baud. In relation to Figure 1, a communcation protocol (not illustrated) of the product information system 30 -establishes the formats, methods and timing in which they are carried out-communications between the gondola controllers 48 and the modules 52 The product information system 30 can be additionally connected to a wide area network (WAN) 43 such as the Internet and to systems - with advanced network architecture, such as ISDN (not illustrated) by means of a wide network controller (WANC) 41. WANC 41 network controller includes interfaces for standard communications. When the store 32 processor can communicate over a WAN network such as the Internet, all network communications will be made through the resident interface. Alternatively, one or all of the gondola controllers 48-could have a WANC network controller 41 as an interface to an external network. The main communication protocol of the system 30 is the TCP / IP protocol, compatible with the Internet (not illustrated).

The store processor 32 is connected to various controller 48 by means of standard Ethernet connections (Ethernet network of the - store 48c). To allow connection to the Internet, an ethernet router 41a is connected to the Ethernet network of store 48c and a telecommunications connection is established, such as ISDN or IT, with a local Internet service provider. The store processor 32 can use the UNIX operating system to provide many Internet functions, such as Telnet, FTP (file transfer protocol) and direct email. Conventional eLation software can be loaded into the gondola controllers 48 to provide emulation of the desired Internet functions. These connections allow remote uploading of system files, such as price files and space planning, to or from any device connected to the Internet. Furthermore, since each gondola controller 48 knows the "s-a-lud" of its connected module 52, the centralized identification (by -Internet) of real-time anomalies of the modules 52 can be performed remotely. Conventional firewall software installed in the store's 32 processor provides security for these functions so that only authorized people can access the information. The system 30 of this invention also accepts the most elaborate and graphically oriented subset of the Internet WWW (Worl_wide Web). This subset provides more user-oriented services, such as notification of offers, generation of lost shopping lists, and lower-cost shopping services, to customers connected-0 through the Web. Anyone without specific knowledge - can easily appreciate the importance of these value-added services, such as a website, for the users of this invention. In the following, the communication method between the controllers of the nacelle 48 and the modules 52 of this invention is explained in detail and the communication system between the information controller 42 and the controllers of the invention is also explained. gondola 48. (Figs 1 and 6). In general, the total length of a packet of 0 data is 128 bits. A serial baud rate of 2400 baud requires approximately 45 milliseconds for the data packet to be transmitted between the nacelle controller 48 and a module 52. The transmission of a data packet (not shown) includes a bit initial, eight bits of data and one stop bit. All data is • they send with the bitmap format. It is necessary to note that the gondola controller 48 can transmit data to each module 52 individually or it can epp a universal transmission message (UBM) to communicate simultaneously with all its assigned modules 52. Address 0 (hexadec mal) identifies a UBM message that will be received and processed by all modules 52 assigned to that nacelle controller 48. F Referring to Figure 6, when a module 52 is connected to the backplane 82 and the module 52 receives power from bus 50 of that rack 46, microcontroller 182 starts from the power-up reset point and cycles through a three-step process comprising the test state, the empty state and the activity state . Immediately after receiving power, the module 52 enters the test state and performs a self-test to check the operation of the ROM and RAM memories and the operation of the basic processor, if desired. If the self-verification is not processed correctly, the module 52 attempts to display a visual error diagram of the visual display 137 to indicate that- there is power but an anomaly has occurred. When in this state, the module 52 does not attempt to listen to the messages transmitted by the bus 50 and does not attempt to send a message to that bus either. The module 52 remains in this test state until it is reinitialized.

