WO2017205501A1 - Vérification de symboles pour un dispositif étiquette intelligent - Google Patents

Vérification de symboles pour un dispositif étiquette intelligent Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017205501A1
WO2017205501A1 PCT/US2017/034246 US2017034246W WO2017205501A1 WO 2017205501 A1 WO2017205501 A1 WO 2017205501A1 US 2017034246 W US2017034246 W US 2017034246W WO 2017205501 A1 WO2017205501 A1 WO 2017205501A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
message
visible
display
write
circuitry
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2017/034246
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Paul Atkinson
Original Assignee
Chromera, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/368,622 external-priority patent/US10078977B2/en
Application filed by Chromera, Inc. filed Critical Chromera, Inc.
Priority to EP17803504.4A priority Critical patent/EP3465604A4/fr
Publication of WO2017205501A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017205501A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/14—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
    • G06F3/147—Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units using display panels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
    • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
    • G09G3/3433—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices
    • G09G3/344—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
    • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
    • G09G3/38—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using electrochromic devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2300/00—Aspects of the constitution of display devices
    • G09G2300/02—Composition of display devices
    • G09G2300/023—Display panel composed of stacked panels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2300/00—Aspects of the constitution of display devices
    • G09G2300/04—Structural and physical details of display devices
    • G09G2300/0469—Details of the physics of pixel operation
    • G09G2300/0473—Use of light emitting or modulating elements having two or more stable states when no power is applied
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2330/00—Aspects of power supply; Aspects of display protection and defect management
    • G09G2330/02—Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
    • G09G2330/021—Power management, e.g. power saving
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2330/00—Aspects of power supply; Aspects of display protection and defect management
    • G09G2330/12—Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2360/00—Aspects of the architecture of display systems
    • G09G2360/14—Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
    • G09G2360/145—Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors the light originating from the display screen
    • G09G2360/147—Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors the light originating from the display screen the originated light output being determined for each pixel
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2380/00—Specific applications
    • G09G2380/04—Electronic labels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/04—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/04—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
    • G09G3/16—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions by control of light from an independent source

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an intelligent label that is particularly constructed to be associated with a good, and to enable trusted and verifiable reporting of the condition of that good.
  • the label's electronics is used from time to time to interrogate its display and verify that the desired message is actually perceptible, and in some cases may be useful for generating a historical record of what was displayed or perceptible as the product moved through distribution and use.
  • Intelligent labels, packaging, tags, windshield stickers, stand-alone displays and other devices benefit from electro-optic devices that display messages that alert, update and inform the persons or machines proximate to them, as fully set forth in co-pending patent application number 14/479,055, filed September 5, 2014, and entitled “An Intelligent Label device and Method,” which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
  • This earlier application describes an intelligent label that can be attached to any good, and then is used to provide a visual indicator to a human or machine on some condition or event in that distribution path. Of particular interest therefore are bistable and permanently irreversible electro-optic displays and intelligent labels that comprise them.
  • a visual indicator may be set such that a human or a machine will understand that the good is no longer of acceptable commercial quality.
  • Messages for the intelligent label are visually perceptible forms of data, information, content, text, patterns, images, shapes, symbols, codes, and colors, for example. It is important to note that these are visual systems and the messages may change one or more times over the life of the intelligent label. Further the power source that drives them may be limited or intermittent or susceptible to accidental or intentional disruption. Other components of the intelligent label may also fail or be subject to tampering.
  • the utility and value of intelligent labels may depend on the confidence (i.e. trust) with which the messages can be relied upon to make decisions and take actions, and further, that the actual messages perceptible at the time those decisions were made or could or should have been made, and actions were taken or could or should have been taken can be reliably and securely verified.
  • doctors and other healthcare professionals need to know that they will only be held accountable for decisions made and actions taken based on the information reliably available at the time. Hospitals need to know too. As do patients and insurers and everyone else with a stake in the outcome. And they also need to know that if something goes wrong, the system cannot be tampered with and of its information is trustworthy.
  • a bag of blood has reached its maximum allowed time out of refrigeration, and the electronic circuitry on its attached intelligent label has instructed a message to be displayed on the bag' s irreversible display that indicates that the bag of blood can no longer be used safely.
  • the electronic messages stored within the intelligent label's processor and memory would indicate that at the correct time the visual indicator transitioned to show that the condition of the blood had changed was no longer safe.
  • an electronic or logical failure may have occurred and the visual alert message was never perceptible to the nurse or doctor.
  • an experimental drug may have its expiration date shortened due to a better understanding of the drug's deterioration over time.
  • an intelligent label may be updated remotely to remove the original expiration date, and replace the date with a new, shorter expiration date.
  • a patient may wrongly continue to use the drug after the new expiration date, and may later claim that the new expiration date was never displayed. Accordingly, it would be important to know what, if any, change had been made on the label at the time the expiration date should have been changed. Having such a historical understanding of what was actually displayed could be critical to patient care and assigning liability. More particularly, in some cases what was actually displayed may not have communicated the intended message to the patient or care giver.
  • Conventional displays can be thought of as self-erasing. That is, such a conventional display is used to display an intended message to a user. However, there is no confirmation that the message has actually been presented in a way that is visually perceptible to the machine or human. For example, many internal and external factors can affect the visual perceptive ability of the display such as power disruption, excessive heat cold or humidity, shock vibration and pressures, and shorts and faults with the electronics or logic circuits. In some cases, feedback provided within these conventional displays may indicate that the intended message has been displayed, however these internal or external events may limit or distort what has actually been displayed to, and perceptible by, the outside world.
  • bistable (or multi-stable state) displays such electrophoretic and certain cholesteric or nematic LCDs are to varying degrees stable without the continuous application of power. By design, they are however reversible and the displayed messages are therefore subject to accidental or intentional erasure or alteration. The displayed information therefore cannot be verified reliably visually.
  • visual refers to messages, images and the like that are perceptible by both humans and machine. Certain messages however may be perceptible by machine but not perceptible by humans. For example, they may reflect light at wavelengths outside the human perceptible range of (generally considered to be 770 to 390 nanometers).
  • This characteristic may be exploited in several ways, for example to create watermarks and other messages in response to events that are machine perceptible (readable) but not perceptible by humans.
  • the verification systems and means described herein may be utilized with such non-visual, but machine perceptible messages.
  • An intended message is written to a display, which may be bistable. Pixels that comprise portions of the message are measured and evaluated to determine if the message actually displayed on the display was perceptible by a human or a machine. In some cases, information regarding the message actually displayed on the display may be stored for later use, irrespective of whether or not the display provided a perceptible message. Responsive to determining that a message is perceivable or not perceivable, alarms may be set, one or more third parties notified, or additional display features may be set.
  • the perceptibility of a message written to an intelligent label can be verified. More specifically, electronic circuitry within the intelligent label writes an intended message to a bistable display. Electrical characteristics of the pixels on the bistable display are measured, and a contrast and color profile may be generated. This profile represents the actual message that would have been perceivable by a human or a machine. This actual message can then be compared to the intended message, and a level of confidence that the proper message was presented can be generated. In this way, it can be verified that the proper message would have been perceivable by a user or human at a particular time, for example, when a severe environmental event occurred. Further, a historical record may be generated and maintained regarding the visual state of the bistable indicator at various times in the lifecycle for the product during use and distribution.
  • the verification process and label disclosed herein allows the visual information on the label to be confirmed and it verified that a proper message was displayed and perceptible at a particular point in time. And further, independent of the intended message, the verification processes and labels allow for determination of the actual information displayed, its meaning and its perceptibility. In this way, liability can be more accurately assessed, and the trustworthiness of the entire distribution and use cycle is dramatically improved.
  • FIG. 1 is an illustration of the front side of an intelligent label made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an intelligent label made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an intelligent label made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an intelligent label made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an intelligent label made in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for verifying the perceptive ability of a message in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for verifying the perceptive ability of a message in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 A is a flowchart of a process for verifying the perceptive ability of a message in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is diagram of segment colors in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram of a seven-segment display in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a symbol table in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the segment color identification process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the symbol identification process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the message identification process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the message display process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the symbol lookup process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the symbol mask building process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagram of color strings, segment strings and message strings in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 18 is a diagram of the main message process in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 19 is a simplified block diagram of the determination circuitry in accord with the present invention.
  • FIG. 20 is a simplified block diagram of the intelligent visual device in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 21 is a simplified block diagram of the certification system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 22 is a simplified block diagram of an alternative certification system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 23 is a simplified block diagram of an alternative certification system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 24 is a simplified diagram of the write message periods in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 25 is a simplified diagram of an alternative write message periods in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 26 is a simplified block diagram of an extended certification method in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 27 is a simplified block diagram of an extended certification method in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 28 is a simplified block diagram of an extended certification method in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 29 is a simplified block diagram of a transaction authorization system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 30 is a simplified block diagram of a transaction authorization system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 31 is an illustration of a display set forth in copending US patent application number 15/368,622.
  • the intelligent label may take many forms, such as a traditional style label for attachment to a discrete box or package, it may be integrally formed on a package such as a shipping container or mailer, or it may take the form of documentation that accompanies a shipped product. In other examples, the label may be integrated or applied on prepaid gift cards for example, or can be integrated into the good itself. Generally, the intelligent label is intended to enable a highly trusted, robust, and accurate way for safely and securely confirming or reporting a change in the condition of a good, for example, while a good is transported from a point of origin to a consumer or it is held in stock prior to use.
  • the intelligent label enables analytics and an understanding of the quality and handling of the good over time that is not available with prior systems. Further, the intelligent label provides accurate and timely information to various participants in the handling and use process, including the end user, without the need for sophisticated processing, communication, or interrogation systems.
  • the intelligent label has a simple electro-optical display (indicator) for visually presenting selected important information about the quality and handling of the good.
  • a preferred option is an irreversible bistable indicator that cannot be turned back to its original state electronically, and thus is naturally resistant to tampering or accidental alteration. In some labels one may use both bistable and irreversible indicators corresponding to different indicator functions. It will be appreciated that in some constructions the electro- optic indicator can be constructed with electrochromatic material or electrophoretic material.
  • Bistable indicators may be used to temporarily present a code or information.
  • Bistability means that the display or the indicator changes from a first optical state to a second optical state by using a powering protocol, and remains in the second optical state without the application of additional power. However, this state (the second optical state) can be reversed to the first optical state by applying a different powering protocol and can also be maintained in that state without subsequent application of the power.
