Sensor-Based Household Item Tracking With Mixed-Reality Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for locating lost items, such as tracking devices and camera-based methods, are either expensive, bulky, or unreliable, and fail to accurately convey the location of lost items to users.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a set of sensors to create a list of items within a venue, dynamically updates the list with item locations, and highlights the lost item in mixed reality using a mixed-reality device when queried by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tracking devices are attached to items to locate lost items, then item location can be tracked, but the devices become expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy or virtual representation of the physical environment using sensor data (camera feeds, RFID readings, etc.) and stores item locations in a database. Instead of attaching physical tracking devices to items, the system creates a digital twin of the item locations and uses this virtual model to guide users, thereby eliminating the need for bulky hardware trackers while maintaining reliable location tracking
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical tracking devices with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of using active electronic trackers attached to items, the system uses passive sensors (cameras, RFID readers, weight sensors) to detect item locations and automatically updates the digital model, substituting complex mechanical tracking hardware with simpler sensor arrays fixed in the environment
2Loss of information
If camera-based methods are used to locate items, then item detection is possible, but the methods are unreliable and fail to accurately convey location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor types (camera feeds, RFID readers, weight sensors, microphones) into a unified detection system. By combining these different sensing modalities, the system cross-validates item locations and reduces errors that would occur with any single sensor type, thereby improving location accuracy and reliability while maintaining complete information about item positions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data and automatically updates the digital model of item locations in real-time. This feedback loop ensures that the virtual representation remains synchronized with the physical environment, allowing the system to track item movements and maintain accurate location information without manual intervention
3Productivity
If manual inventory tracking is used, then item lists can be maintained, but real-time location updates are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of sensor feeds (camera, RFID, weight sensors) that automatically detect and track item locations in real-time. This continuous action eliminates the need for manual inventory updates, as the system perpetually captures sensor data and automatically synchronizes the digital model with the current state of the environment, achieving both high productivity and real-time speed
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for item management is provided. The present invention may include identifying all items within sensor feeds of a sensor set within a venue; creating a list comprising entries for the identified items, the entries comprising a name, location and presence of the items; based on continuously monitoring the sensor feeds, dynamically updating the list to track the location and/or presence of the items in real time; responsive to receiving a query from a user requesting a lost item, selecting an item in the list that matches the name of the lost item; and guiding the user to the location of the selected item.