If the module 52 exceeds the self-verification, a self-verifying graphic representation (not shown) flashes in the visual presentation 137 in which all the segments of the screen are activated to facilitate visual confirmation that all the presentation segments 137 they are operational. The self-verified graphical self-representation is retained for a few seconds as a half-second, to ensure that it can be observed before information about a product appears in the visual representation 137 and then a graphic representation of the self-verification is shown. Then the module 52 starts listening to the transmission of the bus 50 to verify if it has an assigned incoming message or if there are UBM messages. If no messages are received on the bus 50, the module 52 -displays the graphical representation of the aforesaid verification and continues to listen to the transmissions of the bus 50. When it is in this state, the module 52 functions correctly but has not received data to display them. . If the module 52 listens to a complete message on the bus 50, even when that message is addressed to another module 52, the module advances to the next state, the state emptied. In the empty state, the display-message 137 changes to show "" or "OK" to-indicate that the test was completed but that information was not received-on products. In the empty state, module 52 transmits a MODID message to bus 50 when requested by the gondola controller. The MODID messages inform the exclusive address of the module and request information about the products to show it. The module 52 will continue to send the MODID message when the communication protocol is allowed, as explained in detail below, until the module 52 receives valid information about products with the format of a data packet addressed to that specific module 52. The two data lines 138 and 140 of each bus 50 constitute a shared line with the communications protocol that controls which devices can communicate at a certain moment. The gondola controllers 48 have priority when transmitting data packets to the modules 52, so that the communications protocol - is based on a principle of "only talk when spoken" for the 52 modules. The gondola controllers 48 they can send a data request message directed to a given module 52 which will then give that module 52 permission to respond. To allow the newly plugged modules 52 to request information about products, the gondola controllers 48 regularly transmit non-addressing UBM messages that give all modules 52 in an empty state to respond with MODID messages. During normal operation (Figure 3), the gondola controllers 48 interrogate their respective modules 52 by sending HRUN messages ("How is it, number N?") To each module 52 that the gondola controller 48 considers to be on a specific bus 50. - The consulted module 52 responds with a 0K message if the module 52 is present and shows information about products. Alternatively, Ios-modules 52 respond by transmitting a copy of the product information that they show at that moment to their respective gondola controller? the so that the information is verified by the gondola controller. The nacelle controller 48 continuously traverses the cycle of all the modules 52 assigned to it and informs the information controller 42 of all the modules 52 that have problems, disappeared or show incorrect information. During the periodic interrogation carried out by the gondola controllers 48, these controllers can respond quickly * A dao if there is a new module 52 plugged into a backplane 82 - assigned to the controller because they intersperse their interrogation with messages WRU ("Who are you?"). The WRU message is a message that is not addressed to any specific module 52. The WRU message is an invitation to respond to one and all modules 52 in an empty state. All modules 52 in the empty state respond to the WRU message by sending the MODID message containing the MODID identification of the 5-lo module. If only one module 52 responds to the WRU message of the - 9 gondola controller, there will be no interference on the bus 50 and the controller 48 will receive the MODID message from module 52 and send a data packet to that module 52. This procedure immediately restores the pipeline information that will be displayed on any of 0 the modules 52 that would have been unplugged and plugged back into the bus 50. If in response to the WRU message more than one module 52 responds with a MODID message, what happens after a problem occurs in the cables or the power supply 5 is cut off, the MODID messages will interfere with each other on the bus 50 and the nacelle controller 48 will not be able to interpret the MODID messages of the individual modules. The nacelle controller 48 detects the co-frequency of the responses to its WRU message and in response sends data packets to each of the modules 52 assigned to it so as to perform a massive refresh. Alternatively, the gondola controllers 48 are programmed to process the message coalitions! if more than one module 52 responds to the WRU message, in order to better ensure that modules 52 need to receive data packets instead of providing data packets to all modules 52, whether they are requesting information or they are not doing it. A massive refresh by the gondola controller 48 should satisfy all the modules 52 in an empty state, silencing the bus 50 in response to additional WRU messages. However, it is possible that the lost modules 52, which were not registered for a particular product or that present some type of anomaly, could have been plugged into a backplane 82 and are communicating with a bus 50. The modules 52 with these characteristics continue to respond to the WRU messages of the gondola controller 48, interfering with the other communications on the specific bus 50. The nacelle controller 48 may send a SUP message (silence) to the lost modules 52 so that the bus 50 remains free for other operations. If a module 52 receives a SUP message, it stops responding to the messages on bus 50 and enters the idle state. In the idle state, module 52 displays a message, such as "OFF", e -. print a label another view? .. The user will be asked to scan the label. If the barcode is missing and the user can not browse, you can enter the number manually. When the process receives the bar code, a message indicating that the request was accepted will be displayed on the HHT 54 terminal. If the barcode is not available or is illegible, the user must press the NO key. Next, the user will be asked to enter the following fields: Aisle (Aisle), AISLE SIDE (Aisle Side), BAY (Compartment) and SHELF (Shelf). After receiving the information, a will be displayed. accepted request message in the handheld 54. A record will be created that will be added to the label file, Label File, which will be transmitted to the company for printing. The last option of Shelf Management is Verify (Verification) of module 52. This option is used to verify that the price displayed in module 52 is correctly placed in the corresponding product. When the verification option, Verify, of module 52 is selected, the user will be asked to scan the UPC code of the article that he wants to verify. The LED indicators 135 (Fig. 11) will illuminate and turn off, for example three successive times, in the module 52 associated with that UPC code. Shelf Audit is the process by which auditors can verify that the information on shelf 46 is correct and current. Shelf Audit has three functions: Module Audit (Audit of modules), Label Audit (Audit of labels) and Ad-Edge Audit (Audit of publicity in the edge). Module Audit is the same function as Module Verify explained above. Label Audit is used to verify the placement of labels, ensure that the space plans are correct and that the promotions and advertising programs are carried out in the scheduled periods. This audit will be used to check the labels throughout the store to make sure they are in the correct position and to keep them ignores the general communications sent by the bus 50, with the exception of the specialized messages sent to that store. specific module. The gondola controller 48 sends a message to the information controller 42 to inform about the lost modules 52. To ensure that all modules 52 received the message correctly, the communications protocol uses, for example, an error detection mechanism such as the CRC16 code (not illustrated) or a checksum algorithm (not illustrated) -for Each message sent. CRC16 is an industry standardized mechanism for error detection that has a high level of security. The checksums constitute an algorithmic function of the data transmitted in the message. When a module 52 receives a data packet addressed to it, it calculates and saves a corresponding checksum to the data. The checksum calculated by the module 52 should match the checksum provided in the data packet sent by the gondola controller. If the verification sums match, the module 52 responds to the nacelle controller 48 with a PACK message (price acknowledgment) and then goes to the activity state. When receiving an exceeding wait time message, the nacelle controller 48 retransmits the data packet to the -module 52. If the nacelle controller 48 continues to receive a null response, it communicates with the information controller 42 to inform the form a module 52, anomalous. In summary, during the normal interrogation performed by the gondola controller 48, a module 52 in the active state responds to the HRUN message addressed to that module with an OK message. In response to a validly received data packet, the module -52 sends a PACK message to the gondola controller 48 and then-displays the product information recently received in the visual presentation 137. Nothing else happens with the modules 52 unless that-his eating is interrupted. When the power is restored, the modules 52 will have lost their product information and will start-again the ignition sequence entering the test state. This invention also provides an ambient temperature sensor 191 - (Figure 6) which functions in conjunction with the microcontroller 182 to provide telemetric information on the bus 50 to the gondola-48 controller. In this way, the temperature information may be displayed in the display 137 if desired, and may be transmitted to the information controller 42 for any other desired activity, such as: for example, an alarm, etc. With specific reference now to the gondola controllers 48, they can interact with both the information controller 42 and the buses 50 and the modules 52. Each gondola controller 48 has four (sometimes five) responsibilities. main goals: 1) monitor their own health and that of the buses 50 assigned to them and report the problems that arise to the training controller 42, 2) maintain the product information for each one of their assigned modules 52 where the information of the products is provided by the information controller 42 and is used to load or reload the information of the products to the modules 52 when necessary; 3) to continuously monitor the status of each module 52 assumed, sending product information when necessary and informing the information controller 42 if any of the modules 52 has anomalies or was recognized as defective, 4) during the process record of the module, inform the information controller 42 of the MODID identifications of the recently plugged-in modules 52 and 5) in some opportunities, administer the interface with the communication network ex¬ 9 terna The communication protocol between the information controller 42 and the gondola controllers 48 is configured in such a way that between the information controller 42 and the gondola controllers 48 the communication is bidirectional, and all the communications that are made by processes Conventional Ethernet is performed in the standardized TCP / IP protocol format (not shown). The following describes the general operation-? of the gondola controllers 48. When each gondola controller-48 is initially powered on, the software having ROM incorporated performs a basic self-check of ignition and then periodically sends a GCSTATUS command to the information controller 42. The GCSTATUS INFORMA command The GCID identification of the gondola controller and request a software load (receipt). When the programs are received, the gondola controller 48 performs a more thorough self-verification comprising extensive tests of its RAM. If an anomaly is detected in the hardware, the nacelle controller 48 enters the fault state and tries to report this status to the information controller 42 while ignoring all subsequent messages and ceases to act with the modules 52. If the self-tests prove satisfactory, the gondola controller 48 goes to the empty state and waits for a command sent by the information controller 42 while also sending a GCSTATUS message periodically to the information controller -42 to inform the GCID identification and the state of the gondola controller and requests product information to form an information table for the modules 52 assigned to it. At this time- there is no communication between the gondola controller and the module. According to the command received from the information controller 42, the nacelle controller 48 will then go to the activity state or the state of charge. After the system startup or whenever the product information is changed, the information controller 42- ^ transmits a STARTTABLE message to all the gondola controllers -48. The STARTTABLE command that sends the information controller 42 is used to that the gondola controllers 48 move from the empty state to the state of charge. When a nacelle controller 48 receives the STARTTABLE command, a copy of the existing information table is made. Next, all the modules 52 controlled by the nacelle controller 48 are returned to the empty state to prevent one or more modules 52, which will no longer be included in the information table that will be transmitted in a short time, continue. showing the information not updated. If the information controller 42 sends a SENSEIDON message to the gondola controller 48, the latter enters the activity state, in which it listens to the MODID messages sent to it by the modules 52. This allows the modules 52 to be registered even when the Gondola controller 48 does not have an information table. While they are in the state of charge, the gondola controllers 48 accept and store all the product information corresponding to their respective addresses. After the STARTTA-BLE command, a P command is used to load an information table in the gondola controller 48. The gondola controller 48 waits for the loading -of a complete information table if the ENDTA-BLE command was not issued. after the last STARTTABLE command received. Then the new product information registers are accepted and the information table is formed and saved in the RAM memory of the gondola controller. The ENDTABLE command is used to end a loading sequence of an information table. The ENDTABLE command also provides a table identification (table id) and a sum of -verification. The information controller 42 expects to see an updated de-identification field in the price table sent by the gondola controller 48. If the identification field of the table was not updated, there will be a mismatch in the load retry of the information table. The alteration of the information table is detected by a mismatch in a checksum value which is provided by the information controller 42 when the nacelle controller 48 receives the ENDTABLE command and calculates a checksum with the data from the information table. The alteration of the information table is also detected if the ENDTABLE command is not received within a predetermined period. If an alteration is detected in the information table, the nacelle controller 48 discards the product information received after the last STARTTABLE command. If saved - a table of information previously loaded, the gondola controller 48 will use the saved table. If there is no information table loaded previously, the gondola controller 48 will remain in the empty state. If a successful validation of the information table occurs, the gondola controller 48 will activate the information table and each record of the table will be transmitted to its respective module 52 with the data format with long blocks. If the P command is issued without the STARTABLE command issuing before, instead of loading a complete table of information, the command is considered to be issued - as a function of adding or changing an element. If you do not register - in the information table the module corresponding to a product, the module will be added. If the MODID already exists in the information table - it will be updated with the product information provided. The DELETE command is used to remove a record- from the information table according to a MODID identification. The checksum of the information table is adjusted after each change made in the information table.

