Opticon ESL Server User manual

ESL User Manual
Electronic Shelf Labeling System
ESL
All information subject to change without notice.
©2012 copyright Opticon. All rights reserved.
This manual may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or converted to any written, electronic or
machine readable form without prior written consent of Opticon.
User Manual

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ESL User Manual
All information subject to change without notice.
Document History
Model Number:
ESL DEMO KIT
Specification Number:
Edition:
0.2.1
Original Spec Number:
Date:
2012
Copyright 2011 Opticon. All rights reserved.
This manual may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or converted to any electronic or
machine readable form without prior written consent of Opticon.
Limited Warranty and Disclaimers
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING OR USING THE
PRODUCT.
Serial Number
A serial number appears on all Opticon products. This official registration number is directly related to the device purchased.
Do not remove the serial number from your Opticon device. Removing the serial number voids the warranty.
Warranty
Unless otherwise agreed in a written contract, all Opticon products are warranted against defects in materials and
workmanship for two years after purchase. Opticon will repair or, at its option, replace products that are defective in materials
or workmanship with proper use during the warranty period. Opticon is not liable for damages caused by modifications made
by a customer. In such cases, standard repair charges will apply. If a product is returned under warranty and no defect is
found, standard repair charges will apply. Opticon assumes no liability for any direct, indirect, consequential or incidental
damages arising out of use or inability to use both the hardware and software, even if Opticon has been informed about the
possibility of such damages.
Packaging
The packing materials are recyclable. We recommend that you save all packing material to use should you need to transport
your scanner or send it for service. Damage caused by improper packaging during shipment is not covered by the warranty.
Trademarks
Trademarks used are the property of their respective owners.
Opticon Inc. and Opticon Sensors Europe B.V. are wholly owned subsidiaries of OPTOELECTRONICS Co., Ltd., 12-17,
Tsukagoshi 4-chome, Warabi-shi, Saitama, Japan 335-0002. TEL [phone]; FAX [phone]
SUPPORT
USA
Europe
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.opticonusa.com
Web: www.opticon.com

ESL User Manual
Table of Contents
1. Features and Specifications ................................................................................................5!
1.1 Abstract...............................................................................................................................................5!
1.2 Physical Features ...............................................................................................................................5!
1.2.1 Dimensions and Weight ...............................................................................................................5!
1.3 Environmental Specifications..............................................................................................................5!
1.3.1 Operating Temperature and Humidity (EE200)............................................................................ 5!
1.3.2 Storage Temperature and Humidity (EE200)...............................................................................5!
1.4 Interface Specifications....................................................................................................................... 6!
1.5 Hardware Specifications .....................................................................................................................6!
1.6 Electrical Specifications ......................................................................................................................6!
1.6.1 Electrical Characteristics..............................................................................................................6!
1.6.2 Main Battery: ................................................................................................................................7!
1.7 Serial Number .....................................................................................................................................8!
EBS-10.................................................................................................................................................. 8!
EE200 ...................................................................................................................................................8!
1.8 Safety..................................................................................................................................................8!
Shock ....................................................................................................................................................8!
Temperature Conditions........................................................................................................................8!
Foreign Materials ..................................................................................................................................8!
Other .....................................................................................................................................................8!
2. Solution Overview .................................................................................................................9!
3. Getting started.....................................................................................................................10!
3.1 Setting up the Hardware and Software .............................................................................................10!
3.1.1 Installing Elements of the ESL Kit Software...............................................................................10!
3.1.2 Installing the base station........................................................................................................... 11!
3.1.3 Installing the ESLs .....................................................................................................................11!
3.1.4 Installing the Optional Barcode Terminal ...................................................................................12!
3.2 Linking a Back Office System to the ESL Server.............................................................................. 12!
3.3 Resetting the ESL System ................................................................................................................12!
3.3 Designing the ESL image layout.......................................................................................................13!
4. Back Office...........................................................................................................................14!
4.1 Database format ...............................................................................................................................14!
5. ESL Server Application ......................................................................................................16!
5.1 Handling of incoming CSV files from the Back Office .......................................................................16!
5.2 Handling of modified ESL-product links (linked.csv).........................................................................17!
5.3 Detecting New/changed ESL image and Configuration Files ...........................................................18!
5.4 Configuring ESLs ..............................................................................................................................19!
5.4.1 Associate interval .......................................................................................................................20!
5.4.2 Poll Info Ratio.............................................................................................................................20!
5.4.3 Poll Interval ................................................................................................................................20!
5.4.4 Poll timeout ................................................................................................................................21!
5.4.5 Scan channels............................................................................................................................21!
5.5 ESL status information......................................................................................................................21!
5.6 Configuring of base stations .............................................................................................................21!
5.6.1 Configuring the RF Channel.......................................................................................................22!
5.6.2 Changing the Name of a Base Station.......................................................................................23!
5.6.3 Configuring the Ethernet Settings ..............................................................................................23!
5.7 Setup of the ESL server application..................................................................................................26!
5.7.1 Base stations..............................................................................................................................26!

