Item Usage Monitoring via Sensor Fusion and Wireless Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for monitoring the usage of items, such as RFID and camera analysis, lack precision, accuracy, and timeliness, and are not well-suited for providing exploitable information due to limited range and mobility issues.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method for monitoring item usage, comprising sensors to measure usage data, a processing unit to determine characteristics, and a wireless communication unit to transmit data, enabling accurate and timely monitoring with improved data processing and bandwidth efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RFID systems are used for monitoring item usage, then the system can track presence and basic ID information, but the measurement precision and objectivity of usage data are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage data precisionVSAvoidusage information quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces RFID's simple electromagnetic identification with sensor-based physical measurement systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, force sensors) that objectively detect and quantify actual item usage through mechanical and physical parameters, transforming subjective presence data into objective usage metrics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from RFID's limited parameters (presence, ID) to multiple detailed usage parameters including acceleration, orientation, force, temperature, and humidity, enabling comprehensive characterization of item usage through enhanced parameter measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If camera analysis systems are deployed to monitor item usage, then visual information can be captured, but the system suffers from limited range and location constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring rangeVSAvoidsystem deployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the monitoring function into distributed sensor units attached to individual items, eliminating the need for centralized camera systems and enabling each item to autonomously generate usage data regardless of location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless communication modules as intermediaries between sensors and central systems, enabling data transmission without physical line-of-sight requirements and extending monitoring range beyond camera limitations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If existing monitoring systems are used, then basic presence data can be obtained, but the timeliness and freshness of usage information are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission latencyVSAvoidusage data timeliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary processing of usage data within the item's own sensor unit, filtering and preparing data before transmission to reduce overall system latency and ensure timely availability of critical usage information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous monitoring and real-time data transmission through always-active sensors and wireless communication, eliminating gaps in usage information and ensuring continuous availability of fresh data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Measurement precision

If more detailed usage data is collected to improve precision, then the accuracy of usage characterization improves, but the data transmission bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage characterization accuracyVSAvoidtransmission energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the most relevant usage features from raw sensor data for transmission, filtering out redundant information and transmitting only essential characteristics to reduce bandwidth requirements while maintaining characterization accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transmits partial usage data (key characteristics) rather than complete raw sensor streams, providing sufficient information for most applications while significantly reducing transmission energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10061287B2Apparatus, a system and a method for monitoring a usage of an item

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 LAULAGNET VINCENT

AI summary

This disclosure relates to an apparatus for monitoring a usage of an item. The usage characterises a physical handling of the item. The apparatus comprises a sensor configured to measure the usage of the item and to generate usage data based on the measured usage; a processing unit configured to determine based on the generated usage data a characteristic indicative of the usage of the item; and a wireless communication unit configured to transmit the determined characteristic indicative of the usage of the item and/or the generated usage data.