Reception Unit Position Sensing for Targeted Consumable Alerts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances lack an efficient system to provide users with targeted and location-based information about consumables, often resulting in unnecessary information repetition and inefficient consumable replenishment.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a household appliance that senses consumable properties and transmits data to a reception unit, which determines the user's location using a GPS sensor to provide relevant information only when necessary, allowing for wireless data transmission and display on a mobile device like a smartphone, enabling targeted information delivery and easy consumable replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the household appliance transmits consumable information continuously to the reception unit, then the user receives complete information about consumable levels, but the user experiences unnecessary information repetition and waste of communication resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining the user's location before transmitting information. The reception unit uses position sensing to check whether the user is at a relevant location (e.g., near the appliance or at a consumable storage point) before initiating information transmission, thereby avoiding unnecessary communications when the user is not in a position to act on the information
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the user's position and using this information to control information transmission. The reception unit receives position data, evaluates whether transmission is necessary based on location context, and dynamically adjusts information delivery accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to user context
2Ease of operation
If the reception unit provides information at all locations, then the user always has access to consumable information, but unnecessary information repetition occurs and user attention is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by making information provision location-dependent. Different locations have different information delivery characteristics - the reception unit provides detailed consumable information only when the user is at relevant locations (such as near the appliance or storage areas), while providing minimal or no information at other locations, thereby optimizing both accessibility and user time
3Reliability
If the system transmits consumable data frequently, then the user receives timely updates about consumable levels, but communication resources and energy are wasted on unnecessary transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by making the information transmission process adaptive and flexible. Rather than using fixed periodic transmissions, the system dynamically adjusts transmission timing and content based on real-time user position data, transmitting information only when and where it is most likely to be useful, thereby maintaining reliability while improving communication efficiency
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 system ensures that users receive timely and relevant information about consumable levels, reducing unnecessary trips and environmental impact by providing location-specific alerts and easy access to consumables, thus optimizing consumable management.
Implementation Method 1
The reception unit includes a position sensing facility, which is embodied to determine a spatial position of the reception unit. The position sensing facility may include in particular a GPS (global positioning system) sensor.
Implementation Method 2
Means for wireless data transmission are preferably provided in order to transmit data from the household appliance to the reception unit. In particular, provision can be made for the household appliance to include a receive and transmit apparatus, which can have radio contact with a receive and transmit apparatus of the reception unit for signal and data transmission purposes by way of electromagnetic waves.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a household appliance and a reception unit. The household appliance is configured to sense a property of a consumable that is used during the operation of the household appliance and to transmit data relating to the sensed property to the reception unit. The reception unit is configured to provide a piece of information on the basis of the data received from the household appliance. The reception unit has a position finding device that determines a physical position for the reception unit and provides the piece of information on the basis of the determined position.