U.S. patent application number 10/980574 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for system and method for monitoring retail store performance.
This patent application is currently assigned to TARGET BRANDS, INC.. Invention is credited to Robert Kruger Brown, Robert Francis Foster, Gregory Allen McDonald, Richard Scott Post, Caroline Louise Slettedahl.
Application Number | 20060095317 10/980574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36263221 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060095317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Robert Kruger ; et
al. |
May 4, 2006 |
System and method for monitoring retail store performance
Abstract
A system for monitoring the performance of at least one task
associated with operation of a retail store. The system includes at
least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide
images of at least one location within the retail store, with each
image showing at least one factor related to performance of the at
least one task. A controller is adapted to obtain and store images
from the at least one monitoring device. An interface is adapted to
enable a user to selectively view stored images and to manually
analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to
evaluate the performance of the at least one task.
Inventors: |
Brown; Robert Kruger;
(Edina, MN) ; McDonald; Gregory Allen; (Shakopee,
MN) ; Slettedahl; Caroline Louise; (Roseville,
MN) ; Foster; Robert Francis; (Ramsey, MN) ;
Post; Richard Scott; (Little Canada, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DICKE, BILLIG & CZAJA, P.L.L.C.
FIFTH STREET TOWERS
100 SOUTH FIFTH STREET, SUITE 2250
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
TARGET BRANDS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
36263221 |
Appl. No.: |
10/980574 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.13 ;
705/7.22; 705/7.25; 705/7.29; 705/7.42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0205 20130101;
G06Q 10/063 20130101; G06Q 30/02 20130101; G06Q 10/06312 20130101;
G06Q 10/06311 20130101; G06Q 30/0201 20130101; G06Q 10/06 20130101;
G06Q 10/063118 20130101; G06Q 10/063116 20130101; G06Q 10/06315
20130101; G06Q 10/06398 20130101; G06Q 10/0631 20130101; G06Q
10/063114 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/011 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/60 20060101
G06F017/60 |
Claims
1. A system for monitoring the performance of at least one task
associated with operation of a retail store, the system comprising:
at least one monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide
images of at least one location within the retail store, each image
showing at least one factor related to performance of the at least
one task; a controller adapted to obtain and store images from the
at least one monitoring device; and an interface adapted to enable
a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze
the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the
performance of the at least one task.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring
device comprises a video camera providing a video signal of the at
least one location.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring
device comprises a digital still camera.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to
obtain and store images at selectable intervals.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises an
electronically readable code.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a
graphical user interface including icons representative of selected
stored images.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one factor comprises
a number of retail store customers awaiting service at the least
one location.
8. A performance evaluation system comprising: a first monitoring
system adapted to provide and store images of at least one task
being performed at a first facility; a second monitoring system
adapted to provide and store images of at least one task being
performed at a second facility; and an interface adapted to enable
selective viewing of the stored images and manual evaluation of the
at least one task based on the viewed images, wherein a first user
associated with the first facility can view only stored images of
the first facility, a second user associated with the second
facility can view only stored images of the second facility, and a
third user associated with the first and second facilities can view
stored images of the both the first and second facilities.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first facility is a first
retail store, the second facility is a second retail store, and the
third user is associated with a headquarters facility of a retail
corporation that includes the first and second retail stores.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface and the first and
second monitoring systems are coupled via a communications
link.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communications link
includes the Internet.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communications link
comprises an intranet having restricted access.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the interface comprises a
website.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the first monitoring system
stores images locally at the first facility and the second
monitoring system stores images locally at the second facility.
15. The system of claim 8, wherein the first and second monitoring
systems store images at a location remote from the first and second
facilities.
16. A performance monitoring system for a retail store, the system
comprising: means for providing images of at least one location
within the retail store; means for storing the images; and means
for viewing stored images to enable a user to manually evaluate a
performance of at least one task associated with operation of the
retail store occurring at the at least one location.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for providing images
includes means for providing images at selectable intervals.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein means for providing images
further comprises: means for providing a digital video signal of
the at least one location; and means for obtaining digital still
images from the digital video signal at selectable intervals.
