Camera-Based Vehicle Identification System for Drive-Through Payment Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle identification and payment systems at establishments, such as drive-throughs, face inefficiencies due to delays in processing orders and payments, as customers often lack knowledge of payment amounts or methods, leading to wasted time and reduced sales capacity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle identification system utilizing cameras and image recognition to detect license plates or barcodes, coupled with a computing structure that performs optical character recognition and communicates with a profile server for payment processing, allowing for pre-authorization and streamlined payment processing through a POS emulator, and enabling voice-activated ordering with GPS-based location services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional payment processing systems are used at drive-through establishments, then customers can complete transactions, but wait times increase and sales capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing license plate images and processing payments before the vehicle reaches the payment window. The camera system captures the license plate, the computing structure processes the image data to identify the vehicle, and the profile server authorizes payments in advance, allowing the vehicle to proceed through the drive-through without stopping for payment processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of physical payment processing (cash handling, card swiping, change dispensing) with an automated optical and electronic system. The camera system optically captures the license plate, the computing structure uses image recognition algorithms to identify the vehicle, and the profile server electronically authorizes payments, eliminating the need for manual payment transactions at the drive-through window.
2Ease of operation
If manual payment processing is used, then transactions can be completed, but customer convenience decreases and service efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing customers to have their payments automatically processed without manual intervention. The camera system automatically captures the license plate, the computing structure automatically identifies the vehicle and retrieves payment information from the profile server, and the payment is automatically authorized and processed, freeing customers from manual payment actions.
3Extent of automation
If image recognition systems are implemented for vehicle identification, then payment processing is streamlined, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing structure serves multiple functions: it receives and processes image data from the camera system, performs optical character recognition on license plates, identifies vehicles by matching captured images with reference images, and communicates with the profile server for payment authorization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each task.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile server acts as an intermediary between the computing structure and the payment processing system. It stores vehicle profile data including payment information, receives requests from the computing structure with license plate identifiers, and returns authorization decisions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing data management and payment authorization logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle identification system and method incorporating image recognition for retrieval, authentication, and/or notification. The vehicle identification system having a computing structure comprising at least one processor, a tangible computer-readable memory, and a transceiver for communicating over a network. A camera system communicating with the computing structure. The camera system having at least one camera observing at least one vehicle within a camera range of an establishment. The camera system capturing at least one image of the at least one vehicle. The tangible computer-readable memory comprises instructions to configure the at least one processor to: receive image data from the camera system; and detect an identifiable feature of the vehicle within the image data.