Notification system, method, and program

Abstract

A reporting system according to the present disclosure comprises an image acquisition means that acquires a customer image obtained by photographing a customer in a shop, an age estimation means that estimates the age of the customer from the customer image, a detection means that detects an action relating to retrieval of an age-restricted product displayed on a shop fixture, and a reporting means that reports retrieval of an age-restricted product by the customer on the basis of the estimated age of the customer and the result of detection.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a notification system and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In convenience stores, some products that have age restrictions for purchase, such as cigarettes, are stored in racks near the cash registers, out of reach of customers, to prevent shoplifting. Customers tell the store clerk what product they wish to purchase, and the clerk will pick it up from the rack. The clerk will determine whether the customer meets the age restrictions and sell the product to them.

[0003] As a technology related to the present disclosure, Patent Document 1 discloses a checkout device that, when identification information of an age-restricted product is input, analyzes an image of a customer and determines whether the customer meets the age requirement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-181013 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If customers can take products from the display fixtures, the workload of the store clerk who takes the products for customers can be reduced. However, if customers can freely take age-restricted products from the display fixtures, even customers who are of the purchase-restricted age may be able to take the products. It is also a burden for the store clerk to monitor customers of the purchase-restricted age to prevent them from taking products. Patent Document 1 does not mention managing the products displayed on the display fixtures.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide an alert system etc. for managing age-restricted products displayed on fixtures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The notification system of the present disclosure comprises an image acquisition means for acquiring a customer image of a customer in a store, an age estimation means for estimating the customer's age from the customer image, a detection means for detecting behavior related to the removal of age-restricted products displayed on fixtures installed in the store, and a notification means for notifying the customer of the removal of age-restricted products based on the customer's estimated age and the results of the detection.

[0008] The method disclosed herein acquires a customer image of a customer in a store, estimates the customer's age from the customer image, detects behavior related to the removal of age-restricted products displayed on fixtures installed in the store, and notifies the customer when the customer removes age-restricted products based on the customer's estimated age and the results of the detection.

[0009] The program of the present disclosure causes a computer to acquire customer images of customers in a store, estimate the customer's age from the customer images, detect behavior related to the removal of age-restricted products displayed on fixtures installed in the store, and execute a process of notifying the customer that the customer has removed age-restricted products based on the customer's estimated age and the results of the detection. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, age-restricted products displayed on fixtures can be managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a notification system 100. FIG. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the notification system 100. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display fixture for displaying age-restricted merchandise. [Figure 4] 4 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the notification system 100. FIG. [Diagram 5]13 is an example of displaying information regarding removal of age-restricted products. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 500. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of an information processing system, an information processing method, a program, and a non-transitory recording medium for recording a program according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. The present embodiments do not limit the disclosed technology.

[0013] [First embodiment] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a notification system 100 according to an embodiment. The notification system 100 includes an image acquisition unit 101, an age estimation unit 102, a detection unit 103, and a notification unit 104.

[0014] The notification system 100 according to one embodiment is used to notify a customer in a store that an age-restricted product has been removed from a display unit that displays the product. For example, an age-restricted product has a lower age limit for purchase. Examples of products with a lower limit include tobacco and alcohol. Note that an age-restricted product may also be a product that has an upper age limit for purchase.

[0015] The image acquisition unit 101 acquires a customer image obtained by capturing an image of a customer in a store. The customer image may be a facial image including the face of the customer. The customer image may also be a body image including the body of the customer.

[0016] The customer image is captured by a camera that captures a customer standing in front of a display unit that displays age-restricted products. The camera may be installed, for example, on the display unit or near the display unit. However, the location where the camera is installed is not limited to this. The image acquisition unit 101 may acquire the customer image from a surveillance camera that is generally installed in a store.