19. A method of operating a retail store, the method comprising:
capturing images of at least one location within the retail store;
storing the captured images at a storage location; viewing selected
images stored at the storage location; and evaluating a performance
of at least one task occurring at the least one location within the
retail store by manually analyzing the viewed images.
20. The method of claim 19, further including: adjusting the
performance of the at least one task based on the evaluation.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein capturing images further
comprises: positioning at least one camera to view the at least one
location; and providing images of the at least one location with
the at least one camera.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one camera
comprises a digital video camera providing a digital video signal,
and wherein capturing images further comprises: obtaining digital
still photos from the digital video signal at selectable
intervals.
23. A method for determining staffing requirements of a retail
store, the method comprising: providing digital images of one or
more check lanes at selectable intervals each day; storing the
digital images in a storage device; viewing selected stored digital
images; counting manually a number of customers awaiting service at
each of the one or more check lanes in the selected digital images;
and determining staffing requirement based on the counting.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: determining
customer trends based on the number of customers counted in the
selected digital images.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: providing a number
of cashiers based on the customer trends.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining customer
trends for a given day of the week during a selected time period by
counting the number of customers awaiting service at each of the
one or more check lanes in each stored digital image at each
selectable time interval for each given day of the week over the
selected time period.
27. A method of retrofitting a retail store's existing security
system to provide performance monitoring of store operations, the
existing security system including a plurality of video cameras,
each video camera providing a video signal of a corresponding
location within the retail store, the method comprising: providing
a controller adapted to capture digital images from the video
signals of selected video cameras of the existing security system;
providing a storage device to store the captured digital images;
and providing an interface adapted to enable a user to selectively
view the stored digital images in order to evaluate performance of
one or more operations occurring at one or more locations
corresponding to the digital images viewed.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: adding one or more
video cameras to the existing security system to provide video of
additional locations within the retail store to enable monitoring
of operations occurring at the additional locations, wherein the
additional locations would not otherwise be monitored for security
purposes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] As the retail industry continues to become more competitive,
customer satisfaction is of paramount importance in establishing
and maintaining customers. Customer satisfaction depends on a
variety of factors such as a customer's perception of price,
product availability, well-stocked shelves, ease of finding
products within a retail store, cleanliness of the store, and
friendliness of employees.
[0002] However, perhaps the most important factor regarding
customer satisfaction is customer service. Of primary concern with
regard to customer service is the amount of time a customer must
wait when requiring assistance from a store employee. This
includes, for example, time spent waiting for assistance at a
customer service counter, at a merchandise counter and, of course,
time spent waiting in check-out lanes. Generally speaking, the less
time spent waiting for assistance, the more satisfied the
customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system
for monitoring the performance of at least one task associated with
operation of a retail store. The system comprises at least one
monitoring device positioned and adapted to provide images of at
least one location within the retail store, with each image showing
at least one factor related to performance of the at least one
task. The system further includes a controller and an interface.
The controller is adapted to obtain and store images from the at
least one monitoring device. The interface is configured to enable
a user to selectively view stored images and to manually analyze
the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to evaluate the
performance of the at least one task.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] Embodiments of the invention will be described with respect
to the figures, in which like reference numerals denote like
elements, and in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
performance monitoring system according to the present
invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
performance monitoring system according to the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
performance monitoring system according to the present
invention.
