Smart retail system, smart retail method, and related products

Abstract

The application is suitable for the technical field of intelligent retail, and provides an intelligent retail system, an intelligent retail method, an electronic device and a computer readable storage medium. The intelligent retail system comprises a self-service terminal and a central control box which are in communication connection. The self-service terminal is used for receiving a shopping instruction, sending an unlocking instruction to the central control box, receiving first commodity data sent by the central control box, identifying selected commodity information according to the first commodity data, generating settlement data according to the selected commodity information when a door closing notification is received, and performing settlement. The central control box is used for controlling the cabinet door of the intelligent cabinet to be unlocked according to the unlocking instruction, so as to open the cabinet door, acquiring the first commodity data in the intelligent cabinet after detecting that the cabinet door is opened, sending the first commodity data to the self-service terminal, and sending the door closing notification to the self-service terminal after detecting that the cabinet door is closed. The intelligent retail system has high intelligence, and it is more convenient for a purchaser to self-select commodities, and the shopping efficiency is higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of smart retail technology, and in particular relates to a smart retail system, smart retail method, electronic device and computer-readable storage medium for a smart vending machine. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of smart retail, smart vending machines are becoming increasingly popular. Smart vending machines require no dedicated personnel to operate; users can place orders and check out independently, meeting the shopping needs of users in specific scenarios. Because they eliminate the need for human sales staff, offer unrestricted sales hours, and have low space requirements, the application of smart vending machines is becoming increasingly widespread.

[0003] In related technologies, smart vending machines typically require users to select the products they want to buy on a designated control panel. After the user selects and pays for the products, the selected products are transported to the pickup point, and the user then retrieves the purchased products from the pickup point. The self-service shopping process is relatively cumbersome and has a low level of intelligence. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an intelligent retail system, intelligent retail method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium, which makes self-service shopping more convenient and improves its efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an intelligent retail system for a smart vending machine, including a self-service terminal and a central control box connected by communication; the self-service terminal is used to: receive shopping instructions and send unlocking instructions to the central control box; receive first product data sent by the central control box; identify selected product information based on the first product data, or upload the first product data to a cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify selected product information based on the first product data; when receiving a door closing notification, generate settlement data based on the selected product information for settlement; or, upload the door closing notification to the cloud platform, receive settlement information issued by the cloud platform based on the door closing notification and the selected product information, and display it; the central control box is used to: control the unlocking of the smart vending machine door according to the unlocking instructions to open the door; after detecting that the door is open, obtain the first product data selected by the buyer and send the first product data to the self-service terminal; after detecting that the door is closed, send a door closing notification to the self-service terminal.

[0006] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an intelligent retail method applied to a self-service terminal. The intelligent retail method includes: receiving a shopping instruction and generating an unlocking instruction to send to a central control box; receiving first product data sent by the central control box; identifying selected product information based on the first product data, or uploading the first product data to a cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify selected product information based on the first product data; upon receiving a door closing notification sent by the central control box, generating settlement data based on the selected product information for settlement; or, uploading the door closing notification to the cloud platform and receiving settlement information issued by the cloud platform based on the door closing notification and the selected product information.

[0007] Thirdly, this application provides an intelligent retail method applied to a central control box. The intelligent retail method includes: receiving an unlocking command sent by a self-service terminal or a cloud platform, and controlling the door of the intelligent vending machine to unlock according to the unlocking command; after detecting that the door is open, acquiring data on the first product selected by the buyer and sending it to the self-service terminal or cloud platform so that the self-service terminal or cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data; and after detecting that the door is closed, sending a closing notification to the self-service terminal or cloud platform so that the self-service terminal or cloud platform can perform settlement based on the selected product information.

[0008] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device, including a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is used to store at least one computer program; the processor is used to invoke the computer program to execute the smart retail method described in the second or third aspect.

[0009] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the smart retail method described in the third or fourth aspect.

[0010] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product that, when run on a processor, causes the processor to execute the smart retail method of the smart vending machine described in the third or fourth aspect.

[0011] The beneficial effects of the embodiments in this application compared with the prior art are:

[0012] The intelligent retail system of this application embodiment has a self-service terminal and a central control box that are communicatively connected. The self-service terminal receives a shopping instruction and sends an unlocking instruction to the central control box. The central control box controls the smart vending machine door to unlock according to the unlocking instruction, so that the buyer can open the door and directly take the goods from the smart vending machine. After detecting that the door is open, the central control box obtains the first product data in the smart vending machine and sends it to the self-service terminal. The self-service terminal or cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data. After detecting that the door is closed, the central control box sends a door-closing notification to the self-service terminal. Upon receiving the door-closing notification, the self-service terminal or cloud platform can generate settlement data based on the identified selected product information and settle the payment in a timely manner. As a result, the intelligent retail system has a higher degree of intelligence. Buyers can directly select products and the payment can be automatically settled after the selection is completed, without the need for manual payment. The whole process involves less buyer involvement, which can realize seamless shopping as much as possible. Buyers can select products more conveniently and freely, and the user experience is better. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a system schematic diagram of an intelligent retail system provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a system schematic diagram of another intelligent retail system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the shopping process of the intelligent retail system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of establishing a binding relationship between the self-service terminal and the central control box provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0018] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the self-service terminal and central control box authentication process provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0019] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the process for unbinding the self-service terminal and the central control box provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 7 and Figure 8 These are schematic flowcharts of two smart retail methods applied to self-service terminals provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 9 This is a system schematic diagram of another intelligent retail system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the smart retail method applied to a central control box provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0023] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.

