Kiosk Location System for Maintenance Wayfinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Technicians face challenges in locating and isolating self-service kiosks in large facilities due to their distributed deployment and interchangeable skills, leading to inefficiencies in maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a terminal management system connected to a network, which receives notifications from kiosks about out-of-service conditions, identifies the kiosk's location, and automatically assigns the nearest available technician with the required skills, using a mobile app for wayfinding and activating attraction features to assist in locating the kiosk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If kiosks are deployed in a distributed manner in a large facility, then the coverage and service capability are improved, but the difficulty of locating and isolating specific kiosks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management system as an intermediary between technicians and distributed kiosks. This system receives notifications from kiosks about their status, identifies kiosk locations through a database, and transmits location information to technicians via mobile devices. This intermediary layer resolves the difficulty of locating distributed kiosks by centralizing the coordination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where kiosks automatically notify the management system of their operational status (in-service or out-of-service conditions). The management system then feeds back location information to technicians, creating a closed-loop communication that enables efficient location and assignment of maintenance tasks.
2Productivity
If technicians are assigned in a round-robin manner, then the workload distribution is improved, but the efficiency of locating and servicing specific kiosks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The kiosk system performs self-monitoring and self-notification of its status to the management system. This eliminates the need for manual status checking by technicians and enables automatic assignment based on real-time conditions, improving both productivity and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system maintains a database of kiosk locations and technician assignments in advance. When a kiosk goes out of service, the system can immediately query the database to identify the kiosk location and assign the nearest available technician, eliminating the time-consuming process of manual location identification and assignment.
3Area of stationary object
If large banks of kiosks are deployed in close proximity, then the space utilization is improved, but the difficulty of isolating the particular kiosk in need of service increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management system acts as an intermediary that receives notifications from individual kiosks, identifies their specific locations even within dense banks, and transmits precise location information to technicians. This resolves the difficulty of isolating specific kiosks in close proximity by providing detailed location data through the intermediary system.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, software, and methods for kiosk locating and directing. One such method embodiment, as may be performed on a server, includes receiving a notification from a kiosk system of an out-of-service condition and an identifier of the kiosk system from which the notification is received. This method further includes identifying a location of the kiosk system and transmitting the location of the kiosk system to a wayfinding application of a technician.