[0008] FIG. 4A is an illustration of a graphical user interface for
use with one embodiment of a performance monitoring system
according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4B illustrates in greater detail a portion of the
graphical user interface of illustrated in FIG. 4A.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
process for monitoring the performance of a retail store according
to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of
a process for determining staffing requirements of a retail store
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating one
embodiment of a performance monitoring system 10 according to the
present invention for monitoring the performance of at least one
task associated with operation of a retail store 12. Performance
monitoring system 10 includes a plurality of monitoring devices 14,
each positioned to view a corresponding location 16 within retail
store 12 and adapted to provide images of the corresponding
location 16, each image showing at least one factor related to
performance of at the at least one task. In one embodiment,
monitoring devices 14 comprise cameras. In one embodiment,
monitoring devices 14 comprise analog video cameras adapted to
provide analog video of corresponding locations 16. In one
embodiment, monitoring devices 14 comprise digital video cameras
adapted to provide digital video of corresponding locations 16. As
illustrated, analog video cameras 14a through 14f respectively
correspond to store locations indicated as checkout lanes 14a,
customer service desk 14b, electronics counter 14c, jewelry counter
14d, stockroom 14e, and receiving area 14f. Although illustrated as
having analog video cameras 14a through 14f, monitoring system 10
can include more or fewer cameras 14 at locations other than
locations 16 indicated by FIG. 1. Additionally, multiple cameras
may be used to monitor a single store location, such as check lanes
16a.
[0013] Performance monitoring system 10 further includes a
controller 18 and an interface 20. Controller 18 is adapted to
automatically obtain and store still images from each of the
monitoring devices 14 at selectable intervals. In one embodiment,
controller 18 is adapted to obtain still images in a digital
format, such as JPG format, for example, from analog video cameras
14 at selected intervals. In one embodiment, the selectable
intervals are regular intervals, such as every fifteen minutes, for
example.
[0014] Interface 20 is adapted to enable a user, such as a store
manager, to selectively view the stored images and to manually
analyze the at least one factor shown in the viewed images to
evaluate the performance of the at least one task. Examples of such
factors include number of employees and an amount of unloading time
required when evaluating the task of unloading an incoming shipment
of products at receiving dock 16f, and a number of customers
awaiting service when evaluating the tasks of processing customers
at check lanes 16a or assisting customers at customer service area
16b, electronics counter 16c, and jewelry counter 16d. Any number
of other tasks associated with operation of retail store 12 can be
similarly monitored by providing and positioning cameras 14 at
other locations within retail store 12 as required.
[0015] By providing monitoring of selected areas of a retail store,
performance monitoring system 10 enables a user, such as a store
manager, to evaluate performance of selected tasks associated with
the operation of the retail store. Based on such evaluations,
performance of certain tasks can be adjusted to improve the store's
performance. For example, staffing requirements at certain store
locations, particularly at check lanes, can be evaluated and
adjusted in order to minimize customer wait times and thereby
likely improve customer satisfaction. Furthermore, by storing the
images, monitoring system 10 enables a user, such as a store
manager, to evaluate the performance of tasks at any suitable time
and does not require real-time monitoring.
[0016] Components of the present invention can be implemented in
hardware via a microprocessor, programmable logic, or state
machine, in firmware, or in software with a given device. In one
aspect, at least a portion of the software programming is web-based
and written in HTML and JAVA programming languages, including links
to user interfaces, such as a Windows based operating system, and
each of the main components may communicate via a network using a
communication protocol. For example, the present invention may or
may not use a TCP/IP protocol for data transport. Other programming
languages and communication protocols suitable for use with the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
after reading the present application. Components of the present
invention may also reside in software on one or more
computer-readable mediums, which is defined herein to include any
kind of memory, volatile or non-volatile, such as floppy disks,
hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), CD-ROMs, flash memory, and
random access memory (RAM).
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block and schematic diagram illustrating one
embodiment of performance monitoring system 10 for retail store 12
as illustrated generally by FIG. 1. Performance monitoring system
10 includes a plurality of analog video cameras 14, such as analog
video cameras 14a through 14e. Each camera 14 is coupled to a
digital video recorder (DVR) 30 via a corresponding link 32. Each
camera 14 is configured as a unique channel and provides an analog
video signal of its associated store location 16 via corresponding
link 32 to DVR 30. DVR 30 includes an analog-to-digital converter
(A/D) 34 which converts the analog video signal of each camera (or
channel) 14 to a corresponding digital video having a digital video
format, such as AVI, for example. DVR 30 is configured to store a
predetermined amount of the digital video for each camera 14. In
one embodiment, for example, DVR 30 stores a day's worth of digital
video for each camera 14, with the stored digital video being
replaced with the digital video for each subsequent day.
