Self-checkout terminal power management via camera detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-checkout terminals (SCO) face challenges in quickly transitioning from power-saving modes to full operation due to lag times, which can result in delayed readiness for customer transactions, and existing systems lack efficient methods to manage power consumption and attendant login processes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cameras to monitor customer activity and queuing areas, allowing for the remote control of SCO terminals to wake up or sleep based on customer presence, and the use of smart cameras to process images and transmit signals for power management and attendant login, enabling staggered wake-up times and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-checkout terminals are kept in full operation mode, then customer service readiness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by keeping cameras active and monitoring customer presence in advance, allowing terminals to be woken up just in time for customer transactions. This ensures readiness without requiring terminals to remain fully operational continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power management where terminals transition between sleep and awake states based on real-time customer presence detection. Terminals are woken up dynamically when customers approach and put to sleep when the area is clear, optimizing the balance between readiness and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If self-checkout terminals are put to sleep to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but response time to customer transactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cameras continuously monitor the customer queuing area in a low-power state, performing preliminary detection of customer presence. When customers approach, the system has already identified their presence and can immediately trigger terminal wake-up sequences, minimizing response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system acts as an intermediary between customer presence and terminal operation. Instead of terminals directly detecting customers (which would require them to be awake), cameras serve as the detection intermediary, triggering terminal wake-up only when needed.
3Reliability
If multiple self-checkout terminals are monitored individually, then customer service quality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring function into a centralized system that manages multiple terminals collectively. Instead of individually managing each terminal's power state, the system uses a unified approach where cameras monitor the entire queuing area and trigger appropriate terminal wake-up events based on overall customer presence.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are self-checkout terminals and systems and methods for controlling the same. The systems and methods may include receiving a first image of the customer queuing area from the first camera and determining that a customer is in the customer queuing area. A first wakeup signal may be transmitted to one of the self-checkout terminals when the customer is in the customer queuing area. A second image of the customer queuing area may be received from the first camera and a determination may be made that the customer queuing area is void of customers. A first sleep signal may be transmitted to the one of the self-checkout terminals when the customer queuing area is void of the customers.