Consumer Article Interaction Detection With Low-Power Reporting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack the ability to remotely detect events occurring to consumer articles without human intervention, such as package opening or product usage, necessitating manual notations for confirmation.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a communication system within articles or packages, including a sensor, microcontroller, and low-power power source, which detects events and sends messages over a telecommunication network with a network identifier, allowing remote event detection and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual notations are used for tracking events, then human intervention is required for confirmation, but automation and remote detection capability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of event detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of detection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The article itself performs the detection and reporting functions through integrated sensors and communication systems, eliminating the need for external manual tracking. The article autonomously monitors events such as opening, location changes, and environmental conditions, then automatically transmits this information through telecommunication networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system integrated within the article serves multiple functions: event detection through various sensors, data processing via microcontroller, power management, and wireless communication. This multi-functional integration enables comprehensive event monitoring while maintaining reasonable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If sensors and communication systems are integrated within articles, then remote event detection is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote event detection accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of integrated system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional components including sensors, microcontroller, power source, and communication interface are merged into a single integrated system within the article. This consolidation enables reliable remote event detection while managing complexity through unified architecture rather than separate distributed components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The microcontroller serves as an intermediary that processes sensor data and manages communication between the physical article and remote systems. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing intelligence within the article, reducing the need for complex external monitoring infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring is implemented, then real-time event detection is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent detection timing accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption of sensor system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system employs periodic sampling of sensor data and event detection. The microcontroller checks for events at defined intervals and activates communication only when events are detected or at scheduled reporting times. This periodic operation maintains event detection capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20250278692A1Systems and methods for controlling operation of an article based on detection of an interaction event

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 INSTRUMENTMAIL LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detecting events occurring to an article at a remote location using low-power event detection circuitry and transmission of event detection messages over a network.