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ESL User Manual
5.7.2 Input Folder ................................................................................................................................27!
5.7.3 Output ........................................................................................................................................27!
5.7.4 Delete Links ...............................................................................................................................27!
5.7.5 Delete Database ........................................................................................................................27!
5.7.6 Processed Folder .......................................................................................................................27!
5.7.7 CSV parser.................................................................................................................................27!
5.7.8 Image generator.........................................................................................................................28!
5.7.9 Image Layout .............................................................................................................................28!
5.7.10 Info Template ...........................................................................................................................28!
5.7.11 Optional Barcode terminal........................................................................................................28!
5.7.12 Log Files................................................................................................................................... 29!
5.7.13 Apply ........................................................................................................................................29!
5.7.14 Reset........................................................................................................................................29!
5.7.13 Cancel ...................................................................................................................................... 29!
6. Middleware Applications ....................................................................................................30!
6.1 CSV Parser .......................................................................................................................................30!
6.2 Image Generator............................................................................................................................... 31!
7. Application for the Optional Barcode Terminal ...............................................................32!
7.1 Setting up the Optional Barcode Terminal........................................................................................32!
7.2 Loading the Database Files on the Optional Barcode Terminal ....................................................... 32!
7.3 Creating Links between ESLs and Products/Locations, Using the Optional Barcode Terminal .......33!
7.4 Deleting Existing Links......................................................................................................................34!
7.5 Verifying existing links ......................................................................................................................34!
7.6 Sending the Modified Link Database to the PC ................................................................................34!
7.7 Settings menu ...................................................................................................................................34!
7.8 Version..............................................................................................................................................34!
8. Version history ....................................................................................................................35!
9. Appendices ..........................................................................................................................36!
Appendix A: Editing the ESL Template Files ..........................................................................................36!
A.1 Editing the Information Template..................................................................................................36!
A.2 Editing the Image Layout Template ..............................................................................................37!
A.3 Adding or Editing Text ..................................................................................................................39!
A.4 Adding Rectangles........................................................................................................................40!
A.5 Adding Lines ................................................................................................................................. 40!
A.5 Adding Images..............................................................................................................................41!
A.6 Adding Barcodes ..........................................................................................................................41!
A.7 Barcode Types..............................................................................................................................42!
A.8 Format Trouble Shooting .............................................................................................................. 43!
Appendix B: Example Barcodes ............................................................................................................. 44!
Appendix C: Example ESL Layout Illustration ........................................................................................ 45!

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ESL User Manual
1. Features and Specifications
1.1 Abstract
This manual describes how to set-up the e-Paper Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) System and
includes pre-loaded software for demonstration and pilot project purposes.
Contents
The ESL demo kit consists of the following components:
•Ethernet ESL base station (EBS-10)
•Six 2-inch e-paper ESLs (EE200) including 6x2 CR2450 batteries
•UTP cable
•6.0V 2A Power supply
•PC Installation Software + examples
•Manual
•(Optional barcode terminal)
1.2 Physical Features
1.2.1 Dimensions and Weight
Item
Dimensions
Weight
Standard shelf tag:
(w x h x d): 70 x 33 x
14mm; 2.76 x 1.30 x .55in
2.5g (.09oz)
Base station:
(w x h x d): 129 x 28 x
102 mm; 5 x 1 x 4in
125g (4.4oz),
excluding antenna
1.3 Environmental Specifications
1.3.1 Operating Temperature and Humidity (EE200)
Temperature: 0 to 50° C
Humidity: 0-85%
1.3.2 Storage Temperature and Humidity (EE200)
Temperature: -20 to 60° C
Humidity: 0-85%

