NL2012191C2 - Electronic label system. - Google Patents

Description

P103830NL00

Title: Electronic label system

This disclosure generally relates to electronic labels, and includes disclosure of an electronic label system, a rail and an electronic label.

In most supermarkets, goods being offered for sale are presented to customers by placing them on shelves. Commonly, labels are placed on the front of the shelf, directly beneath the respective article. These shelf labels, which are typically made of a printable sheet material, contain information about the articles, such as a description of the item and its price. This approach provides a customer with ready access to information needed to make a purchasing decision.

Shelf rails, into which the shelf labels are ultimately placed, are mounted at the forward edge of the shelves. A shelf label, once printed, must be carried by an employee to the location of the corresponding good and then attached to the shelf rail.

Electronic shelf or store labels ("ESLs") are slowly being introduced in retail estabhshments, such as supermarkets, to replace conventional paper or plastic shelf labels. ESLs include an electronic display that is capable of presenting the type of information formerly appearing on conventional shelf labels. One advantage of ESLs is that this information can be altered at a distance, using, for example, infrared or radio communication. As a consequence, when the price of article must be changed, or a different article is to be placed a particular shelf location, the ESL dispenses with the need to physically exchange the shelf label. Rather, the information content appearing in an ESL's display can be updated from a central information system to reflect a changed price or a change in item. Labor cost is thereby reduced. In addition, ESLs can be used for dynamic signage, through which the information on the display can be altered, e.g. to reflect promotions or price changes depending on sales speed or time of day, or to provide information for store personnel while restocking. ESLs do have certain disadvantages. One disadvantage is that current ESLs have screens that are designed to operate on batteries with limited power, e.g. e-ink displays, and are therefore limited in brightness and video capability. In spite of their hmited attractiveness, these screens are relatively expensive.

Another disadvantage is that if the allocation of shelf space or presentation for an article is changed, such as to allow more space for a second article on the same shelf, or such as to increase promotion with additional labels, the ESLs still have to be physically moved. However, the ESLs need to be mounted safely and securely to prevent accidents and theft, yet the mounting process should be simple and reliable such that no special skills are required of the staff assigned to move the ESLs.

The invention aims at alleviating one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Thereto the invention provides for an electronic label system comprising: a rail, wherein the rail has a first side and a second side, wherein a first physical coupling arrangement is disposed on the first side thereof, and wherein a second physical coupling arrangement is disposed on the second side thereof, and further wherein a plurality of electrical conductors are disposed at a bottom edge thereofi and an electronic label comprising an electronic display on a first side thereof and a upper and lower physical couplers on a second side thereof, wherein the upper and lower physical couplers engage the first physical coupling arrangement to physically couple the electronic label to the rail, the electronic label further comprising electrical contacts that are situated to electrically couple to the electrical conductors on the rail.

By providing a powered rail to which electronic labels can be physically and electronically coupled, the displays can be physically moved relatively easily, yet their displays can be embodied as conventional low cost continuously powered display screens with illumination and video capability.

In some rail systems, the rail spans the length of a shelf (e.g., 1 meter, etc.) and incorporates plural electronic labels. The rails in accordance with the invention may, similar to traditional shelf rails, be arranged to extend along the edge of a shelf and does not necessarily need to be attached to a shelf. However, the rails according to the invention may e.g. also be mounted to extend between posts, e.g. of a shelf rack, may be mounted to a wall, or may be suspended, e.g. from the ceiling. These rails, herein also named ‘mounting rails’, may in use be positioned so that the electronic labels are at eye level, to increase visibihty and to be significantly away from the floor.

In particular, the invention provides for an electronic label arranged for mounting on a mounting rail, comprising an electronic display on a front side thereof and upper and lower physical couplers on a rear side thereof that are interspaced to form a bracket with which the label can in use be locked onto the mounting rail allowing only sliding movement of the bracket along the mounting rail, wherein the upper physical coupler includes a hook portion arranged to in use engage an upper edge of the mounting rail, and wherein a lower physical coupler includes a latch with a plurality of electrical contacts arranged for sliding cooperation with electrical conductor lanes extending along the lower edge of the mounting rail, the latch being adjustable between a free position in which it leaves the lower edge of the mounting rail clear, and a locking position in which it lockingly engages the lower edge of the mounting rail with the electrical contacts being connected to electrical conductor lanes extending along the lower edge of the rail.

