Mobile Weight Registration Without Label Scanning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for registering sold-by-weight items in retail settings are cumbersome, often requiring customers to scan code information on labels, which can be troublesome and prone to errors, especially when multiple items are purchased, leading to issues with double registration and inadequate management of individual item sales.

Innovation Solution

A measuring device connected via a communication channel to a mobile terminal that stores transaction information upon item measurement, eliminating the need for scanning code information and providing buttons for easy label issuance and item management, with features to prevent double registration and ensure correct item registration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single label with code information is issued for multiple sold-by-weight items, then the label issuance process is simplified, but it becomes impossible to manage sales of each individual item

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabel issuance processVSAvoidindividual item sales management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the label information into multiple segments: a main label containing section-level code information and multiple sub-labels containing individual item code information. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both simplified operation (single main label) and individual item tracking (multiple sub-labels with distinct code information for each purchased item).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If separate labels are issued for each sold-by-weight item, then individual item sales can be managed, but the operation becomes troublesome as customers must scan multiple labels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual item sales managementVSAvoidscanning operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual item code information labels into a single consolidated label structure. The main label aggregates code information representing multiple purchased items, allowing customers to complete registration by scanning only one label rather than multiple separate labels, thereby simplifying the scanning operation while preserving individual item tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If code information is scanned manually by customers, then item registration can be completed, but double registration may occur and scanning may be impossible depending on printed condition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveitem registration completionVSAvoidregistration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring device automatically performs the code information scanning function without requiring customer operation. The device reads the code information from the label and automatically completes the item registration process, eliminating manual scanning operations. This self-service approach prevents double registration errors and ensures reliable registration regardless of printed condition or customer skill level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If bar codes are used for code information, then simple scanning is possible, but the amount of information that can be managed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning operationVSAvoidinformation capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional bar code information to two-dimensional code information (such as QR codes or data matrix codes). This dimensional change dramatically increases the information capacity of the code, allowing the label to contain code information for multiple individual items and additional transaction details within a single compact label structure, thereby overcoming the information capacity limitation of traditional bar codes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2853180B1Item registration apparatus and measuring device
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 TERAOKA SEIKO CO LTD
  • EP2853180B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2853180B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2853180B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an item registration apparatus and a measuring device cooperating with a mobile terminal to allow smooth registration of sold-by-weight items being purchased by a customer. The item registration apparatus comprises: a measuring device having a weighing tray on which an item is put; and a mobile terminal which can be connected to the measuring device via communication channel (access point or the like). When the item is put on said weighing tray of the measuring device and the measurement of the item is thus completed, the measuring device transmits transaction information of the measured item to the mobile terminal via the communication channel so that the transaction information is stored. This eliminates printing of code information on a label issued from the measuring device and operation of scanning the printed code information by using the mobile terminal.