[0018] A server 40 is coupled to DVR 30 via a link 42. In one
embodiment, controller 18 comprises a monitoring system application
(MSA) comprising an electronically readable code which is installed
and operating on server 40. In one embodiment, in addition to MSA
18, store server 40 includes various other applications 44 related
to operation of retail store 12. MSA 18 is adapted to automatically
retrieve digital still images for each camera 14 at regular
intervals from DVR 30 via link 42. In one embodiment, MSA 18 is
adapted to retrieve the digital still images for each camera by
selecting a single frame from a selectable time period of the
digital video of each camera stored in DVR 30 and by converting the
selected digital video frame from a digital video from, such as
AVI, to a digital still picture format, such as JPG. In one
embodiment, MSA 18 stores the retrieved digital still images for
each camera in a memory 46 according to a directory and file naming
convention. In an alternate embodiment, MSA 18 stores the retrieved
digital still images in a database 48. Although illustrated as
being within server 40, in other embodiments, database 48 could be
located external to server 40.
[0019] In one embodiment, interface 20 comprises a graphical user
interface (GUI) adapted to display the digital still photos stored
in database 46 and which is viewable via a personal computer (PC)
50 coupled to server 40 via a link 52. Although illustrated as
being viewed via PC 50, in other embodiments, GUI 20 may be viewed
via other electronic viewing devices, such as a personal digital
assistant (PDA) or Blackberry device, for example.
[0020] In one embodiment, DVR 30 comprises a portion of a security
system 60 which further includes a plurality of analog video
cameras 62 providing surveillance video of retail store 12 for
purposes of assets protection. Surveillance system 60 is controlled
by a security system application (SSA) 64 comprising a computer
readable code which is installed and operating on store server 40.
In one embodiment, analog video cameras 16 are dedicated for use as
surveillance cameras for assets protection and analog video cameras
14 are employed both as surveillance cameras by security system 60
and as monitoring cameras by performance monitoring system 10.
Security system 60 utilizes the entire video signal of analog video
cameras 14 and 62 stored in DVR 30, while performance monitoring
system 10 utilizes the digital images obtained by controller 18 and
stored in database 46.
[0021] In one embodiment, security system 60 represents an existing
surveillance system within retail store 12. If analog video cameras
62 of security system 60 are already positioned or can be
repositioned to view all locations desired to be monitored by
performance monitoring system 10 (e.g., locations 16 as illustrated
by FIG. 1), analog video cameras 14 are not required and MSA 18 of
performance monitoring system 10 can obtain images as necessary
from existing analog video cameras 62. However, if analog video
cameras 62 of security system 60 are not, or cannot, be positioned
to view all desired store locations 16, analog video cameras 14 are
added to security system 60 and positioned to view the otherwise
non-observed areas. In such a scenario, while the primary function
of analog video cameras 14 is to provide images for performance
monitoring system 10, analog video signals provided by analog video
cameras 14 via links 32 can also be utilized for assets protection
purposes by security system 60.
[0022] In one embodiment, in lieu of a digital recording device,
recording device 30 comprises some type of analog recording device,
such as one or more video tape recording devices adapted to record
the analog video signals received via links 32 from each camera, or
channel. In such an embodiment, performance monitoring system 10
further includes a "frame grabber" (FG) 70 adapted to capture at
regular intervals a single frame of the analog video signal
provided by each camera 14 prior to the analog video signal being
recorded by the analog recording device, and to convert the single
frame to a digital still image which is subsequently stored in
memory 46.
[0023] In one embodiment, cameras 14 comprise digital still cameras
configured to provide digital still images of store locations 16 at
intervals as directed by MSA 18. In this embodiment, digital still
images from cameras 14 can be stored directly to database 46 as
directed by MSA 18. As such, recording device 30 is not required in
this embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
performance monitoring system 110 according to the present
invention configured as a network system distributed across a
plurality of retail stores 112 and a headquarters facility 113 of a
retail corporation. In one embodiment, as illustrated, each retail
store 112a through 112n respectively includes a monitoring system
110a to 110n. In one embodiment, monitoring systems 110 are similar
to monitoring system 10 of retail store 12 described above by FIG.