[0024] It should be understood that, when used in this application specification and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or a collection thereof.

[0025] It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application specification and the appended claims means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0026] Furthermore, in the description of this application and the appended claims, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0028] Example 1:

[0029] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a smart retail system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The smart retail system can be applied to smart vending machines to enable smart retail, improve the intelligence level of the smart vending machines, and enhance the convenience and efficiency of self-service shopping. The smart retail system includes a self-service terminal 11 and a central control box 12 connected by communication.

[0030] The self-service terminal 11 can be a smart terminal with a touch screen, such as a tablet computer. The touch screen allows for human-computer interaction, enabling the user to input relevant commands (such as shopping instructions). The touch screen can also display settlement data and unit prices of goods to the user. The self-service terminal 11 may include a first processor 111 and a first memory 112. The first memory 112 stores at least one computer program (such as a smart retail program, a product recognition program, etc.). The first processor 111 can invoke the computer program to execute smart retail methods, thereby realizing smart retail. The self-service terminal 11 may be equipped with a shopping application to facilitate user operation (e.g., inputting shopping instructions, performing facial recognition, inputting payment accounts, etc.). In some embodiments, the self-service terminal 11 can be positioned at a preset height (e.g., 1.5 meters) outside the smart vending machine to facilitate user operation. The self-service terminal 11 can communicate with the cloud platform 13. The cloud platform 13 can be a cloud platform developed by the smart vending machine operator. It can be equipped with a face database, a product database, and programs such as face recognition, product recognition, and settlement. It is mainly used for face recognition to determine the corresponding payment account and product recognition to determine the product information selected by the user.

[0031] The central control box 12 can be installed inside the smart vending machine. It can control various functional devices (such as cameras, light strips, compressors, door locks, fans, weighing sensors, etc.) within the smart vending machine to ensure its normal operation and maintain the internal temperature. The central control box 12 can also receive operating data from these functional devices to identify selected products. The central control box 12 may have multiple interfaces to connect to multiple functional devices. The central control box 12 may include a second processor 121 and a second memory 122. The second memory 122 stores at least one computer program (such as a smart retail program). The second processor 121 can call the computer program to execute smart retail methods, thereby realizing smart retail.

[0032] The first processor 111 and the second processor 121 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 described above can be understood as two electronic devices provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0033] The self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 can communicate with each other via wired communication methods such as Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), network cable, USB data cable, etc., or via wireless communication methods such as Bluetooth, WiFi, etc. No specific restrictions are made here.

[0034] Under normal conditions, the smart vending machine's door is locked and cannot be opened to prevent theft of goods. The working logic of the smart retail system is as follows: Self-service terminal 11 receives a shopping instruction and sends an unlocking instruction to central control box 12. The unlocking instruction instructs central control box 12 to unlock the smart vending machine's door. Central control box 12 receives the unlocking instruction from self-service terminal 11 and controls the smart vending machine's door to unlock according to the unlocking instruction. After detecting that the door is open, central control box 12 obtains the first product data inside the smart vending machine and sends the first product data to self-service terminal 11. Self-service terminal 11 receives the first product data sent by central control box 12 and identifies the selected product information based on the first product data, or self-service terminal 11 uploads the first product data to cloud platform 13. The cloud platform 13 can identify the product information selected by the buyer based on the first product data (i.e., the selected product information); after the central control box 12 detects that the cabinet door is closed, it sends a door closing notification to the self-service terminal 11 to inform the self-service terminal 11 that the buyer has finished selecting items; when the self-service terminal 11 receives the door closing notification, it generates settlement data based on the selected product information to perform settlement and can display it to the buyer after settlement is completed, or the self-service terminal 11 can upload the door closing notification to the cloud platform 13. After receiving the door closing notification, the cloud platform 13 can generate settlement data based on the identified selected product information and perform settlement, and send the settlement information to the self-service terminal 11 to display to the user.

[0035] The central control box 12 can control the unlocking of the smart vending machine door in a corresponding manner according to the type of door lock used. For example, assuming the door lock is an electromagnetic lock, the central control box 12 can de-energize the electromagnetic lock to unlock the smart vending machine door, allowing it to be opened; alternatively, it can energize the electromagnetic lock to lock the door, preventing it from being opened. As another example, if the smart vending machine door lock is an electric bolt lock, the extension or retraction of the bolt is driven by controlling the flow of current to achieve the locking or unlocking function. The key component in the lock body is the bolt, which, in conjunction with the keyhole, achieves two states: "locked" and "unlocked." The bolt inserts into the keyhole to close the door, and the bolt leaves the keyhole to open the door. When unlocking is required, the current flowing through it generates a magnetic force that attracts the bolt, causing it to leave the keyhole; when locking is required, the current to the electric bolt is disconnected, losing the magnetic force and allowing the bolt to re-insert into the keyhole.