[0017] The age estimation unit 102 estimates the age of the customer from the customer image acquired by the image acquisition unit 101. Any method including known methods may be used as the estimation method. For example, the age estimation unit 102 may estimate the age of the customer from a face image based on the relationship between facial features and age. The age estimation unit 102 may also estimate the age of the customer based on the height, body shape, or gait of the customer estimated from a body image.

[0018] The age estimation unit 102 may estimate the age group of the customer. Furthermore, the age estimation unit 102 may estimate whether the customer satisfies a predetermined age condition. For example, the age estimation unit 102 may estimate whether the customer is 20 years old or older. Furthermore, the age estimation unit 102 may estimate whether the customer is under 20 years old or a minor.

[0019] The detection unit 103 detects actions related to the removal of age-restricted products displayed on fixtures installed in a store. The detection unit 103 detects actions related to removal, for example, by detecting the movement of a customer or the movement of the age-restricted products. Actions related to the removal of age-restricted products may include, for example, actions of lifting a product, actions of putting a hand inside the fixture, actions of opening the door of the fixture, and actions of closing it. Any method, including known methods, may be used to detect the actions.

[0020] For example, the detection unit 103 may detect behavior based on a customer image acquired by the image acquisition unit 101. Here, the image acquisition unit 101 acquires the customer image from a camera that captures the posture of the customer around the fixture. The detection unit 103 may detect behavior by estimating the posture of the customer, including the position of the hands or the direction of the body, from the customer image.

[0021] Alternatively, the detection unit 103 may detect the action of removing a product based on an image captured inside the fixture. The detection unit 103 may detect that the action of removing a product has occurred when a product that was on the fixture is gone.

[0022] Furthermore, the detection unit 103 may detect an action related to taking out a product based on the output of a sensor that detects the movement of an object. The output of the sensor changes when a customer's hand is present or when a product is taken out. The sensor that detects the movement of an object includes, for example, an infrared sensor, a human sensor, or a distance sensor. For example, the distance sensor measures the distance from the position of the sensor to an object located at the position of the removal opening of the fixture. The distance sensor is, for example, a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner. The detection unit 103 may detect an action related to taking out a product based on the change in the output of the sensor.

[0023] Furthermore, the detection unit 103 may detect the action of opening and closing a door based on the output of an opening / closing sensor of the door provided on the fixture. The detection unit 103 may detect the action of lifting a product based on the output of a pressure sensor provided inside the fixture. The pressure sensor detects pressure from the displayed product.

[0024] The notification unit 104 notifies the removal of an age-restricted product by a customer whose age has been estimated, based on the estimated age of the customer and the detection result. The notification unit 104 acquires the detection result of the behavior related to the removal of an age-restricted product from the detection unit 103. Furthermore, the notification unit 104 acquires the estimated age of the customer who removed the product from the age estimation unit 102. For example, the notification unit 104 acquires the estimated age of a person who was in front of the fixture when the behavior of removing a product was detected.

[0025] The notification unit 104 issues an alert when a customer whose estimated age satisfies a predetermined condition removes an age-restricted product. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the customer's estimated age is outside the target age for purchasing. For example, the notification unit 104 issues an alert when a customer who is estimated to be outside the target age for purchasing the product removes a product. If a customer whose estimated age does not satisfy the predetermined condition removes an age-restricted product, the notification unit 104 does not need to issue an alert. Note that the predetermined condition may include that the estimated age is close to the threshold value for the target age for purchasing. For example, the notification unit 104 may issue an alert for removal when the estimated age is close to the threshold value, even if the customer is within the target age for purchasing.

[0026] For example, the notification unit 104 may provide a notification for a customer who is presumed to be a minor, but may not provide a notification for a customer who is presumed to be an adult. The notification unit 104 may also provide a notification when it is uncertain whether a customer is a minor or an adult, for example, when the customer is presumed to be 20-29 years old.

