System for commercial services or facilities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital payment systems for laundry machines face issues such as user errors due to similar machine identifiers, high costs and downtime associated with WAN/LAN connections, and additional charges for sim-card based payment systems.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a machine, a mobile device with a transceiver unit, a control unit connected to the machine, and a cloud-based management component using short-range and long-range wireless transmission protocols to securely identify machines, manage user access, and provide location and availability data, reducing errors and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users scan QR codes, NFC tags, or enter machine identifiers to access laundry machines, then machine identification is achieved, but user errors occur due to similar machine identifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons as intermediary devices that actively transmit machine identification information. Instead of users directly scanning or entering identifiers, the mobile device automatically receives and displays identifiers from nearby beacons, eliminating manual input errors and confusion from similar identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (scanning QR codes, entering identifiers) with automatic wireless communication. The mobile device automatically detects and communicates with BLE beacons, substituting user manual actions with automated electronic identification processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If laundry machines use WAN or LAN connections for network access, then machine connectivity is achieved, but installation costs and recurring data connection costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, which consumes minimal energy and requires no expensive network infrastructure. BLE operates on very low power compared to WAN/LAN connections, eliminating recurring data connection costs while maintaining machine connectivity capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the network communication function from expensive WAN/LAN infrastructure and implements it through low-cost BLE wireless communication. This removes the dependency on costly network infrastructure while preserving essential machine connectivity for identification and control purposes.
3Reliability
If sim-card based payment systems are used in laundry machines, then customer uptime is improved, but additional charges are incurred for customers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a system where the mobile device itself serves as the payment and authentication medium. The mobile device stores user credentials and communicates directly with the control unit, eliminating the need for separate SIM-card based payment systems and their associated charges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the mobile device multi-functional by integrating identification, authentication, and payment capabilities into a single device. This universal approach replaces multiple separate systems (SIM-card payments, network connections) with one integrated solution, eliminating additional charges while maintaining uptime.
4Reliability
If Bluetooth Low Energy beacons are used for machine identification, then user errors are reduced, but device complexity increases due to multiple wireless protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless communication system into distinct functional segments: BLE beacons for identification, and optional QR/NFC for backup or alternative access. This segmentation allows the system to use the simplest effective method (BLE) for primary identification while maintaining other methods as supplementary options, managing complexity through functional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to systems for commercial services or facilities, including a machine, a mobile device, a control unit, and a management component.