Electronic Currency Utility Adjustment for Congestion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic currency systems do not consider actual store congestion when setting usage conditions for electronic gifts, leading to potential overcrowding even during designated off-peak times.
Innovation Solution
An electronic currency system that includes a congestion degree measurement mechanism to assess usage areas and adjusts the utility value of electronic currency based on measured congestion, allowing or disallowing its use in congested areas to guide users to less crowded locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed application conditions (time zones) are set for electronic gifts, then efficient management of stores is improved, but actual congestion conditions are not considered leading to overcrowding during designated off-peak times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static, pre-defined time zone restrictions to dynamic, real-time congestion-based restrictions. The system continuously monitors actual congestion levels and adjusts electronic currency usability in real-time, allowing the restrictions to adapt flexibly to changing conditions rather than following fixed schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a closed-loop system where congestion information is continuously collected from stores, processed by a management server, and used to dynamically adjust electronic currency usability. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system responds to actual congestion conditions and modifies restrictions accordingly, creating a self-regulating control system
2Loss of time
If electronic currency usage is restricted to specific time zones, then off-peak hours are promoted, but congestion during those hours may increase due to lack of real-time congestion consideration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts electronic currency usability based on real-time congestion monitoring rather than applying fixed time zone restrictions. This allows the system to promote off-peak hours only when actually needed, preventing artificial congestion during previously designated off-peak periods by adapting to real-time conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of electronic currency usability from a fixed time-based parameter to a dynamic congestion-based parameter. By monitoring actual congestion levels and adjusting usability accordingly, the system optimizes load distribution without creating new congestion patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A congestion degree measurement unit measures a congestion degree in each of a plurality of areas in which the electronic currency issued to the user can be used. A value determination unit determines a utility value of the electronic currency in the area, based on the congestion degree measured by the congestion degree measurement unit.