RFID Gate Verification for Accurate Checkout of Irregular Items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing payment systems struggle to accurately identify and verify payment for irregularly shaped items like clothing using cameras and weight sensors, especially when printing differs for the same fabric, and customers find it difficult to confirm proper payment.
Innovation Solution
A gate apparatus equipped with RFID tags and a collation system that connects to an information processing unit to read and verify product identification information, ensuring accurate payment verification by comparing RFID tag data with stored information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If camera and weight sensor are used for product identification, then payment automation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates for irregular items like clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RFID tags as an intermediary carrier of product identification information. Instead of directly measuring physical characteristics of products (which fails for irregular items), the system uses RFID tags attached to products as mediators that store and transmit unique identification data, enabling accurate product recognition without relying on camera imaging or weight measurement of the products themselves.
2Ease of operation
If camera imaging is used for product recognition, then non-contact identification is improved, but detection capability deteriorates for irregularly shaped items
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical/mechanical camera imaging system with an electromagnetic field-based RFID detection system. The gate apparatus uses RFID readers that emit electromagnetic fields to communicate with RFID tags on products, substituting the visual recognition mechanism with radio frequency communication that is unaffected by product shape, size, or orientation.
3Device complexity
If weight sensor is used for product identification, then simple measurement is improved, but discrimination capability deteriorates for same fabric with different printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses RFID tags as intermediaries that carry unique product identification information beyond what weight can provide. While weight sensors remain simple for measuring product mass, the RFID tags attached to products store detailed identification data including product type, size, color, and other distinguishing features, allowing precise differentiation of items with identical weights but different characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Efficiently checks whether payment has been correctly made for held products, enhancing accuracy and customer confidence in the payment process.
Implementation Method 1
second acquisition means for acquiring second identification information for individually identifying a product that has passed through the gate apparatus from an RFID tag attached to the product
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a technique capable of efficiently checking whether payment has been correctly performed for a held product in a payment system.A gate apparatus is communicatively connected to an information processing apparatus including first acquisition means for reading a store leaving code to acquire first identification information for individually identifying a product for which a payment process by a user has been completed. The gate apparatus includes second acquisition means for acquiring second identification information for individually identifying a product that has passed through the gate apparatus from an RFID tag attached to the product, collation means for collating the first identification information with the second identification information, and output means for outputting a collation result from the collation means.