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ESL User Manual
1.4 Interface Specifications
The radio interface of both the base stations and ESLs have the following specifications:
•2.4gHz IEEE 802.15.4 compatible
•Transmission speeds: up to 250 kbps
1.5 Hardware Specifications
Items
Specifications
Remarks
CPU
Type
CC2530-F128 (EE200)
CC2530-F256 (EBS-10)
Internal ROM
256 KB (EBS-10)
128 KB (EE200)
Internal RAM
8 KB
Clock frequency
32 MHz
Display
(EE200)
Active area
W 45 x H 22 mm
Number of dots
W 200 x H 96
Model
EG020AS183
Gray scale level
1 bit
Black and white
Contrast ratio
10:1
Pixel pitch
111 dpi
Connector
(EBS-10)
Ethernet
10/100 Mbit
Radio
Frequency
2.4gHz
Protocol
IEEE 802.15.4
1.6 Electrical Specifications
1.6.1 Electrical Characteristics
EE200:
Parameter
Typical
Unit
Remarks
Operating voltage
2.8–3.2
V
2 x CR2450 Lithium battery
Operating current
7-33
mA
During RF and image refresh only
Sleep current
1
uA
EE200 in sleep state >99,9%
EBS-10:
Parameter
Typical
Unit
Remarks
Operating voltage
6.0
V
Power adapter
Operating current
<200
mA

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ESL User Manual
1.6.2 Main Battery:
•The main batteries in the EE200 are 2 CR2450 Li-Mn batteries:
•Nominal capacity: 2x600 mAh
•Nominal voltage: 3V.
•Low voltage: Less than 2.8 V
•Operating time: >7 years (default settings; 4 refreshes/day; 15-25° C)
The operating time of the batteries is based on a realistic estimation of any of the following
factors that influence the battery life:
Factor
Default s values and
estimated averages
Correlation *
(higher is better)
Influence
Polling for data &
reporting settings
Interval: 20 seconds
Retransmissions: 10%
Report ratio: 1 to 39
Yes
No
Yes
61%
Display updates
4 per day
Temperature: 15-25° C
No
No
20%
Out of range /
base station OFF %
Not connected: 2%
Number of channels: 5
No
No
4%
Sleep time
99,9%
Yes
9%
Battery'self+discharge
1'%'/'year'
No
6%
* The correlation shows whether increasing the listed value increases or decreases the
power consumption.
For example:
•Increasing the poll interval lowers the power consumption
•Turning off the base stations increases the power consumption
•A lower operating temperature increases the power consumption
•More display updates per day increases the power consumption

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1.7 Serial Number
EBS-10
The serial number can be found on the back of the Base station. The EBS-10 is currently
only available as Engineering Sample, which can be recognized by the serial number
starting with “ES.”
EE200
The serial number of the ESLs is based on the 16 hexadecimal digits MAC-address of the
RF-module. However, the first 6 digits of the MAC address (00124B) have been replaced by
the letter “A.”
The default barcode that is shown on the display of the ESL is identical to the bar code on
the back of the ESL.
1.8 Safety
Handle this product carefully. Do not deliberately subject it to any of the following.
Shock
Do not throw or drop the devices.
Temperature Conditions
Do not use the devices at temperatures outside the specified range.
Do not pour boiling water on the devices.
Do not throw the devices into the fire.
Do not forcibly bend the cable at low temperatures.
Foreign Materials
Do not immerse the devices in liquids.
Do not subject the devices to chemicals.
Other
Do not plug/unplug the connectors before disconnecting the power.
Do not disassemble this product.
The device may be damaged by power surges

