User Profile Management System with Transient and Aggregate Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing user interfaces in materials handling facilities lack effective customization and authentication, leading to inefficient user experience and operation, particularly in handling ambiguous user identities and providing tailored information to users.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an inventory management system that utilizes sensors and profile data to authenticate users, generate transient and aggregate profiles, and customize user interfaces based on user preferences and identities, ensuring personalized and secure access to information and facilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If user authentication and profile customization are implemented, then user experience and security are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser authentication securityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments user identification into multiple stages: initial anonymous identification, authentication verification, and profile matching. This breakdown allows the system to handle security requirements without overwhelming complexity by processing user identity in manageable steps rather than requiring complete verification upfront.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces transient profiles as intermediary data structures that bridge anonymous users and authenticated users. These temporary profiles allow the system to provide basic functionality and collect minimal information without requiring full authentication, thereby improving user experience while maintaining security through gradual verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If personalized user interfaces are provided based on profile data, then user experience is improved, but information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidinformation processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by customizing user interfaces based on specific profile attributes rather than creating entirely separate interface versions. The interface adaptation is localized to relevant elements based on user preferences, authentication status, and role, reducing the overall information processing burden while maintaining personalization benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial personalization by providing customized interfaces only for authenticated users with complete profiles, while anonymous users receive a standardized interface. This selective approach reduces information processing requirements compared to full personalization for all users, while still delivering enhanced user experience where most beneficial.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If transient and aggregate profiles are generated from sensor data, then user identification accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser identification accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by generating transient profiles from sensor data before full authentication occurs. This early profile creation uses available sensor information to establish basic user characteristics and preferences, improving identification accuracy from the outset while reducing the complexity of subsequent authentication processing by having preliminary data ready.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where aggregate profiles are continuously refined based on observed user behavior and sensor data. This iterative process improves user identification accuracy over time by learning from patterns, while the feedback loop manages data processing complexity by focusing computational resources on refining profiles based on actual usage rather than requiring perfect initial identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12197703B1System for managing profile data for users in a facility
Publication Date: 2025.01.14 AMAZON TECH INC
  • US12197703B1 patent drawing
  • US12197703B1 patent drawing
  • US12197703B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Users in a facility may move about and their authentication status may change accordingly. For example, upon entering a facility, a user may present identification data. At that point, the user is considered an authenticated user with persistent profile data. However, the identification of a user may not be presented at entry or may be unreliable, which causes the user to be considered an unauthenticated user with temporary profile data. In other scenarios, the identification of authenticated users may become unreliable based on their location or their proximity to other users. In cases where users are crowded at a location, the profile data for such users may be aggregated and may be based on common settings of the set of possible users in the group. A user interface may be presented to a user based on their designated profile data.