  • the length of stability in a given optical state is dependent on the application requirement and a suitable electro-optical display/indicating system meeting that requirement can selected. In some applications optical state stability without the application of power, on the order of a few minutes may be acceptable, while in other cases this may extend to several days, months or years.
  • Certain non-emissive electro- optical systems such as electrophoretic, liquid crystal and electrochromic systems can be tailored for various bistability requirements.
  • Another desirable property of these indicators is their environmental durability (time, temperature, humidity (moisture), pressure and radiation (e.g., UV) in both activated and non-activated states so that it is obvious from visually observing the indicator its last state of activation (or inactivation). This environmental stability ensures that it would be difficult to mistake the conveyance of its intended optical state and also difficult to tamper with and also results in a permanence of indicated information.
  • an intelligent label 10 is illustrated. It will be appreciated that the intelligent label may take many forms, however the form illustrated is a fairly typical label for attachment to a good destined for shipment using carriers or delivery companies. In other examples, the label may be integrated into mailers or other shipping containers, may be part of shipping documentation, or may be integrated with the packaging, product or good itself as in the case of a gift card. Referring again to FIG. 1, label 10 is intended for attachment to a good using an adhesive backing. As with a traditional paper label, intelligent label 10 has a print area 11 that may be used for identifying the intended receiver for the good.
  • the print area may contain many other kinds of information, such as additional information regarding the attached good, invoice numbers, purchase order numbers, and additional information to assist the shipper. It will be appreciated that the print information may be placed in many different areas in human-readable or machine-readable form.
  • the print area may include barcode or other man or machine readable 12 to facilitate a more automated way to track process through the shipping chain.
  • the intelligent label 10 also has embedded electronics that enable wireless communication to and from the intelligent label 10 electronics, not visible from the front of label 10, including a power source such as a battery, a processor, memory, and wireless communication, typically in the form of an RFID communication processor. It will be appreciated that these functions may be integrated onto a single electronic device, or maybe discreetly implemented.
  • the intelligent label may also have an optional power harvester to charge the onboard power source such as a capacitor or a battery.
  • the power harvester may produce electric energy from light (e.g., solar cell), RF energy, or due to motion and vibration that the label is subjected to.
  • Intelligent label 10 typically has an actuator, not illustrated from the front, that activates the electronics in the label just prior to the label being attached to the good.
  • the label may have adhesive backing, that when removed, enables the capture of the particular date and time when the label is being attached to the good.
  • the processor would operate in a very low power state to maintain its timer, and then when the adhesive is removed from the back of the label, a higher power mode would be enabled that allowed capture and storage of the current time and day. In this way, the label itself can accurately capture when it is attached to a good in-service.
  • the good may then be placed into the shipping chain, where at each transfer information may be captured from the label using the barcode 12 or from the electronic RFID communications, and additional information may be stored in the RFID areas as well, provided such RFID equipment is available at shipping locations.
  • Actuation, or initiation of the electronics also may be via a variety of means including a remote signal (e.g. RF, optical or electrical) a mechanical, electro-mechanical or electrical switch.
  • Intelligent label 10 also has an electro-optic display area 13 for providing immediate visual information regarding the quality of the product without the need for interrogating the RFID communication system.
  • the processor in the intelligent label 10 contains rules as to how long the shipping process should take.
  • the label 10 could be applied to a box of flowers. The shipper- grower may require that the flowers be delivered within a two-day time span. As soon as the label is applied to the flowers, the timer starts and begins counting the elapsed time that the flowers have been in the shipping process. Initially, the intelligent product label may indicate the flowers as being fresh, but if the shipping time goes behind the limits set in the rules, the processor may cause the electro-optic device to indicate not to accept the flowers.
  • the receiver would be put on visual notification not to accept the flowers.
  • This point could be at the end consumer point, or could be at any other point in the shipping chain.
  • the intelligent label could be set up to inform the end-user to call customer service. Upon calling customer service, the customer may be offered a discount or other incentive to accept the flowers, acknowledging that they are nearing the end of their freshness state.
  • the electrochromic display may have an informational block 15 for providing additional specific information.
  • the information in informational block 15 may provide coded information dependent upon specific attributes of the shipping process e.g. elapsed time, monitored conditions etc.
  • the informational block 15 would be activated in order to give more specific information as to the broad information given in area 13.
  • the intelligent label 10 shows that the product associated with this label should not be accepted. If, for example, a consumer removes a package from their mailbox with the "do not accept" highlighted, the consumer typically will not have the equipment necessary to interrogate the label through its RFID communication channels.
  • the label also provided an electrochromic indication that provided the additional information as shown in information block 15. Accordingly, when the consumer calls customer support for the provider of the good, the consumer can visually read the code included in block 15 to the customer service representative, and that particular code can be associated with a specific time or event causing the good to go bad. In this way, customer service obtains significant information that is accurate and trustworthy as to where in the shipping chain the product was mishandled. By providing such information, the chances for fraud are decreased, and the opportunity for improved customer service is enabled.
  • the intelligent label may take many forms, but for convenience, the structure and function of the intelligent label will be described with reference to a discrete label having an adhesive backing for attachment to a mailing package or good. It will be understood that other constructions for the intelligent label are consistent with this disclosure, such as a label integrated with a package, integrated onto shipping packaging, or integrated into shipping documentation. It will also be appreciated that other constructions or possible consistent with this disclosure.
  • Intelligent label 25 typically has a front side, which has a print area 27 for communicating information regarding the good itself or the shipping and usage of that good.
  • the information typically is printed onto the label using inkjet or laser printing processes, or may be preprinted.
  • the print information may contain such information as name, address, invoice number, preferred shipper, and other traditional shipping information.
  • Print information may also include information about the use of the goods, or rules regarding how the good should be stored or shipped.
  • the print information may include textual information, as well as barcode or other types of machine readable formats. In this way, the print information can assist a human reading the information, and also may accommodate more automated data collection processes throughout the shipping chain.
  • Intelligent label 25 also has electronics on or embedded within its structure. Electronics includes a processor 28 having an associated clock 29 and storage 30. The processor also manages communication using communication processor 34, which typically is an RFID radio. It will be appreciated that the various electronic components may be implemented using a single integrated circuit device, or may require multiple devices.
  • the electronics for intelligent label 25 require a power source 32 for operation, communication, and transitioning the electro-optic message indicator 33.
  • This power may be supplied, for example, by a traditional primary or a secondary cell battery, a set of thin-film layers constructed as a battery, capacitor, or may be an antenna structure constructed to generate power responsive to an RFID field signal.
  • electro-optic message indicator 33 which in one construction may be, electrochromic or electrophoretic indicator, for providing additional information regarding the condition or quality of the good.
  • the message indicator 33 may be bi-stable or permanent, i.e., irreversible.
  • the electro-optic material may be specifically formulated and activated in a way that it has two color or transparency states, with the electro-optic material remaining in the first state until it is activated to transition to the second state. Once electrically transitioned to the second state by the processor, this process is irreversible, and the message device 33 remains permanently in the second color or the second transparency state.
  • the particular formulation of the electro-optic material is fully set forth in published US patent application number 20110096388, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
  • message indicator 33 may be a first color while in the first state, and then when transitioned to the second state, visually present a second color.
  • the electro-optic message indicator may change its transparency state. In this way, electro-optic message indicator 33 could be placed over printed information that would not be visible while the message indicator is in the first state, but then when transitioned, information below could be viewed through the now transparent message indicator.
  • the message indicator 33 may be more complex and structured in a way that can build textual or numeric information, for example, such as using a segment or dot-based character construction. Further, although the message indicator 33 is described as having only two states, it will be appreciated that some indicators may have more than two stable states.
  • the message indicator upon activation, may transition from a first state to a second state irreversibly, and then upon further activation transition reversibly between the second and a third state, i.e., show bistability between the second and the third states.
  • electro-optic message indicator 33 would be transitioned according to rules set in the processor for the particular good that is being shipped. These rules would be implemented using processor 28, and when a rule is satisfied, the processor 28 would cause an appropriate electronic signal to transition the electro-optical material in the message indicator 33. For example, rules may be set that would cause the message indicator 33 to indicate whether or not the package was shipped and delivered within the allotted time.
  • the electro-optic message indicator 33 may be structured as bistable electrophoretic indicator.
  • Electrophoretic technology is most typically seen as an electronic paper display useful for handheld readers and small electronic displays. Electrophoretic technology is well known, but generally, an electrophoretic display forms images by rearranging charged pigment particles (pixels) with an applied electric field. Upon the application of an electrical signal, the pigments reorient themselves so that either a white side or a colored side is presented to the reader. By changing the electronic signal, the pigment can be oriented to the other visual state.
  • Electronic paper, e- paper and electronic ink are display technologies that mimic the appearance of ink on paper. Unlike conventional backlit flat panel displays that emit light, electronic paper displays reflect light like paper.
  • an electrochromic LCD display that is, a display that is not typically considered to be either bi-stable or permanent. Even with such a display, it would be desirable to determine it, a particular time, the correct intended message was being displayed in a perceptible manner, and if not, to capture the pattern that was actually displayed.
  • pattern is used broadly to include any arrangement of pixels, whether or not the pattern of pixels creates a human-recognizable symbol or character.
  • Communication may be provided with intelligent label 25 using the communication processor 34.
  • the communication processor 34 may be an RFID radio, although other radios such as ZigBee, 802.11, or Bluetooth maybe used.
  • the communication processes on communication block 34 may be controlled by processor 28, with processor 28 managing what information is sent and received through the radio. Once information is received, it may be stored in storage 30, or rules may be applied to determine if action needs to be taken, such as setting the electro-optic message indicator 33.
  • Intelligent label 25 also has an actuator 31 for determining when the label is being attached to a good, for example. In this way, the actuator provides an accurate indicator of when the good is entering the shipping chain.
  • the actuator in some cases may be provided as a physical mechanical device, and in other cases may be optical, electrical, electro-optical, RF, or chemical. It will be appreciated that the electronics man be activated at other trusted and confirmable times depending on the specific application.
  • Actuator 31 can take many forms, depending upon the physical structure of the intelligent label 25. In one example, the actuator 31 is constructed along with the backing of the label, such as when the backing is removed to expose adhesive, the processor is provided with a signal that the label is about to be attached to the good.
