Sales Management System for Accurate Customer Identification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sales management systems in cashier-less stores face challenges in accurately determining which customer has selected an item for purchase when multiple customers extend their arms towards merchandise simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A sales management system comprising multiple processors that detect customer movements and merchandise extraction directions, utilizing cameras and weight sensors to determine if the extraction and movement directions are substantially identical, thereby identifying the item as purchased by the customer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If image-based detection is used to identify customer selections, then the system can detect customer actions, but it cannot accurately determine which customer took the item when multiple customers reach simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomer identification accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple detection systems (image recognition cameras and weight sensors) to create a unified detection mechanism. The image recognition device captures customer arm movements and gestures, while the weight sensor detects item removal from the shelf. By merging these two independent detection methods, the system achieves accurate customer identification even when multiple customers reach for items simultaneously, resolving the limitation of using image-based detection alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If only image recognition is used to detect merchandise selection, then the system structure remains simple, but measurement precision deteriorates when multiple customers act simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidcustomer identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary correlation mechanism that links image recognition data with weight sensor data. The correlation unit matches the timing and spatial information from image recognition with the weight change data to determine which customer actually took the item. This intermediary process enables accurate measurement without requiring a complex integrated detection system, as each component remains relatively simple but works together through the correlation logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3789977B1Sales management system and sales management method
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 TOSHIBA TEC KK
  • EP3789977B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3789977B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3789977B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A sales management system includes a first device including a first processor that is configured to detect a customer moving an item of merchandise in an extraction direction away from a merchandise display, a second device including a second processor that is configured to detect movement of an item of merchandise from the merchandise display and determine a movement direction thereof, and a third processor that is configured to determine whether the extraction and movement directions are substantially identical when the first processor detects the customer moving an item away from the merchandise display and the second processor detects movement of an item from the merchandise display at substantially the same time, and determine the item as a first merchandise to be purchased by the customer when the extraction and movement directions are determined to be the substantially identical.