公开(公告)号：US20090236419A1

公开(公告)日：2009-09-24

申请号：US12052051

申请日：2008-03-20

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Charles A. Otto ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Charles A. Otto ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

IPC分类号： G06K15/00

CPC分类号： G07G1/0054

摘要： The present invention provides a solution for controlling checkout throughput. Specifically, under the present invention a set of attributes of an item will be obtained. An analysis of the set of attributes will then be performed to determine whether an inconsistency exists based on a tolerance threshold. Such analysis can include, for example, comparing the weight of the item to its expected weight. This can help determine if a mistake has been made or fraud has been committed. Whether an inconsistency is observed is based on a tolerance threshold. For example, a certain deviation (i.e., the tolerance threshold) from an expected value could be allowed to could be allowed to reduce errors during the checkout process and thereby increase checkout throughput. As such, the present invention allows the tolerance threshold to be tuned based on a desired checkout throughput.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于控制检验吞吐量的解决方案。 具体地说，在本发明中，将获得一组物品的属性。 然后将执行对该组属性的分析，以基于公差阈值确定是否存在不一致。 这种分析可以包括例如将物品的重量与其预期重量进行比较。 这可以帮助确定是否发生了错误或已经犯了欺诈。 观察到不一致是基于公差阈值。 例如，可以允许从期望值的一定偏差（即，容限阈值）被允许在结算过程期间减少错误，从而增加结帐吞吐量。 因此，本发明允许基于期望的结算吞吐量来调整公差阈值。

公开(公告)号：US08229158B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-24

申请号：US12111652

申请日：2008-04-29

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Bernadette R. Duponchel ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Bernadette R. Duponchel ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

IPC分类号： G06K9/00 ,  G06K9/60

CPC分类号： G06Q30/06

摘要： The present invention provides an approach for determining a state of a shopping receptacle. Specifically, under the present approach, an image capture device (e.g., camera) is positioned at the checkout station and/or on the shopping receptacle. The device will capture at least one image of the shopping receptacle during the checkout process and/or when the customer or checkout clerk indicates that the transaction is ready for payment (e.g., all items have been scanned or rung through). Using such image(s), a model for an empty receptacle and a knowledgebase of non-shopping items that may remain in the shopping receptacle, it is determined whether the receptacle is empty. If not, an alarm or other notification will be activated and the events can be logged.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于确定购物容器的状态的方法。 具体地说，在目前的方法下，图像拍摄装置（例如，照相机）位于结帐台和/或购物容器上。 该设备将在结帐过程期间和/或当客户或结帐店员指示交易准备好付款时（例如，所有项目已被扫描或横过）捕获购物容器的至少一个图像。 使用这样的图像，空容器的模型和可能留在购物容器中的非购物物品的知识库，确定容器是否为空。 如果没有，则会激活警报或其他通知，并记录事件。

公开(公告)号：US07889068B2

公开(公告)日：2011-02-15

申请号：US12052046

申请日：2008-03-20

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

IPC分类号： G08B19/00 ,  G08B29/00 ,  G01N31/00 ,  G06K15/00

CPC分类号： G08B13/00 ,  G06Q20/203 ,  G06Q20/209 ,  G08B13/246

摘要： Under the present invention, a single, overall alarm for an entire set of shopping items will be used for any and all discrepancies. The metric used for creating an alarm for the overall set of shopping items can be based on any one of the following candidate policies: if at least one item generated an alarm; if some fixed number of items generated an alarm; if some threshold discrepancy metric got exceed; if basket size is larger than certain threshold cash value and the alarm exceeded certain threshold alarm rate; a randomly generated alarm (e.g., random audit); the customer's identity and track record (e.g., loyalty card); and/or any combination of the above. Regardless, if an overall alarm is generated one or more of the following actions can be taken: no action send the customer to customer service; appropriately record customer track record (e.g., loyalty card) when customer identity is available; audit the customer at the “shop exit; and/or any combination of thereof.

摘要翻译： 在本发明中，对于整个购物项目的单个整体报警将用于任何和所有差异。 用于为整个购物项目创建警报的度量可以基于以下任一候选策略：如果至少一个项目产生了警报; 如果有固定数量的物品产生报警; 如果一些阈值差异度量超过了; 如果篮子尺寸大于某个门槛现金值，并且报警超过一定阈值报警率; 随机生成的警报（例如，随机审计）; 客户的身份和记录（例如会员卡）; 和/或上述的任何组合。 无论如何，如果发生整体报警，可采取以下一项或多项措施：无需向客户提供任何行动; 当客户身份可用时，适当地记录客户记录（例如会员卡）; 在“店铺出口处审核客户; 和/或其任何组合。

公开(公告)号：US08550349B2

公开(公告)日：2013-10-08

申请号：US13218294

申请日：2011-08-25

申请人： Myron D. Flickner ,  Nimrod Megiddo ,  Christopher A. Mildebrandt

发明人： Myron D. Flickner ,  Nimrod Megiddo ,  Christopher A. Mildebrandt

IPC分类号： G06K7/10

CPC分类号： G06K7/146

摘要： A barcode recovery system, including: an image processor configured to determine a binary vector corresponding to a blurry barcode image by: maximizing an objective function that models the system using splines. Optimizing the objective function may be efficiently accomplished by constraining a search on each bit in the barcode image to a nearby range of influence of other bits in the barcode image. Further efficiency may be gained by enumerating the local groups of bits in graycode order and by adding or subtracting values from a precomputed inner product matrix to state variables to compute the complete objective function.