Once the information table was completely received and verified by the checksum, the controller of dollar 48 enters the activity status. When this happens, it performs several processes simultaneously. For example, it interrogates the -state of the modules 52, sends product information to the modules -52, communicates with the information controller 42 by issuing and receiving various commands and executes self-tests. During the interrogation process, the gondola controllers 48 continuously query the information table and interrogate sequentially all of their respective modules 52. A data packet is sent to the modules 52 that need product information. The modules 52 that are considered to be functioning correctly are interrogated to verify that everything is in order. Each module 5a has an account / status byte that tracks what the gondola controller 48 knows about each module 52. When a new information table is sent to the gondola controller 48, such as when changing the product information, the gondola controller 48 carries the account byte / zeroed for all assigned modules 52, in order to indicate that data packets were not sent to those modules. In their interrogation process, the gondola controllers 48 transmit data packets to the modules 52 until they acknowledge via the PACK message. The account / state byte is used to count how many - a packet of data was sent to a module 52 without that module - acknowledging receipt. If the module 52 acknowledges receipt of the data packet - with the PACK message, the account / status byte is configured with a coded value which means that the module 52 functions correctly. If the module 52 does not acknowledge receipt of the data packet after a number of attempts, for example three, when the count / account byte reaches the maximum value, the gondola controller 48 informs the controller of information 42 that the Module 52 has a flaw. Another command issued by the information controller 42 and receiving the gondola controller 48 while the gondola controller is in the activity state is STSORY. The STSO RY command is used to request a status packet from a gondola controller 48. The gondola controller 48 responds with a command - GCSTATUS. The GCSTATUS command can be issued by an information controller 42 or by a nacelle controller 48. The purpose of the GCSTATUS command is to provide the information controller with 42-information about the operations, the status of the controller of the unit itself. and the state of the buses 50 and modules 52. Periodically, the nacelle controller 48 performs a self-check after each interrogation cycle by means of the information table. The self-verification process checks the operation of the processor and its RAM memory in order to ensure that the information table is intact and that the checksums are valid. If the self-check of the nacelle controller is normal, it periodically sends a GCSTATUS message to the information controller 42. If the nacelle controller 48 detects a problem in the checksum of its information table, but su- self-verifications are satisfactory, it goes to the empty state to request the information controller 42 a new information table. When an error condition is detected, the information controller 42 receives the GCSTATUS message that it will store in a record file. Information will also be added to the log file when the error conditions were corrected. The FAIL messages indicate that the gondola controller 48 must receive technical service or must be replaced. If the nacelle controller 48 reports FAIL in the first part of the status message, this controller does not try to determine the status of the bus 50 / module 52 so that the nacelle controller 48 can use the second part of the status message - to communicate all the complementary information that may be available. So that the product information system 30 can work, the modules 52 must be correlated with the product whose information was assigned to be shown in said modules. The registration process is the association of a specific module 52 with a specific product, so that the module 52 shows the information of that product. Therefore, each module 52 must be registered when it is installed. As the modules 52 are registered, the information controller 42 creates a database (not illustrated), organized according to the UPC codes, each of which is associated with a particular product. The database contains, for each -UPC code, the product information, the GCID identification, the bus number and the MODID identification. In this way, the product information can be transmitted to all the gondola controllers 48 but can only be saved by a specific gondola controller 48. Modules 52 (Figures 1 and 3) can be registered -for a specific product in two different ways: mass registration or exploration registration. Mass registration allows the modules 52 to be registered using a specially prepared spatial map file. This method of registration is used mainly during the initialization of the store and the important restructuring of stores. Typically, scan registration is used when modules 52 are to be added or replaced. Both registration methods use the hand-held terminal (HHT) 54 of scanning the UPC code connected to the store processor 34 and the store controller. information-42. The HHT terminal 54 is composed of UPC 54a scanner, a key-54b and a multi-line display 54c so that the information controller 42 can display the messages to the operator of the HHT terminal 54. The commands between the information controller 42 and The gondola controllers 48 with respect to the registration process are the following: SENSEIDON. The SENSEIDON command is used during the registration process to bring the gondola controller 48 to the state in which it searches for newly plugged-in modules 52. SENSEIDOFF. The SENSEIDOFF command is used to remove the gondola controller 48 from the SENSEIDON state. • DELETE. The DELETE command is used to delete a record from the information table according to the address of a module. Then - the verification amount of the product information is changed to -reffect this deletion. NEWMOD The NEWMOD command is used to load a module address (MODID) in the information controller 42 from the gondola controller 48. ITEMSHOW. The INTEMSHOW command is used to send sequence numbers from the gondola sequence file to the respective gondola controller 48. Referring to Figure 1, this invention may also use a wireless RF handheld terminal (HHT) to communicate with the store processor 32 from anywhere in a store with an HHT 54 terminal. The HHT 54 terminal provides the user the possibility of registering the module 52 and operating the system from a mine site! located anywhere in the store. The process of the system includes the tasks that are constantly processed while the system 30 monitors the state of the system and updates it automatically.

• The process of the HHT terminal has many functions that a user can perform. To start the HHT process, the user must connect to the HHT 54 terminal and select SYSTEM in the menu (not shown). In general, the system in the handheld terminal is divided into three functions, Shelf Management (Management of standards), Shelf Audit (Audit of shelves). Shelf Management grants the user the ability to manage the shelf 46 on the edge of the shelf (not illustrated). The main functions are: Product Reset (Reinitialization of products), Label Management (Management of labels) and Verify (Verification) of module 52. The function of reinitialization of products, Product Reset, is the one used when the user add, remove or redistribute items from shelf 46. This function has four functions that depend on it: Store Setup, Category Reset, Shelf Reset and Label Define (Definition of - labels). Store Setup is used initially when the store is installed. The user will configure the products on shelf 46 and face the labels. When the user decides to set up the store with this function he will be asked to scan the barcode of the tag. After having scanned the barcode, the process will find the records for that label in the corresponding database (not illustrated). This table will contain the records of all the labels that must be consigned. Next, the process will show on the HHT 54 terminal the barcode number of the label, the UPC code of the first item on the shelf in question that will usually be the item on the far left, the aisle, the side , the compartment and the position on the shelf for that article, the description of the article and a message for the user to connect (PLUG IN) the module 52., ^ At this moment the user will plug in a module 52 This article on the printed target of the module 52. After the module 52 is plugged in, the nacelle controller 48 will detect the presence of the new module 52 and will ask for your ID number. The module 52 will send the ID number to the controller of the store 48 which, in turn, will transmit the information to the database of the store configuration, Store Setup (not shown). The process will receive the message of the new module (NEW MODULE) sent by the control gondola shelf 48 and add a record on the space map table, Space Map, for that article with the appropriate information. Next, you will select the record for that item from the pending label table, Pending (not shown). A sequence number will then be sent to the gondola controller 48 to transmit it to the module 52 for presentation. The sequence number is a number that always adds a unit and starts at 1 for each item on the shelf, where the article that occupies the left end position is number 1. When it appears in module 52 , the 'number sequence is recorded for that item in that position. The next article from that shelf will be displayed in the handheld 54 for the user to record it. This process will continue until the user has registered all the items on that shelf. In this opportunity, the user will be asked to explore another one-label barcode. When there are no more bar codes left to scan, the - user must press the END key on the handheld 54. When the END key is pressed, the price information of the various devices is displayed.