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ESL User Manual
IEEE 802.15.4
Barcode terminal (OPH1004/
H13/OPL9728)
+Receives product and link
databases from server
application
+Creates/modifies links between
ESLs and products
+Sends link database back to
server application.
ESL server application
+Detects incoming CSV files (from the back
office) and processes them by calling
DbConv.exe
+Detects any new/changed ESL-product links
(from the barcode terminal) and processes
them by calling DbConv.exe
+Detects and processes new/changed ESL
images and product XML-files (from
DbConv.exe)
+Sends image data to ESLs (via base stations)
+Configures ESLs and base stations
+Shows status / settings of all ESLs and base
stations
+Logs all events and executed tasks
+Installs software updates on base stations and
ESLs
Middleware applications
CSV parser:
+Parse product modifications
into a combined CSV
database containing all
product info.
+Generate truncated article
database (CSV format) for
the barcode terminal.
Image Generator:
+Generate ESL images and
XML-files for the server
application from the link- and
product-database.
Base stations
+Forwards ESL status &
settings information to PC
+Sends images / commands
from server application to
ESLs
+Handles software updates
for ESLs
ESLs
+Show images
+Provide status reports
+Poll for data
+Search base stations
Back office
- Places product modifications
as CSV file into shared folder.
2. Solution Overview
The current solution operates by running the provided ESL server application that monitors an
incoming folder in which any mutations in the product database are being placed by the back
office system of the user. Any detected changes will be automatically processed and sent to the
ESLs and displayed.
A global overview of the current solution is shown below. The following chapters will describe the
different parts of this system in more detail and how to get started.
Rename file event
Cradle
(RS232 / OseComm)
Ethernet

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ESL User Manual
3. Getting started
3.1 Setting up the Hardware and Software
This kit contains the following pieces of hardware and software that will have to be installed in
order to get an ESL demonstration or pilot up and running:
•ESL kit installer includes:
•The ESL server application
•Middleware applications
•Example database files and image templates
•Firmware for the barcode terminal, base station and ESLs
•Appload (optional)
•USB drivers for the barcode terminal cradle (optional)
•XTAdminXXL (optional)
•User manual
•1 EBS10 Base station
•6V Power supply
•Ethernet cable
•Six EE200 2-inch e-paper ESLs (batteries included)
Note: If you want to be able to quickly link ESLs to products, you will also need an OPH1004, H13
or OPL9728 barcode terminal kit that includes:
•A communication cradle
•An RS232 and/or USB cable.
•A 6V Power supply
To install and run the software you will also need a PC running Windows 7 or Windows XP (with
server pack 3) as server.
3.1.1 Installing Elements of the ESL Kit Software
Make sure you have administrative rights before installing the software. Run the SDK installer by
starting the setup.exe file.
If your PC doesnʼt have .NET Framework 3.5 (or higher) installed, the installer will automatically
install it on your system, since the ESL Server application requires it to run.
Select the components that you wish to install. If you havenʼt installed Appload or the Opticon
USB drivers on your PC before, make sure you install those components as well.
The XTAdminXXL tool is a 3rd party tool from AK-NORD that allows you to discover your base
stations on an Ethernet network and configure the Ethernet settings of base stations. (See
section 5.6).

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Note that only the installer for XTAdminXXL will be copied to the ʻToolsʼ-folder of your
installation. To actually install the program, this installer needs to be run manually.
3.1.2 Installing the base station
The base station can be easily installed by: powering it up; connecting it to the Ethernet; and
placing it within 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) of your ESLs. (Note that the actual maximum
coverage range is much wider). The PC will need to be connected to the same LAN, so it can
communicate with the base station*. See section 5.6.3 for more information on configuring the
Ethernet settings of your base station. Other information on how to configure the base stations
(i.e. selecting the best RF channel) can be found in section 5.6.1.
* Note: The base station can also be controlled over the Internet, or via a public network, but it
this is not a secure solution, since SSL isnʼt supported yet in this SDK.
3.1.3 Installing the ESLs
On arrival the ESLs usually already have their two CR2450 batteries inserted. If not, the
batteries can be easily inserted by removing the back shell. When the batteries are inserted, the
ESLs will be periodically seeking for an Opticon base station, so as soon as an Opticon base
station is within range, they will associate with it and start sending data requests and status
information to it. When a base station is turned off, or an ESL is moved out of range, an ESL will
time out after a couple of minutes and start seeking for another base station in range.
Since there are many types of mechanisms to mount shelf labels to shelves, the ESLs of the