摘要翻译： 一种条形码恢复系统，包括：图像处理器，被配置为通过以下方式确定与模糊条形码图像相对应的二进制向量：使用样条最大化对模型进行建模的目标函数。 可以通过将条形码图像中的每个位的搜索约束到条形码图像中其他位的附近影响范围来有效地实现目标函数的优化。 可以通过以灰度级顺序列举本地位组，并通过将预计算的内积矩阵的值加到或减去状态变量来计算完整的目标函数来获得进一步的效率。

公开(公告)号：US08061603B2

公开(公告)日：2011-11-22

申请号：US12052051

申请日：2008-03-20

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Charles A. Otto ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Charles A. Otto ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

IPC分类号： G06K15/00

CPC分类号： G07G1/0054

摘要： The present invention provides a solution for controlling checkout throughput. Specifically, under the present invention a set of attributes of an item will be obtained. An analysis of the set of attributes will then be performed to determine whether an inconsistency exists based on a tolerance threshold. Such analysis can include, for example, comparing the weight of the item to its expected weight. This can help determine if a mistake has been made or fraud has been committed. Whether an inconsistency is observed is based on a tolerance threshold. For example, a certain deviation (i.e., the tolerance threshold) from an expected value could be allowed to could be allowed to reduce errors during the checkout process and thereby increase checkout throughput. As such, the present invention allows the tolerance threshold to be tuned based on a desired checkout throughput.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于控制检验吞吐量的解决方案。 具体地说，在本发明中，将获得一组物品的属性。 然后将执行对该组属性的分析，以基于公差阈值确定是否存在不一致。 这种分析可以包括例如将物品的重量与其预期重量进行比较。 这可以帮助确定是否发生了错误或已经犯了欺诈。 观察到不一致是基于公差阈值。 例如，可以允许从期望值的一定偏差（即，容限阈值）被允许在结算过程期间减少错误，从而增加结帐吞吐量。 因此，本发明允许基于期望的结算吞吐量来调整公差阈值。

公开(公告)号：US20100053329A1

公开(公告)日：2010-03-04

申请号：US12198935

申请日：2008-08-27

申请人： Myron D. Flickner ,  Arun Harnpapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

发明人： Myron D. Flickner ,  Arun Harnpapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

IPC分类号： H04N7/18 ,  G08B13/14

CPC分类号： G08B13/196 ,  G06Q30/0603

摘要： The present invention generally provides an exit security approach. Specifically, among other things, under the present invention: an item image for at least one of a set of items at a shopping checkout station is received; a receipt corresponding to the set of items is received; a first receptacle image of a shopping receptacle holding the set of items is received; a second receptacle image of the shopping receptacle is received; an integrity of the receipt is verified; the first receptacle image is compared to the second receptacle image; and it is determined whether a discrepancy exists based on at least one of the verification of the receipt and the comparison of the first receptacle image to the second receptacle image.

摘要翻译： 本发明通常提供一种出口安全方法。 具体地，在本发明中，接收在购物结账台的一组物品中的至少一个的物品图像; 收到与该组项相对应的收据; 接收保持该组物品的购物容器的第一容器图像; 接收购物容器的第二容器图像; 验收收据的完整性; 将第一容器图像与第二容器图像进行比较; 并且基于接收的验证和第一插座图像与第二插座图像的比较中的至少一个来确定是否存在差异。

公开(公告)号：US20090272801A1

公开(公告)日：2009-11-05

申请号：US12112318

申请日：2008-04-30

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

IPC分类号： G06K7/00

CPC分类号： G06K17/0022 ,  G06K7/10792 ,  G06Q10/087

摘要： Aspects of the present invention provide an approach for deterring checkout fraud comprising a camera (e.g., still, video, etc.) that is located near (overhead) a scanner used to scan a barcode of an item being purchased. Specifically, the barcode of the item is scanned and an image of the item is recorded. It is then determined whether the identity of the item as determined based on the barcode is consistent with its appearance as determined from the image. If not, a discrepancy is registered. It is then determined whether the discrepancy is due to fraud (e.g., theft) or device error. In the case of the latter, the system can be updated to prevent a repeat of the error. In either event, the scan, the image and a shopping event corresponding to the scan and image can be logged for future analysis and/or learning.