[0027] The notification unit 104 causes any notification device to notify the removal. The notification device is, for example, a speaker, a lamp, or a display. The speaker emits a voice or a notification sound in response to a command from the notification unit 104. The notification unit 104 may notify by turning on a lamp. In response to a command from the notification unit 104, the display displays a notification message such as "A product that requires age verification has been removed." The notification unit 104 may notify by multiple notification devices.

[0028] The notification unit 104 may notify the customer who removed the product or other customers in the store, or may notify a store clerk. The customer who receives the notification can know that the removal of the product is being managed. The store clerk who receives the notification may go to the location of the customer who removed the product and confirm the customer's age. Alternatively, the store clerk who receives the notification may confirm that the customer has removed the product after the customer leaves the store. The notification device may be provided near the fixture or mounted on the fixture. The notification device may also be a terminal used by the store clerk, including the store register and a terminal carried by the store clerk. The notification device may also be a terminal used by the customer.

[0029] The notification unit 104 may determine that the customer whose age has been estimated and the customer who took out the product are the same person based on the customer image. The notification unit 104 may also determine that the customer whose age has been estimated and the customer who took out the product are the same person based on the time when the behavior was detected and the time when the customer was photographed in front of the fixture.

[0030] The notification unit 104 may perform different notifications depending on the estimated age of the customer. For example, the notification unit 104 may change the notification level depending on whether the customer is of the target age for purchasing the product. The notification unit 104 may also change the notification level depending on the age group. The notification levels include, for example, a warning and a normal notification.

[0031] For example, when the customer is a minor, the notification unit 104 plays a warning sound from a speaker as a warning, and when the customer is an adult, plays music or a notification sound as a normal notification. The warning sound may be louder or have a longer playback time than the notification sound. The notification unit 104 may turn on a red lamp in the case of a warning, and may turn on a green lamp as a normal notification. The notification unit 104 may display a notification text on the display as a notification, and may display red or yellow on the display as a warning, or may cause the display to flash.

[0032] The notification system 100 may be realized by a store server, a store register, etc. The notification system 100 may also be realized by a terminal mounted on a fixture that displays products.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the notification system 100. The notification system 100 may start the operation of Fig. 2, for example, when a person is detected in front of the camera. The image acquisition unit 101 of the notification system 100 may start the camera based on the detection of a person in front of the camera. The image acquisition unit 101 may start the camera based on the detection of a person remaining in front of the camera for a predetermined period of time or more. Alternatively, the image acquisition unit 101 may start the camera when a person passes in front of the camera.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a fixture installed in a store for displaying age-restricted products. In FIG. 3, age-restricted product P1 is displayed on fixture 40. Customer C1 takes out age-restricted product P1 from fixture 40. Fixture 40 is equipped with notification system 100 and speaker 30. Notification system 100 may be installed in the back yard of the store. Camera 20 is installed on the ceiling. Camera 20 may be mounted on fixture 40. Camera 20 captures an image of customer C1 taking out age-restricted product P1. Camera 20 and speaker 30 are connected to notification system 100 by wire or wirelessly so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0035] The image acquisition unit 101 acquires, for example, a customer image of a customer in front of the fixture 40 from the camera 20 (step S1). The image acquisition unit 101 transmits the customer image to the age estimation unit 102. The image acquisition unit 101 may further transmit the customer image to the detection unit 103.

[0036] The age estimation unit 102 estimates the age of the customer from the customer image (step S2).

[0037] The detection unit 103 detects the behavior of the customer regarding the removal of the product (step S3). The detection unit 103 detects the behavior of the customer based on the output of at least one of a sensor, for example, an opening / closing sensor of the door of the fixture, a removal sensor provided in the fixture, and a camera that captures the posture of the customer around the fixture. The detection unit 103 may detect the behavior based on an image of the customer captured by the camera 20.

[0038] Step S3 may be performed before step S2 or before step S1.