Registered items 52 will be sent to the gondola controller 48 to be stored in the price table of that controller, which will archive the price information and transmit it to the modules 52 where it will be presented visually. Category Reset is used when major physical changes occur in a hall or compartment. The only difference between the reset of categories, Category Reset, and the - 5 store configuration, Store Setup, is that the user is asked to < á remove the label with the DELETE command. The user will scan the - barcode of the previous label that at that moment was put on each shelf 46. After doing so, the record will be deleted - from the space map table, Space Map (not shown) and added 0 gara to the table of deleted labels, Deleted (not illustrated). Next, the user will be asked to explore (SCAN) the new label to be recorded. The rest of the process is identical to the configuration of the store, Store Setup. Shelf Reset is used when one or more shelves 25 46 were redistributed. The user will be asked to explore the previous label (SCAN OLD). The user will scan the barcode of the tag that you want to delete. The records corresponding to that label will be removed from the space map table, Space Map (not shown) and added to the table of deleted labels, Delayed (not shown). Next, the user will be asked to explore the new label (SCAN NEW). The user will then scan the barcode of the new label that he wishes to record. The rest of the process is identical to the store configuration, Store Setup with the exception that the sequence number will not be shown. The price information will be displayed. Label Define is used to configure a shelf - with products and to install one or more modules 52 when there is not a - label to record. The user will distribute the products on shelf 46. The user will be asked to scan the UPC code (SCAN -V UPC) of the article located at the left end of the shelf. The rest of the process is identical to the store configuration, Store-Setup, with the exception that the sequence number will not be displayed1 The price information will be displayed. Label Define is used to configure a shelf -0 with products and to install one or more modules 52 when there is no - label to be entered. The user will distribute the products on shelf 46. The user will be asked to scan the UPC code (SCAN UPC) of the article located at the left end of the shelf. The user will scan the UPC code of that article, the UPC code number, and the description of that article will appear in the hand terminal 54 together with the message requesting the user to enter the hall designator. After the user enters the aisle (not shown), he / she will be asked to enter the aisle side, the compartment, the shelf, the item number and the total number of items placed on the front. After entering the information, the user will be asked to plug (PLUG IN) the module 52.-The user will plug in the module 52 and the price information will appear in that module. The user will continue this process until they have registered all the items on that shelf. Each item will be registered in a file called Label FILE. The company can recover this file to print the labels. Label Mangement is another of the functions of the management of shelves. Shelf Management. This function has two options: Label Re place (Label Replacement) and Label Print Request (label printing request). The Label Replace function should be used - when the only thing that needs to be changed on the shelf is the label. That-usually happens when an advertisement must be consigned or deleted-on a label. The user will be asked to explore the old label that will be deleted. The user will scan the barcode of the new label that he wishes to consign. If there are no problems, the information of the new label will be updated in the database (not illustrated). If the places are not the same, a warning message will be issued to the user indicating that the places are different and you will be asked if you still want to continue with the process of the new label. If the answer is affirmative, the new label will be registered. If the user attempts to enter the new label before its effective date, a warning message will be issued stating that the label should not be consigned to the effective date and asked if it wishes to continue. If the answer is affirmative, the new label will be registered. If the response to one of the two warning messages above is negative, the function will not be processed. __ »Label Print Request is used when the user needs to print a label again. The user will be asked to explore the label. If the barcode is missing and the user can not - scan it, you can enter the number manually. When the process receives the bar code, a message will be displayed on the HHT 54 terminal - indicating that the request was accepted. If the barcode is not available or is illegible, the user must press the NO key. A - Next, the user will be asked to enter the following fields W AISLE (Aisle), AISLE SIDE (aisle side), BAY (compartment) and SHELF (Shelf). After receiving the information, an accepted request message will be displayed in the hand terminal 54. It will create a record that will be added to the label file, Label File, which will be transmitted to the company for printing. . The last option of Shelf Management is Verify (verification) of module 52. This option is used to verify that the price displayed in module 52 is correctly placed in the corresponding product. When the verification option, Verify, of module 52 is selected, the user will be asked to scan the UPC code of the article that he wants to verify. The LED indicators 135 (Fi 11) will illuminate and turn off, for example three successive times, in the module 52 associated with that UPC code. Shelf Audit is the process by which auditors - 5 can verify that the existing information on shelf 46 is current and current. Shelf Audit has three functions: Module Audit (Audit of modules), Label Audit (Audit of labels) and Ad-Edge - • ^ Audit (Audit of advertising on the edge). Module Audit is the same function that Module Verify explains above. - Label Audit is used to verify the placement of the labels, ensure that the space plans are correct and that the promotions and advertising programs are carried out in the scheduled periods. This audit will be used to check labels throughout the store to make sure it is in the correct position and that the consignment and extraction dates are maintained, the user will select the option of label auditing, Label Audit, in the menu and the process will ask him to explore a label.The number and place of the label and its consignment- and extraction dates are shown in the mine! HHT 54. If the extraction date has already elapsed, the following message will also be displayed: LABEL EXPIRED DD / MM AD-EDGE Audit is used to ensure that advertising-performed by companies is processed correctly in the right places in the store at scheduled times and that the correct amount of shelf space is dedicated for your product. The user will be asked through the HHT 54 terminal to enter the provider number (Enter Vendor Number), the provider number will be displayed, the place the UPC code number and the expiration date of the pu The user can approach that place in the store and verify that the information is correct. System Administration is the third process of Shelf Management. It is used to replace the inoperable modules 52 and - ß to remod the nacelle controller 48. The two available options are: Module Replace and Gondola Controller-Reboot (Restart the gondola controller). This last function allows the user to reset the gondola controllers 48. -When the user selects this option, he will be asked if he wants to re-start all the gondola controllers 48. If the answer is afative, all will be restarted. gondola controllers 48. If it is negative, the user will be asked to enter a corridor location. After entering the information '.' Of the aisle, the gondola controller 48 will receive a command to restart. After the nacelle controller 48 has been remitted, it requests the processor of the store 32 for an address for itself. Next, you will request a style and a price table. This information will be transmitted to the gondola controller 48. Next, this controller will transmit the price information to each module 52 it controls. Module Replace is used to replace modules 52 that do not work. After the user selects this option, the process will unplug the module 52 that does not work. Then, the barcode of the module 52 will be scanned. At the hand-held terminal 54 - the UPC location and number will appear together with a message by means of which - it is requested to plug in the new module 52. Then, the price information will be will show in module 52. In general, the Consolé process allows the user to check the status of the system 30, make queries to the data base and perform some of the functions offered by the -mano terminal. 54. This invention contemplates three main functions: System Sta tus (System State). Table Lookup (Search in Table) and Gón-dola Controller Reboot (Restart of the gondola controller). System Status allows the user to check the health of the system 30. This function has two options: Gondola Controller Status - (State of the gondola controllers) and Module Status (Module Status). If the user selects the status of the gondola controllers 48, a list of all these controllers will be displayed along with their status. If one of the gondola controllers 48 has an abnormal module state 52, the user can access that gondola controller and-press the ENTER key. In this way another advantage will be opened in which the modules 52 corresponding to the gondola controllers 48 with problems will be displayed, to inform the place and the associated product. The user can obtain a printed output of the modules 52 to -replace them. The other module status option 52 allows the user to view or print a 1 of all the store's 52 modules that do not-work correctly. The user can bring the list together with the hand-terminal 54 and the modules 52, and replace the modules 52 with perfect des.

Another function of Consolé Process is Table Lookup. This operation allows the user to see data from the database with different criteria. The user can print the data in any way he wants. Some options offer the alternative to delete-or modify the data. System 30 has four tables in the database-32 system data. The tables are: Space Map (Space Map) ISE Zone (Zone ISE), Label Pending (Label Pending) and Label Dele ted Table (Table of Tags Deleted) ) (not illustrated). The table-map of spaces is the main table used throughout the system 30. Each item in the store is stored in this table with the information of the place where it is located. This table is completed when articles are registered in the modules 52. When the user-chooses the Table Lookup function, the four tables indicated above will appear in the list. To select a table, the user can-use the up and down arrows in order to highlight -the table that you want to consult or you can enter the number that is -located on the left of the option. In both cases, when the cursor is on the table you wish to consult, the user must press the ENTER key. If you select the space map table, Space Map, the user will see a screen with selection criteria. The user can -see the data of this table sorted by place, department, category or UPC code. If you select Location, you will see a Query-cation screen (location query). The user must enter an aisle (not shown) at least. If you are not sure of the hall designator, you can press the Ctrl + A key to access Lookup (search). This option will show a list of all the corridors. The user can go through the different corridors until they find the one they wish to consult. After entering the corridor, the cursor will move to the Side field (side). The user can restrict the search by entering a corridor side. Next, the cursor will be moved to the Bay field (compartment) and then to the shelf. Once the query is complete, the user must press the Cterl + F tools to save and process the query. The number of items for each item on the shelf, the UPC code and the description will be displayed. The user can see the data by department if he selects the department field in the selection criteria screen. The process will ask the user to enter the department number. The selection criteria Category (Category) and UPC (UPC Code) work in the same way. Whatever the selected selection criteria, the same data will be displayed. The search in the system zones table, Systems Zo ne, will show all the gondola controllers 48 installed in the - store. To create the table when the store is initially installed, -the user must transmit a file to the store that contains: Aisle -Ñame (Name of the aisle), Aisle Side (Side of the aisle) and an optional descriptive name for the aisle. The table will read and import - this file. As gondola controllers 48 are installed, the user must enter the name and number of the controllers. The Label Pending table contains a record of all the labels that will be entered. The records must contain the date on which the label must be consigned. This table is created when the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 exports a file that the user will transmit to the store. An automated process - will read the file that the user will program and import the data into the database (not illustrated). When the user selects this option, he will see a screen that will request a start date and another -0 end date. These dates correspond to the date on which the label will be consigned. The number and place of the label, the consignment date and the number of items will be displayed. The Label Deleted table contains the deleted tags. This function is mainly for audit purposes. In this table-5 ^ a list is shown with the names of users who deleted labels from the shelves and the date on which they did so.; Data can be retrieved by date or by user identification. Some system processes will run 24 hours a day. Some will be programmed to be processed at specific times and others will be initiated by other processes. Most of these - processes will run in the background. Some will be programs and - - others, shell scripts. One of the processes that the user can program is Label Import. This process verifies - every 30 seconds if the file of pending labels exists in the directory of the system 30 (not shown). If found, the system will copy the file to the backup directory (not shown) using a file extension with the date in the Julian calendar format. Next, the data will be imported into the table - of pending labels, Label Pending (not shown). Another process - that the user can program, ISESTYLE, will look for a new style table (not illustrated). If the system finds it, it will import the table into the database and start the process to send the new style table to the gondola controllers 48 to transmit the information to the modules 52. There will be a Price Change process. prices) that will look for if there is a price change file - (not illustrated). If this file is found, a program will start-which will read the file, update and transmit the new price information to the gondola controller 48 and acknowledge receipt of the change in prices. The ISESYNC process will be initiated by CHAINTRACK. It will create an archive with all the prices shown in module 52 with the finality i - dd that CHAINTRACK ensures that the data present in the sales point, module 52, and in the article database are the same. - The ISEXSRVR process will be carried out 24 hours a day. It will continuously check the gondola controllers 48 to determine the health of each controller1 It will ask for a status message. The status message-sent by the status controller. The status message sent by the gondola driver 48 will include a check sum of your table-of prices and styles. This information will be verified with the previous information to ensure that the data is still the same. If they are 1 different, a new table will be sent to the gondola controller 48. If the gondola controller 48 has alarm messages or modules 52 - with malfunctions, the messages will be sent to the ISERSVRV process, which will register them in a file of mistakes. In addition to the real-time presentation of information in modules 52, the product information system also provides for the dynamic creation and presentation of high-quality printed labels 220, to be placed on shelf 46, as illustrated in Figure 11. Because the modules 52 and the printed labels 220 work in conjunction to integrate the shelves 46, the labels 220 are not placed in the modules 52. The printed labels are so modern, with their own characteristics, as the screens with information in real time. The product information system 30 creates the printed labels 220 using the product information imported from the system POS database 34 and the space planning workstation 38, and is printed on a printer color 222 of high quality, both in-establishment and outside it (Figure 1). Labels 220 can-include professional typefaces in a variety of sizes, - color graphics such as logos, photographs, and advertising elements (not illustrated). In addition, tags 220 may include an identifier, such as a UPC type code (not shown), so that they can be identified on the shelf by HHT terminals 54.