  • the processor can then store the accurate information regarding how the product entered the shipping chain, which can provide useful and accurate comparison information throughout the shipping process.
  • the actuator can be implemented in many alternative ways.
  • the actuator may be set such that the removal of the label backing breaks an electronic circuit that can be detected by the processor.
  • the removing of the backing material and placement of the label on the good may close a circuit, thereby giving a signal to the processor that the label has been attached to the good.
  • the actuator may be pressure activated through the application process, or provide an electronic signal that is generated by some physical action, such as by pulling a tab. It will be appreciated that actuator 31 maybe implement it in a wide variety of ways.
  • Intelligent label 50 is similar to intelligent label 25 described with reference to FIG. 2, so only the differences will be described.
  • intelligent label 50 includes a print area, processor, clock, storage, actuator, power, communication, and a first indicator as set out with reference to intelligent label 25.
  • intelligent label 50 has a sensor 55 that is positioned on, in, or below the intelligent label 50 for sensing something about the environment that the good was subjected to during the shipping process.
  • sensor 55 could be a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and altitude sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a vibration sensor (including a shock sensor), a humidity sensor, biological or a chemical sensor (including a gas sensor, a pH sensor), a magnetic sensor, and a smoke sensor, etc. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of sensors could be used depending upon the particular good being sold. It will also be appreciated that although only one sensor is shown on intelligent label 50, multiple sensors may be used. For example, a sensitive electronic device may be sensitive to vibration so a vibration sensor would be used, and may have parts that cannot be exposed to temperature extremes, so a temperature sensor would also be provided. However, for convenience intelligent label 50 will be described with reference to a single sensor 55.
  • the processor within intelligent label 50 will have a set of associated rules for the expected environmental conditions that the sensor 55 should be exposed to these rules can be set to simplistically monitor the sensor data, or may contain more sophisticated algorithms as to allowable conditions. For example, a good may remain in a quality state if exposed to a temperature for a short period of time, but would be considered out of specification if the temperature remained for more than a set period of time. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of rules may be set for sensor 55.
  • an electro-optical indicator may be provided for visually indicating the letter, character, or code that provides more information regarding when or why the good was deemed to be unacceptable.
  • the electro-optical indicator provides a human readable visual indicator, a person, such as the end consumer, would not need to wirelessly interact with the intelligent label 50 to obtain meaningful information regarding the state transition.
  • a customer service representative interacting with the consumer would be able to not only verify that the consumer's product has been indicated to be a bad quality, it may be able to determine additional specific information that could improve the shipping process, and provide valuable information in satisfying the customer's needs.
  • FIG. 4 another example of an intelligent label 60 is illustrated. Intelligent label 60 is similar to intelligent label 50 described with reference to FIG. 3, so only the differences will be described.
  • the state detector 62 may be connected to one or more of the electro-optic message indicators. In this way, when a particular rule is set to change one or more electro-optic message indicators, the processor will provide the required power signal to the electro-optic message indicator for it to change to its second state.
  • the processor can then cause state detector 62 to confirm that the electro-optic material has changed states. This can be done, for example, using electrical measurements across the electro-optic indicator, or using optical sensors for physically detecting color, transparency, or opaqueness of the electrical material. In this way, the processor would not only track when it intended to set the electro-optic material into its second state, but would provide further verification information that the state was actually changed.
  • the reliability of the state detection and confirmation may be further improved using knowledge of environmental conditions such as temperature, altitude, number of indicators, and their size, so that electrical parameters of the indicators are accurately predicted and tested both before and after activation.
  • Intelligent label 70 is similar to intelligent labels 10, 25, 50 and 60 discussed with reference to FIGs. 1-4, so only the differences will be described. Intelligent label 70 does not have a wireless communication capability, so is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, but still enables advantageous and trusted commercial transactions. Accordingly, label 70 communicates through a connector 73 to external or remote devices. Further, label 70 is illustrated having an electrophoretic indicator 71. It will be understood that the electrophoretic indicator 71 can be used with any of the electro-optic message indicators illustrated in FIGs. 1-4.
  • Pixels will be understood to be single addressable visual elements of the display.
  • a pixel may be a 'dot' and in others it maybe a shape such as a 'segment' used in the formation of a 'seven-segment' alphanumeric display.
  • Pixels may also be a variety of shapes, symbols or images that are determined by the surface areas of the electrodes used to signal them.
  • a shape of course may be comprised of multiple pixels.
  • the density, variety and resolution of the displayed messages is not typical of that required for consumer electronics. As such the messages may be generated using comparatively large pixels in shapes optimized for messages appropriate for the application instead of arrays of much larger numbers of significantly smaller pixels.
  • a message consists of the visual 'state' of one or more pixels.
  • a pixel typically has at least two intended states, on each of two high contrast colors (e.g. black and white) and depending on the display, a third (or more) state which is not one of the high contrast colors (e.g. gray or semi-transparent), but sits between the two high contrast colors.
  • the perceptibility of a message or visual information further typically depends on the actual visual state of the message pixels and that of the pixels adjacent or proximate to them.
  • the visual state of a pixel corresponds to an electrically measurable characteristic of the pixel (e.g. voltage, resistance, capacitance, etc.).
  • an electrically measurable characteristic of the pixel e.g. voltage, resistance, capacitance, etc.
  • US patent 6,995,550 B2 Metal And Apparatus For Determining Properties Of An Electrophoretic Display
  • a pixel thus has a visual state and a corresponding electrical state.
  • a pixel also may be considered to have a single 'state' that has both a visual and a corresponding electrical characteristic.
  • the location or 'address' of each pixel relates to the electrodes used to set its state.
  • a method 75 for verifying the perceptibility of a display is illustrated.
  • the display may be bistable, permanent, or irreversible.
  • the display may be part of an intelligent label, and in a particular construction may be employing an electrophoretic technology.
  • an intended message is typically generated by a computer processor or other electronic circuit, and is stored in a display memory as shown in block 76. It will be understood that such a message may be generated and stored in a wide variety of ways.
  • this message may be an expiration date, an indication of quality, or an alarm indicating that a particular environmental condition has been exceeded. It will be understood that the type and content of the message can vary greatly within the confines of the described invention.
  • Block 76 shows that the processor or driver circuitry attempts to write the intended message to the electro-optical display. In some cases, this intended message may be stored for later use in comparing to what was actually perceptibly displayed. It will also be understood that the intended message may be interrogated in various areas of the electronics, such as by evaluating contents of memory locations or evaluating driver circuitry. It will also be understood that method 75 may be used multiple times during the life of an intelligent label, since the intelligent label may have multiple messages that may be definable at various times in the distribution cycle. Method 75 may also be used to determine or confirm the continued perceptibility of the same message. Generally, the message comprises a set of pixels that when viewed together present the intended message.
  • these pixels may be white, black, gray, or set to another color.
  • the pixels on the display will be activated using an electrode or electrode set to provide an electric stimulation or signal to each individual pixel. It will be understood that the process for activating pixels with electrodes is well understood.
  • block 78 shows that the state of the pixels may be electronically measured to determine their visual state and the perceptibility of any message or information. That is, the individual pixels may be interrogated to determine if they are black, white, a particular color, or some state in between. Often, the interrogation of the pixels may be done using the same electrodes used to set the pixel, however in other cases other separate detection electrodes may be used. Also, it may not be necessary to evaluate or measure all of the message pixels.
  • the pixels there may only be a subset of the pixels that are required to perceptibly present the intended message.
  • the simplest process is to use the same electrode used to set each pixel, measure the electrical characteristics of every pixel of the intended message, and store the measured electrical characteristics. It also may be advantageous to measure the electrical characteristics of the pixels adjacent to the message pixels or of reference pixels.
  • each of the pixels can now be evaluated to determine if they are of the intended color and contrast. That is, it can be determined if the intended black pixel is actually black, or if it failed to transition at all, or if it is some level of gray in between. In this way, it can be understood if each pixel is properly set, and if not properly set, how close to the correct state it is. Accordingly, as shown in block 79, the intended pixel states corresponding to the intended message can be compared to the actual pixel states of the display.
  • the message visually perceptible to a user or machine is the intended message. For example, if all the pixels states are as intended, then the perceptible message is the intended message. If a few pixels are not fully set to their intended state, it may be determined that although not perfect, the intended message is still perceptible. In other cases, the differences between the intended states and the actual states may be so significant that it is determined that the message being displayed would not be perceptible by a user or machine. In making this determination, it may be useful to determine a subset of pixels that are actually necessary for generating a perceptible message.
  • a few pixels forming the base of a symbol may not have been properly set to a dark contrast, but having those few pixels properly operate is not necessary for a user to perceive and understand an intended message. That is, whether or not those pixels are black, white, or gray, their particular state creates little or no ambiguity in the perceptibility and understanding of the message.
  • the perceptible information can be stored for later use, may be transmitted to a third-party, may set an alarm, or maybe used to set another new local message. For example, if method 75 determines that a new expiration date is not actually perceptible, the intelligent label may locally cause a second display to present a large red dot showing that there is a severe problem with quality. In a similar way, the label may cause an alarm or message to be sent to a third party, and an indication of the perceptibility of the expiration date as well as that of the red dot, may be stored for later use in verifying what message or information was actually available to user at a specific time.
  • this verification process can be used multiple times to determine what was actually displayed at various times throughout the distribution and use cycle of the product.
  • block 82 it can be determined if the proper message or messages have been perceptibly displayed for use by a human or machine throughout the product distribution and use cycle.
  • the intelligent label has an indicator for informing a viewer that the message has an ambiguity. In this way, the user can take extra care in evaluating the message.
  • a bistable display uses a seven-segment display technology to present an alphanumeric character to a user or machine.
  • the intended message for example the number "7" is stored in memory.
  • Three pixels (segments) out of the seven that characterize an alphanumeric character are 'addressed' by the appropriate electrodes (the top segment and the two vertical segments on the right). Signals are sent to color the three pixels with a first color (e.g. black). Independent of their last-known state the signals are preferably sent to each of the four other pixels comprising the seven-segment character to color them with a second color (e.g. white).
  • signals may be sent only to pixels required to change state as determined by their last-known state or last-known-good state. If the state of the pixels proximate/adjacent (surrounding or interstitial to) to the seven pixels comprising the character can be electrically changed (e.g. the pixels are addressable) these pixels may also be sent signals to maximize the contrast between them and the message pixels and thus the perceptibility of the displayed information.
