Server-Mediated Personalization for Electronic Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current consumer devices lack personalization in their engagement experiences due to a lack of knowledge about individual consumer preferences, resulting in limited interaction and engagement.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that facilitate an individualized interaction between a mobile computing device and an electronic device by receiving the device's identity and preference data, which is then sent to a server to initiate a personalized interaction using a previously established communication session, leveraging server push techniques for proximate device interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a vending machine provides generalized content on its display, then the device can operate with simple communication protocols, but the consumer engagement experience is limited due to lack of personalization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidcommunication session management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server is introduced as an intermediary between the mobile device and the electronic device (vending machine). The server manages communication sessions and stores consumer preference data, allowing the vending machine to provide personalized content without needing complex session management capabilities itself. The server push technique enables the server to initiate communications to the electronic device based on consumer interactions detected by the mobile device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Communication sessions are established in advance between the server and electronic devices before consumers arrive. When a consumer interacts with a mobile device near an electronic device, the server can immediately push personalized content through the pre-established session without requiring the electronic device to initiate or manage complex communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the electronic device waits for consumer input to display content, then energy consumption is reduced, but the consumer engagement experience is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The server maintains continuous monitoring of consumer interactions through the mobile device and keeps communication sessions open with electronic devices. When a consumer is detected near an electronic device, the server can immediately push personalized content without waiting for the electronic device to query or for additional consumer input, thereby reducing delivery time while managing energy consumption through server-side processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system collects and processes consumer preference data, then personalized content can be delivered, but data privacy and security requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization accuracyVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as a secure intermediary that collects, stores, and processes consumer preference data centrally. Mobile devices and electronic devices do not need to store or transmit sensitive consumer data directly to each other. The server manages data security, authentication, and authorization, reducing the security burden on individual devices while enabling accurate personalization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3028477B1Facilitating individualized user interaction with an electronic device
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 THE COCA COLA CO
  • EP3028477B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3028477B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3028477B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Facilitating an individualized interaction between a mobile computing device and an electronic device is provided. A mobile computing device may be utilized to receive an identity of the electronic device. The identity of the electronic device and other data may then be sent from the mobile computing device to a server. An individualized interaction may then be initiated via a previously established communication session between the server and the electronic device. The individualized interaction initiated in response to a determination that the mobile computing device is proximate to the electronic device.