The upper couplers can be used to hang the electronic store label safely on the mounting rail in first step. When the electronic store label is safely suspended, it can be secured and electronically connected in second step. While the latch is in the free position, there is no electrical connection between the electronic store label and the mounting, so that during the first mounting step false electronic contact can be prevented. Bringing the latch into the locking position establishes electronic contact between the electronic store label and the mounting rail, and the label can be powered up automatically without switching it on manually. A number of the plurality of the electrical contacts and electrical conductor lanes may be arranged to provide power for the electronic display. The number of electrical contacts and corresponding contact lanes is at least 2, preferably 3 or 4, so that a redundant contact configuration may be provided. Also, a plural number of electrical contacts per contact lane may be provided on the electronic store label.

Electrical power may be provided at higher end of the range for extra low voltage. This way, the voltage supplied is still safe for consumers in a store, while the mounting rail can transmit enough power for a plurality of electronic store labels. The voltage supplied is e.g. between 24 and 50 V. It is preferably less than 50V, and preferably more than 40V. In particular, the voltage is about 48V.

Due to the powered mounting rails, the display may include an illumination source, e.g. back or side lighting. The display may e.g. be embodied as a, LED or TFT type screen. A number of the plurality of the electrical contacts and electrical conductor lanes may be arranged to provide video image data for the electronic display. This way, the attractiveness of the electronic store label may be enhanced by video on the display. The hard wired connection may be used to stream larger amounts of data to the display without need for relatively costly high bandwidth wireless components such as WIFI in each electronic store label. Selected electronic store labels may still include WIFI components to communicate with a standard WLAN in the store, and the electronic store labels may still each in addition standard include low cost data transceivers with limited bandwidth, e.g. Zigby transceivers, to communicate with a specialized wireless electronic store label network to communicate price and stock information.

The upper and lower couplers may be spaced from respectively a top and bottom edge of the display, so that the distance between the upper and lower couplers is less than the height of the display. This way, the rail may be smaller in height than the electronic label, so that the mounting rail may have less visual impact. In addition, a standard coupler spacing may be applied for displays of different sizes.

The upper and lower couplers and the rear side of the display in the locking position may form a bracket that engages around the cross section of the mounting rail in form closure. This facilitates secure mounting with only a transverse linear degree of freedom. The bracket may be c-shaped in cross section, and may in use enclose a cross section of the mounting rail, such that free ends of the couplers are wrapped around upper and lower edge portions.

The latch may be biased towards the open position. This way it can be ensured that the electronic store label is in unmounted condition ready to be hung onto the mounting rail. To provide the bias, the latch may be under spring action.

The lower physical coupler may include a catch that is operable between a catching position in which it prevents the latch from moving away from the locking position and a releasing position in which it leaves the latch free to move away from the closed position. In addition, the catch may be biased towards the catching position. This way, it can be ensured that when the latch is actuated to reach the locking position in the second mounting step, it is automatically caught and secured in the locked position. No further action is then needed to secure the electronic store label on the mounting rail.

The catch may be shielded off, e.g. by a housing, to prevent free access to engage the catch to move it away from the locking position, leaving only an entryway for a key to engage the catch to move it away from the locking position. This way, unauthorized or unintended unlocking may be prevented. The entryway may e.g. be embodied as a slide key path.

The latch may include a sliding block with resilient electrical contacts, arranged to move transverse to bottom face of the rail. This way, the sliding block may be pushed upward to engage a flanged part of the mounting rail and block movement of the electronic store label perpendicular to the plane of the mounting rail it in an intuitive operational movement.

The invention also relates to a mounting system for mounting a plurality of electronic labels in accordance to any of the preceding claims, comprising a longitudinally extending mounting rail comprising a profile having spaced apart upper and lower edges, the profile being provided with electrical conductor lanes extending along the lower edge of the rail. The profile may be provided with a constant cross section, and may e.g. be formed by or include one or more extrusion profiles. The rail may in a simple version as shown be embodied as a straight plank. The upper and lower edges of the rail may be connected via a connecting part, which may e.g. be provided with an exchangeable presentation surface. The height of the rail may be less than the height of the electronic store labels.

The rail may include several rail sections coupled end to end with electrical through connection. The rail may also be doubled back to back, e.g. to allow mounting of electronic labels on opposite sides.