[0036] In some embodiments, for a smart vending machine with two doors, there may be two central control boxes 12. Both central control boxes 12 are communicatively connected to the self-service terminal 11, and the two central control boxes 12 can control the unlocking and locking of the two doors respectively. In one embodiment, before sending an unlock command to the central control box 12, the self-service terminal 11 can identify the door to be unlocked (i.e., the target door) according to the shopping instruction, and then send an unlock command to the central control box 12 corresponding to the target door. The target door of the smart vending machine is then unlocked by the central control box 12 corresponding to the target door, thereby achieving precise control of the smart vending machine. Alternatively, the self-service terminal 11 can also send unlock commands to both central control boxes 12 simultaneously, so that both doors can be opened, making it easier for users to select goods.

[0037] In some embodiments, a door presence detection switch can be installed inside the smart vending machine. This switch detects the position of the vending machine door. The central control box 12 is communicatively connected to the door presence detection switch and can determine the door's status based on the data from the switch, improving the accuracy of door status determination. For example, after the central control box 12 identifies that the door has been opened based on the data from the door presence detection switch, it can control relevant functional devices in the smart vending machine to detect changes in the goods inside the vending machine in real time, obtaining first product data. This first product data reflects information about the selected goods and may include data such as image data and weight change data. The self-service terminal 11 can receive the first product data sent by the central control box 12 in real time and can use a corresponding product recognition algorithm to identify the selected product information based on the first product data, or upload the first product data to the cloud platform 13. The cloud platform 13 can then use a corresponding product recognition algorithm to identify the selected product information based on the first product data. The selected product information refers to the names and quantities of goods that decreased in the vending machine during the opening and closing of the door, i.e., information about the goods taken by the user.

[0038] Typically, users close the cabinet door after selecting their items. Therefore, monitoring whether the cabinet door is closed can determine if the buyer has finished selecting their goods. Thus, when the central control box 12 detects that the cabinet door has changed from an open state to a locked state, it indicates that the buyer has finished selecting their goods and can send a door-closing notification to the self-service terminal 11 to inform it that the buyer has finished selecting items. Therefore, during the user's shopping process, the self-service terminal 11 can directly identify the selected goods information based on the received first product data. Upon receiving the door-closing notification, it can directly generate settlement data based on the identified selected goods information and process the payment, i.e., automatically generating the payment amount based on the selected goods information so that the user can pay the corresponding amount, realizing self-service shopping. Alternatively, the self-service terminal 11 can upload the door-closing notification to the cloud platform 13, where the cloud platform 13 can calculate the corresponding amount for the selected goods based on the selected goods information and then process the settlement based on the buyer's payment account.

[0039] If the door is detected by the door presence detection switch when the central control box 12 does not receive an unlocking command, it indicates that someone is illegally stealing goods from the smart vending machine. The central control box 12 can send an alarm message to the self-service terminal 11, which will then upload the message to the cloud platform 13. Alternatively, the central control box 12 can directly upload the alarm message to the cloud platform 13. The central control box 12 can also trigger the speaker to emit a siren and / or turn on the alarm light.

[0040] In this embodiment, the intelligent retail system includes a self-service terminal 11 and a central control box 12 connected by communication. When the self-service terminal 11 receives a shopping instruction, it can trigger an unlocking instruction to the central control box 12. The central control box 12 can control the cabinet door to unlock, making it convenient for the buyer to open the cabinet door. After the cabinet door is opened, the central control box 12 obtains the first product data in the intelligent vending machine and sends it to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 or the cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data. After the central control box 12 detects that the cabinet door is closed, it sends a door-closing notification to the self-service terminal 11. When the self-service terminal 11 receives the door-closing notification, it or the cloud platform 13 can generate settlement data based on the identified selected product information and settle the payment for the goods in a timely manner, thereby realizing self-service shopping. In this way, the buyer's shopping efficiency is high, and the manual operation process of the buyer is reduced, which can basically realize seamless shopping, simplify the operation steps of the user's shopping process, improve the user's shopping experience, and is conducive to the practical application of intelligent vending machines.

[0041] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the smart vending machine includes a weighing sensor 14 and a camera device 15. The weighing sensor 14 can be connected to the central control box 12, and the camera device 15 can be connected to the self-service terminal 11. The weighing sensor 14 is used to detect the weight inside the vending machine, and the camera device 15 is used to collect image data from the front of the smart vending machine. The first product data includes the weight change data detected by the weighing sensor. The self-service terminal 11 is also used to: after sending an unlock command, activate the camera device to acquire image data inside the smart vending machine in real time to obtain the second product data; and combine the first product data and the second product data to identify the selected product information.

[0042] The weighing sensor 14 can measure the weight of goods in the smart vending machine in real time. Weight change data is obtained by analyzing the changes in weight before and after the door is opened, and this weight change data is used as the first product data. Simultaneously, the camera device 15 collects image data of the goods selected by the buyer in real time. Based on key item photos in the image data, second product data can be obtained. Combining the first and second product data allows for a more accurate identification of the goods taken from the smart vending machine, improving the accuracy of checkout and preventing losses for both the buyer and the manufacturer. In other embodiments, the camera device 15 can also be connected to the central control box 12, and the first product data includes the image change data collected by the camera device 15.

[0043] In other embodiments, the camera device 15 may also be connected to the central control box 12, which can supply power to the camera device 15. The first product data may include image data of the selected product collected by the camera device 15, which is not limited here.

