Bluetooth Beacon Asset Tracking System for Dealerships

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional asset location and management systems for car dealerships are inefficient and prone to human error, especially in large areas, leading to time-consuming searches and poor asset management.

Innovation Solution

An interactive asset location and management system using low-energy Bluetooth beacons paired with assets and a database, enabling wireless communication and automated asset tracking, along with an interactive distance determination process and visualization software, which includes a self-improving algorithm for precise location determination and real-time updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional manual searching methods are used to locate assets in large parking lots, then employees can find vehicles, but the process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset location efficiencyVSAvoidtime to locate asset

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical searching with an automated electronic system using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, mobile devices, and a server to automatically determine and display asset locations, eliminating the need for employees to physically search through large parking lots

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing employees to independently query asset locations through mobile devices without requiring assistance from other employees or manual intervention, with the system automatically providing location information through the electronic network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual asset management is used, then employees can track vehicles, but human error increases and management quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset management accuracyVSAvoidhuman error

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual tracking processes with automated electronic tracking using BLE beacons that continuously transmit location data to mobile devices and a server, eliminating human error in asset management while improving reliability through automated data collection and processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If automated tracking systems are implemented, then asset location efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated asset tracking efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons that serve multiple functions: they transmit location information, enable device pairing through standardized protocols, and communicate with various mobile devices and servers, reducing overall system complexity through standardized multi-functional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centralizes the processing of location data from multiple BLE beacons and mobile devices, simplifying the architecture by providing a single point of data aggregation and management rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all system components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11019471B1Interactive asset location and management system and method of use

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 MOLOCAR INC

AI summary

A car location identifier system includes a parking lot having a plurality of parking spaces; a plurality of cars parked in the parking spaces; a transmitter tag carried within each car of the plurality of car; a computer database configured to store the position of each transmitter tag; and a portable computer in data communication with the computer database, the portable having a visual display for identifying the location of the transmitter tag.