Information Processing System for Product Collection Incentives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for promoting the collection of used products are limited in reaching a large number of users, as they primarily target those who are aware of the collection services.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that records possession registration and usage history information of products, allowing for the retrieval of products from users and granting benefits based on this data, thereby incentivizing recycling and reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a collection service is promoted through traditional advertising methods, then users who are already aware of the service can be reached, but it is difficult to reach a large number of users who use the products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of users reachedVSAvoidawareness of collection service
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically provides feedback to users about their product usage status and collection eligibility by monitoring usage history data. This passive feedback mechanism reaches users who may not be actively seeking collection information, thereby expanding awareness without requiring active user search or traditional advertising.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically tracking product usage and notifying users when their products are eligible for collection. Users receive personalized notifications based on their own usage patterns, eliminating the need for them to actively inquire about collection status and ensuring they are reached regardless of prior awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If benefits are granted based on detailed usage history information, then user motivation for recycling can be increased, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollection rateVSAvoidinformation processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The usage history management unit serves multiple functions: it tracks product usage patterns, determines collection eligibility, calculates benefit amounts, and generates user notifications. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, complexity is managed while still enabling differentiated benefit structures based on usage history.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of benefit calculation from fixed amounts to variable amounts based on usage history parameters. This allows collection rates to increase through personalized incentives while the complexity is managed by using the existing usage history data structure for multiple purposes including benefit determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4446964A1Information processing system and information processing method
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 ASICS CORP
  • EP4446964A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4446964A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4446964A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system (10) includes: a possession registration management unit (24) that records possession registration information in which user identification information for identifying a user and product identification information for identifying a product obtained by the user are related to each other; a usage history management unit (26) that records usage history information regarding use of the product, acquired from a terminal used by the user; a collection management unit (28) that acquires collection information indicating that the product has been retrieved from the user; and a benefit management unit (32) that generates benefit information indicating a benefit to be granted to the user, based on possession registration information and usage history information of the product on the condition that the collection information has been acquired.