Electronic Price Tag Group Synchronization Through Location-Based Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic price tags primarily serve as tools for conveying prices with limited functionality, lacking advanced features for coordinated display and synchronization across multiple tags.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for displaying electronic price tags that involve setting time synchronization information, acquiring location information, determining target display content and moments, and displaying content based on these factors to achieve a linked display effect across a group of electronic price tags.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic price tags display content independently without coordination, then each tag can show information freely, but the overall display effect lacks synchronization and coherence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay synchronizationVSAvoidcoordination mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple electronic price tags into a coordinated group where tags share location information and synchronize display content based on target display moments. The control system integrates information from multiple tags to achieve unified display coordination across the group, resolving the contradiction between independent display freedom and synchronized coherence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control system receives location information from electronic price tags, determines appropriate display content and timing based on this feedback, and sends control signals back to synchronize tag displays. This closed-loop feedback ensures display coordination while maintaining system manageability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If all electronic price tags display content simultaneously, then information is conveyed quickly, but the display lacks emphasis and attractiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation conveyance speedVSAvoiddisplay mode flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic display actions where electronic price tags show content at different target display moments rather than all simultaneously. This creates a sequenced display pattern that maintains information conveyance efficiency while adding temporal variation to enhance visual attractiveness and customer engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts display timing based on location information and predetermined display modes, allowing flexible control over which tags display content and when. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to balance quick information delivery with visually engaging staggered presentations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If electronic price tags use fixed display content, then implementation is simple, but the display lacks engagement and promotional effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoiddisplay content variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed with multi-functionality to determine different display content for different electronic price tags based on their location information. This universal control mechanism can selectively assign various content types (promotional messages, pricing information, product details) to different tags, maintaining implementation simplicity while enabling content diversity and promotional effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4629052A1Method and apparatus for displaying electronic price tag
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 HEMA (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP4629052A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP4629052A1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3
  • EP4629052A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and apparatus for displaying an electronic price tag. The method for displaying an electronic price tag comprises: setting time synchronization information for an electronic price tag group, and acquiring location information of at least two electronic price tags; determining target display content of the at least two electronic price tags, and determining content to be displayed of a first electronic price tag according to the target display content and the location information, wherein the first electronic price tag is any electronic price tag in the electronic price tag group; determining a preset display mode of the electronic price tag group, and determining a target display moment of the first electronic price tag according to the preset display mode and the location information; and displaying the content to be displayed of the first electronic price tag at the target display moment on the basis of the time synchronization information. A target display moment of content to be displayed of each electronic price tag is obtained, and the content to be displayed of the electronic price tag is displayed at the target display moment, such that at least two electronic price tags can achieve a linkage effect, thereby improving the functionality of the electronic price tags.