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ESL User Manual
demo kit are supplied without mounting clips. Please contact
Opticon for more information on the mounting possibilities of the ESLs to your shelves. For
simple demonstration purposes with small amounts of ESLs one might also consider using
double sided foam tape as a temporarily solution.
3.1.4 Installing the Optional Barcode Terminal
The optional barcode terminal can be used to link an ESL (using its unique MAC addresses) to
any type of product, objects or location as long as it has a unique identifier it can be linked with.
Example of unique identifiers include: an EAN-barcode; a serial number; a specific position or
location; a room number, etc.
More information on how to set up the barcode terminal can be found in section 5.7.11.
3.2 Linking a Back Office System to the ESL Server
The ESL server application is triggered by CSV files that are being placed in the specified Input
Folder by the back office. Using a shared folder itʼs possible to allow external access by the back
office from anywhere in the world.
If the back office link to the ESL system is not yet available, then itʼs also possible to manually
place (and rename) some CSV files in the Input folder for demonstration purposes and testing.
(See section 5.1).
See chapter 2 for information about on setting up the back office system.
3.3 Resetting the ESL System
After installing and configuring all the components listed in this chapter, it will be necessary to
reset the complete ESL system, since on start-up the ESL server will already have parsed the
example database file, which will have to be replaced with your own CSV export.
Note: if the field sequence of your CSV export is ever changed, it will be necessary to reset the
ESL system by deleting the existing product database. However, do NOT delete the link database
(step 3) because otherwise you will have to manually link all ESLs again using the optional
barcode terminal. The existing database files can also be replaced remotely by the back office, by
placing a complete database CSV file in the ʻInput folderʼthat contains only empty modification
fields. (See section 4.1).
To reset the ESL system manually, the following steps have to be taken:
1. If still present, delete the sample database file from the Input folder of your installation
(ProductData_1.csv). If the sample database file has already been moved to the Processed
folder, then itʼs not mandatory to delete it.

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2. Go to the Setup-window of the ESL server application and press the Delete database button
to delete the generated database files: dbase.csv and scan.csv.
3. (Optional) If youʼve manually linked any ESLs using the sample database or want to redo the
linking of all ESLs, then press the Delete links button to delete the link file (linked.csv). Before
closing the Setup window, delete any existing links from the barcode terminal as well by using
4 settings > 1 Delete Data to prevent any links from being resent by the terminal.
After deleting the necessary files and closing the Setup window, the system will automatically
start detecting any incoming CSV files in the configured Input folder again. (See chapter 4).
3.3 Designing the ESL image layout
Probably the most important step in the customization process of the ESL system is determining
the design and format of the images that should be displayed on the ESLs.
When designing the layout of an e-paper ESL itʼs important to know the limitations of what can
and what canʼt be displayed.
The main characteristics are:
•Fixed resolution of 200x96 pixels
•Monochrome images only (black/white)
•No anti-aliasing can be used on fonts (limiting the amount of available fonts)
•Monochrome company logos and other product (group) images can be added to the layout.
•Barcodes can be added using data of CSV database
•Texts can be rotated only in 90° angles (currently only horizontal is supported in this version)
•Dynamic texts, using information from the database, can be added and aligned as desired.
•Different templates for groups of ELSs is possible by adding objects to the template using
logical conditions (i.e. condition: ʻfield xʼ(group) equals ʻ5ʼ)
Currently, the layout of an ESL image is specified using a template file, which is XML-based.
Using very basic XML tags, it is possible to manually edit the included example template. Default
location of the template is ./Templates/Image.xml.
Detailed instructions on how to edit the XML-based image template file can be found in Appendix
A.

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4. Back Office
The back office triggers the ESL server application by placing a file containing either only product
modifications or a complete product database in a predefined folder. Only one file may reside in this
folder to enforce sequential handling. This means that the Back office may only store another file,
when the current file has been processed and moved to a different folder.
To avoid read/write conflicts the database files should first be copied into the specified folder under a
temporary name (i.e., *.tmp) and renamed to the correct name afterwards. The ESL server
application will only trigger on “rename file” events. If any database file is placed in the folder while
the server application isnʼt running, the file will be processed as soon as the server application is
started again.
4.1 Database format
Currently the only supported database format is CSV (comma separated values) with the
following properties:
•Allowed field separator(s): 1) semi-colons
•Methods: 1) modification database (add, replace, delete) and 2) complete database
•Each product in the database must contain a unique product ID field to allow linking of an
ESL to a product
•If thereʼs a 1-to-many relation between the unique product ID and the barcode on this
product, then the same product should be added to the database multiple times for each
unique barcode, but all other fields must be identical. Also any product modifications (like
price) should be applied on each record for this product
•The adding of a product barcode field to the database isnʼt mandatory. However it is
recommended, since it adds the possibility to quickly link ESLs to a product by simply
scanning the barcodes on the product and the ESL using the barcode terminal.
•If any, comment lines should start with ʻ#ʼ
When using a modification database, the modification field should be located at the beginning
of each line. As modification code, the characters ʻIʼ(Insert), ʻRʼ(,) and ʻDʼ(delete) should
be used.
The typical record format of a product modification database would be:
<Modification code>;<Unique ID>;<Barcode>;<Description>;<Field
4>;<Field 5>;etc.
When a complete database is used (meaning any new database file replaces the previous
one), the first (modification) field of each line must be left empty.
The typical record format of a complete product database would be:
;<Unique ID>;<Barcode>;<Description>;<Field 4>;<Field 5>;etc.

