Exit Gate Cart-Bottom Detection for Unpaid Merchandise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retail store systems fail to detect and prevent customers from taking unpaid merchandise items, particularly from the lower tier of shopping carts, due to obstructed views and limitations of conventional monitoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system that includes an exit gate with an image pickup unit to capture the lower tier of shopping carts, identifies objects using image processing, and determines if they match purchased items, preventing the exit gate from opening if unpaid items are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional monitoring cameras are used to detect merchandise items, then general monitoring is possible, but items on the lower tier of shopping carts cannot be easily detected due to obstructed views
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by placing the image pickup unit at the exit gate, capturing images from a different angle (from behind the shopping cart) that was previously inaccessible. This dimensional change allows the lower tier of shopping carts to be visible without being obstructed by the checkout counter or table.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary system consisting of the image pickup unit, image processing unit, and comparison unit that mediates between the customer's shopping activity and the exit gate control. This intermediary processing chain enables detection of unpaid items by capturing images, processing them to identify objects, comparing with purchase data, and controlling the exit gate accordingly.
2Ease of operation
If standard POS terminals are used for checkout, then basic registration and settlement can be performed, but staff cannot easily see the lower tier of shopping carts due to obstructed views
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viewing dimension by positioning the image pickup unit at the exit gate rather than at the checkout counter. This allows observation of the lower tier of shopping carts from a perspective that was previously blocked by the checkout counter or table, enabling staff to monitor items without physical line-of-sight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical line-of-sight requirement with an optical-electronic system. Instead of relying on staff's direct visual observation through the checkout counter, the system uses image pickup units to capture images, which are then processed and displayed, substituting the mechanical viewing constraint with an electronic imaging and processing chain.
3Reliability
If exit gate systems only check receipt validity, then basic exit control is achieved, but they cannot detect unpaid merchandise items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing images of the shopping cart contents at the exit gate before the customer leaves the store. The image processing unit processes these images to identify objects, and the comparison unit compares identified items with purchased items before the exit gate is opened, enabling detection of unpaid items in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the image processing unit continuously monitors the shopping cart contents, compares them with the receipt data, and provides feedback by controlling the exit gate. When unpaid items are detected, the system provides feedback by preventing the exit gate from opening, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures all items are paid for before exit.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a monitoring system includes an exit gate and a sales data processing device that does checkout processing for merchandise items in a sales transaction and generates a transaction receipt that can be read at the exit gate. A processor acquires an identifier from the transaction receipt at the exit gate, receives an image of a lower tier of a shopping cart at the exit gate and identifies whether an object is on the lower tier. The processor determines whether a merchandise item corresponding to the object on the lower tier was registered in the sales transaction associated with the acquired identifier and opens the exit gate when the object on the lower tier corresponds to a merchandise item included in the sales transaction but otherwise keeps the exit gate closed when the object is identified as being on the lower tier.