A digital display unit (DDU), which may be integrated into an enterprise-wide networked system for managing and displaying price and product-related information, is adapted to wirelessly receive price and product data from a local computer system and clearly display information based thereon. Updating price information in a local POS product price database causes a DDU control computer to communicate the price information to the DDU. A synthetic barcode module detects the presence of a barcode scanner and produces light output that emulates reflected light corresponding to a scanned barcode. A DDU may receive, store and display information for a plurality of products.

A method of managing time-sensitive items which relies on identification information of RFID labels associated with the items. The method includes the steps of identifying the time-sensitive item, and obtaining the expiration information from a web site of a seller of the time-sensitive item. In another form concerned with products, the method includes the steps of identifying an EPL associated with the product, causing the EPL to interrogate an RFID label on the product, receiving identification information from the RFID label, and obtaining the expiration information about the product using the identification information from the RFID label. The method additionally compares the expiration information with current date information and either causes the EPL to display a lower price or assists with removal of expired instances of a product through a report.

An electronic shelf label includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of wireless data tags associated with a plurality of retail products. The transceiver is further configured to communicate with a retail server system. A display displays information related to the plurality of retail products. A controller sends data to the retail server system related to the plurality of wireless data tags.

An inventory control and identification apparatus uses a storage space with a plurality of inventory items. Identification labels are positioned in physical correspondence with the inventory items. Each of the identification labels provides a transceiver. A coordinate communications network of further transceivers is set in a fixed position relative to the storage space and is enabled for wireless communication with the identification labels. A data processor is enabled for wireless communication with the coordinate network and the identification labels so as to receive data from the labels and the network. Inventory items have RF ID tags. Interrogation by the labels enables the tags to emit codes identifying the presence and location of the inventory to the labels. Triangulation of signals transmitted by the labels enables location of the labels in three-space.

An electronic product identifier system is provided for use with a product storage area adapted to store more than one type of product. The electronic product identifier system has a display adapted to present product information for more than one product along a length of the storage area. Each product has an electronic product identifier. An electromagnetic sensing circuit is provided having at least one transmitter for transmitting polling electromagnetic fields so that the electronic product identifier associated with each product can generate a response. The electromagnetic sensing circuit further has at least one receiver for receiving each responsive electromagnetic signal at two separated sensing locations. A location circuit determines a location of each responsive electronic product identifier using the electromagnetic signals received; a data interface determines product information for each product type; and a display controller causes product information to be presented proximate to products of that type.