Predictive Anomaly Detection for Barcode Signal Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for monitoring barcode signal quality in laser scanners and image-based vision sensors are limited to post-incident analysis, failing to prevent downtime or performance degradation before significant decreases in reading rates occur.

Innovation Solution

A predictive tool that computes a quality index measure for barcode signal sequences by diagonally aligning them on a sequence alignment matrix, identifying patterns, and comparing them to known trends and anomalies, allowing for real-time identification of potential issues in barcode readers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional statistical monitoring is used for barcode signal quality, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but the ability to detect issues before they occur is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictive anomaly detection capabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and analyzing barcode signal sequences in real-time to identify patterns that precede anomalies. The quality index computation and pattern matching occur continuously before actual reading failures happen, enabling proactive detection and prevention of performance degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by comparing computed quality indices against established patterns and thresholds, then using this information to adjust monitoring sensitivity and trigger alerts. The feedback loop continuously refines anomaly detection by learning from historical data and adjusting pattern recognition parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If real-time pattern analysis is performed on barcode sequences, then reading quality assurance is improved, but computational processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential features from barcode signal sequences by computing a condensed quality index that captures the most relevant pattern information. This extraction process removes redundant data while preserving the critical characteristics needed for anomaly detection, reducing computational overhead while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by transforming raw barcode signal sequences into quality index values through mathematical operations. This parameter transformation converts complex temporal patterns into simplified metrics that can be quickly compared against known patterns, enabling fast processing without sacrificing measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If comprehensive barcode signal monitoring is implemented, then detection accuracy is improved, but system resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses disposable computational resources by implementing lightweight quality index computations that can be rapidly executed and discarded. Each barcode sequence is processed through a simple pattern matching algorithm that requires minimal energy, and the results are immediately used for anomaly detection without requiring complex, energy-intensive analysis pipelines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3333757B1Predictive anomaly detection
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 DATALOGIC IP TECH
  • EP3333757B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3333757B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3333757B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for an embedded, scalable, predictive tool capable of detecting in-field anomalies and trends in advance of productivity losses on single devices, device clusters, and/or multi-cluster architectures. In-field and in real-time, sets of barcode signal sequences associated with respective barcode symbols are collected in time series (that is, at successive time intervals). A quality index measure in computed for each of the barcode signal sequence sets such that each quality index measure is associated with a barcode symbol. Patterns among the sets are identified therefrom and compared to barcode symbol patterns that are known to be associated with particular trends or anomalies and appropriately classified as such.