Wireless Inventory Tracking With Device Status and Package Tags

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current inventory management techniques for consumer electronic devices and other inventory items are inefficient, requiring significant manual intervention and sporadic verification, with real-time data unavailable, and are prone to theft or damage, leading to inaccurate inventory tracking.

Innovation Solution

Implementing wireless communication capabilities in electronic devices and wireless tags on non-communicating inventory items to automatically detect and update inventory levels through a wireless connection device that communicates with an inventory server via a communication network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual inventory management techniques are used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and measurement precision deteriorate due to significant manual intervention and sporadic verification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory monitoring efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inventory system enables self-service through automatic detection and reporting. Inventory items with wireless tags automatically respond to detection requests, and the system autonomously updates inventory levels without requiring manual counting or verification, thereby improving productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through automation of routine tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inventory management with wireless communication technology. Wireless tags and detection devices substitute for manual counting methods, enabling automatic inventory tracking that improves efficiency and precision while the modular wireless architecture keeps system complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If RFID tags are attached to packages, then measurement precision is improved for inventory tracking, but reliability deteriorates due to short communication range and susceptibility to damage or shielding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory location verification accuracyVSAvoidinventory tracking consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic inventory detection by continuously monitoring and updating inventory levels in real-time rather than relying on static periodic checks. This dynamic approach improves reliability by detecting inventory changes immediately and maintains measurement precision through ongoing wireless communication between tags and detection devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where inventory levels are continuously monitored and reported back to the system. This feedback loop improves reliability by providing real-time verification of inventory status and maintains measurement precision through continuous adjustment and updating of inventory records based on detected changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If real-time inventory monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision and productivity are improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous wireless communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time inventory data accuracyVSAvoidwireless communication energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic action by implementing event-triggered detection where inventory items are monitored continuously but communication occurs only when changes are detected or at scheduled intervals. This approach maintains real-time measurement precision for inventory accuracy while reducing energy consumption by avoiding continuous active communication, activating wireless transmission only when necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12423650B2Systems and methods of wireless communication for inventory management

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 GLAS INC

AI summary

Systems, devices, and methods for automatically monitoring and managing inventory in real time within a retail environment are presented. To monitor and manage inventory of electronic devices configured to communicate wirelessly, the electronic devices are configured to send device status messages via wireless communication to wireless connection devices, which in turn send inventory messages to a remote inventory server via a communication network. To monitor non-communicating inventory, wireless tags are included within or affixed to inventory packaging to communicate with the electronic devices or wireless connection devices. Based upon such inventory messages, the remote inventory server monitors inventory location and levels at retail locations. Inventory levels may be adjusted according to inventory distribution plans based upon such inventory information.