Reusable Asset Tracking Without Deposits or Personal Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers are discouraged from using reusable containers and packaging due to the requirement of paying deposits and providing personal information, creating barriers to their use, and existing systems lack efficient methods for managing and tracking these assets.

Innovation Solution

An asset management system that integrates with point of sale and payment processing systems to facilitate borrowing of reusable assets by receiving consumer agreements, storing asset and consumer information, and automatically charging penalties for late returns, without requiring upfront deposits or personal information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If consumers are required to pay deposits and provide personal information to borrow reusable assets, then asset recovery and management control are improved, but consumer accessibility and ease of use deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset recoveryVSAvoidconsumer accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the personal information requirement from the borrowing process. Instead of requiring consumers to provide personal information or pay deposits, the system uses anonymous identification through mobile device identifiers. This removes the barrier to entry while maintaining asset tracking capability through the anonymous identifier linked to the borrowed asset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism - using mobile device identifiers as an anonymous key that links consumers to borrowed assets without requiring personal information. This intermediary enables asset recovery and management while preserving consumer anonymity and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If reusable containers and packaging are provided by retailers, then consumer convenience is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system makes the mobile device serve multiple functions: it acts as identification, provides anonymous tracking, and enables communication with the asset management system. This universal use of existing technology reduces overall system complexity while maintaining consumer convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service borrowing and returning of assets through automated mobile device identification and communication. Consumers can independently complete transactions without staff intervention, reducing operational complexity while improving convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If manual tracking and management of reusable assets is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but productivity and asset recovery efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset recovery efficiencyVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automated feedback loops where mobile devices communicate borrowing and return status to the asset management system. This automated feedback enables real-time tracking and improves asset recovery efficiency without requiring manual intervention or complex manual tracking procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual tracking mechanisms with electronic communication between mobile devices and the asset management system. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with electronic automation improves productivity while the standardized communication protocols keep system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If deposits are required for asset borrowing, then asset return compliance is improved, but loss of energy and consumer resources worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasset return complianceVSAvoidconsumer resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the potential harm of non-return by implementing automated penalty charges that are automatically applied when assets are not returned. This transforms the need for deposits into a benefit where consumers only pay when they fail to return assets, eliminating the upfront resource loss while maintaining compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20250348886A1Methods, apparatus and systems for reusable assets

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An asset management system configured for receiving an indication of acceptance of an agreement for borrowing of an asset by a consumer, receiving a consumer identifier corresponding to the consumer from a payment processing system connected to the asset management system, receiving an asset identifier indicative of the asset, obtaining a term for a return of the asset, initiating a charge for a deposit for the asset using payment information of the consumer stored in the data storage of the payment processing system in association with the consumer identifier, storing the consumer identifier, asset identifier, term and deposit amount in a data storage of the asset management system and upon the return of the asset occurring within the term, initiating a refund of the deposit using the payment information of the consumer stored in the data storage of the payment processing system in association with the consumer identifier.