Information processing device, information processing method, and program
The integration of object and scan detection sensors in self-checkout systems addresses the issue of shoplifting by verifying product entry and scanning, effectively preventing unauthorized transactions.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SIGNPOST
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Conventional self-checkout systems fail to adequately prevent shoplifting, necessitating a solution to effectively deter such incidents.
An information processing system that integrates object detection sensors and scan completion sensors to verify the entry of products into a designated area and the scanning of barcodes, determining anomalies in payment transactions to detect potential shoplifting.
Effectively prevents shoplifting at self-checkout counters by identifying abnormal payment transactions through integrated sensors, reducing disputes and enhancing security.
Smart Images
Figure 2026108973000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, in actual stores that sell products, so-called self-checkout (see, for example, Patent Document 1) has been increasingly adopted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such self-checkout, a person who plans to purchase a product makes the information processing apparatus such as a barcode scanner read the product information of the product within a predetermined area, and thereby performs the settlement of the product.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] [[ID=3,7]]However, in such self-checkout, there has been a sporadic occurrence of the fact that a person who plans to purchase a product shoplifts the product without appropriately performing the settlement, and in recent years, there has been a demand to appropriately prevent shoplifting in self-checkout. However, the conventional technologies including Patent Document 1 have not sufficiently responded to this demand.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to be able to appropriately prevent shoplifting in self-checkout.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] To achieve the above object, an information processing system according to an aspect of the present invention is In an information processing system used when a prospective buyer of a product reads the product information of that product within a designated area using an information reading device to complete the payment process for that product, Object detection information acquisition means for acquiring object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered the predetermined area by an object detection sensor, Product read information acquisition means for acquiring product read information indicating that product information for a predetermined product has been read by the information reading device, A payment transaction anomaly determination means that determines that there was an anomaly in the payment transaction by the prospective purchaser of the product if one of the object detection information and the product read information has been acquired but the other has not been acquired. It is equipped with.
[0007] Each of the information processing method and program according to one aspect of the present invention corresponds to each of the method and program corresponding to the information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to the present invention, shoplifting at self-checkout counters can be effectively prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an overview of the service that can be realized by one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the server hardware configuration in the information processing system. [Figure 4] This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server in Figure 3 that constitutes the information processing system in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0011] First, with reference to Figure 1, an overview of the service (hereinafter referred to as "this service") that can be realized by one embodiment of the information processing system of the information processing apparatus of the present invention (see Figure 2, which will be described later) will be explained. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the service that can be realized by one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention.
[0012] This service is designed to effectively prevent shoplifting at self-checkout counters.
[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the self-checkout system is equipped with an unmanned checkout terminal L that processes payment for goods and a barcode scanner BS. Each product has a barcode containing product information (such as product code and price) necessary for payment. A typical customer U (not intending to shoplift) would then hold the barcode on product B up to the barcode scanner BS as part of the payment process for product B. The barcode scanner BS would then scan the barcode, read the product information for product B, and transmit that information to the unmanned checkout terminal L. The unmanned checkout terminal L would then execute the payment process for product B, which is identified by that product information.
[0014] As will be described later, the unmanned checkout terminal L and barcode scanner BS themselves are not essential components of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention. That is, existing unmanned checkout terminals L and barcode scanner BS can be used as needed. Of course, in order to enhance the effectiveness of preventing shoplifting, the predetermined information can be displayed on the unmanned checkout terminal L as one method of "notification of predetermined information" described later, that is, it can be linked to or made a component of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention.
[0015] Here, the barcode scanner BS has an area A that can detect barcodes. Therefore, when a normal (shoplifting not considered) prospective purchaser U scans the barcode attached to product B as a payment action for the product B that they plan to purchase, an object such as product B or an object such as the hand of the prospective purchaser U will enter area A. Furthermore, as a result of a normal execution of the payment action for product B that a normal (shoplifting not considered) prospective purchaser U plans to purchase, for the unattended cash register terminal L to execute the payment process for product B, it is necessary for the barcode scanner BS to scan the barcode attached to product B. To summarize the above, as a result of a normal execution of the payment action for product B that a normal (shoplifting not considered) prospective purchaser U plans to purchase, for the unattended cash register terminal L to execute the payment process for product B, it is necessary to satisfy the first condition that some object (for example, product B) enters area A (hereinafter referred to as the "object entry condition") and the second condition that the barcode scanner BS has scanned (has already scanned) the barcode attached to product B (hereinafter referred to as the "scanned condition") with an AND condition.