Labels 220 are easier to read, contain more information and look more professional than the conventional price tags that are used today. Labels 220 - can be created to contain text, lines, rectangles, --UPC codes, symbols and other elements. Thus, labels 220 can be highly-personalized. In addition, the label 220 has the same length as the space for products assigned to it in the corresponding shelf. This gives the shelf 46 an integrated and open look, and also provides more space for the printed information and advertising of the product. The labels 220 constitute an attractive tool to improve the image of the retail store and the marketing for customers at the point of purchase. As shown in combination in Figures 7, 11 and 12, the labels 220 are affixed to the shelf 46 by placing the label 220 in the channel 128 of a back plane 82. In this position, the label 220 is protected by the cover 220 can also be, as locators of the place where modules 52. a < along the shelf 46. If a stem unit system 66 is not to be used together with the labels 220, the latter can be attached to a shelf 46 by any suitable means. Referring now to Figure 13, when attached to the shelf 46, the labels 220 function as shelf planograms that clearly communicate to the store personnel where the corresponding product should be placed or where the stock of the same should be replaced. . Preferably, labels 220 of ready products. sequentially in each shelf section of l, 22n are printed-together on a shelf printing strip or strip of 1.22m 224. In this way, each shelf section of 1.22 has a corresponding printed strip 224. When this strip is attached to its relevant shelf 46, it clearly shows the store staff-how the products on that shelf should be ordered. This ensures the integrity of the printed strip 224 with its corresponding shelf.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3 and 12, label printing requests 220 can be entered into the Product Information System 30 either manually by the user or from an HHT 54 located on the shelf 46. Print requests They can specify a label 220, a series of labels 220 or a shelf strip 224 by identifying the product or series of products. The printing of the labels 220 and the shelf strips 224 can be done either in the retail store or in a central position-serving several stores. Preferably, the shelf strips 224 are printed by a printing service using equipment such as the XEROX 8954 printer which prints in colors in rolls of 137 cm (54 in.) - width. Is it desirable that the label printing requests is? tn in Postscript format, so that the printing service can directly convert Postscript files from a disk to printed labels 220 and / or shelf length strips 224. The product information system 30 uses a system of graphic creation for shelf edges 227 in order to create the labels 220 and the shelf strips 224. In particular relation to Figure 14, the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 includes a database plan spaces 228 with the associated-space planner editor 230, a space map editor 232, a tag library database 237 with associated tag-editor 236, a print sequencer 238, a print formatter 240 and optionally the printer 222. Continuing with Figure 14, the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 is organized around the bases of spatial plan data and label library 22 8 and 237 respectively and access said databases through SOL commands. Thus, multiple users of workstations can share databases 228 and 237 if they wish. The present invention can be used by users who do not desire the ability to display the product information by means of the modules 52 enabled by the nacelle controllers 48. The Sikhs graphic creation theme for shelf edges 227 can be used in that case to create the labels 220 and the strips 224 showing the information of the product without using the modules 52. Persons with normal training can easily appreciate the potential of the layer of the present invention to create, print and place in the container. 46 updated data and attractive graphic information about the price and / or the product. Turning now to the details of the graphical creation-system operation for shelf edges 227, it should be noted that the space plan data 228 track the location and the rack width allocation corresponding to each product of the store. The database 228 includes a store plan 242 which represents the shelves 44 (Figure 1) and the shelves 46 of the store and also includes a store space plan 244 which represents the location in which it is located. the amount of shelf space-assigned to each product. Many of the data from the space-plan database 228 can be imported from the space planning workstation 38 (through the space map editor-232). This editor has an interface with the station-iteration space planning work 38 (Fig. 1) to import data and configure the database-233. As an alternative, the space planning database of the store 233 is you can create or update directly -from the shelf 46 through an HHT 54 terminal (Fig. 1). With said terminal, the operator can scan the products in the order in which they appear in the particular sections of the shelf 46 and scan or write the; number and the amount of shelf space that each product occupies, to create the space map database of the store 233. In relation to Figure 15, a space plan 226 con vencional has a plan editor spaces 230 that additionally provides a graphical user interface to the space plan database 228 used to locate and view the layout of any shelf section 46 (Figure 12). The graphic presentation of the shelf plan with the space plan editor 230 helps the user to see the extent of layout problems and to navigate through the areas-to be modified. According to the limitations of the monitor (not shown) in the graphical presentation, the scale of this presentation can be varied to show one or more shelf sections without sufficient resolution to read the names of the products. In these circumstances, a simultaneous text presentation is provided with a list of products in the order in which they are. on the shelf. As the user moves through the graphic presentation, the graphic and the text move synchronously. The space plan editor 230 also shows invalid conditions, such as 1.52 m (5 feet) of products in a 1.22 m space. The graphical user interface of the space plan editor 230 is additionally used to carry out the basic edition of the spaces plan of the store 244. with the space plan editor 230, the edition of operations such as selecting, cutting, copying and pasting can be done in graphical or textual views, with visible results in both views. The cut and paste edition is provided to facilitate testing of product layouts. The space plan 244 often has a "ripple" effect in the placement or placement of adjacent products. The space plan editor 230 allows the handling and minimization of the ripple effects, since the graphical editor screen helps the user to see the extension. of the ripple effect and interactively shows the effect of increasing or decreasing the allocation of space to the products. According to the present invention, the space map editor 232 supports the editing of many "similar but not identical" space maps 233 for a chain of retail stores. The planner of spaces in a chain of stores must frequently add a product to a specific area of many stores. However, the positions on the shelf and the allocation of space for that product will vary according to the store. The editing functions of copy and paste facilitate such respectful works. The map database '' of spaces 233 uses a coordinate system to identify the location of the products. Said coordinate system facilitates the edition, classification and confection of the index of the products in the order in which they appear on the -stands 46. The location of each product is represented by a four-part address that includes the ZONE fields ( ZONE), BAY (COM PARTIMIENTO), SHELF (SHELF) and SEQUENCE (SEQUENCE). The area is a 1-to-N arrangement of compartments, freezers, islands, etc. of the store, which are contiguous, usually for convenience of the latter. A compartment is a horizontal dimension related to increments of the standard shelf section of 1.22 m. Compartment 1 - is on the left end of one side of a store aisle and increases by 1 for each standard shelf length of 1.22 m. The sequence is an abstract horizontal dimension that specifies the place where each product is located along a standard compartment. Se-assigns the sequence number 1 to the product on the left end of a particular shelf of 1.20 m The next product to the right - 'is initialized with the number 2, etc.

