User-Authenticated Processing Control for Safe Pest Control Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pest control technologies, such as those used for exterminating harmful animals, struggle to distinguish between humans and animals, leading to potential accidental shootings, and lack effective theft prevention measures.

Innovation Solution

A processing device that includes a determination means to authenticate users, enabling or disabling identification functions and tracking signals based on user authorization, and cooperates with other devices to prevent unauthorized use and ensure safe operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a processing device is used for identifying persons in pest control operations, then the ability to distinguish between humans and animals is improved, but the risk of accidental shooting of persons increases if the device is stolen or used by unauthorized users

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperson identification accuracyVSAvoidsafety against accidental shooting
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements user authentication before enabling the person identification function. The determination means verifies user credentials in advance, and only authorized users can activate the identification function. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized use and potential accidental shootings while maintaining the ability to accurately identify persons when properly used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically controls the state of the identification function based on authentication results. The setting means enables or disables the first function (person identification) depending on whether the user is authorized. This dynamic switching ensures the function is available when needed by authorized users but inactive when used by unauthorized individuals, resolving the safety concern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the processing device includes authentication and function control mechanisms, then safety against unauthorized use is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against unauthorized useVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing device integrates multiple functions into a single system: user authentication (determination means), function control (setting means), and person identification (first function). By combining these functions in one device rather than separate systems, the patent achieves comprehensive safety control while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The determination means automatically verifies user credentials and the setting means automatically enables or disables functions based on authentication results. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for manual intervention or external control systems, achieving robust safety controls without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If tracking signals are activated for unauthorized devices, then theft prevention capability is improved, but the energy consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheft prevention capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption for tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking signal is activated periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. When the determination means detects unauthorized use, the instruction means triggers tracking signal output at specific intervals to monitor and record the device's location and usage patterns. This periodic activation provides effective theft prevention capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4681534A1Processing device, processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NEC CORP
  • EP4681534A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4681534A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4681534A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A processing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is capable of cooperating with another device by being connected to the other device, the processing device and includes, a determination means for determining whether a user is a person who is permitted to use the processing device when using the processing device; a setting means for enabling a first function that is a function for identifying a person of the processing device in a case where the determination means determines that the user is a person who is permitted to use the processing device, and disables the first function in a case where the determination means determines that the user is not a person who is permitted to use the processing device, and an instruction means for causing the processing device to output a signal for enabling tracking of the processing device in a case where the setting means disables the first function.