Sensor-Based Item Search System with Threshold Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems lack an efficient method for users to search and locate items within a defined area using sensor data, and fail to provide timely notifications for item movement or quantity thresholds.

Innovation Solution

A search system that receives sensor data from sensors placed around a specific area, uses this data to locate items based on user-provided search parameters, and sends notifications for item movement or quantity below a threshold, utilizing a client-server architecture with modules for reception, identification, determination, display, and generation to facilitate user interface updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional web page browsing is used to search for items, then users can access published information, but the system lacks efficient item location capability using sensor data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem search efficiencyVSAvoiditem location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sensor data as an intermediary between the user's search request and the item location. Sensors placed around the environment continuously monitor item positions and transmit this data to the system, which then matches sensor data with search parameters to accurately locate items, resolving the contradiction between search efficiency and location accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual browsing and physical searching with an automated sensor-based detection system. The sensor network automatically tracks item positions and the system processes search requests by comparing sensor data with item characteristics, substituting mechanical search operations with automated detection and data processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the system monitors all item movements and quantities continuously, then timely notifications can be provided, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification timelinessVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes threshold values for item quantities and movement detection criteria in advance. The system continuously monitors sensor data but only triggers notifications when predefined conditions are met (e.g., item quantity falls below threshold or item moves from designated location), avoiding the need for complex real-time analysis of all sensor data while ensuring timely notifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses change detection in sensor data parameters to trigger notifications. By monitoring changes in item position coordinates, quantity counts, or other sensor-measured parameters against threshold values, the system can provide timely notifications without requiring complex continuous analysis, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11681768B2Search and notification in response to a request

Publication Date: 2023.06.20 EBAY INC

AI summary

Disclosed are methods and systems for displaying an indication of a number of items in a user interface. Some aspects include processing circuitry and hardware memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processing circuitry to perform operations. The operations may include receiving input defining an item, receiving sensor data for the item, and displaying a number of items in the environment based on the sensor data.