Returning to Figure 14, the space map editor 232 of the shelving edge graphic creation system 227 extracts information from the space plan database 228 as required to create and print the labels 220. The spatial maps 232 produces the gondola printing files that are used during the mass registration of the modules. The space map editor 232 uses the dimension-level to produce lists of products in a shelf sequence. The space map editor 232 also determines the order in which the labels 220 will be printed. The label library database 237 contains - label templates and the text and graphics that may appear - on a 220 label. tag editor 236 is used to import- or create all the files in the tag library database 237. These files typically include a library file- UPC code ~, text files and tag graphics, files W of text and graphics of the house, a file of label templates and one of paper layout. The UPC library contains information about the products classified by UPC code. Preferably, the minimum information is the UPC code, units and units of measurement (588 grams - 20.5 ounces), descriptive text of the product ("Betty Crocker Brownie Mix") and the width of the product in inches. This information is - available in the space planning workstations 38 The table of labels index is by UPC Code and - contains specific text of the product. Preferably, there is a different label text file for each type of text requested by the label templates, such as the brand name, product name, size, SKU code, etc. These files can be imported from the POS 34 database system or other product information files - (not shown) and / or can be created and edited with the tag editor - 236. Tag tables provide graphic information By UPC code, the label graphics files can be created commercial software and / or external scanners and / or import in a variety of standard graphics deformation. The table and graphics files of the house provide respectively for the texts and graphics "of the house" that are not specific to any product, as shown in Figure 15 in light of Figure 14, the template file The label contains numerous standard-label templates that determine the general layout of the information on a label 220. The lengths of the standard templates are adjustable, so that labels 220 can be customized for different products and store arrangements. . If a strip of tags 224 is used, the adjacent tags 220 do not have to use the same tag.

The tag editor 236 also includes a tag-template editor 246 with a typical WYSIWYG graphical user interface. The interface allows the user of the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 to create customized templates of aspee to, text, lines, rectangles, graphics and specific UPC codes. The label editor 236 is used to assign a label template, either standard or customized, to each product in the store. ? ^ When a custom template is created, the label template editor 246 represents the label 220 as a rectangle of a default color such as gray. The graphical interface may not be able to show the full length of the label, so it may be necessary to use a horizontal scroll capability. The user can change the length of the label 220 to any desired value to correspond with the amount of shelf space 5 assigned to the product. The user can also change the color of the - ^ T label 220 by any of the available colors. Likewise, the user can place rectangles on any part of the label 220. For example, the rectangles can be with straight or rounded corners to widths of lines of variable edge 0 These lines can be of any color and the interior of the rectangle- It can be blank or be of any color. In addition to their visual functions, rectangles have a special attribute that is used to make labels of variable length. This attribute is called "elastic property". If the elastic property of the rectangle is activated, the latter and all the objects it contains will be automatically adjusted as necessary to make labels 220 of variable length. The horizontal dimension of the rectangle will be expanded so that the tag 220 adapts to the required dimension. The text, the UPC codes and the graphics of the interior of the elastic rectangle do not lengthen because their appearance will be deformed, but the scale of their location will be varied, in order that the general arrangement will expand. If a --BI "- 25mm (1 in.) Graph is placed on the left edge of an elastic rectangle and the user wants to double the length of the rectangle, the graph will be placed 50 or more mm (2 or more in. .) of the left edge of the extended rectangle The elastic rectangle is represented in the graphical interface with - the symbol (//) in the center of its upper and lower lines.The elasticity of a rectangle is defined by its outer rectangle. A rectangle placed inside an external rectangle can be elastic or fixed By default, every internal rectangle is configured with the same elasticity parameter of the outer rectangle that surrounds it, so that the internal rectangle will expand or contract. The fixed internal rectangles do not expand or contract, the user can place vertical or horizontal lines in any part of the label 220 with control over the width and color of the labels. The elasticity of the rectangles does not affect the vertical lines. Horizontal lines can be configured as elastical or not. If the elastic property is activated, the length scale of the line will vary proportionally to the surrounding elastic rectangle. Referring to Figures 17a and 17b, the rectangle W2 of Figure 17a is elastic and expanded in Figure 17b to make the total length of the label coincide with a particular shelf-space allocation. The text "NEW" was left aligned so that the -scale change moves its left edge. The text "POPCORN!" it was - so that the change of scale displaces the center. The general-result preserves the original arrangement and at the same time expands portions of it in order to fill the amount of space required. The elastic or extension capacity of the rectangles - may be unattractive if the extension goes beyond a factor of about three or four. A property of maximum extension .domo., Limit of the elasticity of the rectangles can be configured. However, if a label 220 longer than an extension factor of three or four is desired, a variable width-additional technique is provided by a duplication attribute. This tribute can be activated for any rectangle, not only for the elastic ones. Its function is to duplicate the rectangles to make labels 220 longer. For example, in relation to the rectangles W3 of Figure 17a, the graphic of the name of the store is duplicated as required, placing any number of copies of that name to the right to lengthen the label 220.

The non-elastic rectangles shown in Figure 18 can be used to contain information about predictable operations of the shop, such as the new order number and / or the UPC code. When the label 220 is lengthened to a new length, the dimensions of the non-elastic rectangles do not change. In addition to the rectangles, the user has control over, for example, the color, the text, the lines, the UPC codes, the module indicators and the graphics shown in Figure 13. If the colors are not specified, the use a default coding scheme in the tags. The user can place a text field in any part of the label 220. In each text field, the user can configure attributes such as font type and size, bold and bold options, text color and other similar ones. . The text field is represented on the screen with a dotted rectangle called a field box. The height of the field box is controlled by the typeface parameter and is drawn to reflect the height of any high or low stroke of the text. In this way, the user is given the assurance that the fields that do not overlap vertically in the graphical presentation do not overlap in the printing. The user sets the length of the field box.

Text fields should generally be made as wide as possible, to indicate the permissible length of the text or other contents of the field. Each text field can be configured with left-aligned, centered alignment or right alignment and field box appearance indicates the current parameter. The configuration of the alignment will determine how the text will eventually position itself with respect to the field box. The alignment parameter allows the user to - control whether the related text fields are aligned to the right, to the left or to both sides for the case of the centered text. If - several lines of text are aligned to the left, the alignment will be preserved even if they are within an elastic region. When that region * expands, the left border point of the text is displaced propo- tionally. 0 A text field can contain fixed text that will always be printed as part of the 220 label. A. The fixed-text fields are given a name with two parts, such as "UPC. DESC" or "UPCLIB. REORDER ". The first part refers to a database table and - the second to a field in that table. The formatter of impression 240 -J- * uses the name of two parts to look for the data to include. In relation to the lines of the templates, the user can place horizontal or vertical lines anywhere in the label 220, with control over the width and color of the lines. The elastic regions do not affect the vertical lines. The horizontal 0 lines can be configured as elastic or not. If the elasticity property of the horizontal lines is activated, the length scale of the line will vary proportionally with the elastic region. The user can place a UPC code field anywhere on the label 220. The height of the UPC code can be specified and printed with or without equivalent text. Each UPC code field has a two-part name that uses the print formatter - 240 to search the data to be included. One or more location indicators of -jEP modules can be placed anywhere on the label 220. The indicators are rectangular in shape and are designed to reserve a fixed amount of space on the label for one or more modules 52. The indicators appear on the label 220 as a guide for inserting modules 52. If modules 52 of different sizes are used, there are provisions for specifying the model / size of module 52 to be used. For a given module model / size, the dimensions of the module location indicator are set to coincide with the module 52 and do not extend even if they are located within an elastic rectangle. The user can place graphic fields anywhere on the label 220. The actual size of the printed graphic will be determined by the graphics file and not by the size of the field box. Each graphic field can be aligned to the left, centered or to the right, both horizontally and vertically. Images of any length can be placed in the field and the alignment parameter will determine the way in which the actual image is positioned with respect to the field. The graphics can be a fixed part of the label 220.

• As such, they are specified with a file name that will be read immediately and displayed on the label 220. Alternatively, fixed graphs can be included in the template definition file, so that the original graphics file will not have to be present at the time of printing. The graphics that will be filled automatically when the label 220 is printed are given names of two parts, such as "UPC. DESC." or "HOUSE, LOGO". The first part is called W "a database and the second one a field of the same.The printing formator 240 searches for the graphics file name in the designated data set.This indirect search allows to easily change the graphics related to a particular product by modifying the - file name in the database The tag editor 236 (Fig. 14) does not need to interpret or recognize the field names used in the text files, UPC code and graphics This editor simply retains the names of cam * po as entered, so that the general organization of the tag information can be flexible and modified without the need to make changes to the template editor 246. Additionally, the tag editor 236 includes input / editing screens direct from all -0 Data from the tag library database 234. Screens are used to assign a template to a product and enter the file names of the text elements and graphics that will be used with the template.