[0016] In other words, if at least one of the object entry condition and the scanned condition is not satisfied, it means that there is some abnormality in the payment action for product B that the prospective purchaser U plans to purchase, that is, there is a possibility that the prospective purchaser U shoplifted product B. Therefore, in this service, the server 1 respectively executes a determination as to whether the object entry condition is satisfied (hereinafter referred to as the "object entry determination") and a determination as to whether the scanned condition is satisfied (hereinafter referred to as the "scanned determination"), and if either determination is "no", it performs a detection that there is a possibility of shoplifting (hereinafter referred to as the "shoplifting possibility detection").
[0017] The method for determining the entry of an object is not particularly limited. In the example of FIG. 1, a sensor S1 for detecting an object in a predetermined manner (hereinafter referred to as "object detection sensor S1") is arranged. When the object detection sensor S1 detects any object that has entered a predetermined area A and outputs information indicating the detection result (hereinafter referred to as "object detection information"), if the server 1 acquires the object detection information, it is determined that the object entry condition is satisfied. On the other hand, if the server 1 does not acquire the object detection information, a determination that the object entry condition is not satisfied (a determination of "no") is made. Such a method is adopted. Note that the predetermined method for object detection by the object sensor S1 is not particularly limited, and various methods can be adopted. For example, the object sensor S1 is configured as a camera, and a method can be adopted in which object detection is performed when any object image is included in an image obtained as a result of imaging by the camera (hereinafter referred to as "imaging image").
[0018] The method for scan determination is not particularly limited. In the example of FIG. 1, a sensor S2 (hereinafter referred to as "scan detection sensor S2") for detecting in a predetermined manner that the barcode scanner BS has scanned a barcode is arranged. While an object detected in area A (i.e., an object that has entered area A) is leaving area A, the scan detection sensor S2 detects the fact that the barcode scanner BS has scanned a barcode and outputs information indicating the detection result (hereinafter referred to as "scanned information"). If the server 1 acquires the scanned information, it is determined that the scanned condition is satisfied. On the other hand, if the server 1 does not acquire the scanned information, a determination that the scanned condition is not satisfied (a determination of "no") is made. Such a method is adopted. Note that hereinafter, the detection by the scan detection sensor S2 of the fact that the barcode scanner BS has scanned a barcode is referred to as "scanned detection". The predetermined method for outputting scanned information by the scan detection sensor S2 is not particularly limited, and various methods can be adopted. For example, the scan detection sensor S2 is configured to detect the "beep" sound emitted when the barcode scanner BS scans a barcode, and when the "beep" sound is detected, scanned information is sent to the server 1 (and as a result, it is determined that the scanned condition is met), and when the "beep" sound is not detected (when the "beep" sound is not made), it is determined that product B has not been scanned, and the transmission of scanned information to the server 1 is prohibited (or information indicating that it has not been scanned is sent to the server 1).
[0019] Furthermore, in this service, if Server 1 detects the possibility of shoplifting based on either the object entry detection or the scanned object detection being "no," it notifies the prospective buyer U of predetermined information. The important point here is that the information notified to prospective buyer U is not information that directly notifies them that shoplifting possibility has been detected. In other words, shoplifting possibility detection means that there was some abnormality in prospective buyer U's payment transaction (the payment could not be processed normally), and the possibility of shoplifting is merely one of the factors that led to this detection; it is also possible that shoplifting did not occur. If, despite this, a notification is issued stating that "there is a possibility of shoplifting," then if prospective buyer U has not shoplifted, a dispute may arise between prospective buyer U and the product provider (store, etc.). Therefore, it is preferable to notify prospective buyer U of information that will not cause trouble, such as, for example, "It appears that the scan for product B was not performed correctly. Please check."