The conductor lanes may be arranged at a bottom face of the rail, e.g. as an insert in a chamber of the profile, and may e.g. extend along a projecting flange. This way, the conductor lanes are somewhat out of sight, yet easily accessible for electronic coupling.

The rail may include a power adapter arranged for outputting power at a higher end of the range for extra low voltage and electrically connectable to the electrical conductor lanes as set out above.

The rail may further include a status indicator indicating power and/or data transfer status of one or more conductor lanes of the rail. This way, store personnel may easily confirm that the conductor lanes on the rail are connected properly and are receiving power and/or data. The indicator may e.g. be embodied as a LED.

It should be noted, that the technical features described above may each on its own be embodied in an electronic label, mounting rail or system, i.e. isolated from the context in which it is described, separate from other features, or in combination with only a number of the other features described in the context in which it is disclosed. Each of these features may further be combined with any other feature disclosed, in any combination.

The invention shall be explained further using an examples that are shown in schematical drawings. The drawings relate to preferred embodiments, that are provided as non-limiting illustrative examples.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 depicts a powered rail and electronic label system in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts a rear, three-quarters perspective view of an electronic label and a portion of the powered rail. FIG. 3 depicts a rear perspective view of a portion of an electronic label coupling to a portion of the powered rail. FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of an electronic label coupled to the powered rail, and a key that is used to decouple same. FIG. 5 depicts a partial cutaway view of a latch of a lower physical coupler of the electronic label in a closed position, in which it physically and electronically engages the powered rail. FIG. 6 depicts a partial cutaway view of a latch of a lower physical coupler of the electronic label in a closed position being accessed with a key, so as to decouple the electronic label from the powered rail. FIGS. 7 a-d depict cross sectional views of steps during coupling and decoupling of an electronic label and the powered rail. FIG. 8 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting arrangement for single-sided use of the powered rail, such as for mounting on a wall FIG. 9 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting arrangement for coupling sections of the powered rail end to end. FIG. 10 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting arrangement for coupling sections of the powered rail back to back to provide effective doubled-sided use of the powered rail, such as for suspending the powered rails from the ceihng. FIG. 11 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of a portion of the powered rail, showing an embodiment for coupling power and data to the powered rail. FIG. 12 depicts a three-quarters perspective view of the back of an embodiment of an electronic label, wherein the electronic label is not intended for use with the powered rail, but rather for standalone use, with a bracket such as for mounting the electronic label directly to a wall.

