Server-Based Object Location Guidance in Self-Service Stores
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Solution Overview
Problem
In self-service stores with large floor spaces and numerous products, customers often face difficulties in quickly locating desired items, leading to reduced user experience and increased search time.
Innovation Solution
An object locating method that involves a client terminal transmitting an object seeking request to a server, which determines the target object and storage device, and directs a prompt device to output information guiding the user to the object's location, using pre-established correspondence relationships between objects, storage devices, and prompt devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If self-service stores have greater floor space and increased product selection, then store capacity and variety are improved, but customer search time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between customers and products. The server receives object seeking requests from client terminals, determines target objects and their storage locations, then directs prompt devices to guide customers to the correct locations, significantly reducing search time in large stores with extensive product selections
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having prompt devices provide real-time location information to customers based on their search requests. The server processes customer queries and returns directional guidance through prompt devices, creating a closed-loop information feedback system that accelerates product location
2Productivity
If self-service stores have minimal or no sales personnel, then labor costs are reduced, but customer service quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated self-service locating system where customers use client terminals to search for products, and the system automatically provides location guidance through prompt devices. This eliminates the need for sales personnel while maintaining service quality through automated assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical system of human sales personnel with an automated electronic system consisting of client terminals, servers, and prompt devices. This substitution maintains service functionality while eliminating labor requirements
3Ease of operation
If prompt devices are distributed throughout the store to guide customers, then location guidance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the store into multiple zones with distributed prompt devices positioned at strategic locations. Each prompt device provides localized guidance information, and the server coordinates them to guide customers step-by-step to target products, making the complex navigation task manageable through segmentation
Data Source
AI summary
An object locating method, wherein a server may obtain a correspondence relationship between an object and an object storage device and a correspondence relationship between an object storage device and a prompt device, and after the server receives a request for a sought target object, determining an object storage device corresponding to the target object based on a first correspondence relationship, determining a prompt device corresponding to the object storage device based on a second correspondence relationship, and transmitting a control signal to the prompt device, to control directing the prompt device to output prompt information. With the correspondence relationship between the prompt device and the object storage device reflecting the setup locations of both, after a user confirms a prompt device outputting prompt information, the location of a storage device storing the target object may be determined based on the location of the prompt device. The provided method may assist a user to quickly find a target object, improving user experience. Moreover, the present disclosure provides a related object locating apparatus, ensuring the implementation of the method in actual applications.