Temporary App Function Provisioning for Faster Inventory Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inventory management techniques for entities are laborious, slow, and prone to errors, requiring manual counting of items, which is inefficient and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A system that temporarily provisions service functionality to user devices, enabling them to collect inventory data, which is then aggregated and used to update the entity's inventory, utilizing personal devices for automated and secure data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual counting of inventory items is performed, then inventory data can be collected, but the process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical counting with automated image capture and processing systems. Cameras mounted on mobile devices or fixed locations automatically capture images of inventory items, and image recognition algorithms process these images to extract inventory data, eliminating the need for manual counting while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service inventory tracking where the inventory items themselves are automatically detected and counted through image recognition. The system processes images and generates inventory reports without requiring human intervention in the actual counting process, allowing the inventory management system to serve itself.
2Loss of information
If employees manually count inventory items, then inventory information can be obtained, but labor costs and human errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary image recognition system that mediates between the physical inventory items and the digital inventory database. Cameras capture images of items, and processing algorithms serve as intermediaries to extract data from images and update the database, eliminating direct human involvement in data collection while ensuring completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of inventory items through image capture. Instead of manually recording information about physical items, the system captures visual copies via cameras and processes these images to extract inventory data, replacing manual information gathering with automated visual documentation.
3Reliability
If physical stores close early for inventory counting, then accurate inventory data can be collected, but business operations and revenue are impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously capturing inventory images throughout normal store operations rather than waiting for closure. Mobile devices or fixed cameras continuously or periodically capture images of inventory items, ensuring data is collected before, during, and after store hours without requiring the store to close for counting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static inventory counting (requiring store closure) to dynamic continuous monitoring. Mobile devices enable inventory data collection while employees move through the store during normal operations, and fixed cameras provide ongoing automated monitoring, allowing inventory tracking to adapt to the dynamic nature of store operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An entity computing device associated with a service provider can temporarily provision access to a functionality associated with the service provider to user computing devices operated by users associated with the entity. In an example, the entity computing device can receive, via an application, information from instances of the application executing on the user computing devices. Based on the information, the entity computing device can provision to a user computing device access to a functionality associated with the application. The access can enable the user computing device to independently implement the functionality via an instance of the application. Data corresponding to the usage of the functionality can be received by the entity computing device from the user computing device and can be sent by the entity computing device to the service provider to update database(s) associated with the functionality.