Detailed description FIG. 1 depicts plural tablet-type electronic labels on a powered rail. Each label includes a continuously powered display with illumination, such as an LCD or LED display, for displaying characters or graphics. In some embodiments, an electronic label includes a transceiver for receiving and transmitting wireless communications, such as via WiFi, BlueTooth, or Zigbee protocols. Each label can thus include a low cost narrow bandwidth transceiver to communicate with a wireless store network communicating price data, in addition the a hardwired video data connection, and optional wifi broad bandwidth wireless transceiver to communicate with a standard wireless LAN in the store. In some embodiments, each electronic label includes a temperature measurement device, that is capable of monitoring signal strength of a received (wireless) signal, and is capable of monitoring its backlighting. In such embodiments, the electronic label is capable of reporting its temperature, received signal strength, and status of backlighting to a central label control system.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the "height" of the electronic labels can exceed the height of the rail. This removes any limitations on the maximum height of a label. The back surface of the electronic label includes an upper and lower physical coupler for coupling to complementary features on a front surface of the powered rail. FIG. 2 depicts four wires lanes that are disposed in a channel located at the bottom of the powered rail. The wire lanes contain electrical conductors that are capable of conducting power (two of the four conductors) and data (two of the four conductors) along the powered rail, as intended for the electronic labels. FIGS. 2 and 3 depict electrical contacts disposed on the back of an electronic label. The electronic label includes four such electrical contacts for electrically coupling to the four conductors within the wire lanes of the powered rail. FIG. 3 depicts two of the contacts; the other two contacts are obscured by the wire lanes at the bottom of the powered rail. FIG. 4 and 5 and depict a back view of the powered rail with a coupled electronic label and a key that is used to decouple the label from the rail. The key is required because upon final coupling the label to the powered rail, the label locks thereto. FIG. 6 depicts two "teeth" of the key being inserted into holes in the coupler at the bottom of the electronic label. The latch of the lower physical coupler of the electronic label is in a closed position, and is held by a catch. Via a slide key entryway, the catch is being accessed with the teeth of the slide key. The aim of this is to engage the catch to move it away from the catching position, so as to decouple the electronic label from the powered rail. This enables the coupler to dislodged from a corresponding coupling element disposed on the back of powered rail near the bottom thereof. FIG. 7 shows steps during coupling and decoupling of an electronic label and the powered rail. Fig. 7a shows a first step of hooking the electronic label behind the top of the rail, Fig. 7b shows the label hanging freely on the rail while it is being secured by pressing the latch in. Fig. 7c shows the label secured on the rail while a key approaches to release it, and Fig 7d shows the label being released. FIG. 8 depicts a wall mounted clamp that is attached to a wall, for example. The mount is dimensioned and arranged to be received a channel disposed on the "back" major surface of the powered rail. This enables the powered rail to be mounted to a wall. FIG. 9 depicts two powered rails being mounted together in "end-to-end" fashion while making electronic interconnection via a coupling piece. FIG. 10 depicts two powered rails mounted together in "back-to-back" fashion. This enables the powered rails to be suspended from a ceiling, wherein a mount is received by a channel formed between the upper edge of each of the two powered rails. FIG. 11 depicts an end of the powered rail, wherein the rail receives a PCB with a first group of four leads that receive power and data from sources thereof, and a second group of four leads, electrically coupled to the first group thereof, that deliver power and data to the wire lanes. FIG. 12 depicts an alternative embodiment of an electronic label wherein a connector, e.g., USB connector is disposed in the center of the back of the label. Rather than receiving power (and data) via contacts disposed near the bottom of the label as delivered via wire lanes on the powered rail, the power is received via the USB connector. In some embodiments, the electronic label includes both the USB connector and the contacts for coupling to the wire lines of the powered rail. Fig. 12 also depicts a mounting bracket on the back of the label shown. The connector is used to mount the electronic label directly to a wall, rather than the powered rail.

Referring generally to figures 1Ί2, there is shown an electronic label system 1. The electronic label system 1 comprises a rail 2, and electronic labels 3. The rail 2 has a first side 4 and a second side 5. A first physical coupling arrangement 6 is disposed on the first side 4 thereof, and a second physical coupling arrangement 7 is disposed on the second side 5 thereof. Further a plurality of electrical conductors 8 is disposed at a bottom edge thereof.

The electronic label 3 comprises an electronic display 9 on a first side 10 thereof and a upper and lower physical couplers 11, 12 on a second side 13 thereof. The upper and lower physical couplers 11, 12 engage the first physical coupling arrangement 6 to physically couple the electronic label 3 to the rail 2. The electronic label 3 further comprises electrical contacts 14 that are situated to electrically couple to the electrical conductors 8 on the rail 2.

The illustrative embodiment provides a powered rail 2 and electronic label system that, include at least some of the following features, and more: does not limit, the size of the electronic label 3 to height of the powered rail 2; detachably locks each electronic label 3 to the powered rail 2; is capable of providing data to the electronic label either wirelessly or via wire connection or both; and enables the powered rail 2 to be used in a single- or doubled-sided configuration, thereby facilitating mounting to a wall or suspending from a ceiling.

More specifically, Fig. 2 shows a tablet type electronic store label 3 arranged for mounting on a mounting rail 2. The electronic store label 3 comprises an electronic display 9 on a front side 10 thereof. Here the display is a constantly powered display panel with an illumination source, such as e.g. a backlit TFT screen.

On the rear side 13 the electronic store label 3 comprises upper physical couplers 11 and lower physical couplers 12. The upper and lower physical couplers 11, 12 are interspaced to form a bracket 15 with which the label 3 can in use be locked onto the mounting rail 2 allowing only sliding movement of the bracket 15 along the mounting rail 2. The upper and lower physical couplers 11,12 cooperate with the coupling arrangement 6 at the front of the rail 2. The coupling arrangement at the front of the rail 2 includes a front upper edge 17 and a front lower edge 19 of the rail 2.