[0044] In some embodiments, the camera device 15 operates only when the cabinet door is unlocked (i.e., the cabinet door is openable), to reduce the resources and energy consumption required by the smart vending machine. There can be multiple cameras 15, which can be positioned at different locations within the smart vending machine. For example, there can be two cameras 15, positioned on the upper left and right sides of the smart vending machine with their field of view facing downwards, to better capture information about the items selected by the buyer when the cabinet door is open. Specifically, if the camera device 15 can capture images of items held in the buyer's hands, then image data from multiple cameras 15 needs to be acquired. It should be noted that the camera device 15 and the imaging module 113 are different camera devices.

[0045] like Figure 4As shown, the shopping process of the smart retail system is illustrated using the cloud platform 13's identification of selected goods information and settlement as an example. Buyers can input shopping instructions through the shopping application on the self-service terminal 11. The imaging module 113 on the self-service terminal 11 can capture the buyer's facial image and upload it to the cloud platform 13. The cloud platform 13 can perform facial authentication based on the facial image, identifying the buyer's identity and corresponding payment account, and sending the authentication result to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 can display the authentication result. When the authentication result is successful, an unlocking command can be sent to the central control box 12, which will correspondingly control the camera device 15 to start collecting image data. The central control box 12 can control the cabinet door to unlock, allowing the buyer to open the cabinet door and select goods. The central control box 12 can obtain the door opening result and send it to the self-service terminal 11. The weight data is sent to the self-service terminal 11. The camera device 15 can send the collected image data to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 sends the weight data and image data to the cloud platform 13. The cloud platform 13 identifies the product information selected by the buyer based on the weight data and image data. After the central control box 12 detects that the cabinet door is closed, it can send a door-closing notification to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 sends a door-closing notification to the cloud platform 13. After receiving the door-closing notification, the cloud platform 13 can verify the selected product information and generate settlement data, settle the payment using the buyer's corresponding payment account, and send the settlement information to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 can display the settlement list for the buyer to review and turn off the camera device 15 accordingly. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the functions of the cloud platform 13 can also be integrated into the self-service terminal 11, which will not be elaborated here.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, the self-service terminal 11 can communicate with the server 16. Maintenance personnel can manage the self-service terminal 11 through the server 16, thereby remotely managing the smart retail system and facilitating monitoring of the operational status of each smart retail system. The server 16 can be a cloud platform from the manufacturer of the self-service terminal 11 and / or the central control box 12, or it can be a cloud platform from an operator. Unlike the cloud platform 13, its main function is to remotely manage the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12.

[0047] In some embodiments, the self-service terminal 11 is further configured to send a restart command to the central control box 12 upon receiving a restart command. The restart command is used to instruct the target functional device in the smart vending machine to restart. The central control box is also configured to receive the restart command and control the target device to restart according to the restart command.

[0048] To remotely handle anomalies in the smart vending machine and minimize on-site repairs, the system allows for remote restarting of functional components such as light strips, temperature sensors, and compressors when they malfunction. The central control box 12 connects to each functional component; simply powering off and then back on the target component completes the restart. During the use of the smart vending machine, maintenance personnel can send a restart command to the self-service terminal 11 via the server 16. Upon receiving the restart command, the self-service terminal 11 forwards it to the central control box 12, which then restarts the target functional component. The restart command may include the identification information of the target device to be restarted.

[0049] During the use of the smart vending machine, the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 can monitor the various target functional devices of the smart vending machine for abnormalities. When the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 detects an abnormality in a certain target functional device, it can send abnormal information to the server 16 through the self-service terminal 11. After receiving the abnormal information, the maintenance personnel can determine whether the target functional device needs to be restarted based on the abnormal information. If it is determined that a restart is required, the maintenance personnel can send a restart command to the self-service terminal 11 through the server 16, thereby controlling the target device to restart through the restart command to ensure the normal use of the smart vending machine.

[0050] For example, when the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 detects an abnormality in the camera device 15 of the smart vending machine A, it can send abnormal information to the server 16 via wireless communication through the self-service terminal 11. The maintenance personnel can determine whether a restart is needed based on the abnormal information on the server 16. If a restart is needed, a restart command a (instructing the camera device 15 to restart) is generated. The server 16 sends the restart command a to the self-service terminal 11 of the smart vending machine A via wireless communication. The self-service terminal 11 of the smart vending machine A sends the received restart command a to the central control box 12. The central control box 12 parses the restart command a and controls the camera device 15 to restart accordingly (controlling the camera device 15 to power off and then power on).

[0051] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2As shown, the smart vending machine can also be equipped with a temperature sensor 17, which can be used to detect the ambient temperature of the environment in which the smart vending machine is located. The central control box 12 can be equipped with a battery 123, which can be used to power the main functional components in the smart vending machine when the mains power suddenly fails, so as to ensure that the smart vending machine can complete the last transaction. However, if the ambient temperature is too low, the battery 123 may not work properly, such as being unable to charge the battery 123 or being unable to supply power. Therefore, the central control box 12 is also used to obtain the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor 17. When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature (such as 0℃, -5℃, -10℃, etc.), such as in the outdoor environment in winter, the central control box 12 can generate a warning message and send it to the operator management platform to remind the operator that the battery cannot work under the current ambient temperature, so that the operator can move the smart vending machine to a suitable temperature (such as an indoor environment), and then maintain the battery 123 to avoid damage to the battery 123, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the smart vending machine.

[0052] In some embodiments, in order to ensure the stability of the smart retail system, the self-service terminal and the central control box establish a binding relationship through a binding step. The binding relationship is used to verify whether the self-service terminal or the central control box is legitimate, to prevent illegitimate self-service terminals or central control boxes from causing abnormalities in the smart retail system, and to prevent unscrupulous individuals from intruding and forging self-service terminals to send instructions to the central control box.