2, with each monitoring system 110 including a plurality of digital
video cameras and a digital recording device (indicated generally
at 114), and an MSA 118 and database 146 installed and operating on
a server 140. Each monitoring system 110 further includes a GUI 120
viewable via an electronic viewing device, such as PC 150.
Headquarters facility 113 includes a server 140x and at least one
electronic viewing device, such as PC 150x, for viewing GUI
120x.
[0025] Monitoring systems 110a to 110n of are respectively coupled
to a network communications link 180 via communications links 176a
to 176n and headquarters facility 110 is coupled to network
communications link 180 via communications link 176x. Network
communication link 180, as employed herein, includes an Internet
communications link, an intranet communication link, or similar
high-speed communication link. In one embodiment, network
communication link 18 includes an Internet communications link 182.
Internet communications link permits communication between
performance monitoring systems 110 of stores 112 and between
performance monitoring systems 110 of stores 110 and headquarters
facility 113.
[0026] In one embodiment, network communications link 180 includes
an Intranet communications link 184 linking retail stores 112 and
headquarters facility 113 by means of Internet communications link
182. Intranet communications link 184 provides a controlled-access
communications link between stores 112 and headquarters facility
113 which is accessible via a password or other user-recognition
mechanism.
[0027] MSA 118 of monitoring system 110 of each retail store 112 is
configured to obtain and store digital images of desired locations
within retail store 112 (e.g. locations 16 as illustrated by FIG.
1) in memory 146 of server 140 of corresponding retail store 112.
In other embodiments, in lieu of monitoring systems 110 storing
digital images in a memory 146 local to each retail store 112,
monitoring systems 110 store digital images obtained from
corresponding camera and recording devices 114 in a central data
base, such as database 192 within server 140x of headquarters
facility 113 or database 194 coupled to network communications link
180 via a communications link 196.
[0028] In one embodiment, the digital images obtained by MSAs 118
are viewable by users via GUIs 120 which access the digital images
stored in data bases 146 of servers 140 via a website 190 located
on server 140x of headquarters facility 113 and network
communications link 180. Although illustrated as being located on
server 140x, in other embodiments, website 190 could be located on
any server coupled to network communications link 180.
[0029] In one embodiment, as described briefly above, intranet
communications link 184 comprises a controlled-access
communications link between stores 112 and headquarters facility
113. In one embodiment, to access the digital photos stored in
memories 146, a user, such as a manager of retail store 112a,
enters the URL (Uniform Resource Location), or address, of website
190 into a Web browser located on PC 150a which subsequently
locates website 190 via intranet connection 186. To access website
190, the user enters a username and password. Upon entering a valid
username and password, the user can access and view selected stored
digital images via GUI 120a which is displayed by PC 150a. Although
described as being accessed via PC 150, website 190 can be accessed
via other types of electronic viewing devices, such as a PDA, for
example, and from any location that provides a communication link
to intranet 184.
[0030] In one embodiment, access to viewing stored images is
limited based on a user's logon ID. For instance, in one
embodiment, based on the user's unique logon ID, a user associated
with a given retail store 112 can access only stored images
corresponding to the given retail store 112. For example, a manager
of retail store 112a can access only images of locations within
retail store 112a which are stored within memory 146a, and cannot
access images of other retail stores, such as retail store 112b. In
other embodiments, other users, such as certain employees
associated with headquarters facility 113, can access images of all
retail stores 112a to 112n respectively stored in memories 146a to
146n. In one embodiment, access to viewing stored images is limited
based a location from which access is initiated. For example, in
one embodiment, each PC, or workstation, 150 has unique hardware
identifier which corresponds, at least in part, to the retail store
112 in which PC 150 is located. As such, a user accessing stored
images via PC 150a, for example, is limited to viewing only those
images stored in memory 146a corresponding to retail store
112a.