[0020] Next, with reference to Figure 2, the configuration of an information processing system that realizes the provision of the above-mentioned service, i.e., an embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention, will be described. Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of one embodiment of the information processing system of the present invention.
[0021] The information processing system SY shown in Figure 2 is configured to include a server 1, an object detection sensor S1, and a scan detection sensor S2. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, it is not mandatory for the unmanned checkout terminal L and barcode scanner BS to be components of the information processing system SY. In other words, existing unmanned checkout terminal L and barcode scanner BS can be used as they are. However, as mentioned above, in order to enhance the effectiveness of preventing shoplifting, the designated information can be displayed on the unmanned checkout terminal L as a method of "notifying designated information," that is, it can be linked to or made a component of the information processing system SY shown in Figure 2. Server 1, object detection sensor S1, and scan detection sensor S2 are interconnected via a network such as the Internet or Bluetooth (not shown). Furthermore, if necessary, the unmanned checkout terminal L and barcode scanner BS may be interconnected with server 1, etc., via an internet (not shown).
[0022] Server 1 is an information processing device managed by the provider of this service (Figure 1). Server 1 performs various processes to realize this service while communicating as appropriate with the unmanned checkout terminal L, the barcode scanner BS, the object detection sensor S1, and the scan detection sensor S2.
[0023] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the server hardware configuration in the information processing system shown in Figure 2.
[0024] Server 1 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.
[0025] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the program loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. RAM13 also stores data and other information necessary for the CPU11 to perform various processes.
[0026] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is connected to an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.
[0027] The input unit 16 is configured, for example, with a keyboard, and is used to input various types of information. The output unit 17 consists of a display such as an LCD and a speaker, and outputs various information as images and sounds. The memory unit 18 is composed of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores various types of data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices (for example, the unmanned checkout terminal L and barcode scanner BS, object detection sensor S1, and scan detection sensor S2 shown in Figure 2) via a network including the Internet.
[0028] The drive 20 is appropriately equipped with removable media 21, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory. Programs read from the removable media 21 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. Furthermore, the removable media 21 can store various types of data stored in the storage unit 18, just as the storage unit 18 does.
[0029] Through the cooperation of various hardware and software components that make up the information processing system SY in Figure 2, including Server 1 in Figure 3, various processes for providing the service in Figure 1 can be executed.
[0030] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server in Figure 3 within the information processing system shown in Figure 2.
[0031] Server 1 is provided as a component of the information processing system SY used when a prospective buyer U performs a payment transaction for a product by having an information reading device (e.g., a barcode scanner BS) read the product information of the product within a predetermined area A. As shown in Figure 4, the CPU 11 of server 1 functions as follows: object detection information acquisition unit 51, scanned information acquisition unit 52, notification unit 53, and shoplifting possibility determination unit 54.
[0032] The object detection information acquisition unit 51 acquires object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered a predetermined area A by the object detection sensor S1. The scanned information acquisition unit 52 acquires product read information (for example, the scanned information described above) that indicates that product information for a predetermined product B has been read by an information reading device (for example, a barcode scanner BS). The shoplifting possibility determination unit 54 determines that if one of the object detection information and the product reading information is acquired but the other is not, there was an abnormality in the payment transaction by the prospective product purchaser U, that is, there is a possibility that the prospective product purchaser U has shoplifted.
[0033] Here, the information reading device is not particularly limited, but a code scanner (e.g., a barcode scanner BS) that reads a code containing product information (e.g., a barcode) and outputs a predetermined sound when it reads the code can be used. In this case, the scanned information acquisition unit 52 acquires information indicating the detection result of the predetermined sound by the sound detection sensor as product read information.