The upper physical coupler 11 here includes a hook portion 16 arranged to in use engage the front upper edge 17 of the mounting rail 2. The lower physical coupler 12 includes a latch 18. The latch 18 is provided with a plurahty of electrical contacts 14 arranged for sliding cooperation with electrical conductor lanes 8 extending along the front lower edge 19 of the mounting rail 2. The latch 18 is adjustable between a free position and a locking position. The free position is shown in Figs. 3 and 7a, b, d. In the free position, the latch 18 leaves the lower edge 19 of the mounting rail 2 clear. The locking position is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7c. In the locking position, the latch 18 lockingly engages the lower edge 19 of the mounting rail 2, with the electrical contacts 14 being connected to wire lanes 8 embedded in an insert in a chamber 33 extending along the lower edge 19 of the rail 2.

As is shown in Figs. 3 and 7a, the upper physical coupler 12 is used to hang the electronic store label safely on the front upper edge 17 of the rail 2 in first step. As is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7b, and 7c, when the electronic store label is safely suspended, it is secured and electronically connected in a second step.

While the latch 18 is in the free position, there is no electrical connection between the electronic store label 3 and the mounting rail 2. Bringing the latch into the locking position establishes electronic contact between the electronic store label 3 and the mounting rail 2. The latch 18 includes a sliding block 26 with resihent electrical contacts 14. The latch 18 is arranged to move transverse to the bottom face of the rail 2. This way, the sliding block 26 may be pushed upward to engage the lower edge 19 of the mounting rail 2 to block movement of the electronic store label perpendicular to the plane of the mounting rail.

Two of the electrical contacts 14 and electrical conductor lanes 8 are here arranged to provide power for the electronic display 3. Electrical power is provided at 48 V or other voltage at the higher end of the range for extra low voltage. The electronic store label 3 has a power adapter to convert the 48 V or other voltage at the higher end of the range for extra low voltage into an operating voltage in the lower end of the range for extra low voltage, e.g. 24V. The two other electrical contacts 14 and electrical conductor lanes 3 are here arranged to provide video image data for the electronic display. This way, the attractiveness of the electronic store label 3 may be enhanced by video on the display 9. The electronic store label 3 also includes a Zigby transceiver to communicate price and stock information with a specialized wireless electronic store label network. The electrical power and wired data are provided to the rails via wires extending from a power box mounted to the ceihng of the store. The power box includes a power adapter and a data hub.

The upper and lower physical couplers 11, 12 are spaced from respectively a top and bottom edge 20, 21 of the display 9, and the distance between the upper and lower couplers 11, 12 is less than the height of the display 9. The rail is smaller in height than the display 9.

As can be seen best in Fig. 7c, the upper and lower couplers 11, 12 and the rear side of the label 3 in the closed position form a Oshaped bracket that engages around the cross section of the mounting rail in form closure, leaving only a transverse linear degree of freedom for the bracket 15 to slide along the rail 2.

The latch 18 is biased under the action of springs 22 towards the open position. The lower physical coupler 12 includes a catch 23 that is operable between a catching position in which it prevents the latch 18 from moving away from the locking position, and a releasing position in which it leaves the latch 18 free to move away from the locking position. The locking position of the latch 18 can be seen best in Fig. 7c, while the releasing position can be best seen in Fig. 7d.

The catch 23 is biased towards its catching position under the action of springs 24. The catch 23 is shielded off, leaving only an entryway 25 for a shde key 26 to engage the catch 23 to move it away from the locking position. The entryway 25 formed by the slide key path can be seen best in Fig. 7d.

Referring to Figs. 8-11, the mounting rail 2 comprises a longitudinally extending extrusion profile having a constant cross section and apart upper and lower edges 17, 19. The rail 2 as shown is embodied as a straight plank. The upper and lower edges 17, 19 of the rail are connected via a connecting part 27 that at the first side 4 of the rail 2 is provided with an exchangeable presentation surface 28. The conductor lanes 8 are arranged as wire lanes embedded in an insert that extends in a chamber 33 provided at a bottom face of the rail 2. As shown in Fig. 8, chambers 29 provided at the second side 5 of the rail can be coupled to wall mounted clamps 30. As is shown in Fig. 9, the rail 2 may include several rail sections coupled end to end at the chamber 29 via a mechanical and electrical through connection piece 31. As shown in Fig. 10 the rail 2 may also be doubled back to back at the chambers 29 via coupling clamps 32.

