1. An Electronic Information Label (EIL) comprising:
a receiver configured to receive manipulation from a user;
a detector configured to cause an interrupt signal by detecting the manipulation received in the receiver; and
a call request transmitter configured to wake up in response to detection of the interrupt signal, and transmit a call request signal to a management server to request a call for a person in charge.
2. The EIL of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further configured to comprise a call button to receive the manipulation of the user.
3. The EIL of claim 2, wherein the call button is arranged on a front or side of the EIL.
4. The EIL of claim 2, wherein the call button is a touch screen that is included in a display of the EIL.
5. The EIL of claim 1, wherein the call request transmitter is further configured to comprise:
a call request signal generator configured to generate a call request signal by detecting the interrupt signal; and
a wireless communicator configured to transmit the call request signal to the management server.
6. The EIL of claim 1, wherein the call request signal comprises identification information of the EIL.
7. The EIL of claim 6, wherein the identification information is an MAC address of the EIL.
8. A method of transmitting a call signal using an Electronic Information Label (EIL) having a call button, the method comprising:
detecting manipulation of the call button;
is in response to detection of the manipulation, shifting an operational mode to a wake-up mode; and
transmitting a call request signal to a management server to request a call for a person in charge.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the call request signal comprises identification information of the EIL.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identification information is an MAC address of the EIL.
11. A server comprising:
a call request receiver configured to receive a call request signal from an Electronic Information Label (EIL);
a storage configured to store product information and person-in-charge information, both of which correspond to each of a plurality of EILs arranged in a store;
an identifier configured to identify the EIL which has transmitted the call request signal, and identify product information and person-in-charge information, both of which corresponds to the identified EIL from among the whole product information and person-in-charge information stored in the storage; and
a call signal transmitter configured to transmit a call signal to a mobile terminal of a is person in charge based on the identified person-in-charge information.
12. The server of claim 11, wherein:
the call request signal comprises identification information of the EIL which has transmitted the call request signal, and
the identifier is further configured to, based on the identification information, identify the EIL which has transmitted the call request signal.
13. The server of claim 12, wherein the identification information is an MAC address of the EIL.
14. The server of claim 11, wherein the call request signal comprises the identified product information.
15. The server of claim 14, wherein the product information comprises one or more of a name, a number of inventories, and a display location of a product corresponding to the identified EIL.
16. A method of transmitting a call signal, comprising:
receiving a call request signal from an Electronic Information Label (EIL);
identifying the EIL which has transmitted the call request signal;
identifying product information and person-in-charge, both of which correspond to the identified EIL; and
transmitting a call signal to a mobile terminal of a person in charge based on the identified person-in-charge information.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein:
the call request signal comprises identification information of the EIL, and
the identifying of the EIL comprises, based on the identification information, identifying the EIL which has transmitted the call request signal.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the identification information is an MAC address of the EIL.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the call signal comprises the identified product information.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the product information comprises one or more of a name, a number of inventories, and a display location of a product corresponding to the identified EIL.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an optical fiber having a core and a first cladding layer that surrounds the core, wherein a first portion of the optical fiber has a light-scattering exterior surface, and wherein the light-scattering exterior surface is configured to scatter light located in the first cladding layer away from the optical fiber;
a transparent enclosure, wherein the transparent enclosure includes an opening that extends from a first end of the transparent enclosure to a second end of the transparent enclosure, and wherein at least the first portion of the optical fiber is located within the opening of the transparent enclosure, and wherein the transparent enclosure is not a cladding layer on the optical fiber;
a light-absorbing housing that absorbs the light scattered away from the optical fiber by the light-scattering exterior surface; and
a first mechanism that holds the optical fiber in a fixed relationship to the transparent enclosure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber includes a second cladding layer, and wherein the first cladding layer is disposed between the core and the second cladding layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first length of at least ten centimeters of the optical fiber extends from the first end of the transparent enclosure and a second length of at least ten centimeters of the optical fiber extends from the second end of the transparent enclosure.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent enclosure is made of a material that includes quartz.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent enclosure is made of a material that includes sapphire.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cladding layer of the optical fiber has a first index of refraction, and wherein the light-scattering exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber includes a powder having a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction of the first cladding layer of the optical fiber.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is made of a material that includes a metal.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mechanism is made of a material that includes a polymer.
9. A method for removing cladding light from an optical fiber, the method comprising:
providing an optical fiber having a core and a first cladding layer that surrounds the core;
providing a transparent enclosure having an opening that extends from a first end of the transparent enclosure to a second end of the transparent enclosure, wherein the transparent enclosure is not a cladding layer on the optical fiber;
forming a light-scattering exterior surface of a first portion of the optical fiber such that the light-scattering exterior surface scatters the cladding light located in the first cladding layer away from the optical fiber;
providing a light-absorbing housing configured to absorb the cladding light scattered away from the optical fiber;
guiding the optical fiber through the opening in the transparent enclosure such that at least the light-scattering exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber is enclosed in the transparent enclosure;
holding the optical fiber in a fixed relationship to the transparent enclosure and holding the transparent enclosure in a fixed relationship to the light-absorbing housing;
propagating the cladding light scattered away from the optical fiber through the transparent enclosure; and
absorbing the propagated cladding light in the light-absorbing housing.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the forming of the light-scattering exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber includes wet etching an exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the forming of the light-scattering exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber includes wet etching an exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber using a solution that includes hydrofluoric acid.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing of the transparent enclosure includes providing a sapphire transparent enclosure.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing of the light-absorbing housing includes forming a thin layer of light-absorbing material on an interior surface of the light-absorbing housing.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the providing of the optical fiber includes providing a second cladding layer, and wherein the first cladding layer is disposed between the core and the second cladding layer.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the guiding of the optical fiber includes extending a first length of at least ten centimeters of the optical fiber from the first end of the transparent enclosure and extending a second length of at least ten centimeters of the optical fiber from the second end of the transparent enclosure.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first cladding layer of the optical fiber has a first index of refraction, wherein the forming of the light-scattering exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber includes affixing a powder to an exterior surface of the first portion of the optical fiber, and wherein the powder has a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction of the first cladding layer of the optical fiber.
17. An apparatus for scattering cladding light away from an optical fiber, the apparatus comprising:
an optical fiber having a core and a first cladding layer that surrounds the core;
means for scattering the cladding light located in the first cladding layer away from the optical fiber, wherein the means for scattering is located in a first portion of the optical fiber;
transparent means for mechanically strengthening the optical fiber; and
means for absorbing the cladding light scattered away from the optical fiber.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the optical fiber includes a second cladding layer, and wherein the first cladding layer is disposed between the core and the second cladding layer.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transparent means for mechanically strengthening the optical fiber includes means for enclosing at least the first portion of the optical fiber.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transparent means for mechanically strengthening the optical fiber is made from a material that includes sapphire.