[0034] If the notification unit 53 determines that there was an abnormality in the payment transaction by the prospective purchaser U, it notifies the prospective purchaser U of predetermined information (for example, voice information such as "It appears the barcode was not read correctly"). Furthermore, the notification method is not particularly limited, and any method can be adopted, such as emitting sound from a speaker (not shown in the diagram) or displaying it as an image on an unmanned checkout terminal L.
[0035] Thus, by applying the information processing system SY shown in Figure 2, which has the functional configuration shown in Figure 4, shoplifting can be effectively prevented.
[0036] Here are some patterns of shoplifting at self-checkout counters. Pattern 1: Do not perform barcode scanning. [Example 1] Put the product into the bag without scanning the barcode. [Example 2] Some items are not scanned and are placed in a bag with other items that have been properly scanned. [Example 3] Stack two or more items and scan only the top item. [Example 4] Scanning only the target product while hiding other products amongst the target product, or, if the product is clothing, wearing the target product under the clothing the person is wearing. [Example 5] In the case of a cash register with a product weight detection function, place an item of the same weight as the product inside beforehand. Pattern 2. Barcode substitution [Example 6] Replace the barcode of an expensive product with the barcode of a cheaper product. [Example 7] Attach the barcode of an inexpensive product to your wrist or other body part, and then scan the barcode. Pattern 3. Leaving without paying [Example 8] After scanning the product, the process proceeds to the payment screen but the transaction ends without completing the payment. [Example 9] After scanning the products, adjust the number of items purchased. Pattern 4. Payment Error [Example 10] Although payment was not actually made, a payment error was created to obscure the matter. Pattern 5. Other [Example 11] Hiding merchandise in clothes or a bag to pass through the checkout counter. [Example 12] Opening the packaging of multiple products and stealing some of them. [Example 13] Forging receipts or using someone else's receipts.
[0037] By applying the method applied to one embodiment of the present invention, namely, a method that performs object entry detection and scan completion detection, and if either of the detections is "no", shoplifting of pattern 1 can be effectively suppressed. Furthermore, when "potential shoplifting is detected," we believe that notifying the prospective buyer U of the specified information will have a certain degree of effect in preventing other shoplifting patterns 2 through 5 as well. To more effectively suppress shoplifting of other patterns 2 through 5 and other patterns, it is preferable to combine a method for "detecting the possibility of shoplifting" with one or more other shoplifting prevention methods.
[0038] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any modifications, improvements, etc. that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.
[0039] For example, the system configuration shown in Figure 2 and the hardware configuration of Server 1 shown in Figure 3 are merely illustrative examples for achieving the objectives of the present invention and are not particularly limiting.
[0040] Furthermore, the functional block diagram shown in Figure 4 is merely illustrative and not particularly limiting. In other words, it is sufficient that the information processing system in Figure 2 has the functionality to execute the various processes described above as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this functionality are not particularly limited to the example in Figure 4.
[0041] Furthermore, the location of the functional blocks and database is not limited to Figure 4, but can be any location. For example, the configuration may include at least a portion of the functional blocks and database located on the server 1 side, as well as the unmanned cash register terminal L and other information processing devices not shown.
[0042] Furthermore, the series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or by software. Furthermore, a single functional block may consist of hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.
[0043] When a series of processes are executed by software, the programs that make up that software are installed on a computer or other device from a network or storage medium. The computer may be a computer that is built into dedicated hardware. Furthermore, a computer can be any computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.
[0044] Such recording media containing programs may consist not only of removable media (not shown) distributed separately from the main unit of the device to provide the program to the user, but also of recording media provided to the user in a state where they are pre-installed in the main unit of the device.
[0045] In this specification, the step of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium includes not only processes that are performed chronologically in that order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically, but are executed in parallel or individually.