  • the pixel set in this example is preferably the seven pixels that make up the seven-segment display and the surrounding pixels.
  • only the three segments that needed to be transitioned might be measured. However, greater confidence would be established if all seven segments were measured. But, in some power and time critical situations it may be advantageous to measure fewer than all the pixels.
  • results of the electrical measurements are algorithmically compared to the previously stored intended message using predetermined measurable values corresponding to the different visual states possible for each pixel.
  • the comparative results are stored in memory along with date/time and other device and event information as appropriate. If the result of the comparison is not as intended an error message/alarm is generated and wirelessly transmitted and optionally visually displayed (which itself might be subject to verification).
  • Method 85 first sets a minimum contrast between the pixels states needed for perception of a message as shown in block 86.
  • This minimum contrast may be set according to the particular operating environment and the likely sensitivity of the user. For example, some machines may have far greater sensitivity to changes and therefore require less contrast ratio as compared to human being. In another example, if the label or display is intended to be perceived in bright sunlight, and extremely high contrast ratio may be considered necessary.
  • the electronics in the intelligent label or the electronics associated with the bistable display write a message to the display. Thereafter, and preferably using the same electrodes that were used to write the message, electrical measurements are taken of the pixels to determine the state of those pixels.
  • the "on” pixels may be measured to determine how dark or colored they are, and the "off pixels can be measured to determine how light or non-colored they are.
  • the contrast levels may be compared between the on and off pixels.
  • a display may be monitored for the effect of temperature, vibration, shock, electrical failure, material fatigue, damage or other conditions that could cause the contrast ratio of the display to diminish.
  • method 86 determines if the message is sufficiently perceptible for the particular application and particular environment. Again, in this step whether or not it is to be machine or human perception is important, and environmental and ambient conditions can be taken into consideration. Further, the more critical the messages, the higher level of contrast may be set.
  • FIG. 7A a method 95 for determining what is perceptible on a display is illustrated.
  • a message is written to the display as shown in block 96.
  • method 95 is focused and directed to determining, capturing, and creating a historical record of what was actually displayed and its perceptibility.
  • block 97 detects the state of the pixels on the display. In some cases, this could be all the pixels, and in other cases it may be a subset of pixels related to the intended message. Those pixels are evaluated as shown in block 98 to determine whether they are a first color, a second color, somewhere in between.
  • the types of messages that are displayable on the display may mean that some of the pixels are not crucial to any possible message on the display. In that case, whether or not a particular pixel is at its intended state is inconsequential to the actual message that could be perceived. That is, irrespective of the state of the pixel, it would create little or no ambiguity in the final message.
  • alarms can be set, additional display items set, or messages sent to third parties. It will be understood that other actions may be taken responsive to particular patterns.
  • the perceptible content may consist of a message that is different from the intended message, incorrect or misleading yet importantly it might be sensible given the circumstances. Or it might be completely devoid of meaning.
  • the term content should be construed broadly to encompass whatever is actually displayed independent of its coherence or meaning.
  • Clinical research organizations and healthcare professionals for example, need to know that their decision to dispense a drug or infuse a patient with blood can and will be evaluated on the basis of the information available to them when the decision was made (not before or after). It may not be enough for an intelligent label to know that the information displayed wasn't correct. A user may not be able to tell the difference (it may 'look' correct/reasonable). For example, the difference between an expiration date, temperature reading or access code that ends in a zero or an eight or a four or a nine is a single pixel (segment). For better or worse a user may make a decision and take an action based on the immediately available information that may be erroneous.
  • a single pixel can also be the difference between a plus and a minus sign or the international OK/Go and Warning/Stop symbols.
  • Measurements of the electrical state of the pixels in a pixel-set can be used in conjunction with appropriate reference tables or character recognition technique/systems to determine the content displayed and the messages it contains, if any. Measurements of the electrical state of the pixels in a pixel-set can be used to reconstruct the content actually displayed. That reconstruction in turn can be viewed, interpreted, analyzed, evaluated etc. by a person (or persons) or machine. And in conjunction with associated time/date information, an accurate, if not exact, reconstruction of the content displayed at a past moment in time could be used to judge whether or not a message was sufficiently perceptible and understandable to support a decision or action.
  • Measurements of the pixels' electrical characteristics can be taken at any time: before and immediately after updates, periodically over time, or in response to a command. Such measurements can be used to compare the original visual state with one or more past ones or absolute references to determine how they've changed over time or when the contrast in absolute terms or relative to each other pixels has unacceptably diminished. In the latter case the intelligent label could refresh the pixels or issue an alert.
  • measurements can be taken and written to memory with numerical precision consistent with the accuracy of the measurement means and the pixel configuration (e.g. larger pixels are easier to measure), the number of pixels and number of measurements, and the power and memory available.
  • the measurements can also be translated into a set of variables consistent with their visual states e.g. black, white or neither black nor white (e.g. gray, indeterminate, transparent, semi-transparent or opaque).
  • These measurements can be compared over time to determine the stability/efficacy of the display and perceptible information (e.g. to environmental conditions, time). In this way, this process can be used to determine if the display in an intelligent label or other electronic device (e.g.
  • the systems and means used here can be to varying degrees local to the intelligent label or to a remote display.
  • an entity independent of the system owner or operator it is advantageous for an entity independent of the system owner or operator to be able to verify the presence, accuracy and perceptibility of messages at various moments in time, location or other conditions, especially when consumers are involved.
  • owner/operators of an electronic shelf label (ESL) system or electronically updatable price tags
  • retailers or their operators
  • ESL electronic shelf label
  • Retailers also have the ability to control the prices the consumer pays at check-out/the point-of-sale. At worst this creates an opportunity for abuse/fraud.
  • ESL electronic shelf label
  • Retailers also have the ability to control the prices the consumer pays at check-out/the point-of-sale. At worst this creates an opportunity for abuse/fraud.
  • Consumers, regulators and honest businesses have an interest in being able to simply and reliably verify the accuracy and consistency of the pricing messages actually used to make purchase decisions and payments.
  • the required process control can be accomplished in a number of ways.
  • One way is to separate or isolating microprocessor functions such that the retailer for example can update the display, but cannot interfere with automatic measurement of the pixel's electrical characteristics immediately thereafter.
  • the storage of the results and the algorithmic conversion into displayed information Nor would they be able to access that information or associate date/time ESL ID or product SKU etc.
  • microprocessor functions could be isolated, yet securely communicatively coupled as required within a single IC or split between two ICs. Control can partly be manifest over the driver circuitry because the update and monitoring functions would both preferably use the same electrodes.
  • the price charged for the item (SKU) at the POS and the time it was charged are typically printed on a receipt and electronically recorded/stored (with appropriate security, and preferably with a third party). Both the visual and electronic record (with proper security) can be electronically compared to the price displayed at the time (or most recently). This provides a secure framework for auditing pricing information or a 3rd party to act as a neutral monitor/trustee in regards to pricing (and other information).
  • the intended messages would be advantageously displayed as composite images consisting of multiple pixels.
  • a symbol e.g. a 'dot'
  • icon, letter or number for example could be comprised of multiple smaller pixels in the appropriate state (color) versus a single large pixel.
  • an acceptable level of verification of the displayed messages may be achieved by determining the pixel-set that makes up the intended message (or a component of the intended message), sending appropriate signals to the pixels in the pixel-set to produce the electrical state that corresponds to the desired message, and then measuring the aggregate electrical state of a set of pixels that comprise the intended message.
  • That pixel set could be, for example, either all of the pixels that comprise the intended message, or in some cases a subset of the pixels that comprise the intended message.
  • the process then algorithmically compares the measured results of the pixel-set with the corresponding previously determined pixels that comprise the intended message. It would be desirable that the algorithm compensates for 'noisy' data to compensate for activation (write) errors and measurement (read) errors.
  • one or more pixels of the set of pixels that make up a large visual element e.g. a symbol, image (including a predetermined alphanumeric text string) may be measured and aggregated and used to represent the state of the visual element. Pixels may be sized according to the requirements (e.g. min size/shape)
  • the perceptibility of displayed messages, information, images and the like is directly related to the contrast between the pixels that make up the message.
  • the ability to perceive a message depends on the contrast between a first, visual or colored state (e.g. white, or less than white) and a second, colored state (either black, or less than black) of the pixels.
  • a first, visual or colored state e.g. white, or less than white
  • a second, colored state either black, or less than black
  • the perceptibility of a message is not dependent on both, or either color being 'pure' (e.g. 100% black or 100% white) and the differential being 100% (it will always be somewhat less). What matters in most cases is that the differential in contrast (or contrast ratio) between the two states is sufficient for the message to be perceptible - not the absolute states in and of themselves.
  • a variety of algorithmic relationships may be utilized, but by way of illustration only, a display with an 80% 'white' first colored state can be thought of as also having a 20% black first colored state, and an 80% black second colored state may be thought of as having a 20% white second colored state.
  • the differential in contrast between the two states would be 60%. The same would be true for a display with a 90% white first colored state and a 30% black second colored state.
  • Another way of looking at contrast is to consider a contrast ratio.
  • the human eye adjusts to the (average) light intensity in the image, by changing its pupil diameter (fairly quickly) and also light sensitivity of the retina (over several minutes). This is similar to a linear gain change in an (otherwise) linear photo detector. Simplistically, the eye sets the max intensity to the highest level of the pixels in the display (in practice average would be a better measure). Thus for the two cases: 80/20 would be normalized to 100/25, and 90/30 would be normalized to 100/33. It would therefore be easier for the eye to see the 100/25 (with a contrast ratio of 4: 1), than the 100/33 (with a contrast ration of 3 : 1).
  • a "contrast differential” as the term is used herein, is the difference between a first and second measurement of an electrical property of a pixel or pixel-set that corresponds to a first, visual ("colored") state and a second, colored state.
  • the "contrast" of the colored states being determined relative to each other subjectively (e.g. by human trials) and/or objectively (e.g. by measurement of light reflection or absorption). Such determination can be made for each individual display (e.g. factory calibrated) or for each class of device, or other criteria.
  • all the pixels comprising the display are set to a first state where the pixels are colored to a first color (preferably the background color which is preferably white) and then a first measurement of an electrical characteristic is taken.
