Information processing device, information processing method, and system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing the purchase of daily necessities require users to manually manage inventory and place orders, lacking an efficient method to estimate consumption quantities.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device and method that acquire information on power fluctuations in electrical products used by users and estimate the consumption quantity of products based on these fluctuations, enabling automated ordering when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually manage inventory and place orders, then users have control over product ordering, but users have to spend time and effort on inventory management
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated inventory management where the electrical product itself generates consumption data that triggers automatic reordering. The control unit monitors power consumption patterns, estimates product usage, and places orders without user intervention, allowing the system to serve itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where power consumption data from the electrical product is continuously monitored, processed to estimate product consumption, and used to trigger automated reordering when thresholds are reached. This closed-loop feedback eliminates manual inventory tracking.
2Extent of automation
If automated ordering is implemented, then ordering process is simplified, but accuracy of consumption estimation must be high
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors changes in power consumption parameters over time to detect usage patterns. By analyzing fluctuations in electrical parameters (voltage, current, power) and comparing them against baseline data, the system accurately estimates product consumption without direct measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct physical measurement of product consumption with electrical measurement of power consumption. Instead of mechanically tracking product usage, the system uses electrical sensors and data processing to infer consumption, achieving high precision through indirect measurement.
3Productivity
If power consumption data is used to estimate product consumption, then inventory management becomes automated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit of the electrical product performs multiple functions: it controls the electrical product operation, monitors power consumption, estimates product usage, and triggers reordering. By making the control unit multi-functional, the system avoids adding separate monitoring devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the inventory management functions with the existing electrical product control system. The control unit integrates power monitoring, consumption estimation, and order placement capabilities into a single unified system, eliminating the need for separate inventory management hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device has a control unit that acquires information relating to a fluctuation of power consumed by an electrical product operating around a user, and that estimates a product consumed by the user and a consumption quantity of the product based on the information relating to the fluctuation in the power.