Object Status Monitoring via Person-Object Interaction Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-Internet-of-Things (non-IoT) objects in office environments lack communication capabilities, making it difficult to monitor their usage patterns, malfunctions, and cleaning needs, which can lead to inefficiencies in maintenance and increased risks during outbreaks.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device equipped with processor circuitry, memory circuitry, and interface circuitry that uses image data to generate areas indicative of people and objects, determining interaction parameters to assess object status and generate maintenance indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic status checks are performed on all objects, then functionality monitoring is improved, but maintenance staff workload increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling objects to autonomously report their own status through integrated sensors and communication modules. IoT-enabled objects automatically transmit data about their functionality, usage patterns, and health status without requiring manual inspection, thereby maintaining high reliability monitoring while eliminating the need for staff time investment in periodic checks
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor object status in real-time and automatically communicate with central or local processing systems. This feedback mechanism enables proactive detection of malfunctions and usage anomalies, allowing the system to maintain high reliability without requiring reactive manual intervention, thus reducing maintenance staff workload
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complete disinfection of all objects is performed, then disease transmission risk is reduced, but cleaning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating disinfection requirements based on individual object characteristics. Sensors detect usage patterns, touch frequency, and risk levels for each object, enabling the system to identify which specific objects require disinfection and to what extent. This targeted approach reduces disease transmission risk by focusing on high-risk objects while eliminating unnecessary cleaning of low-risk objects, thereby improving cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and assessment of object usage patterns and risk levels before disinfection is needed. By continuously tracking interaction data and predicting when disinfection will be required based on accumulated usage metrics, the system can plan and execute disinfection activities more efficiently, reducing overall cleaning workload while maintaining adequate hygiene standards
3Loss of information
If communication capabilities are added to all objects, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring system into distinct functional layers: simple sensors embedded in objects for data collection, edge computing devices for local processing and filtering, and central systems for aggregate analysis. This segmentation allows basic objects to remain relatively simple while still contributing to comprehensive monitoring, as the complexity is distributed across the system architecture rather than concentrated in individual objects
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal communication protocols and standardized sensor modules that can be applied across different object types. By using multi-functional communication interfaces that can handle various data types (usage patterns, status indicators, environmental sensors) through a single standardized protocol, the patent reduces the complexity increment per object while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capabilities across diverse object categories
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device configured to monitor an object. The electronic device is configured to generate a first area indicative of a person, generate a second area indicative of an object, determine, based on the first area and the second area, an interaction parameter indicative of an interaction between the person and the object, determine, based on the interaction parameter, a status indicator of the object, generate a maintenance indicator based on the status indicator, and output the maintenance indicator.