摘要翻译： 本发明的方面提供了一种用于阻止结帐欺诈的方法，其包括位于扫描器附近（开销）用于扫描待购买物品的条形码的相机（例如静止图像，视频等）。 具体地，扫描项目的条形码并记录该项目的图像。 然后，确定基于条形码确定的物品的身份是否与从图像确定的外观一致。 如果不是，则注册差异。 然后确定差异是否是由于欺诈（例如盗窃）或设备错误引起的。 在后者的情况下，可以更新系统以防止重复错误。 在任一情况下，可以记录与扫描和图像相对应的扫描，图像和购物事件，以便将来进行分析和/或学习。

公开(公告)号：US20090268939A1

公开(公告)日：2009-10-29

申请号：US12111652

申请日：2008-04-29

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Bernadette R. Duponchel ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Bernadette R. Duponchel ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti ,  Unsang Park

IPC分类号： G06K9/00

CPC分类号： G06Q30/06

摘要： The present invention provides an approach for determining a state of a shopping receptacle. Specifically, under the present approach, an image capture device (e.g., camera) is positioned at the checkout station and/or on the shopping receptacle. The device will capture at least one image of the shopping receptacle during the checkout process and/or when the customer or checkout clerk indicates that the transaction is ready for payment (e.g., all items have been scanned or rung through). Using such image(s), a model for an empty receptacle and a knowledgebase of non-shopping items that may remain in the shopping receptacle, it is determined whether the receptacle is empty. If not, an alarm or other notification will be activated and the events can be logged.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于确定购物容器的状态的方法。 具体地说，在目前的方法下，图像拍摄装置（例如，照相机）位于结帐台和/或购物容器上。 该设备将在结帐过程期间和/或当客户或结帐店员指示交易准备好付款时（例如，所有项目已被扫描或横过）捕获购物容器的至少一个图像。 使用这样的图像，空容器的模型和可能留在购物容器中的非购物物品的知识库，确定容器是否为空。 如果没有，则会激活警报或其他通知，并记录事件。

公开(公告)号：US20090216632A1

公开(公告)日：2009-08-27

申请号：US12037270

申请日：2008-02-26

申请人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

发明人： Jonathan H. Connell, II ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  Norman Haas ,  Arun Hampapur ,  Sharathchandra U. Pankanti

IPC分类号： G06Q30/00

CPC分类号： G06Q30/02 ,  G06Q30/0242

摘要： The present invention provides an approach for rewarding customers for use of self-checkout stations and, optionally, for being self-sufficient in such use by not requiring retailer (employee) assistance. Specifically, the under the present invention, a set of service choices made by a customer during purchasing transactions are tracked. Such service choices include whether the customer elected to use self-checkout stations. In addition, a frequency of assistance needed by the customer during the purchasing transactions will be tracked. Such tracking can be accomplished using any known technology including the use of the customer loyalty cards that are assigned to specific customers. In any event, a reward can be offered to the customer if the customer elected to use self-checkout stations to complete at least a subset of the purchasing transactions, and/or if the frequency of assistance needed by the customer during the purchasing transactions fell below a predetermined threshold.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于奖励客户使用自助结账站的方法，并且可选地，在不需要零售商（雇员）协助的情况下为了这种使用而自给自足。 具体地说，根据本发明，跟踪顾客在购买交易期间做出的一组服务选择。 这样的服务选择包括客户是否选择使用自助结账站。 此外，客户在采购交易中需要的频率也将被跟踪。 这种跟踪可以使用任何已知技术来实现，包括使用分配给特定客户的客户会员卡。 无论如何，如果客户选择使用自助结账站完成至少一部分采购交易，和/或如果客户在采购交易期间所需的协助频率下降，则可以向客户提供奖励 低于预定阈值。

公开(公告)号：US5185811A

公开(公告)日：1993-02-09

申请号：US825434

申请日：1992-01-21

申请人： Gregory E. Beers ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  William L. Kelly-Mahaffey ,  Darryl R. Polk ,  James M. Stafford ,  Henry E. Wattenbarger

发明人： Gregory E. Beers ,  Myron D. Flickner ,  William L. Kelly-Mahaffey ,  Darryl R. Polk ,  James M. Stafford ,  Henry E. Wattenbarger

IPC分类号： G06T7/00

CPC分类号： G06T7/0008 ,  G06T7/004 ,  G06T2207/30141

摘要： A method and apparatus utilizing one or two cameras are described for visually inspecting a polygonal component located at the end of the robotic end effector for determining presence, position and orientation of component leads prior to placement. Image processing improvements are provided for decreasing computational complexity by representing two dimensional image areas of interest, and each containing leads along one side of a component, by one dimensional summation profiles.

摘要翻译： 描述了利用一个或两个照相机的方法和装置，用于目视检查位于机器人末端执行器末端的多边形部件，以便在放置之前确定部件导线的存在，位置和方向。 提供图像处理改进，以通过表示二维图像区域来减少计算复杂度，并且每个都包含通过一维求和轮廓的元件的一侧的引线。