Method, system, device, and program for remotely communicating with and controlling laundry units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for vended laundry lack the ability to provide payment capabilities, reporting, and configuration through a website, and no device integrates all functionalities necessary for remote communication with laundry units.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a Raspberry Pi with a daughterboard featuring a Wi-Fi chipset and an IEEE 802.15.4 protocol chipset, acting as a laundry room gateway, enables wireless communication with laundry equipment, allowing for internet-based machine reporting, configuration, and payment processing via mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems use third party add-on systems for payment capability, then payment functionality is provided, but system complexity increases and no single device integrates all functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate functionalities (payment processing, reporting, configuration, and communication) into a single integrated device. The gateway device merges the payment terminal, communication interface, and control functions that were previously distributed across multiple components, thereby improving adaptability while managing system complexity through unified architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions: processing payments, transmitting reports, configuring laundry units, and enabling remote communication. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple specialized components, improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If reporting and configuration are done through TCP connection from PC, then direct communication is achieved, but remote access through website and mobile devices is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between the laundry units and various user devices (PCs, mobile phones, tablets). It translates and bridges different communication protocols, enabling TCP-based communication from laundry units to be accessible through web interfaces and mobile applications, thereby improving ease of operation while managing protocol complexity through the gateway's translation capabilities.
3Loss of information
If data is transmitted from laundry units to internet servers, then real-time reporting is achieved, but data translation from machine byte arrays to human readable form is required
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary that translates machine-specific byte array data into human-readable formats suitable for web display and mobile device presentation. This translation layer prevents information loss by converting proprietary data formats into standardized, universally accessible formats, thereby improving data usability while managing the processing complexity within the gateway.
4Speed
If wireless communication protocol with higher data transfer rate is used, then communication speed is improved, but power consumption and compatibility with low data rate devices may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device acts as a protocol mediator that enables high-speed wireless communication for internet connectivity while maintaining compatibility with low-data-rate laundry unit devices. It handles the translation and data buffering between high-speed Wi-Fi communication and the slower IEEE 802.15.4 protocol used by laundry units, thereby achieving fast data transfer to servers without requiring the laundry units themselves to consume high power.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for remotely communicating with one or more cleaning units, each including a control unit for operating the cleaning unit, and a first low data rate device coupled to the control unit. A gateway unit nearby each of the cleaning units includes a Wi-Fi protocol device and a second low data rate device coupled to the Wi-Fi protocol device. An internet connected device is wirelessly coupled to the WiFi protocol device, and the first low data rate device is wirelessly coupled to the second low data rate device. A data transfer rate of the first and second low data rate devices is substantially lower than a data transfer rate of the WiFi protocol device.