Container Item Tracking System with Geofence Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting missing items from containers rely on user memory and traditional checklists, which are prone to human error and do not provide real-time alerts when items are left behind.

Innovation Solution

An item tracking system that determines an expected set of items based on contextual information, uses sensors to track the current items in a container, and alerts the user when the container leaves a packing area with missing items, utilizing a combination of databases and location tracking to ensure timely notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional checklists are used to track items, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability of detecting missing items deteriorates due to human error

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual checklist methods with an automated sensor-based tracking system. Sensors detect the presence/absence of items and automatically compare against the expected set, eliminating human error while maintaining reasonable system complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically monitors itself by using sensors to detect item presence, comparing current state with expected state, and generating alerts without human intervention. The container essentially monitors its own contents and notifies the user of discrepancies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If real-time tracking is implemented, then the productivity of item verification is improved, but the use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic triggers such as geofence boundary crossings or container opening/closing events to initiate item verification. This maintains high verification speed when needed while conserving energy during transit or storage periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If contextual information is integrated to determine expected items, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple databases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontextual adaptabilityVSAvoiddatabase structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal container database structure that can store multiple types of contextual information (item sets, geofences, user profiles) in a unified format. This allows the same database to serve multiple functions across different contexts without requiring separate specialized databases for each scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10235864B2Tracking items in a container

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method for alerting a user when an item is missing from a container. The method comprising implementing, by an item tracking system, a plurality of steps. The steps comprise determining an expected set of items for the container, using an item sensor associated with the container to determine a current set of items in the container, comparing the current set with the expected set to detect whether any of the expected items is missing from the container, determining a packing area for the container, tracking a location of the container, and causing an alert to be outputted via a user interface, in response to the container leaving the packing area with any of the expected items missing.