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It is recommended to add any fields that should be displayed on the ESL in the same formatting
as they should be displayed on the ESL. This way the middleware application that generates the
images, wonʼt have to be modified and only the image template has to be customized.
The ESL server application never directly uses the provided CSV files, because the middleware
software actually processes these files. For this reason, only the middleware applications have
to be customized or configured and not the ESL server application itself.
Note 1: Due to the 1-to-1 relation between a product and an ESL, it is currently not possible to
link multiple ESLs to the same product.
Note 2: Database formats other than CSV can be supported, but require modifications to the
existing middleware application, so this is not recommended when time is critical.

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5. ESL Server Application
The ESL server application controls the whole ESL system by detecting all external triggers and
processing the given data. Its main tasks are:
•Detecting incoming CSV files from the back office
•Detecting new/changed ESL-product links from barcode terminal
•Processing new/changed ESL images and configuration files from the middleware application
•Calling of the middleware application to process all input files to create the images and
configuration files needed to update the ESLs.
•Configuring of ESLs and base stations
•Sending image data to the ESLs (via the base stations)
•Showing the current status and settings of all ESLs and base stations
•Logging all events, errors and executed tasks
•Handling of software updates for base stations and ESLs
In the following sections, these ESL server application tasks will be described.
5.1 Handling of incoming CSV files from the Back Office
The placing and processing of incoming CSV files is done as follows:
•The file is moved/copied to a configurable local folder, called the Input folder.
•When moving/copying the file from the Back office to the folder a temporary name is used, i.e.
productdata_1.tmp, productdata_2.tmp, etc.
•After a check that the complete file has been moved/copied, the file will be renamed to its final
name, i.e. productdata_1.csv, productdata_2.csv,etc.
•The server application will pick up the CSV file as soon as it detects this rename file event.
•The numbers in the filenames should be sequential, and the interval is 1. The ESL server
application currently does not check the number of these files.
•The file will be processed instantly, as the records contain no start/end date.
•Once a file is processed, it will be moved to the configurable Processed folder and the back
office is able to put another file in the folder.
•When errors occur, they will be reported in an error log in the Log folder. The data file will not
be moved in case of errors.
•The ESL server application will call the middleware applications to parse the incoming CSV
file into a combined database file and generates the required configuration and image files
that are used to update the ESLs.
!

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5.2 Handling of modified ESL-product links (linked.csv)
Linking the unique MAC address of the ESL label to the unique product ID establishes the link
between an ESL label and a product.
To create, modify or delete a link, a barcode terminal can be used (see chapter 7). Once the links
have been made, they will automatically be transferred back to the PC as soon as the terminal is
placed back into its cradle.
To process the modified links, the middleware applications will automatically be called by the
server application as soon as the link-database is received.
If no barcode terminal is being used and the ESL are linked using a different method (i.e. using
the existing cash register), then the linked.csv file should be placed in the Output folder as
follows:
•When moving/copying the link-file a temporary name should be used, i.e., linked.tmp
•After that, the file should be renamed to its final name, linked.csv, which will overwrite any
existing file of the same name
Each record of the link-file should have the following exact format:
<Unique ID>;H;<16-digit MAC address>
For example: *
10244;H;00124B00011B344D
12345;H;00124B00011B432F
197;H;00124B00011B432F
The ESL server application will automatically pick up the new link file as soon as it detects this
rename file event.
* Note: The character 'H' is added to specify the hardware variant of the ESL. Currently only the
2" e-paper (‘H’) and 2.7" e-paper (‘K’) are supported.

