Smart Floor Tile User Grouping via Electromagnetic Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inventory management systems in facilities face challenges in accurately tracking user interactions and inventory movements, particularly in environments where precise monitoring of item picking, placement, and user movement is required, often leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of smart floor tiles equipped with transmitters and receivers that use electromagnetic signals to track user movement and interactions, allowing for the generation of interaction data by encoding designation data on the user's body and transferring it across tiles, enabling real-time monitoring of inventory activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional inventory management systems are used to track user interactions and inventory movements, then monitoring coverage can be achieved, but measurement precision and reliability of tracking data are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces electromagnetic signals as an intermediary medium to track user interactions. Transmitters embedded in inventory items emit signals that are detected by receivers worn by users, creating a reliable communication channel that directly links item and user without requiring complex camera systems or manual input, thereby improving both precision and reliability of tracking data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical tracking systems (cameras, sensors) with an electromagnetic field-based system. Instead of using visual recognition or physical sensors to detect interactions, the system uses electromagnetic signals transmitted by items and received by users, fundamentally changing the detection mechanism to achieve higher reliability and precision
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive monitoring of user interactions is implemented, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and capital expenditures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional monitoring approach by placing transmitters in the inventory items rather than receivers in the users or cameras in the environment. This inversion simplifies the system architecture because items are passive and always carry their own identification signal, eliminating the need for complex infrastructure while maintaining high detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic signal system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies the item, tracks its location, detects user interactions, and records timing information. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single simple transmitter-receiver mechanism, reducing overall system complexity compared to using separate systems for each function
3Productivity
If electromagnetic signals are used to track user movement, then productivity and operational efficiency improve, but bandwidth requirements may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic electromagnetic signal transmission at optimized intervals rather than continuous transmission. Transmitters emit signals at rates sufficient to track user interactions and movements accurately, but at reduced bandwidth consumption by eliminating redundant transmissions when no interaction is occurring, thus maintaining productivity while reducing bandwidth requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides accurate and efficient tracking of user interactions and inventory movements, reducing bandwidth requirements and capital expenditures, while improving operational efficiency and reducing errors in inventory management.
Implementation Method 1
A receiver in the second smart floor tile detects the electromagnetic signal
Data Source
AI summary
Tracking data of users or other objects within a facility may be obtained using a plurality of smart floor tiles. Determining group data indicative of which users are in a common group is useful to associate interactions of those users with a particular account, such as a billing account. A radio signal may be transferred from one user to others via proximity or physical contact. The radio signal conveys designation data. Smart floor tiles at different locations receive the radio signal conveying the same designation data. The users present at those different locations are then associated with a common group.