Cloud-Based Intralogistics Monitoring via Mobile Sensor Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and controlling intralogistical processes in warehouses and FIFO stations are costly and maintenance-intensive due to the need for extensive Bluetooth infrastructure, which is unreliable and requires numerous receiver components, leading to high investment costs and potential errors in inventory management.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a central online-based storage and server service in the cloud, combined with wireless sensor elements that communicate via mobile phone connections, enabling real-time data recording and transmission, and electronic labels for seamless monitoring and data processing, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure and ensuring accurate inventory management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bluetooth infrastructure is used for sensor data transmission, then real-time monitoring capability is achieved, but investment costs and maintenance efforts increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary device that collects sensor data via Bluetooth and transmits it to a remote server via mobile communication networks. This mediator approach allows the system to leverage Bluetooth's short-range capability for local data collection while using mobile networks for long-range transmission, avoiding the need for extensive Bluetooth infrastructure throughout the warehouse.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical Bluetooth infrastructure (requiring numerous receiver components and extensive installation) with a mobile communication-based system. Sensors connect locally via Bluetooth to gateways, which then use mobile network protocols (GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, LTE) for data transmission, substituting the need for widespread Bluetooth receivers with a cellular network approach.
2Area of stationary object
If a large number of receiver components are deployed for Bluetooth transmission, then coverage is improved, but investment costs and maintenance intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves multiple functions: it acts as a Bluetooth receiver for sensor data collection, a data processor for local evaluation, and a mobile communication terminal for remote transmission. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate Bluetooth receivers at each monitoring point, reducing the total number of components required.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary that consolidates data from multiple sensors in a local area and transmits it through a single mobile communication interface. This approach provides wide coverage area through mobile networks without requiring numerous receiver components distributed throughout the warehouse space.
3Ease of operation
If extensive Bluetooth infrastructure is installed, then sensor data transmission is enabled, but system reliability decreases due to maintenance intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex Bluetooth infrastructure requirement from the core monitoring system by using gateways as intermediate collection points. The main system only needs to communicate with gateways via mobile networks, which have higher reliability and lower maintenance requirements compared to extensive Bluetooth receiver networks.
4Device complexity
If mobile phone connection is used for data transmission, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but data transmission range and reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mobile phone connection (which has potential reliability issues) with a hybrid approach: Bluetooth for stable local sensor-to-gateway communication and mobile network protocols (GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, LTE) for gateway-to-server transmission. This substitution leverages the reliability of established mobile network infrastructure while maintaining low device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling and monitoring an intralogistics process in a warehouse 30 or a FIFO station 1 for industrial trucks 3. To optimize the intralogistics process and enable continuous monitoring, while minimizing effort, a solution is proposed using a storage and server service (cloud) 21, 31. This service provides the option of a mobile communication connection for all wireless sensor elements 20 to send and receive data to the cloud 21, 31, thus enabling real-time recording of inventory changes and real-time transmission of sensor data to the storage and server service (cloud) 21, 31. The data is used by the storage and server service 21, 31 for display purposes, and authorized users can additionally access the evaluation and provision of the sensor data via a mobile communication connection.