Receipt Image Conversion Tracking via OCR Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current advertising systems struggle to accurately track conversions for advertisements displayed online, especially when users interact with ads at physical retail locations, as they lack effective methods to capture and verify offline purchases.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for processing point of sale receipt information using image recognition and matching algorithms to identify and log conversions associated with ads presented to users, allowing for the extraction of text from receipt images and matching it with previously displayed ads, thereby tracking conversions beyond online clicks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional online advertising tracking methods are used, then conversion tracking is simple for online clicks, but conversions at physical retail locations cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The system extends conversion tracking to work across both online and offline channels by using universal identifiers (device IDs, user profiles) that bridge digital advertising impressions with physical retail purchases. The receipt processing system accepts multiple input formats (images, PDFs, electronic data) and processes them through a unified tracking framework, making the system adaptable to diverse conversion scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary receipt processing system that acts as a bridge between offline physical purchases and online advertising platforms. The system captures receipt data, extracts purchase information, matches it with advertised products, and feeds conversion data back to advertisers, thereby mediating the connection between physical retail environments and digital advertising ecosystems.
2Reliability
If manual conversion tracking at physical locations is implemented, then offline purchases can be captured, but the system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service conversion tracking by allowing consumers to automatically share their receipt data with advertisers through their existing mobile devices and accounts. Users simply need to opt-in and grant permission for the system to automatically capture, process, and report their purchase data, eliminating the need for manual tracking operations while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking processes with automated optical character recognition (OCR) and image processing technologies. Instead of requiring manual data entry or complex human-operated tracking systems, the system uses machine learning algorithms to automatically extract purchase information from receipt images, match products with advertisements, and log conversions, thereby reducing system complexity while improving reliability.
3Loss of information
If receipt information processing is added to track offline conversions, then conversion data completeness improves, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and storing receipt data in structured formats as it is captured, organizing information by user profile, device ID, and timestamp before matching is required. This preliminary structuring of data accelerates the subsequent matching process with advertisement databases, reducing the time needed for conversion attribution while maintaining complete data capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial processing by focusing extraction efforts on the most critical conversion attributes (product names, prices, timestamps, store locations) rather than attempting to extract and process every piece of information on a receipt. This selective approach captures sufficient conversion data for tracking purposes while minimizing processing time and computational resource requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
This specification describes technologies relating to capturing an image. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a device that includes a camera, a GPS receiver, and an application. The application is executed by a data processing apparatus that interacts with the camera, the GPS receiver, and one or more remote servers, to perform operations comprising: activating the camera; presenting, in a display of the device, a digital presentation of a document; guiding a user to capture an image of the document, including presenting, within the display, a user interface feature that visually frames a particular subset of information that is included in the document with other information; capturing the image of the document when the particular subset of information is focused in the camera's view; and uploading the captured image of the document to the one or more remote servers.