Furnishing Selection System Using Machine-Readable Code Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Customers face challenges in selecting and purchasing furnishing products, as existing methods lack an efficient and integrated solution for visualizing furniture in a virtual room environment and seamlessly transitioning selections to a purchasing process.

Innovation Solution

A furnishing selection system that includes a kiosk with a computing device and display, allowing users to select and arrange furniture in a virtual room, generate a machine-readable code encoding the selections, and transfer this information to a user device for easy checkout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If customers use traditional methods to select and purchase furniture (visiting stores or browsing websites), then they can view products, but the process is time-consuming and lacks integration between selection and purchasing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselection and purchasing efficiencyVSAvoidtime required for furniture selection and purchase

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the furniture selection process and purchasing process into a single integrated system. The kiosk allows customers to select furniture items and automatically generates a machine-readable code that contains both the selection information and purchase instructions, eliminating the need for separate selection and checkout processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The machine-readable code serves as an intermediary that bridges the selection process and purchasing process. It encodes the selected furniture items and transfer instructions, allowing seamless transition from selection to purchase without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If customers hire design experts to make furnishing purchases, then professional advice is obtained, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of furniture selectionVSAvoidcomplexity of selection process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The kiosk enables customers to independently select and purchase furniture without requiring design experts. The system provides all necessary functionality including product display, selection, code generation, and purchase initiation through a user-friendly interface, making the process self-service oriented.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The kiosk is designed as a multi-functional device that combines catalog browsing, virtual room visualization, selection management, code generation, and purchase initiation in a single system, replacing multiple separate processes and expert interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If product information is transferred manually from selection to purchase, then accuracy can be maintained, but the process is inefficient and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer efficiencyVSAvoidinformation accuracy during transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual information transfer with an automated digital system. The machine-readable code electronically encodes and transfers product selection information from the kiosk to the user device, eliminating manual processes and reducing information loss or errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11900447B2Furnishing selection system

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 INTER IKEA SYST

AI summary

A furnishing selection system provides a furniture layout design application to generate a virtual room with selected furnishings. Information can then be transferred from the furniture layout design application to a personal device. A machine-readable code is generated, which can be scanned by the personal device to transfer the information. After the information is transferred a purchase is completed of one or more products from the selected furnishings.