[0053] Please see Figure 4 The binding process includes the following steps: The self-service terminal obtains the user identifier and sends a binding command to the central control box. The central control box receives the binding command, generates a first random number, and sends it to the self-service terminal. The self-service terminal receives the first random number, converts the operator identifier into a first binding key, encrypts the first binding key based on the first random number, obtains encrypted binding data, and sends it to the central control box. The central control box receives the encrypted binding data, decrypts it based on the first random number, obtains the first binding key, and configures the first binding key. Optionally, the operator identifier can be the operator's identity identifier.

[0054] Maintenance personnel can configure whether self-service terminal 11 needs to be bound via server 16 (e.g., mark it as 1 if binding is required, mark it as 0 if binding is not required, or set a binding switch to turn it on if binding is required and off if not). When binding is required, binding configuration data can be configured, which may include user identification, etc. After self-service terminal 11 is connected to the network, it can automatically detect whether binding is required. When binding is detected, self-service terminal 11 can send a command to server 16 to retrieve binding configuration data. Server 16 can send binding configuration data to self-service terminal 11. The configuration data may include operator identification. After receiving the configuration data, self-service terminal 11 will execute the binding process steps (i.e., binding steps) to establish the binding relationship between self-service terminal 11 and central control box 12. After establishing the binding relationship between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12, the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 are bound together. If it is subsequently detected that there is no binding relationship between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 of the smart vending machine, it can be considered that the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 of the smart vending machine has been replaced or is being attacked by a network attacker. That is, the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 is illegitimate, and the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 cannot be used normally.

[0055] The central control box 12 can generate a random number as the first random number using a random number generation algorithm and send it to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 encrypts the determined first binding key based on this first random number to obtain the bound data ciphertext. Therefore, encrypting the first binding key with the first random number ensures that the ciphertext is different each time, increasing the difficulty of cracking and preventing others from deciphering the first binding key. After storing the first binding key, the central control box 12 can report the binding result to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 can report the binding result to the server 16, allowing maintenance personnel to understand the binding status between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 of the smart vending machine through the server 16. The self-service terminal 11 can also display the binding result on its display interface. It can be understood that after obtaining the first binding key, the self-service terminal 11 can either store it in itself, obtaining the stored binding key, or upload it to the server 16 for storage.

[0056] In some embodiments, in order to ensure the normal use of the smart retail system, after the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 establish a binding relationship, the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 can authenticate the binding relationship through an authentication step. When the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 are successfully authenticated, the functions of the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 can be used normally.

[0057] like Figure 5As shown, the authentication steps include: the self-service terminal obtains a second binding key and requests a second random number from the central control box; the central control box generates a second random number and sends it to the self-service terminal; the self-service terminal encrypts the second random number based on the second binding key to obtain ciphertext of the random number, and sends an authentication command to the central control box, the authentication command including the ciphertext of the random number; the central control box decrypts the ciphertext of the random number based on the binding key to obtain a first decryption result, and compares the first decryption result with the second random number; if they match, the authentication is successful.

[0058] The self-service terminal 11 stores a key, which can be loaded as a second binding key. Alternatively, if the self-service terminal does not store a key, it can request the server 16 to send its stored key after connecting to the network, thus obtaining the second binding key. The server 16 can send the key to the self-service terminal 11, or the self-service terminal 11 can download the key from the server 16, enabling the self-service terminal 11 to obtain the second binding key. After the central control box 12 starts up, it can notify the self-service terminal 11, which can then request a second random number from the central control box 12. The central control box 12 can generate a random number (i.e., the second random number) using a random number generator or random number generation algorithm, and then send the generated second random number to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 encrypts a second random number based on the second binding key to obtain the ciphertext of the random number, and generates an authentication command (including the ciphertext of the random number) to the central control box. The second random number is then encrypted using the second binding key and used as the data to be transmitted. This ensures that the encrypted second random number is transmitted each time authentication is performed, meaning that different data is transmitted each time. This prevents replay attacks by network attackers and improves the security of the smart retail system.

[0059] Upon receiving the authentication command, the central control box 12 decrypts the random number ciphertext using the pre-stored first binding key. If the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 has not been replaced, the first binding key and the second binding key should be identical. That is, the first decryption result obtained by the central control box 12 based on the first binding key should be the same as the second random number. Therefore, the central control box 12 can determine the authentication result by comparing the second decryption result and the second random number. If the second decryption result is the same as the second random number, authentication is successful, and the functions of the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 can be used normally. If the second decryption result is different from the second random number, authentication fails, and the functions of the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 cannot be used normally.

[0060] Optionally, before the central control box 12 controls the smart vending machine door to unlock according to the unlock command, it can authenticate the binding relationship with the self-service terminal 11 through an authentication process. Upon successful authentication, the central control box 12 controls the smart vending machine door to unlock according to the unlock command. Because the central control box 12 first determines the legitimacy of the self-service terminal 11 before controlling the smart vending machine door to unlock according to the door opening command, it can prevent the received door opening command from being sent by a network attacker or a replaced self-service terminal 11, thereby improving the security of the smart vending machine.

