Generating insights based on signals from measuring devices

Abstract

By analyzing real-time product usage by one or more users, insights into product consumption or usage behavior are generated. [Solution] The product is placed in a measuring device, which continuously monitors the usage of the product by one or more users in real time. The measuring device includes a sensor unit that generates and transmits product weighing data, motion data, location data, and consumption time data to a computing device. A communication device records the user's consumption or use of the product, along with feedback from the user. The computing device generates insights based on the sensing data generated by the measuring device and the recordings and feedback from the communication device. The computing device generates reports containing these insights, namely reports for the user and reports for the product and / or similar product merchants.

Claims

1. A step of providing a plurality of measuring devices, wherein the plurality of measuring devices include a hub measuring device and one or more spoke measuring devices, each of the one or more spoke measuring devices wirelessly communicates with the hub measuring device, the hub measuring device communicates with a computing device via a communication network, and a first spoke measuring device among the one or more spoke measuring devices is coupled to a product consumed or used by a consumer. The first spoke measuring device detects the consumer's consumption or use of the product, The first spoke measuring device communicates detection data related to the detection of the consumption or use of the product by the first spoke measuring device to the hub measuring device, The computing device receives measurement data from the hub measurement device indicating the consumption or use of the product, wherein the measurement data corresponds to the detection data. The steps include: generating an output by the computing device, based on the measurement data, which includes multiple insights regarding the consumption or use of the product, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of consumer goods, daily consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages; and Methods that include...

2. A step of generating a report using the computing device, the report comprising at least some of the plurality of insights, wherein the report is specific to one or more merchants of the product. The steps include transmitting the aforementioned report to the client device and The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. A step of generating a report using the computing device, the report including at least some of the plurality of insights, wherein the report is specific to the consumer. The computing device transmits the report to the consumer's communication device. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. The step of receiving the measurement data from the hub measurement device includes the step of receiving the measurement data from the communication module of the hub measurement device, The communication module receives detection data from the sensor module of each active spoke measuring device of the one or more spoke measuring devices. The method according to claim 1.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the sensor module includes a motion sensor, a weight sensor, a position sensor, and a time clock.

6. The detection data from each active sensor measuring device is used to generate the measurement data, and the generation of the measurement data is performed by To obtain the aforementioned measurement values, the step of removing one or more of the following from the detection data: duplicate data, inconsistent data, null values, and data collected when an error is reported by the sensor module during detection of the detection data. The method according to claim 4, including the method described in claim 4.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the sensor module has the form of a capsule configured to be inserted into a measuring device of a different form.

8. The steps include: receiving activity data from a smart device to a computing device indicating activities that indicate the consumption or use of the product; The computing device activates one of the one or more spoke measuring devices that are available and geographically closest to the smart device in order to receive additional sensing data indicating further consumption or use of the product by the user. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the smart device includes an appliance, and the activity includes opening or closing at least a portion of the appliance.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the appliance is one of a smart refrigerator, a smart trash can, a smart cabinet, a smart sink, or a smart washer.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hub measurement device is activated by activating an electronic switch, and the computing device receives the measurement data from the hub measurement device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device receives the measurement data from the hub measurement device in real time.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device receives the measurement data from the hub measurement device at programmed time intervals.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spoke measuring device has the form of a coaster, tray, or container.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein each spoke measuring device comprises a hardware module containing an electrical circuit for the measuring device, and the hardware module is configured to be placed on the coaster, the tray, or the container.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spoke measuring device is configured to be coupled to the product physically or in a manner that enables communication via a communication network.

17. A step of identifying the consumer using one of the plurality of measuring devices, wherein the step of receiving the measurement data is performed in response to the identification of the consumer. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

18. The computing device further includes the step of identifying content to be output to the consumer based on the insights, The output includes digital content output by an application on the consumer's communication device, the application being a web browser or native application installed on the communication device. The method according to claim 1.

19. The communication network through which the computing device communicates with the hub measurement device is the first communication network. The hub measuring device is connected to the one or more spoke measuring devices via a second communication network different from the first communication network. At least several spoke measuring devices are coupled to other spoke measuring devices via the second communication network. The method according to claim 1.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spoke measuring device has the form of a coaster, and the coaster is configured to be coupled to a device having a movable sleeve for holding the product.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hub measuring device is coupled to another product consumed or used by a consumer.

22. When executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to detect consumption or use of a product by a consumer using a first spoke measurement device among a plurality of measurement devices; communicate detection data related to the detection of the consumption or use of the product by the first spoke measurement device from the first spoke measurement device to a hub measurement device among the plurality of measurement devices; receive, by a computing device from the hub measurement device, measurement data indicating the consumption or use of the product, the measurement data corresponding to the detection data; generate, by the computing device, an output including a plurality of insights regarding the consumption or use of the product based on the measurement data store instructions for performing operations including where the plurality of measurement devices includes one or more spoke measurement devices including the first spoke measurement device and the hub measurement device, each of the one or more spoke measurement devices wirelessly communicates with the hub measurement device, the hub measurement device communicates with the computing device via a communication network, and the first spoke measurement device is coupled to the product that is consumed or used by the consumer; where the product is selected from the group consisting of consumer-packaged goods, consumer staples, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages; A non-transitory computer program product. Claims 23 at least one programmable processor; and when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to receive, from a hub measurement device among a plurality of measurement devices, measurement data indicating consumption or use of a product by a consumer; generate, based on the measurement data, an output including a plurality of insights regarding the consumption or use of the product a machine-readable medium storing instructions for performing operations including comprising The plurality of measurement devices includes one or more spoke measurement devices including a first spoke measurement device, each of the one or more spoke measurement devices wirelessly communicates with the hub measurement device, the hub measurement device communicates with a computing device via a communication network, and the first spoke measurement device is coupled to the product that is a product consumed or used by the consumer, where the product is selected from the group consisting of customer-packaged goods, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages, a computing device. **Claim 24** A measurement device configured to be coupled to a product consumed or used by a consumer, the measurement device including a sensor configured to detect a change in the product corresponding to consumption or use of the product by the consumer, a communication module in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit measurement data indicative of the consumption or use of the product, the measurement data corresponding to the change in the product detected by the sensor, a networked computing device remote from the measurement device, receiving the measurement data, and configured to generate an output including a plurality of insights regarding the consumption or use of the product based on the measurement data and comprising, where the product is selected from the group consisting of consumer goods, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages, a system. **Claim 25** The system of claim 24, further comprising a second measurement device in communication with the communication module, the second measurement device being configured to be coupled to a second product consumed or used by the consumer, the second measurement device comprising a corresponding sensor configured to detect a change in the second product corresponding to consumption or use of the product by the consumer, the second measurement device communicating with the communication module. **Claim 26** The system of claim 25, wherein the measurement device houses the communication module. **Claim 27** The system of claim 24, wherein the measurement device is in the form of a coaster configured to support a container containing the product. **Claim 28** The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor is a weight sensor. **Claim 29** The system according to claim 24, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor.

30. The system according to claim 24, wherein the measuring device further includes a location-tracking wireless device.

31. The system according to claim 24, wherein the measuring device further includes a power supply and a power management system.

32. The system according to claim 24, wherein the measuring device comprises one or more of the following: a weight sensor, a motion sensor, a time sensor, a position sensor, a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a humidity sensor, a tilt sensor, a level sensor, and a touch sensor.

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