Intelligent Locker System with NFC Location Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locker systems at public places, such as train stations and department stores, face inefficiencies due to users forgetting the location of deposited items, leading to wasted time searching and potential loss of keys or passwords, resulting in inconvenience and additional costs.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent locker system utilizing near-field communication (NFC) technology, where a locker device with an NFC sensing member is connected to a portable electronic device and cloud server, allowing users to receive immediate location guidance and password retrieval through a map guidance unit and display module, reducing search time and eliminating the need for physical keys or written passwords.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locker systems use physical keys or written passwords for unlocking, then users can securely access their deposited items, but users easily lose keys or passwords and need to spend time searching for locker locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical key-based locking system with an electronic unlocking system that uses NFC (near-field communication) technology. The portable electronic device communicates with the locker device through NFC to automatically unlock it, eliminating the need for physical keys or written passwords that can be lost or forgotten.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud server as an intermediary between the user and the locker system. The server stores locker location information and communicates it to the user's portable device, facilitating automatic location guidance and reducing the need for users to manually search for lockers.
2Quantity of substance
If lockers are distributed across wide-ranged public spaces with complicated floor distributions, then more lockers are available for users, but users need to spend a large amount of time searching for locker locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the portable electronic device receives real-time location information about the locker from the cloud server and provides guidance to the user. This feedback loop eliminates the need for users to manually search through wide-ranged public spaces by directly providing the locker's location and route guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing locker location information on the cloud server and pre-configuring the portable device with NFC capabilities. When a user deposits items, the system automatically records and prepares the location data, so no searching is needed later when the user returns to retrieve items.
3Device complexity
If users manually locate and remember locker positions, then no additional technology is needed, but users forget certain location and position of lockers causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the locker location information and stores it both on the cloud server and in the user's portable electronic device. This digital copy replaces the need for human memory, allowing users to automatically retrieve locker locations without having to remember physical positions.
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
The intelligent locker system significantly enhances user convenience by providing immediate location guidance and secure password retrieval, reducing search time and costs associated with lost keys or passwords, thereby increasing user desire and efficiency in using the locker system.
Implementation Method 1
a locker device for housing a deposited object, the locker device having a near-field communication sensing member; a portable electronic device having a near-field communication sensing module
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent locker system includes a locker device, a portable electronic device, and a cloud server. The locker device houses an object and is provided with a near-field communication sensing member. When the portable electronic device senses and reads the near-field communication sensing member, a monitor of the portable electronic device displays a deposit position information. Next, the deposit position information is uploaded to the cloud server through the internet. When the user is to retrieve the object, the user is able to use the portable electronic device to display the location of the locker, enhancing the efficiency of locating the locker.