Electronic Money Box Centralized Image Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic savings boxes are either expensive due to the need for bill and coin recognizing hardware or are not widely distributed in homes and shops, making them ineffective for widespread use in donating charity, saving money, or transferring funds.
Innovation Solution
An electronic money box with a cash reservoir, cash insertion slot, means for receiving electronic contributions, a display for advertising charity campaigns, a processor for controlling the display, and a network connection to connect with financial institutions, charity accounts, or other electronic money boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bill/coin recognizing hardware and software are used to count money inserted, then the electronic savings box can track and report the amount of money, but the system becomes expensive and not widely distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the money counting function from the electronic savings box itself, placing it instead in a centralized server system that processes images of banknotes. The box only captures images and transmits them, while the server performs the complex recognition and counting, thereby reducing the device complexity and cost of the box while maintaining measurement precision through sophisticated server-side algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the savings box and the money counting function. The server acts as a mediator that receives image data from multiple boxes, processes the recognition and counting centrally, and returns results, thereby avoiding the need for expensive recognition hardware in each individual box.
2Reliability
If the savings box is sealed to prevent tampering, then the security of the money is improved, but the box cannot be opened for monitoring or retrieving funds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the box captures images of inserted banknotes, transmits them to a server for verification, and receives confirmation of the amount credited. This feedback loop provides security through verification while maintaining accessibility, as users can monitor their deposits through the system without needing to physically open the sealed box.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical opening mechanism with an electronic/digital monitoring system. Instead of physically opening the box to verify or access funds, the system uses image capture, digital transmission, and server-side verification to provide monitoring capabilities while maintaining the physical seal for security.
3Device complexity
If a centralized server system is used to process money images, then the system can be cost-effective and scalable, but it requires network infrastructure and internet connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the box capture and buffer images of inserted banknotes locally before transmission. This allows the box to continue accepting deposits even when network connectivity is unavailable, and the buffered images can be transmitted once connectivity is restored, thereby reducing network dependency while maintaining the cost-effective centralized processing architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and system for an electronic money box for receiving money in cash and/or as an electronic contribution, and/or reporting the amount of money contained therein for the purpose of donating charity and/or saving money and/or investing and/or transferring funds.