Image-Based Group Fee Settlement for Unmanned Store Checkout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to settle fees for multiple users belonging to a group in a lump sum, as they typically only recognize individual users and not the groups they belong to.
Innovation Solution
A fee management system that utilizes a management apparatus to track multiple users in a space using imaging devices, recognizing the group to which they belong, and enables settlement of fees for all users in the group through a settlement apparatus when any member of the group is near it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual user recognition is implemented using imaging apparatus, then user identification accuracy is improved, but the ability to settle fees for multiple users in a group is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments users into groups based on spatial proximity and temporal continuity in captured images. The group identifier divides the set of identified persons into multiple groups, enabling the system to handle both individual identification and group-based fee settlement by processing users in segmented units.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification result processor serves multiple functions: it identifies individual users, groups users into sets, determines settlement eligibility, and prepares fee information for settlement. This multi-functional approach allows the system to achieve both accurate individual identification and group fee settlement capability through a single processing unit.
2Measurement precision
If detailed tracking of each user's actions is implemented, then fee calculation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the tracking of multiple users' actions into a unified group-based processing mechanism. Instead of managing separate tracking streams for each user, the identifier and group identifier work together to aggregate user information, reducing system complexity while maintaining accurate fee calculation through consolidated group-level processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The group identifier acts as an intermediary between individual user identification and fee settlement. It processes and aggregates information from multiple identified users, creating group-level representations that simplify the connection between detailed user actions and final fee calculations, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If automatic fee settlement is implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but the system's ability to handle group settlements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying users and pre-grouping them into sets before the actual fee settlement process. The identifier and group identifier prepare user information and group assignments in advance, enabling efficient automatic settlement while maintaining the capability to handle group transactions through pre-organized data structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting user presence, identifying individuals, grouping them, and preparing fee information without requiring manual intervention. The process flows automatically from image capture through identification to fee settlement preparation, achieving both high operational efficiency and group settlement capability through automated self-service processing.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus including a first image receiver configured to receive a first image captured by an imaging apparatus; a person identifier configured to identify a person captured in the first image, based on the first image; a group identifier configured to identify a group formed of multiple persons to which the identified person belongs, based on the first image; a fee information receiver configured to receive fee information based on an action of the person; a second image receiver configured to receive a second image captured by the imaging apparatus; and a fee information transmitter configured to transmit, to a settlement apparatus, the fee information relating to the multiple persons belonging to the group, in response to detecting that the person belonging to the group is located at an operable position where the person can operate the settlement apparatus based on the second image.