Information processing apparatus, information processing system, control method, and program

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for ensuring accurate product display on shelves are labor-intensive and prone to human error, particularly when visually checking if products are displayed according to prescribed methods.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that includes an image analysis unit to analyze shelf rack images and generate actual display information, a comparison unit to compare this information with reference display information, and a generation unit to create result images highlighting products that match or do not match the reference display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visual checking by workers is performed to verify product display correctness, then display accuracy can be confirmed, but worker workload increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay accuracy verificationVSAvoidworker workload

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual visual inspection system with an automated image processing system. A camera captures images of product shelves, and image processing apparatus automatically analyzes these images to verify product display correctness against prescribed methods, eliminating the need for workers to manually check each product display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-verification of product display correctness through automated image capture and analysis. The image processing apparatus independently performs the verification task that previously required human workers, allowing the system to check itself without external human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual visual inspection is used to check product display, then display correctness can be verified, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay correctness verificationVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes manual inspection with automated image processing. The system captures images of product shelves and automatically compares them against prescribed display methods using image processing algorithms, dramatically reducing the time required for verification while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The image processing system can continuously and repeatedly analyze product display situations without interruption. Multiple images can be processed in sequence, allowing for ongoing monitoring of display correctness across different shelves and time periods, whereas manual inspection would require repeated human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12243010B2Information processing apparatus, information processing system, control method, and program

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 NEC CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus (2000) acquires a shelf rack image (12) in which a product shelf rack on which a product is displayed is imaged. The information processing apparatus (2000) performs image analysis on the shelf rack image (12), and generates information (actual display information) relevant to a display situation of the product on a product shelf rack (20). The information processing apparatus (2000) acquires reference display information representing a reference for display of the product on the product shelf rack (20). The information processing apparatus (2000) compares the actual display information generated by performing the image analysis on the shelf rack image (12) with the acquired reference display information, and generates comparison information representing a result.