  • the pixel or pixel-set that comprises the desired message is set to a second state where the pixel or pixel-set is colored to a second color that contrasts with the first color and a second measurement of the electrical characteristic is taken.
  • the contrast differential is calculated between the two measurements.
  • the calculated contrast differential then may be algorithmically compared to one or more previously generated reference "contrast differential," values, indexes or benchmarks).
  • the pixel, pixel-set or all of the pixels comprising the display is set to a first color, the first color being the background color (e.g. white).
  • the first color being the background color (e.g. white).
  • all the pixels in the display were set to a first state, color and especially the background color (white).
  • a subset of all the pixels in the display those that were known to surround the pixel set, could be used instead (and they could be set pre or post the setting of the pixel-set to the send color (black).
  • only the pixels surrounding the pixel-set that were last known (measured) to be of set of the second color could be used set to the first color, pre or post the coloring of the pixel-set.
  • the contrast differential is determined without setting or resetting the states of the pixels in the pixel-set. For example, to compare it to a previous contrast differential and determine if the message has been stable over the interim interval or the display's efficacy impaired.
  • the first color may be either dark (e.g. black) or light (e.g. white) and can be of colors other than black or white.
  • the relationship between the electrical characteristic and the perceptibility of the message may be linear or nonlinear.
  • Previously generated reference contrast differentials may be generated during the manufacturing process and supplemented by an optical verification system. Or, they may be generated at one or more times during the display's (and intelligent label's) life. As previously described, conditional rules/logic may be applied and actions taken in response to comparisons between contrast differentials.
  • the relationship between the optical state of a pixel and the corresponding electrically measured characteristic is required (e.g. for a given voltage or capacitance, there is a corresponding optical state).
  • This information may be obtained by calibrating the electro-optic displays using automated means consisting of electrical measurements of the electrical state of pixels of different sizes, surface areas, shapes, volumes, thicknesses, masses, manufacturing defects and tolerances, etc. and optical measures of the displayed information. Further, the information may be calibrated to compensate for different environmental conditions (e.g. temperature or humidity).
  • an intelligent label may be advantageous for an intelligent label to create a verifiable visual alert/alarm based on the displayed message.
  • the visual alert/alarm is, unlike that produced by a reversible bistable electro-optic device, irreversible permanent or near permanent (like a photograph).
  • a red dot or other symbol or message could be displayed to visually, and verifiably alert the user that the message displayed by the bistable electro-optic device was either incorrect or potentially inaccurate.
  • an intelligent label comprising a bistable display and a permanently irreversible display.
  • the intelligent label comprises an integrated electro-optic display comprising a bistable electrophoretic layer and a permanently irreversible electrochromic layer (such as that described in patent application US20110096388A1 "Flexible and Printable Electro-optic Devices) and common electrodes. And further, that the reversible electrophoretic and irreversible electrochromic layer utilize the same electrodes layers.
  • FIGs. 8-18 discussed below, show an example implementation for determining perceptibility for a bistable display. It will be understood that there are many methods and processes that can be used, and this represents just one of the ways to detect and report perceptibility.
  • FIG. 8 provides an overview diagram of the color codes used in a representative implementation.
  • the visual state of a pixel corresponds to an electrically measurable characteristic of the pixel (e.g. voltage, resistance, capacitance etc.).
  • these electrically measurable characteristics are divided into three ranges. One part of the range is mapped to one display color and another part of the range corresponds to a second color. Measurements that are between these range values correspond to an ambiguous reading.
  • the set of values can be divided into additional ranges that can be associated with additional colors. Measurement ranges can be separated enough reliably to identify color sets. These values can be read to ascertain the current display value and established to set the appropriate color value for a segment on the display.
  • FIG. 9 corresponds to a commonly used seven-segment display.
  • the typical seven-segment display is supplemented with a new ambiguity indicator, which can be set to display whether or not the seven segments are confidently displaying an intended message.
  • Each of the seven letter-coded segments can be individually addressed and set or read through the electrical characteristic used in the design.
  • the segments can take one of two colors.
  • a separate indicator can be used in order to communicate with the user of the display that the display reading for a particular character is ambiguous. This indicator can be set in the case that the read value of a segment within a character is ambiguous.
  • a single ambiguity indicator can be associated with an entire message.
  • FIG. 10 corresponds to a symbol table for a seven-segment display that maps segment color values to symbols.
  • the allowable symbols are 7, 8, 9, and r. These symbols are the intended result of color patterns on the seven-segment display. For example, in this table for a two color display a 1 indicates “black” and a 0 indicates the color "white”. The first row in the table corresponds to segments A, B and C being colored black and the other segments being colored white, or, depending on the display characteristics, uncolored. Such a pattern would generate a 7. If all segments are colored, as in the second row, then an 8 should be set on the display.
  • Process 200 Identify Segment Color
  • Process 200 begins in process step 210 where the physical value of a single pixel segment (e.g. voltage, resistance, capacitance etc.) is assessed.
  • Process 200 then proceeds to process step 220.
  • This step maps the value read in process step 210 to the range values described above. In the case of the two color code display, this might be represented as "0", "1", or "2" for example.
  • process step 230 the result of this mapping is returned from the process.
  • Process 200 then ends as to that segment, but can be repeated until all the required segments (pixels) are read and a color determined.
  • Process 300 Build Symbol String, is diagrammed in FIG. 12. This process compiles a collection of segment values into a symbol string.
  • Process 300 begins in process step 310 where an index is set.
  • Process step 320 invokes process 200, Identify Segment Color for the identified segment. The returned segment color is saved in process step 330. The segment index is incremented in process step 340.
  • Process 300 then continues to process step 350, where it is determined whether this is the final segment of the display. If it is not, process 300 continues to process step 320. If this was the last segment, process 300 proceeds to process step 360 where the symbol string is returned. This symbol string represents the actual state of the segments as detected, and may include all the segments, or a subset of the segments. Process 300 then ends.
  • Process 400 Build Message String, is diagrammed in FIG. 13.
  • Process 400 begins in process step 410 where an index is set. This process is useful for messages that comprise multiple symbols.
  • Process 400 then proceeds to process step 420 where Process 300, Build Symbol String, is invoked.
  • Process 400 then continues to process step 430 where the symbol string identified is saved.
  • process step 440 the symbol index is incremented.
  • Process 400 tests whether this was the last symbol to be processed in process step 450. If this was not the last symbol, process 400 continues to process step 420. If it was the last symbol to be processed, process 400 proceeds to process step 460 where the message string, the set of symbols identified, is returned. Process 400 then ends.
  • Process 500 Display Message
  • Process 500 begins in process step 510 where the symbol index is set to 1.
  • Process 500 proceeds to process step 520 where process 600 (FIG. 15), Lookup Symbol, is performed.
  • Process 500 then proceeds to process step 530, where it is determined whether the result of Process 600 was ambiguous. If it was not, process 500 proceeds to process step 550, where the symbol is displayed. If it was, process 500 proceeds to process step 540 where the ambiguity display indicator is set. As indicated in the description of FIG. 9, depending on the display, the may be one indicator per symbol, one indicator per display or another configuration that allows for appropriate communication.
  • Process 500 then continues to process step 560, where the symbol index is incremented.
  • Process 500 then proceeds to process step 570 where it tests to determine whether this was the last symbol to process. If it was not, process 500 continues to process step 520. If it was, process 500 terminates. If will be appreciated that ambiguity as to a particular segment, or even a particular symbol, may not result in an ambiguity to the overall message.
  • Process 600 Lookup Symbol, is diagrammed in FIG. 15.
  • Process 600 takes as input a symbol string.
  • Process 600 begins in process step 610 where a table index is set to 1. The table index is used to iterate over the Symbol Table.
  • Process 600 then proceeds to process step 620 where process 700 (FIG. 16), Build Symbol Mask, is invoked with the current symbol string.
  • the result of Process 700 (FIG. 16) is a bit string mask. This mask has a zero in those symbol positions that are ambiguous.
  • Process 600 then proceeds to process step 630 where the symbol mask is logically ANDed with the symbol table entry to create a masked table entry. The result of process step 630 is then logically XORed with the symbol string.
  • This bit string will be zero if the table entry matches the symbol string for all non-ambiguous bits. Process 600 then proceeds to process step 650 where this bit string is tested. If it is not zero, this table entry is not a match for the symbol string and Process 600 proceeds to process step 675 where the table index is incremented.
  • Process 60 proceeds to process step 660. Where the table symbol is added to the Matching Symbol List. Process 600 then proceeds to process step 665 where the length of the Matching Symbol List is tested. If the length is greater than 1, that is, there has been more than one match for the symbol string identified, Process 600 proceeds to process step 670 where an ambiguity indicator for the symbol string is set. Process 600 then proceeds to process step 675. In process step 665, if the number of matching symbols is 1, process 600 proceeds to process step 675.
  • Process 600 then proceeds to process step 680 where the table index is compared to the length of the symbol table to determine whether this was the last table entry. If it is not, Process 600 proceeds to process step 620. If it is the last entry, Process 600 proceeds to process step 690 where the symbols from the table that matched the symbol string are returned. Process 600 then ends.
  • Process 700 Build Symbol Mask, is diagrammed in FIG. 16.
  • Process 700 takes as input a Symbol String and builds a bit mask. This bit mask has a 1 for every segment that has an unambiguous read and a 0 for every segment in which the segment string value is ambiguous.
  • Process 700 begins in process step 710 where the segment index (SI) is set to 1.
  • Process 700 proceeds to process step 720 where the value of the Symbol String at the SI position is ambiguous. If the Symbol String at this position is ambiguous, Process 700 proceeds to process step 760 where the mask bit at position SI is set to 0.
  • Process 700 then proceeds to process step 740.
  • process 700 proceeds to process step 730 where the Mask bit at position SI is set to 1. Process 700 then proceeds to process step 740 where the segment index is incremented. Process 700 then proceeds to process step 750. In process step 750 the SI is compared to the Symbol String length. If this was not the last symbol, Process 700 proceeds to process step 720. If it was the last segment in the Symbol String process 700 proceeds to process step 700 where the symbol mask is returned. Process 700 then terminates.
  • FIG. 17 shows examples of color indicator values, a symbol string, and a message string.
  • Process 800 Message Processing, is an asynchronous process driven by a timer or external interrupt.