[0061] In some embodiments, since the central control box 12 can power the various functional devices in the smart vending machine and the self-service terminal 11, and the self-service terminal 11 or the central control box 12 is illegally replaced, it needs to be powered on again to be used normally. Therefore, in order to ensure the safe use of the smart vending machine, after the central control box 12 is powered on, the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 can be authenticated through an authentication process to prevent the central control box 12 or the self-service terminal 11 from being replaced after the authentication is passed.

[0062] In this embodiment, the central control box 12 and the self-service terminal 11 are authenticated through an authentication process to determine whether they have a binding relationship, thereby enhancing security when using the smart retail system and preventing losses to the operator.

[0063] In other embodiments, an authentication step can be performed every time a self-service purchase is made to authenticate the binding relationship between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12, thereby further improving the security of the smart retail system.

[0064] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the central control box and the self-service terminal unbind their relationship through an unbinding step. The unbinding step includes: the self-service terminal receiving an unbinding request, which includes a third binding key and the serial number of the central control box; verifying the serial number of the central control box; if they match, requesting a third random number from the central control box; the central control box generating a third random number and sending it to the self-service terminal; the self-service terminal encrypting the third random number based on the third binding key to obtain unbinding data ciphertext and sending an unbinding instruction to the central control box, which includes the unbinding data ciphertext; the central control box decrypting the unbinding data ciphertext based on the first binding key to obtain a second decryption result, and comparing the second decryption result with the third random number; if they match, clearing the binding data.

[0065] Maintenance personnel can send an unbinding request to self-service terminal 11 via server 16, instructing self-service terminal 11 to unbind from the central control box 12. The unbinding request may include the smart vending machine's product serial number and a third binding key (i.e., the key stored on server 16; if self-service terminal 11 or central control box 12 has not been replaced, this third binding key should be the same as the first binding key). After receiving the unbinding request, self-service terminal 11 can verify whether the product serial number in the unbinding request matches the product serial number of central control box 12. If they match, the unbinding request is correct, and the unbinding steps can continue. If they do not match, the unbinding request is incorrect, and unbinding cannot be performed.

[0066] The central control box 12 can generate a third random number using a random number generator or similar method, and send it to the self-service terminal 11. The self-service terminal 11 encrypts the third random number using the third binding key to obtain the unbinding data ciphertext, and sends it to the central control box 12. The central control box 12 decrypts the unbinding data ciphertext using the first binding key in the configuration area to obtain a second decryption result. If the first binding key is the same as the third binding key, then the second decryption result is the same as the third random number. Therefore, by comparing the second decryption result and the third random number, it can be determined whether the binding relationship between the two is correct. If the second decryption result and the third random number are consistent, the central control box 12 deletes the first binding key in the configuration area and sends the unbinding result to the self-service terminal 11 after deleting the first binding key to indicate that the central control box 12 has unbound the self-service terminal 11. After receiving the unbinding result from the central control box 12, the self-service terminal 11 can send the unbinding result to the server 16, informing the server 16 that the binding relationship between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 has been released. The server 16 can then clear the corresponding binding data and display it on the display interface, allowing maintenance personnel to promptly know that the binding relationship between the self-service terminal 11 and the central control box 12 has been released. If the third decryption result and the third random number are different, it can be determined that the unbinding authentication has failed, and the unbinding result is "unbinding failed." The central control box 12 can then send the unbinding result to the self-service terminal 11 so that the self-service terminal 11 can promptly know the unbinding result.

[0067] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between devices / units are based on the same concept as the method embodiments of this application. For details on their specific functions and technical effects, please refer to the method embodiments section, and they will not be repeated here.

[0068] Example 2:

[0069] Corresponding to the intelligent retail system described in the above embodiments, Figure 7 This document illustrates a flowchart of a smart retail method applied to a self-service terminal in the above embodiments, provided by an embodiment of this application. For ease of explanation, only the parts relevant to the embodiments of this application are shown.

[0070] The smart retail approach applied to self-service terminals includes the following steps:

[0071] Step S701: Receive shopping instructions and generate unlock instructions to send to the central control box;

[0072] Step S702: Receive the first product data sent by the central control box.

[0073] Step S703: Identify the selected product information based on the first product data;

[0074] In step S704, upon receiving the door closing notification from the central control box, settlement data is generated based on the selected product information for settlement.

[0075] Example 3:

[0076] Corresponding to the intelligent retail system described in the above embodiments, Figure 8 This document illustrates a flowchart of another smart retail method for a self-service terminal applied to the above embodiments, provided by an embodiment of this application. For ease of explanation, only the parts relevant to the embodiments of this application are shown.

[0077] The smart retail approach applied to self-service terminals includes the following steps:

[0078] Step S801: Receive shopping instructions and generate unlock instructions to send to the central control box;

[0079] Step S802: Receive the first product data sent by the central control box;

[0080] Step S803: Upload the first product data to the cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data;

[0081] In step S804, upon receiving the door closing notification from the central control box, the door closing notification is uploaded to the cloud platform, and the settlement information issued by the cloud platform based on the door closing notification and the selected product information is received.

[0082] The specific details of each of the above steps can be found in the relevant implementation examples of self-service terminals in the above-mentioned intelligent retail system, and will not be repeated here.