[0031] FIG. 4A is an illustrative example of GUI 120 for accessing
and viewing digital images provided by performance monitoring
systems 110 via website 190 as described above by FIG. 3. GUI 120
includes an options menu 200, an image selection menu 202, and an
image display area 204. Options menu 200 includes a pull-down menu
206 that enables a user to select a retail store 112 from which the
user would like to view digital images provided by the stores
performance monitoring system 110. In one embodiment, pull-down
menu 206 comprises a list of unique identification numbers
corresponding to each retail store 112 (for example, "RS123" as
illustrated in FIG. 4) from which the user can select, such as by
selecting the identification number corresponding to the desired
retail store with a mouse. Similarly, options menu 200 includes a
pull-down menu 208 that enables a user to select a desired date
from which the user would like to view images for the desired
retail store 112 as selected via pull-down menu 206.
[0032] As described above, in one embodiment, access of images is
limited based on a user's unique logon ID or location. As such, in
one embodiment, pull-down menu 206 comprises the unique
identification numbers of only those retail stores 112 to which the
user is allowed access as based on the user's password. Thus, for a
user having access to only one retail store 112, options menu 200
will include only pull-down menu 208 enabling the user to select a
desired date from which to view images of only the retail store 112
with which the user is associated. In lieu of pull-down menu 206,
only the unique identification number of the store with which the
user is associated will be displayed.
[0033] Image selection menu comprises a column 210 of descriptions
of monitored locations within the selected retail store (e.g.
locations 16 of retail store 12 as illustrated by FIG. 1). Each
description of column 210 is followed by a row 212 of icons 214
representative of stored images corresponding to the described
location within the selected retail store. In one embodiment, each
row comprises 24 icons with each icon representative of images
acquired during one hour of the day selected via pull-down menu
208. In one embodiment, as indicated at 216, the columns of icons
are labeled as columns "01" through "23" with the icons in the
column labeled "00" representative of digital images acquired
between 12:00 am and 1:00 am, the icons in the column labeled "01"
representative of digital images acquired between 1:00 am and 2:00
am, and so on.
[0034] In one embodiment, wherein images of desired locations
within a retail store are obtained on 15-minute intervals, each
icon 214 is partitioned into four areas 214a through 214d, with
each area being representative of one of the four photos acquired
during the corresponding hour. For example, as illustrated by the
enlarged view of FIG. 4B, icon 214 is representative of images of a
first group of check lanes ("check lanes 1") acquired during time
period "23", wherein time period "23" corresponds to the time
period between 11:00 pm to 12:00 am. As such, areas 214a, 214b,
214c and 214d respectively represent images of the first group of
check lanes acquired at 11:00 pm, 11:15 pm, 11:30 pm and 11:45
pm.
[0035] After selecting a desired store and a desired date via
pull-down menus 206 and 208, a user chooses an image to be viewed
by selecting one of the icons 214. In one embodiment, a user
selects a desired icon, or desired area of an icon, by
mouse-clicking the desired icon 214. Upon selecting a desired
image, the image is displayed within image viewing area 204. In one
embodiment, image viewing area 204 includes a title field 218
displaying the description of the store location from column 210
corresponding to the selected image (i.e. the camera from which the
selected image originated) and an indication of a time frame 220
corresponding to the selected image.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
process 250 according to the present invention for monitoring
performance of at least one task associated with operation of a
retail store. Process 250 begins at step 252 where cameras are
provided at desired locations within the retail store where certain
tasks which are desired to be monitored are performed, such as
positions 16 illustrated by FIG. 1. In one embodiment, as described
above, the cameras may be analog video cameras providing analog
video signals which are converted into digital video format. In one
embodiment, the cameras may be digital video cameras providing a
digital video signal. In one embodiment, the cameras may be digital
still cameras providing digital still photos. In one embodiment,
the cameras may comprise a portion of an existing security
surveillance system.
[0037] At step 254, images are obtained at selectable intervals
from the cameras positioned at step 252. In one embodiment, the
images are obtained at regular intervals, such as, for example,
15-minute intervals. In one embodiment, wherein the cameras are
analog video cameras, digital still photos are extracted from the
digital video signals obtained from the cameras' analog video
signals, wherein the extracted images comprise digital still photos
of the corresponding areas monitored by the cameras. At step 254,
the images obtained at step 254 are stored in a memory. In one
embodiment, the obtained images are stored in a database.
