POS Camera Association Using Barcode-Based Feed Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for associating cameras with point of sale (POS) systems and providing user access to their field of view are inefficient and prone to errors, particularly in power over Ethernet (POE) attached cameras, leading to maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing barcodes to communicate with a central monitoring system (CMS) via the camera's stream, enabling automated association of cameras with POS systems and user access to their feeds through barcode recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods are used to associate cameras with POS systems, then the association process can be completed, but the process is slow and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical association methods with automated optical recognition. A camera captures an image of a barcode displayed on a mobile device, and image processing technology automatically extracts and matches the barcode information with POS system identifiers, eliminating manual input and significantly improving both speed and accuracy of camera-POS association.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses barcode copying as an intermediary mechanism. The POS system identifier is copied into a barcode displayed on a mobile device, which is then captured by the camera. This copying process enables automated data transfer and association without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between automation speed and accuracy.
2Device complexity
If POE attached cameras are used, then the system integration is simplified, but maintenance personnel cannot access the camera's field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device as an intermediary for maintenance access. The mobile device displays a unique barcode for each camera and can receive camera feed streams. Maintenance personnel use the mobile device to access and view camera fields of view, bridging the gap between POE camera integration and maintenance accessibility without requiring direct local connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device serves multiple functions: it displays barcodes for camera association, provides maintenance personnel access to camera feeds, and acts as a portable interface for system configuration. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling maintenance access through a universal device rather than requiring dedicated local connections at each camera.
3Productivity
If automated barcode recognition is implemented, then camera association efficiency improves, but the system requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the mobile device's existing camera and display capabilities for barcode association. The mobile device's camera captures the barcode, and its display shows the barcode to be presented. This multi-functional use of the mobile device minimizes additional hardware requirements while achieving automated association, resolving the contradiction between efficiency improvement and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the mobile device's own camera to capture the barcode displayed on its screen. The mobile device serves itself by using its existing components (camera, display, processor) to perform the association function, eliminating the need for separate dedicated barcode scanning hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for associating a camera with a POS system, and providing a user access to a stream of the camera's feed. The present disclosure provides an improvement to technology associated with cameras at POS systems. The improved technology includes using barcodes to communicate with a CMS via a camera's stream. Such communication enables improvement in efficiency and accuracy when assigning cameras to POS systems, and when configuring or performing diagnostics on the camera.