Bag Estimation System for Retail Shoplifting Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The rise of mobile checkout technologies in retail, such as 'scan and go' methods, increases the risk of shoplifting as there is less employee interaction during the purchasing process, making it difficult for retailers to ensure all items are paid for before leaving the store.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a mobile device for consumers to indicate purchases, which communicates with a central computer system to retrieve item information, estimate the number of bags needed based on item volume and weight, and forwards this estimate to a representative at the exit to verify if the consumer is taking unauthorized items, thereby enhancing security and reducing shoplifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile checkout technology is used to reduce employee interaction, then shopping efficiency is improved, but security against shoplifting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of weight sensors, processors, and alert mechanisms that mediate between the mobile checkout process and security monitoring. This intermediary automatically detects discrepancies between scanned items and items removed from carts, providing security verification without requiring direct employee-consumer interaction during shopping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical monitoring system (employees manually checking carts and interactions) with an electronic detection system using weight sensors, processors, and automated alert mechanisms. This substitution maintains security functionality while enabling the hands-free mobile checkout experience.
2Reliability
If employee monitoring at exit is increased to prevent shoplifting, then security is improved, but customer experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service security monitoring system where the weight sensor network and processing system automatically perform the monitoring function without requiring employee intervention at exit points. The system independently detects, analyzes, and responds to potential shoplifting incidents, freeing employees from routine monitoring tasks while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual employee monitoring at exit with an automated electronic system using weight sensors and processors. This substitution eliminates the need for physical presence of employees at monitoring positions while maintaining or enhancing detection capability, thereby improving customer flow and experience.
3Measurement precision
If manual item verification is performed to ensure all items are paid for, then accuracy of purchase tracking is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous weight monitoring throughout the shopping and exit process rather than discrete manual checks. Weight sensors continuously track the cart weight, and the processor continuously compares this data with the scanned item list, enabling real-time detection of discrepancies without interrupting the customer's shopping or exit flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual item-by-item verification with an automated weight-based detection system. The electronic system instantly calculates expected weight from scanned items and compares it with actual cart weight, providing immediate verification without requiring employees to physically check each item.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a system. The system can comprise one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage devices. The one or more non-transitory storage devices can store computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform acts of: receiving a transmission from a first mobile device used by an individual in a physical structure, the transmission indicating that the individual will be removing at least one item from the physical structure; retrieving information about the at least one item, the information comprising at least one volume of the at least one item; determining a total volume based on the at least one volume of the at least one item; estimating a number of containers needed for the at least one item, the estimating the number of containers based on the total volume; and forwarding the number of containers needed to an electronic device of a representative of the physical structure to permit the representative to estimate whether the individual is taking unauthorized items out of the physical structure. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.