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Monitoring product shortages over time

a technology of product shortage and monitoring product, applied in the field of monitoring product shortage over time, can solve problems such as significant gaps in compliance and non-uniform compliance among retailers

Inactive Publication Date: 2020-03-05
TRAX TECH SOLUTIONS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system and method for reducing product shortages in retail stores by analyzing image data to detect shortages and determine the duration of the shortage. The system can identify common factors that contribute to the duration of the shortage and determine an action to take to potentially reduce future shortages. The method includes receiving image data from multiple retail stores, analyzing the data to detect product shortages, identifying common factors, and determining an action to address the problem.

Problems solved by technology

Such a monitoring technique, however, may be inefficient and may result in nonuniform compliance among retailers relative to various product-related guidelines.
This technique may also result in significant gaps in compliance, as it does not allow for continuous monitoring of dynamically changing product displays.

Method used

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  • Monitoring product shortages over time
  • Monitoring product shortages over time
  • Monitoring product shortages over time

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0096]With reference to FIG. 4B and consistent with the present disclosure, server 135 may receive image data captured by users 120. In a first embodiment, server 135 may receive image data acquired by store employees. In one implementation, a handheld device of a store employee (e.g., capturing device 125D) may display a real-time video stream captured by the image sensor of the handheld device. The real-time video stream may be augmented with markings identifying to the store employee an area-of-interest that needs manual capturing of images. One of the situations in which manual image capture may be desirable may occur where the area-of-interest is outside the fields of view of a plurality of cameras fixedly connected to store shelves in aisle 400. In other situations, manual capturing of images of an area-of-interest may be desirable when a current set of acquired images is out of date (e.g., obsolete in at least one respect) or of poor quality (e.g., lacking focus, obstacles, l...

second embodiment

[0097]In a second embodiment, server 135 may receive image data acquired by crowd sourcing. In one exemplary implementation, server 135 may provide a request to a detected mobile device for an updated image of the area-of-interest in aisle 400. The request may include an incentive (e.g., $2 discount) to user 120 for acquiring the image. In response to the request, user 120 may acquire and transmit an up-to-date image of the area-of-interest. After receiving the image from user 120, server 135 may transmit the accepted incentive or agreed upon reward to user 120. The incentive may comprise a text notification and a redeemable coupon. In some embodiments, the incentive may include a redeemable coupon for a product associated with the area-of-interest. Server 135 may generate image-related data based on aggregation of data from images received from crowd sourcing and from images received from a plurality of cameras fixedly connected to store shelves. Additional details of this embodime...

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PUM

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Abstract

A system for processing images captured in a retail store and automatically identifying a product shortage is provided. The system may comprise at least one processor configured to: access information describing a placement of products; receive image data from an image sensor; analyze a first image captured at a first time to determine that a first quantity of products exceeds a quantity threshold; analyze a second image captured at a second time to determine that a second quantity is below the quantity threshold; based on the determination that the first quantity exceeds the quantity threshold, avoid initiating an unscheduled action to cause restocking the store shelf with products until a third time; analyze a third image captured at the third time to determine that a third quantity is below the quantity threshold; and based on the determination, provide information indicative of a product shortage at the store shelf.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 727,301, filed on Sep. 5, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 773,427, filed on Nov. 30, 2018. All of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUNDI. Technical Field[0002]The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and devices for identifying products in retail stores, and more specifically to systems, methods, and devices for capturing, collecting, and automatically analyzing images of products displayed in retail stores for purposes of providing one or more functions associated with the identified products.II. Background Information[0003]Shopping in stores is a prevalent part of modern daily life. Store owners (also known as “retailers”) stock a wide variety of products on store shelves and add associated labels and promotions to the store shelves. Typically, ret...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06Q10/08G06K9/00
CPCG06K9/00771G06Q10/0875G06Q10/06315G06Q10/087G06F16/583G06V20/52G06V20/68G06F16/5866G06F18/24
Inventor ADATO, YAIRTAIG, RANGRUBSHTEIN, ALONCOOK, MARK
Owner TRAX TECH SOLUTIONS