[0039] The notification unit 104 notifies the customer that the customer has taken out an age-restricted product based on the estimated age of the customer and the result of the behavior detection (step S4). For example, when a customer C1, whose estimated age meets a predetermined condition, takes out an age-restricted product, the notification unit 104 plays a notification sound through the speaker 30.

[0040] In one embodiment, the image acquisition unit 101 acquires a customer image of a customer in a store. The age estimation unit 102 estimates the age of the customer from the customer image. Then, the detection unit 103 detects behavior related to the removal of age-restricted products displayed on fixtures installed in the store. The notification unit 104 detects the removal of age-restricted products by the customer based on the estimated age of the customer and the result of the behavior detection. Therefore, the notification system 100 can manage age-restricted products displayed on fixtures.

[0041] According to the notification system 100, the notification unit 104 issues a notification, which reduces the work of the store clerk in managing age-restricted products. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide locks, doors, customer authentication systems, etc., for the fixtures, it is possible to suppress increases in the cost of the fixtures. Furthermore, according to the notification system 100, customers do not need to pre-register personal information in order to take out products from the fixtures, which is convenient for customers.

[0042] Since cigarettes are small, there is a high risk of them being shoplifted. In addition, it is not desirable for minors to be able to freely take out cigarettes. Therefore, the notification system 100 can be used, for example, for managing cigarettes.

[0043] The notification system 100 can be used in both unmanned and manned stores. An unmanned store is a store where customers can purchase products without the presence of a store clerk. For example, a customer takes a product from a display unit and pays for the product. The payment may be made through a store clerk or by the customer themselves. The customer's age may be confirmed at the time of payment.

[0044] [Second embodiment] 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an alarm system 100 according to another embodiment. The alarm system 100 according to the second embodiment differs from the alarm system 100 according to the first embodiment in that the alarm system 100 according to the second embodiment includes a control unit 105. Regarding the configurations of the image acquisition unit 101, the age estimation unit 102, the detection unit 103, and the alarm unit 104 according to the second embodiment, detailed descriptions of the configurations similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0045] The notification system 100 may be connected to devices including a camera 20, a sensor 21, a speaker 30, and a display 31. However, some of these devices may not be connected to the notification system 100, and devices other than these may be connected.

[0046] The camera 20 captures an image of a customer and transmits the image to the image acquisition unit 101. The number of cameras 20 connected to the notification system 100 is not limited to one, and multiple cameras 20 may be connected to the notification system 100.

[0047] The sensor 21 transmits a signal to the detection unit 103. The detection unit 103 detects the action of removing the product based on the sensor signal. The sensor 21 is, for example, a pressure sensor, a door opening / closing sensor, or a camera. When the image acquisition unit 101 and the detection unit 103 use the same customer image, the camera 20 and the sensor 21 may be a single camera.

[0048] The notification unit 104 notifies, via the speaker 30 and the display 31, that an age-restricted product has been taken out.

[0049] The control unit 105 stores information regarding the removal of age-restricted products by customers in a storage unit (not shown). The control unit 105 may store the information each time removal is detected. The control unit 105 may further store images continuously captured inside the store in the storage unit. The control unit 105 may store information regarding the removal in association with images continuously captured inside the store when the product is removed. However, the manner of storage is not particularly limited. The stored information is used by the store staff to check the situation when the product is removed.

[0050] The information regarding removal includes at least one of the time the age-restricted product was removed, information regarding the customer removing the age-restricted product, and information regarding the removed product.

[0051] The time when the age-restricted product is taken out is, for example, the time when the detection unit 103 detects the action of taking out the product. By storing the time, the store clerk can check the situation by checking the security camera footage from the same time or period.

[0052] The information about the customer includes, for example, an image or an estimated age of the customer. The control unit 105 may store the customer image acquired by the image acquisition unit 101 or the estimated age estimated by the age estimation unit 102. When the age estimation unit 102 further estimates the gender of the customer, the information about the customer may include the gender of the customer.