Returning to Figure 14, the graphic creation system for shelf edges 227 includes the print sequencer 238 - which controls the label printing process 220. The user's print requests can specify from a shelf to an area or full store. Each print request produces the label 220 of a shelf. The print sequencer 238 establishes the sequence by feeding the initial shelf. The space-map editor 232 responds with a label specification that runs the length of the shelf label 220. The print sequencer 238 then outputs the print request which effectively says, "Print a label for the shelf that contains these products and that requires this amount of shelf space. " The print request can also indicate "This is the end of a strip", to control the composition of multiple templates. The printing applications will be discussed in more detail in relation to the printing form-maker 240. When a range of adjacent labels 220 is printed, the print sequencer 328 requests the space map editor 232 for the UPC code. of the product "next". The space map editor -232 determines which product is just to the right of the one whose label has just been printed and returns a label specification for -this. This process continues from product to product down a shelf 46 as required. The printing formatter 240 of the creation system of graphic edge 227 determines how one or more labels 220 or bands of shelves 224 of labels 220 are going to be printed on the paper size pre selected by the user. The template editor 246 stores the selected paper size in a file that is used by the print formatter 240. The print formatter 240 can either print a label 220 - as a shelf strip 224 on a sheet of paper or is capable of of printing - multiple labels 22 or a shelf strip 224 on large rolls of paper. The print requests instruct the print formatter - 240 what to do. Each print request contains the following information a UPC code, a label template name, a label length, and a completion flag. The UPC code is used to select the - information to be printed. The name of the template of the stable label * - ce the distribution of the label 220 specifying the types and positions of information to be printed. The label length is used if the product template allows variable lengths. The completion message raises a signaling window that the tag 220 is the last of a tag series. If the flag does not say end of message, then the current label will not be printed until the subsequent labels 220 fill a sheet of paper or the end of a shelf strip 224. The printing format process for each product is controlled by means of the specific template . The templates are formed prior to the editor template 246, and contain the label display 220. In response to a print request, the print formatter 240 obtains the template of the specific label. The fields in the template specify the kind of data to be indicated. The print formatter 240 obtains data from the Data Base 237 library of labels and provides them.

Claims (40)

1 ? ,. R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An integrated real-time product information system (30) for use where multiple products can be arranged on shelves (46), said shelves (46) being able to form at least one nacelle (44) and a processor is used. the store (32) to audit at least said products, said information system (30) is composed of: - ^ At least one display module (52) for the presentation of the desired product information, each of said modules (52) are arranged in a desired location of such shelves; At least one gondola controller (40), operatively connected to at least the aforementioned module (52); At least one information controller (42) operatively connected to each aforementioned nacelle controller (48) and amicious store processor.

The product information system (30) of claim 1, further comprising means (41) for operatively connecting said system to at least one wide area network (43).

3. The product information system (30) of claim 1, wherein said nacelle controller (48) comprises, a microprocessor (0a) and a network connectivity apparatus for communications (48c) responsive at least to a data receiving / transmitting apparatus (40e), said apparatus being capable of operating in either asynchronous or synchronous mode. .

The product information system (30) of claim 3, further comprising power supply means (49) for supplying power to the nacelle controller (48) and the aforementioned modules (52), said power supply means ( 49) comprise means for detecting and controlling the energy level (47) as well as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

5. The product information system (30) of claim 4, wherein the displayed nacelle controller (48) further comprises video transceivers (48d) to provide video signals to at least one of said modules. (52).

The product information system (30) of claim 4, wherein said UPS source (49) comprises a battery (49b) for supplying reserve power to said nacelle controller (48) and the modules (48). 52). jfp 7.

The product information system (30) of claim 3, wherein the network connectivity apparatus for communications (48c) comprises either a wireless or wired network.

The product information system (30) of claim 1, wherein said nacelle controller (48) comprises a two-way serial bus (48b), said bus (48b) operatively connects at least one controller of gondola (48) and at least one module (52), and further comprises several data lines (142-144). _9.

The product information system (30) of claim 1, wherein at least one of said modules (52) comprises the following: A microcontroller (182); Means for visual presentation of information (137); A differential receiver (184) for operatively connecting said display means (137) with said microcontroller (182); Means for the reception of electric power (138), Means (82) for the operative connection of said module (52) with a communication bus (48b); Means (182) of self-verification.

The product information system (30) of claim 9, wherein at least one of said modules (52) further comprises means for detecting temperature (191) to determine the ambient temperature in the vicinity of said module (52).

The product information system (30) of claim 9, wherein said display means (137) comprises a video receiver.

The product information system (30) of claim 9, wherein said differential receiver (184) comprises a CMOS converter.

13. The product information system (30) of claim 1, further comprising means for activating the printer (227) to create a customized printed device. , .__.

14. The product information system (30) of claim 14, further comprising means of graphic creation for shelf edges, said graphic creation means for shelf edges (227) comprise elements of interconnection with the processor of the store (32) and information controller (42) mentioned, to allow the printing of labels (220) of any desired size.

15. The product information system (30) of claim 14, wherein the labels (220) mentioned above display planograms.

16. The product information system (30) of claim 13, wherein said printer activation means (227) has capacity for different modes, including color and graphics.

The product information system (30) of claim 14, wherein the graphic creation system for shelf edges (227) mentioned further comprises a üifce of tag library data (237), a print formatter (240), printing means (222), a label editor (236) and a print sequencer (238).

The product information system (30) of claim 17, wherein said tag editor (236) comprises at least one tag template (246).

19. The product information system (30) of claim 1, further comprising a portable RF device (54) for transcending product data with at least the aforementioned nacelle controller (48). .-

20. A set of information display of products (52) with fixing capacity to a product support (70) having a fixing molding (68) and is enabled for connection to a source (32) of product information, said assembly comprises the following: A connector (80) shaped to be removable and capable of fixing said fixing molding (68) with at least one pair of resilient legs (94 and 98) that extend outwardly from the fastening molding (68) riffled; An interconnector (84) including the first and second pair (117 and 125) of hooked arms, said first pair of arms (117) is shaped to fit the pair of resilient legs (94 and 98) of the connector (80) mentioned; A back plane (82) including a pair of extendable arms (132 and 134), shaped to fit with a second pair (108 and 114) of hooked arms of the mentioned connector (84), a channel (145 ) formed in opposite position to said extendable arms (134), the channel (145) mentioned has formed the first (136a) and the second (136b) longitudinal flange on each side thereof; At least one electric bus (50) transported in said channel (145); A box of the module (180) comprising a pair of paired flanges (186a and 186b) for twinning with the first (136a) and the second (136b) said longitudinal flange; A microcontroller (182) and visual presentation means (l 'v) of said product information, the aforementioned presentation means (137) and microcontroller (182) are arranged inside said module box (180) and enabled to get in communication with the bus (50) mentioned and with each other; Means (176) for operatively connecting said module with said electric bus (50); Means (86) for covering the box of the aforementioned module (These means are formed to be twinned with the aforementioned interconnector (84))

21. The product information display set (52) established in claim 28, wherein the connector (80), the interconnector (84), the backplane (82), the module box (180) and the covering means (86) of the mentioned module (52) are formed of plastic and said bus (50)

22. The product information display assembly (52) of claim 28, wherein said bus (50) comprises a metallized tape having at least two electrical conductors. Discrete (138 and 140) formed therein

23. The product information display set (52) of claim 28 in which the aforementioned information presentation (137) comprises either an LCD, LED or EDF device. . neither. .

24. The product information display set (52) of claim 28, wherein said set is enabled to cooperate with an external video device (48d).

25. The product information display assembly (52) of claim 28, wherein said assembly is shaped to be adjustable by the user in relation to a planar axis of said fastening molding (68). '99,

26 The product information set (52) of claim 28, wherein said backplane (82) is shaped to carry a label within said channel.

27. A method for registering multiple product display modules (52) on a product information system (30), such that said module (52) displays the desired product information in real time on a shelf (46) ) determined, the mentioned shelves comprise gondolas (44), said method comprises the following steps: Provision of a database (37) of product information, indexed by UPC code; Provision of an information controller (42); Provision of at least one nacelle controller (48); Establishment of an interface between said database (37) and said information controller (42); Establishment of an interface between said controller (42) and at least the mentioned nacelle controller (48); Provision of at least one display module (52); Arranging each of said display modules (52) in a desired location of the aforementioned shelves (46); Operational connection of said nacelle controller (48) and each of said display modules (52); Provision of a communication path (48b and 48c) between the data i, e, the information controller (42), the gondola controller (48) and the mentioned module (52); Transmission, by said communication path (48b and 48c), of control data from said information controller (42), to register the nacelle controller (48) in the aforementioned product information system (30); Transmission, by said communication channel (48b and 48c), of control data from the gondola controller (48)? Fig. 1, for registering the module (52) in said nacelle controller (48); Transmission, by said communication path (48b and 48c), of registration information of modules from the nacelle controller (48) to the said information controller (42); Transmission, by said communication channel (48b and 48c), to the mentioned nacelle controller (48), of real-time product information from the aforementioned product database (34); Transmission, by said communication channel (48b and 48c), made the aforementioned display module (52) of said product information in real time from the aforementioned nacelle controller (48); and Presentation of said product information in the mentioned module (52).

