Server Platform for Real-Time Agricultural Data Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for collecting data on farmers' motivations for using specific agricultural resources are inaccurate and not timely, as they rely on surveys conducted by market research institutes at the end of agricultural periods, which lack temporal proximity and relevance.

Innovation Solution

A server platform that digitalizes agricultural process parameters in real-time, allowing for automatic, ad-hoc surveys to determine the motivations behind specific measures taken during agricultural processes, while maintaining user anonymity, by using an input tool for documentation and planning, an analysis tool for anonymization and selection, and a reception tool for questionnaire distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If surveys are conducted by market research institutes at the end of agricultural periods, then data collection is performed, but the data becomes inaccurate and not timely due to lack of temporal proximity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidtemporal proximity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs data collection and questionnaire administration in advance, during or immediately after the agricultural process is executed, rather than waiting until the end of the agricultural period. This preliminary action ensures that farmers' memories are fresh and the data reflects actual motivations and observations while temporally proximate to the events being studied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If standard survey methods are used to collect information about user motivation, then data is collected, but the data quality deteriorates due to lack of current relevance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata relevanceVSAvoidcurrent timeliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements immediate feedback loops where questionnaire results are processed and analyzed in real-time or near-real-time. The server platform automatically evaluates responses and generates insights about farmer motivations while the information is still current and relevant, preventing the degradation of data quality that occurs with delayed processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If process parameters are digitalized during or after agricultural process execution, then digital data is available, but additional current motivational data cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedigital data availabilityVSAvoidmotivational information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the existing digitalization infrastructure for process parameters with a questionnaire administration system. By combining these previously separate functions into an integrated platform, the system can simultaneously capture both the operational process parameters and the motivational information about why farmers made specific decisions, without requiring separate data collection efforts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If automatic ad hoc surveys are implemented with user anonymity, then current relevant data is collected, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server platform automatically performs questionnaire distribution, response collection, evaluation, and result generation without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by automating the entire survey workflow, including selecting appropriate farmers based on current process parameters, administering questionnaires, analyzing responses, and generating insights, thereby managing complexity through automation rather than manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3961530A1Method for generating data related to an agricultural process
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 CLAAS 365FARMNET GMBH
  • EP3961530A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3961530A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3961530A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for generating data related to an agricultural process using a server platform (1), wherein the server platform (1) has an input tool (5) through which users (4) perform a process-related agricultural input routine (6) for entering process parameters (7) for documentation and/or planning, wherein the server platform (1) anonymizes the entered process parameters (7) using an analysis tool (12) and stores them as anonymized process parameters (11a) in a database (13) for retrieval, wherein the server platform (1) has a receiving tool (15) for the input of an agricultural questionnaire (16) with associated selection criteria (17) by a client (20), wherein the agricultural questionnaire (16) is addressed to selected users (4) of the server platform (1).wherein the server platform (1) automatically selects the users (4) to whom the agricultural questionnaire (16) is transmitted, using the analysis tool (12) depending on the selection criteria (17) and filter criteria (19) that can be stored in a data storage (18) of the server platform (1), wherein the server platform (1) uses the input tool (5) to present the selected users (4) with at least one question (22) of the questionnaire (16) for answering in the input routine (6).