Virtual Rendering System for Retail Camera Placement Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for generating models for camera systems in retail environments lack effectiveness in addressing blind spots and physical restrictions, such as lamps, which hinder optimal camera placement and coverage.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a virtual rendering system to simulate and optimize camera settings by considering blind spots and physical restrictions, allowing for the generation of improved three-dimensional feeds and subsequent real-world camera system installation, enhancing coverage and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual camera system settings are used in retail environments, then installation is straightforward, but blind spots and physical restrictions cannot be effectively addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera coverage reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by creating a virtual replica of the retail store environment and performing camera system optimization simulations before actual installation. The system pre-identifies blind spots and tests various camera placements virtually, allowing the real-world installation to be optimized based on prior virtual experimentation. This ensures reliable coverage while maintaining straightforward installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating a digital twin or virtual replica of the physical retail store environment. This virtual copy includes accurate representations of physical restrictions like lamps and shelving. By working with this copy in the virtual environment, the system can test camera placements without affecting the real store, thereby improving coverage reliability while keeping the actual installation simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Area of stationary object

If more cameras are installed to cover blind spots, then coverage improves, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera coverage areaVSAvoidcamera system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial or excessive action by using the virtual environment to test not just the minimum number of cameras needed, but various configurations including excessive camera placements. This allows the system to identify the optimal subset of cameras that provides complete coverage without unnecessary complexity. The virtual testing reveals whether fewer cameras can achieve the same coverage or if additional cameras are truly necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

By performing preliminary virtual simulations, the system determines the exact number and placement of cameras needed before actual installation. This pre-planning ensures that the minimum necessary cameras are installed to achieve complete coverage, avoiding both insufficient coverage and unnecessary system complexity from over-installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If camera placement is optimized for maximum coverage, then monitoring accuracy improves, but installation difficulty increases due to physical restrictions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring accuracyVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary - the virtual environment - that mediates between the conflicting requirements of monitoring accuracy and installation ease. The virtual replica accurately represents physical restrictions like lamps and shelving, allowing the system to find camera placements that achieve maximum coverage while respecting physical constraints. This intermediary enables optimization without the complexity of manual trial-and-error in the physical space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary optimization in the virtual environment, identifying camera placements that achieve maximum monitoring accuracy while accounting for physical restrictions. Once the optimal placement is determined virtually, it can be directly transferred to the physical installation, making the actual installation process straightforward despite the complex optimization that occurred beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If virtual simulation is performed to optimize camera settings, then coverage and accuracy improve, but time and computational resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera system reliabilityVSAvoidsimulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial or excessive action by implementing iterative simulation that starts with a baseline camera configuration and progressively refines it. Rather than exhaustively testing every possible configuration, the system performs a series of targeted simulations that focus on the most promising placements identified in previous iterations. This approach achieves high reliability while limiting the time investment to a practical level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11488386B1Method to generate models for testing and training in a retail environment for a camera simulation system
Publication Date: 2022.11.01 AIFI INC
  • US11488386B1 patent drawing
  • US11488386B1 patent drawing
  • US11488386B1 patent drawing

AI summary

This application relates to systems, methods, devices, and other techniques that can be utilized to generate models for a camera system simulation in a retail environment and perform simulation to perfect these models.