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ESL User Manual
5.3 Detecting New/changed ESL image and Configuration Files
After the server application has detected a new product data file from the back office, it will call
the middleware applications to parse the incoming CSV file into a combined database file and
generate the required configuration and image files that are used to update the ESLs.
Both the configuration and image files will be placed into the configurable Output folder. The
files will be placed in the sub-folder: Images. (Once processed the images and XML-files will
be moved to the subdirectory: Images/Completed).
The server application will automatically process the BMP- and XML-files that have been
placed in the Images in folder. Once it has successfully processed a file, by sending the image
to an ESL, it moves the files to the sub-directory /Completed of the Images in folder.
The middleware application will only generate new configuration and images files for products
that are not found in the Completed subfolder or have been changed.
The ESL server application processes any changed files and checks the images folder for
unprocessed files:
•On startup
•After receiving a new link-database from the terminal
•After a rename event of:
oAny new product CSV file in the Input folder
oThe ESL-product link file (linked.csv) in the Output folder
oThe Image layout file (default: image.xml)
oThe XML-template file (default: info.xml)
If any manual changes to the image folder have been made (like deleting image files from the
Completed folder), these changes arenʼt automatically detected. To force an update, select the
Data tab in the server application and press the F5 key.

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5.4 Configuring ESLs
Besides sending images to the ESL, there are a number of configurations that can be made in the
ESLs to control, customize and to regulate power consumption.
To edit configurations of an ESL, go to the base station tab to which the ESL is currently linked
and right click on the ESL. After doing so, a settings dialog should appear, showing the current
status and settings of that ESL. (If the base station has not yet received the settings from this ESL,
then it will automatically request the settings the next time the ESL sends a poll for data.)
To edit configurations, check “Edit Settings” in the left bottom corner. After that, there will be five
configurations that can be edited. In following sections, these configurations will be described:
•Associate Interval
•Poll info ratio
•Poll interval
•Poll timeout
•Scan channels
To edit multiple ESLs at the same time, press the shift- or ctrl-key in the base station tab to select
and configure multiple ESLs at the same.!

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5.4.1 Associate interval
!
When an ESL is not connected to any base station it will automatically start looking for nearby
base stations. Since searching for base station consumes a relative large amount of power it
will not continuously search, but only once every couple of seconds. The associate interval
determines the time (in seconds) between two associating attempts of an ESL. The default
associate interval is currently 15 seconds.
Please note that ESLs consume much more power while not being connected to a base
station than when theyʼre connected, so itʼs strongly recommended to never turn off the base
stations once a network of ESLʼs is operating. If ESLs are not being used for a long period of
time the associate interval can best be set to a much longer interval like 300 seconds. For an
even longer period of time, removing the batteries might be the best option.
The amount of power that is being consumed by the ESL, when itʼs not connected to any base
station is also strongly related to the number of RF channels it is configured for. More
information about the configuration of the ʻScan Channelsʼcan be found in section 5.4.5, below.
5.4.2 Poll Info Ratio
The poll info ratio determines how often ESLs will automatically send their current status and
settings to the base stations. By default the ESLs will transmit this information once every 40
polls, so a ratio of 1:39.
The status and information of an ESL is also requested immediately by opening the settings
dialog of an ESL by right clicking on the ESL. This will cause the base station to request the
settings the next time this ESL polls for data.
The poll info ratio is set to a relative high value, because settings and status usually donʼt vary
a lot and because sending settings and status information uses more bandwidth and
consumes more power than regular polls for data.
5.4.3 Poll Interval
!
The poll interval specifies the interval (in seconds) for the ESL to poll the base station for data.
This parameter is the most significant configuration of an ESL since it strongly determines the
response time of an ESL (how fast is an image displayed) as well as battery life.
By default the ESLs poll every 15 seconds once theyʼre connected to a base station. This
means that to response time of an ESL can be anywhere in between 0 to 15 seconds (unless
the poll doesnʼt arrive at the base station due to interference).
The poll interval greatly influences battery life, so lowering it is not recommended. For example,
changing the poll interval from 15 seconds to 5 seconds will roughly double the power
consumption and thereby shorten the battery life by a factor of 2.
An advantage of making the poll interval bigger is the reduction of the used bandwidth per ESL,