[0046] In summary, the information processing system to which the present invention applies only needs to have the following configuration, and can take various forms. In other words, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied (for example, the information processing system SY in Figure 2) is: In an information processing system used when a prospective buyer of a product (for example, prospective buyer U in Figure 1) reads the product information of a product within a predetermined area (for example, area A in Figure 1) using an information reading device (for example, barcode scanner BS in Figures 1, 2, and 4), the system is used to complete the payment transaction for the product. An object detection information acquisition means (for example, the object detection information acquisition unit 51 in Figure 4) acquires object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered the predetermined area by an object detection sensor (for example, the object detection sensor S1 in Figures 1, 2, and 4), Product read information acquisition means (for example, the scanned information acquisition unit 52 in Figure 4) acquires product read information (for example, the scanned information mentioned above) indicating that product information of a predetermined product (for example, product B in Figure 1) has been read by the information reading device, If one of the object detection information and the product read information is acquired but the other is not, a payment transaction abnormality determination means (for example, the shoplifting possibility determination unit 54 in Figure 4) determines that there was an abnormality in the payment transaction by the prospective product purchaser, An information processing system equipped with these features would suffice.
[0047] Furthermore, if it is determined that there was an abnormality in the payment transaction, a notification means (for example, the notification unit 53 in Figure 4) will notify the prospective purchaser of predetermined information. It can provide even more.
[0048] Here, the information reading device is a code scanner (for example, the barcode scanner BS in Figures 1, 2, and 4) that reads a code containing product information (for example, a barcode) and outputs a predetermined sound when it reads the code. The product read information acquisition means acquires information indicating the detection result of the predetermined sound by the sound detection sensor as the product read information. It can be done that way. [Explanation of symbols]
[0049] 1...Server, 11...CPU, 12...ROM, 13...RAM, 14...Bus, 15...Input / Output Interface, 16...Input Unit, 17...Output Unit, 18...Storage Unit, 19...Communication Unit, 20...Drive, 21...Removable Media, 51...Object Detection Information Acquisition Unit, 52...Scanned Information Acquisition Unit, 53...Notification Unit, 54...Shoplifting Probability Determination Unit, SY...Information Processing System, L...Unmanned Checkout Terminal, BS...Barcode Scanner, U...Planners, A...Area, B...Product
Claims
1. In an information processing system used when a prospective buyer of a product reads the product information of that product within a designated area using an information reading device to complete the payment process for that product, Object detection information acquisition means for acquiring object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered the predetermined area by an object detection sensor, Product read information acquisition means for acquiring product read information indicating that product information for a predetermined product has been read by the information reading device, A payment transaction anomaly determination means that determines that there was an anomaly in the payment transaction by the prospective purchaser if one of the object detection information and the product read information has been acquired but the other has not been acquired. An information processing system equipped with the following features.
2. If it is determined that there was an abnormality in the aforementioned payment transaction, a notification means will notify the prospective purchaser of the product of the prescribed information. The information processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:
3. The aforementioned information reading device is a code scanner that reads a code containing product information and outputs a predetermined sound when it reads the code. The product read information acquisition means acquires information indicating the detection result of the predetermined sound by the sound detection sensor as the product read information. The information processing system according to claim 1.
4. In an information processing method performed by an information processing device included in an information processing system used when a prospective purchaser of a product reads the product information of the product within a predetermined area to perform a payment transaction for the product, An object detection information acquisition step involves acquiring object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered the predetermined area by an object detection sensor, A product reading information acquisition step involves acquiring product reading information that indicates that product information for a predetermined product has been read by the information reading device, A payment transaction abnormality determination step is performed in which, if one of the object detection information and the product read information is acquired but the other is not acquired, it is determined that there was an abnormality in the payment transaction by the prospective product purchaser. Information processing methods including
5. When a prospective buyer of a product has an information reading device read the product information of the product within a designated area, the computer included in the information processing system used to complete the payment transaction for that product, An object detection information acquisition step involves acquiring object detection information indicating the detection result of a predetermined object that has entered the predetermined area by an object detection sensor, A product reading information acquisition step involves acquiring product reading information that indicates that product information for a predetermined product has been read by the information reading device, A payment transaction abnormality determination step is performed in which, if one of the object detection information and the product read information is acquired but the other is not acquired, it is determined that there was an abnormality in the payment transaction by the prospective product purchaser. A program that executes control processes, including those mentioned above.