[0083] Example 4:

[0084] Please see Figure 9The main difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the central control box 901 integrates some of the functions of the self-service terminal 11 in Embodiment 1. The intelligent retail system does not require a self-service terminal. The central control box 901 is connected to the cloud platform 902. The central control box 901 can be connected to the weighing sensor 903 (the same as the weighing sensor 14 in Embodiment 1) and the camera device 904 (the same as the camera device 15 in Embodiment 1) to control the weighing sensor 903 and the camera device 904, and to receive the data collected by the weighing sensor 903 and the camera device 904.

[0085] In this embodiment, a QR code can be affixed to the outer surface of the smart vending machine. Buyers can scan the code to access a shopping mini-program for further identity verification (i.e., binding a payment account) and input shopping instructions. These instructions are sent from the mini-program to the cloud platform 902. The cloud platform 902 receives the instructions and triggers an unlock command to the central control box 901. The central control box 901 controls the smart vending machine door to unlock based on the unlock command. Upon detecting the door is open, it acquires the first product data selected by the buyer and sends it to the cloud platform 902. The cloud platform 902 identifies the selected product information based on this data. After detecting the door is closed, the central control box 901 sends a closing notification to the cloud platform 902. The cloud platform 902 then performs settlement based on the identified product information and sends settlement information to the buyer. This eliminates the need for a self-service terminal, saving on smart vending machine manufacturing costs, while also enabling seamless self-service shopping and improving convenience. The first product data may include weight change data detected by the weighing sensor 903 and image data of the product selected by the buyer collected by the camera device 904.

[0086] In some embodiments, if the central control box 901 has high computing power, it can also identify the shopper's selected product information based on the first product information and upload the identified selected product information to the cloud platform 902 for settlement, without the need for the cloud platform 902 to perform identification.

[0087] The central control box 901 includes a second processor 9011 and a second memory 9012. The second memory 9012 stores computer programs, and the second processor 9011 can call the computer programs to execute intelligent retail methods, thereby realizing intelligent retail. The central control box 901 is connected to a server 905 for remote operation and maintenance via the server 905. Contents identical to those in Embodiment 1 are not repeated here; please refer to the relevant content in Embodiment 1 above.

[0088] Example 5:

[0089] Corresponding to the intelligent retail system described in the above embodiments, Figure 10This document illustrates a flowchart of a smart retail method applied to the central control box in the above embodiments, provided by an embodiment of this application. For ease of explanation, only the parts related to the embodiments of this application are shown.

[0090] The smart retail approach applied to the control box includes the following steps:

[0091] S1001 receives unlocking commands sent by self-service terminals or cloud platforms, and controls the smart vending machine door to unlock and open the door according to the unlocking commands;

[0092] S1002, after detecting that the cabinet door is open, the first product data selected by the buyer is obtained and sent to the self-service terminal or cloud platform so that the self-service terminal or cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data;

[0093] S1003, after detecting that the cabinet door is closed, sends a door closing notification to the self-service terminal or cloud platform so that the self-service terminal or cloud platform can make a settlement based on the selected product information.

[0094] The specific details of each of the above steps can be found in the relevant implementation examples of self-service terminals in the above-mentioned intelligent retail system, and will not be repeated here.

[0095] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in Embodiments 2 and 3 does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0096] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in Embodiments 2, 3 and 5 does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0097] Example 6:

[0098] This application also provides a smart vending machine, including the smart retail system described in the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the smart vending machine may also include input / output devices, network access devices, etc. Furthermore, the smart vending machine may also include camera equipment, weighing sensors, compressors, etc.

[0099] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps described in the above-described smart retail method embodiments.

[0100] This application provides a computer program product that, when run on a processor, enables the processor to execute the steps described in the smart retail method embodiment.

[0101] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the processes in the implementation embodiments of this application can be accomplished by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed by the central control box, it can implement the steps of each method embodiment. The computer program includes computer program code, which can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or some intermediate form. The computer-readable medium can include at least: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code to a camera / processor, a recording medium, a computer memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an electrical carrier signal, a telecommunication signal, and a software distribution medium. Examples include USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks. In some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable media cannot be electrical carrier signals or telecommunication signals.

[0102] In the embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0103] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0104] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus / network devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus / network device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0105] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0106] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A smart retail system for a smart vending machine, characterized in that, This includes self-service terminals and central control boxes with communication connections; The self-service terminal is configured to: receive shopping instructions and send unlock instructions to the central control box; receive first product data sent by the central control box; identify selected product information based on the first product data, or upload the first product data to the cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify selected product information based on the first product data; generate settlement data based on the selected product information when receiving a closing notification, and perform settlement; or upload the closing notification to the cloud platform, receive and display settlement information issued by the cloud platform based on the closing notification and the selected product information. The central control box is used to: control the smart vending machine door to unlock and open the door according to the unlocking command; after detecting that the door is open, obtain the first product data selected by the buyer and send the first product data to the self-service terminal; after detecting that the door is closed, send the door closing notification to the self-service terminal. The self-service terminal and the central control box establish a binding relationship through a binding step, which includes: The self-service terminal obtains the operator's identifier and sends a binding command to the central control box; The central control box receives the binding instruction, generates a first random number, and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal receives the first random number, converts the operator identifier into a first binding key, encrypts the first binding key based on the first random number, obtains the binding data ciphertext, and sends it to the central control box. The central control box receives the encrypted binding data and decrypts the encrypted binding data based on the first random number to obtain the first binding key, and stores the first binding key in the configuration area; The central control box and the self-service terminal authenticate their binding relationship through authentication steps, which include: The self-service terminal obtains the second binding key and requests a second random number from the central control box; The central control box generates a second random number and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal encrypts the second random number based on the second binding key to obtain a random number ciphertext, and sends an authentication command to the central control box. The authentication command includes the random number ciphertext. The central control box decrypts the random number ciphertext based on the first binding key to obtain a first decryption result, and compares the first decryption result with the second random number. If they match, the authentication is successful.