  • Process 800 begins in process step 810 where it waits on a timer interrupt. Once the timer is triggered, Process 800 continues to process step 820 where process 400, Build Message String, is invoked. Process 800 then continues to process step 830 where the new message string is compared to the previous message string. If the new message string is equal to the previous message string, Process 800 proceeds to process step 810. If the new message string is not equal to the old message string, Process 800 continues to process step 840, where the changed message is logged.
  • the log entry for the message can include a date and timestamp, the message string, and other sensor information that may be both available and relevant (e.g., temperature) for the given device configuration and context.
  • This log entry can be saved in local device memory, external storage device or can be transmitted to a remote site for storage and further processing.
  • Process 800 then continues to process step 850 where process 500, Display Message is invoked. Process 800 then continues to process step 860 where the current message string is saved as the reference message string for subsequent comparisons.
  • Process 800 waits for a new message event. This event is device dependent and may be triggered by local sensors or may be externally triggered for purposes of setting the display configuration. Once triggered, Process 800 continues to process step 880 where the message for the event is accessed. This access may be through a lookup table based on possible events, may be supplied by an external source, or may be constructed based upon multiple sources of information available to the device. Process 800 then continues to process step 830.
  • ESLs electronic shelf labels
  • Retailers also control the prices actually charged at the point-of-sale during checkout.
  • Consumers (2 nd parties) rely upon the information they see on the ESLs to make purchase decisions that are consummated at the point-of-sale with a purchase or payment transaction. Consumers assume that the information visible on the ESLs is consistent with the transaction, but have no way of verifying otherwise once they've left the store. Neither can the retailer.
  • a similar dynamic also exists between manufacturers, promotional partners, and retailers related to electronic signage. Manufacturers may for example want in-store consumer facing prices set and maintained at individual locations, across regions or entire chains at precise times synchronous with out-of-store advertising, product launches, time dependent promotions, retailer rebates, inventory price reductions or price protection, revenue sharing, co-op advertising funds etc. And importantly, they only want to pay for the signage/exposure they actually receive. Retailers similarly want to make sure they get paid for the signage/exposure/services they provide. [0132]
  • the same sort of dynamic can exist between advertisers (the parties paying for advertisements or content) and the owners or operators of the media (e.g. owners of digital billboards). It can also exist with payment processors and owners of payment terminals or ATMs. Payment processors have a stake in payment transactions based on transactions that are based on the use of visible information/messages displayed by ATM/payment terminals or visible on remote displays and upon which input into ATM/payment terminals (including mobile devices and smart phones) is dependent.
  • a similar dynamic can be observed between a patient and the distributor of a drug via a physical container (e.g. medicine bottle, blister pack, vial, fluid bag/container), which includes an electronic visual label.
  • a patient or healthcare professional may check the expiration date of the medicine displayed on the label and decide to ingest/transfuse it or not.
  • IVDs intelligent visual devices
  • the IVD may be used to display messaging regarding pricing, for example, as well as product descriptions, dates, warranties, exclusions, alerts, alarms, or other information useful to a consumer or user.
  • the IVD can be viewed in the context of a closed loop system that can verify that the information presented as a message on an IVD is the same message that was ultimately used in a follow-on data transaction.
  • the term "Message Authority" will be an entity that controls the content and message for an IVD.
  • the Certification Authority confirms that the intended message is the same as the message as actual visible message used in the data transaction. And depending on the circumstances, if the messages are not the same, the Certification Authority shall determine the actual visible message.
  • it may be able to detect tampering, fraud, or system error, and responsive to that, may generate an alarm, an alert, or send messages to any stakeholder.
  • IVDs are typically uniquely identifiable and addressable, and include a display, for example, bi-stable (e.g. electrophoretic, cholesteric LCD), self-erasing (e.g. LCD, OLED, electrochromic where the visible automatically erases when power is no longer applied to the display) and other known types of displays.
  • the IVD will also have some communication interface that can be wired or wireless, and write-circuitry (hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof) that 'writes' the write-message to the display.
  • the IVD has determination circuitry that has (1) detection-circuitry that detects the electrical or optical characteristics of the display that correspond to the visible information, for example, the message pixels; (2) conversion circuitry that converts electrical signals corresponding to the electrical or optical characteristics of the message pixels into "states" (e.g. comparative levels of contrast, reflectivity, transmission); and (3) interpretation circuitry that translates or interprets the states of the detected message pixels into higher order symbols or meaning (e.g. into visible alphanumeric characters, symbols, shapes, images etc.).
  • the determination circuitry 900 comprises in whole or in part, detection circuitry 901, conversion circuitry 902, and interpretation circuitry 903, as discussed.
  • the IVD also has memory appropriate to the overall purpose and design of the IVD, advantageously persistent/nonvolatile and can preferably be read/write protected.
  • the IVD also has authorization circuitry that manages access to and control over functions of IVD, e.g. to restrict or prevent a Message Authority (described below) from controlling, accessing, or interfering with select functions, data, or communications.
  • the IVD also has a source of power (that depending on the design or application of the IVD may be continuous or intermittent.)
  • This power source may be internal, such as a battery, capacitor etc., or external such as RF, light, or motion etc. and harvested using an antenna/receiver, photovoltaic or thermoelectric harvester, sensor, mechanical transducer, inductive coupling, a wireless or wired connection etc.
  • IVDs typically also have timing circuitry (e.g.
  • an internal clock or a reliable external source particularly in the case of start-up/power reset
  • Figure 20 illustrates select functions of an IVD 910. Illustrated are the display 912, the write circuitry 913, and the determination circuitry 914. It will be understood that this is a simplified diagram for explanation purpose only. Some or all of the functional requirements for a complete IVD may be implemented using a microcontroller, microprocessor, programmable logic arrays or custom integrated circuits. Note that the above functions and features (e.g. determination circuitry) may be distributed between the IVD and associated structures/entities (e.g. the Certification Authority described below).
  • Figure 20 shows numbered data paths. An explanation of the numbered data paths for Figure 20 is below:
  • Determination circuitry 914 determines the 'pre-write' visible-message
  • Determination circuitry 914 authorizes write circuitry 913 to the write the write-message to the display 912
  • Write circuitry 913 writes the write-message to the display 912
  • Write circuitry 913 notifies determination circuitry 914 that an attempt has been made to write the write-message
  • Determination circuitry 914 detects and determines the 'post write' visible- message 8. Pre and post write visible-messages are sent to Certification Authority
  • IVDs are configured to receive "write-messages" from a "Message Authority".
  • a write-message is the message (content) intended to be displayed on an IVD's display and be visible to users (observers).
  • the Message Authority manages (controls) the write-message (content and timing) and its determinants.
  • the Message Authority may transmit appropriately packaged write-messages to one or more IVDs for writing to their displays via embedded write-circuitry.
  • the Message Authority may also set rules typically embedded in an IVD where write-messages are generated responsive to monitored conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, shock, vibration etc.) or timing events (e.g. elapsed or absolute time), or 3 rd party signals etc.
  • the Message Authority may also synchronize or otherwise manage write-messages across multiple IVDs in one or more locations.
  • the Message Authority also manages, controls and enables, transactions, services and rights associated with write-messages, visible-messages and visible- message-periods (described below).
  • Visible-messages are the messages actually visible on the display of an IVD at a moment in time.
  • Visible-messages are determined by the determination circuitry, which consists of detection circuitry, conversion circuitry and typically interpretation circuitry.
  • a visible-message-period is the period of time a visible- message is continuously visible on the display of an IVD.
  • Visible-message-periods can be determined by comparing visible-messages at different moments in time. The time “window" can be set to reliably determine a continuous (non-changing) visible-message based on the IVD technology.
  • the Certification Authority spans IVDs and remote systems, and may represent or involve one or more parties.
  • the Certification Authority independently, without influence or interference of the Message Authority (or other unauthorized parties), determines visible-messages and visible-message-periods. Additional exemplary functions of the Certification Authority are Determining (1) Visible-messages before and/or after changes in write-messages or effecting write-circuitry (2) Visible-messages when an event occurs or when an event occurred (3) visible-messages across more than one IVD, or domains of IVDs and (4) diagnosing damaged or faulty displays.
  • the Certification Authority also may algorithmically compare visible-messages with write- messages sent by the Message Authority and may have managing circuitry (functions, authorizations etc.) and information in IVD(s). Further the Certification Authority may provide services (discussed more fully below, where the services are independent of visible-messages and visible-message-periods. The Certification Authority also can be involved in authorizing transactions, services and 'rights' dependent on visible-messages and visible-message-periods.
  • Exemplary services include: (1) Independent determination, verification of visible-messages and visible-message-periods and related events; (2) monitoring, compliance, analysis, analytics, auditing etc.; (3) Fraud detection; (4) notification, alarm/alerts; and (5) risk determination/assessment.
  • Exemplary rights include (1) finance (billing, payment, rebates, credits, settlement, conditional/dynamic pricing etc.); (2) returns, shipments; (3) insurance; (4) Title Issuance, acquisition, transfer; (5) access to information/content and systems, particularly in context of a transaction; (6) participation/membership programs, associations, promotions; (7) Performance based benefits such as successful management of IVDs, visible-messages, trusted services etc.
  • Figure 21 illustrates a simple certification system and method 920. An explanation of the numbered data paths for Figure 21 is below:
  • Visible-message (determined by the determination-circuitry 921) is compared to write-message
  • Figure 22 illustrates an alternative certification system and method 930.
  • the primary differences between Figure 21 and Figure 22 relates to the ability of the Certification authority 932 to compare the write-message and the visible-message.
  • Note Figures 20-23 do not illustrate the use of visible-message-periods, which are described in the following section. An explanation of the numbered data paths for Figure 22 is below:
  • Determination-circuitry 931 determines the pre-write visible-message
  • Determination-circuitry determines the post-write visible message 931
  • Figure 23 illustrates an alternative certification system and method 940. An explanation of the numbered data paths for Figure 23 is below:
  • Certification Authority 942 compares write-message and visible-message
  • a visible-message-period is the period between known determinations of visible-messages on an IVD. Visible-message-periods are managed by the Certificate Authority (isolated and without interference from the Message Authority). If the IVD's display is bi-stable (visible-messages are stable under normal environmental or operating parameters with or without the continuous application of power) then a visible-message can be considered determinant (known, constant) throughout the visible-message-period. The IVD visible-message can be considered indeterminate if the write-circuitry is active (e.g.
