Memorial Event Intake System with Custody Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memorial event service providers face significant challenges in planning and executing events within tight timeframes due to manual processes and the risk of errors, such as incorrect task performance or loss of critical information, which can lead to serious mistakes like delivering wrong flowers or cremating remains intended for burial.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an intake server, event management server, and devices for automated intake and custody tracking, which digitizes the planning process, pre-populates forms, and uses an intake dossier engine to gather data from various sources, ensuring accurate and timely completion of tasks through custody tracking and real-time task management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual processes and paper forms are used for memorial event planning, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but errors occur frequently and task accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (paper forms, manual tracking) with an automated electronic system that uses computers, databases, and software to manage memorial event tasks. This substitution eliminates manual errors while maintaining operational simplicity through user-friendly interfaces and automated workflows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of paper forms and processes them electronically. The system captures data from paper forms through scanning or direct digital entry, stores it in structured databases, and uses it to automatically generate task lists and track completion. This copying approach preserves the simplicity of form-based data collection while gaining the reliability of electronic processing.
2Reliability
If automated systems are implemented to reduce errors, then task accuracy improves, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memorial event management system into distinct functional modules: client management, task management, employee management, and reporting. Each module operates independently but integrates seamlessly with others, allowing the system to be implemented in phases and reducing overall implementation complexity while maintaining high reliability through specialized processing in each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal platform that handles multiple functions (data collection, task assignment, tracking, reporting) through a single integrated system. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for multiple separate systems and simplifies implementation compared to implementing individual specialized systems for each function.
3Ease of manufacture
If paper forms are used to capture decedent details, then the initial setup is simple, but forms may be lost or confused leading to critical errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical paper forms with electronic data capture systems that store information in secure databases. The system provides automated backups, unique identification for each decedent record, and cross-referencing capabilities that prevent information loss and ensure the correct data is associated with the correct tasks and events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system automatically verifies data entry, checks for completeness, and provides confirmation that information has been correctly captured and associated with the appropriate decedent. This immediate feedback prevents information loss by catching errors at the point of entry rather than later during task execution.
4Productivity
If multiple persons are responsible for different tasks with tight deadlines, then service coverage is improved, but the risk of errors and missed tasks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comprehensive feedback loops where the system continuously monitors task completion status, automatically notifies relevant personnel of pending tasks, and provides real-time updates on event preparation progress. This feedback mechanism ensures that multiple persons working on different tasks remain coordinated and that no tasks are missed, maintaining high reliability despite increased service coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual coordination and tracking methods with an automated central system that assigns tasks, tracks completion in real-time, and provides visibility to all personnel involved. This electronic coordination system reduces errors by eliminating manual communication breakdowns while enabling expanded service coverage through efficient multi-person task management.
Data Source
AI summary
An intake management system provides a number of tools and features to memorial event providers. The intake system is configured to provide appropriate and necessary intake forms to an event planner via configured devices, and may also pre-populate fields of the forms based upon information from an automatically generated intake dossier, from friends and family of the memorialized person, and from custom configured rules. During an event planning interview, the system provides tools and features that provide flexibility to planners in order to increase the accuracy of event details and improve customer experience. This system may be combined with custody tracking of remains during event preparation, which may be implemented within a custody tracked environment in order to track remains, reduce mistakes, and drive event management based upon transit between areas of the tracked environment.