System for display of regulatory information related to labeling

Abstract

Provided are embodiments of systems related to labeling, and more particular to labeling that may be guided by regulatory requirements. A system comprises an electronic device having a user interface capable of displaying a WYSIWYG image of a label and providing access to regulatory information related to the displayed label. The system may further determine compliance with regulatory guidelines by a user-edited label. The electronic device may be, or be in communication with, a label printer to initiate printing of a displayed label.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an electronic system having a printer and a user interface comprising a graphic display;   an image displayed on said graphic display, said image representing a label to be printed by said printer;   regulatory information accessible by said electronic system, said regulatory information related to said label; and   a selectable option displayed on said graphic display;   wherein, when said selectable option is activated, said regulatory information is accessed by said electronic system, and at least a portion of said regulatory information is displayed on said graphic display.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said electronic system comprises a handheld electronic device in communication with said printer, said user interface being provided on said handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said handheld electronic device is in wireless communication with said printer. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said regulatory information is electronically stored in a database relating said regulatory information to a representation of said label. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said handheld electronic device comprises nonvolatile memory and said database is stored in said memory. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein said database further relates, to a representation of said label, at least one of an intended use for said label and an alpha-numeric identifier for said label. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a hierarchical menu system displayed on said display, wherein said image is displayed on said display as a result of human interaction with said hierarchical menu system through said user interface. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said hierarchical menu system comprises a selectable label media characteristic. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said label media characteristic represents physical label media configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein said physical label media configuration comprises a continuous adhesive-backed tape coupled to a continuous releasable backing material. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10 , wherein said physical label media configuration comprises a plurality of discrete adhesive-backed label portions coupled to a continuous releasable backing material. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein said continuous releasable backing material is imperforate. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said label media characteristic comprises printed matter on label media. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein said printed matter comprises textual matter. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein said printed matter further comprises a graphic. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein said printed matter comprises a graphic. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said hierarchical menu system comprises at least one database search function that accepts an alpha-numeric query from a user and compares said query against said intended use, and returns from said database, for display on said display, a list of label representations related to said intended use. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein said hierarchical menu system comprises at least one database search function that accepts an alpha-numeric query from a user and compares said query against said alpha-numeric identifier, and returns from said database, for display on said display, a list of label representations related to said alpha-numeric identifier.