Indoor Product Localization Using Customer Stop and Purchase Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing product localization solutions in indoor environments are costly and laborious, relying on tagging or manual location registering, which is impractical for frequently relocated items.

Innovation Solution

An automated product localization system that infers product locations based on customer data sets, including the locations at which customers stop and the items they purchase, using algorithms like leaky customer score accumulation and Softmax-based inference to improve accuracy and reduce the number of required user data sets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional image recognition methods are used for product localization, then the system can identify products, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive requiring manual image acquisition and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct localization speedVSAvoidtime for manual image processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical image acquisition and processing with an automated system that uses mobile devices to capture images and transmit data to a server for automatic recognition and localization, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the image processing workflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables automatic self-service product localization where the mobile device automatically captures images, transmits data, and the server processes the information to identify and locate products without requiring manual analysis or intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual image acquisition and processing is performed, then product localization can be achieved, but the process is labor-intensive and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem automation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical image acquisition and processing with an automated system that uses mobile devices to capture images and transmit data to a server for automatic recognition and localization, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the image processing workflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses universal mobile devices with standard cameras and operating systems to perform image capture and data transmission, making the solution widely applicable without requiring specialized equipment or complex custom hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Extent of automation

If existing image recognition systems are used, then products can be identified, but the systems require manual image processing and lack automated data transmission capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated data processingVSAvoiddata transmission and processing completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical image acquisition and processing with an automated system that uses mobile devices to capture images and transmit data to a server for automatic recognition and localization, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the image processing workflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the server processes image data, provides localization results, and the mobile device displays information about the identified products, creating an automated feedback-driven localization process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3931775B1Automated product localization through mobile data analysis
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 SONITOR TECH AS
  • EP3931775B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3931775B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3931775B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An approach for product localization is described that includes detecting one or more movement activities of a user in an indoor environment, and determining a respective position for each of the one or more movement activities using a sensor associated with the user. The approach further includes identifying one or more stoppage locations from the detected one or more movement activities, and receiving a list of one or more purchased items purchased by the user in the indoor environment. Finally, the approach further includes correlating at least one of the more purchased items with at least one of the one or more stoppage locations, and predicting the location of the one or more purchased items based on the correlating.