Light-Embedded Object Identification With Visual Selection Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for seamlessly integrating physical and digital retail channels in smart devices, such as smartphones, lack efficient ways to add objects to lists and provide feedback on selection, especially in environments like stores where multiple users and devices interact with the same objects.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize light sources emitting embedded codes to identify objects, allowing users to select and add them to lists using mobile devices, with feedback provided through color, saturation, and intensity changes of the light, enabling users to visually confirm addition and differentiate between lists.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If light sources are used to transmit object identifiers in retail environments, then object identification and list management becomes more efficient, but providing clear feedback to multiple users simultaneously becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to the light source as a feedback mechanism. When an object is added to a list, the associated light source changes color (e.g., to green) to provide visual confirmation to users. This resolves the feedback clarity issue by using color as an intuitive, easily distinguishable signal that works in multi-user environments where audio or display-based feedback might be missed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple parameters of the light source simultaneously - color, saturation, and intensity - to provide rich feedback information. The intensity increases to draw attention, the color changes to indicate success state, and saturation adjusts to enhance visibility. This multi-parameter approach ensures feedback is clearly perceived by multiple users at different distances and viewing conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the light source changes color to indicate object addition, then user feedback is provided, but the light source may become difficult to differentiate from other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by making the light source return to its original color after a predetermined time period following the color change. This temporary color change provides immediate feedback to users who are currently interacting with the system, while the periodic reset ensures the light source maintains its original identification characteristics for subsequent interactions, preventing confusion in multi-user environments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users interact with the same objects using different devices, then collaboration is improved, but synchronization of list management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling each user's mobile device to independently detect light sources and manage local lists without requiring complex centralized coordination. Each device autonomously detects the light-emitting object identifier, retrieves the code, and manages its own list, while the light source itself provides self-contained feedback by changing color. This distributed approach simplifies the overall system architecture while supporting multi-user collaboration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables seamless integration of physical and digital retail by allowing users to easily select and manage objects in a multi-user, multi-device environment, providing clear feedback on object selection and list addition through visual light cues.
Implementation Method 1
detecting light emitted by a light source, which light comprises an embedded code representative of an identifier of an object
Implementation Method 2
changing the color, saturation and/or the intensity of the light emitted by the light source upon receiving the user input
Data Source
AI summary
A method (900) of storing object identifiers is disclosed. The method (900) comprises detecting (902) light emitted by a light source (110), which light comprises an embedded code representative of an identifier of an object (120), retrieving (904) the code from the light, retrieving (906) the identifier from the code, receiving (908) a user input indicative of a selection of the object (120), storing (910) the identifier of the object (120) in a memory upon receiving the user input, and changing (912) the color, saturation and/or the intensity of the light emitted by the light source (110) upon receiving the user input.