Image Analyzing Apparatus for Automated Queue Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing queue information, such as customer line-ups at checkout counters, rely on manual observation and lack automated tools to accurately determine the number and waiting time of customers, limiting efficiency and service quality improvements.
Innovation Solution
An image analyzing apparatus and method that identifies candidate objects within a triggering area, forms sampling ranges, and determines whether objects belong to a queue, allowing for the calculation of the number and accumulated time of queue objects, enabling automated and accurate analysis of line-up information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual observation by manager is used to monitor line-up customers, then flexibility in clerk allocation is improved, but labor cost and subjectivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-service monitoring where the image analyzing apparatus independently identifies line-up customers, calculates waiting times, and generates analysis reports without human intervention, replacing manual observation and reducing labor costs while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual visual observation with an automated image recognition and analysis system that uses cameras and processing algorithms to detect and analyze queue information, eliminating the need for human managers to physically monitor queues
2Device complexity
If manual observation is used to monitor line-up customers, then no automated equipment is needed, but measurement precision and objectivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual observation with an automated image recognition system that objectively detects customer presence, queue status, and waiting times through computer vision algorithms, significantly improving measurement precision and eliminating human subjectivity while maintaining reasonable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of visual queue information through image capture and processing, generating accurate records of line-up customers and waiting times that can be analyzed without requiring physical presence or manual measurement, thereby improving precision while keeping the system relatively simple
3Productivity
If no automated analysis is implemented, then system complexity remains low, but productivity and service quality improvement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated image analysis to replace manual queue monitoring, enabling continuous objective data collection on customer waiting times and queue lengths, which directly improves productivity by providing actionable insights for optimizing clerk allocation and service quality while managing system complexity through standardized processing algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A queue information analyzing method is applied to an image analyzing apparatus. A monitoring image captured by the image analyzing apparatus has a triggering area. The queue information analyzing method includes identifying a first candidate object stayed within the triggering area, forming a sampling range via the first candidate object, determining whether a second candidate object stayed within the sampling range belongs to a queue of the first candidate object, and acquiring an amount and a accumulated time of candidate objects about the queue.