As shown in Fig. 11, the ends of the rail 2 are covered with an end piece 34, and a PCB is provided that includes LED status indicators indicating power and data transfer status respectively of the conductor lanes of the rail.

It shall be clear to the skilled that the invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments, and that many variants are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1. system 2. rail 3. electronic label 4. first side of rail 5. second side of rail 6. coupling arrangement on rail (front) 7. coupling arrangement on rail (rear) 8. conductors 9. display 10. first side label (front) 11. upper physical coupler 12. lower physical coupler 13. second side label (rear) 14. electrical contacts 15. bracket 16. hook portion 17. upper edge rail 18. latch 19. lower edge rail 20. top edge display 21. bottom edge display 22. springs (latch) 23. catch 24. springs (catch) 25. entry way 26. key 27. connecting part 28. presentation surface 29. chamber 30. wall mounted clamp 31. through connecting piece 32. coupling clamp 32. chamber (electrical) 34. end piece 35. indicator 36. USB connector 37. bracket (powerless)

Claims (17)

An electronic label adapted to be attached to a mounting rail, comprising an electronic display on a front thereof and upper and lower physical connectors on a rear thereof which are spaced apart to form a bracket with which the label can be locked to the mounting rail during use wherein only a sliding displacement of the bracket along the mounting rail is possible, wherein the upper physical coupling piece comprises a hook part which is adapted to engage an upper edge of the mounting rail during use, and wherein the lower physical coupling piece comprises a latch with a multiple number electrical contacts adapted to slidingly cooperate with electrical conductor paths extending along a lower side of the mounting rail, the latch being adjustable between a free position in which it leaves the bottom of the mounting rail free and a closed position in which it engages of the mounting rail is tightly clamped with the electrical contacts in connection with the electrical conductor tracks extending along the underside of the mounting rail. The electronic label of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the multiple electrical contacts and electrical conductor paths are adapted to provide the electronic display with energy. The electronic label of claim 1 or 2, wherein the display comprises a bend source. The electronic label of any one of claims 1-3, wherein a plurality of the multiple electrical contacts and the electrical conductor paths are adapted to provide the electronic display with video image data. An electronic label according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless receiver for exchanging price data with a wireless store network. The electronic label of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the upper and lower physical connectors are spaced from an upper edge and a lower edge of the display, respectively, so that the distance between the upper and lower physical connectors is less than height of the display. The electronic label according to any of claims 1-6 wherein the upper and lower physical connectors and the rear of the display form a bracket in the closed position that encloses a cross-section of the mounting rail form-fittingly, releasing only a transverse linear degree of freedom during use to slide along the rail. An electronic label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch is biased to the open position. The electronic label according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower physical connector comprises a gripper which is adjustable between a gripping position in which it prevents the latch from moving from the closed position and a releasing position in which the latch is free to release from the closed move position. The electronic label of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripper is biased to the closed position. An electronic label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripper is shielded to prevent free access to the gripper, to engage the gripper to bring it out of the closed position, with only one access path remaining free for a key to engage the grab to move it away from the closed position. An electronic label according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch comprises a sliding block with resilient electrical contacts adapted to move transversely to the bottom surface of the rail. 13. A mounting system for attaching a plurality of electronic labels according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a mounting rail extending in the longitudinal direction, comprising a profile with spaced apart upper and lower edges, the profile being provided along the underside of the mounting rail extend the electrical conductor tracks. A fastening system according to claim 13, further comprising an adapter adapted to carry out energy in the higher end of the extra low voltage range, and which can be electrically connected to the electrical conductor paths. The mounting system of claim 14, further comprising a status indicator for indicating energy and / or data transfer status of one or more conductor paths of the rail. 16. Attachment system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a number of electronic labels mounted thereon according to one of the preceding claims 1-12. An electronic labeling system comprising: a rail, wherein the rail has a first side and a second side, wherein a first physical coupling device is mounted on the first side thereof, and wherein a second physical coupling device is mounted on the second side thereof, and wherein furthermore, a plurality of electrical conductors are provided on a bottom surface thereof; and an electronic label comprising an electronic display on a first side thereof and upper and lower physical couplers on a second side thereof, the upper and lower physical couplers cooperating with the first coupling device to physically couple the electronic label to the rail, the electronic label further comprises electrical contacts positioned to electrically couple to the electrical conductors on the rail.