Computational Device for Geographical Relationship Computation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Determining the geographical relationships between objects gathered from different locations within a facility is challenging due to the lack of efficient methods for tracking and analyzing the movement of objects with machine-readable features.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a computational device connected to a database and an optical reader that records and compares statistical data on the frequency of reading machine-readable features associated with objects from different sets, allowing for the computation of geographical relationships by analyzing changes in reading frequencies over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If statistical data on reading frequencies is collected and compared to determine geographical relationships, then the accuracy of determining object relocation is improved, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of determining object relocationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces statistical data as an intermediary element that mediates between the optical reader observations and the determination of geographical relationships. By collecting and analyzing reading frequency data over time, the system indirectly infers object locations and movements without requiring direct tracking mechanisms, thus improving measurement precision while managing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously comparing current reading frequency data with historical statistical data. This feedback loop allows the system to detect changes in object geographical relationships by analyzing variations in reading frequencies, thereby improving the accuracy of relocation determination through iterative data comparison

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If historical statistical data is stored and compared with current data, then the reliability of determining geographical relationships is improved, but the loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of determining geographical relationshipsVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-collecting and storing statistical data about object reading frequencies in a database before actual relocation analysis is needed. This preparatory data collection enables faster and more reliable determination of geographical relationships when analysis is required, as the foundational data is already organized and accessible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of statistical data representing object reading frequencies at different time periods. By working with these data copies rather than raw observation data, the system can efficiently compare historical and current states to determine geographical relationships, reducing processing time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10552491B2Systems, devices, and methods for computing geographical relationships between objects
Publication Date: 2020.02.04 WALMART APOLLO LLC
  • US10552491B2 patent drawing
  • US10552491B2 patent drawing
  • US10552491B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for locating objects. A computational device generates a first set of statistical data indicative of a frequency at which machine readable features associated with a first set of objects and machine readable features associated with a second set of objects are read within each of a plurality of object groups. The computational device also retrieves a second set of statistical data indicative of a historical frequency at which past groups of objects included machine readable features associated with the first set of objects and machine readable features associated with the second set of objects during a previous time interval. Based on a comparison between the first set of statistical data and the second set of statistical data, the computational deice computes a geographical relationship between the first set of objects and a portion of the objects from the second set of objects.