Container Touch-Pairing Device for Automated Shipping Association
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for associating shipping containers with items to be transported are cumbersome, often requiring user verification and correct input of container information, which can discourage user interaction and lead to errors.
Innovation Solution
A container touch-pairing device that detects a radio signal from a candidate container and an impact with a query container, determining the query container as the candidate container, and generates a shipping record, thereby simplifying the association process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually verify and input container information, then the system can associate containers with items, but user effort increases and errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The container pairing device automatically detects container information through radio frequency signals and impact detection without requiring manual user input. The system self-verifies container suitability by comparing detected dimensions with item requirements, eliminating the need for users to manually verify and input container information, thus reducing user effort while maintaining association accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with automated electronic detection systems. Radio frequency readers detect container identifiers and dimensions electronically, while accelerometers automatically detect container impacts, substituting manual user verification with automated electronic and sensor-based verification mechanisms
2Reliability
If users manually input container information, then container association is possible, but incorrect information may be input
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate feedback by automatically detecting container dimensions through radio frequency signals and comparing them against item requirements. The device verifies container suitability in real-time and provides feedback to the user about whether the container is appropriate, eliminating the need for complex manual verification processes while ensuring information accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Manual information input and verification is replaced with automated electronic detection systems that read container identifiers and measure dimensions through radio frequency signals, reducing the complexity of verification processes while improving information accuracy by eliminating human error
3Ease of operation
If automated detection is used, then user effort is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container pairing device integrates multiple functions into a single device: radio frequency reading for container identification, dimension detection for container characterization, impact detection for container verification, and data processing for association logic. This multi-functional integration reduces user effort while managing device complexity through consolidation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses intermediary components such as radio frequency readers and accelerometers as mediators between the user and the container association process. These intermediary devices automatically detect container information and transmit it to the processing system, reducing direct user effort while distributing complexity to specialized detection components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution streamlines the container association process, reducing user effort and minimizing errors by automatically verifying the container through detected signals and impacts, thus enhancing the efficiency of shipping operations.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a radio signal that is generated by a signal chip that is located inside the candidate container
Implementation Method 2
detecting an impact between the pairing device and a query container, the detection being based on acceleration data generated by the accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods change a user interface for the purpose of pairing a shipping container with an item that is intended to be shipped in the shipping container. Example embodiments include a machine-implemented method for accessing a shipping request, detecting a radio signal from a candidate container using a radio receiver, detecting an impact between a pairing device and a query container using an accelerometer, determining that the query container is the candidate container, and generating a shipping record that correlates the shipping container and the item. The device can further determine that the query container is the candidate container based on the signal strength and change in signal strength of one or more signals. The device can further detect an impact between the pairing device and the query container by ranking one or more sets of acceleration data collected by the accelerometer.