[0038] At step 258, a user, such as a store manager, views selected
images obtained and stored via steps 254 and 256. At step 260, the
user manually analyzes at least one factor shown in the viewed
images that is related to the performance of a given task in order
to evaluate how well the given task was performed. For example, a
user may select images of a given location provided by one or more
cameras over a certain time period to evaluate the performance of a
task that is carried out a that location. For example, a user may
select one or more cameras positioned at receiving dock 16f to
monitor how long it takes to unload an incoming shipment of
products. In this instance, factors related to the unloading of the
incoming shipment may include the number of employees engaged in
unloading the truck, the size of packages being unloaded, and the
time required to unload the truck. From the images, the store
manager can evaluate generally the number of employees engaged in
unloading the truck and from the time interval of the images
selected, estimate how long it took to unload the truck.
[0039] At step 262, based on the evaluation of the images at step
260, the user may determine that performance of the task needs to
be improved. For example, if the truck took too long to unload,
more employees may be assigned to this task for future shipments.
Also, if from the images it appeared that there were too many
employees assigned to unload the truck, fewer employees may be
assigned to unload future shipments.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
process 270 according to the present invention for determining
staffing requirements at one or more check lanes of a retail store.
Process 270 begins at step 272 where still images of the one or
more check lanes are provided. In one embodiment, the still images
are digital images. At step 274, the still images are stored in a
storage device.
[0041] At step 276, a user, such as a store manager, selects for
viewing one or more images of the one or more check lanes
corresponding to a desired time interval. In one embodiment, the
digital still images are viewed via an electronic viewing device,
such as via the display of a personal computer or a personal
digital assistant (PDA). At step 278, the user manually analyzes
the one or more selected images to assess generally the customer
conditions at the one or more check lanes. If the images permit, a
store manager may thoroughly assess customer conditions by manually
counting a number of customers awaiting service at the one or more
check lanes. The user may also determine a number of cashiers on
duty and estimate a length of time customers wait before being
served.
[0042] At step 278, the store manager may adjust the number of
cashiers on duty at that time of the day based on the conditions
shown in the images viewed during step 276. For example, with
reference to FIG. 1, a store manager may view images obtained from
camera 14a during a selected time interval, such as between 4 pm
and 5 pm on a given date, to evaluate the performance of check
lanes 16a. For instance, if controller 18 obtains images from
camera 14a at fifteen minute intervals, the store manager can view
the five images (i.e., 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, and 5:00) to
determine the number of check lanes open (i.e., staffed with a
cashier) and the number of customers at each open check lane in
order to determine whether more or few check lanes should be open
during that time of the day. Also, a store manager may view images
of a same time period each day over an extended time period (e.g.,
a week, a month, etc.) to determine trends in customer patterns in
order to predict how many cashiers should be available and how many
check lanes should be open at a given time.
[0043] One aspect of the present invention, as described briefly
above with respect to FIG. 2, relates to retrofitting a retail
store's existing security system to provide a performance
monitoring system according to the present invention, wherein the
existing security system includes a plurality of video cameras each
providing a video signal of a corresponding location within the
retail store. The retrofitting process includes evaluating the
positions of the existing video cameras and to select those
existing video cameras that provide images of store locations
desired to be monitored. If all desired store locations are not
adequately monitored, the process includes adding one or more video
cameras to the existing security system in order to adequately
monitor such store locations.
[0044] The process further includes providing a controller adapted
to capture digital images from the video signals of selected
existing video cameras and newly added video cameras. The process
further includes providing a storage device in which to store the
captured digital images and providing an interface adapted to
enable a user to selectively view the stored digital images in
order to evaluate performance of one or more operations taking
place at the one or more locations viewed in the digital
images.
[0045] Although the invention has been described with respect to
particular embodiments, such embodiments are for illustrative
purposes only and should not be considered to limit the invention.
Various alternatives and changes will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art.
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