Proxy-Based Reservation Scheduling for Transit Objects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current reservation systems for passengers and cargo units in transit face challenges in monitoring and responding to the state of objects, especially when they are in motion or inside vehicles, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for timely rebooking or alternative arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a proxy within the vehicle equipped with sensors and multi-lingual communication capabilities to intercept inquiries about responsive objects, providing their state information and enabling automatic scheduling and reservation adjustments, such as meal or shipping reservations, based on passenger or cargo preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If responsive objects are monitored directly by querying devices, then the system can obtain state information, but the ability to receive and respond to inquiries is impeded when objects are inside vehicles or airplanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy as an intermediary device that represents the responsive object. The proxy is located in a land-based station and communicates with the responsive object via radio frequency signals. This intermediary allows the querying device to obtain state information about the responsive object without directly querying the object itself, thereby maintaining communication capability while enabling reliable monitoring of objects in transit.
2Reliability
If manual monitoring of each passenger and cargo unit is performed, then state information can be obtained, but the sheer number of objects makes this method unfeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The responsive objects automatically respond to inquiries about their state without requiring manual intervention. The objects themselves provide the necessary information through automated responses to querying devices, eliminating the need for manual monitoring while maintaining accurate state information for each passenger and cargo unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy acts as an intermediary that collects state information from multiple responsive objects and makes this information available to querying devices. This intermediary approach allows efficient monitoring of a large number of objects by centralizing the information collection and distribution process, thereby improving productivity while maintaining monitoring reliability.
3Reliability
If reservations are made automatically based on responsive object state, then service quality improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the responsive objects' state information to automatically make appropriate reservations. The querying devices receive state information from the responsive objects and use this feedback to determine when and what reservations need to be made, enabling automatic service adjustment without requiring complex manual intervention while improving service quality.
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
This solution enhances the ability to monitor and manage the state of responsive objects in transit, reducing costs and inefficiencies by allowing for timely rebooking and ensuring the quality of service, such as preventing perishable cargo spoilage and improving customer satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
The proxy is configured such that it is better able than the responsive objects to receive position-determining signals from one or more Global Positioning System satellites
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensors that detect state information of the vehicle. Both sets of sensors provide information to the proxy
Implementation Method 3
one or more environmental conditions inside and/or outside the vehicle such as temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed that features a transport vehicle that carries responsive objects in which the objects are equipped to provide state information about their states when queried. The transport vehicle is outfitted with a proxy that represents the responsive objects. The proxy is configured such that it is better able than the responsive objects to receive state query signals from a querying device. The vehicle is also outfitted with I) sensors that detect the responsive objects and ii) sensors that detect state information of the vehicle, in which both sets of sensors provide information to the proxy. The object sensors are able to detect the state of each responsive object or query the object about its state in the same way as the querying device would query those objects in the prior art. The proxy then responds to the query on behalf of the responsive objects.