[0053] The information on the taken-out product includes, for example, the product name or the display position of the taken-out product. The store clerk can identify the taken-out product based on the product name or the display position. The detection unit 103 may identify the taken-out product based on the sensor signal. The detection unit 103 may identify the product name by referring to a database that stores the feature amounts of product images or a database that stores the product positions. The detection unit 103 may also identify the display position of the taken-out product based on the sensor signal. The display position of the taken-out product indicates where the customer took the product out from, and is therefore also called the acquisition position. The acquisition position is identified, for example, as the top left side or the middle right side of the fixture.

[0054] The notification unit 104 may issue a notification based on information stored by the control unit 105. For example, the notification unit 104 causes information regarding the removal of age-restricted products by a customer to be displayed on the display 31. The notification unit 104 may display a list shown in Fig. 5 on the display 31. Fig. 5 is an example of the display of information regarding the removal of age-restricted products.

[0055] The list in FIG. 5 includes the time when the age-restricted product was taken out, the estimated age of the customer, and the location where the product was obtained. The notification unit 104 may highlight the information depending on whether the estimated age meets a predetermined condition. For example, the notification unit 104 may display information about a customer estimated to be under 20 years old in a different color. The notification unit 104 may also display a mark near the information about a customer estimated to be under 20 years old.

[0056] The notification unit 104 may display an image corresponding to the removal based on the selection of information regarding removal. The image corresponding to the removal may be, for example, an image of a customer removing a product, an image of the interior of the fixture or the store at the time when the removal occurred, or an image of a customer used for age estimation. For example, in FIG. 5, when a store clerk clicks on a row in the list, the notification unit 104 displays on the display 31 an image corresponding to the clicked row.

[0057] The control unit 105 may store information regarding product removal for customers whose estimated ages meet a predetermined condition. When information on customers who meet the predetermined condition is stored, the store clerk can easily check the records compared to when information on removal by all customers is stored. For example, the control unit 105 may store only information regarding product removal by customers who are estimated to be underage.

[0058] In the second embodiment, the control unit 105 stores information regarding the removal of an age-restricted product by a customer. The notification unit 104 then displays the information regarding the removal. This allows the store clerk to check the situation when the product is removed.

[0059] A store clerk may check the stored information when the recorded number of items in stock does not match the number of items on display. For example, a store clerk may check what type of person was in front of a display when an item was out of stock.

[0060] [Variations] The notification system 100 according to each embodiment can be modified as follows, for example.

[0061] The detection unit 103 may start detecting the behavior of removing a product in response to the age of the customer being estimated to satisfy a predetermined condition. For example, the detection unit 103 may detect the removal of a product only when the customer is estimated to be a minor.

[0062] The age estimation unit 102 may start estimating the age in response to detection of the behavior of taking out a product. For example, the age estimation unit 102 estimates the age of the customer after receiving the detection result from the detection unit 103. The image acquisition unit 101 may acquire a customer image after receiving the detection result from the detection unit 103. The image acquisition unit 101 may start a camera based on the detection result.

[0063] The notification system 100 may start acquiring images in response to an instruction from a customer. For example, the customer may operate a touch panel display installed on the fixture or around the fixture to instruct the notification system 100 to start acquiring images. The image acquisition unit 101 starts a camera based on the input from the touch panel and acquires an image of the customer. The touch panel may be an example of a notification device for the notification unit 104 to issue a notification.

[0064] The notification system 100 may further include a display control unit. The display control unit according to the modified example displays images of customers around the fixture on a display around the fixture. The display may be an example of a notification device for the notification unit 104 to issue a notification. The images of customers around the fixture are, for example, the above-mentioned customer images.

[0065] The display control unit displays images of customers around the fixtures on the display, so that the customers can recognize that they are being photographed. This makes it possible to prevent shoplifting of products displayed on the fixtures.