  • the IVD's display is self-erasing or volatile (e.g. visible-messages automatically change if power is disrupted or normal environmental/operating parameters are exceeded) the visible-message is indeterminate during the visible-message-period if power to the display is disrupted or environmental/operating conditions exceeded (e.g. the IVD gets too hot or cold), or the IVD malfunctions, is damaged or tampered. If the IVD is operating correctly, a visible-message only changes in response to the write- circuitry.
  • the visible-message-periods 950 can be determined using known times of two sequential visible-message determinations (e.g. the times when a post-write visible-message and the following pre-write visible-message are determined). And further, a continuous sequence of visible-message-periods can be determined. This makes it possible to determine the visible-message at any time in the past (during a sequence of visible-message-periods). It further makes possible determination of periods when the visible-message is indeterminate.
  • Post-write/write-message #1 visible-message 951 is compared to pre- write/write-message #2 visible-message 952.
  • Pre-write/write-message #3 is compared to post-write/write-message #2.
  • An IVD therefore may be advantageously configured with a power backup (e.g. a battery, charged capacitor etc.) and an automated process to determine the visible-message (using the power back-up) at the time the power is disrupted and store the visible-message along with the time of the event in non-volatile memory (where it is inaccessible and unalterable by other than the Certificate Authority).
  • the last known visible-message may also be automatically transmitted to the Certificate Authority.
  • An IVD may also be advantageously configured so that upon re-starting (power restored) the last know/determined visible-message can be retrieved from memory and automatically written to the display and determined. A sequence of visible-message periods can then be created except for period during the power outage.
  • a new write-message can be automatically generated (e.g. a default, preprogrammed write-message).
  • An IVD may also be advantageously configured to monitor environmental/operating conditions and in the event of a pending failure (thresholds exceeded) automatically trigger pre and post event-failure determinations to minimize indeterminate visible-message-periods.
  • visible-messages can be determined at any time to detect malfunctions or tampering and ensure continuity and system integrity. The determinations can be made in response to a set schedule (fixed or variable - e.g. time of day) or conditional rules (e.g. changes in monitored conditions), or signals from the Certificate Authority etc.
  • a certified visible-message for example, may first be determined (without reference to a write- message) or verified (in reference to a write-message). And both a determined visible- message and a verified visible-message may be certified.
  • An IVD may include certificate circuitry configured to operate without interference or influence of the Message Authority for that purpose.
  • An IVD's certification circuitry may operate (e.g. generate a digital certificate) automatically responsive to the generation of determination messages or other activities within the IVD, events or signals from the Certification Authority.
  • the Certification Authority may generate a digital certificate remote from the IVD (e.g. Certification Authority 922 of Figure 3).
  • a visible-message may be considered certified if it comes from the Certification Authority (especially if the communication is secure) or by an accompanying digital certificate. Securing a message via a digital certificate enables a secure exchange over an insecure communication channel (i.e. public internet) using the public key infrastructure (PKI).
  • PKI public key infrastructure
  • a visible-message may be considered certified if it comes from the Certification Authority (especially if the communication is secure) or by an accompanying digital certificate.
  • the term visible- message may also refer to digital derivatives, dependents or associated values of the visible-message.
  • a Transaction System is a system/process that executes transactions directly or indirectly affected by visible-messages (or, per the preceding note, their derivatives and dependents).
  • a Transaction System is typically under the direct or indirect control/management of the Message Authority.
  • Figures 26-30 illustrate extended certification systems and methods involving a Transaction System. An explanation of the numbered data paths for the extended certification system 1000 of Figure 26 is below:
  • the Message Authority 1003 sends write-messages to the IVD 1001.
  • the Certification Authority 1002 determines corresponding visible-message- periods.
  • the Transaction System 1004 effects a transaction and produces a receipt 1005 including the date/time of the transaction.
  • the Certification Authority 1002 compares the prices in the receipt to the visible-message in the temporally corresponding visible-message-period. [0162] An explanation of the numbered data paths for the extended certification system 1010 of Figure 27 is below:
  • the Message Authority 1013 sends a write-message to IVD 1011 (e.g. a price)
  • the Message Authorityl 013 sends a transaction-determinant (presumed to be consistent with the write-message, e.g. the same price as the one in the write- message) to Transaction System 1014.
  • the Transaction System 1014 effects a transaction (e.g. a POS/payment) using the transaction-determinant.
  • a transaction e.g. a POS/payment
  • the Certification Authority 1012 compares the transaction-determinant at the time of the transaction with the visible-message corresponding to the write- message at the time of the transaction.
  • Transaction System 1024 executes a transaction based on information
  • Certificate Authority 1022 receives transaction-data from Transaction System 1024 corresponding to a visible-message period.
  • Certificate Authority 1022 compares transaction-date to visible-message
  • Certificate Authority 1022 transmits the result of the comparison (e.g. to the Message Authority 1023, Transaction System 1024, User or a 3 ⁇ Party) or generates an alert/alarm/notification.
  • the Message Authority 1033 sends write-messages to IVD 1031.
  • Certification Authority 1032 determines visible-message. 3. Certification Authority 1032 authorizes Transaction System 1034 to use visible-message (derivatives, dependents or associated values).
  • the Message Authority 1043 sends write-messages to IVD 1041.
  • Certification Authority 1042 determines visible-messages (and visible- message-periods).
  • Transaction System 1044 requests authorization to effect transactions using transaction-determinants.
  • Certification Authority 1042 compares transaction-determinants with visible- messages (derivatives, dependents or associated values) and authorizes Transaction System 1044 to effect transaction using transaction-determinants.
  • a Transaction System may be distributed and for example, consist of an application on a user's device (e.g. a mobile phone or internet connected terminal) and a remote server to which the user's device is connected.
  • a user's device e.g. a mobile phone or internet connected terminal
  • both the application and the server are directly or indirectly under the control of the Message Authority.
  • a Transaction System may include a human or human element. Many desired outcomes from the use of IVDs depend on the actions of users and/or their participation in transactions. And in turn, they depend on users trusting the visible-messages on smart labels/packaging, ESLs, video billboards and the like.
  • a healthcare professional is more likely to act upon the visible-message on a smart label if they know it is independently certified.
  • the healthcare provider (as well as the emergency service, clinic, or hospital) will likely be held accountable for using (or not using) the visible-message. However at the same time, they will be protected from false accusations arising from a negative outcome due to errors in the message. Regulatory authorities will also likely embrace systems and methods dependent on visible-messages if they are independently certified. All of which helps to drive adoption, participation and positive outcomes.
  • customers are more likely to trust a retailer if they know that the visible-messages on ESLs in its stores are certified - and they could unequivocally verify that the prices on their receipts (electronic or printed) are the same as those that were visible on the ESLs in the store when they made their purchase (or within a reasonable period of time from the last write-message). Verification could be done in a variety of ways (e.g. that illustrated Figure 26) including in-person (e.g. at the store) or online (e.g. a mobile application that automatically compares electronic receipts with bank statements and visible-message-periods for the store, SKU, date and time of the transaction).
  • in-person e.g. at the store
  • online e.g. a mobile application that automatically compares electronic receipts with bank statements and visible-message-periods for the store, SKU, date and time of the transaction.
  • a dock worker, trucker or anyone proximate with a good with an intelligent label is more likely to trust fair and equitable treatment from being held accountable for properly using visible-messages presented by the label if the visible-messages are certified.
  • a customer is more likely to trust the visible-message on an ESL if there is an affirmative communication that the visible-message is continuously certified (e.g. a continuous or flashing green light next to the display with the visible message, or a wirelessly transmitted signal to an app on the consumer's mobile phone).
  • self-updating rVD label the absence of an alert/alarm/notification would communicate that the visible-message was certified and trustworthy.
  • the presence of an independent alert/alarm e.g. a visible, audible, wireless notification
  • Transactions can be authorized/managed by the Certification Authority by independently (1) providing the Transaction System with certified visible-messages (and their derivatives) upon which the transaction depends (e.g. pricing, promotional offerings) and (2) verifying/certifying the pre-determinants of the transaction received from the Transaction Authority and authorizing their use.
  • the Transaction System may request the current price of an item/SKU from the Certification Authority.
  • the Certification Authority would determine the appropriate IVD (e.g. based on the location in the store where the item/SKU is located), then either communicate with the IVD to determine the then-current visible-message or check the appropriate visible- message-period to determine the current price, and then communicate it to the Transaction System.
  • systems and methods authorize actions, transactions, services or rights based on the Certification Authority verifying and certifying visible-messages.
  • rights to bill or to receive payment, collect insurance or receive a credit/rebate/discount etc. related to the condition of an item may be authorized subject to independent certification of visible-messages on IVDs such as smart labels or packaging.
  • rights to promotional benefits e.g. digital content, extended warranties or services
  • ESLs or video billboards or even mobile phones - geo targeting.
  • transactions, services or rights may be authorized subject to independent certification of visible-messages on multiple IVDs such as an ESL and a POS or payment terminal, or a smart label and a mobile phone or tablet.
  • the ability to determine what message is to be written to the display is separated and largely independent from the ability to determine what has actually been displayed as the visible-message on the display.
  • the intelligent display device uses a Message Authority to determine what message is to be written to the display (the write-message), and to take the steps necessary to cause that message (the visible-message) to be displayed to a consumer or other user.
  • a Certification Authority is used to manage the determination of what was actually visibly displayed. In this way, the Certification Authority is able to make a determination of what has actually been displayed (the determined-message, without influence or tampering from anyone associated with the Message Authority.
  • the intelligent display device is constructed to receive instructions regarding writing information from the Message Authority and converting that information into a write-message that is to be displayed on the message display.
  • the Message Authority may be able to write the write-message immediately to the display, and in other cases the Message Authority may need the authorization of others, for example via the rules set by the Certification Authority, prior to start the write process.
  • the write-message that is to be displayed may be received from an external source, or it may be generated internal to the intelligent display device.
  • the Certification Authority In enabling trusted commercial or non-commercial transactions, events and actions on the part of customers and other users, the Certification Authority is of central importance. It is the Certification Authority that acts as a trusted middleman to assure and confirm that the message that should have been displayed by the Message Authority (the write-message) is the actual message that was visible to, for example, a consumer or other user (the visible-message). In order to extend the flexibility and usefulness of the Certification Authority, the Certification Authority may operate according to a set of predefined rules set in intelligent display device. The sophistication and complexity of these rules may be adjusted according to application specific requirements.
