Digital Inventory Assistant Using Object Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing an inventory of resources for future transfer is time-consuming and complex, especially when there is a significant time gap between acquisition and transfer, requiring efficient tracking and valuation of assets to ensure accurate transfer instructions.
Innovation Solution
A digital inventory system utilizing an imaging device for object recognition, coupled with inventory rules and valuation processes, to automatically add and value objects in a database, facilitating easy transfer of assets to designated recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual tracking of inventory items is used, then flexibility in managing individual items is maintained, but time consumption and administrative effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated imaging system that captures images of inventory items, uses object recognition algorithms to identify and categorize items, and automatically updates the digital inventory database. This substitution of manual processes with automated optical and computational systems directly resolves the contradiction by dramatically improving productivity while reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of physical inventory items through imaging devices that capture visual information and store it in a database. These digital copies serve as proxies for the physical items, allowing automated tracking and management without requiring manual intervention. This copying approach enables the system to process multiple items simultaneously, improving productivity while minimizing the time spent on individual item tracking.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive inventory tracking is implemented, then accuracy of asset valuation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inventory management system into distinct functional modules: an imaging device for capturing item images, an object recognition module for identifying and categorizing items, a valuation module for determining asset values, and a database for storing information. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific task, improving measurement precision through focused functionality while managing system complexity through modular design that makes each component independently manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an object recognition system as an intermediary between the imaging device and the inventory database. This intermediary automatically processes images, identifies items, extracts relevant features, and structures data for storage and valuation. By inserting this intelligent intermediary layer, the system achieves high measurement precision in asset valuation while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through automated information processing rather than manual system management.
3Reliability
If frequent inventory updates are performed, then current asset status is maintained, but administrative effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service inventory update system where the imaging device automatically captures images of inventory items, the object recognition algorithm independently identifies and categorizes items, and the system autonomously updates the digital inventory database without requiring administrative intervention. This self-service approach maintains high reliability through frequent automated updates while eliminating the administrative effort that would otherwise be required to perform manual inventory checks and updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes continuous automated inventory monitoring through the imaging system that can repeatedly capture and process images of inventory items. This continuous action ensures the inventory database remains current and accurate over time, maintaining reliability through ongoing updates. The automation of this continuous process eliminates the need for periodic manual inventory taking, thereby maintaining inventory accuracy while significantly reducing administrative effort compared to traditional periodic update methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system and related method are provided for operating a digital inventory system. The method comprises receiving, from an imaging device, an image comprising an object and performing object recognition on the image to determine an object type of the object. The method further comprises determining when the object is to be added to an inventory database based on inventory rules stored in a memory of the digital inventory system. When these rules indicate that the object is to be added, the object is added to the inventory database. The method determines a value of the inventory object based on valuation information related to other objects of a same or similar object type. The value is associated with the inventory object. The inventory object is displayed along with its value on a computer display.