Systems and methods of object identification and database creation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems face inefficiencies and high overhead costs when machine-readable identifiers for physical objects are unavailable or unreadable, leading to prolonged checkout times and potential fraudulent activities in environments with high volumes of object transactions.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that generates and utilizes an image database by capturing images of objects during the checkout process, allowing for image recognition when machine-readable identifiers are unavailable, thereby ensuring efficient object identification and reducing fraud.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If machine-readable identifiers are used for object identification, then object recognition efficiency is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to fraud and fails when identifiers are unavailable or unreadable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject recognition efficiencyVSAvoidsystem reliability when identifier is unavailable

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of objects during the checkout process before they are needed for identification. These images are stored in a database in advance, so when a machine-readable identifier is unavailable or suspected to be fraudulent, the system can immediately use the pre-captured image for identification without delaying the transaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates visual copies (images) of physical objects and stores them in a database. These image copies serve as alternative identifiers when the machine-readable identifiers are unavailable, unreadable, or potentially fraudulent. The image recognition system compares captured images against the stored image database to identify objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual database generation is performed to enable object identification without machine-readable identifiers, then object identification capability is improved, but overhead costs and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject identification capabilityVSAvoiddatabase generation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously captures images of objects during the normal checkout process. Instead of performing separate manual database generation operations, the system integrates image capture into the existing checkout workflow, so the database is built continuously as transactions occur, eliminating dedicated database generation time and overhead costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically captures and stores object images during checkout without requiring manual intervention. The image capture and database population processes are automated, eliminating the need for staff to manually create and maintain the image database, thereby reducing overhead costs and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If image databases are built manually outside the checkout process, then image recognition capability is improved, but the system complexity and overhead costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage recognition capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the image capture function with the existing checkout process. The same imaging infrastructure used for monitoring or verification during checkout is also used to build the image database. This integration eliminates the need for separate manual database creation processes and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining image recognition capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging system serves multiple functions: it captures images for fraud detection during checkout, builds the image database for future identification, and provides visual records for various operational needs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate systems for each purpose, reducing overall system complexity and overhead costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10289928B2Systems and methods of object identification and database creation

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 WALMART APOLLO LLC

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods of object identification. Exemplary embodiments can scan, by an optical reader, a machine-readable identifier associated with an original object. Exemplary embodiments can capture an image of the original object at a first orientation using an image capture device. Exemplary embodiments can transmit the machine-readable identifier and the image of the original object to an image database to store an association between the image of the original object and the machine-readable identifier. Exemplary embodiments can receive a subsequent object having a subsequent machine-readable identifier that is unavailable or incapable of being scanned. Exemplary embodiments can capture an image of the subsequent object with the image capture device. Exemplary embodiments can execute an image recognition function that outputs object identification information for the image of the subsequent object based on the machine-readable identifier associated with the image of the original object.