[0066] Furthermore, the image acquisition unit 101 may acquire customer images captured by, for example, a camera installed at the entrance of the store or a camera installed anywhere in the store. The captured customer is tracked by the camera, for example, from the point where the image was captured to the fixture. The notification unit 104 may determine, based on the tracking result, that the customer whose age has been estimated and the customer who removed the product are the same person.

[0067] [Hardware configuration] In each of the above-described embodiments, each component of the notification system 100 is represented as a functional block. A part or all of each component of the notification system 100 may be realized by any combination of the computer 500 and a program.

[0068] Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer 500. Referring to Fig. 6, the computer 500 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a program 504, a storage device 505, a drive device 507, a communication interface 508, an input device 509, an input / output interface 511, and a bus 512.

[0069] The program 504 includes instructions for implementing each function of each device. The program 504 is stored in advance in the ROM 502, the RAM 503, or the storage device 505. The CPU 501 implements each function of each device by executing the instructions included in the program 504. For example, the CPU 501 of the notification system 100 implements the functions of the notification system 100 by executing the instructions included in the program 504. The RAM 503 may also store data to be processed in each function of each device. For example, a customer image may be stored in the RAM 503 of the computer 500.

[0070] The drive device 507 reads and writes data from the recording medium 506. The communication interface 508 provides an interface with a communication network. The input device 509 is, for example, a mouse or a keyboard, and receives information input from a store clerk or the like. The output device 510 is, for example, a display, and outputs (displays) information to a customer or a store clerk or the like. The input / output interface 511 provides an interface with peripheral devices. The bus 512 connects these hardware components. The program 504 may be supplied to the CPU 501 via a communication network, or may be stored in advance in the recording medium 506, read by the drive device 507, and supplied to the CPU 501.

[0071] It should be noted that the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 6 is merely an example, and other components may be added, or some components may not be included.

[0072] There are various variations in the method of realizing each device. For example, each device may be realized by any combination of a different computer and program for each component. Also, multiple components of each device may be realized by any combination of a single computer and program.

[0073] In addition, some or all of the components of each device may be realized by general-purpose or dedicated circuits including a processor, etc., or a combination of these. These circuits may be configured by a single chip, or may be configured by multiple chips connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of each device may be realized by a combination of the above-mentioned circuits, etc., and a program.

[0074] Furthermore, when some or all of the components of each device are realized by a plurality of computers, circuits, etc., the plurality of computers, circuits, etc. may be arranged in a centralized manner or in a distributed manner.

[0075] At least a part of the notification system 100 may be provided in a Software as a Service (SaaS) format. That is, at least a part of the functions for realizing the notification system 100 may be executed by software executed via a network.