2. The intelligent retail system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The self-service terminal includes an imaging module, which is used to collect the facial image of the purchaser, identify the corresponding payment account based on the facial image, and settle the settlement data based on the payment account.

3. The intelligent retail system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The smart vending machine includes a weighing sensor and a camera device, and the first commodity data includes weight change data detected by the weighing sensor. The self-service terminal is also used for: After sending the unlock command, the camera device is activated to collect image data of the selected product, thereby obtaining the second product data; By combining the first product data and the second product data, the selected product information can be identified; or, the first product data and the second product data can be uploaded to the cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify the selected product information by combining the first product data and the second product data.

4. The intelligent retail system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The central control box and the self-service terminal are unbound from each other through an unbinding step, which includes: The self-service terminal receives an unbinding request, which includes a third binding key and the serial number of the central control box. It verifies the serial number of the central control box, and if they match, it requests a third random number from the central control box. The central control box generates a third random number and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal encrypts the third random number based on the third binding key to obtain unbinding data ciphertext and sends an unbinding instruction to the central control box. The unbinding instruction includes the unbinding data ciphertext. The central control box decrypts the unbound data ciphertext based on the first binding key to obtain a second decryption result, and compares the second decryption result with the third random number. If they match, the binding data is cleared.

5. A smart retail method, characterized in that, The intelligent retail method, applied to self-service terminals, includes: Receive shopping instructions and generate unlock instructions to send to the central control box; Receive the first product data sent by the central control box; The first product data can be used to identify the product information to be selected, or the first product data can be uploaded to the cloud platform so that the cloud platform can identify the product information to be selected based on the first product data. Upon receiving a door closing notification from the central control box, the system generates settlement data based on the selected product information for settlement; or, it uploads the door closing notification to the cloud platform and receives settlement information issued by the cloud platform based on the door closing notification and the selected product information. The self-service terminal and the central control box establish a binding relationship through a binding step, which includes: The self-service terminal obtains the operator's identifier and sends a binding command to the central control box; The central control box receives the binding instruction, generates a first random number, and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal receives the first random number, converts the operator identifier into a first binding key, encrypts the first binding key based on the first random number, obtains the binding data ciphertext, and sends it to the central control box. The central control box receives the encrypted binding data and decrypts the encrypted binding data based on the first random number to obtain the first binding key, and stores the first binding key in the configuration area; The central control box and the self-service terminal authenticate their binding relationship through authentication steps, which include: The self-service terminal obtains the second binding key and requests a second random number from the central control box; The central control box generates a second random number and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal encrypts the second random number based on the second binding key to obtain a random number ciphertext, and sends an authentication command to the central control box. The authentication command includes the random number ciphertext. The central control box decrypts the random number ciphertext based on the first binding key to obtain a first decryption result, and compares the first decryption result with the second random number. If they match, the authentication is successful.

6. A smart retail method, characterized in that, Applied to a central control box, the smart retail method includes: Receive unlocking instructions sent by self-service terminals or cloud platforms, and control the smart vending machine door to unlock and open the door according to the unlocking instructions; After the cabinet door is detected to be open, the system obtains the first product data selected by the buyer and sends it to the self-service terminal or the cloud platform, so that the self-service terminal or the cloud platform can identify the selected product information based on the first product data. After detecting that the cabinet door is closed, a door closure notification is sent to the self-service terminal or the cloud platform so that the self-service terminal or the cloud platform can make a settlement based on the selected product information; The self-service terminal and the central control box establish a binding relationship through a binding step, which includes: The self-service terminal obtains the operator's identifier and sends a binding command to the central control box; The central control box receives the binding instruction, generates a first random number, and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal receives the first random number, converts the operator identifier into a first binding key, encrypts the first binding key based on the first random number, obtains the binding data ciphertext, and sends it to the central control box. The central control box receives the encrypted binding data and decrypts the encrypted binding data based on the first random number to obtain the first binding key, and stores the first binding key in the configuration area; The central control box and the self-service terminal authenticate their binding relationship through authentication steps, which include: The self-service terminal obtains the second binding key and requests a second random number from the central control box; The central control box generates a second random number and sends it to the self-service terminal; The self-service terminal encrypts the second random number based on the second binding key to obtain a random number ciphertext, and sends an authentication command to the central control box. The authentication command includes the random number ciphertext. The central control box decrypts the random number ciphertext based on the first binding key to obtain a first decryption result, and compares the first decryption result with the second random number. If they match, the authentication is successful.

7. The intelligent retail method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The central control box has a built-in battery, and the smart retail method further includes: Obtain the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor; When the ambient temperature is lower than the preset temperature, an early warning message is generated, which indicates that the battery cannot work properly at the current ambient temperature.

8. The intelligent retail method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first product data includes weight change data and / or image data of the selected product.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store at least one computer program; the processor being used to invoke the computer program to execute the smart retail method according to any one of claims 5-8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the intelligent retail method as described in any one of claims 5-8.

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