Electronic Shelf Label Imaging for Automated Commodity Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for acquiring commodity image information in commercial superstores are inefficient, particularly for new commodities, involving manual barcode scanning and multiple camera photography, leading to low efficiency and high costs.
Innovation Solution
An AIoT-based system that automatically captures and recognizes commodity images using electronic shelf labels, integrating AI vision systems to parse and associate barcode information with commodity data, enabling automatic discovery, control, recognition, and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual barcode scanning and multiple camera photography are used to acquire commodity image information, then the acquisition can be completed for each commodity, but the acquisition efficiency is very low and the process is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines barcode scanning and image photography into a single integrated operation. The acquisition device captures both the barcode and commodity image simultaneously in one shot, eliminating the need for separate scanning and photography steps. This merging of functions directly resolves the contradiction by improving productivity while reducing process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - it can scan barcodes, capture images, and even perform preliminary recognition tasks all through a single device and operation. This multi-functionality allows one device to replace what previously required multiple specialized devices and operations, thereby improving efficiency and simplifying the overall acquisition process.
2Measurement precision
If special acquisition devices are used to scan barcodes and photograph commodities, then barcode and image data can be obtained, but the method involves movement of the commodity and requires multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges barcode scanning and image photography into a single simultaneous operation using one device. The acquisition device captures both data types in one shot without requiring the commodity to be moved or repositioned, making the operation much more convenient while maintaining data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a comprehensive digital copy of the commodity information by simultaneously capturing both the barcode data and visual image in one operation. This dual-copy approach ensures accurate data acquisition without requiring physical manipulation of the commodity, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving measurement precision.
3Reliability
If manual acquisition methods are used for new commodities, then each commodity can be individually processed, but the acquisition cost is high and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous acquisition operations where the acquisition device can rapidly process multiple commodities in sequence without interruption. By automating the simultaneous barcode scanning and image capture, the system maintains continuous useful action across multiple items, dramatically reducing total acquisition time while ensuring each commodity's information is accurately captured.
Solution Approach 2:
The acquisition device performs automated recognition and data extraction without requiring manual intervention for each commodity. The system self-services by automatically capturing barcode information and images, processing the data, and storing it in the database, thereby reducing both acquisition time and operational costs while maintaining information accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure discloses a commodity image information acquisition system, method and apparatus. The system comprises: AIoT management server configured to transmit a product information list to a shelf label management server, and to transmit a notification of starting to take photos to an AI vision system; the shelf label management server configured to determine the electronic shelf label to be notified based on the binding information between the electronic shelf label and the commodity and the received commodity information list, and to transmit an information display notification; when the electronic shelf label to be notified performs an information display action based on the information display notification, to generate matching relationship between the information display action and the barcode of the commodity and transmit the matching relationship to the AI vision system; the AI vision system configured to shoot the information display action and obtain the shot content; and based on the shot content and the matching relationship, to perform parse and obtain a recognition result; the commodity information management system configured to associate the electronic shelf label with the commodity based on the captured image and the recognition result. The disclosure can improve the efficiency of acquisition of image and information of the commodity.