[0076] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by a person skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the configurations in each embodiment can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0077] A part or all of the above-described embodiments may be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes. [Appendix 1] An image acquisition means for acquiring customer images by capturing images of customers in a store; an age estimation means for estimating an age of a customer from the customer image; A detection means for detecting a behavior related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; a notification means for notifying the customer that an age-restricted product has been removed by the customer based on the estimated age of the customer and the result of the detection; An alarm system comprising: [Appendix 2] The notification means notifies when a customer whose estimated age satisfies a predetermined condition takes out an age-restricted product. 2. An alarm system as described in claim 1. [Appendix 3] The notification means notifies when a customer who is estimated to be outside the target age range for purchasing the product takes out an age-restricted product. 3. The notification system according to claim 1 or 2. [Appendix 4] The notification means performs different notifications depending on the estimated age of the customer. 4. An alarm system according to claim 1. [Appendix 5] The image acquisition means acquires the customer image by capturing an image of a customer standing in front of a display unit that displays the age-restricted product. 5. An alarm system according to claim 1. [Appendix 6] The detection means detects a customer's movement or a movement of an age-restricted product, thereby detecting a behavior related to removal of the age-restricted product. 6. An alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. [Appendix 7] The detection means detects the behavior of the customer based on the output of at least one of a sensor for opening and closing a door of a display unit displaying age-restricted products, a sensor for taking pictures of a customer's posture around the display unit, and a sensor for taking pictures of a customer's posture around the display unit. 7. An alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [Appendix 8] The notification means displays information regarding the customer's removal of the age-restricted product. 8. An alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [Appendix 9] The notification means displays information regarding the removal of the age-restricted product, including the time when the product was removed. 9. The notification system according to claim 8. [Appendix 10] The notification means displays information regarding the removal including an image of the customer removing the age-restricted product. 10. The notification system according to claim 8 or 9. [Appendix 11] The notification means displays information regarding the removal, including an estimated age of the customer who removed the age-restricted product. 11. An alarm system according to any one of claims 7 to 10. [Appendix 12] The detection means detects movement of the product associated with removal, The notification means further displays information regarding the removal including information identifying the removed product. 12. An alarm system according to any one of claims 7 to 11. [Appendix 13] The notification means notifies a notification device provided around a display unit displaying age-restricted products that a product should be removed. 13. An alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 12. [Appendix 14] The notification means notifies a terminal used by a store clerk that the product has been removed. 14. An alarm system according to any one of claims 1 to 13. [Appendix 15] Acquire customer images of customers in the store, Estimating the age of the customer from the customer image; Detecting actions related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; A method for notifying the customer of removal of an age-restricted product based on an estimated age of the customer and the result of the detection. [Appendix 16] On the computer, Acquire customer images of customers in the store, Estimating the age of the customer from the customer image; Detecting actions related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; a recording medium for non-temporarily recording a program for executing a process of notifying the customer when he or she removes an age-restricted product, based on the estimated age of the customer and the result of the detection; [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 101 Image acquisition unit 102 Age Estimation Department 103 Detection unit 104 Notification Department 105 Control section 20 Camera 21 Sensors 30 Speakers 31 Display 40 Fixtures C1 Customer P1 Age-restricted products

Claims

1. An image acquisition means for acquiring customer images by capturing images of customers in a store; an age estimation means for estimating an age of a customer from the customer image; A detection means for detecting a behavior related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; an alarm means for notifying the customer of the removal of the age-restricted product by the customer based on the estimated age of the customer and the result of the detection, using an alarm device provided on a display unit displaying the age-restricted product or in the vicinity of the display unit, with an alarm sound that varies depending on whether the customer is of a target age for purchasing the age-restricted product; An alarm system comprising:

2. The image acquisition means acquires the customer image by capturing an image of a customer in front of the fixture. The notification system according to claim 1 .

3. The notification means displays information regarding the removal of the age-restricted product by the customer, including the time when the age-restricted product was removed. The notification system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The notification means displays information regarding the customer's removal of the age-restricted product, including an image of the customer removing the age-restricted product. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The notification means displays information regarding the removal of the age-restricted product by the customer, including an estimated age of the customer who removed the age-restricted product. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The detection means detects movement of the product associated with removal, The notification means displays information regarding the removal of an age-restricted product by the customer, the information including information identifying the removed product. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The computer Acquire customer images of customers in the store, Estimating the age of the customer from the customer image; Detecting actions related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; A method for notifying the store of the removal of an age-restricted product by a customer based on the estimated age of the customer and the results of the detection, using an alarm device installed on a display displaying the age-restricted product or in the vicinity of the display, with an alarm sound that differs depending on whether the customer is of the target age for purchasing the age-restricted product.

8. On the computer, Acquire customer images of customers in the store, Estimating the age of the customer from the customer image; Detecting actions related to removal of age-restricted products displayed in the store; A program that executes a process to notify the store of the customer's removal of an age-restricted product based on the estimated age of the customer and the results of the detection, using an alarm device installed on a display displaying the age-restricted product or in the vicinity of the display, with an alarm sound that differs depending on whether the customer is of the target age to purchase the age-restricted product.

Images