  • a Message Authority receives a write-message that is to be displayed to a message display on an intelligent display device.
  • this write-message may have been received from an external source, and in some cases, it may have been generated internally within the intelligent display device.
  • Such internal messages may include messages regarding or associated with time, date, environmental conditions, or other aspects of the intelligent display device itself.
  • the rules for the Certification Authority causes the intelligent display device on behalf of the Message Authority to immediately write the write-message to the message display.
  • the Certification Authority Upon completion of writing the write-message, the Certification Authority is notified that a write to the display has been completed.
  • the Certification Authority causes the determination circuitry to determine what message is presently visible on the display.
  • the intelligent display device is configured such that the determination circuitry is not influenced or under any control of the Message Authority.
  • the Message Authority communicates the write-message to the Certification Authority, and as described above, the Certification Authority determines the current visible-message and thereby, generates the determined message. Accordingly, it is a very straightforward process for the Certification Authority to confirm whether or not the visible-message was the same message as the one provided by the Message Authority. That determination, of whether the messages are the same, can then be communicated to third parties, used by the Certification Authority for further processes, or used internally to the intelligent display device.
  • the Certification Authority's rules provide more oversight to the message display process.
  • the Message Authority desires to write a new message, it first must authorized by the Certification Authority prior to doing a write function.
  • the intelligent display device receives from the Message Authority an instruction to write a new message to the display.
  • the Certification Authority has set rules for the operation of the write-circuitry, where the write-circuitry must be an authorized by the rules of the Certification Authority prior to changing the current visible-message to the new message.
  • the Certification Authority rules may cause a determination to be made of what is actually currently being displayed. Once the current actual display information is captured and the visible information is determined, preferably along with time information, then the Certification Authority will enable the write of the new message to the display to proceed. As described above, when the Certification Authority is made aware by that the new message has been written to the message display, the Certification Authority will then make another determination to assure that the new message has been properly and visibly displayed.
  • the intelligent display device In contrast to most known display devices, the intelligent display device is not focused on fast refresh and fast message display. Instead, it is focused on confidently determining what the user actually was able to see, verifying that the actual visible- message is, or was, as intended, and certifying the display information can be trusted by all parties involved. Accordingly, when the Certification Authority has verified that the display had the correct message, or did not have the correct message, or otherwise determined what the visible message actually is (or was) it may generate a digital certificate. This digital certificate may be used internally for making adjustments to the intelligent display device, or may be communicated externally so others may make appropriate commercial decisions. In some cases, it is desirable to encrypt the digital certificate with information specific to the intelligent display device, such as its serial number, geo-location, date, time, or other information that can identify the specific message display.
  • the Certification Authority may perform a determination immediately after the disruption. Again, this can be used to enhance trust, reinforced with the generation of a digital certificate.
  • the Message Authority or another entity may desire that a determination be made at a specific time or upon the occurrence of a specific event. Accordingly, the Certification Authority may cause a determination to be made responsive to the receipt of an internal or external signal.
  • the Certification Authority makes a first determination to what is actually visibly displayed when a write-message is first displayed, and then make a second determination at a second, later, time to confirm that the message is still properly and visibly displayed. In some cases, this later time may be a time just prior to when the next write-message is ready to be displayed and replace the current visible-message. In particular, the Certification Authority will compare the determined first visible-message to the determined second visible-message, to verify that the visible-message is the same at the start and the end of the message time period (the visible-message-period).
  • the Certification Authority may also detect or determine if some disruption has occurred during the visible-message- period. If so, the visible- message may be indeterminate, and its uncertain state should be reflected in a digital certificate generated by the Certificate Authority. Further, the Certificate Authority may cause an alarm or alert to be set, or cause a message to be displayed on the intelligent display device, or a message to be sent to a remote location. Accordingly, when there is uncertainty regarding the visible information, all parties are typically notified. In such a manner, the intelligent label device generates high quality visible information and related message data that can be used to enable trusted commercial transactions.
  • a display device as defined in co-pending US patent application number 15/368,622, comprises a display layer and a light detection layer. Devices may also have a light source layer. These functional 'layers' may be configured in different ways and in different combinations depending in part on their respective reflective, transreflective or transmissive properties. They may also share common elements (e.g. common electrodes). The term 'layer' should be construed broadly to encompass configurations other than those where the functions ascribed to the terms above are literally layered. Of particular interest are configurations where the display layer, light detection layer and light source layer, as well as, the assembled device, are flexible. Devices however, and their components, may also be semi-rigid and rigid. Devices may also include electronics, methods and systems described herein.
  • the display layer displays the message and may be any of different types including, but not limited to, electrophoretic, liquid crystal, plasma, OLED, and electrochromic.
  • displays display layers
  • Display layers may be further distinguished in accordance with their ability to reflect/absorb or pass/block light.
  • electrophoretic displays comprising transparent electrodes where the charged particles may be positioned so that in one state they block light from passing, and in a second state they are moved out of the light path, and allow light to pass.
  • a light detection layer is typically sized appropriately to detect/measure light associated with the state of the display pixels and optionally, other areas such as that for detecting/measuring ambient light.
  • a light detection layer can be made of photovoltaic materials, light harvesting proteins, or other photoactive compounds.
  • Preferred photovoltaic materials include organic photovoltaic materials (OPV) for ease of roll-to-roll manufacturing and optical properties (e.g. high transparency).
  • An exemplary embodiment of a light detection layer consists of a transparent electrode layer of ITO, an organic photovoltaic material based on for example Poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and an electrode layer (transparent or non-transparent) such as ITO, PEDOT:PSS, graphene, a metal conductor (e.g. Al), or a combination thereof.
  • an organic photovoltaic material based on for example Poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) and an electrode layer (transparent or non-transparent) such as ITO, PEDOT:PSS, graphene, a metal conductor (e.g. Al), or a combination thereof.
  • ITO organic photovoltaic material based on for example Poly 3-hexylthiophene
  • PEDOT:PSS Poly 3-hexylthiophene
  • graphene e.g. Al
  • metal conductor e.g. Al
  • a detector layer or photoactive thin film sensor 1111 consisting of a light sensitive layer 1112 sandwiched between two transparent conductive layers, a front layer 11 13 respectively back layer 1114.
  • This photoactive thin film sensor is inserted on the front (i.e., readout side) of a reflective display 1115.
  • the light sensitive layer, or photoactive layer may consist of a single compound or many layers, in order to provide an electrical signal (1116a, 1116b), e.g., a voltage differential, between the respective transparent conductive layers, when ambient light (1118a, 1118b) impinges onto the photoactive sensor system.
  • the electrical signal is dependent on not only the ambient lighting (1118a, 1118b) conditions (intensity over the visible and/or invisible part of the electromagnetic spectrum), but also on the amount of light reflected back from the reflective underlying display pixel (1119a, 1119b).
  • the ambient light (1117a, 1117b) passing through the front electrode 1113 will act as an electrical bias on the detected electrical (1116a, 1116b) originating from the display pixel.
  • This electrical signal (1116a, 1116b) can, in a similar way to that of the electrophoretic display described above and in US patent application number 15/368,622, be used to verify the state of the display, preferably by first subtracting out the electrical bias signal.
  • the reflective display layer 1115 has two pixels, one dark 1120a and one bright 1120b, with corresponding sensor pixels (1121a, 11 21b).
  • a proper separation 1122 between the electrode layer 1114 of the sensing pixels must be provided in at least one of the transparent layers (e.g. through gaps), i.e. 1 114 or 1113, in order to measure the states of the desired pixels of the bistable display.
  • the detector layer (photoactive film sensor) 1111 can be fabricated with proper alignment directly onto the reflective display layer 1115 or onto a supporting carrier film 1123 for subsequent transfer onto the display.
  • Many of the examples/illustrations described thus far above and in US patent application number 15/368,622 presume that at least one of transparent electrodes that drive the display layer (e.g.
  • the photoactive material 11 12 are on the surface of the substrate opposite that facing the display material. It will be appreciated that there may also be a transparent electrode facing the display material.
  • the carrier film 1123 may have patterned ITO on both sides, each aligned to the other.
  • the photoactive layer in the above configurations can be made of photovoltaic materials, light harvesting proteins, or other photoactive compounds.
  • Preferred photovoltaic materials include organic photovoltaic materials (OPV) for ease of roll-to-roll manufacturing and with optical properties of high transparency to minimize the impact of the display readability.
  • OOV organic photovoltaic materials
  • Of particular interest are organic photovoltaic devices that are near transparent or semitransparent developed primarily for automotive and building window applications (see e.g. US Pub. No. US20140084266 "Semi- transparent, transparent, stacked and top-illuminated organic photovoltaic devices," and US20120186623 “Transparent Photovoltaic Cells," and US Patent 5, 176,758 "Translucent Photovoltaic Sheet Materials and Panels”).
  • Bacteriorhodopsin (see, e.g., "Photoelectric response of polarization sensitive bacteriorhodopsin films," Q. Li et al., Biosensors and Bioelectronics 19 (2004) 869-874, and included references) is a preferred light harvesting protein for the photoactive layer.

Abstract

L'invention concerne, en bref, un procédé permettant de vérifier la perceptibilité visuelle d'un afficheur. Un message prévu est écrit sur un afficheur bistable. Des pixels qui constituent des portions du message sont mesurés et évalués afin de déterminer si le message effectivement affiché sur l'afficheur bistable était perceptible par un humain ou une machine. Dans certains cas, des informations concernant le message effectivement perceptible depuis l'afficheur peuvent être mémorisées en vue d'une utilisation ultérieure. En réponse à la détermination du caractère perceptible ou non perceptible d'un message, des alarmes peuvent être définies, un ou plusieurs tiers peuvent être notifiés ou des caractéristiques d'affichage supplémentaires peuvent être définies.
PCT/US2017/034246 2016-05-26 2017-05-24 Vérification de symboles pour un dispositif étiquette intelligent WO2017205501A1 (fr)

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EP17803504.4A EP3465604A4 (fr) 2016-05-26 2017-05-24 Vérification de symboles pour un dispositif étiquette intelligent

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201662341768P 2016-05-26 2016-05-26
US62/341,768 2016-05-26
US15/368,622 US10078977B2 (en) 2015-12-04 2016-12-04 Optically determining messages on a display
US15/368,622 2016-12-04

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