28. A method for remotely registering multiple product display modules (52) in a product information system (30), such that each of said products (52) presents the desired real-time product information in a particular shelf location where multiple products with UPC codes can be arranged in any of several shelves (46) with corresponding UPC codes, these various shelves (46) comprise gondolas (44), the aforementioned method consists of the following steps: Provision of a product information database c. index by UPC code (37); Provision of an information controller (42); Provision of at least one nacelle controller (48); Provision of an interface (30) for said information controller (42) and for at least one mentioned gondola controller (48); Provision of at least one display module (52); Arrangement of said display module (52) at the desired location of the mentioned shelf (46); Provision of a first communication path (48b) between the gondola controller (48) and each mentioned display module (52); Provision of a second communication channel (48c) between the mentioned database, the information controller and the gondola controller; Transmission, by said communication channel, of control data from the aforementioned information controller (42) to register the nacelle controller (48) located in the aforementioned product information system (30); Input, by means of a handheld RF device (54), of the UPC code of a product encoded with that code or the UPC code of a shelf (46); Transmission of UPC data entered into the mentioned information controller (42); Transmission, by said first way of communication (48b), J. control data from the mentioned nacelle controller to register the module (52) mentioned in said nacelle controller (48); Transmission, by said second communication channel (48c), of registration information of modules coming from the nacelle controller (48) to the said information controller (42); Transmission, by said second communication channel (48c), to the aforementioned nacelle controller (48), of the product information in real time from the aforementioned product database (34); Transmission, by said first communication channel (48b), Ka to the aforementioned display module (52), of said product information in real time from the aforementioned nacelle controller (48); and Presentation of said product information in the mentioned module (52).

29. A method for remotely registering multiple product information modules (52) in a product information system (30), such that said module (52) "outputs the desired real-time product information at a location of particular shelf where multiple products encoded with UPC can be arranged in multiple shelves (46), these various shelves (46) comprise nacelles (44), said method comprises the following steps: Provision of a product information database (37) with index by UPC code (37); Provision of printed labels (220) with UPC codes; • Provision of an information controller (42); Provision of at least one nacelle controller (48); Provision of a screen module (52) with an alphanumeric screen (137) addressable by a built-in microcontroller (182); Arrangement of each of said display modules (52) in a particular location of the shelves (46) mentioned, - Provision of a first communication path (48b) between said nacelle controller (48) and each display module (52) ) mentioned; Provision of a second communication channel (48c) between the database (34), the information controller (42), the nacelle controller (48) and the module (52) mentioned; Transmission, by said second communication channel (48c), of control data from said information controller (42), to register the nacelle controller (48) in the aforementioned product information system (30); Arrangement of at least one of said labels and labels (220) at the location of the desired shelf (46); Scanning, with a hand-held RF device (54), of the UPC code of a product encoded with that code or the UPC code of the mentioned tag arranged on the desired shelf; Transmission of the scanned UPC code data to the mentioned information controller (42); Transmission, by said first communication channel (48b), flkle control data from said nacelle controller (48) to register the module (52) mentioned in said nacelle controller (48); Transmission, by said second communication channel (48c), of registration information of modules from the nacelle controller (48) to the mentioned information controller (42); Transmission, by said second communication channel (48c), to said gondola controller (48), of the information of products in real time coming from the database of 101 products (34) mentioned by the mentioned information controller (42); Transmission, by said first communication channel (48b), to said screen module (52), of the real-time product information from the aforementioned gondola controller (48); and Presentation of the product information mentioned in said module (52).

30. The product information set (52) of claim 34, wherein said LED apparatus comprises several multiplexed LEDs.

31. The product information system (30) of claim 1, wherein said module (52) further comprises associated display means for presenting the information of offers or price of the desired product at selected times.

32. The product presentation assembly (52) of claim 20, further comprising a case of the associated module (5200) with means (1186a and 1186b) for coupling the associated module case (5200) with the backplane (82) mentioned, said associated module box (5200) comprises associated display means (1780) for displaying the desired associated product information.

33. The product information system (30) of claim 8, wherein the aforementioned information display means (137) is selected from a group comprising LCD, LED or EDF devices.

34. The p >information presentation set i) duct (52) of claim 20, wherein the covering means (86) of said mentioned assembly comprises at least one channel (119 and 123) having at least one channel flange (121). and 122) to contain a desired label therein.

35. The product information display assembly (52) of claim 20, further comprising means for interconnecting modules (161) for interconnecting jacks of said product display assemblies (52) by said electric bus (50) , said means for interconnecting modules (161) comprise the following: First and second pair (163 and 165) (167 and 169) of side walls defining a rectilinear connector housing (175), said housing forms an opening cavity ( 179) inside, parallel inside said first pair of side walls (167 and 169), said opening is formed for Jfc having multiple parallel electrical connectors; Several substantially parallel electrical contacts (173) formed with an outer face (177) of one of said first pair of side walls (167 and 169) and opposed to said opening cavity (179), said electrical contacts (173) having tips (171) that extend partially into said opening cavity (179); First (181) and second (183) channel engaging flanges formed with a first respective pair of side walls (163 and 165) of said housing; and Opening cap means (185) for pressing said co-drivers against said electrical contact tips (171).

36. The product information display assembly (52) of claim 35, wherein said module interconnection means (161) are composed of plastic.

37. The product information display set (52) of claim 32, wherein said associated display means (5200) comprise at least one LED.

38. The product information system (30) of claim 12, wherein the graphic creation means for shelf edges (227) mentioned comprise the following: A space plan database (228); A store plan (242) and a space plan (244); and f A map of store spaces (233).

39. A method for activating a product display module (52) associated with the product information system (30), such that said module displays the desired product information in real time at a particular shelf location where it can be arranged multiple products on the shelves (46) forming at least one nacelle (44) and a printed label (224) corresponding to shelf length is generated remotely to the amount of space occupied on the shelf (46) by each particular product, said label (224) comprises any product information and can be placed in a desired location, the aforementioned method comprises the following steps: Provision of a database (37) of product information, indexed by UPC code; Provision of an information controller (42); Provision of a gondola controller (48); Provision of a display module (52) with an alphanumeric screen (137) addressable by a built-in microcontroller (182), * 9ß Arrangement of said display module (52) at the particular location mentioned on said shelf (46); Provision of a communication path (48b and 48c) between the database (37), the information controller (42) and the mentioned gondola controller (48); Transmission, by said communication path (48c), of control data from the mentioned information controller (42), to register the nacelle controller (48) in "Jp. Product information system (30) mentioned; Transmission, by said communication channel (48c), to the aforementioned gondola controller (48), of real-time product information from the aforementioned product database (37); transmission, by another communication channel (48b), towards said screen module (52), said product information in real time from the aforementioned nacelle controller (48); Presentation of said product information in said module (52); . ^ Remote determination of the amount of shelf space that the product selected for display occupies on a store shelf (46); Remote sizing of a label (224) for placement on the shelf, corresponding to the determined shelf space; and Remote printing of a label (224) with product information relating to said selected product, the said label (224) corresponds to said "finished" label size.

40. An integrated real-time product information system (30) for use where multiple products can be arranged on shelves (46), said shelves (46) being capable of forming a gondola (44) and a processor of the store (32) to audit at least said products, said information system (30) is composed of: Graphic creation means for shelf edges (227) &custom create a printed device (220) of any size desired, for placement in a specific location of at least one of said shelves (46); At least one information controller (42); Said graphic creation means for shelf edges (227) further comprise the following: A tag library database (237), a print formatter (240), a tag editor (236) and a print sequencer ( 238), a space plan database (228), a store plan (242), a space plan (244); Y . A map of store spaces (233), by means of the said graphic creation means for edges of shelves (227) receive the product information of the mentioned information controller (42) and activate accordingly the printing of said printed device (220) desired. 9 / 110 R E S U E N. An integrated real-time product information system (30) that integrates information screen (52), printed information screen (220) and shelf management (226). The product information system - (30) provides a link between the shelves (46) showing the -5 products displayed in storage applications such as the -ir-database (34) system, planning of spaces on the shelf (226) and - announcements. The product information system (30) integrates the operation of a plurality of information devices including information modules (52) of real time, printed labels of the products, of high quality (220), manual programming devices and auditory (54), - storage processors (32), and printers (222). " fifteen twenty 25